VISAR training during the visit of a Royal Navy ship

His Excellency the Governor is the representative of Her Majesty the Queen and the Constitutional Head of State in the British Virgin Islands.  The Constitution gives the governor certain responsibilities which include oversight for external affairs, defence, internal security, administration of the courts, the public service, elections, and disaster preparedness.  He is also the presiding officer of Cabinet.  The governor also takes a close interest in good governance issues.

The governor’s office staff support the governor in the discharge of these responsibilities and enable him to carry out his programme of public functions. The UK staff work closely with their BVI Government counterparts on a wide range of issues.  The governor’s office encourage close co-operation with US and regional law enforcement agencies.  We also aim to make good use of the Overseas Territories Programme Fund by providing training to local officers involved in aviation and maritime security, police and customs marine unit and the prison.  

Key areas of work which the UK staff focus on are: improving the effectiveness of the police, public service reform, judicial reform, the development of a criminal justice strategy, raising the profile of climate change, ensuring the probity of the international financial services sector, encouraging effective action is taken in the courts against financial crime, improvements to the BVI's disaster management capabilities and both safety and security in the aviation and maritime sectors.