Lydia S. George Retires from FSC
Lydia S. George has officially retired from the Financial Services Commission after 32 years, demitting office on December 31, 2025, the FSC announced in a January 5, 2026 press release. A veteran of the Registry of Corporate Affairs, she supported the handover to Deputy Registrar Dr Michelle L. Todman-Smith, ensuring continuity for industry participants.
George, a long-serving official of the Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC), has officially retired after 32 years of service, the Commission announced in a press release on January 5, 2026. Mrs George demitted office on December 31, 2025, concluding a career that began in 1993 when she joined the FSC as an Assistant Registrar of Companies.
Over more than three decades Mrs George rose through the ranks, holding roles including Assistant Registrar, Senior Assistant Registrar and Acting Registrar before her appointment as Deputy Registrar of Corporate Affairs in 2004. The FSC credited her with significant contributions to the administration and development of the Commission’s Registry of Corporate Affairs, a central unit for the registration and maintenance of corporate entities in the Virgin Islands.
Herbert praised Mrs George’s institutional knowledge and steady support, saying she played a "strong supporting role in helping to uphold the FSC’s mandate to maintain robust, transparent, and efficient registration of corporate entities in the Virgin Islands." Herbert added, "It is difficult to imagine her absence.
She knew and understood the inner workings of the Registry, and many industry participants regularly drew on her knowledge via their queries. It has been a great pleasure to work with her," and extended best wishes for Mrs George’s "well-deserved retirement." For residents and businesses in the BVI, the Registry of Corporate Affairs is a vital part of the territory’s financial services infrastructure.
Accurate and efficient company registration supports local employment, government revenue through fees, and the wider international reputation of the BVI as a compliant and well-regulated jurisdiction for corporate services. The FSC’s release noted that Dr Michelle L. Todman-Smith was appointed Deputy Registrar of Corporate Affairs in February 2025 and that Mrs George provided necessary support during the transition.
Mrs George has now fully turned over the Deputy Registrar reins to Dr Todman-Smith, who will continue to lead the operations end of the Registry of Corporate Affairs. The FSC’s statement emphasized continuity of service and institutional stability as the Registry moves forward under new leadership.
Industry participants and colleagues have welcomed the smooth handover while recognising Mrs George’s long-standing role as a repository of experience within the Commission.
Primary source: VINO