Premier Wheatley hosts welcome reception for Baroness
Governor Daniel Pruce and Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development, Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), were also in attendance. The guest list also included young professionals an...
Governor Daniel Pruce and Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development, Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), were also in attendance. The guest list also included young professionals and persons from the financial services industry and other sectors of the economy. Baroness Hodge, the United Kingdom’s Anti-Corruption Champion, is visiting the Territory to assess progress in implementing commitments on beneficial ownership registers.
In a post to her X account on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Baroness Hodge said she had “productive meetings” with Premier Wheatley, Hon Smith and leaders of the Territory’s financial sector. “I was encouraged by the open dialogue on ownership transparency and the shared commitment to explore whether we can reach a common position by November's Joint Ministerial Council.” Premier Wheatley had said he was the one who invited Baroness Hodge to the Virgin Islands, although the Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office had scripted a different narrative.
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