Keeping to her promise, Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade Honourable Lorna Smith, OBE, has on Friday, April 12, 2024, became the first elected representative to officially open a Constituency Office on Anegada.

The office which is located in the Settlement, Anegada will be managed by Ms Sylvia V. Faulkner, and shared with District Representative and Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Vincent Wheatley. 

“I think it's the first time in the history of Anegada [that it] has ever had a constituency office here on Anegada, and I must commend you, Deputy Premier, for this initiative,” Hon Wheatley stated at the opening ceremony.

Honourable Wheatley went on to say that Honourable Smith is a true partner for representing the people, while emphasizing that the office wasn’t set up to replace anyone, but to compliment services to the Anegada people. 

Mrs Shirley Vanterpool-Evans is the current District Officer for Anegada. The District Officer in Anegada serves as the focal point for all official government inquiries on the island and coordinates designated Government activities.

“So we are not trying to replace anybody. We are trying to enhance what currently happens on Anegada,” Hon Wheatley clarified.

He said Anegada is “moving and we have to get involved to make sure we assist persons in what they are trying to do.”

Deputy Premier Smith expressed appreciation to Wheatley for supporting her endeavour to get the office established.

“Our friendship does go a long way back, many, many years, but he has always been supportive of me, and I believe he was the one who encouraged me to really open this office and, of course, I was not hesitating.”

She said that there is a lot that she and Hon Wheatley will do together.

“We know about the cost of coming to Tortola unnecessarily...and very often it is not necessary, so we hope that will be reduced.”