Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley made that announcement at a press conference last Friday.

He said the transfer was made so there could be a closer relationship between the culture and tourism portfolios.

“The Festival & Fairs portfolio has also been transferred to the Premier’s Office, and the Tourist Board will have much more involvement in the planning and marketing of not only our Emancipation Festival but all our festivals and fairs year-round,” Dr Wheatley stated.

“Tourism is a subject under the Premier’s Office, and we wanted culture and for the festivals and fair to have a much stronger and tighter relationship with tourism and I would be able to facilitate that being minister over those subjects,” the Premier added.

He continued: “This is the approach of many countries who see culture as an integral part of their tourism product. For us here in the Virgin Islands, this will include ensuring our museums and historical sites are properly managed and promoted as tourist attractions, and that the full artistic talent of our people can serve as valuable entertainment to visitors and our own domestic tourism market.”