Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Gov’t establishes review committee for marine admin policy

Gov’t establishes review committee for marine admin policy

The government has recently approved the re-establishment of a Technical Review Committee it says will advise the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour on all matters regarding the sustainable development of the coastline, seabed and marine estate.

In a statement issued yesterday, the government said the committee will be responsible for the administration of a Marine Estate Administration Policy approved in 2020.

This policy, the government said, will govern the issuance of leases and licences for the use of the seabed by the ministry.

The move comes in the wake of recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report issued months ago, and a subsequent framework agreement between the government and the United Kingdom (UK) on how those reform recommendations will be implemented.

According to the government, the reform process to dispose of Crown land as part of the implementation of recommendation B30 formally began on July 31. It also noted that many of the reform initiatives were part of a broader process of reassessing and modernising the policy and operational framework of the Ministry.

In the COI report issued by Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom in April, recommendation B30 stated that there should be a wholesale review of processes for the disposal of Crown land to ensure that such disposals are the subject of an open and transparent process.

Technical Review Committee’s role


According to the statement, the Technical Review Committee will be responsible for, among other things, coordinating the formulation, implementation and public awareness of the government’s marine estate policy and any marine spatial plan and ensuring they are aligned with all national policies and strategies.

The Technical Review Committee will also be required to evaluate and consider for approval by the relevant subject minister, any project proposals for the use of the marine estate.

The statement further noted that the Technical Review Committee will be required to facilitate public consultation and cooperation between government agencies concerning any application for the development or use of the marine estate under the marine estate administration policy.

The committee will also develop and regularly update a new schedule of fees to give effect to the requirements of the marine estate administration policy, including development fees, which will aim to standardise how the government will charge for the use of the seabed.

In the meantime, the government said the Technical Review Committee is now an inter-governmental technical body responsible for vetting various applications for the use of the seabed.

The establishment of this committee, the government noted, also represents a significant contribution toward the reform processes for disposing Crown property, which satisfies recommendation B30.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×