Good day to all in the Virgin Islands.

I am sad to share that Kim Hollis, a Queen’s Counsel who has served the Territory as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) since 2016, has decided to leave the public service in December as a result of the need for her to take care of an ailing family member.

Ms. Hollis’ wealth of experience will be missed. I wish to extend my personal thanks for the admirable work she has put in at a demanding post. As a Territory, we’ve benefitted not just from Ms. Hollis’ skills in the courtroom, but also from her leadership, as she has shared much with her team of prosecutors, the entities she advises within the Government, and with the greater legal fraternity in the Territory.

The DDP has shared with me her personal commitment to offer any transitional support to the next holder of the post and I commend her for this professional gesture. For those rising through the legal profession, there is something of a bright side to Ms. Hollis’ departure: An opportunity now exists for the next DPP to rise to meet the challenge of this post and I call on others to consider employment with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and in other roles needed to ensure optimum functioning of this critical Office.

As we work toward achieving the goals of the Public Service Transformation Programme I look forward to the changes that we expect will emerge within the Office of the DPP as well as other legal departments of Government who play a critical role in advising Government members on a variety of legal issues.

Please join me in extending thank you to the Learned Kim Hollis, QC for the time she has committed to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution. I wish her God’s blessings and a successful extended professional career.

Thank you.