On January 10, the British Virgin Islands released their first stamp since July 2021 to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of BVI House in London which administers the Caribbean Sea island group.

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, to the east of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and north-west of Anguilla. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles and part of the West Indies. BVI consists of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with more than 50 other smaller islands and cays. About 16 of the islands are inhabited. The capital, Road Town, is on Tortola, the largest island, which is about 20 km (12 miles) long and 5 km (3 miles) wide. The islands had a population of 28,054 at the 2010 Census, of whom 23,491 lived on Tortola; current estimates put the population at 35,802 (July 2018). British Virgin Islanders are British Overseas Territories citizens and since 2002, are also British citizens.

The territory operates as a parliamentary democracy. Ultimate executive authority in the British Virgin Islands is vested in the King, and is exercised on his behalf by the Governor of the British Virgin Islands. The governor is appointed by the King on the advice of the British Government. Defense and most foreign affairs remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The current Governor is John Rankin (since January 29, 2020). The current Premier is Natalio Wheatley (since May 5, 2022), who is leader of the Virgin Islands Party. On June 8 2022, the British Government decided against direct rule for the islands.

A single U.S. dollar-denominated stamp was issued on January 10 to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of BVI House in London, England. The stamp “depicts an exterior representation of the office building BVI House located at 15 Upper Grosvenor Street, London, United Kingdom. In 2002, the approval of the building was made under the leadership of the then Chief Minister, Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal. Then on 7th January 2004, the permanent administrative structure of the office was finalized under the leadership of then Chief Minister Dr. the Hon. D. Orlando Smith, OBE.”

According to Pobjoy Stamps,

Over the past 20 years, the BVI London Office has played an invaluable role to the Government and the people of the Virgin Island as the territory continues to advance internationally, politically, and economically. The BVI London Offices’ mission is to “advance the British Virgin Islands’ interests amongst its various stakeholders in the United Kingdom and Europe with excellence.” Its vision is “to be the recognized leader in the representation of the British Virgin Islands interest in the United Kingdom and Europe.”

The building is utilized as the representative office through which the BVI Government’s EU and UK relationships would be managed on a permanent basis. Some of the mandates of the office include: Strengthening the British Virgin Islands’ voice with His Majesty’s Government, Enhancing the BVI’s regional and international impact, Supporting and Promoting Business in the UK including international investment, Diplomatic representation, etc. This office has indeed been an important investment for the BVI whereby it has been used as a medium to market the BVI in the past and in future years to come.

Pobjoy Mint – Stamps Division