Cyril Romney

Cyril Romney

Cyril Brandtford Romney (1 March 1931 - 19 July 2007) served as Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands from 1983 to 1986. He also served as a member of the Legislative Council of the British Virgin Islands from 1979 to 1995. He was the first BVIslander to hold the post of Financial Secretary, and was also a business leader in the Territory and the region.

After an early career as a teacher, he studied economics at Inter-American University in Puerto Rico and then pursued a master's program in economics and political science at Syracuse University in New York.

Cyril Romney's first foray into politics was in 1975, when he stood as an independent candidate in the First District against Lavity Stoutt. He lost, but was subsequently elected in 1979 as the representative for the Fifth District and became a member of the opposition. He served a second political term from 1983 to 1986 and was Chief Minister of a coalition government with the United Party led by Willard Wheatley. During Romney's term as Chief Minister the International Business Companies Act, which was responsible for so much of the Territory's economic success, came into force.

In 1986 Romney's ruling coalition lost power, but he was re-elected and continued to serve on the opposition benches for two more consecutive terms. In both 1995 and 1999, he tried unsuccessfully to recapture the Fifth District seat standing on a pro-independence platform.

Romney was a permanent justice of the peace, a founding member of the Rotary Club of Tortola and a member of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.

Colombian Emeralds in Road Town, one of Romney's business ventures

Romney had wide ranging commercial interests, including commercial and residential real estate development, and various aspects of the tourism industry. He was closely involved in the BVI's cruise ship industry; he founded a local travel agency, Travel Plan, in 1969 and a taxi company in 1979. He also purchased one of the Territory's major hotel chains, Prospect Reef, and opened a local franchise of Dolphin Discovery. He also opened the British Virgin Islands franchise of Colombian Emeralds International.

In addition to his commercial interests, Romney was for many years an active member of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board and he initiated several strategies for promoting the Territory.

Romney died on 19 July 2007 in a Florida hospital after a long battle with cancer. He was survived by five daughters and several grandchildren. On his death he was given an official government funeral. Chief Minister Orlando Smith said Romney's death marked the end of an era for the British Virgin Islands, stating: "Our community lost a leader and a hero today."

Political offices
Preceded by
Lavity Stoutt
Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands
1983-1986
Succeeded by
Lavity Stoutt

External links

Sources


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cyril Romney — Mandats 4e Ministre en chef des Îles vierges britanniques novembre 1983 – …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cyril Romney — Cyril B. Romney (* 1. März 1931 in Tortola, Britische Jungferninseln; † 19. Juli 2007 in Miami, Florida) war ein Chief Minister der Britischen Jungferninseln. Leben Romney war zunächst als Lehrer tätig, ehe er Wirtschaftswissenschaft an der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Romney — bezeichnet Personen und Orte: Personen Cyril Romney (1931–2007), Chief Minister der Britischen Jungferninseln George Romney (1734–1802), britischer Maler George W. Romney (1907–1995), Präsident der American Motors Corp.; Gouverneur von Michigan;… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Romney — The name Romney might refer to:PeopleBritish Commonwealth*Cyril Romney (1931 ndash;2007), Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands from 1983 to 1986 *George Romney (painter) (1734 ndash;1802), English portrait painter *John Romney (1785–1863) …   Wikipedia

  • Dick Romney — Sport(s) Football, basketball, track Biographical details Born February 12, 1895(1895 02 12) …   Wikipedia

  • List of British Virgin Islands-related topics — This is a list of topics related to British Virgin Islands. Those interested in the subject can monitor changes to the pages by clicking on Related changes in the sidebar.British Virgin Islands* British Virgin Islands * British Virgin Islands Bar …   Wikipedia

  • United Party (British Virgin Islands) — The United Party (or UP) is a now [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/defunct defunct] political party of the British Virgin Islands.It was originally formed by H. Lavity Stoutt, Terrance B. Lettsome and Ivan Dawson during the first session of the… …   Wikipedia

  • List of heads of government of the British Virgin Islands — British Virgin Islands This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the British Virgin Islands Go …   Wikipedia

  • List of British Virgin Islanders — This is a list of famous people from the British Virgin IslandsPolicitians*Orlando Smith *H. Lavity Stoutt *Cyril Romney *Ralph T. O Neal *Willard Wheatley *Terrance B. Lettsomeportsmen* Dion Crabbe * Tahesia HarriganOther public figures*Michael… …   Wikipedia

  • Fort Purcell — (more often known by the moniker, The Dungeon) is a ruined fort near Pockwood Pond on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.HistoryThe Fort was originally built by the Dutch at an unascertained date in either the late 16th or very… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”