David Pearey as BVI's New Governor

David Dacre Pearey today is sworn as the Territory’s next Governor. He took the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath for Due Execution of Office. The welcome and swearing-in ceremony was held at the Legislative Council at 9 a.m. Chief Minister the Honourable Dr. D. Orlando Smith and Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal addressed and David Pearey made a reply.

The Governor Designate arrived with his family at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Saturday afternoon. He was greeted by Chief Minister Honourable Dr. D. Orlando Smith, Deputy Governor Dancia Penn, Q.C., and Police Commissioner Reynell Frazer.

It should be noted that Mr. Pearey came to the BVI after 27 years of work in the UK diplomatic service. From 1995 to 1999 he was counsellor and head of the Commercial/Economic Department in the British High Commission in Lagos, Nigeria. From 2000 to 2004 he was British Deputy High Commissioner and and Head of Post at Karachi, Pakistan. Then until January 5, 2006 Mr. Pearey was British High Commissioner at Lilongwe, Malawi.

Earlier in the 1990s Mr. Pearey's was working as a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) inspector, and for two years he was an assistant head of the FCO’s Southern European Department.

David Pearey was First Secretary and Head of Chancery in the British High Commission in Kampala, Uganda. This was from 1988 until 1990, and prior to that Mr. Pearey was a policy planner in the Energy Science and Space Department of the FCO. His first diplomatic service was the post of secretary in the British Embassy in Ankara from 1979 till 1982.

Mr. Pearey succeeds Thomas Macan, the previous Governor who left the Territory on April 10 after serving more than three years in the BVI.