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Presents BUILDERS OF TORTOLA |
Richard Parsons Richard Parsons hails from Luton, in Bedfordshire, UK – a town known for historically for hat-making (in the nineteenth century), and more recently for the production of Vauxhall automobiles -- although this industry is currently in serious trouble. Richard now lives in Bellevue, Tortola, his home for most of his sojourn on Tortola (after two years in Greenbanks). He arrived here from Quatar in 1984 with a job offer as an Associate with Harney, Westwood, and Riegels. He worked for Harneys until his recent semi-retirement, having been made a partner soon after his arrival in the Territory.
The major changes that affected Richard’s professional life have been concerned with communications. Of course the advent of the fax machine (available in the 1970s and widespread by the mid 1980s), e-mail (from the 1980s) and the internet (commercialized in the 1990s) have improved life for many people around the world, but have relatively affected the BVI to a greater extent because the alternatives – Telephones and Post (Mail) were quite slow and/or unreliable, whereas these new forms of communication are more-or-less instantaneous. They enable the people of the BVI to be up-to-date and on an equal footing with people elsewhere. Of course all of these innovations also relied upon improvements in phone service. In the early 1980s calls (except to St. Thomas) had to be made through an Overseas Operator, but the coming of the Cable and Wireless franchise in the later 1980s improved the telephone infrastructure considerably. Arguably these changes allowed the development of both tourism and finance to be successful in the BVI.
Richard’s work at Harney’s was closed tied to the Financial Services industry. This industry has always been affected by external events as well as those internal to the BVI. Concerns with regulation, compliance rules, and issues such as money-laundering all help to keep lawyers busy. All of these issues are hard to deal with when your clients are perhaps thousands of miles away. Again the importance of improved communications is clear. The financial services industry has been heavily reliant upon temporary help from ‘white expatriates’, although an increasing number of these, such as Richard, are remaining in Tortola up to and past retirement.
As a result of tourism and the finance industry, material wealth has increased considerably, and obviously, with the BVI over the past quarter of a century. This happened very quickly, thus leading to many new challenges for the people of the Territory. It can be seen “in terms of everything” but is typified by the vast number of new (and taller) buildings, the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, the increase in the number and quality of the roads, the greater amount of vacation time available to most people, and improvements in the standard of education – both secondary and tertiary.
Richard’s contributions to the growth and success of the BVI fall into two major categories. First, as a partner with the oldest and largest law firm in the BVI he has improved the image and the importance of business links between the BVI and countries overseas. Second, Richard has been active with the Rotary Club of Roadtown - he has been a (charter) member since 1990.
Richard Parsons believes that he was lucky coming to Tortola. He came to the right place at the right time. He came as the financial services sector of the economy was taking off and growing, and he was in a position to help with this growth and development. Although he is now semi-retired he does not see a lot of change in his lifestyle. He plans to stay in the BVI, not return to the UK.
Draft of September 27th of interview of September 3rd
Builders of Tortola Guide