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News from the Caribbean as of
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British Virgin Islands to get its own postal code
Friday, September 29, 2006
ROAD TOWN, BVI: British Virgin Islands Finance Minister Ronnie Skelton speaking in last week's sitting of the Legislative Council said that the adoption of a postal code system will lead to more efficient mail service and will open doors for accessibility of mail to residents of the BVI.
“By adopting postal codes, the postal service of the BVI will become more effective and efficient,” Minister Skelton said. “It will mean that the delivery of international mail to the Territory will be greatly improved, and that our citizens and residents will be able to more easily engage in on-line and mail-order shopping.”
Minister Skelton said that although the Internet and other modern forms of communication have taken over some of the functions once fulfilled by the postal service, the delivery of mail remains indispensable.
“This is why one of the Government’s promises following our election to office just over three years ago was to implement measures to strengthen the Post Office, including the way it serves the people of the Territory,” he said.
The Minister said the Post Office (Amendment) Rules, 2006, which will formally introduce postal codes, will be laid at the next sitting of Legislative Council.
Meanwhile, the Post Office and other government departments are making preparation for the introduction of postal codes. Minister Skelton said that the Post Office has begun training staff in the use of post codes, and that training will be conducted with trust companies, banks, utility companies, and major users of the postal service.
In addition, the Post Office and the Department of Information and Public Relations will carry out a public
education campaign to inform the community about the changes.
Postal codes are issued by the Universal Postal Union, an international, non-political organisation that fosters cooperation between postal-sector players and helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services. The UPU is based in Bern, Switzerland, and has a membership of 190 countries and territories.
Postal codes are unique combinations of letters and numbers that are used to clearly identify the destination of mail. They are different from zip codes, which are designated for destinations in the United States only.
When the BVI adopts its postal codes, it will be the 118th country in the world to have postal codes.
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