Gov’t consultant

Lorna Smith, a former public officer who has advised the World Bank on financial services-related matters, will consult with the Virgin Islands government on tax and information-sharing issues, according to a Dec. 20 agreement filed recently with the High Court Registry. Ms. Smith, who is also the wife of Premier Dr. Orlando Smith, will provide assistance to the Ministry of Finance relating to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information. Ms. Smith previously participated in the forum, an international agreement between countries to combat tax evasion and money laundering, while she headed the VI’s International Affairs Secretariat. Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering signed the Dec. 20 agreement with Ms. Smith’s firm LGS & Associates. For its services, the firm will be compensated “a fee to be paid on an invoice basis not exceeding a total sum of $100,000 per annum.” The agreement, which does not mention an end date, does not specify the rate at which LGS will be paid.

Billing service

EasyPay VI, a firm that offers billing services on behalf of other companies, has signed telecommunications provider LIME to its system, the billing company announced. EasyPay, which also allows customers of LIME’s competitor Digicel to use its service, outsources billing services for firms so that customers have more locations with additional hours to pay their bills. EasyPay currently has billing locations set up in Riteway stores and the Anegada Reef Hotel, according to a press release from the company.