A biographical Brief
On
The Hon. Julian Fraser RA
Born on Tortola British Virgin Islands on July 5th, 1950.
Early education in the Virgin Islands Education System, where he attended the Sea Cows Bay and Road Town primary schools, and later, the Virgin Islands Secondary School.
Upon completing School, he gained employment with a local bank for a period of one year, before emigrating to The United States in pursuit of higher education.
He is married to the former Kharid Turnbull, his wife of 45 years, with whom they have a son: Jamil.
While in the United States, he decided upon a career In Architecture. Academically: he holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture Degree, magna cum laude, and a Five-Year Professional Bachelor of Architecture Degree, cum laudefrom the New York Institute of Technology, New York; together with an Associate Degree, and a Five Year Certificate in Architecture from the Institute of Design and Construction, New York.
Professionally; He is a Registered Architect in the State of New York; and the United States Virgin Islands. He holds memberships in the American Institute of Architects; and The Academy of Architecture for Health; and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Board.
During his time in New York, he worked for several firms on many projects, most notably was while an Associate in the firm, Haines Lundberg Whaler, as Project Architect on the world famous 2.2 billion dollars World Financial Center, at New York City’s Battery Park.
In April 1992 Julian made the decision to leave his adopted home of twenty-two years and return to the B V I where he continued to practice architecture. In his pursuit to be of service to his community, he pursued goals such as joining the Rotary Club of Tortola, and becoming involved in various community activities.
He served as a member of the National Parks Trust; a member of the Nibbs Estate Lands Committee; and was an active officer of the B V I High School parent teachers association.
In 1999 he raised the bar on his level of service to his people a notch, and decided to run for public office. He was nominated by the Virgin Islands Party as their candidate for The Third Electoral District, which he contested, and was successful.
The Virgin Islands Party being the party with a majority of seven after the elections; was constitutionally mandated to form the government.
Julian was selected one of three persons to be Ministers by the Chief Minister, and subsequently appointed by the Governor as Minister for Natural Resources and Labor.
As Minister for Natural Resources and Labor among other things:
In May 2002 as a result of a cabinet shake-up, he moved to the post of Minister for Communications and Works, and at the same time assumed the title of Deputy Chief Minister.
While there:
As Representative for The Third District, among other things:
He runs a weekly meals program for the elderly, in addition to providing a transport service. He is always accessible, and always makes it a point to respond to his constituents every call.
He served as a member of the 2007 Virgin Islands Constitution Negotiating Team.
In 2007, he was successful in defeating his opponent comfortably by a 590 to 245 margin
His portfolio included that of Minister for Communications and Works, which commanded the Subjects of:
Public Works
Water and Sewage
Fire and Rescue Services
Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Civil Aviation
Electrical Inspections
Facilities Management
And Statutory Bodies:
BVI Electricity Corporation
BVI Airports Authority
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
Building Authority
Taxi and Livery Commission
Frequently he was called upon to serve on the behalf of the Premier overseas, the first of which was in November 2007 in Brussels at the annual Forum of the European Union’s Overseas Countries and Territories Association, known as OCTA. Essentially, taking up from where he left off five years earlier in Bonaire where he was a signatory to the formation of OCTA, on behalf of the Chief Minister.
And in March of 2011 he has again gone to New Caledonia to sign the Joint Position Paper; and a Political Resolution. Both documents were signed on the behalf of the Hon. Premier.
In 2008 the Premier tapped into his assets and had him accompany him to London to have discussions at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
He again accompanied the Premier in 2010 to London for another round of discussions at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Regionally, Julian has accompanied the Premier at the OECS Heads Meeting here in the BVI in 2009 as a Member of his Delegation. He accompanied him in July 2011 to the Pre-Consultative Meetings of Heads of Governments for the Overseas Territories.
Julian has served his third four-year term in the Legislature, for which he thanks his constituents immensely, and solicits their support for re-election to the next Legislature on November 7th 2011.
In 2011 he was reelected to the House of Assembly a 4th time as a Member of the Opposition and served on many Committees.
During the term of the 2nd House of Assembly 2011-2015, Julian was elected Chairman of his Party -Virgin Islands Party-, which he then led into the 2015 General Elections, but did not win a majprity of the seats and ended up in the Opposition once again. He became Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. he also served on many Committees.
During the time of the 3rd House of Assembly, disagreements within the Virgin Islands Party saw Julian becoming leader of the charge in forming a new Political Group -"Progressives United"- where he became the Chairman and served out the rest of the Term.
In the 2019 Elections Julian was again successful and remained in the Opposition, serving on every committee in the House of Assembly. During the term he again assumed the title of Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee to the conclusion of the term in April of 2023.
In April 2023 General Elections were had for a Fifth House of Assembly, and Julian again led Progressives United into the elections and he won his seat for a 7th consecutive Term. He now serves in the Opposition of the 5th House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.
Early education in the Virgin Islands Education System, where he attended the Sea Cows Bay and Road Town primary schools, and later, the Virgin Islands Secondary School.
Upon completing School, he gained employment with a local bank for a period of one year, before emigrating to The United States in pursuit of higher education.
He is married to the former Kharid Turnbull, his wife of 45 years, with whom they have a son: Jamil.
While in the United States, he decided upon a career In Architecture. Academically: he holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture Degree, magna cum laude, and a Five-Year Professional Bachelor of Architecture Degree, cum laudefrom the New York Institute of Technology, New York; together with an Associate Degree, and a Five Year Certificate in Architecture from the Institute of Design and Construction, New York.
Professionally; He is a Registered Architect in the State of New York; and the United States Virgin Islands. He holds memberships in the American Institute of Architects; and The Academy of Architecture for Health; and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Board.
During his time in New York, he worked for several firms on many projects, most notably was while an Associate in the firm, Haines Lundberg Whaler, as Project Architect on the world famous 2.2 billion dollars World Financial Center, at New York City’s Battery Park.
In April 1992 Julian made the decision to leave his adopted home of twenty-two years and return to the B V I where he continued to practice architecture. In his pursuit to be of service to his community, he pursued goals such as joining the Rotary Club of Tortola, and becoming involved in various community activities.
He served as a member of the National Parks Trust; a member of the Nibbs Estate Lands Committee; and was an active officer of the B V I High School parent teachers association.
In 1999 he raised the bar on his level of service to his people a notch, and decided to run for public office. He was nominated by the Virgin Islands Party as their candidate for The Third Electoral District, which he contested, and was successful.
The Virgin Islands Party being the party with a majority of seven after the elections; was constitutionally mandated to form the government.
Julian was selected one of three persons to be Ministers by the Chief Minister, and subsequently appointed by the Governor as Minister for Natural Resources and Labor.
As Minister for Natural Resources and Labor among other things:
- In 2000 he went to Nova Scotia to negotiate the terms of reference for a memorandum of understanding on trade and fisheries development.
- In November 2001 he went to Murcia, Spain to witness the BVI become a party to The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT).
- In 2001 he traveling to Mexico and the Bahamas in order to make an informed decision on Dolphins in captivity. Today the BVI Dolphin program is very much alive.
- In April 2002, he led a team to Washington DC for meetings with the Under Secretary of Agriculture.
In May 2002 as a result of a cabinet shake-up, he moved to the post of Minister for Communications and Works, and at the same time assumed the title of Deputy Chief Minister.
While there:
- He authorized work on the territory’s first Traffic lights System,
- In 2002 he authorized the establishment of the 300,000 gal, water plant in Sea Cows Bay.
As Representative for The Third District, among other things:
- he completed the 84 lots Nibbs Estate Sub-Division 1st Phase
- Currently, he is working on opening up the remainder of the Estate for more lots
- The Sea Cows Bay Harbor Development Project is now under construction.
- he installed sidewalks from Albion to Palestina;
- He re-constructed the Albion Bridge
He runs a weekly meals program for the elderly, in addition to providing a transport service. He is always accessible, and always makes it a point to respond to his constituents every call.
He served as a member of the 2007 Virgin Islands Constitution Negotiating Team.
In 2007, he was successful in defeating his opponent comfortably by a 590 to 245 margin
His portfolio included that of Minister for Communications and Works, which commanded the Subjects of:
Public Works
Water and Sewage
Fire and Rescue Services
Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Civil Aviation
Electrical Inspections
Facilities Management
And Statutory Bodies:
BVI Electricity Corporation
BVI Airports Authority
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
Building Authority
Taxi and Livery Commission
Frequently he was called upon to serve on the behalf of the Premier overseas, the first of which was in November 2007 in Brussels at the annual Forum of the European Union’s Overseas Countries and Territories Association, known as OCTA. Essentially, taking up from where he left off five years earlier in Bonaire where he was a signatory to the formation of OCTA, on behalf of the Chief Minister.
And in March of 2011 he has again gone to New Caledonia to sign the Joint Position Paper; and a Political Resolution. Both documents were signed on the behalf of the Hon. Premier.
In 2008 the Premier tapped into his assets and had him accompany him to London to have discussions at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
He again accompanied the Premier in 2010 to London for another round of discussions at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Regionally, Julian has accompanied the Premier at the OECS Heads Meeting here in the BVI in 2009 as a Member of his Delegation. He accompanied him in July 2011 to the Pre-Consultative Meetings of Heads of Governments for the Overseas Territories.
Julian has served his third four-year term in the Legislature, for which he thanks his constituents immensely, and solicits their support for re-election to the next Legislature on November 7th 2011.
In 2011 he was reelected to the House of Assembly a 4th time as a Member of the Opposition and served on many Committees.
During the term of the 2nd House of Assembly 2011-2015, Julian was elected Chairman of his Party -Virgin Islands Party-, which he then led into the 2015 General Elections, but did not win a majprity of the seats and ended up in the Opposition once again. He became Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. he also served on many Committees.
During the time of the 3rd House of Assembly, disagreements within the Virgin Islands Party saw Julian becoming leader of the charge in forming a new Political Group -"Progressives United"- where he became the Chairman and served out the rest of the Term.
In the 2019 Elections Julian was again successful and remained in the Opposition, serving on every committee in the House of Assembly. During the term he again assumed the title of Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee to the conclusion of the term in April of 2023.
In April 2023 General Elections were had for a Fifth House of Assembly, and Julian again led Progressives United into the elections and he won his seat for a 7th consecutive Term. He now serves in the Opposition of the 5th House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.