At the annual August Emancipation Festival in late July and early August, the people of the Virgin Islands have traditionally celebrated emancipation and the basic freedoms we enjoy today. But …
August 23, 2023
January 18, 2023
COMMENTARY — At 20, London Office praised
When then-Chief Minister Ralph O’Neal and his administration successfully acquired BVI House in July 2002 to set up the BVI London Office, it was with a clear understanding that the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — At 20, London Office praised”
June 16, 2021
COMMENTARY — Call made for referendum on political status by 2030
The below is adapted from the speech Mr. Wheatley delivered on June 6 during the Frederick Pickering Memorial Lecture Series at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Let me …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made for referendum on political status by 2030”
July 1, 2020
COMMENTARY — VI urged to tackle discrimination
The Black Lives Matter movement is prompting the Virgin Islands to look at both racial injustice abroad and discrimination at home as global protests continue around the world against police …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — VI urged to tackle discrimination”
June 3, 2020
COMMENTARY — Covid-19 compared to hurricanes
The Virgin Islands’ economic recovery from Covid-19 will be very different from its economic bounce-back after hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the public must prepare for a challenging economic period …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Covid-19 compared to hurricanes”
March 18, 2020
COMMENTARY — Call made to celebrate legislature’s 70th year
The Virgin Islands’ freedom to make its own political and economic decisions is often taken for granted by Virgin Islanders and other residents who are unfamiliar with the modern history …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made to celebrate legislature’s 70th year”
February 19, 2020
COMMENTARY — Post-Brexit, UK urged to forge a new partnership with OTs
The overseas territories’ place in post-Brexit Britain remains unclear as the United Kingdom begins life outside of the European Union. Since the Conservative Party’s landslide victory at the polls on …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Post-Brexit, UK urged to forge a new partnership with OTs”
December 18, 2019
Commentary — 2019 hurricane response reviewed
The 2019 hurricane season, which saw the immense challenge faced by the Bahamas government in mounting an overall response to the destruction of Abaco by Hurricane Dorian, has prompted much …
Continue reading “Commentary — 2019 hurricane response reviewed”
December 4, 2019
COMMENTARY — Fears of ‘soft colonialism’ aired as UK election looms
As the United Kingdom general election approaches, the country’s ongoing political turmoil over Brexit continues to overshadow the strained relationship between the overseas territories and the UK. The critical issue …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Fears of ‘soft colonialism’ aired as UK election looms”
November 27, 2019
COMMENTARY — Call made to mark 1949 protest
Sunday will mark 70 years since the Great March of 1949 in which the people of the Virgin Islands peacefully marched through Road Town to protest the gross neglect of …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made to mark 1949 protest”
February 20, 2019
Commentary — ‘Where will the money come from?’
The people of the Virgin Islands go to the polls next Thursday to elect a government for the next four years. The election comes as the territory is entering a …
Continue reading “Commentary — ‘Where will the money come from?’”
December 10, 2018
Commentary — 40 years of fiscal independence
It should not be taken for granted that the Virgin Islands is today financially self-sufficient or that the government’s finances are managed by a finance minister appointed from among the …
Continue reading “Commentary — 40 years of fiscal independence”
September 25, 2018
Commentary — Policy fellow questions UK’s recovery support
As the peak of the 2018 hurricane season progresses, Britain is on standby as its Caribbean overseas territories remain vulnerable after the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria a year …
Continue reading “Commentary — Policy fellow questions UK’s recovery support”
August 28, 2018
COMMENTARY — Need seen to ‘rebalance’ economy
There are very serious economic and financial implications for the Virgin Islands as a consequence of the United Kingdom decision to impose public registers of beneficial ownership on the overseas …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Need seen to ‘rebalance’ economy”
August 7, 2018
COMMENTARY — Roadmap offered for ‘truly modern’ VI
As the Virgin Islands continues to rebuild from hurricanes Irma and Maria, a compelling vision is needed to capture the imagination of the people of the islands and gain the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Roadmap offered for ‘truly modern’ VI”