Facing increasing pressure from members of the United Kingdom Parliament, the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man jointly announced last week what they called “a series …
Graduations begin with VISTS, CCEC
Graduation season kicked off for the territory’s secondary schools last week with a ceremony at the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies, which saw 17 students receive their diplomas on …
Red Cross raises over $40K at gala
The melodies floating over the crowd gathered at Government House for the BVI Red Cross Music for Humanity fundraiser on Friday delighted attendees’ ears to the record-setting tune of over …
Regional tourism grew in Q1
The Caribbean recorded a 12 percent increase in tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2019 spurred on by a 24 percent rise in arrivals from the United States, according …
Inland Revenue computer system “outdated and corrupt”
The deputy commissioner of inland revenue, Orris Thomas, has called his department’s computer system “outdated, corrupt, unstable and [likely to] crash at any time,” according to a report on the …
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Thousands attend Buju concert, organisers pleased
Ten people and ten days. That’s what it took to set up the stage for what organisers billed as the largest concert in Virgin Islands history. With an estimated attendance …
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“Smart travel” ideas win tourism contest
Tourism in the Virgin Islands — home of wooden boats and beach shacks — would go ultra- high-tech if the new “junior minister of tourism” has anything to say about …
Willy T set to return to Norman Island
Starting in July, the Willy T floating bar and restaurant will be back where many visitors and residents feel it belongs — in its original location, anchored off The Bight …
Caribbean Development Bank pushes ‘digital transformation’
Caribbean Development Bank President Dr. William Warren Smith called for private-sector-led “digital transformation” to achieve a sustainable future in the region as it faces external threats from globalisation and natural …
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Hire BVI job fair a place to apply, learn
At 11 a.m. on Friday, Jonathan Hing was already ahead of the game. As around 50 of his fellow jobseekers wandered around, he had filled out an application from The …
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VI fires back after topping “tax haven” list
BVI Finance has clapped back after the Virgin Islands topped a list of the “most corrosive corporate tax havens” in the world published last week by the Tax Justice Network. …
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Swimmers and paddlers return to North Sound
It was the second year of the new course for Swim and SUP the Sound, and after an early morning downpour a total of 62 racers, including six stand-up paddleboarders, …
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Premier backs down on 15-year-belongership plan
The House of Assembly on Monday passed the controversial amendment to the Immigration and Passport Act that was meant to allow Premier Andrew Fahie to enact the “Clear Path to …
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Financial services had best year since 2015
The territory’s financial services industry managed to weather a number of threats from abroad and finished 2018 stronger than the previous two years, as indicated by recently published fourth-quarter 2018 …
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Making a will won’t kill you, says FSC panel
When Judy Varlack-Pickering’s husband died, he didn’t have a will. Still, she thought everything would work out smoothly “because he was my husband.” She soon received a rude shock. “When …
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Fahie: West End port to open to international ferries by August
Premier Andrew Fahie vowed on Friday to get the West End port facility open to international ferries by Aug. 1, describing the situation during a House of Assembly sitting as …
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Belongership “fast track” postponed
An amendment related to the controversial “fast-track” plan to residency and belongership being championed by Premier Andrew Fahie is scheduled for a hearing in the House of Assembly on Monday, …
Government still working on UK loan guarantee
As government continues struggling to access money from the $65.2 million Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, leaders still have not been able to secure further recovery …
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Belongership debate heats up
After Hurricane Irma destroyed her apartment and ripped through the restaurant where she worked in September 2017, Raquel Richmond had a choice to make: go back to her native Jamaica …
42 naturalised in ceremony
Shaquille Walker, 26, excitedly described his plans after being officially named a British overseas territory citizen alongside 41 other people during a ceremony last Friday, May 10, at Government House. …
Vistra: VI retains importance in offshore world
As the financial services industry faces existential threats from multiple directions, a recent report found good news for the Virgin Islands: The territory is among a small number of offshore …
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Residency application period shortened
Applicants seeking to regularise their status in the Virgin Islands through the government’s new “fast-track programme” — whether via permanent-resident status, belongership or both — will have less time to …
Consumer protection to be introduced again
After years of promises, the territory might finally get consumer protection legislation. Last week Cabinet approved the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, paving the way for a first reading in the …
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Nearly 200 derelict vessels to be removed
Contractors including salvagers, marine surveyors, project managers, recyclers and others are putting on their thinking caps, trying to figure out the best way to dispose of some 200 derelict vessels …
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Government eases rules for residency, belongership
Non-belongers who have lived here continuously for 15 years will soon be able to apply for residency and belongership under a new policy that eases the previous 20-year requirement to …
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