Dr. Virginia Rubaine had plans to travel on Sept. 7, 2017. But on Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma swept through the Virgin Islands, devastating homes, businesses and livelihoods, and dashing any …
Two years after Irma, many still struggling
For about 10 months before Hurricane Dorian brushed the Virgin Islands last week, Wendy Hendricks would wake up each morning in the tattered tent in which she was living near …
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Malone exempted from vacating seat over contracts
The House of Assembly voted on Monday to exempt Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone from vacating his seat despite his position as director of the companies Island Block …
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FCO fires back at premier on loan guarantee
As Premier Andrew Fahie continued to criticise the United Kingdom’s offer of a £300 million loan guarantee for the hurricane recovery, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office fired back Monday …
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AG denies ‘newspaper’ claims of fiscal mismanagement
Attorney General Baba Aziz stood in the House of Assembly on Monday to complain that a “newspaper of wide circulation” had published false claims insinuating that he had supervised the …
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Premier: Governor rejected PSC suggestions
Premier Andrew Fahie accused Governor Gus Jaspert on Monday of rejecting the Public Service Commission’s recommendations on the recent appointments of permanent secretaries. “I see his action as an insult …
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In the BVI, Dorian brought 83 mph winds but no reports of major damage
When Hurricane Dorian brushed the Virgin Islands last week, it was still a Category 1 storm, and no major damage resulted, said Department of Disaster Management Director Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome. However, …
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BVIHSA works toward accreditation
The BVI Health Services Authority is in the process of being accredited and is scheduled to be reviewed next month, Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone told the Standing …
BVI Tourist Board gets more funding
During Standing Finance Committee deliberations, BVI Tourist Board Director Sharon Flax-Brutus requested a budget of $14.2 million, an increase from $10.5 million in previous years. The request was approved, she …
Cabinet preserving damaged records
The Cabinet Office has been working to restore and preserve records stored at the R&R Malone Complex, some of which were damaged by soot from a fire and need to …
80% of government HR records now electronic
About 80 percent of all government employee records have been scanned and are available electronically, Human Resources Director Michelle Donovan-Stevens told legislators during the April Standing Finance Committee deliberations. She …
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Fraser says VI businesses treated unfairly
Third District Representative Julian Fraser pressed Premier Andrew Fahie in the House of Assembly on July 31 about what he described as unfair burdens placed on local Virgin Islands businesses, …
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Housing effort needs funds, Malone says
The government has received more than 600 applications for housing assistance since January 2018, representing over $43 million in funding requests, Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone said on …
Senior home to be expanded
The paediatric ward in the old Peebles Hospital will be retrofitted to accommodate ten more clients for the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, Health and Social Development Minister Carvin …
Fahie mum on ESHS wall report
In the House of Assembly sitting on July 31, Premier Andrew Fahie answered various questions related to the auditor general’s report on the Elmore Stoutt High School wall, road traffic …
HOA amends beneficial-ownership law
The House of Assembly passed the Beneficial Ownership Secure Search System (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2019 on Aug. 2, tweaking existing legislation in order to help ensure compliance with the European …
Inmates remanded for up to 8 years
Some inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison have been remanded in custody for as long as eight years, Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone said in the House of Assembly …
Spending from past Festivals not yet available
In part because of faulty recordkeeping in the past, comprehensive financial information about festivals from 2016 to the present is not currently available, according to Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries …
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Fahie touts cruise ship deals
After four months of “intense lobbying” with international cruise partners, Premier Andrew Fahie’s administration secured commitments to bring more than 64,000 additional cruise ship passengers into the territory for the …
Free-speech groups slam cybercrime bill
During an Aug. 1 House of Assembly meeting, legislators touted a bill that they said would help deter cyberbullying, character assassination, electronic blackmail and other nefarious online behaviour. But since …
Updates given on sports facilities, JVD school
No repairs have been made recently to the broken air conditioning system at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex, which was damaged in the 2017 hurricanes, according to Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, …
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HOA mulls Trade Commission Act
The Virgin Islands Trade Commission Act, which sets out a framework needed to complement the proposed Consumer Protection Act, was sent to a select committee in the House of Assembly …
Proposals sought for Palm Grove centre
Government has requested expressions of interest for the designing, financing and building of the Palm Grove Shopping Centre, according to Transportation, Works and Utilities Minister Kye Rymer. Speaking on July …
Amended belongership law passes
The House of Assembly passed the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 2019 on Aug. 1 after it was considered clause by clause through a committee of the whole House. …
Government has paid $130k of Willock-Vanterpool legal battle
The total cost of the legal battle between Speaker of the House Julian Willock and Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool totaled $270,000, and government has paid $130,000 of that so …
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