On Nov. 28, residents will be able to enjoy an early Christmas treat at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park: an artificial ice-skating rink. In a VI first, the …
Mathavious awarded in Queen’s Honours
The long-time leader of the Financial Services Commission is the territory’s latest recipient of the Order of the British Empire after being named in the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours. Robert …
Ports gives few details on Virgin Gorda land purchase
In an effort to fulfill a longstanding expansion plan, the BVI Ports Authority has purchased parcels of land in Virgin Gorda in order to separate cargo and passenger ports in …
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Opposition pushes government for tourism plan
In keeping with their promise to host monthly discussions with the media and the public, opposition members hosted a press conference on Sept. 30 where they distanced themselves from Premier …
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RDA contracts up to almost $15 million this year
The Recovery and Development Agency signed three contracts totalling nearly $1.75 million on Monday for projects including repairs to the Road Town Police Station and roadwork at Great Mountain and …
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Ideas offered for reforms to holidays
Instead of celebrating Commonwealth Day, St. Ursula’s Day and Territory Day with public holidays each year, the territory should observe Heroes’ Day, Maritime Heritage Day, and Virgin Islands Day, according …
623 red mangrove seedlings planted across Virgin Islands
Despite heavy rain on Saturday, more than 100 volunteers equipped themselves with waders and gloves, transplanting 632 red mangrove seedlings across the territory. Of those, 204 seedlings were planted in …
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ANALYSIS: Six months into Covid-19, uncertainty remains
Six months have passed since the first two cases of Covid-19 were announced in the Virgin Islands on March 25, and government decisions to control the virus have been met …
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$4.4m paid in unemployment, Wheatley says
The government’s $10 million Unemployment Relief Fund has benefitted 3,457 people to the tune of $4,366,488, with 2,117 claims denied and 2,072 new ones still processing as of last Thursday, …
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Hospital gets accreditation
The Dr. Orlando Smith Hospital has achieved accreditation with the Norway-headquartered accrediting body DNV-GL, making it the first in the region to earn the status and one of three public …
Borders to open to tourism on Dec. 1
Pink flamingos and flourishing reefs were among the scenes in a video premiere launching “BVI Love,” a marketing campaign geared toward bringing tourism back to the territory on Dec. 1. …
Curfew relaxed as Covid reports slow
With just five new cases of Covid-19 announced over the past week, Cabinet decided to issue a relaxed curfew order that took effect yesterday, allowing most businesses to open and …
Local tours boom during pandemic
Shortly before leading a group of hikers into the bush at Brewers Bay, Mervin Hastings stood in front of sugar mill ruins and debunked the myth that the island of …
VI re-elected as vice chair of regional body
The Virgin Islands was re-elected last Thursday as the vice chair of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee, a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America …
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Cruise ships with no passengers can now dock
The Virgin Islands closed to cruise ships on March 14, three days after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic. Now, six months later, cruise ships might finally return …
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Latest batch of Covid tests return
Following hundreds of Covid-19 tests that skyrocketed the Virgin Islands’ tally of confirmed cases over the past three weeks, government announced on Tuesday that 111 people had all tested negative …
Underfunded hurricane recovery still dragging
As the Covid-19 crisis has decimated the economy in recent months, leaders have sought to counter the dismal outlook while rolling out more than $10 million worth of contracts under …
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Opposition takes aim at Covid response
The day after the government hosted a more-than-three-hour-long Covid-19 press conference last week, opposition members voiced their concerns about leaders’ recent decisions, calling on them to present a detailed plan …
‘Manage It’ phase in effect as Covid spikes
Twenty-one more cases of Covid-19 have been detected throughout the territory in the past seven days, briefly shutting down two police stations after officers tested positive and prompting leaders to …
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Active Covid cases spike to record high
Ten days ago, the Virgin Islands was being lauded as an example in the fight against Covid-19. There were no known active cases, the curfew had just been lifted, and …
Borders to open to expats Sept. 1
The week after extending the ban on expatriates entering the territory, government reversed course on Friday and said they could return starting Sept. 1 as part of a whirlwind of …
East End fire station now first satellite emergency base
A waterproof, airtight container that could store a dozen solar- or battery-powered communications devices — including radio transmitters — sits in an office at the newly re-opened East End/Long Look …
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Ninth case confirmed, expats still barred
After a ninth Covid-19 case was announced in the territory on Aug. 1, residents angrily debated government’s subsequent announcement that it would continue blocking expatriates stranded abroad from returning to …
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Soca and calypso showcases go virtual
Thousands tuned into the virtual soca and calypso showcases this week in the comfort and safety of their own homes, jamming to sounds that represent the Virgin Islands. Both virtual …
Historic sloop back in the water
“Boy, you hear that crispy sound?” Jamel “Fiyah” Davies said with a smile as he stepped off the brightly painted sailboat Youth Instructor. “That the sound of new sails. The …