Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina will end its 11-year affiliation with Marriott International’s Autograph Collection on Tuesday, resort officials announced last week while citing a need for more “flexibility.” …
July 30, 2023
July 25, 2023
WinAir launches new Virgin Islands route
The Virgin Islands welcomed the inaugural WinAir ATR 42 flight on Saturday, launching a new service connecting Beef Island with Antigua. “This development is also expected to contribute to the …
July 25, 2023
Businesses asked to take survey
Last week government issued a “Business Conditions Survey” designed to “capture changes in the business conditions and assess the current state of the economy.” The survey consists of 11 multiple-choice …
July 25, 2023
EZ Shipping blasts 2022 audit report
The debate last Thursday in the House of Assembly drew a sharp rebuke from a previous target of Auditor General Sonia Webster. On Tuesday, the Beacon received a statement from …
July 24, 2023
House of Assembly grants programme blasted by new report
Though some needy residents benefitted from the nearly $4 million in Covid-19 Assistance Grants handed out by House of Assembly members during the pandemic, others abused the programme in the …
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July 21, 2023
British territories meet with Caribbean Development Bank
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, the Virgin Islands discovered that its relatively high per-capita gross domestic product made it ineligible for certain forms of development assistance and concessionary financing …
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July 20, 2023
House of Assembly okays spending variations via a Schedule of Additional Provisions
After spending about 15 hours in closed-door committee over the course of a week, the House of Assembly voted unanimously last Thursday to pass a Schedule of Additional Provisions, freeing …
July 14, 2023
Department of Disaster Management gives tips for storm preparedness
As part of efforts to educate businesses on hurricane preparedness and other emergency measures, representatives from the Department of Disaster Management hosted a “Breakfast Forum” webinar yesterday morning in collaboration …
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July 14, 2023
House of Assembly approves new BVIEC chairman
On Friday, the House of Assembly approved the appointment of Sheldon Scatliffe as the BVI Electricity Corporation’s new chairman for a period of three years starting on July 4. He …
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July 14, 2023
National weather service in the works
Recognising the need to enhance weather forecasting capabilities and mitigate the effects of storms and climate change, the Ministry of Communications and Works is establishing a national meteorological service, CW …
July 14, 2023
Ministers to be grilled on business issues
Government ministers are to be grilled soon about banking, trade licences, employment and other business-related topics during the question-and-answer segment of the House of Assembly meeting scheduled to resume today. …
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July 11, 2023
Government aims for pre-Irma tourism numbers
Preliminary data shows growth in visitor arrivals in the first quarter of this year, and the trend is expected to accelerate with the help of the daily direct flights between …
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July 10, 2023
Smith plans trade mission to Guyana
To foster market diversification and expand international business, Virgin Islands leaders will conduct a trade mission to Guyana this month, according to Deputy Premier Lorna Smith. “Guyana has emerged as …
July 7, 2023
$1.7 million spent on Burt Point sewage plant so far
Out of $2.6 million contracted for the rehabilitation of the Burt Point wastewater treatment plant, $1.7 million has been spent to date, Transportation and Works Minister Kye Rymer said during …
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July 7, 2023
Biodiversity strategy in the works
Within the “next couple of months,” the government aims to begin developing a national biodiversity strategy and action plan through an Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States project, according to Premier …
July 6, 2023
House of Assembly to amend the ‘Greedy Bill’
The government is moving ahead with its promise to amend a controversial 2021 law that allows legislators to get paid up to four years’ salary after leaving office. An amendment …
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July 3, 2023
Incorporations drop again in Q1
Last year, company incorporations fell about 22 percent year-on-year, putting the brakes on a modest 2021 recovery from successive 20-year lows in 2019 and 2020. This year may be shaping …
July 3, 2023
Work permit renewal system tweaked
As part of ongoing efforts to streamline the work permit renewal process, Deputy Premier Lorna Smith announced on Monday that employers and human resource managers can now collect renewals on …
June 30, 2023
Cancer survivor competes at Mrs. Globe
As a cervical cancer survivor, Dr. Arliene Penn was struck by statistics provided by the World Health Organization: Each year, about 600,000 women are diagnosed with the disease, and some …
June 27, 2023
Incorporations down 22% in 2022
In 2022, incorporations fell about 22 percent year-on-year, putting the brakes on 2021’s modest recovery from successive 20-year lows in 2019 and 2020. Incorporation numbers — which are seen as …
June 26, 2023
Caribbean Development Bank rethinks development financing
In the age of climate disasters, pandemic concerns and economic uncertainty, development financing mechanisms must be re-tooled, leaders said this week at the Caribbean Development Bank’s 53rd Annual Heads of …
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June 22, 2023
At OECS, premier derides order in council again
As he has done repeatedly in recent months, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley used a regional forum this week to again denounce the United Kingdom’s ongoing threat to implement temporary …
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June 22, 2023
American Airlines to double daily flights this winter
After kicking off once-daily service between Beef Island and Miami at the start of the month, American Airlines announced last week that it will add a second daily direct flight …
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June 16, 2023
Maynards plead guilty, implicating ex-premier
Former BVI Ports Authority Managing Director Oleanvine Maynard and her son Kadeem Maynard both pleaded guilty on Monday in a Miami federal court, admitting that they conspired with then-Premier Andrew …
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June 16, 2023
‘Non-stop concert’ venue changed after outcry
Six days after Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley announced a “non-stop concert” to commemorate the beginning of direct flights between Miami and Beef Island, he said in a live statement …
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