A one-year management course coming next month to H. Lavity Stoutt Community College is designed for supervisors who lead teams, but it is also accessible to less-experienced students pursuing further …
Artificial intelligence may help crack down on money crime
The BVI Financial Investigation Agency may soon use artificial intelligence to crack down on child sexual exploitation, human smuggling and other illicit activity as it intensifies its efforts following recent …
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Winair eyes new flights to Virgin Islands
The St. Maarten-based regional airline Winair is considering expanding its operations in the Virgin Islands, officials said. “We see significant growth potential in the British Virgin Islands,” Winair CEO Hans …
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Financial sector defended in London
A London meeting with more than 30 high-level figures from the British financial services sector was hailed a success by Deputy Premier Lorna Smith. The gathering at BVI House last …
Deadline set as work permits move online
Work-permit processing has finally gone online after years of false starts, and the government announced last week that the new digital system must be used for all renewals from the …
Anti-money-crime reforms rushed through HOA
Six bills intended to combat money crime and terrorism financing were rushed through the House of Assembly last week in a bid to avoid international sanction. Deputy Premier Lorna Smith …
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Businesses urged to prep for storms
With another three months of hurricane season stretching ahead, businesses in the territory have been warned to get their disaster plans up to speed. The call came as BVI Finance …
Warning sounded over cybercrime
Businesses in the Virgin Islands have been warned of a rising wave of cybercrime sweeping across the Caribbean. Digicel BVI CEO Mara Samaniego urged firms in the territory to strengthen …
Virgin Islands urged to match other OTs on company registers
The Virgin Islands could face an economic hit if it does not keep pace with other overseas territories as they expand access to their company registers in the coming months, …
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Flemming Street shops want flood relief
Shopkeepers in the commercial heart of Road Town have called for urgent strategic action to help stem the heavy loss of trade caused by regular flooding. Business owners on Flemming …
Virgin Islands heading for intense financial scrutiny, experts predict
The Virgin Islands is headed for increasingly intense international scrutiny despite a government drive to push through a raft of anti-financial-crime measures in the coming weeks, experts have warned. Deputy …
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New VI flights will help boost business, carrier claims
Caribbean Airlines plans to launch new routes connecting the Virgin Islands to Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua and Puerto Rico starting on Oct. 14. Using ATR 72-600 aircraft that carry about 70 …
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Q1 incorporations bounce back after rocky year
The number of new companies incorporated in the Virgin Islands bounced back in the first quarter of 2024 after slumping to a 25-year low in the previous 12 months. The …
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New UK gov’t seen as ‘less hostile’ to OTs
The United Kingdom’s new Labour government will likely take a “less hostile approach” than its predecessors toward the Virgin Islands and other overseas territories, a senior VI official has predicted. …
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Premier defends airport expansion plan
The premier has defended plans to proceed with a major airport expansion despite the decision being made ahead of promised public meetings and the completion of a high-level business case. …
United Kingdom firm gets $104k contract to find water leaks
As part of efforts to tackle the water wastage that has plagued the territory for decades, the Recovery and Development Agency has contracted a United Kingdom-based consultant to detect leaks …
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Set to retire, Quito offers words of wisdom
To boost the tourism industry, the Virgin Islands should clean its roadways, shore up its infrastructure, and revisit plans to build a casino, among other steps, according to singer and …
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Government urged to boost land-based visits
The Virgin Islands is being left behind by tourism rivals like St. Thomas due to government complacency, opposition member Myron Walywn warned recently in the House of Assembly. To tackle …
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Minimum wage to jump to $8.50
The minimum wage in the Virgin Islands will soon increase to $8.50 an hour, Deputy Premier Lorna Smith announced today. The new baseline salary will come into effect on Nov. …
Premier rules out fully public company register
The government will not permit “uninhibited” access to information about companies registered in the Virgin Islands despite previous promises to implement a public register of beneficial ownership, Premier Dr. Natalio …
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Stamp duty waiver extended again
A stamp duty tax break brought in during the Covid crisis is to be extended for another year after saving first-time belonger property buyers about $1.5 million over the past …
BVIEC mum on cost of 3-year fuel deal
Despite weeks of requests from the Beacon, the BVI Electricity Corporation has withheld basic details of a major fuel deal signed recently with SOL St. Lucia Limited. The utility, which …
BOSSS bill pulled from House schedule
Legislation aimed at fighting money crime was dropped from the House of Assembly’s agenda at the last minute without explanation on Tuesday. The Beneficial Ownership Secure Search System (Amendment) Act …
Premier upbeat after UK talks at UN
Talks in New York between Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley and the British deputy ambassador to the United Nations have been hailed as “constructive.” The premier met James Kariuki during …
‘ Teething’ problems delay online work permits
The rollout of a much-vaunted initiative to put work-permit applications and renewals online has been hit by “inevitable teething issues,” Deputy Premier Lorna Smith said last week. Ms. Smith, who …
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