The Virgin Islands is one of 16 countries and territories newly whitelisted by the European Union on Tuesday, with the reveal of the EU’s revised “white list” of “non-cooperative tax …
February 20, 2020
February 20, 2020
New app to guide tourists, residents
A few months ago, David Penn found a stranger in front of his house looking for the law firm Mourant Ozannes. Although Mr. Penn informed him he had arrived at …
February 17, 2020
Plaza partners with government job effort
Thirty Virgin Islanders have jobs because a new gas station and car wash is taking part in government’s “1,000 Jobs in 1,000 Days” programme, officials said this week. Owner Allison …
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February 14, 2020
Coronavirus affects VI financial services
Coronavirus has not arrived on Virgin Islands shores, but it may already be having an effect on one of the territory’s flagship industries. Hong Kong branches of VI financial services …
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February 6, 2020
Business solutions forum topics revealed
The “Business Solutions Forum” on financial services last week was closed to the media, but BVI Finance said in a subsequent press release that the approximately 80 attendees discussed “infrastructure, …
February 6, 2020
Q3 incorporation bump offers faint hope
Incorporation numbers managed a slight recovery in the third quarter of 2019, with the Financial Services Commission reporting a 9.58 percent increase over Q2’s dismal performance, which saw the lowest …
February 3, 2020
New class of funds targeted by economic substance law
Amid further pressure from the European Union to demonstrate that companies registered here have “economic substance,” the Virgin Islands is introducing a new regulatory regime for private equity and other …
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February 3, 2020
Solutions Forum held for financial services
Government held the second of its Business Solutions Forums on Tuesday — though any ideas arising from the forums have yet to be revealed to the public. Tuesday’s forum, held …
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January 29, 2020
International Tax Authority still understaffed, director says
As of November the International Tax Authority had been able to fill only 13 of the 35 positions it announced as vacant last year, despite tax information requests continuing to …
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January 20, 2020
Fahie responds to French blacklisting
Premier Andrew Fahie last week responded to the French blacklisting of the Virgin Islands, calling it a “misunderstanding” involving a delay in responding to French requests for tax information that …
January 16, 2020
Lambert resort back after more than 3 years
Visitors to Tortola’s East End have a new lodging option with the reopening late last year of Wyndham Lambert Beach Resort, a project in the works even before Hurricane Irma …
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January 9, 2020
Rosewood Little Dix Bay reopens on Virgin Gorda
Rosewood Little Dix Bay, the 55-year-old Virgin Gorda resort founded by legendary philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller, reopened last week after a four-year closure exacerbated by damage from Hurricane Irma. The 500-acre …
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December 24, 2019
Airbnb to pay hotel tax in VI
Government has signed an agreement with Airbnb allowing the online booking agent to submit hotel accommodation tax directly to the government, according to a press release issued last Thursday. On …
December 23, 2019
BVIF slams report linking VI to scandals
A recent report from Berlin-based non-governmental organisation Transparency International explores how businesses and institutions in the United Kingdom help corrupt individuals and regimes launder money, and it draws a “clear …
December 12, 2019
France may blacklist Virgin Islands, others
France plans to add the Virgin Islands to a blacklist along with the Seychelles, Anguilla and the Bahamas because they are “not cooperative enough in terms of financial transparency,” French …
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December 11, 2019
Scotiabank sold to Trinidad-based bank
Scotiabank announced earlier this month that it has reached an agreement for the sale of 100 percent of the shares of its Virgin Islands branch to Trinidad-based Republic Financial Holdings …
December 6, 2019
VI marks 35 years of incorporations
Last week, as the Virgin Islands celebrated the 35th anniversary of the International Business Company Act, 1984, three H. Lavity Stoutt Community College debaters outlined why the act was so …
December 4, 2019
Business and government share dialogue in “solution forum”
A group of around 40 of what BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association Chairwoman Shaina Smith called the “unsung heroes” of the Virgin Islands economic recovery gathered on Tuesday …
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November 15, 2019
VI to host 3rd Arbitration Conference
The BVI International Arbitration Centre will host its third International Arbitration Conference next week as part of the Virgin Islands’ years-long effort to become a hub for out-of-court dispute resolution. …
November 13, 2019
VI to launch investment promotion agency
The Virgin Islands will soon launch an investment promotions agency called BVI Invest, which will work to attract foreign investment to the territory, leaders announced. BVI Invest will be part …
November 13, 2019
Logo designers go back to the drawing board
The six young competitors who vied to design a logo for the government’s new Innovative Business Lab set to launch next year are getting a lesson in working for demanding …
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November 4, 2019
US moves toward registers of beneficial ownership
Echoing a push in the United Kingdom and its territories toward greater corporate transparency, the United States House of Representatives last week passed a bipartisan bill requiring companies to disclose …
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November 4, 2019
Big ideas emerge during Innovation Week
“There are a lot of big deals in this room,” said emcee Kareem-Nelson Hull as he surveyed a conference room full of dozens of young Virgin Islands entrepreneurs at the …
October 30, 2019
Premier sees “minimal” impact from Hong Kong protests
The Virgin Islands financial services industry has seen “minimal” impact from the recent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Premier Andrew Fahie said while answering a question from Opposition Leader Marlon …
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October 28, 2019
‘Substance’ rules lead to BOSSS changes
An amendment to the Beneficial Ownership Secure Search System Act, which was rushed through the House of Assembly on Friday, is designed to pave the way for the new rules …
