Sir Richard Branson wants a $500 million bailout for Virgin Atlantic from the United Kingdom government, and after the request drew criticism he offered up Necker Island as collateral. “Over …
May 6, 2020
May 1, 2020
Chamber offers ideas to help businesses
With much of the economy still shut down, how do employers pay laid-off work permit holders so they can survive and stay in the territory? Why can’t businesses that don’t …
April 17, 2020
Amid pandemic, tourism stalls
Nearly two and a half years after Hurricane Irma, tourism in the Virgin Islands was back. Hotel rooms were full, cruise cabins were packed, charter yachts were booked solid. Then …
April 13, 2020
Law helps financial services shift abroad in crisis
A law rushed through the House of Assembly last month and Gazetted last Thursday is designed to help the financial services industry continue to work remotely in exceptional circumstances, such …
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April 6, 2020
Businesses retool products to fight virus
For Linda Phillips of Doyle Sailmakers, the coronavirus pandemic has meant learning an entirely new skill. The company is now producing face masks to help health care workers and patients …
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April 2, 2020
Don’t overbuy, warn supermarkets
Supermarkets in the territory will be able to restock shelves during the ongoing lockdown and are not in danger of running out of essentials, according to supermarket personnel and a …
March 31, 2020
Financial services adapt to ‘social distancing’
For financial services firms now compelled to conduct most or all of their business virtually due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Virgin Islands is an ideal place to do …
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March 26, 2020
Banks roll out flexible payments, safety measures
Virgin Islands banks are taking “proactive steps” to help customers struggling through the global coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement issued Friday by the seven-member BVI Bank Association. This might …
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March 19, 2020
Businesses learn how to cope with virus
Hand sanitiser may be scarce on Virgin Islands store shelves, but public health personnel have a message for business owners seeking to protect staff and customers from contacting the deadly …
March 13, 2020
Pier Park braces in case of virus
On Tuesday at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, the doors of shops and restaurants were flung wide open to the roughly 4,000 passengers aboard the Disney Fantasy moored …
March 9, 2020
Panel seeks to demystify bank loans
In these days of increased regulations and enhanced due diligence, applying for a bank loan can be dizzying. But five bankers were on hand to demystify the process for nearly …
March 9, 2020
Answers on Tortola Pier Park customs duty raise questions
Last week Premier Andrew Fahie provided some previously missing data on the amount of revenue the Customs Department collected from licensed duty-free merchants at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier …
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March 3, 2020
Beer designed to be VI’s ‘own’
When Robin Periana and Mike Kyne began exploring the Virgin Islands, hoping to find a place to begin new chapters of their lives, it didn’t take long before a business …
February 27, 2020
New, reopening restaurants show off at fundraiser
With new ingredients, new facilities, new locations and new personnel, many of the businesses that showcased their wares at the annual Governor’s Gourmet Gathering on Friday agreed with Bitter End …
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February 20, 2020
Virgin Islands makes EU ‘white list’
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
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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