During recent question-and-answer sessions in the House of Assembly, Premier Andrew Fahie and Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone both refused to answer questions about tracking technology used to …
Delta variant confirmed in the territory
The highly contagious delta variant of Covid-19 has reached the shores of the territory, Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone confirmed Tuesday. On Aug. 4, 19 samples were sent …
Cabinet Briefs (July 14 and 21, 2021)
Governor John Rankin chaired online Cabinet meetings on July 14 and 21. All members were present except Attorney General Dawn Smith, who was on personal leave, according to a summary …
All schools allowed to bring back students
The new academic year is fast approaching, and government announced this week that all private and public schools will be permitted to have students return for in-person instruction. The recent …
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National Parks Trust marks 60 years
What began as a volunteer-led effort to protect the environment in the 1960s grew over the decades into a professionally staffed organisation in charge of managing 21 national parks, restoring …
Police seize 3 motorbikes
Police seized three motorcycles, two of which exceeded the legal engine size allowed in the Virgin Islands, on Aug. 2. The Road Policing Unit and the Armed Response Unit located …
New vaccine options offered in USVI
As the number of active Covid-19 cases drops, government continues to push for more residents to get vaccinated. Government announced July 30 that it would offer residents the opportunity to …
Covid cases down, but deaths at 37
Friday was an emotional day as family members of Clive, Kyle and Harisia Baronville held a funeral for their departed. The brothers and sister all contracted Covid-19 and died last …
Virgin Islands cop charged in January drug seizure
Police arrested one of their own on July 29 and charged him with possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of a controlled …
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Festival held virtually due to Covid spike
This year’s August Emancipation Festival was dramatically scaled back to a few virtual events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but organisers hope to celebrate in person later this year if …
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Panel eases G20 tax plan fears
Now that the Group of 20 finance ministers has agreed to United States President Joe Biden’s proposal for a global corporate minimum tax rate of at least 15 percent, some …
New USVI-based health services chair approved
During an emergency meeting on July 29, the House of Assembly approved the appointment of a new BVI Health Services Authority Board chairman, Moleto Smith Jr., who is based in …
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Fans cheer on history-making Olympic finalists
Though most August Emancipation Festival activities were cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, residents joined in a celebration of national pride on Aug. 3 with a motorcade honouring …
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‘Political adviser’ plan draws fire
The Cabinet recently approved the hiring of up to nine “ministerial political advisers” who each could be paid as much as $120,000 per year under a system similar to the …
Group cleans miles of shoreline
Nearly 50,000 feet of Virgin Islands shoreline have been scoured for abandoned fishing gear and other trash in recent months, and more than 15 truckloads have been carted to Pockwood …
Cabinet Briefs (July 5 and July 8, 2021)
Governor John Rankin chaired an online special Cabinet meeting on July 5 and an online meeting on July 8. All members were present except Premier Andrew Fahie and Attorney General …
Gambling law, 17 others take effect
Laws on gambling, consumer protection, digital security and other matters recently got the go-ahead from Premier Andrew Fahie and Governor John Rankin, who brought 18 acts into force this month. …
Officials: Ministry was aware of ESHS wall overruns
The Elmore Stoutt High School perimeter wall project, which has been investigated extensively by the Commission of Inquiry in recent months, was the focus of the last two hearings the …
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Government drafts guidelines for Covid-19 burials
The Ministry of Health and Social Development has instituted new rules for burying people who have died with Covid-19. According to the guidelines, public viewings at churches, sanctuaries or funeral …
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Magistrates’ Court still holding hearings remotely
After the Magistrates’ Court closed indefinitely on June 30 following a staff member testing positive for Covid-19, its Sakal Place offices reopened on July 12 with limited hours, but the …
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Active Covid cases trend downward as deaths rise to 31
After sequencing 37 samples of Covid-19 from the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean Public Health Agency did not detect the highly contagious delta variant that officials had suspected was to blame …
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August Festival events postponed
Last year’s August Emancipation Festival was marked with a mashup of virtual and in-person events featuring live-streamed musical showcases and poetry competitions as well as small traditional markets and food …
COMMENTARY — Alarm raised over border security
It is not breaking news that the Virgin Islands is surrounded by water and so there are only two ways to enter the territory: by air or sea. From childhood, …
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Premier meets with UNDP representatives
Premier Andrew Fahie met virtually with United Nations Development Programme officials this month to discuss continued collaboration between the Virgin Islands and the UNDP on Covid-19 response, sustainable development, resilience …
Government pushes vaccination drive as territory records 23 Covid-19 deaths
The Covid-19 outbreak in the Virgin Islands shows few signs of slowing down, with at least 19 people dead over the past nine days and health workers struggling to respond …
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