"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Premier Andrew Fahie appears to have softened his government’s stance on the United Kingdom’s push for the overseas territories to enact public registers of beneficial owner- ship by 2023. For …
Continue reading “Premier softens position on public registers”
A recent uptick in cases of Covid-19 in the Virgin Islands meant that community members couldn’t host any sort of large gathering on Sunday to reflect on the past three …
Though the annual Emancipation Service could not be held in person due to Covid-19 precautions, viewers who tuned in to a virtual version of the event last week still got …
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission failed to collect nearly $23 million in levies due from licensed operators since 2007, and it now has been charged with getting those funds, Premier Andrew …
Continue reading “Telecommunications commission eyes $23m in uncollected levies”
The United Kingdom government singled out the Virgin Islands last week as the sole holdout among the inhabited UK overseas territories and Crown dependencies that has not committed to introducing …
Government continued its recent series of infrastructure projects last Thursday, with Autland Heavy Equipment Company Limited awarded a contract for $194,065.08 from the Recovery and Development Agency for the first …
Continue reading “$194k contract awarded for Great Mountain road”
Last week, Republic Bank Managing Director Michelle Palmer-Keizer spoke to one of her customers, a small-business owner who had received a six-month moratorium on her bank loan. “She said, ‘I’m …
A taxpayer-funded report from an Atlanta-based consultant engaged in December to assess the future of air transportation in the Virgin Islands is “before the [BVI Airports Authority] board and not …
Government intends to use a portion of the $65 million Caribbean Development Bank recovery loan to build the long-awaited West End ferry terminal, and it is now seeking a consulting …
During last year’s election campaign, now-Premier Andrew Fahie opposed the incumbents’ rush to extend the Beef Island runway following the government’s receipt of a $153 million bid from the China …
Continue reading “Airport expansion in the works once again”
The Financing and Money Services Act 2020, which passed unanimously Friday in the House of Assembly, imposes a seven percent tax on funds sent outside the territory via money services …
Continue reading “HOA votes to levy 7% tax on sending money via money services”
The Cabinet has approved certain aspects of an economic stimulus programme designed to help the territory weather the coronavirus pandemic, and full details will be disclosed soon, Premier Andrew Fahie …
Continue reading “Cabinet okays ‘interim’ stimulus framework”
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 …
Continue reading “Law helps financial services shift abroad in crisis”
When I left the Virgin Islands on Wednesday, March 11 for a short trip to Austin, Texas, things seemed mostly like business as usual. A brief COVID-19 scare in the …
Continue reading “Quarantined: Business editor recounts journey back to VI”
Carolyn O’Neal Morton, a former teacher and head of the Ministry of Education and Culture, has been appointed the new permanent secretary in the Premier’s Office, as Kedrick Malone’s six-month …
Continue reading “Carolyn O’Neal Morton to head Premier’s Office”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Answers on Tortola Pier Park customs duty raise questions”
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 …
Continue reading “Plaza partners with government job effort”
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, …
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 …
Continue reading “Solutions Forum held for financial services”
Seated next to Premier Andrew Fahie during a surprise press conference at Village Cay, Alvera Maduro-Caines announced Monday afternoon that she had resigned from the National Democratic Party and will …
Continue reading “Alvera Caines-Maduro, D-6 rep, crosses the aisle to Virgin Islands Party”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Business and government share dialogue in “solution forum””
