As the Covid-19 pandemic continued to batter the Virgin Islands economy in September 2020, Premier Andrew Fahie authorised a system of distributing stimulus grants to religious organisations and schools, he …
Premier signs $411,000 CCTV contract
Last Thursday, Premier Andrew Fahie signed a $411,000 contract with FLOW to restore the CCTV system that was destroyed during the hurricanes of 2017, Police Information Officer Diane Drayton announced …
Work permit system goes online
A new electronic work permit system has arrived just as the Covid-19 pandemic has led to more and more business being conducted remotely. Premier Andrew Fahie, during a virtual rollout …
Ministers claim to ‘distrust’ United Kingdom
In a 33-page position statement to the Commission of Inquiry, Premier Andrew Fahie and his six ministers called for a “true partnership” between the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom, …
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More port fee hikes postponed, again
After Premier Andrew Fahie abruptly postponed to next year most of the controversial port fee hikes that put the business community in an uproar earlier this year, the BVI Ports …
Premier: Financial services helping VI through Covid
With only a modest dip in revenue so far this year compared to early 2020, the financial services industry has continued to buoy the territory’s economy while other sectors have …
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Premier details port purchases, finances
The BVI Ports Authority has enhanced its patrolling capabilities with the acquisition of a new speedboat, Premier Andrew Fahie announced in a House of Assembly sitting last Thursday, during which …
$300k contract signed for EE centre
Community centres in the Virgin Islands serve as gathering spaces in good times and as vital shelters during storms, but many of them have sat in ruins since taking severe …
Beacon can’t get Skelton-Cline’s ‘public’ contracts
The United Kingdom commission of inquiry has asked government consultant Claude Skelton-Cline to turn over all documents related to his contracts with the government, he said on an April 27 …
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2020 tourism industry revenue dipped nearly $280m
Although the dramatic pandemic-related slowdown in the tourism industry is evident from the Virgin Islands’ uncrowded beaches and vacant hotel rooms, statistics Premier Andrew Fahie presented to the House of …
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Deposit insurance programme delayed
A regime designed to protect bank customers’ deposits has a new target date of 2022, as a consultant hired last year continues her work on subsidiary legislation to the Virgin …
Construction is booming, premier says
Despite the economic downturn in 2020 related to the Covid-19 pandemic, Premier Andrew Fahie called 2020 “an extremely busy year” for the construction industry in the Virgin Islands. The Town …
Construction is booming, premier says
Despite the economic downturn in 2020 related to the Covid-19 pandemic, Premier Andrew Fahie called 2020 “an extremely busy year” for the construction industry in the Virgin Islands. The Town …
Woman dies after being shot during a robbery at her home
Violent crimes continue to roil the territory, as a string of robberies in recent weeks has led up to the death of Catherine Pickering, 67, who became the ninth person …
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Premier flip-flops on port fees
Premier Andrew Fahie has abruptly reversed most of the controversial fee hikes from the BVI Ports Authority that have put the business community in an uproar. “The majority of the …
Government seeks renewable energy plan similar to one drafted before 2019 election
The government is seeking a consultant to draft a plan to help the Virgin Islands transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. But such a plan was approved by …
Premier isolates, tests negative after Covid-19 exposure
As elected officials self-isolated due to potential exposure to Covid-19 at a Sea Cows Bay funeral and active cases rose to their highest level in months, Health and Social Development …
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Cruise ships to return in June, with new rules
Cruise ships are now scheduled to return to the territory in June under strict new rules designed to keep the territory safe from Covid-19, according to a Friday statement from …
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Border security officers get allowances
Members of the joint task force working extra shifts on border security have been paid additional allowances of $400 per month as promised, Premier Andrew Fahie said last week in …
New bill passed to boost electronic transfers
A bill that would boost mobile commerce by regulating the electronic transfer of funds for both the public and private sectors passed unanimously Tuesday in the House of Assembly. Bipartisan …
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UK publishes draft order for public registers
The Virgin Islands government has “significant reservations” about a draft order in council on public registers of beneficial ownership, according to Premier Andrew Fahie. The draft, which was published on …
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CCT sues over telecom levy
CCT and BVI Cable TV are challenging the telecommunications levy that regulators recently decided to start collecting for the first time since the Telecommunications Act took effect in 2006. In …
Reopening protocols tweaked
Despite considerable outcry from tourism stakeholders, government announced on Tuesday that it won’t budge on its four-day quarantine rule for anyone entering the territory when borders open to tourists on …