Legislators celebrated the allocation of funds to several delayed capital projects before passing the 2023 budget on Dec. 21, but they also called attention to other stalled work and took …
December 22, 2022
December 6, 2022
Premier unveils $399m budget
Though the Virgin Islands’ 2022 fiscal policy was overshadowed by global economic crises and the lingering effects of the pandemic, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” painted an optimistic picture of a …
September 2, 2022
House of Assembly approves $12.6 million in spending variations
After spending nearly seven hours in closed-door committee on Tuesday, the House of Assembly unanimously passed a motion approving a schedule of additional provisions, freeing up almost $12.6 million in …
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June 12, 2022
HOA okays $31 million in spending variations
After spending nearly seven hours in closed-door committee on Tuesday, the House of Assembly passed a motion approving a Schedule of Additional Provisions on Tuesday with a unanimous vote, freeing …
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June 3, 2022
House of Assembly green-lights 2021 supplementary spending
Unanticipated expenses including security, arbitration, infrastructure, and public servant increments required legislators to approve supplementary spending for 2021 and 2022, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said on May 26 in …
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December 27, 2021
Government passes nearly $400 million 2022 budget
After more than twelve hours of debate over two days, the House of Assembly on Dec. 15 passed a nearly $400 million budget for 2022, with almost $337 million put …
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December 15, 2021
Government aims for growth in 2022 budget
Two contrasting pictures of the territory’s economic future emerged during the budget debate this week in the House of Assembly. Government legislators described 2021 as a successful year despite the …
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November 19, 2021
Premier presents $397m budget
Following another year of economic struggles amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Premier Andrew Fahie promised a brighter 2022 during his budget address on Nov. 11. Government, he said, hopes to tap …
October 1, 2021
HOA okays almost $50m in spending changes
While lawmakers were working recently to avoid pandemic-related deficit spending, they saw some “interesting things” in the budget because of spending that was not “mindful,” Premier Andrew Fahie said in …
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March 18, 2021
Government saw $30 million revenue shortfall during 2020
Legislators have often discussed the financial hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but they hashed out some of the details during last week’s House of Assembly sitting. The territory was …
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October 20, 2020
Budget additions, stamp duty waiver affirmed
Nine resolutions recently approved by the House of Assembly appeared in the Gazette on Oct. 7, finalising an array of HOA decisions such as the addition of millions of dollars …
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September 1, 2020
HOA approves reshuffle of 2020 budget
Because of government revenue losses during the Covid-19 pandemic, the House of Assembly recently decided to adjust the 2020 budget, approving $77 million in extra spending and shuffling tens of …
December 20, 2019
Opposition cries foul over HOA treatment
The opposition gave a press conference on Monday in which they criticised the fact that the budget debate on Friday initially proceeded without most opposition members present, although it later …
December 20, 2019
House passes $414 million budget
On Friday members of the House of Assembly passed a $414 million budget following a lengthy debate over the Appropriations Act 2020. Throughout the debate, nearly every member stressed the …
October 28, 2019
$710k festivals budget ballooned to $1.9 million in spending
The Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee started out the year with a budget of $710,000, which later was upped to $1.3 million before expenditures ultimately topped $1.9 million, according …
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May 4, 2019
HOA passes $427 million budget
The House of Assembly passed a $427,657,383 budget on Friday after two days of debate. The Appropriation Act 2019 “is now in its final stage before it can be fully …
April 5, 2019
Premier unveils a ‘transitional budget’
Premier Andrew Fahie said that the 2019 budget, which he detailed at the House of Assembly on Tuesday, mainly reflects the past administration’s efforts but that his government was able …
May 4, 2018
Lawmakers budget for a deficit in 2018
House of Assembly lawmakers unanimously passed the 2018 Appropriation Act on Friday, budgeting for a deficit for the first time in recent memory. The budget passed with amendments, and though …