After less than five months on the opposition, At-Large Representative Lorna Smith has once again crossed the floor in a surprise move that strengthens Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley’s government by …
March 13, 2025
February 17, 2025
Premier wants governor out of Cabinet
The Virgin Islands governor should be stripped of his role overseeing Cabinet meetings, leaving the elected members to manage the territory’s affairs on their own, according to Premier Natalio “Sowande” …
October 31, 2024
Audit blasts 2019-2022 contracting procedures
The government tendered fewer than half of the major contracts it awarded between 2019 and 2022, and it often passed over the lowest offer for the rest, according to a …
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September 4, 2024
12 bills laid days before COI deadline
Two days before the missed Saturday deadline for completing the sweeping reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry, the House of Assembly suspended its usual rules to introduce 12 bills. …
August 2, 2024
HOA limits Cabinet’s power over contracts
Despite dissent from five opposition members, the House of Assembly narrowly voted on Tuesday to dramatically limit Cabinet’s discretion over contract awards in keeping with recommendations from the 2022 Commission …
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June 20, 2024
Crown land legislation passes with amendments
After six days in closed-door committee, the House of Assembly passed a law on Monday that aims to provide a transparent framework for the acquisition, management and disposal of crown …
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March 29, 2024
$670k budgeted for music festival
Government has allocated $670,000 for the Virgin Islands Music Festival in May but hopes to earn it all back through ticket sales, sponsorships and other revenue streams, Premier Dr. Natalio …
March 11, 2024
Long-delayed rights watchdog in the works
For more than 15 years, successive governments have been promising to establish the Human Rights Commission provided for in the 2007 Constitution. But the initiative has been delayed again and …
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February 26, 2024
Call made for unemployment benefits
Unemployment benefits are needed in the Virgin Islands because people are “suffering,” the opposition has warned. Deputy Speaker Stacy Mather sounded the alarm while questioning Health and Social Development Minister …
February 23, 2024
Sex-crime law promised this year
A new law slated to pass this year will help protect children from sexual predators by implementing measures including a sex-offender register, according to Health and Social Development Minister Vincent …
November 22, 2023
Cabinet Briefs (Oct. 27, 2023)
Governor John Rankin chaired a Cabinet meeting on Oct. 27 at the Premier’s Conference Room. All members were present and took the following actions, according to a summary published in …
November 11, 2023
Cabinet Briefs (Oct. 5, Oct. 11 & Oct. 18, 2023)
Governor John Rankin chaired Cabinet meetings on Oct. 5, 11 and 18. All members were present except Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sharie de Castro, who was overseas on …
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October 20, 2023
Cabinet Briefs (Sept. 13, 20 & 27, 2023)
Governor John Rankin chaired Cabinet meetings on Sept. 13, 20 and 27 at the Premier’s Conference Room. All members were present except Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer, who was …
September 11, 2023
Cabinet Briefs (July 26, Aug. 2, Aug. 16 & Aug. 23, 2023)
Acting Governor David Archer Jr. chaired Cabinet meetings on July 26 and Aug. 2, and Governor John Rankin chaired meetings on Aug. 16 and 23. Mr. Rankin was overseas on …
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April 28, 2023
Cabinet approves culture policy
In a move designed to protect and develop the territory’s culture, the Cabinet recently approved the Virgin Islands Culture and Heritage Policy and Strategy 2023 to 2028, government announced Saturday. …
January 27, 2023
Cabinet Briefs (Dec. 14, 15 & 20, 2022)
Governor John Rankin chaired Cabinet meetings on Dec. 14 and 15, and then-acting Governor David Archer Jr. chaired another on Dec. 20. All members were present at all meetings except …
December 13, 2022
Cabinet Briefs (Oct. 13, Oct. 26 & Nov. 4, 2022)
Governor John Rankin chaired Cabinet meetings on Oct. 13, Oct. 26 and Nov. 4 at the Financial Services Commission’s Resource Centre in Pasea. All members were present except Education, Youth …
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November 16, 2022
Cabinet Briefs (Oct. 5 & 12, 2022)
Governor John Rankin chaired Cabinet meetings on Oct. 5 and 12 at the Financial Services Commission’s Resource Centre. All members were present for both meetings except Education, Youth Affairs and …
November 3, 2022
Cabinet Briefs (Sept. 30, 2022)
Governor John Rankin chaired a special Cabinet meeting on Sept. 30 at the Financial Services Commission’s Resource Centre. All members were present except Health and Social Development Minister Marlon Penn, …
May 26, 2022
Cabinet Briefs (April 27, 2022)
Governor John Rankin chaired a Cabinet meeting on April 27 at the Financial Services Commission’s Resource Centre. All members were present except then-Premier Andrew Fahie; then-Transportation, Works and Utilities Minister …
May 6, 2022
‘Unity government’ sworn in, but UK still silent
Hours after the House of Assembly voted to revoke Andrew Fahie’s premiership on Thursday, Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley was sworn in to head a new “national unity government” that is …
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May 4, 2022
Cabinet Briefs (April 20, 2022)
Governor John Rankin chaired a Cabinet meeting on April 20 at the Financial Services Commission’s Resource Centre. All members were present except Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley and Natural …
April 28, 2022
Cabinet Briefs (April 13, 2022)
Governor John Rankin chaired a Cabinet meeting on April 13 at the Financial Services Commission’s Resource Centre. All members were present and took the following actions, according to a summary …
April 28, 2022
Cabinet Briefs (March 23 & 30, 2022)
Governor John Rankin chaired Cabinet meetings on March 23 at the Financial Services Commission’s Resources Centre and on March 30 at the Premier’s Conference Room. All members were present at …
April 14, 2022
Cabinet Briefs (Feb. 23, March 2, 11 & 16, 2022)
Governor John Rankin chaired Cabinet meetings on Feb. 23 and March 2, 11 and 16. All members were present, except Attorney General Dawn Smith, who was on annual leave on …
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