Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley is right to seek international funding to help the territory adapt to climate change. But if he wants to be taken seriously abroad, he must …
September 30, 2024
February 23, 2024
New law aims to free up millions from tourist levy
For more than six years, the government has been collecting a $10 levy from most non-cruise ship visitors as required by the 2017 Environmental Protection and Tourism Improvement Fund Act. …
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February 12, 2024
Climate project brings new digital maps
For decades, the National Parks Trust has researched and monitored the Virgin Islands’ natural environment as part of its efforts to manage the territory’s 21 protected parks and identify potential …
December 18, 2023
EDITORIAL: Coral die-off is a crisis for the Virgin Islands
An environmental disaster is unfolding before our eyes, but it is receiving far too little attention and response. Historic heat waves this summer are causing a massive coral bleaching event …
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December 8, 2023
Premier heads delegation to COP28 climate meeting
A Virgin Islands delegation led by Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last week to attend the United Nations’ most important global meeting on climate …
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November 22, 2022
EDITORIAL: Global climate pledges fall short again
For vulnerable island nations like the Virgin Islands, there were few surprises this year at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. Despite some important progress in the right direction …
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August 29, 2022
EDITORIAL: Gov’t right to apologise and re-form climate board
It’s about time. More than three years ago, then-Premier Andrew Fahie’s newly elected government unlawfully disbanded the Climate Change Trust Fund Board, stalling years of hard work and showing a …
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August 26, 2022
Gov’t to bring back climate board
Less than two months after the Virgin Islands Party government came to power in February 2019, Cabinet revoked the membership of the Climate Change Trust Fund Board — a move …
May 27, 2022
COI blasts gov’t handling of statutory boards
Statutory boards in the territory are supposed to function independently, but many fall far short of that ideal because of political interference and inadequate appointment practices, a cording to the …
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September 14, 2021
EDITORIAL: Premier dropped the ball on climate change fund
As we’ve said before, the current government’s 2019 decision to revoke all six appointed members of the Climate Change Trust Fund board was a huge mistake. The failure to replace …
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September 9, 2021
Climate fund has never benefited from eco-levy
Less than two months after the Virgin Islands Party came to power in the February 2019 general election, all six private-sector members of the Climate Change Trust Fund board received …
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March 10, 2020
EDITORIAL: Mangrove planting is great, but new laws needed too
Government and non-profit organisations deserve kudos for working together recently to launch a major mangrove restoration programme, but we fear their work will be for naught if comprehensive changes aren’t …
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December 17, 2019
EDITORIAL: COP25 a call to climate action
As a few large countries delayed needed action at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this month in Spain, people are dying from storms, rising sea levels, droughts and other …
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September 17, 2019
EDITORIAL: Dorian a tragic warning as global climate warms
Hurricane Dorian’s tragic destruction in the Bahamas was yet another dire warning to the entire Caribbean. Scientists expect climate change to bring more frequent and more intense storms to the …
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July 9, 2019
Climate board still has no members
Government has not appointed any members to the Climate Change Trust Fund Board since the membership of all six previous appointees was revoked on April 24. Premier Andrew Fahie told …
July 9, 2019
EDITORIAL: Government is dropping the ball on climate change
The new government’s bumbling on climate change is endangering the territory’s future. On April 24, the Cabinet decided to revoke the membership of the Climate Change Trust Fund board, a …
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June 5, 2019
Governor: UK will not take over government
Governor Gus Jaspert emphasised the importance of environmentally sustainable practices during a press conference last Thursday at Government House. It was one of several points he made during the “Catch …
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May 14, 2019
EDITORIAL: ‘Policy’ of replacing boards is an unfortunate mistake
The new government has taken a step backward by implementing an explicit “policy” of revoking and replacing the boards of all statutory bodies and government committees. Though previous administrations often …
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May 9, 2019
Climate Change Trust Fund board revoked
On April 24 the Cabinet decided to revoke the membership of all six appointed members of the Climate Change Trust Fund board. The board’s enabling legislation, however, doesn’t appear to …
December 3, 2018
EDITORIAL: Climate Change Trust Fund should get eco-levy money
In 2015 the Virgin Islands proudly set an example when it became the first government in the Caribbean to pass a legal framework for a climate change trust fund. To …
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