When tabling an auditor general report that alleges consultant Claude Skelton-Cline did little to deliver contracted work for the government despite receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars over two and …
March 9, 2023
March 2, 2023
EZ Shipping barges cost government $2 million
The government paid $2.04 million to EZ Shipping Limited to rent barges for five months of border security services in 2020 and 2021 — including $738,000 for about two months …
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January 27, 2023
Throne speech promises wide-ranging reforms
Reforms to governance, education, environmental protection, health care and other areas are among the government’s legislative priorities for a new House of Assembly session that started Tuesday, Governor John Rankin …
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December 20, 2022
Guv gives one year to fix interests register
After “much consideration,” Governor John Rankin announced his plan to assent to the Register of Interests (Amendment) Act, 2022 despite his misgivings about amendments legislators made behind closed doors. However, …
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November 4, 2022
Meetings with United Kingdom leaders delayed
Following the recent leadership shakeup in the United Kingdom, senior UK officials have postponed meetings with leaders in the Virgin Islands and other overseas territories. Former OT Minister Jesse Norman …
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October 28, 2022
OECS objects to direct-rule threat in VI
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States called on the United Kingdom this week to withdraw the order in council that is being held in reserve to suspend the Virgin Islands …
October 13, 2022
Premier responds to governor’s review
Three days after Governor John Rankin released his first quarterly review on the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry recommendations, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said the document included criticisms …
October 6, 2022
Kudos and ‘concern’: Governor reviews reforms
Governor John Rankin on Oct. 4 published his first quarterly report on the ongoing reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry, guardedly praising the overall progress while also noting a …
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September 30, 2022
New HOA committee to push COI reforms
Legislators created a special select Reform Committee on Sept. 27 to help ensure that the House of Assembly meets its law-making obligations under the National Unity Government’s framework for implementing …
September 14, 2022
Commission of Inquiry supporting documents now public
More than 11,000 pages of supporting documents that Governor John Rankin received with the Commission of Inquiry report on April 4 were posted last week on government’s website — more …
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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 …
August 22, 2022
Jury reform is back on table after COI
Hoping to address long-standing issues with the territory’s jury pool that resulted in legal action in 2019, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley recently introduced a bill in the House of …
August 18, 2022
HOA okays gov’t contract for Vanterpool
Last week government backbencher Mark Vanterpool once again got permission to retain his seat in the House of Assembly while one of his businesses secures a government contract. To make …
July 29, 2022
Premier says COI reforms still on track
The framework for carrying out Commission of Inquiry recommendations includes a deluge of deadlines for July, but Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said last week that his National Unity Government …
July 29, 2022
HOA okays public Register of Interests
On June 30, legislators missed their deadline to make the Register of Interests public and establish penalties for violating declaration rules. On July 21, however, they passed a bill to …
July 27, 2022
HOA officially ‘rejects’ direct UK rule
More than a month ago, the new National Unity Government agreed to work with the United Kingdom to carry out reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry — thereby avoiding …
July 19, 2022
Interests bill tabled, but not passed by deadline
The House of Assembly missed its deadline on June 30 to pass legislation to reform the Register of Interests by making it public. However, Governor John Rankin said the next …
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July 19, 2022
Premier, guv tout reform progress
Despite a missed deadline to publish the Register of Interests by June 30, Governor John Rankin and Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said on July 1 that they are pleased …
July 19, 2022
Premier pushes for OT cooperation
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley recently thanked fellow leaders of British overseas territories for their support in the aftermath of the Commission of Inquiry report, and he offered to help …
July 18, 2022
Ministers field questions on COI reforms
This week residents were given the first public opportunity to weigh in on the plan the Virgin Islands and United Kingdom governments have agreed for carrying out every Commission of …
June 17, 2022
Reform plan a first for OTs
Forty-eight of 49. That’s how many Commission of Inquiry recommendations the new National Unity Government has pledged to complete over the next two years under the proposal recently agreed with …
June 8, 2022
No direct rule for now as UK accepts unity government’s proposal
The wait is over. Governor John Rankin and Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley announced on Wednesday morning that the United Kingdom will not suspend parts of the Virgin Islands Constitution …
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June 3, 2022
Commission of Inquiry cost government more than $8 million
The Virgin Islands government has paid out more than $8 million in responding to the United Kingdom-led Commission of Inquiry, most of which went toward covering legal fees, Premier Dr. …
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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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May 27, 2022
COI: Policy on gov’t rentals not always followed
Government leaders have not always followed 2018 guidelines for government rental property, and they have improperly excluded the Deputy Governor’s Office from the process in many instances, according to the …
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