Former premier Andrew Fahie’s sentencing on drug-conspiracy charges was initially scheduled for this month in Miami, but it has been delayed until June 25 after his lawyer requested more time …
HOA votes to change Register of Interests
House of Assembly members voted this week to make changes to their Register of Interests, but the extent of those changes is not clear because a bill they passed Tuesday …
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Bill keeps restrictions on interests register
When lawmakers voted in July 2022 to make the Register of Interests public as advised by the Commission of Inquiry, they also added several viewing restrictions that drew strong criticism …
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Andrew Fahie’s place on the wall
Hanging behind Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley’s chair in the House of Assembly in Road Town is a portrait of former premier Andrew Fahie. Asked Friday if Mr. Fahie’s photo …
United Nations decolonisation committee to visit
The Virgin Islands was recently approved to receive a visiting mission from the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation, according to Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley. “The purpose of such …
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QEII Park roadwork at standstill
The Public Works Department spent $180,743 on roadwork alongside the Queen Elizabeth II Park before workers discovered shallow utility lines and a high water table that have stalled the project, …
Lawyers still at odds over Fahie jurors
United States attorneys who led the recent prosecution of former premier Andrew Fahie on drug-conspiracy charges are open to the idea of an inquiry into last month’s contested guilty verdict, …
Money laundering report brings threat of ‘grey list’
A major international report released Monday raises serious concerns about the territory’s ability to deal with money laundering and other financial crime, leading one expert to warn that “red lights” …
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Next steps unclear in Fahie drug case
Two weeks after a Miami jury found former premier Andrew Fahie guilty of a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, his future remains uncertain as attorneys spar over whether the court should investigate …
After Rutley visit, premier ‘confident’ on reforms
Nearly half an hour late to the press conference he called on Friday morning, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley stepped into the multimedia room on the first floor of his …
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House of Assembly re-forms Commission of Inquiry committee
Following harsh criticism from United Kingdom officials over delayed Commission of Inquiry reforms, the House of Assembly has renewed a committee tasked with overseeing legislative initiatives recommended by the COI. …
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OT minister brings sharp warning
Last month, outgoing governor John Rankin wrote to United Kingdom Overseas Territories Minister David Rutley to request additional powers to help his successor push through delayed Commission of Inquiry reforms. …
Ex-minister says United Kingdom fell ‘short’ on overseas territories
LONDON — Britain has “fallen short” in the way it deals with the Virgin Islands and other overseas territories, former United Kingdom OT Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith has warned. In …
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Governor bids farewell
In January 2021, Governor John Rankin arrived in the Virgin Islands days after his predecessor dropped a political bombshell by announcing a Commission of Inquiry into possible corruption in the …
Premier fumes as governor seeks new powers
Governor John Rankin drew the ire of elected leaders last week when he announced plans to seek additional powers to push through delayed Commission of Inquiry reforms. Premier Dr. Natalio …
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UK leader pledges support for justice system
The United Kingdom will continue working to support His Majesty’s Prison, the police force, and other aspects of the Virgin Islands justice system, a senior official said following a visit …
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Premier: 24 of 50 COI recs complete
Works to implement the Commission of Inquiry reforms are still progressing steadily, according to Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley. As of September, 24 of 50 recommendations from last year’s COI …
UK team arrives to probe law enforcement
A United Kingdom agency that inspects the UK’s police and fire services has sent a team to the Virgin Islands for the fieldwork phase of an ongoing review of the …
Premier pledges to meet COI deadlines
A week after Governor John Rankin released his most recent quarterly report on the Commission of Inquiry recommendations, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley defended his government’s progress on the reforms …
Belongership report now complete
A review of belongership and residency is complete, and a report will be tabled in the House of Assembly soon, according to Premier’s Office Permanent Secretary Carolyn Stoutt-Igwe. The update …
Premier defends progress of COI reforms
Despite the recent change in overseas territory ministerial leadership and the pending change of governor early next year, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said on July 25 that progress on …
Rankin: COI reform progress ‘still too slow’
Virgin Islands leaders will have to speed up governance reforms to meet an important May 2024 deadline, Governor John Rankin said on June 9 while giving an update on his …
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Report slams Skelton-Cline contracts
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 …
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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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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