Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton warned this week that government’s accidental overspend on public service pay raises could cost $19 million instead of the $13 million previously estimated by Premier Dr. …
September 26, 2024
September 19, 2024
House tackling last COI reform
The House of Assembly began tackling its final Commission of Inquiry reform this week as legislators debated the first of five bills designed to improve the governance of five statutory …
September 19, 2024
Premier hopes Doughty visit will end threat of direct rule
A November visit by Britain’s new overseas territories minister will be a crunch moment in the ongoing effort to get London to lift its threat to impose temporary direct rule …
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September 13, 2024
Anti-money-crime reforms rushed through HOA
Six bills intended to combat money crime and terrorism financing were rushed through the House of Assembly last week in a bid to avoid international sanction. Deputy Premier Lorna Smith …
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September 12, 2024
Reform target just missed before talks in London
A last-minute rush brought more progress on the Commission of Inquiry reforms last week, but Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said he fell one short of his push to complete …
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September 5, 2024
Opposition tries no-confidence vote
Citing a lengthy list of grievances and accusing the premier of “incompetence,” the opposition attempted to topple the government with a vote of no-confidence on Tuesday in the House of …
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 29, 2024
Civil service reform debated in House
Just ahead of the Saturday deadline for completing the Commission of Inquiry reforms, the House of Assembly has been debating a bill that would bring sweeping reforms to the …
August 26, 2024
Virgin Islands urged to match other OTs on company registers
The Virgin Islands could face an economic hit if it does not keep pace with other overseas territories as they expand access to their company registers in the coming months, …
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August 22, 2024
HOA debating sweeping reforms for public service
A private register of interests for senior public officers. New integrity rules. The creation of a government department known as the Virgin Islands Public Service Learning Institute. All are among …
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August 17, 2024
Virgin Islands heading for intense financial scrutiny, experts predict
The Virgin Islands is headed for increasingly intense international scrutiny despite a government drive to push through a raft of anti-financial-crime measures in the coming weeks, experts have warned. Deputy …
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August 15, 2024
HOA okays vetting law enforcers
Certain prison, customs and immigration officers could soon be subject to new vetting requirements under a bill the House of Assembly passed recently in accordance with a Commission of Inquiry …
August 2, 2024
HOA votes to amend 2021 integrity act
The House of Assembly voted Friday to amend a 2021 integrity law that never took effect and strengthen an Integrity Commission that was never established. The Integrity in Public Life …
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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July 25, 2024
Aspiring lawyer crowned Miss BVI 2024
A cultural costume with an elaborate headpiece depicting flamingos. A quick response to a complex question. An energetic performance of the Cynthia Erivo song “Stand Up” from the soundtrack to …
July 25, 2024
Fahie says US informant, not him, led drug conspiracy
Former premier Andrew Fahie is pushing back against prosecutors’ contention that he led a plan to smuggle cocaine into the United States, instead arguing that it was a Drug Enforcement …
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July 22, 2024
EDITORIAL: Recent assistance reforms a good starting point
Kudos to the House of Assembly for passing legislation this month to help reform social assistance in the territory. But leaders must not stop now. The Public Assistance (Amendment) Bill, …
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July 18, 2024
Guv’s inquiry bill sparks cries of ‘dictatorship’
On Tuesday in the House of Assembly, two legislators used the word “dictatorship” to decry a bill that Governor Daniel Pruce is proposing to modernise the Commission of Inquiry Act …
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July 12, 2024
HOA shoring up assistance programme
The House of Assembly passed a bill Tuesday that aims to further reform the Assistance Grants Programme, which has been dramatically revamped over the past two years in keeping with …
July 8, 2024
Veteran UK cop to oversee law, justice reforms
A 30-year veteran of the United Kingdom’s policing service has been named the “implementation manager” responsible for overseeing immediate priority reforms across the Virgin Islands’ law-enforcement and justice-administration agencies. Governor’s …
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July 6, 2024
Premier rules out fully public company register
The government will not permit “uninhibited” access to information about companies registered in the Virgin Islands despite previous promises to implement a public register of beneficial ownership, Premier Dr. Natalio …
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July 4, 2024
US aims to jail Fahie for life
Last month, former premier Andrew Fahie asked a Miami judge to sentence him to the minimum 10 years in prison for conspiring to smuggle thousands of kilograms of cocaine into …
June 28, 2024
Blistering review blasts law enforcers
Police and prison holding facilities described as “squalid” and “inhumane.” Evidence left unsecured on police officers’ desks in a “chaotic” manner. An unsafe police gun range where shooting drills occur …
June 27, 2024
Maynard gets 9 years for cocaine conspiracy
During a friendly lunch meeting in St. Thomas in March 2022, Oleanvine Maynard explained her financial goals to an undercover operative she believed to be a member of Mexico’s Sinaloa …
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June 21, 2024
King honoured with parade
On Friday morning in Road Town, residents and tourists gathered around the Sir Olva Georges Plaza for the start of the Virgin Islands’ second birthday parade in honour of King …
