"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
We fear we spoke too soon. Last November, we praised the Virgin Islands government for preliminary steps that should have boosted transparency surrounding the proposed expansion of the Terrance B. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Government must stop backpedaling on airport transparency”
A no-confidence vote the opposition has been pushing for more than two months may now be delayed until as late as next March following a government walkout last week in …
Continue reading “Confidence vote could be delayed to next year after gov’t walkout”
Government ministers provided updates on hurricane recovery projects, Jost Van Dyke public works, the Belle Vue gym and other efforts in response to questions from the opposition during the Oct. …
A preliminary economic study examining the cruise industry’s impacts in the Caribbean will be presented this week at a conference in St. Maarten, according to Communications and Works Minister Kye …
Thanks to a recent green light from the Caribbean Development Bank, the procurement process for the construction of a new West End ferry terminal is moving ahead following years of …
Continue reading “Bidders to visit site of planned West End port today”
In the 2024 Budget Address last November, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley announced a Cabinet decision to include about $10 million in this year’s budget to ensure that all public …
Airport concessions and service development were on the agenda when airport regulators and industry executives from across the Caribbean gathered last week at Maria’s by the Sea Hotel for the …
Continue reading “In a first, Virgin Islands hosts regional ‘Airport Day’”
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 …
Continue reading “Guv’s inquiry bill sparks cries of ‘dictatorship’”
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 …
Continue reading “Crown land legislation passes with amendments”
The first week of the Atlantic Hurricane Season brought heavy rains that caused landslides, power outages and flooding across much of the territory. On June 5-6, some 9.5 inches fell …
Continue reading “First week of hurricane season brings floods”
Government has continued to embrace record-breaking cruise tourism numbers, giving cruise lines no “indication that they have reached their limit” in the territory, according to Communications and Works Minister Kye …
Gaping potholes. Undermined asphalt. Broken speedbumps. Missing guardrails. Given the deplorable state of the territory’s roads, we don’t have to tell Virgin Islands drivers about the urgent need for the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: 38-mile road project should go to the RDA”
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer drew fire from the opposition during a recent House of Assembly meeting for refusing to provide the names of the drivers who were issued …
Continue reading “Rymer refuses to name licensed taxi drivers”
As much as five inches of rain fell in parts of the Virgin Islands Tuesday afternoon, tearing apart recently paved roads, flooding several businesses and the Elmore Stoutt High School, …
Cruise ship passenger arrivals are expected to hit a new record this year and then continue climbing, but no upper limit has been set, according to Communications and Works Minister …
Continue reading “No cap on cruise visitors despite rapid rise”
While government continues to consider the lone bid of about $37 million for 38 miles of roadwork across the territory, $1.8 million has been allocated to carry out remedial works …
The BVI Electricity Corporation is implementing an initiative to bring solar energy to more Virgin Islands households, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer announced during a press conference last Thursday. …
The Burt Point sewage treatment plant is operational again for the first time since it sustained major damage during Hurricane Irma in 2017. Extensive repairs on the facility were completed …
As part of efforts to help government collect information as the census continues, lawmakers have passed a bill designed to impose harsher penalties on people who withhold statistics they are …
Continue reading “HOA votes to up penalties for withholding stats”
The property tax and buildings bills were among legislation passed in House of Assembly this week. The Property Tax (Amendment) Bill 2023, which passed with amendments on March 5, is …
Continue reading “Property tax, buildings bills passed in HOA”
More than four hours into last week’s House of Assembly meeting, Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton asked his second question to Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer. “Would the [minister] give …
Ongoing reforms to streamline and improve the taxi-permitting process will include capping new permits at 23 per year, according to Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer. Speaking to the House …
Continue reading “New taxi permits to be capped at 23 per year”
Jost Van Dyke has been reconnected to the BVI Electricity Corporation electrical grid after the repair of an undersea cable that had been damaged at least since September, officials said …
Despite three deadline extensions in a tender process launched last October, only one company bid last week for a 38-mile road reconstruction project on Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van …
Continue reading “Just one firm bids on 38-mile road project”
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. …
Continue reading “House of Assembly re-forms Commission of Inquiry committee”