"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
The border reopening, health care and infrastructure were among the wide range of issues discussed when government representatives visited Anegada on Sunday afternoon for a community meeting. “I know a …
Continue reading “Government visits Anegada to give updates”
The World Bank has forecasted the “deepest global recession in eight decades” because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Virgin Islands is not exempt. Estimates show a $22 million dip …
Continue reading “Budget address pushes airport, pier expansion”
Amid demands from the business community, Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley has announced that the workforce furlough extension passed in the House of Assembly in June will …
The workforce furlough extension passed in the House of Assembly in June expired on Saturday, and now the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association is demanding what it called …
Continue reading “Chamber demands another furlough extension”
While this year’s Speech from the Throne delivered by Governor Gus Jaspert last Thursday in the House of Assembly repeated many familiar promises for digital advancement and overhauls of major …
Continue reading “House agenda addresses life amid Covid-19”
Despite considerable outcry from tourism stakeholders, government announced on Tuesday that it won’t budge on its four-day quarantine rule for anyone entering the territory when borders open to tourists on …
At a time when thousands of Virgin Islands residents are unemployed or otherwise struggling due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are disturbed by the government’s failure to adequately account for …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Government’s silence on stimulus is deafening”
Opposition members used their monthly press conference last week to blast the government’s recently announced tourism re-opening protocols, which they said are overly restrictive. Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull (R-D2) said the …
Continue reading “Opposition blasts government’s reopening plans”
The standards that businesses must meet ahead of the Dec. 1 border reopening became a bit clearer this week with new information released about “gold seal” staff training requirements. However, …
Continue reading “Biz info released, but reopening website not launched”
Premier Andrew Fahie is right that the territory should proceed slowly and cautiously when restarting tourism, but his government’s abysmal communication surrounding the Dec. 1 reopening has needlessly exacerbated a …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Communication failure marred tourism reopening”
An old adage proclaims, “When the United States sneezes, the world catches a cold.” As the country heads into a presidential election next Tuesday amid the Covid-19 pandemic, that wisdom …
Premier Andrew Fahie on Monday announced the official protocols for tourists to enter the Virgin Islands, which include four rounds of testing for Covid-19, four days of quarantine within approved …
Continue reading “Reopening plan sparks outcry, cancellations”
Incremental steps allowing students to return to their classrooms began Monday with kindergarteners, first graders and second graders. The Cabinet decision was announced on Oct. 21 by Deputy Premier Dr. …
A “hillside” site has been chosen for a new Jost Van Dyke Primary School, Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said last week when all nine elected government representatives visited …
Continue reading “New school, ATM coming to Jost Van Dyke soon”
On May 28, Premier Andrew Fahie unveiled a long-awaited stimulus package after two and a half months of promises and delays, outlining $62.9 million worth of spending designed to help …
Continue reading “Stimulus status unclear as residents cry for help”
With a new tourism season set to start on Dec. 1, hotels are outfitting rooms, boats are getting back on the water, restaurants are stocking up, and many other businesses …
Continue reading “Amid questions, tourism industry prepares for reopening”
During a series of closed-door stakeholder meetings hosted by the BVI Tourist Board over the past week, business owners in the tourism sectors of small hotels, transportation and tour operations …
Continue reading “Stakeholders debate bubble tourism, quarantine rules”
Rebuffed by government, a task force from the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association released last week a comprehensive set of guidelines in an effort to help business owners …
Continue reading “Chamber releases protocols government rejected”
With less than seven weeks until the Virgin Islands’ borders are set to reopen to non-residents for the first time since late March, government has launched a series of meetings …
Continue reading “Draft reopening protocols complete but not public”
During the 24-hour daily curfew in the spring, some households began running out of food, so government organised the distribution of relief supplies packed by volunteers throughout the territory. Last …
Six months have passed since the first two cases of Covid-19 were announced in the Virgin Islands on March 25, and government decisions to control the virus have been met …
Continue reading “ANALYSIS: Six months into Covid-19, uncertainty remains”
Though they faced unprecedented challenges caused first by Hurricane Irma and then by the Covid-19 pandemic, a total of 358 students in the Virgin Islands registered for at least one …
Continue reading “78 percent of CXC exams written earn passing grade”
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit and effectively shut down the tourism industry, many unemployed expatriates were compelled to leave the Virgin Islands. But because of restrictions on the limited number …
Continue reading “Homeward bound: Volunteers help send pets to US”
