An optimistic look back on 2022 might conjure a year-end image of the Virgin Islands as a phoenix preparing to rise from the ashes of its former self. And after …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: The highs, lows and lessons of 2022”
An optimistic look back on 2022 might conjure a year-end image of the Virgin Islands as a phoenix preparing to rise from the ashes of its former self. And after …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: The highs, lows and lessons of 2022”
Virgin Islands tourism is recovering quickly as the Covid-19 pandemic eases. This is great news. But it is also a reminder that the territory urgently needs the comprehensive tourism plan …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Tourism is recovering quickly. Now what’s the plan?”
As part of efforts to ease economic pressure on residents, government is halving a remittance tax imposed in 2020, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley announced during a press conference on Friday. …
Unanticipated expenses including security, arbitration, infrastructure, and public servant increments required legislators to approve supplementary spending for 2021 and 2022, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said on May 26 in …
Continue reading “House of Assembly green-lights 2021 supplementary spending”
As part of an update on a variety of economic affairs, Premier Andrew Fahie went into further detail on how government plans to account for the $40 million granted by …
Continue reading “Stimulus awardees urged to account for spending”
Two contrasting pictures of the territory’s economic future emerged during the budget debate this week in the House of Assembly. Government legislators described 2021 as a successful year despite the …
Continue reading “Government aims for growth in 2022 budget”
Like much of the rest of the world, the Virgin Islands is seeing rising prices and scarcity of some goods because of global supply-chain struggles related to the Covid-19 pandemic. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Prepare, don’t panic, in face of global supply woes”
Only a strong social democracy, not a trickledown capitalist model, will deliver for the Virgin Islands. It was small business and the working man that kept the VI economy alive …
As the first anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic approaches, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn recently highlighted a need for additional relief while addressing the pandemic, the tourism industry and other economic …
Continue reading “Opposition leader calls for ‘stimulus 2.0’”
Out of 22 Caribbean countries and territories surveyed recently by the International Labour Organisation, the Virgin Islands offered the fewest types of Covid-19 stimulus to businesses — two out of …
Following the struggles of the past year, we know we’re not alone in wishing for a much brighter 2021. The following is our list of a few ways to help …
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”
Pink flamingos and flourishing reefs were among the scenes in a video premiere launching “BVI Love,” a marketing campaign geared toward bringing tourism back to the territory on Dec. 1. …
The pandemic brought on by Covid-19 is the worst global crisis in the lifetime of most of us. It is probably the worst regional calamity we’ve seen, and I have …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — VI urged not to ‘waste’ Covid crisis”
As the coronavirus pandemic batters the economy here and abroad, Premier Andrew Fahie promised Tuesday evening that the Virgin Islands will soon join the many other nations around the world …
Amid concern about the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the Cabinet on Friday, March 20, approved a $2 million economic stimulus package for fishing and farming in the Virgin …
Continue reading “Government to inject $2 million into farming, fishing”
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is the latest financial body to issue a warning that the global economy is weakening. In its latest Interim Economic Outlook, released last …
Continue reading “OECD: Global economy increasingly fragile”
Congratulations to this year’s graduates, who have overcome challenges that would be unimaginable to most people their age, and to the educators who have helped them along the way during …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Kudos to another class of post-Irma graduates”
The United States economy is booming, and it is expected to grow 4.5 percent this year. This is a very strong growth rate, and it is unusual for the current …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Recession potential causes concerns”
Lawmakers will vote Monday on a loan guarantee for the BVI Ports Authority to complete construction on the cruise pier project’s landside development, according to the Order Paper outlining Monday’s …
Continue reading “Gov’t to guarantee $15m loan for cruise pier landside works [ORDER PAPER]”
Dominic William O’Carroll, a 67-year-old Irish citizen, is still missing after a search by the United States Coast Guard was called off on Tuesday afternoon.
On Oct. 23, the Norwegian Pearl will arrive in Road Town. It will be the first cruise ship of the 2014-2015 season, during which officials expect nearly 300 cruise ships …
Continue reading “Minister: 600k cruise ship tourists expected this season”