More companies were incorporated in the territory in the third quarter of 2023 than in the previous three months, a bright spot for a financial services sector that has grappled …
Tourney sees strong turnout, smaller fish
A hanging scale was the centre of the Virgin Islands’ sportfishing world Saturday as nine boats motored into the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour with their catches just before 5 p.m. …
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Money-laundering review rates VI below rivals
Compared with at least two overseas territories that operate rival financial industries, the Virgin Islands still has a “mountain to climb” when it comes to proving its effectiveness in combating …
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Call made for unemployment benefits
Unemployment benefits are needed in the Virgin Islands because people are “suffering,” the opposition has warned. Deputy Speaker Stacy Mather sounded the alarm while questioning Health and Social Development Minister …
EDITORIAL: Public input vital to tourism plan
For about two decades, the Virgin Islands has been operating without a national tourism strategy. It shows. Government’s tourism decisions tend to take the form of haphazard knee-jerk reactions rather …
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Branson’s cruise line makes first visit
Boarding Richard Branson’s new cruise liner, Valiant Lady, leaders and other guests from around the territory mingled and laughed on Sunday, eager to sample the experience of an adults-only cruise. …
EDITORIAL: 2023 was a year of healing and laboured progress
As the Virgin Islands approaches the New Year, it’s prudent to reflect on the many high points of 2023 and to analyse what could have gone better. In many ways, …
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EDITORIAL: Make the most of slow season
Following a busy tourism season that harked back to pre-Covid years, we are now encouraged by signs that the first post-pandemic slow season may not be so slow after all. …
Businesses asked to take survey
Last week government issued a “Business Conditions Survey” designed to “capture changes in the business conditions and assess the current state of the economy.” The survey consists of 11 multiple-choice …
EDITORIAL: Census must start soon, and all must take part
After more than three years of delays, the Central Statistics Office is promising to start the population and housing census soon. It must keep its word, and then everyone must …
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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 …
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EDITORIAL: Tourism is recovering quickly. Now what’s the plan?
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 …
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Remittance tax slashed in half
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. …
House of Assembly green-lights 2021 supplementary spending
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 …
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Stimulus awardees urged to account for 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 …
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Government aims for growth in 2022 budget
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 …
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EDITORIAL: Prepare, don’t panic, in face of global supply woes
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. …
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COMMENTARY — Call made to help small biz
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 …
Opposition leader calls for ‘stimulus 2.0’
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 …
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Report gives VI biz stimulus low marks
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 …
EDITORIAL: A better 2021? Here’s how.
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 …
EDITORIAL: Communication failure marred tourism reopening
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 …
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VI wary as US heads to polls
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 …
Reopening plan sparks outcry, cancellations
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 …
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