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. …
August 22, 2023
July 25, 2023
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 …
July 21, 2023
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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December 23, 2022
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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December 19, 2022
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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July 28, 2022
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. …
June 3, 2022
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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April 28, 2022
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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December 15, 2021
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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November 3, 2021
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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April 21, 2021
April 7, 2021
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 …
February 26, 2021
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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January 20, 2021
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 …
January 12, 2021
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 …
November 2, 2020
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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October 30, 2020
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 …
October 30, 2020
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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September 24, 2020
Borders to open to tourism on Dec. 1
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. …
September 16, 2020
COMMENTARY — VI urged not to ‘waste’ Covid crisis
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 …
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April 3, 2020
Stimulus package promised soon
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 …
March 27, 2020
Government to inject $2 million into farming, fishing
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 …
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October 7, 2019
OECD: Global economy increasingly fragile
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 …
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July 2, 2019
EDITORIAL: Kudos to another class of post-Irma graduates
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 …
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July 24, 2018
COMMENTARY — Recession potential causes concerns
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 …
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