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 …
January 12, 2021
December 23, 2020
EDITORIAL: The lessons of a tough year
The end is in sight. As an exceedingly difficult year winds down, we hope the Virgin Islands will use this holiday season to reflect on the lessons of 2020 while …
December 7, 2020
EDITORIAL: As borders reopen, better safe than sorry
In recent weeks, there has been much debate about the border reopening that got under way last week, but now everyone must work together to achieve success as tourism returns. …
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November 30, 2020
EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands should celebrate culture every month
This Culture and Tourism Month has been a great success, and we hope that such celebrations will continue and expand into a long-term renaissance of Virgin Islands heritage. Events held …
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November 20, 2020
EDITORIAL: Massive drug bust is a wake-up call
The recent discovery of the largest cocaine stash in the territory’s history is an appalling wake-up call for the Virgin Islands. Clearly, something is very wrong. The drugs — which …
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November 16, 2020
EDITORIAL: A new day in the US — and the Caribbean
Change has come to the United States, and as usual this means change has come to the rest of the world as well. The election of Joe Biden and Kamala …
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November 10, 2020
EDITORIAL: Government’s silence on stimulus is deafening
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 …
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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 19, 2020
EDITORIAL: Sniping at the UK is not the way toward independence
As the Virgin Islands prepares for a constitutional review, Premier Andrew Fahie should stop picking petty fights with the United Kingdom. Instead, he should use diplomacy to lay the groundwork …
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August 19, 2020
EDITORIAL: Government right to reopen borders to expats
The government is right to use caution when reopening the borders during the pandemic, but we are glad that leaders have finally announced a plan to allow the return of …
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June 23, 2020
EDITORIAL: Coming constitutional review should look to independence
At a time when the Virgin Islands’ relationship with the United Kingdom is increasingly unpredictable and fraught with tensions, we are glad that the government is launching the long-promised constitutional …
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June 16, 2020
EDITORIAL: Consumer Protection Act is a big win
Kudos to the government for working closely with the opposition to finally pass consumer protection legislation, which Virgin Islands leaders have been promising for more than three decades. The achievement …
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June 14, 2020
EDITORIAL: The good, bad and ugly of the economic stimulus
After months of delays, in late May the government finally unveiled a comprehensive economic stimulus package designed to help the territory through the coronavirus pandemic. We are glad that leaders …
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May 15, 2020
EDITORIAL: System of ‘temporary layoffs’ needs reform
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, government leaders are promising to extend the three-month maximum for “temporary” layoffs permitted under their interpretation of the 2010 Labour Code. Though they have …
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May 6, 2020
EDITORIAL: Press conferences needed as Covid questions go unanswered
On March 17, Premier Andrew Fahie and Deputy Premier Carvin Malone promised to keep the public informed about the coronavirus pandemic by holding weekly press conferences on the topic and …
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April 24, 2020
EDITORIAL: Government must expand testing; fix and extend lockdown
Recent warning signs suggest that the Virgin Islands is now seeing local transmission of Covid-19, which could mean that the highly contagious disease is much more widespread here than previously …
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April 13, 2020
EDITORIAL: Recent lockdown mistakes must serve as a lesson
The government deserves kudos for the early implementation of strict measures to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic, but we were disheartened by the poorly planned curfew transition that predictably drew uncontrolled …
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March 23, 2020
EDITORIAL: In a crisis, communication must be a two-way street
Until March 17 the government had begun falling behind in its duty to keep the public informed about COVID-19 in the territory, but it took important steps that day when …
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March 3, 2020
EDITORIAL: Reckless bikers are out of control on Tortola
Some motorbikes and four-wheelers are becoming an increasingly dangerous menace on Tortola roads, and the community needs to fight back before more lives are lost. Two young men were killed …
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February 18, 2020
EDITORIAL: Prepare, but don’t panic, as coronavirus spreads
The entire community should be working together to prepare for the potential arrival of the coronavirus strain that has killed more than 1,000 people in a global outbreak originating in …
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February 10, 2020
EDITORIAL: The ferry system is a national embarrassment
Operating a reliable, convenient ferry service between Tortola and St. Thomas is not rocket science. It is not even ferry science. It is plain common sense. But despite decades of …
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February 5, 2020
EDITORIAL: Kudos to an opposition that has much to do
After we criticised the opposition in October for an apparent lack of coordination, we are delighted that members now appear to be working as a team to hold the government …
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January 27, 2020
EDITORIAL: Medical pot could be a boon, but it needs to be done right
The government’s plan to establish a medical marijuana industry in the Virgin Islands could be a sound idea, and we applaud the new administration for its decision to move forward …
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January 22, 2020
EDITORIAL: RDA CEO’s resignation hurts, but it’s no surprise
The slow pace of the government’s hurricane recovery is nothing short of a crisis, and the resignation of Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly is another major blow to …
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January 14, 2020
EDITORIAL: Our New Year’s wish list
In the Virgin Islands, 2019 was a tumultuous year. The territory saw political upheaval, external pressures, dire new revelations about climate change, threats to financial services, and more delays in …