"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
This Atlantic Hurricane Season has been eerily quiet so far, but with storm activity expected to intensify in the coming weeks the territory must not let down its guard. In …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Prepare now for the height of storm season”
Our first draft of this editorial praised legislators for passing a bill last month to finally make the Register of Interests public, thereby promoting the sort of government transparency that …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Open the interests register with no restrictions”
As the first fully in-person August Emancipation Festival in three years gets under way, we encourage everyone to celebrate while also remembering the reason for the annual observance. On Aug. …
With a general election due early next year, there is a very real danger that a divisive campaign season could derail the ongoing governance reforms and trigger direct rule by …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Next year’s general election must not derail reforms”
The United States’ criminal complaint against former premier Andrew Fahie painted a disturbing picture of an international drug trade that flourished in the Virgin Islands with the help of bad …
Throughout his Commission of Inquiry, Sir Gary Hickinbottom demonstrated an unshakeable commitment to transparency. As a result, his findings have currency in the Virgin Islands community, which was able to …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Now is the time for transparency”
The Virgin Islands hit rock bottom last week with the arrest of Premier Andrew Fahie in Miami on disturbing drug allegations. Fortunately, there is a way up. The roadmap is …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: No way to go but up. The COI shows how.”
It is great news that a resident has agreed to donate $4 million to help with the construction of badly needed new buildings on the Elmore Stoutt High School campus. However, …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Gov’t should discourage anonymous donations”
For all the talk about transparency that has come out of the Governor’s Office in recent years, we were disappointed by Governor John Rankin’s decision not to release the Commission …
The sudden recent discovery of severe damage to a bridge in East End is a troubling warning sign that should make the government review its approach to maintaining road infrastructure …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: East End bridge was a warning sign”
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: The annual deliberations of the Standing Finance Committee should be open to the public. Unfortunately, our pleas have fallen on deaf …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Once again, SFC meetings should be public”
The Speech from the Throne last week laid out an ambitious legislative agenda that could greatly benefit the territory. But it is a tall order. As usual, the government has …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Ambitious HOA agenda will require heavy lifting”
Monday was a red-letter day in Virgin Islands history. In a long-needed cultural leap, the territory left behind the quixotic St. Ursula’s Day and celebrated the first Heroes and Forefathers …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: New public holiday a reason to celebrate”
“That’s how we’ve always done it.” This excuse has been bandied about with shocking abandon in the Commission of Inquiry in recent weeks as elected leaders and other senior officials …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: UK shares responsibility for governance failings”
We were deeply troubled to hear police warn recently that mental health crises are on the rise in the territory after they rescued a hospital patient from the water in …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Mental health crises are a big red flag”
In recent weeks, hearings in the Commission of Inquiry have again highlighted a longstanding problem in the territory: Successive governments have used exceedingly poor practice when appointing and removing the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Boards mishandled, almost across the board”
As we’ve said before, the current government’s 2019 decision to revoke all six appointed members of the Climate Change Trust Fund board was a huge mistake. The failure to replace …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Premier dropped the ball on climate change fund”
The Elmore Stoutt High School. The Isabella Morris Primary School. The Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre. The Road Town library. The West End ferry terminal. The National Emergency Operations Centre. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Four years after Irma, government recovery far behind”
As the Commission of Inquiry resumes hearings on Monday, the government should turn over a new leaf by quickly and completely producing all requested information so that the probe can …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: As inquiry resumes, government must provide info”
We are greatly relieved that the number of active Covid-19 cases has fallen rapidly in recent weeks. But this good news has also brought a shadow of concern: Following a …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Incentives a good bet to boost vaccine pace”
This month, Virgin Islands Olympians brought a ray of sunshine to the territory during a dark time. For the first time in VI history, athletes from here qualified for the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Kudos to Virgin Islands Olympians”
With Covid-19 cases spiking to dramatic record highs in recent days, the territory is facing a national health emergency. To keep the community safe, everyone must work together. The first …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Outbreak is deadly, vaccinations urgent”
We have reported extensively about the injustice and egregious lack of transparency surrounding the government’s Covid-19 economic stimulus package. The reality, it seems, is even worse than we thought. Our …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Big up the auditor general for stimulus report”
After the Commission of Inquiry was announced in January, Premier Andrew Fahie and other leaders promised that the government would assist investigators by providing requested information as transparently as possible. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Government must respond fully to COI requests”
Kudos to the House of Assembly for making steady progress in recent weeks on a raft of legislation designed to improve governance in the territory. We hope to see all …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Governance bills a test of leaders’ promises”