"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
The recently completed law-enforcement review offers an extensive 10-year plan to solve appalling security failures caused by decades of underfunding and other neglect by the United Kingdom and Virgin Islands …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Security recs mostly sound, but UK power grab not okay”
Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley is absolutely right in seeking to raise yachting fees and otherwise reform the 33-year-old rules governing the territory’s marine industry. But stakeholder protests here and abroad …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Yachting reforms need more work”
Government is right to kick off 2025 by organising a comprehensive public conversation about the tourism sector. Now it’s the public’s turn. We urge all residents to participate in the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Public input vital at tourism summit”
We are cautiously optimistic about the sensible plans included in the legislative agenda unveiled in the recent Speech from the Throne even though the to-do list appears overly ambitious for …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Aligning HOA agenda with national plan is wise”
The past 12 months have not been easy for the Virgin Islands, but 2024 nevertheless brought glimpses of the light at the end of a tunnel the territory entered when …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: After 7 years of strife, the VI must emerge stronger”
Signs abound that the coming tourism high season will be successful, building on travellers’ positive impressions of the Virgin Islands and showing that the demand to vacation here remains strong. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands must not rest on tourism laurels”
It has been said that when the United States sneezes, the whole world catches a cold. We fear much worse than a proverbial cold for the Virgin Islands and the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands should expect the worst from Trump presidency”
Sudden shifts in leadership are an occasional feature of any democracy, and dramatic Cabinet reshuffles are not unprecedented in the Virgin Islands. But after the latest shakeup, it is imperative …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Smooth transition key amid minister shakeup”
We welcome news of an important tool that will help address mounting threats to the Virgin Islands’ marine environment. This month, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: New vessel a big win for the environment”
Virgin Gorda residents who spoke at a recent community meeting argued forcefully that improving their island’s healthcare system should be an urgent government priority. They are right. And the same …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Sister islands face a healthcare crisis”
We are disappointed that the government and the governor missed their Aug. 31 deadline to complete the Commission of Inquiry reforms, but the delay does not detract from the extensive …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: COI reforms must be finished, then followed”
Like many residents, we are dumbfounded. We cannot even begin to understand how the government’s laudable attempt to update all public officers’ salaries to a “living wage” misfired so badly …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Public needs answers on giant salary mistake”
With the worst of this year’s hurricane season yet to come, Tropical Storm Ernesto brought many lessons when it passed over the Virgin Islands in the middle of last week. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Ernesto’s outages lasted too long”
During this August Emancipation Festival, there is much to celebrate. Most importantly, of course, today marks 190 years since emancipation. This year also commemorates 70 years of Festival, an annual …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: 70th Festival is a time to celebrate and reflect”
Kudos to the House of Assembly for passing legislation this month to help reform social assistance in the territory. But leaders must not stop now. The Public Assistance (Amendment) Bill, …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Recent assistance reforms a good starting point”
Residents may be forgiven for feeling numb on the release of yet another scathing report about governance failings in the Virgin Islands. The 2022 Commission of Inquiry, the conviction of …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: After scathing security review, UK and VI leaders must step up”
The Class of 2024 has much to celebrate as they receive their diplomas and welcome the future. While the road ahead will be challenging, the graduates have proven themselves more …
May 31 marked the expiration of the original two-year deadline to implement the 48 agreed governance reforms recommended by the 2022 Commission of Inquiry report. With Governor Daniel Pruce now …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: New COI reform target must be met”
As troubles continue to mount at the Social Security Board’s Joes Hill Manor Estate, the SSB must end its silence and fully explain the way forward to the taxpayers whose …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: At Joes Hill project, transparent plan needed now”
Gaping potholes. Undermined asphalt. Broken speedbumps. Missing guardrails. Given the deplorable state of the territory’s roads, we don’t have to tell Virgin Islands drivers about the urgent need for the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: 38-mile road project should go to the RDA”
Imagine the following scenarios. A concerned East End resident wants to know where burglars have struck in her neighbourhood. A voter wonders if a government minister is favouring a certain …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: With no freedom-of-info law, Virgin Islands falling behind”
The recent rise in migrants entering the Virgin Islands without authorisation is part of a heart-wrenching regional crisis that is likely to get worse before it gets better. Since mid-February, …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Resources, empathy best tools for unauthorised immigration”
Sargassum is once again arriving on the shores of the Caribbean, but the Virgin Islands is not ready. Given the seaweed’s recent impacts in the territory, this is most unfortunate. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Sargassum is back, and the VI is not prepared”
Tsunamis are rare, but they can be catastrophic, and the Virgin Islands must prepare for them just as it prepares for hurricanes each year. Kudos, therefore, are due to the …
We applaud the ongoing restoration efforts at Long Bay on Beef Island, which are part of a well-conceived management plan designed to repair and protect one of the Virgin Islands’ …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Long Bay restoration an example for all beaches”
