"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
The United Kingdom Home Office will soon vet all Virgin Islands police officers, in part because the territory’s Police Service Commission is not yet up to the task, Governor Daniel …
Continue reading “United Kingdom to vet Virgin Islands cops for now”
The House of Assembly and Governor Daniel Pruce should be ashamed of themselves for leaving in place absurd rules limiting the public’s access to HOA members’ Register of Interests. In …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Register of Interests a shameful COI fail”
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”
For decades, successive governors and other United Kingdom leaders have pressured the Virgin Islands government to be more transparent. They are right to do so. But the UK must also …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: UK minister missed the mark on transparency”
The House of Assembly began tackling its final Commission of Inquiry reform this week as legislators debated the first of five bills designed to improve the governance of five statutory …
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”
The government won’t meet tomorrow’s deadline for completing the sweeping reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry, but it aims to finish the job by the end of next week, …
Continue reading “COI reform deadline missed again, but new target set for next week”
Struggling residents will have new ways to get help under a law that received assent from Governor Daniel Pruce on Aug. 22, government announced. An amendment to the Public Assistance …
Shortly after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, the House of Assembly returned from closed-door committee and passed an amended version of a bill proposed by Governor Daniel Pruce to modernise the …
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”
Governor John Rankin drew the ire of elected leaders last week when he announced plans to seek additional powers to push through delayed Commission of Inquiry reforms. Premier Dr. Natalio …
Continue reading “Premier fumes as governor seeks new powers”
Despite the recent change in overseas territory ministerial leadership and the pending change of governor early next year, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said on July 25 that progress on …
When will politicians learn? Once again, Auditor General Sonia Webster has carried out her mandate with exacting professionalism. In two recent reports that should make taxpayers’ blood boil, she alleged …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: The auditor general is a hero. Heed her advice.”
This month brought good and bad news as Governor John Rankin and Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley both reported on the first three months of the ongoing Commission of Inquiry …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Government, governor must collaborate on reform promises”
The recent Commission of Inquiry reported finding evidence that the Premier’s Office under former Premier Andrew Fahie may have obstructed government auditors investigating Covid-19 assistance programmes. A new law is …
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”
Despite a few hitches, the National Unity Government is off to a good start with the governance reforms agreed with the United Kingdom. Already, the territory is seeing badly needed …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: So far, so good on governance reforms”
Make no mistake: The people of the Virgin Islands are fed up. For decades, they have watched their elected leaders waste taxpayer money, reward cronies, shun transparency, and otherwise break …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Reform detractors should put up or shut up”
So far, the new National Unity Government is saying the right things as it works to dissuade the United Kingdom from implementing direct rule. For instance, it has rightly accepted …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Gov’t is saying the right things, but action and more info are needed”
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.”
Monday was a dark day for the Virgin Islands, with the United Kingdom flexing its colonial muscle and announcing a wide-ranging corruption inquiry in the territory. However, we are sad …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Unfortunately, the corruption inquiry is needed”
