As he spoke about the 1950 restoration of the Legislative Council, Premier Andrew Fahie compared the Virgin Islands to a lab rat that doesn’t realise the familiar glass borders to …
EDITORIAL: Last month’s press conference should be repeated weekly
Kudos to government for hosting a comprehensive press conference last month in a format that we hope will become the new normal going forward. The session was ideal for several …
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Alvera Caines-Maduro, D-6 rep, crosses the aisle to Virgin Islands Party
Seated next to Premier Andrew Fahie during a surprise press conference at Village Cay, Alvera Maduro-Caines announced Monday afternoon that she had resigned from the National Democratic Party and will …
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Premier: New court facilities coming soon
A new Magistrates’ Court is currently being designed and planned as part of the first phase of the “Halls of Justice” project, according to Government Information Services. Premier Andrew Fahie …
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Junior ministers trade places with no notice
Fewer than nine months after their original appointment, the government’s two junior ministers traded places on Monday, Premier Andrew Fahie announced the next day. As of Monday, Shereen Flax-Charles (R-at …
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8 cops get ‘close protection training’
Eight officers from the Armed Response Unit of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force recently completed a six-week “Close Protection Training” course conducted by the Bermuda police. The first cohort …
Revised recovery plan submitted to UK
Cabinet has approved and submitted a revised Recovery to Development Plan to the United Kingdom as part of efforts toward securing a loan guarantee. Premier Andrew Fahie said Monday that …
538 apply for ‘1,000 jobs’ initiative
A new programme designed to boost employment in the territory was received with interest from hotels and other businesses last week. Claude Skelton-Cline reached out the BVI Chamber of Commerce …
Government ‘on the way’ to loan guarantee
After weeks of criticising the United Kingdom’s conditions for a recovery loan guarantee, Premier Andrew Fahie returned from a visit to London and said this week that his government is …
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Gov’t recovery drags amid funding woes
In the weeks after Hurricane Irma, the recovery effort roared to life. With the help of funding and personnel from the United Kingdom and other partners, the Virgin Islands government …
EDITORIAL: Recovery has come far, but all is not well
In the two years since Hurricane Irma devastated the Virgin Islands, the territory has made astonishing progress that should make residents proud. Nevertheless, all is not well with the longer-term …
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Public officers trained to use drones
Police, fire fighters and other public officers recently completed training in using drones for disaster response. The three-day DARTdrones’ Basic Flight Training for Disaster Response, which concluded Friday, included classroom …
COMMENTARY — Gov’t warned of early grumbling
Smart politicians pay heed to early disenchantment from voters. Why? Because to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Voter grumbling and voter discontentment at specific matters usually mark the beginning …
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COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for new gov’t
Congratulations to our newly elected members in the Virgin Islands House of Assembly, and God’s blessings throughout your term. The campaigning was quite short. As a result, many candidates did …
COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for e-gov’t, telecoms
Moves towards e-government are welcome but overdue in an economy dependent on telecommunications to make its tourist product and financial services industry more attractive and efficient. We might emulate Estonia’s …
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New government reshuffles ministries
During a Friday ceremony held to swear in the new government ministers, Premier Andrew Fahie announced an extensive reshuffling of the previous ministerial portfolios. “I’m an unconventional leader for an …
EDITORIAL: Recovery plan is still too vague
Though the government’s new “Recovery to Development Plan” lists general spending projections and touts many laudable goals, it is disappointingly vague. Because the document does not include specific priorities and …
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Government wins $221k for cleanup after Vagabond wreck
The government was awarded $221,935.86 for cleanup costs as a result of an oil spill that occurred after the cargo ship Vagabond ran aground near Fallen Jerusalem in 2006. The …
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EDITORIAL: Kudos to the marchers. Here’s what should happen next
The Friday march in Road Town could have benefited greatly from a clearer message and more-realistic demands, but we were delighted that residents took to the streets to push for …
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