At elected leaders’ discretion, the government awarded nearly $23 million in assistance grants between January 2019 and May 2022 without adequate accountability or transparency, including more than $200,000 to one …
March 16, 2023
March 9, 2023
16 bills rushed ahead of international review
Eleven days before international assessors are scheduled to arrive as part of a key anti-money-laundering evaluation, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley introduced amendments to 16 financial services laws last Thursday …
Continue reading “16 bills rushed ahead of international review”
March 3, 2023
Cabinet commits to paying increments
In recent weeks, public officers including members of the BVI Teachers Union have complained vocally about pay increments that government has owed them for years. But Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” …
March 3, 2023
Premier: UN, VI relations ‘stronger than ever’
As part of its legal obligation to support the world’s non-self-governing territories, the 77th United Nations General Assembly recently adopted its annual resolution to support the Virgin Islands. In that …
Continue reading “Premier: UN, VI relations ‘stronger than ever’”
March 3, 2023
Minister promises progress on teacher increments
Amid upset concerning outstanding increments due to teachers, Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sharie de Castro met with the BVI Teachers Union last month and promised progress, according to …
Continue reading “Minister promises progress on teacher increments”
March 3, 2023
Minister reps Virgin Islands in climate change meeting
Natural Resources and Labour Minister Mitch Turnbull attended and moderated a virtual regional forum on climate change last month, and before it got under way he stood in the Feb. …
Continue reading “Minister reps Virgin Islands in climate change meeting”
February 10, 2023
Premier lays national plan in House
Looking far beyond the few remaining months the current House of Assembly will be in place, HOA members have made official a roadmap for the territory’s development until 2036. Premier …
February 10, 2023
Police bill returns to House
Years of efforts to reform the legislation governing the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force — including by broadening officers’ powers to make arrests without warrants and to collect physical evidence …
February 10, 2023
10 civil servants on paid interdiction
The number of civil servants on paid interdiction has been rising, and the government is trying to find the best way to address associated logistical and budgetary challenges, Premier Dr. …
February 10, 2023
Plans made to boost marine research
The Virgin Islands is charting a way forward to work in collaboration with the world’s largest marine studies institute to better understand the natural resources of its waters. Natural Resources …
February 10, 2023
Ministry aims to strengthen principals’ leadership skills
In the interest of teacher retention, student achievement, and the overall success of the territory’s schools, a cohort of school administrators are participating in leadership training, according to Education, Youth …
Continue reading “Ministry aims to strengthen principals’ leadership skills”
February 10, 2023
76 find temp work through jobs programme
Since the recent introduction of a new programme designed to match jobseekers with short-term employment opportunities, hundreds of residents have expressed an interest in participating and some have since found …
December 22, 2022
House passes 2023 budget
Legislators celebrated the allocation of funds to several delayed capital projects before passing the 2023 budget on Dec. 21, but they also called attention to other stalled work and took …
December 6, 2022
Penn: Joes Hill project ‘substantially complete’
The Joes Hill affordable-housing development that originally broke ground in April 2017 is nearing completion, and the application process for prospective buyers is under way, according to Health and Social …
Continue reading “Penn: Joes Hill project ‘substantially complete’”
December 6, 2022
930 take part in health training
Ahead of the holiday season, the Virgin Islands is preparing to join a regional programme that aims to set standards for public health management in the tourism sector across the …
October 28, 2022
House passes Jury Act
The House of Assembly passed the Virgin Islands Jury Act, 2022 with amendments after coming out of committee on Oct. 25, according to HOA Public Relations Officer Linton Leonard. However, …
October 21, 2022
House considers widening jury pool
Finding enough impartial jurors to hear court cases in the territory has proved challenging in recent years, but a solution may be on the horizon as legislators this week debated …
September 30, 2022
Financial crimes council gets more members
Two new members will be added to the National Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Coordinating Council if a recently passed bill gets the governor’s assent. The House of Assembly passed …
Continue reading “Financial crimes council gets more members”
September 30, 2022
New HOA committee to push COI reforms
Legislators created a special select Reform Committee on Sept. 27 to help ensure that the House of Assembly meets its law-making obligations under the National Unity Government’s framework for implementing …
September 23, 2022
House of Assembly okays updates to nonprofit organisation rules
Legislators are aiming to find a better balance in regulating non-profit organisations based in the Virgin Islands, they said this week as they debated a proposed amendment to the Non-Profit …
Continue reading “House of Assembly okays updates to nonprofit organisation rules”
September 2, 2022
House of Assembly approves $12.6 million in spending variations
After spending nearly seven hours in closed-door committee on Tuesday, the House of Assembly unanimously passed a motion approving a schedule of additional provisions, freeing up almost $12.6 million in …
Continue reading “House of Assembly approves $12.6 million in spending variations”
August 22, 2022
Jury reform is back on table after COI
Hoping to address long-standing issues with the territory’s jury pool that resulted in legal action in 2019, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley recently introduced a bill in the House of …
August 18, 2022
Water, sewerage authority in works
Legislators gave the green light last week to create a new statutory body to oversee water and sewerage, claiming the move will help rectify longstanding infrastructure problems that have plagued …
August 12, 2022
HOA okays extending duty relief
Among other business completed on Tuesday, the House of Assembly signed off on government’s plan to extend an import-duty reduction by three months, and it green-lighted regulations that give more …
July 29, 2022
Premier says COI reforms still on track
The framework for carrying out Commission of Inquiry recommendations includes a deluge of deadlines for July, but Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said last week that his National Unity Government …
