The House of Assembly recently appointed all six opposition members to the Public Accounts Committee — in their absence. Originally, the House had been slated to approve the same appointments …
November 22, 2023
November 14, 2023
EDITORIAL: HOA should stop bickering and get down to business
Elected officials’ recent squabbles in the House of Assembly reflect a failure to work together and carry out the important business of governing the Virgin Islands. During the HOA meeting …
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November 9, 2023
Opposition defends House of Assembly walkout
Cowardice. That is the label given to the actions of Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley by the opposition following last week’s House of Assembly meeting. In a press conference last …
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November 6, 2023
EDITORIAL: Standing on the shoulders of giants
We applaud the House of Assembly and others responsible for recognising ten national heroes whose stories are an inspiration to current and future generations. The move was a welcome addition …
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November 3, 2023
HOA suspends Trade Commission Act
Government legislators reversed course this week on their previous plan to establish a Trade Commission as a statutory body in place of the existing Trade Department. The commission, which was …
September 28, 2023
Long-delayed tourism plan stalled for now
In March 2022, Cabinet decided to award a $1.9 million contract to a New York-based firm to create the national tourism plan that successive governments had been promising for more …
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September 28, 2023
Gov’t takes aim at harbour hazards
Rotting boats clogging harbours are one of the most common visual reminders of the 2017 hurricanes, and a new effort to get them removed is now under way, Premier Dr. …
September 28, 2023
Sewage plant to come online soon
The hurricane-damaged Burt Point wastewater treatment plant is still out of commission, but Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said last week that it should be coming online next month. …
September 21, 2023
Progress promised at Prospect
Ever since government purchased the Prospect Reef Resort in 2005 with plans to convert it into a hospitality-training centre, the property has been mired in controversy and false starts as …
September 21, 2023
Legislators walk back ‘Greedy Bill’
Legislators voted Tuesday to walk back a controversial 2021 law that dramatically upped their compensation package by allowing them to continue receiving their full salary for up to four years …
August 8, 2023
House of Assembly repped in Turks and Caicos
A delegation from the House of Assembly travelled to the Turks and Caicos Islands last month for the 45th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The CPA Conference of …
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July 27, 2023
SAP to support school repairs
School rehabilitation works will get a boost from $630,000 allocated via a Schedule of Additional Provisions that the House of Assembly passed July 13, according to Education, Youth Affairs and …
July 24, 2023
House of Assembly grants programme blasted by new report
Though some needy residents benefitted from the nearly $4 million in Covid-19 Assistance Grants handed out by House of Assembly members during the pandemic, others abused the programme in the …
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July 20, 2023
House of Assembly okays spending variations via a Schedule of Additional Provisions
After spending about 15 hours in closed-door committee over the course of a week, the House of Assembly voted unanimously last Thursday to pass a Schedule of Additional Provisions, freeing …
March 20, 2023
EDITORIAL: Women much missed in House of Assembly
There was an elephant in the room this month when the territory celebrated International Women’s Day amidst the ongoing election campaigns. In recent decades, Virgin Islands women have increasingly taken …
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March 9, 2023
Premier withdraws Police Act
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley moved to withdraw the controversial Police Act 2023 last Thursday in the House of Assembly, saying that he would re-introduce a scaled-down bill today that …
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 …
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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 …
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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. …
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February 13, 2023
EDITORIAL: A long cheer for short campaigns
With a general election due in less than three months, the Virgin Islands is heading into an unusually short campaign season. That’s a good thing. Prior to past elections, campaigning …
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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 …