"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Virgin Islands police officers are not being “tricked” into providing personal financial information under a controversial new vetting system launched last week after lengthy delays, Governor Daniel Pruce said Friday. …
Continue reading “Governor won’t disclose police-vetting deal”
With less than half an hour of public debate, the House of Assembly passed two bills last Thursday as part of long-delayed efforts to overhaul the rules for the marine …
Britain’s recent inquiry into the Virgin Islands’ law-enforcement agencies could tip the scales when global financial watchdogs consider whether to sanction the territory next month, according to a leading expert. …
Continue reading “UK review could tip VI onto ‘grey list,’ expert says”
Without public debate, the House of Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that includes controversial yachting fee hikes and other reforms that have drawn fire at home and abroad in …
Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley has fired back after an influential British politician accused the Virgin Islands of making a “mockery” of combatting financial crime by launching a cartoon bird logo …
Continue reading “UK pol attacks VI ‘mockery’ of money-crime fight”
After returning from a closed-door committee session last Thursday, House of Assembly members passed a bill designed to clarify the path to belongership and correct the “unintended ramifications” of an …
Lineworkers from 23 countries awoke to dark skies over Road Town on Sunday, but sporadic rain showers throughout the day didn’t slow them down. Behind the still-unfinished Ralph T. O’Neal …
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development has cancelled the six remaining public meetings on a planned national tourism policy, replacing them with “target focus group sessions” that have …
The lowest paid workers in the Virgin Islands will belatedly get a wage boost after a high-profile salary increase was snatched from them shortly before Christmas. But instead of the …
The House of Assembly is considering a bill aimed at clarifying the path to belongership and otherwise cleaning up an act passed last May. After amending the order paper to …
A proposal to give the governor sweeping new powers over areas including customs, immigration and financial investigations has been roundly condemned by both sides of the House of Assembly. HOA …
Continue reading “HOA blasts UK security review as guv stays tight-lipped”
The second volume of the law enforcement review is extensive. It examines nine public-sector bodies and seven other public service organisations in their roles connected to the criminal justice system. …
Following an explosive public row between Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley and his counterpart in the United States Virgin Islands over planned fee hikes for charter boats, both leaders announced this …
Continue reading “Charter dispute ‘95%’ sorted, premier says”
After returning from a closed-door committee session last Thursday, the House of Assembly passed a bill that members said is designed to update maritime rules and help keep the seas …
Claiming that corruption and organised crime have seriously undermined security in the Virgin Islands, the second volume of a scathing law-enforcement review lays out a 10-year reform plan that would …
Continue reading “Security review sets stage for UK-VI spat”
Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley appears to be getting ahead of himself in his haste to lure opposition members to the government bench. He should slow down. When announcing recently that …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: ‘Minister of state’ plan is half-baked”
Caribbean postal services must embrace digital technology such as artificial intelligence in order to find their place in a rapidly changing world, Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said during a regional …
New Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has hit back at Ronnie Skelton’s claim that toppling him from the role amounted to “stabbing” him “in the front.” “To imply that Hon. Skelton …
Keeping the seas safe and retaining the territory’s shipping credentials are among the goals of a bill the House of Assembly is considering this week, leaders said. Kicking off an …
Vaping devices could soon be categorised as tobacco products in the Virgin Islands, and businesses could be required to police customers who try to partake on their premises. Such measures …
Consider a worker who is victimised because of his race or religion. Or an expatriate whose employer confiscates her passport in order to control her movements. Or a woman who …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: High time for a human-rights watchdog”
A new rift has reopened old wounds in the House of Assembly. Ronnie Skelton said this week that Myron Walwyn “stabbed” him “in the front” to replace him as leader …
The territory’s 2007 Constitution provided for the creation of a commission charged with helping protect human rights in the Virgin Islands. It was never formed. But now, after 18 years …
Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley’s bid to create a new “minister of state” role in his government could be an attempt to expand the Cabinet “through the back door,” according to …
Beneath a bright moon, an ocean of cell phone cameras pointed upwards as Jamaican dancehall artist Vybez Kartel took the stage just minutes after midnight. The crowd erupted, and photographers …
Continue reading “Despite criticism, Kartel show draws a crowd”
