A detailed report on the government’s spending on last year’s festivals is written, but Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley told the House of …
March 6, 2020
March 6, 2020
Government to crack down on illegal fishing
The Virgin Islands includes more than 87,000 square kilometres of marine space, and government leaders are urging people who draw on its resources to take better care of it. “As …
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March 5, 2020
Bills on shipping, micro biz fast-tracked
Legislators passed three bills last Thursday toward the end of a marathon House of Assembly session that lasted some 20 hours over the course of three days. If Governor Gus …
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February 28, 2020
Premier stands by law denounced by free-speech groups
Premier Andrew Fahie doubled down on his support for a controversial new cybercrime amendment this week, responding to criticisms from free-speech advocates for the first time since the law took …
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February 27, 2020
BVI Airports Authority explores nonstop flights from US to VG
Flights from the continental United States to Virgin Gorda could be a reality in the near future with the completion of renovations to the Taddy Bay Airport, Premier Andrew Fahie …
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February 27, 2020
Premier explains efforts to buy Beef Island land
The BVI Airports Authority is seeking to reacquire more than 650 acres of land on Beef Island from Hong Kong investor Raymond Hung, whose 25-year-old plans for a resort and …
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February 27, 2020
Premier still tight-lipped on his security detail
In the face of questions from Opposition Leader Marlon Penn in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, Premier Andrew Fahie stayed mum about the cost of the private security detail …
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November 26, 2019
EDITORIAL: HOA needs long-term agenda for making laws the VI needs
We had hoped to see the government turn over a new leaf this month when its legislative agenda was unveiled in the first Speech from the Throne under its tenure. …
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October 28, 2019
EDITORIAL: Opposition must work as a team
After this month’s House of Assembly meeting, it is clear that the opposition needs to do a better job of working as a team. During the session, different members asked …
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July 26, 2019
Fahie: Airports a ‘rabbit hole’ of mismanagement
The government needs $8.3 million to get the territory’s airports back on track after the newly installed BVI Airports Authority board discovered “a rabbit hole of mismanagement, deception, profligacy, and …
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July 11, 2019
Government seeks input on consumer protection bill
The government is holding a series of meetings with business owners and the wider community to gain input in preparation for the second and third readings of the Consumer Protection …
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June 5, 2019
Premier to introduce energy strategy at HOA
Premier Andrew Fahie plans to table the BVI Resilient National Energy Transition Strategy at the House of Assembly sitting on Monday. The step is among several agenda items listed on …
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May 30, 2019
Belongership “fast track” postponed
An amendment related to the controversial “fast-track” plan to residency and belongership being championed by Premier Andrew Fahie is scheduled for a hearing in the House of Assembly on Monday, …
May 27, 2019
Government still working on UK loan guarantee
As government continues struggling to access money from the $65.2 million Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, leaders still have not been able to secure further recovery …
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May 23, 2019
Ministers explain board revocations
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn grilled Cabinet members on the revocations of the boards of various statutory bodies and government committees, which ministers said was part of a new policy under …
May 23, 2019
Opposition grills premier on Willock legal battle
Lawmakers at the House of Assembly on Friday grilled Premier Andrew Fahie about the cost to taxpayers of the legal battle between Speaker of the House Julian Willock and Mark …
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May 16, 2019
Opposition to grill government at HOA
Opposition members are set to ask government ministers a series of hard-hitting questions at the third sitting of the House of Assembly tomorrow. Premier Andrew Fahie also has several bills …
April 5, 2019
Governor will not issue writ for by-election
Governor Gus Jaspert said on March 26 that he does not intend to issue a writ for a by-election following legal advice that Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool’s resignation “was …
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March 14, 2019
Willock appointed Speaker of the House
Julian Willock has a controversial past. He was dismissed from the public service in 2012 following allegations of impropriety, he was briefly imprisoned in 2016 after he allegedly missed scheduled …
March 14, 2019
HOA sworn in at first sitting
Legislators across parties called for unity and collaboration on Tuesday as all 13 members of the House of Assembly and Speaker Julian Willock were sworn in at the first HOA …
January 31, 2019
Countdown to election under way
After months of speculation, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith announced last week that the general election will be held on Feb. 25. The House of Assembly was officially dissolved the following …
January 25, 2019
HOA rushes ‘substance’ amendments
Two bills were quickly added to the agenda for this week’s House of Assembly sitting on Tuesday: amendments to the “economic substance” law that took effect on New Year’s Day …
January 23, 2019
Iris O’Neal Medical Centre now due next month
The estimated cost to complete the Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda is some $900,000, and the facility is expected to be finished in February, according to Health and …
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January 23, 2019
NHI expenses exceed revenue
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s print edition on Jan. 17. From 2016 through last year, the National Health Insurance programme paid out roughly $1.95 million more than it …
January 17, 2019
Lawmakers tackle e-voting
If the government has its way, electronic voting will be used for the first time in the next general election, ideally eliminating the need to count votes by hand late …