"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Unanticipated expenses including security, arbitration, infrastructure, and public servant increments required legislators to approve supplementary spending for 2021 and 2022, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said on May 26 in …
Continue reading “House of Assembly green-lights 2021 supplementary spending”
The Virgin Islands government has paid out more than $8 million in responding to the United Kingdom-led Commission of Inquiry, most of which went toward covering legal fees, Premier Dr. …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry cost government more than $8 million”
Five bills passed by the House of Assembly over the past five years still await the governor’s assent, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said on May 26 in response to …
Government has spent nearly $1.5 million of $3.5 million allocated for a “water network improvement plan” via an August 2018 Cabinet memorandum, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said last Thursday …
Continue reading “Nearly $1.5 million spent on $3.5 million ‘water network’ plan”
After accepting Speaker of the House Julian Willock’s resignation on May 3, members of the House of Assembly selected attorney Corine George-Massicote as his replacement Thursday morning. Ms. George-Massicote said …
Continue reading “Corine George-Massicote selected as new HOA Speaker”
Though government paid the United Kingdom-headquartered law firm Withers LLP $6.5 million for representation during the Commission of Inquiry, not all branches of government benefited from the firm’s services, according …
Continue reading “$6.5 million paid to Withers during inquiry”
With 10 votes in favour and one absence from Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone, the House of Assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence resolution on Thursday calling to revoke …
Continue reading “UPDATE: House votes to oust Premier Andrew Fahie”
The evening of April 19, legislators emerged from closed-door committee to announce that the 143-page bill meant to overhaul outdated rules for fishing, farming and other food supply issues passed …
Though only first-time homeowners will now benefit, the House of Assembly recently voted to continue exempting belongers from paying stamp duty when buying land. Premier Andrew Fahie presented the Stamps …
Two House of Assembly members got the green light for their businesses to secure government contracts during a March 10 sitting. House Deputy Speaker Neville Smith was exempted from vacating …
Continue reading “HOA okays government contracts for 2 members”
New legislation making its way through the House of Assembly could result in significant changes to how people in the Virgin Islands grow, catch, raise, import, export and sell food. …
A special committee convened last November has not yet decided whether taxpayers or House Speaker Julian Willock should pay the $120,000 in legal fees Mr. Willock incurred while trying to …
Continue reading “Four months later, special committee mum on Willock legal fees”
Following a press conference on Friday where Premier Andrew Fahie stated that government would monitor rising prices of gas and other goods, he made another announcement on Sunday night that …
Continue reading “Premier Fahie warns against price gouging”
The Speech from the Throne last week laid out an ambitious legislative agenda that could greatly benefit the territory. But it is a tall order. As usual, the government has …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Ambitious HOA agenda will require heavy lifting”
Six bills were introduced after the Speech from the Throne during the House of Assembly sitting on Tuesday afternoon. First, Premier Andrew Fahie motioned to introduce the first readings of …
About a month after the House of Assembly passed a nearly $400 million budget that members said would be used to steer the economic recovery following recent crises, a new …
Continue reading “Speech from the Throne lays out House of Assembly agenda”
After more than twelve hours of debate over two days, the House of Assembly on Dec. 15 passed a nearly $400 million budget for 2022, with almost $337 million put …
Continue reading “Government passes nearly $400 million 2022 budget”
Two contrasting pictures of the territory’s economic future emerged during the budget debate this week in the House of Assembly. Government legislators described 2021 as a successful year despite the …
Continue reading “Government aims for growth in 2022 budget”
On the heels of celebrating the inaugural 1949 Great March and Restoration Day, community members took to the streets in protest of poor school conditions, political victimisation, and other issues …
Following another year of economic struggles amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Premier Andrew Fahie promised a brighter 2022 during his budget address on Nov. 11. Government, he said, hopes to tap …
Following a debate that stressed the importance of sharing Virgin Islands history with new generations, the House of Assembly brought the Public Holidays Amendment Act, 2021 for first, second and …
The House of Assembly did not decide outright last week whether or not to excuse Speaker Julian Willock from personally paying more than $120,000 in legal fees he incurred while …
Continue reading “HOA sends Willock fee motion to committee”
We are appalled that the House of Assembly is considering putting taxpayers on the hook for $120,000 in legal fees racked up by HOA Speaker Julian Willock when he acted …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: A dozen better uses for $120,000”
A proposed new procurement law is designed to promote international commerce while ensuring that the government’s contractor selection process is transparent and fair to Virgin Islands businesses, according to Premier …
The House of Assembly last week voted once again to exempt Deputy Speaker Neville Smith from vacating his HOA seat because of two more government contracts for a firm where …
Continue reading “HOA okays two more Neville Smith contracts”
