Citing a lengthy list of grievances and accusing the premier of “incompetence,” the opposition attempted to topple the government with a vote of no-confidence on Tuesday in the House of …
September 5, 2024
September 4, 2024
12 bills laid days before COI deadline
Two days before the missed Saturday deadline for completing the sweeping reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry, the House of Assembly suspended its usual rules to introduce 12 bills. …
September 4, 2024
HOA votes to reform public service
After returning from a closed-door committee session last Thursday, the House of Assembly passed a bill designed to bring sweeping changes to the public service as part of the ongoing …
August 29, 2024
Governor signs off on public aid reform
Struggling residents will have new ways to get help under a law that received assent from Governor Daniel Pruce on Aug. 22, government announced. An amendment to the Public Assistance …
August 29, 2024
Civil service reform debated in House
Just ahead of the Saturday deadline for completing the Commission of Inquiry reforms, the House of Assembly has been debating a bill that would bring sweeping reforms to the …
August 23, 2024
A $13 million mistake
In the 2024 Budget Address last November, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley announced a Cabinet decision to include about $10 million in this year’s budget to ensure that all public …
August 20, 2024
EDITORIAL: Opposition should stop resisting COI reforms
For decades, successive Virgin Islands governments have shamelessly wasted the public’s money by awarding pork-barrel contracts to cronies and other unqualified bidders. Last month, a divided House of Assembly barely …
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August 15, 2024
HOA okays vetting law enforcers
Certain prison, customs and immigration officers could soon be subject to new vetting requirements under a bill the House of Assembly passed recently in accordance with a Commission of Inquiry …
August 2, 2024
HOA votes to amend 2021 integrity act
The House of Assembly voted Friday to amend a 2021 integrity law that never took effect and strengthen an Integrity Commission that was never established. The Integrity in Public Life …
August 2, 2024
HOA limits Cabinet’s power over contracts
Despite dissent from five opposition members, the House of Assembly narrowly voted on Tuesday to dramatically limit Cabinet’s discretion over contract awards in keeping with recommendations from the 2022 Commission …
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July 22, 2024
EDITORIAL: Recent assistance reforms a good starting point
Kudos to the House of Assembly for passing legislation this month to help reform social assistance in the territory. But leaders must not stop now. The Public Assistance (Amendment) Bill, …
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July 18, 2024
Guv’s inquiry bill sparks cries of ‘dictatorship’
On Tuesday in the House of Assembly, two legislators used the word “dictatorship” to decry a bill that Governor Daniel Pruce is proposing to modernise the Commission of Inquiry Act …
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July 15, 2024
Government urged to boost land-based visits
The Virgin Islands is being left behind by tourism rivals like St. Thomas due to government complacency, opposition member Myron Walywn warned recently in the House of Assembly. To tackle …
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July 12, 2024
HOA okays Skelton contract worth $36k monthly
The House of Assembly has passed a motion to allow Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton to retain his seat even though a company he leads is renewing a $36,000-a-month contract to …
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July 12, 2024
HOA shoring up assistance programme
The House of Assembly passed a bill Tuesday that aims to further reform the Assistance Grants Programme, which has been dramatically revamped over the past two years in keeping with …
July 6, 2024
Premier rules out fully public company register
The government will not permit “uninhibited” access to information about companies registered in the Virgin Islands despite previous promises to implement a public register of beneficial ownership, Premier Dr. Natalio …
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July 4, 2024
US aims to jail Fahie for life
Last month, former premier Andrew Fahie asked a Miami judge to sentence him to the minimum 10 years in prison for conspiring to smuggle thousands of kilograms of cocaine into …
July 1, 2024
Former legislator remembered
Family, friends and colleagues remembered former police commissioner and legislator Vernon Malone during an official funeral on Saturday morning at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex. Mr. Malone, who died on May …
June 27, 2024
BOSSS bill pulled from House schedule
Legislation aimed at fighting money crime was dropped from the House of Assembly’s agenda at the last minute without explanation on Tuesday. The Beneficial Ownership Secure Search System (Amendment) Act …
June 27, 2024
Maynard gets 9 years for cocaine conspiracy
During a friendly lunch meeting in St. Thomas in March 2022, Oleanvine Maynard explained her financial goals to an undercover operative she believed to be a member of Mexico’s Sinaloa …
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June 20, 2024
Crown land legislation passes with amendments
After six days in closed-door committee, the House of Assembly passed a law on Monday that aims to provide a transparent framework for the acquisition, management and disposal of crown …
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June 14, 2024
Smith hails Asia trip as a success
The Virgin Islands has been hailed as a “super connector” for financial services in East Asia, Deputy Premier Lorna Smith said after an 11-day trade push last month in China …
June 10, 2024
Premier won’t say if he could live on $6 an hour
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley has sidestepped the question of whether he could live on $6 an hour as a review of that minimum wage is set to go before …
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June 7, 2024
HOA tackles crown land reforms
The 2022 Commission of Inquiry report blasted the government’s handling of crown land and called for comprehensive reforms after finding evidence that “serious dishonesty” may have occurred in at least …
June 7, 2024
Premier hails teamwork with new guv
Sweeping anti-corruption reforms recommended by the recent Commission of Inquiry can be achieved by the new deadline of September, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said Friday. Dr. Wheatley was speaking …