Last week in the House of Assembly, elected leaders delayed the Consumer Protection Bill and other government business and spent at least 10 hours debating a motion to “reprimand” Governor …
HOA passes Consumer Protection Act
“This is a game-changer,” Premier Andrew Fahie said of a pair of trade-based bills that passed the House of Assembly this week. The Consumer Protection Act, 2020 — a law …
Deadline missed for BVI Airways report
The auditor general’s special report on the government’s failed deal with BVI Airways was required by law to be tabled in the House of Assembly no later than last Thursday. …
Bill would help guide border opening
Though government leaders have predicted that the full reopening of the Virgin Islands’ borders is months away, legislation is in the works that would require inbound passengers to provide detailed …
Water delivery continues with third lockdown
Since the Covid-19 lockdown started, teams from the Water and Sewerage Department installed new water system infrastructure and worked to provide water services to more residents in the territory. “Notwithstanding …
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Survey collects info on 300-plus layoffs
A recent survey of businesses in the territory provided information about more than 300 of the workers who have lost their jobs because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing …
$2 million fishing, farming stimulus moves ahead
Government recently sent out a call for farmers and fishers in the territory, and they answered, according to Education, Culture Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley. …
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Code of conduct in works for ministers
Premier Andrew Fahie called for greater transparency in government as he reported April 16 on planned measures that would establish a legally binding ministerial code of conduct. “The ministerial code …
HOA votes to levy 7% tax on sending money via money services
The Financing and Money Services Act 2020, which passed unanimously Friday in the House of Assembly, imposes a seven percent tax on funds sent outside the territory via money services …
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2019 festival report promised soon
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 …
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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, …
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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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 …
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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