When Hurricane Irma hit the territory three years ago, John Klein had been in the process of expanding his Jost Van Dyke property White Bay Villas. “The only reason we …
September 14, 2020
September 14, 2020
EDITORIAL: Covid is highlighting Irma recovery failures
Three years after Hurricane Irma, successive governments’ failure to secure the needed level of recovery funding — which now could be doing much more to help the stalled economy through …
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September 13, 2020
Remembering Irma in the Covid age
A recent uptick in cases of Covid-19 in the Virgin Islands meant that community members couldn’t host any sort of large gathering on Sunday to reflect on the past three …
September 13, 2020
Hundreds left out of housing programme
Shortly after hurricanes Irma and Maria caused an estimated $572 million in damage to nearly 7,000 residential buildings across the territory, Virgin Islands leaders announced a plan to spend more …
September 11, 2020
Boarded windows and no electricity
When Hurricane Irma tore through the Virgin Islands three years ago, it took the windows and roof of Benito Fulgencio’s home of 22 years. Without any government assistance, Mr. Fulgencio …
August 26, 2020
Another contract signed for admin building
Repair work will accelerate at the Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Complex following the signing of a contract to install impact-resistant windows and doors, officials said last week, adding that plans …
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July 27, 2020
EDITORIAL: Graduates have overcome much, but a hard road is ahead
As the graduation season gets under way, we wish a hearty congratulations to the Class of 2020, which has overcome formidable challenges that we fear are not over yet. Most …
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March 3, 2020
2019 tourism approached pre-Irma levels
A total of 894,991 tourists visited the Virgin Islands during 2019, reaching nearly 80 percent of pre-Irma levels and more than doubling 2018 numbers, Premier Andrew Fahie announced last Thursday …
February 4, 2020
In new book, Virgin Gorda children share their Irma stories
After Hurricane Irma, Virgin Gorda author Jacky Silvers noticed something missing from the community’s narrative about the storm. “I realised that the adults wanted to tell their stories, but the …
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February 4, 2020
Where are they now? Irma survivors abroad share their journeys
Connie Haines Barry lives in an island-inspired haven in Spooner, Wisconsin, a town in the United States with a population of about 2,600 people. A pineapple-themed welcome sign hangs above …
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January 22, 2020
EDITORIAL: RDA CEO’s resignation hurts, but it’s no surprise
The slow pace of the government’s hurricane recovery is nothing short of a crisis, and the resignation of Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly is another major blow to …
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January 9, 2020
Rosewood Little Dix Bay reopens on Virgin Gorda
Rosewood Little Dix Bay, the 55-year-old Virgin Gorda resort founded by legendary philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller, reopened last week after a four-year closure exacerbated by damage from Hurricane Irma. The 500-acre …
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November 12, 2019
EDITORIAL: Thanks, European Union, for shelter funding
The European Union-funded effort to refurbish and stock emergency shelters around the territory is music to our ears. It was also a long time in coming. When Hurricane Irma struck …
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November 4, 2019
EDITORIAL: The revised recovery plan is even worse than the last
When we heard that the new government was drafting a revised recovery plan as part of its efforts to secure the United Kingdom loan guarantee, we had high hopes. But …
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September 24, 2019
EDITORIAL: End of shift system is welcome, but work needed in schools
Finally. Two years after Hurricane Irma, public high schoolers are no longer attending class on a part-time basis under a shift system. This welcome news comes with the long-delayed reopening …
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September 23, 2019
FSC: Insurance payouts from 2017 disasters top $828m
A total of 12,945 insurance claims totalling more than $918 million have been filed relating to the August floods and September hurricanes of 2017, according to a report from the …
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September 16, 2019
Irma’s mental health issues linger
Dr. Virginia Rubaine had plans to travel on Sept. 7, 2017. But on Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma swept through the Virgin Islands, devastating homes, businesses and livelihoods, and dashing any …
September 11, 2019
Businesses take a lead in Hurricane Irma recovery
Two years after Hurricane Irma, a walk through Road Town suggests that the biggest victory of the private sector also remains its greatest challenge: rebuilding. “Many of the businesses are …
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September 11, 2019
Two years after Irma, many still struggling
For about 10 months before Hurricane Dorian brushed the Virgin Islands last week, Wendy Hendricks would wake up each morning in the tattered tent in which she was living near …
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September 9, 2019
Gov’t recovery drags amid funding woes
In the weeks after Hurricane Irma, the recovery effort roared to life. With the help of funding and personnel from the United Kingdom and other partners, the Virgin Islands government …
September 9, 2019
EDITORIAL: Recovery has come far, but all is not well
In the two years since Hurricane Irma devastated the Virgin Islands, the territory has made astonishing progress that should make residents proud. Nevertheless, all is not well with the longer-term …
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September 6, 2019
September 5, 2019
EDITORIAL: Roads must be repaired properly
In the weeks before the February general election, the former government quickly resurfaced roads across Tortola. Already, those repairs are falling apart. This is extremely disheartening at a time when …
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August 30, 2019
EDITORIAL: Absent alternatives, loan guarantee is needed
At a time when the government’s recovery effort is severely delayed and egregiously underfunded, Premier Andrew Fahie should stop fear-mongering and work quickly with Governor Gus Jaspert to finalise a …
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July 31, 2019
The official toll is 4, but Irma likely killed more than 30
Jared Lettsome, a friendly 30-year-old with Down syndrome, survived Hurricane Irma huddled in a closet with his family as the wind blew the roof off their East End home. Sixteen …
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