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 23, 2024
July 11, 2024
Long-time inmate charged in 2023 killing
A long-time inmate at His Majesty’s Prison has become the third man charged with murdering Kemo Lettsome, who was shot to death during a family gathering in Long Look on …
April 19, 2024
Sargassum: That ‘brown gold’?
Biofuel. Bricks. Paper. Beauty products. A carbon capture system. Many Caribbean entrepreneurs see an unprecedented economic opportunity in the sargassum that has regularly swamped the region since 2011. But despite …
February 6, 2024
Daughter seeks info on sailor killed in 1991
In 1991, it was very expensive to call the Virgin Islands from Jamaica. The price was well worth it for the family of Clive Ferdinand Watson, who would call him …
Continue reading “Daughter seeks info on sailor killed in 1991”
October 20, 2023
No foul play suspected in detective’s death
Five days after a Virgin Islands police detective from the United Kingdom was found dead in a submerged jeep near the Road Town helipad, officials said they had found no …
Continue reading “No foul play suspected in detective’s death”
October 6, 2023
Two seized drug planes part of a bigger problem on Anegada
In a field next to the Theodolph Faulkner Administration Building, where Anegada’s police force is based, lie two battered engines and the charred tail section of a small Piper airplane …
Continue reading “Two seized drug planes part of a bigger problem on Anegada”
October 28, 2021
Facing COI, Fahie explains rocky UK relationship
In response to allegations of poor governance aired during the ongoing Commission of Inquiry, Premier Andrew Fahie last week described a pattern of systemic problems with the Virgin Islands’ constitutional …
Continue reading “Facing COI, Fahie explains rocky UK relationship”
October 11, 2021
Skelton-Cline dodges many COI questions
Government consultant and radio personality Claude Skelton-Cline initially refused to answer many of the Commission of Inquiry’s questions on Oct. 4 after claiming its probe was unfairly focusing on him …
June 24, 2021
COI calls former legislators
Besides questioning current members of the House of Assembly over the past week, the Commission of Inquiry also called former members as it sought information about elected officials’ interests. Like …
June 10, 2021
In inquiry, ex-top cop Matthews slams barge plan
During a hearing before the Commission of Inquiry last month, former Police Commissioner Michael Matthews slammed the government’s decision to rent three barges to help patrol the territory’s borders in …
Continue reading “In inquiry, ex-top cop Matthews slams barge plan”
May 28, 2021
COI probes contracts, airport, barges
Recently released transcripts show that Commission of Inquiry hearings held on May 11 and May 13 focused on topics including the development of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, the …
May 14, 2021
COI releases transcript of first hearing
Wednesday afternoon, the commission of inquiry released the transcript from the first session of its first hearing, during which it considered and ultimately approved Attorney General Dawn Smith’s application to …
May 6, 2021
Inquiry hearings under way
Sir Gary Hickinbottom started off closed hearings on May 4 to fulfil his mandate as head of the United Kingdom’s commission of inquiry into corruption in the Virgin Islands. In …
May 3, 2021
Inquiry hearings start this week
The United Kingdom’s commission of inquiry is scheduled to start holding its first hearings today in Road Town. The move is the next step after the commission received various written …
April 22, 2021
Government gave commission of inquiry 73k pages
The government so far has provided 3,977 official documents amounting to 72,902 pages to the United Kingdom commission of inquiry, Premier Andrew Fahie told the House of Assembly on April …
Continue reading “Government gave commission of inquiry 73k pages”
April 19, 2021
EDITORIAL: Presence, transparency will win trust for COI
The success of the ongoing commission of inquiry depends heavily on the trust and support of the Virgin Islands community. For this reason, we are glad that COI members have …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Presence, transparency will win trust for COI”
April 16, 2021
Rules set for commission’s hearings
When the commission of inquiry was announced in January, Premier Andrew Fahie said he supported the probe but sought full transparency, including the live broadcast of hearings. But Sir Gary …
April 9, 2021
Commission of Inquiry team back in Virgin Islands
The commission of inquiry’s commissioner, secretary and senior solicitor came back to the Virgin Islands on April 1, starting the countdown on their 14-day quarantine. Their return marks the potential …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry team back in Virgin Islands”
March 25, 2021
Inquiry team to return next week
The second stage of a probe into alleged corruption in the Virgin Islands will continue with the return of the investigative team from the United Kingdom next week, the commission …
March 12, 2021
Commission of Inquiry: Don’t censor submitted documents
The commission of inquiry released more detailed information this week about the protocols for providing evidence to the team, and how that information subsequently may be redacted. Commissioner Sir Gary …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry: Don’t censor submitted documents”
January 28, 2021
Commission starts gathering evidence
Following the bombshell announcement last week that the United Kingdom will lead an independent investigation into potential corruption in the Virgin Islands, Governor Gus Jaspert and Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom …
July 19, 2020
Gorda Peak park closed indefinitely
Gorda Peak National Park is closed until further notice because several areas in the park were illegally cleared for farming, according to Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley. …
January 10, 2019
Safari bus burns on Joes Hill, but no one injured
A safari bus carrying 13 tourists caught fire on Tuesday near the top of Joes Hill road, but officials said the passengers were quickly evacuated and no one was injured. …
Continue reading “Safari bus burns on Joes Hill, but no one injured”