The House of Assembly suspended its usual rules on Monday to introduce and pass two financial services bills designed to avoid international sanction by bringing the territory in line with …
September 19, 2024
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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May 21, 2024
Spearfishing illegal for now, premier says
Spearfishing is currently prohibited in the Virgin Islands, but Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley expects that to change when a new fisheries law and regulations take effect later this year, …
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May 17, 2024
Old administration building to be repaired
Government plans to renovate the former government administration building and its annex at the Sir Olva Georges Plaza, but no firm timeline has been set for the project, according to …
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May 16, 2024
Festival reports released with names redacted
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley has refused to name the businesses and individuals hired for festival celebrations in 2022 and 2023, leading opposition member Marlon Penn to compare him to …
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May 16, 2024
Rymer refuses to name licensed taxi drivers
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer drew fire from the opposition during a recent House of Assembly meeting for refusing to provide the names of the drivers who were issued …
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May 9, 2024
Penn questions 1-bid road tender
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer claimed last week in the House of Assembly that his approach to repairing roads in the territory will ensure that taxpayers get good value …
May 9, 2024
Phase one of Red Bay dock complete
Phase one of the Red Bay fishers dock — which included a bulk heading and a haul-out ramp as well as the dock itself — has been completed, Premier Dr. …
March 29, 2024
$670k budgeted for music festival
Government has allocated $670,000 for the Virgin Islands Music Festival in May but hopes to earn it all back through ticket sales, sponsorships and other revenue streams, Premier Dr. Natalio …
May 6, 2023
Opposition comes out swinging
The new opposition members presented a united front while making their first public appearance together on April 27 during a press conference. Expressing collective frustration, they gave a blow-by-blow account …
April 20, 2023
Three of four party leaders field questions
For more than 20 years, a party system has dominated Virgin Islands politics, and this year may be no different. As in 2019, four parties are contending the general election, …
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March 9, 2023
Parties pit experience against new candidates
The National Democratic Party and Progressive Virgin Islands Movement both added election candidates over the past week, pulling largely from the pool of political veterans but also giving a platform …
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April 15, 2022
Opposition laments infrastructure issues
Small contractors in the Virgin Islands have been losing out on petty contracts under the current government, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn said during a press conference on Tuesday. “One of …
August 20, 2021
ESHS rebuild to be under two-part plan
Government is working with the Recovery and Development Agency and two United States-based nonprofits to finalise designs for a rebuilt Elmore Stoutt High School, according to Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio …
June 24, 2021
Legislators’ interests declared late, or not at all
Concluding hearings for the first of six major topics it plans to investigate this summer, the Commission of Inquiry called legislators from the present and past to answer for their …
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May 15, 2021
$300k contract signed for EE centre
Community centres in the Virgin Islands serve as gathering spaces in good times and as vital shelters during storms, but many of them have sat in ruins since taking severe …
April 27, 2021
Malone grilled on pollution scrubber
The Pockwood Pond incinerator is back burning trash after six weeks offline, but Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone came under fire in the House of Assembly last week …
February 26, 2021
Opposition leader calls for ‘stimulus 2.0’
As the first anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic approaches, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn recently highlighted a need for additional relief while addressing the pandemic, the tourism industry and other economic …
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February 22, 2021
Government mum on communications consultants
Last September, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn told the House of Assembly about an “incident” that occurred during the 2019 budget process after he walked outside the HOA and noticed a …
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February 4, 2021
14th governor sworn in
Governor John Rankin first visited the Virgin Islands not on vacation, but to lend his support as leader of a fellow overseas territory in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in …
December 3, 2020
A ‘green’ house: HOA to go paperless
The year 2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the restoration of the territory’s legislature, and as the year comes to a close members are taking action to make the House …
November 6, 2020
Opposition blasts government’s reopening plans
Opposition members used their monthly press conference last week to blast the government’s recently announced tourism re-opening protocols, which they said are overly restrictive. Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull (R-D2) said the …
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October 8, 2020
Opposition pushes government for tourism plan
In keeping with their promise to host monthly discussions with the media and the public, opposition members hosted a press conference on Sept. 30 where they distanced themselves from Premier …
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September 4, 2020
Opposition takes aim at Covid response
The day after the government hosted a more-than-three-hour-long Covid-19 press conference last week, opposition members voiced their concerns about leaders’ recent decisions, calling on them to present a detailed plan …
July 17, 2020
NHI owes providers $4 million
The $7.5 million in Covid-19 relief funding earmarked to pay medical providers for their services rendered through the National Health Insurance system only went so far, and nearly $4 million …