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 …
May 6, 2023
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 …
April 24, 2020
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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February 27, 2020
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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January 30, 2020
Opposition promises to hold government accountable
After losing former opposition member Alvera Maduro-Caines to the Virgin Islands Party and seeing the resignation of Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly this month, opposition members acknowledged last …
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October 30, 2019
Premier sees “minimal” impact from Hong Kong protests
The Virgin Islands financial services industry has seen “minimal” impact from the recent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Premier Andrew Fahie said while answering a question from Opposition Leader Marlon …
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September 12, 2019
Opposition weighs in on loan guarantee
While Premier Andrew Fahie visited London this week following a public spat with United Kingdom officials, opposition members launched a series of community meetings and pushed back against Mr. Fahie’s …
July 11, 2019
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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June 11, 2019
D-4 residents deliver petition to governor
Fourth District residents and opposition members delivered a petition to Governor Gus Jaspert on Tuesday calling for Mark Vanterpool to be sworn in as Fourth District representative and citing a …
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May 30, 2019
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, …
May 27, 2019
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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