Government ministers provided updates on hurricane recovery projects, Jost Van Dyke public works, the Belle Vue gym and other efforts in response to questions from the opposition during the Oct. …
House tackling last COI reform
The House of Assembly began tackling its final Commission of Inquiry reform this week as legislators debated the first of five bills designed to improve the governance of five statutory …
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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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 …
Pool of election hopefuls grows
As campaigns heat up for the general election due by May 12, the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement launched a partial line-up, and at least two independent candidates entered the fray …
Minister reps Virgin Islands in climate change meeting
Natural Resources and Labour Minister Mitch Turnbull attended and moderated a virtual regional forum on climate change last month, and before it got under way he stood in the Feb. …
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VI, neighbours collaborate on environment
The Virgin Islands is working with its Caribbean neighbours to help ensure the long-term health of key ecosystems, Natural Resources and Labour Minister Mitch Turnbull said on July 21 in …
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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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2020 tourism industry revenue dipped nearly $280m
Although the dramatic pandemic-related slowdown in the tourism industry is evident from the Virgin Islands’ uncrowded beaches and vacant hotel rooms, statistics Premier Andrew Fahie presented to the House of …
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Jost Van Dyke gets new welcome centre
More than three years after Hurricane Irma destroyed the wooden welcome centre at the Dog Hole Jetty on Jost Van Dyke, a new structure has been built in its place. …
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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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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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 …
JVD ferry terminal nears completion
Visitors to and from Jost Van Dyke should soon be able to travel in greater comfort with the anticipated opening of the Dog Hole ferry terminal by July 31. “The …
Repairs to Jost Van Dyke buildings hit delays
Preliminary efforts to repair the hurricane-damaged Public Works Department building and Water and Sewerage Department building on Jost Van Dyke are making progress, but the process is taking longer than …
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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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Turnbull calls for stop to dumping in D-2 ponds
Residents should stop illegally dumping waste in the ponds in the Second District, opposition member Mitch Turnbull (R-D2) said on Nov. 14 in the House of Assembly. Mr. Turnbull criticised …
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Ivan Dawson reopens for students
Almost a year and a half after Hurricane Irma, students and teachers at Ivan Dawson Primary School can now return to a new-and-improved school building in Cane Garden Bay. To …
Skelton splitting from NDP; guv moves election deadline up to April
Health and Social Development Minister Ronnie Skelton plans to lead a new political party into the upcoming general elections, which are now due by April 16 after a surprise announcement …
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Lawmakers punt on human rights law
The establishment of the long-delayed Human Rights Commission has been postponed once again. Last week, after debating a bill designed to bring forward the commission, House of Assembly lawmakers broke …
Walwyn takes the reins of the National Democratic Party
On Saturday night, National Democratic Party delegates voted for Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn to become the political organisation’s new president. Mr. Walwyn (R-at large) is the party’s first …
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Premier unclear about general election plans
On Monday evening, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith announced that he would not run for reelection as president of the National Democratic Party — signaling the end of an era for …
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National Democratic Party may face leadership shakeup
By the end of next week, the National Democratic Party could have a new leader for the first time since its inception in 1999. Both Ronnie Skelton, the minister for …
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