"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
We have often used this space to praise the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency for consistently getting projects done on time and on budget. Last month, however, we were …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: WE ferry terminal bid flop raises troubling questions”
The Commission of Inquiry questioned former Premier Dr. Orlando Smith last week about belongerships that Cabinet allegedly awarded improperly just before the start of his 2011- 2019 tenure as premier. …
Continue reading “COI interrogates former premier on belongership”
Former Premier Dr. Orlando Smith told the Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday that he didn’t instruct his financial secretary to “show me the evidence” that the BVI Airways deal was …
During last year’s election campaign, now-Premier Andrew Fahie opposed the incumbents’ rush to extend the Beef Island runway following the government’s receipt of a $153 million bid from the China …
Continue reading “Airport expansion in the works once again”
Premier Andrew Fahie told the House of Assembly on Friday that information on the botched BVI Airways deal is “missing” or on a “deleted” hard drive and that he is …
Continue reading “Premier says info on BVI Airways ‘deleted’”
In his last public contract signing ceremony as the minister of communications and works, Mark Vanterpool last week inked an $876,250 deal with St. Lucia-based FDL Consult. The firm, he …
Continue reading “$876k contracted for road rehab with FDL Consult”
After more than 50 claims have been filed with the insurance tribunal that government set up after Hurricane Irma, members of the body say that Virgin Islands residents have a …
Continue reading “VI has a lot to learn about insurance, says tribunal”
After years of first denying problems and then deflecting the blame for them, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith acknowledged last week that government’s $7.2 million injection into BVI Airways was a …
Continue reading “BVI Airways ‘failed to deliver a return,’ Premier says”
Last Wednesday, Jan. 16, United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly survived a confidence vote 325 to 306 after her proposed Brexit deal received a stunning blow when members of …
As the Virgin Islands awaits a decision from European Union officials regarding the territory’s potential inclusion on an international anti-tax-avoidance blacklist, one country on that continent has already decided to …
Continue reading “Dutch blacklist was a surprise, Premier says”
The Virgin Islands’ new “economic substance” law took effect on New Year’s Day, but financial services stakeholders remain uncertain about its specific requirements and what impact those rules will have …
Continue reading “Questions surround ‘economic substance’ legislation”
By DANIEL FLIGELSTONE DAVIES Two government statutory bodies have paid about $180,000 to collection agents since 2011, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith told the House of Assembly last week in response …
Continue reading “Statutory bodies paid some $180k to collection agents since 2011, gov’t says”
The government will soon invite proposals for rebuilding the Palm Grove Shopping Centre, which was demolished in August after being gutted by Hurricane Irma, according to Premier Dr. Orlando Smith. …
Continue reading “Government hopes to rebuild Palm Grove Shopping Centre”
Repairing sister islands’ administration buildings, upgrading school facilities, and removing derelict boats are among the projects the Recovery and Development Agency is preparing to tackle after working with the Premier’s …
Continue reading “RDA cranks up with projects and regulations”
If there was any doubt about the survival of Christmas on DeCastro Street in the wake of the death of founder Delores Christopher, those fears were put to rest by …
Continue reading “Christmas on DeCastro Street thrives thanks to late Delores Christopher”
Cabinet gave the go-ahead at the end of October for government to negotiate a development agreement for Norman Island with Dr. Henry Jarecki, the island’s owner, according to a report …
Years ago, nurse Theresa Smith Blyden singlehandedly delivered babies for the entire West End community, including helping save the life of a mother of twins. And on Tuesday, she was …
Continue reading “Reopened clinic renamed for West End midwife Theresa Smith Blyden”
The Ministry of Education and Culture, led by Minister Myron Walwyn, broke the law when constructing the incomplete perimeter wall around Elmore Stoutt High School in 2014 and 2015, overspending …
Continue reading “Walwyn’s ESHS wall project broke the law, audit states”
The Caribbean Development Bank held procurement workshops in the Virgin Islands and throughout the Caribbean in September and October to help ensure that governments get good value for money. The …
Continue reading “Caribbean Development Bank hosts procurement workshop”
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 …
KPMG’s audit of the Tortola Pier Park is finished and the Ministry of Finance is awaiting its delivery, according to Premier Dr. Orlando Smith. At a press conference last week, …
Continue reading “Tortola Pier Park audit finished, premier says”
At a press conference on Monday, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith acknowledged that the Attorney General’s Chambers may need additional resources to help boost the office’s ability to write legislation. Government’s …
Continue reading “Premier: Attorney General could use extra resources”
In a long-awaited move to increase government transparency, the first set of weekly Cabinet decisions was released to the public last Thursday. “The publicising of Cabinet decisions marks another milestone …
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. Like many people throughout the Virgin Islands, Courdney Williams has a very different daily routine than he did 12 months …
Continue reading “Virgin Islands economy takes new shapes after Irma”
Despite being scheduled for a debate and vote in this week’s House of Assembly sitting, the Human Rights Commission Act was dropped from legislators’ agenda, representing the latest in a …
Continue reading “Human rights bill dropped from HOA agenda once again”