A total of 894,991 tourists visited the Virgin Islands during 2019, reaching nearly 80 percent of pre-Irma levels and more than doubling 2018 numbers, Premier Andrew Fahie announced last Thursday …
March 3, 2020
February 28, 2020
Premier: Revised Recovery to Development Plan in UK hands
After submitting a revised Recovery to Development Plan to the United Kingdom in September, the Virgin Islands government is now waiting to learn whether the UK will approve the territory’s …
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February 4, 2020
Where are they now? Irma survivors abroad share their journeys
Connie Haines Barry lives in an island-inspired haven in Spooner, Wisconsin, a town in the United States with a population of about 2,600 people. A pineapple-themed welcome sign hangs above …
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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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January 22, 2020
EDITORIAL: RDA CEO’s resignation hurts, but it’s no surprise
The slow pace of the government’s hurricane recovery is nothing short of a crisis, and the resignation of Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly is another major blow to …
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December 17, 2019
Post-Irma growth puts VI near top in tourism rankings
Following low tourism numbers in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the Virgin Islands saw some of the highest growth in the Caribbean during a strong regional …
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December 15, 2019
Premier: New court facilities coming soon
A new Magistrates’ Court is currently being designed and planned as part of the first phase of the “Halls of Justice” project, according to Government Information Services. Premier Andrew Fahie …
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December 9, 2019
D-7 receives updates on local projects
During a Friday meeting that lasted about two hours at the Church of God of Prophecy in East End, Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Dr. Natalio Wheatley …
November 13, 2019
November 8, 2019
UK and VI in ‘technical’ talks on new recovery plan
The government is in discussions with United Kingdom officials about the new Recovery to Development Plan, which was submitted to the UK on Sept. 27 as part of ongoing efforts …
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November 4, 2019
EDITORIAL: The revised recovery plan is even worse than the last
When we heard that the new government was drafting a revised recovery plan as part of its efforts to secure the United Kingdom loan guarantee, we had high hopes. But …
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November 3, 2019
Premier tables downsized recovery plan
Government tabled a new Recovery to Development Plan during the Oct. 17 House of Assembly sitting, introducing a 33-page document that is designed to replace the previous 116-page plan that …
October 22, 2019
The poetry of recovery
Though many have commended Dr. Richard Georges for publishing three books within three years, he said his secret to such success is actually quite simple: pace. “It’s a natural progression …
October 14, 2019
Rymer: Central Administration Building work to pick up soon
Work is expected to accelerate soon on renovations to the Central Administration Building while public officers are relocated to temporary accommodations, Transportation, Works and Utilities Minister Kye Rymer said Monday …
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October 14, 2019
Contract signed for 3 temp housing units
More than two years after Hurricane Irma damaged most homes in the territory, the government has allotted funds to build three temporary housing units in Tortola and Anegada. The Recovery …
October 3, 2019
Revised recovery plan submitted to UK
Cabinet has approved and submitted a revised Recovery to Development Plan to the United Kingdom as part of efforts toward securing a loan guarantee. Premier Andrew Fahie said Monday that …
September 24, 2019
EDITORIAL: End of shift system is welcome, but work needed in schools
Finally. Two years after Hurricane Irma, public high schoolers are no longer attending class on a part-time basis under a shift system. This welcome news comes with the long-delayed reopening …
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September 19, 2019
Government ‘on the way’ to loan guarantee
After weeks of criticising the United Kingdom’s conditions for a recovery loan guarantee, Premier Andrew Fahie returned from a visit to London and said this week that his government is …
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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 …
September 9, 2019
Gov’t recovery drags amid funding woes
In the weeks after Hurricane Irma, the recovery effort roared to life. With the help of funding and personnel from the United Kingdom and other partners, the Virgin Islands government …
September 9, 2019
Premier’s Office silences RDA CEO
Over the past five weeks, Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly scheduled and cancelled three interviews with the Beacon before ultimately declining to speak at the reported request of …
September 5, 2019
EDITORIAL: Roads must be repaired properly
In the weeks before the February general election, the former government quickly resurfaced roads across Tortola. Already, those repairs are falling apart. This is extremely disheartening at a time when …
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September 2, 2019
UNDP office in the works for Virgin Islands
After supporting the territory’s hurricane recovery for nearly two years, the United Nations Development Programme is looking to open a permanent Tortola office and work closely on projects including a …
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August 30, 2019
West End Police Station re-opens
The West End Police Station, which had been out of service since Hurricane Irma, has officially reopened. The two-storey building across from the Benjamin A. Romney Park had its grand …
August 30, 2019
EDITORIAL: Absent alternatives, loan guarantee is needed
At a time when the government’s recovery effort is severely delayed and egregiously underfunded, Premier Andrew Fahie should stop fear-mongering and work quickly with Governor Gus Jaspert to finalise a …
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