Former premier Andrew Fahie’s sentencing on drug-conspiracy charges was initially scheduled for this month in Miami, but it has been delayed until June 25 after his lawyer requested more time …
Q3 incorporations tick up slightly
More companies were incorporated in the territory in the third quarter of 2023 than in the previous three months, a bright spot for a financial services sector that has grappled …
Andrew Fahie’s place on the wall
Hanging behind Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley’s chair in the House of Assembly in Road Town is a portrait of former premier Andrew Fahie. Asked Friday if Mr. Fahie’s photo …
United Nations decolonisation committee to visit
The Virgin Islands was recently approved to receive a visiting mission from the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation, according to Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley. “The purpose of such …
Continue reading “United Nations decolonisation committee to visit”
Money-laundering review rates VI below rivals
Compared with at least two overseas territories that operate rival financial industries, the Virgin Islands still has a “mountain to climb” when it comes to proving its effectiveness in combating …
Continue reading “Money-laundering review rates VI below rivals”
UK unveils new path to citizenship
The United Kingdom has opened a new pathway for adults who were excluded from obtaining citizenship as British overseas territory citizens and British citizens due to historical legislative unfairness in …
EDITORIAL: HOA must fix flawed Register of Interests
Ever since the Register of Interests Act was passed in 2008, the register has not functioned properly because legislators have used every trick in the book to hamstring it. For …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: HOA must fix flawed Register of Interests”
Money laundering report brings threat of ‘grey list’
A major international report released Monday raises serious concerns about the territory’s ability to deal with money laundering and other financial crime, leading one expert to warn that “red lights” …
Continue reading “Money laundering report brings threat of ‘grey list’”
Man dies after entering tank on a barge
A man died after entering a tank on a barge near Pockwood Pond and losing consciousness, police said Saturday morning. Two other males who entered the tank to rescue him …
EDITORIAL: Police should name the senior public official they charged
At a time when public trust in the Virgin Islands government has been deeply shaken, public officials at all levels must do everything they can to help restore it. This …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Police should name the senior public official they charged”
In a first, government seeks full business case for airport expansion
The BVI Airports Authority is seeking proposals for a comprehensive business case to decide the way forward for the development of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport. The study — …
Continue reading “In a first, government seeks full business case for airport expansion”
EDITORIAL: HOA should stop bickering and get down to business
Elected officials’ recent squabbles in the House of Assembly reflect a failure to work together and carry out the important business of governing the Virgin Islands. During the HOA meeting …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: HOA should stop bickering and get down to business”
EDITORIAL: Crown land reform a long time in coming
We are delighted that the government plans to launch a public crown land register that can be viewed online. Even better, the register is only one part of ongoing reforms …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Crown land reform a long time in coming”
Public crown land register promised
A public Crown Land Allocation Register will be created soon and posted online, according to Ronald Smith-Berkeley, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change. …
EDITORIAL: Airport project won’t work without full transparency
For more than a decade, a disturbing lack of transparency has surrounded multiple governments’ unsuccessful efforts to expand the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport. The new government must turn over …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Airport project won’t work without full transparency”
Cops still tight-lipped on plane seizure
Nearly two weeks after seizing an airplane carrying suspected cocaine on Anegada on Aug. 19, police are still refusing to provide details about the incident or to address online reports …
Cops seize plane, then clam up
After seizing an airplane carrying a “significant amount” of suspected cocaine on Aug. 19 on Anegada, police released a three-sentence statement about the incident. Then they went quiet. The Aug. …
Gov’t hosts meeting on airport expansion, but public not invited
The government hosted a stakeholder meeting on Aug. 18 to discuss its plan to expand the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport. But the public and the media weren’t invited. “This …
Continue reading “Gov’t hosts meeting on airport expansion, but public not invited”
EDITORIAL: A vote for election reform
The recent report from election observers should serve as a reminder for the new government to tackle long-needed reforms before voters head to the polls again. We were pleased that …
Anegada solar contract kept secret
The Beacon had been requesting a copy of the Anegada solar contract for more than a year when the BVI Electricity Corporation finally responded in February. Its answer: a hard …
EDITORIAL: The auditor general is a hero. Heed her advice.
When will politicians learn? Once again, Auditor General Sonia Webster has carried out her mandate with exacting professionalism. In two recent reports that should make taxpayers’ blood boil, she alleged …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: The auditor general is a hero. Heed her advice.”
EDITORIAL: Press conferences a big step toward transparency
Kudos to Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley for hosting regular press conferences ever since he was appointed premier last May. At sessions held every few weeks — often flanked by …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Press conferences a big step toward transparency”
EDITORIAL: Please weigh in on Constitution
Over the next year, the Constitutional Review Commission will work to produce a report advising the House of Assembly on the way forward toward a stronger Constitution. But first, they …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Please weigh in on Constitution”
EDITORIAL: Government, governor must collaborate on reform promises
This month brought good and bad news as Governor John Rankin and Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley both reported on the first three months of the ongoing Commission of Inquiry …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Government, governor must collaborate on reform promises”
Government auditors get new teeth
The recent Commission of Inquiry reported finding evidence that the Premier’s Office under former Premier Andrew Fahie may have obstructed government auditors investigating Covid-19 assistance programmes. A new law is …