After hurricanes Irma and Maria, the talk was all about what the Virgin Islands would look like as it recovered. Today, it appears the territory has learned very little from …
June 30, 2021
June 16, 2021
COMMENTARY — Call made for referendum on political status by 2030
The below is adapted from the speech Mr. Wheatley delivered on June 6 during the Frederick Pickering Memorial Lecture Series at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Let me …
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May 26, 2021
COMMENTARY — ‘Random act of art’ in UK had VI link
I am writing to the Virgin Islands community from a small village in Cornwall in the United Kingdom about a figure we share in common: the late Reverend Ralph Perry-Gore, …
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March 24, 2021
COMMENTARY — VI urged to use diplomacy with UK
For the Virgin Islands and other British overseas territories, the weapons of diplomacy, tact and negotiation are better options in moving towards self-determination than banging an anticolonial drum. Indeed, tact …
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February 24, 2021
COMMENTARY — VI’s ties with UK examined
Some individuals may not want to acknowledge that there are ties which bind the United Kingdom and the Virgin Islands, and I think I can understand why that would be …
February 17, 2021
January 27, 2021
January 9, 2021
Brexit trade deal brings changes to all overseas territories
Last Thursday marked the end of 2020, but also the last day of the “transition period” to the start of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. As a …
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April 29, 2020
COMMENTARY — ‘Seven years of famine’ predicted
The coronavirus pandemic will usher in a post-globalisation world order. It will bring greater regional integration and a whole new travel protocol that adds a robust layer of medical scrutiny, …
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February 5, 2020
COMMENTARY — Guv explains likely Brexit impacts
The United Kingdom is set to leave the European Union tomorrow with a deal. This deal includes a newly negotiated withdrawal agreement, whereby the UK will enter an implementation period …
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January 29, 2020
COMMENTARY — Royal couple’s exit analysed
The Meghan Markle story is part of the ongoing process of change in the west at a time when the United Kingdom has been slow to enter the 21st Century. …
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December 19, 2019
Virgin Islands braces for Brexit after Tory sweep in UK
British voters sent a strong message at the polls last Thursday in a historic election, giving the Conservative Party a green light to carry out its promise to “get Brexit …
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December 4, 2019
COMMENTARY — Throne speech draws scepticism
In the United Kingdom, shortly before the election was announced, the queen read “The Queen’s Speech” outlining the government’s proposed legislation for the next session of Parliament. This has since …
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December 4, 2019
COMMENTARY — Fears of ‘soft colonialism’ aired as UK election looms
As the United Kingdom general election approaches, the country’s ongoing political turmoil over Brexit continues to overshadow the strained relationship between the overseas territories and the UK. The critical issue …
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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
FCO fires back at premier on loan guarantee
As Premier Andrew Fahie continued to criticise the United Kingdom’s offer of a £300 million loan guarantee for the hurricane recovery, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office fired back Monday …
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July 23, 2019
COMMENTARY — More Brexit fears aired
Brexit is the most damaging event in recent United Kingdom history, equivalent to the Suez Crisis of the early 1960s in terms of its malevolent effect on UK politics, economics …
June 11, 2019
Commentary — UK-VI roadmap proposed
Whatever the reasons for the premier’s attempts to fast-track residency and belongership applications, the genie is out of the bottle: The eruption of heated arguments for and against the proposal …
March 25, 2019
Commentary — The VI election and Brexit
As Election Day approaches, this Virgin Islands resident pleads with the voting and nonvoting public to exercise patience, civility and cordiality throughout the whole electoral process through the voting on …
November 5, 2018
United Kingdom to update ‘offshore compliance strategy’
United Kingdom Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered the UK’s autumn budget to Parliament last week, touching on several points designed to further regulate offshore finance. One of the budget’s initiatives is …
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October 4, 2018
Government hires UK lawyer in attempt to avoid EU blacklist
The government is paying a tax lawyer in London up to $400,000 to try to derive a legislative solution that will keep the territory off the European Union’s tax-avoidance blacklist …
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September 12, 2018
Virgin Islands economy takes new shapes after Irma
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 …
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July 16, 2018
United Kingdom rolls out “soft” Brexit negotiating stance
The rollout of United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May’s “soft” Brexit plan earlier this month spurred multiple resignations throughout her government, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Mr. Johnson, who visited …
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May 8, 2018
Virgin Islanders reflect on Windrush scandal in the UK
Douglas Wheatley was 15 when he first journeyed to the United Kingdom in 1962 to attend school. He remained for about three years — unlike many of his peers from …
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