After four years of delays, the census is still less than half complete, and many of the enumerators hired to get it done have quit due to residents’ hostility, according …
October 7, 2024
October 3, 2024
COI reforms off gov’t desk, premier says
After the House of Assembly passed the last of five bills to reform statutory bodies last Thursday, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley boasted this week that his government has completed …
June 28, 2024
Labour win could up pressure from London
Virgin Islanders living here won’t get to cast a ballot in the United Kingdom election next Thursday, but some experts expect the territory to face major repercussions if the British …
June 21, 2024
Premier upbeat after UK talks at UN
Talks in New York between Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley and the British deputy ambassador to the United Nations have been hailed as “constructive.” The premier met James Kariuki during …
May 31, 2024
Premier pledges public talks on global tax
The Cabinet has not yet decided whether to sign on to the Global Minimum Tax regime but expects a report on the matter from consultants by the end of June, …
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May 6, 2024
Soil study to inform land-use decisions
Virgin Islands builders, farmers, landowners and other members of the public will have access to detailed information about the nutrition, microbiology, permeability and vegetation of soil in the territory thanks …
March 25, 2024
UK-OT finance dialogue marks one year
A series of meetings last week marked the completion of the first year of an ongoing dialogue between the United Kingdom and the overseas territories on fighting financial crime, according …
February 16, 2024
After Rutley visit, premier ‘confident’ on reforms
Nearly half an hour late to the press conference he called on Friday morning, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley stepped into the multimedia room on the first floor of his …
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January 7, 2024
UK and Overseas Territories agree to up collaboration
In line with discussions about the evolving relationship between the United Kingdom and its overseas territories in recent years, officials have put in writing their commitment to promoting a “modern, …
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December 13, 2023
OTs seek climate funding from UK
This month at the 28th Conference of the Parties in Dubai, leaders from the Virgin Islands and other overseas territories opened the door to securing more climate-change funding through the …
September 18, 2023
Virgin Islands hosting talks on illicit finance
As the United Kingdom and her overseas territories prepare for the annual Joint Ministerial Council in November in London, they sent representatives to the Virgin Islands last week for a …
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May 23, 2023
UK promises new overseas territory strategy
The United Kingdom government is developing a new overseas territories strategy, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley and other OT leaders during the Joint Ministerial …
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November 4, 2022
Meetings with United Kingdom leaders delayed
Following the recent leadership shakeup in the United Kingdom, senior UK officials have postponed meetings with leaders in the Virgin Islands and other overseas territories. Former OT Minister Jesse Norman …
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September 9, 2022
Foreign secretary to PM: Liz Truss takes the reins in UK
Promising “bold” economic reform for the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss won the seat of Conservative Party leader on Sept. 5 and subsequently became the new prime minister. Ms. …
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July 19, 2022
UK PM agrees to resign
As the Virgin Islands works with the United Kingdom to address local governance failings exposed by the recent Commission of Inquiry, the UK is now embroiled in major scandals of …
April 1, 2022
House of Assembly members visit United Kingdom Parliament
A delegation from the House of Assembly visited the United Kingdom Parliament last week to document policies and procedures that they might apply to their own work in the territory, …
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October 28, 2021
Facing COI, Fahie explains rocky UK relationship
In response to allegations of poor governance aired during the ongoing Commission of Inquiry, Premier Andrew Fahie last week described a pattern of systemic problems with the Virgin Islands’ constitutional …
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June 30, 2021
COMMENTARY — The VI, after the inquiry
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 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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