"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
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 …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — VI urged to use diplomacy with UK”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Brexit trade deal brings changes to all overseas territories”
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, …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — ‘Seven years of famine’ predicted”
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 …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Guv explains likely Brexit impacts”
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. …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Royal couple’s exit analysed”
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 …
Continue reading “Virgin Islands braces for Brexit after Tory sweep in UK”
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 …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Throne speech draws scepticism”
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 …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Fears of ‘soft colonialism’ aired as UK election looms”
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 …
Continue reading “Government ‘on the way’ to 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 …
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 …
Continue reading “FCO fires back at premier on loan guarantee”
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “United Kingdom to update ‘offshore compliance strategy’”
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 …
Continue reading “Government hires UK lawyer in attempt to avoid EU blacklist”
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”
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 …
Continue reading “United Kingdom rolls out “soft” Brexit negotiating stance”
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 …
Continue reading “Virgin Islanders reflect on Windrush scandal in the UK”
Two armed response vehicles, which will transport officers of the “newly trained and enhanced” armed response unit, have officially been delivered to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. On Thursday, …
Continue reading “Police receive new armed response vehicles”
