"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
The territory waited in limbo after the newly formed National Unity Government privately sent the United Kingdom a proposal last week to make reforms locally without the two-year dissolution of …
Continue reading “Government makes plans ahead of UK decision”
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley hopes the territory will hear “very soon” whether the United Kingdom will impose direct rule for two years here, he said in a press conference …
Continue reading “Premier hoping for UK word on direct rule ‘very soon’”
The newly formed “National Unity Government” has sent the United Kingdom a proposal to make reforms locally without the two-year dissolution of the House of Assembly as recommended in the …
Continue reading “Government sends proposal to UK, but it’s not public”
Hours after the House of Assembly voted to revoke Andrew Fahie’s premiership on Thursday, Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley was sworn in to head a new “national unity government” that is …
Continue reading “‘Unity government’ sworn in, but UK still silent”
“Whose country is this?” Angelle Cameron shouted to a crowd gathered Monday morning along the road near the Governor’s Office. “Ours!” the crowd yelled back. “Whose country is this?” “Ours!” …
Continue reading “Marchers protest direct UK rule, but others open”
The day after Premier Andrew Fahie’s arrest in Miami, Governor John Rankin said Friday morning that he had decided to expedite the release of the Commission of Inquiry report, which …
Continue reading “COI officially recommends 2-year UK takeover [FULL REPORT INCLUDED]”
Managing the pandemic, keeping up with the Commission of Inquiry, and overseeing changes within the public service made for a busy first year in office for Governor John Rankin. Mr. …
Continue reading “The 3 Cs: Governor talks Covid, COI, crime”
The HMS Medway’s four-day visit proved to be not only a valuable opportunity to coordinate with the Virgin Islands’ lead organisations for dealing with disaster management, but also gave the …
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 …
Continue reading “Facing COI, Fahie explains rocky UK relationship”
Since May, the Commission of Inquiry has been meeting with public officers, political operatives, and elected leaders to probe allegations of potential corruption and serious dishonesty in the Virgin Islands. …
Continue reading “Commissioner of Inquiry wraps up oral hearings”
As the Commission of Inquiry continued its work here in the territory, Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley repeated the government’s often-stated complaints about the process this month before a …
Continue reading “Deputy premier slams inquiry at United Nations meeting”
During a Tuesday hearing with Governor John Rankin, the Commission of Inquiry probed whether successive governors have fulfilled their obligation under the Virgin Islands Constitution to support the people of …
“That’s how we’ve always done it.” This excuse has been bandied about with shocking abandon in the Commission of Inquiry in recent weeks as elected leaders and other senior officials …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: UK shares responsibility for governance failings”
Thirteen days after Sir Gary Hickinbottom was sworn in to head the commission of inquiry into alleged corruption in the territory, he and his secretary returned to the United Kingdom …
Following the bombshell announcement last week that the United Kingdom will lead an independent investigation into potential corruption in the Virgin Islands, Governor Gus Jaspert and Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom …
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 Virgin Islands government has “significant reservations” about a draft order in council on public registers of beneficial ownership, according to Premier Andrew Fahie. The draft, which was published on …
Continue reading “UK publishes draft order for public registers”
As the Virgin Islands prepares for a constitutional review, Premier Andrew Fahie should stop picking petty fights with the United Kingdom. Instead, he should use diplomacy to lay the groundwork …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Sniping at the UK is not the way toward independence”
Five years after the United Kingdom finished paying off a longstanding debt that funded reparations to slave owners for loss of income following the abolition of slavery in the early …
Long-simmering tensions between Premier Andrew Fahie and Governor Gus Jaspert sparked anew last Friday when Mr. Jaspert defied the premier’s wishes and announced that he had enlisted a British naval …
Continue reading “Governor Gus Jaspert enlists Royal Navy for border security”
Officials from the United Kingdom have said that the UK is procuring medical equipment and support for each of its overseas territories, including the Virgin Islands, during the coronavirus pandemic. …
Continue reading “UK promises medical support during pandemic”
Voters will decide the outcome of the United Kingdom general election one week from today, and the Conservative Party is holding a modest lead in most polls amid debate from …
Continue reading “Labour vies to close gap as UK election approaches”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Absent alternatives, loan guarantee is needed”
As the territory struggles to recover from Hurricane Irma and to navigate an increasingly tense relationship with the United Kingdom, Premier Andrew Fahie has turned to the United Nations for …