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 …
November 1, 2021
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 …
Continue reading “Facing COI, Fahie explains rocky UK relationship”
October 28, 2021
Commissioner of Inquiry wraps up oral hearings
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”
October 24, 2021
Deputy premier slams inquiry at United Nations meeting
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”
October 21, 2021
Commission of Inquiry grills governor over United Kingdom’s role in the British Virgin Islands
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 …
October 4, 2021
EDITORIAL: UK shares responsibility for governance failings
“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”
February 11, 2021
Inquiry teams returns to England for now
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 …
January 28, 2021
Commission starts gathering evidence
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Brexit trade deal brings changes to all overseas territories”
December 17, 2020
UK publishes draft order for public registers
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”
October 19, 2020
EDITORIAL: Sniping at the UK is not the way toward independence
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”
October 8, 2020
Premier calls for reparations from UK
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 …
October 2, 2020
Governor Gus Jaspert enlists Royal Navy for border security
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”
March 26, 2020
UK promises medical support during pandemic
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”
December 9, 2019
Labour vies to close gap as UK election approaches
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”
November 3, 2019
Premier tables downsized recovery plan
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 …
August 30, 2019
EDITORIAL: Absent alternatives, loan guarantee is needed
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”
July 8, 2019
Premier asks UN committee to visit
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 …
July 3, 2019
Dependencies promise public registers
Facing increasing pressure from members of the United Kingdom Parliament, the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man jointly announced last week what they called “a series …
May 27, 2019
Government still working on UK loan guarantee
As government continues struggling to access money from the $65.2 million Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, leaders still have not been able to secure further recovery …
Continue reading “Government still working on UK loan guarantee”
January 25, 2019
Eleven registered as British citizens
Eleven people were registered as British citizens on Tuesday after having been previously naturalised as British overseas territory citizens. During a ceremony at Government House, the new citizens accepted their …
January 22, 2019
VI wary after Brexit deal tanks
Last Wednesday, Jan. 16, United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly survived a confidence vote 325 to 306 after her proposed Brexit deal received a stunning blow when members of …
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 …
Continue reading “United Kingdom to update ‘offshore compliance strategy’”
September 27, 2018
Plane, lasers to be used to map seabed
Starting Thursday, an airplane will be flying low over the territory using lasers to map the seabed, government announced. The survey, which is funded by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, …
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 …
Continue reading “United Kingdom rolls out “soft” Brexit negotiating stance”
