The new House of Assembly is taking shape. The past week saw the appointment of Progressive Virgin Islands Movement leader Ronnie Skelton as opposition leader and the setting of ministerial …
May 6, 2023
April 8, 2022
Major cuts planned for import duties
Government leaders said last week that they hope to ease the burden of rising costs for food, gas and other resources by slashing import duties. But they urged business owners …
December 1, 2021
Self-determination discussed at UK meetings
Fresh off their diplomatic travels to Europe last month, government leaders explained their progress on planning for the future of environmental management, national security, marijuana legalisation, and greater self-determination. During …
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November 19, 2021
Many island nations not impressed with United Nations climate change ‘pact’
During a Nov. 9 side event at the United Nations climate change summit in Glasgow, Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley took the podium to describe how the …
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October 1, 2021
Imprisoned convicts were considered for belongership
As part of government’s 2019 “fast-track” programme, Cabinet considered granting belonger status to two convicted criminals, including a man serving 10 years for rape in the United States, Commission of …
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August 20, 2021
Labour minister grilled on work permits
On Monday in the House of Assembly, opposition member Julian Fraser took aim at the recent Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration policy of requiring holders of work permits …
July 21, 2021
Work permit system goes online
A new electronic work permit system has arrived just as the Covid-19 pandemic has led to more and more business being conducted remotely. Premier Andrew Fahie, during a virtual rollout …
May 20, 2021
Commission of Inquiry questions ministers, others
The United Kingdom’s Commission of Inquiry has been pressing forward with seeking evidence of corruption and misconduct in the territory, holding a series of hearings focused largely on document production. …
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May 8, 2021
Minister warns about ‘unfair’ redundancies
Employers must be “transparent, fair and reasonable” when making workers redundant, Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley told the House of Assembly last Thursday in a statement he …
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April 26, 2021
Work permit exemptions revised
After a recent review, work permit exemptions will look different when the Department of Labour and Workforce Development resumes granting them, according to Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minster Vincent …
March 23, 2021
Layoff extensions nearly over
Time is nearly up for employers who have managed to avoid paying severance to their furloughed employees for nearly a year, Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley announced …
November 18, 2020
Furlough period extended until February
Amid demands from the business community, Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley has announced that the workforce furlough extension passed in the House of Assembly in June will …
November 16, 2020
Chamber demands another furlough extension
The workforce furlough extension passed in the House of Assembly in June expired on Saturday, and now the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association is demanding what it called …
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October 1, 2020
Housing project slowed but progressing
Though the Covid-19 pandemic slowed work on government’s planned housing complex in Joes Hill, construction is still on track to be completed within the planned three-and-a-half years from when the …
July 31, 2020
House votes to review 2007 Constitution
As the Virgin Islands prepares to celebrate emancipation, elected leaders also turned to the history books this week before greenlighting a constitutional review. Premier Andrew Fahie referenced the political groundswell …
July 23, 2020
Labour relaxes new work-permit rules
On July 10, Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley announced the immediate implementation of extra steps for businesses renewing work permits. This week, he walked back that plan …
July 20, 2020
Government looks to ban TBT paint, sewage dumping
Residents are being encouraged to support reef-friendly products as government works to phase out suntan lotions and antifouling paints containing chemicals harmful to marine life, Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration …
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July 19, 2020
Gorda Peak park closed indefinitely
Gorda Peak National Park is closed until further notice because several areas in the park were illegally cleared for farming, according to Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley. …
July 17, 2020
Jobless expats asked to leave
Government is instructing expatriates who are unemployed due to the Covid-19 pandemic to return to their home countries as soon as possible unless they have the requisite permission to seek …
July 17, 2020
NHI owes providers $4 million
The $7.5 million in Covid-19 relief funding earmarked to pay medical providers for their services rendered through the National Health Insurance system only went so far, and nearly $4 million …
June 24, 2020
Tourism sector jobs hard hit by pandemic
The picture of how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the Virgin Islands workforce became a bit clearer last week. As more businesses responded to government’s request for information, 337 companies …
June 24, 2020
Teams turn to Virgin Gorda for hazard review
Virgin Gorda is the latest target of vulnerability assessments that research teams are conducting in the territory to better understand the challenges facing each community. Teams will assess both natural …
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June 24, 2020
House passes border control measures
New border control measures aimed at giving the Virgin Islands more information about who is coming to the territory before they arrive passed the House of Assembly on June 16. …
June 18, 2020
Temporary layoffs can last up to 7 months
As more residents are laid off by businesses tightening their belts until the yet-to-be-declared date when Virgin Islands borders fully reopen, the government is taking measures that leaders say are …
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June 7, 2020
Anegada Express launches new ferry from Road Town
On Tuesday Anegada Express launched a new, larger ferry that will operate four days a week between Road Town, Virgin Gorda’s Gun Creek, and Anegada. The vessel will run on …
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