‘VIGILATE’ TO GUARD TERRITORIAL WATERS

The British Virgin Islands’ Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change officially launched a new motor vessel, “Vigilate,” on Friday, October 11, 2024, to bolster the monitoring and surveillance of territorial waters. The vessel, whose name means “be watchful,” was acquired through a $933,189 grant from the European Union’s Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine … Continued

COST OF LIVING PROTESTS ENGULF MARTINIQUE

Violent protests over high living costs on the French Caribbean island of Martinique have resulted in one death and multiple injuries, authorities have reported. A man succumbed to gunshot wounds amid clashes between demonstrators and police, which also left 12 officers injured, one by gunfire. The fatality occurred during a looting incident at a shopping … Continued

“MORE TALK THAN ACTION”: EX-TOURISM CHIEF FLAX-BRUTUS HIGHLIGHTS GAPS IN BVI TOURISM

Sharon Flax-Brutus, former Director of the BVI Tourist Board, has expressed concerns about the territory’s tourism sector, calling for more intentional planning and marketing of the British Virgin Islands’ offerings. Flax-Brutus, drawing from her lifelong experience in the industry, criticized the current approach to tourism as being “more talk than action.” She highlighted issues at … Continued

DE’NYA WINTER WELCOMED HOME WITH CEREMONY AT AIRPORT

De’Nya Winter, representing the British Virgin Islands, was crowned Miss Caribbean Cultural Princess 2024 on Sunday, October 6, in Hollywood, Florida. The pageant, reduced to two competitors, featured representatives from the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Winter dominated several categories, winning Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality, Best Cultural Doll Wear, Best Magazine Wear, … Continued

BVI TO HOST WEEKLONG TRIBUTE TO FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE

The Government of the Virgin Islands has announced a weeklong national celebration honouring The Right Honourable Dame Janice M. Pereira from October 21 to 27, 2024. The celebration recognizes her retirement as Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) and her recent appointment to His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council. Dame Pereira, originally … Continued

THREE HURRICANES ACTIVE AS NEW THREAT EMERGES IN ATLANTIC

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is tracking three active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin, with a potential fourth system on the horizon, officials said Monday. Hurricane Kirk in the north-central Atlantic and Hurricane Leslie in the central tropical Atlantic continue to churn, while newly formed Hurricane Milton threatens the U.S. Gulf Coast. Adding to … Continued

SAINT LUCIA KINGS CROWNED CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

The Saint Lucia Kings secured their first-ever Caribbean Premier League (CPL) championship Sunday night, defeating the Guyana Amazon Warriors by six wickets in a nail-biting final at the Guyana National Stadium. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the Kings’ bowlers dominated early, removing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over and limiting the … Continued

RT MARKET SQUARE PROJECT FACES RENEWED CRITICISM FOLLOWING AUDIT

The Road Town Market Square project, an initiative aimed at revitalizing the old market space, is again under scrutiny following the release of an audit report highlighting significant delays, cost overruns, and underuse of the facility. Originally envisioned as a state-of-the-art facility to support local farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs, the project has faced challenges since … Continued

AUDIT REVEALS MISSTEPS IN PUBLIC CONTRACTS; URGES FAIRER CONTRACTOR PRACTICES

An audit conducted on major public contracts in the territory has revealed significant gaps and vulnerabilities in the territory’s procurement practices between 2019 and 2022. The audit, commissioned following the recommendations of the BVI Commission of Inquiry Report, sought to evaluate the transparency, fairness, and overall effectiveness of the government’s procurement processes. The findings highlight … Continued