The Government of the Virgin Islands and local supermarket franchise, OneMart, have reassured residents that there are no immediate disruptions to food and cargo shipments following a dockworkers’ strike along the eastern seaboard of the United States, which began on October 1, 2024. The strike, involving thousands of workers from ports ranging from New England … Continued
The Government of the Virgin Islands has officially confirmed the appointments of Joseph Smith-Abbott and Tasha Bertie as Permanent Secretaries within their respective ministries, following their service in acting capacities. The appointments were made in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Service Commission Regulations. Smith-Abbott will now serve as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry … Continued
The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), instrumental in the territory’s recovery from the devastating 2017 hurricanes, is set to become a permanent fixture under the new name Virgin Islands Development Agency (VIDA). This transition marks a significant shift in the territory’s long-term approach to infrastructure development, disaster recovery, and economic growth. Premier and … Continued
The newly appointed UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Springette, has begun a two-day visit to the Virgin Islands from today, October 1, marking a significant step in fostering collaboration on sustainable development initiatives in the territory. Springette’s visit aims to strengthen the relationship between the Virgin Islands and the United … Continued
The Government of the Virgin Islands has announced plans to remove the existing visa requirement for Guyanese nationals travelling to the territory, marking a significant step toward strengthening ties between the two Caribbean nations. The announcement was made by Premier Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley during a press conference on Monday, September 30. Premier Wheatley … Continued
The Government of the Virgin Islands is set to receive a historic $100 million loan facility from CIBC Caribbean Bank, following the resolution’s approval in the House of Assembly last Thursday. This loan represents the largest single loan in the history of the Virgin Islands and is a key component of the government’s medium-term fiscal … Continued
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley is set to lay several important audit reports before the House of Assembly, as outlined in the order paper of the current sitting. These documents are part of the ongoing reforms following the Commission of Inquiry (COI). The audits are the latest in a series … Continued
The Tourist Board Amendment Bill was recently laid in the House of Assembly. It is among a slew of bills that was introduced ahead of the most recent COI deadline, designed to strengthen governance of statutory boards. Among other provisions, the proposed law outlines procedures for appointing and removing statutory board members. Mover of the … Continued
The Government of the Virgin Islands has embarked on a $2.38 million road construction project, set to span six months, to improve 3,813 linear feet of concrete roadway from Paraquita Bay to Hodges Creek. The contract for this major infrastructure effort was awarded to Northam Construction, with a total value of $2,386,015.99. Minister for Communication … Continued
Concerns over the BVI’s tourism product and the need for more holistic investments in the sector were raised by Hon. Julien Fraser, Member for the Third District, during a recent session of the House of Assembly. While acknowledging the Territory’s natural assets of “Sand, Sea and Air” as appealing to visitors, Fraser questioned whether this … Continued
