Regional

VIPD manpower shortage deepens as recruitment delays, retirements threaten police staffing

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The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) is facing mounting staffing pressures as employee departures continue to outpace hiring, dozens of positions remain vacant and nearly 100 employees approach retirement eligibility. Presenting VIPD’s fiscal year 2027 budget Tuesday, Police Commissioner Mario Brooks said the department recorded 33 employee separations during the current fiscal year, including 21 … Continued

OECS advances transition of Eastern Caribbean liaison service during Canada mission

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The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has taken another step toward strengthening the Eastern Caribbean Liaison Service (ECLS) Programme following a week-long mission to Canada aimed at advancing the Programme’s transition to a revised governance framework. The July 5-12 mission was led by Chief of Staff and Head of Strategic Diplomacy Dr. Kisha … Continued

Plaskett says BVI would not like retaliatory tariffs

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U.S. Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett says the British Virgin Islands’ charter vessel fees have cost the USVI more than 800 jobs. Speaking on the Caribbean Currency podcast, Plaskett said the impact of the BVI’s new licensing regime for foreign-based charter vessels has been severe, with the USVI’s marine tourism sector suffering significant economic losses. … Continued

HUD suspends future federal funding to VIHFA, citing years of financial mismanagement

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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has suspended the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) from receiving additional federal funding and barred the agency from future federal procurement while an investigation proceeds, citing years of adverse audit findings, weak financial controls, slow disaster recovery efforts and the criminal conviction of its former … Continued

CDEMA urges adoption of anticipatory risk management

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The Caribbean must urgently transform the way it prepares for disasters by shifting from reactive emergency response to proactive, people-centred risk management, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Addressing the agency’s annual Comprehensive Disaster Management Conference, CDEMA Executive Director Elizabeth Riley said the region can no longer rely on traditional disaster management … Continued

CARICOM leaders outline measures to tackle rising cost of living

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CARICOM Heads of Government have pledged to strengthen regional cooperation and implement a range of measures aimed at easing the rising cost of living, which continues to affect households across the Caribbean. The issue featured prominently at the conclusion of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, where regional leaders discussed … Continued

British Virgin Islands Tops OECS in Grade 2 Reading and Mathematics Assessments

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The Virgin Islands has emerged as the top-performing education system among eight participating Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member states after Grade 2 students achieved the highest scores in both Reading and Mathematics in the 2026 OECS Programme for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (PEARL) Regional Assessment. Preliminary results from the assessment show that … Continued

Beckles highlights Virgin Islands during CRC briefing

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CARICOM Reparations commission is in the United Kingdom for the second time as it continues its campaign for reparatory justice. As the first round of constitutional negotiations between the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom gets underway, the CARICOM Reparations Commission is on its second visit to the UK to advance its campaign for reparatory … Continued

HIGH COURT QUASHES DAME PEREIRA CHAIRED JLSC APPOINTMENT OF JUSTICE VENTOSE

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The High Court of Grenada has ruled that the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) acted outside its constitutional authority when it appointed Justice Eddy Ventose to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Court of Appeal, declaring the appointment unconstitutional and quashing the decision. Justice Ventose was appointed to the appeals bench at the beginning of … Continued