There is a governance problem in the Virgin Islands that we do not talk about nearly enough.It is not always about policy.Sometimes, it is about people — and more specifically, the people we put in charge of other people.We spend a great deal of time talking about whether an organisation is meeting its targets, whether a department is delivering, whether a project was completed and whether the numbers look good.But how much attention do we pay to how those results are being achieved?Who is meas...

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, British Virgin Islands — With the next General Election still ahead, questions are already being raised about the line between Government employment, political campaigning and the use of public resources.The questions have been prompted in part by the appointment of former House of Assembly Speaker Julian Willock as a Ministerial Special Adviser II to Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley.The Government has confirmed that Willock is among the Premier’s ministerial staff. The Governm...

ROAD TOWN, Tortola — The Virgin Islands will once again put its farmers, fishers, entrepreneurs and local producers in the spotlight when the 2027 Virgin Islands Agriculture and Fisheries Exhibition and Market returns from February 26 to 28, 2027.The public is being asked to save the date for the three-day event, which will bring together members of the agricultural and fisheries communities and the wider public in celebration of two sectors that Government has increasingly identified as critic...

ROAD TOWN, Tortola — The Civil Registry and Passport Office has completed a two-week inter-agency consultation aimed at strengthening the Virgin Islands’ civil registration system.The consultation, held from August 17 to 28 in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), brought together government agencies and other stakeholders to examine how vital events are registered and how the resulting data is collected, coordinated and used across the Territory.The engagement was faci...

ANEGADA — After years of promises, plans, delays and references to the road leading toward Cow Wreck, work has finally begun on another phase of rehabilitation of Anegada’s road network.The latest project will see approximately 4,800 linear feet of roadway paved in concrete along the route toward Cow Wreck, with the works being carried out in four phases.According to the latest update from Ninth District Representative and Minister Vincent Wheatley, crews have already begun placing fill materi...

Well, well, well.Politics really does have a funny way of bringing things full circle.Back in December 2010, when Myron Walwyn was announced as an NDP At-Large candidate for the 2011 general election, more than 100 NDP supporters gathered at Treasure Isle Hotel.And according to the BVI Beacon, many of them were wearing T-shirts carrying a very simple message:“With Myron We Win.” Fast-forward 16 years.And now we have:“With Willock We Win.”Apparently, we win with everybody these days.But the s...

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is encouraging residents to make small, intentional changes to improve their health and wellbeing as the Virgin Islands joins the Caribbean in observing Caribbean Wellness Day.Observed annually on the second Saturday in September, Caribbean Wellness Day is part of the region’s response to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This year’s observance continues under the regional theme “Engage. Empower. Elevate” and the slogan “Our Mind. Our Body. Our ...

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, BVI — The political landscape heading into the next British Virgin Islands general election continues to expand beyond the traditional party structure, with Dr. Arlene Smith-Thompson now emerging as an Independent At-Large candidate.Smith-Thompson is no stranger to electoral politics.An educator, administrator and longtime advocate for technical and vocational education and training, she previously contested the Third District in the 2019 General Election as a candidate for ...