The Department of Human Resources has now fully converted all public officers to the new Public Service salary structure, as approved by Cabinet. A total of 2499 public officers have been converted to the new structure. In October 2022, Pricewaterhouse Coopers Trinidad and Tobago received a $302,103 contract to do a Compensation Review and Job Classification of the Virgin Islands Public Service. The final report was presented to the Cabinet on Nov. 8, 2023. Premier Dr. Natalio Whe...

The Inter-Primary Schools Track and Field Championships has ended with the Francis Lettsome Primary School being the best primary school in the Territory athletically.The events commenced with an opening ceremony and parade of teams at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds on April 3 to 5 followed by events ranging from three hundred meters races to four by one-hundred meter relays.  The sporting events culminated with the two hundred meter races to the Sprint Medley Relay Finals and announce...

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has apprehended Jamal Freeman aka Uncle. He has been wanted and on the run since January 1, 2024.Freeman escaped Police custody on Virgin Gorda while seeking medical assistance at the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic. He had been arrested on theft-related incidents.According to the RVIPF in a press release dated April 9, 2024, persistent efforts by officers resulted in Freeman's apprehension and subsequent charges.Jamal Freeman, 29, of Long Look, h...

Six months since its official handover, the Anegada Children’s Playground continues to benefit children of all ages on the island.The completed playground is the combined power of a shared vision, and public-private partnerships, as funding was provided by Unite BVI and the Government of the Virgin Islands. Designed to promote physical activity and foster social interaction, the facility represents a hub for families and children to gather, play, and thrive.Key features of the playground i...

Forecasters at the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project are warning that the region will likely see above average levels of storm activity during the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which begins June 1.Senior Research Scientist Dr. Phil Klotzbach during a presentation at the Topical Weather Conference said that the Atlantic basin is forecast to see 23 named storms over the course of the season. Eleven hurricanes are expected to form, and of those, five are expected to develop i...

Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer will lead a delegation to the 2024 Seatrade Cruise Global event which will take place from April 8 to 11. The event is the world's leading annual gathering for the cruise industry. It attracts top executives, stakeholders, and influential figures from around the globe to Miami Florida where the annual event takes place. The VI delegation, will include representatives from the BVI Ports Authority, the BVI Tourist Board a...

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force recently concluded a comprehensive four-day Crime Prevention Training. The training which took place in March, included members of the Government of the Virgin Islands' Security, as well as officers and staff from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.The training aimed to equip attendees with knowledge on security and crime prevention, covering the SARA model, the NDM, and other relevant protocols. Throughout the program, participants learned to de...

In speaking about the Ethiopian Eunuch who the Apostle Philip met on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, E.G White exclaimed in her ‘Acts of the Apostles’ that:“Many are on the verge of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in.”Stated or not, the OTs are important to the UK and vice versa.  That is why we like to think of it as a partnership.The biodiversity claimed by the UK is largely in the OTs.  However, at Kew gardens, over 2.4B seeds from plants around the...

One suspected dead.

Early reports indicate the death of a 10 year old by drowning at Savannah Bay, Virgin Gorda just a couple hours ago. information is still coming in, however, we’re understanding that 3 persons are also being transported to the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital. The incidences are said to have happened at Savannah Bay and the Baths. Red flags are raised today and over the past days indicating unsafe conditions for swimming.Just a few days ago, a chartered catamaran was force...

In a press release issued, the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) is informing the public of ongoing issues with the air conditioning (AC) system at the Dr. D Orlando Smith Hospital.Due to a system control software issue of the AC chilling unit, the hospital is experiencing a temperature control issue that is resulting in on and off cooling cycles. Some weeks ago, our newsroom was contacted by patients experiencing discomfort due to AC issues on the fourth floor of the said hospital. Th...

Easter is the highest point on the christian calendar.  It speaks of a crucified and risen savior.But there are several types of belief systems that people hold in the world.  For this purpose, we define them as atheist, agnostic, skeptic, conditional believer and believer.  And as believers go, the basis of their belief is as varied as sand grains on the beach.  Still, perhaps because the most powerful church in the world is also a state, Easter’s prominence on the cal...

Puerto Rico declares public health emergency. Puerto Rico Secretary of Heath Carlos Mellado said the health department has registered 549 cases of dengue so far this year, far exceeding historical numbers.

Families in a seaside town say they are trapped in their homes and unable to move away after their street was sold to a company linked to a major Tory donor and registered in an offshore tax haven.

Miss Allonah Williams was crowned Miss Virgin Gorda Easter Festival 2024 this past Saturday 23 March at the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Pageant which was held at the Jeffrey Caines Arena on Virgin Gorda. She was Contestant Number 3. In addition to copping the coveted title, Miss Williams also won prizes for Miss Popularity, Best Introduction, Best Swimwear, Best Marketing Virgin Gorda, Best Question and Answer, and Best Talent.“Each title is a reflection of the collective effort and ...

Police tight lipped on second incident in less than 24 hours.

In a press release issued to the media, Romaine Baird, 34, of Pasea Estate, has been charged with Theft, Obtaining Property by Deception, and Possession of Proceeds of Criminal Conduct. The allegations stem from an investigation that lasted several months in 2023. It is alleged that Mr. Baird unlawfully acquired and utilized someone’s card for unauthorized transactions totaling over $19,000 locally and internationally.On Thursday 21 March, Guavaberry Media received information of the ...

In a press conference held yesterday 22 March 2024, the media attempted to get an update from Premier Natalio Wheatley on the situation surrounding negotiations with the Thomas family regarding the Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay. The Premier commented that he “doesn’t want to comment as negotiations are ongoing.”Information reaching Guavaberry Media today Saturday 23 March however, indicates that no negotiations are ongoing with the family. The family had apparently re...

North Sound by night is a beauty and when it is inhabited by the considerable number of vessels that were anchored there on Tuesday evening, one begins to understand the sheer potential of the tourism industry in the British Virgin Islands.But what happens in the North Sound is not distinctive in the BVI.  There are other bays and coves scattered amongst our sixty islands, rocks and cays where boaters find their special anchorage that helps them with unforgettable memories.They are hooked a...

In an unprecedented move, the Virgin Islands has emerged as the first jurisdiction to embrace the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s innovative e-litigation portal, marking a significant leap forward in the digital transformation of the criminal justice system. This cutting-edge initiative introduces an online platform for managing criminal cases, allowing legal documents such as indictments and complaints to be filed electronically.The launch of this criminal module signifies a pivotal adv...