The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA) in collaboration with the Tortola Pier Park Ltd, British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB) and local ship agent Island Shipping Trading Co. Ltd, commemorated the inaugural arrival of Norwegian’s first of five Prima-Class Ships, PR1MA with a plaque exchange ceremony.This event took place onboard the ship while it was berthed at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, Tortola with Captain Kevin Bellido and Minister of Communication and Wor...

Schools Dazzled With Multiple Creative Entries

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is reminding the motoring public that it is illegal to operate a vehicle that is unlicensed and uninsured on any public road. A person that operates a vehicle without the requisite qualifications specified under the Road Traffic Act Cap. 218 commits an offense and, if found, will be arrested, charged, and prosecuted for such acts.For the entire month of December, the RVIPF will pay special attention to motorists, particularly to large trucks, ATVs, and passe...

Scrub Island Resort Spa & Marina has appointed Ellison George as Marina Manager of the 55-slip marina at the luxury, private-island resort in the British Virgin Islands. George will oversee daily operations of the marina, docks and ferry boats at both Scrub Island Resort and Marina Cay Bar & Grill.“Ellison brings an impressive list of certifications and experience in the marine industry to our team,” said Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina General Manager Sandra ...

An elderly female tourist has lost her life. She died as a result of a drowning incident at Long Bay Beach, Beef Island earlier today Wednesday 6 December. This incident follows the near drowning of another tourist at Smugglers Cove on 22 November. Guavaberry Media extends condolences to the family. 

The HSA is ending its year with a new ambulance to its fleet. Minister for the subject, the Honourable Vincent Wheatley unofficially announced via his Facebook page this morning Wednesday 6 December that the first of two new ambulances had arrived on island. There has been a shortage of ambulances across the Territory, which has from time to time, caused angst for residents, especially on the Sister Islands. The Minister did not indicate when the other ambulance will be on island,...

Our media house understands that some twenty plus UK personnel arrived in the Territory over the weekend to conduct a Police, Customs and Ports inspection exercise. The persons are said to be from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.  HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire & rescue services – in the public interest.There is speculation that the arrivals of said personnel in the Terr...

Information reaching our newsroom indicate that two drug busts have taken place at Port Authority at Pasea over the past 24 hours. Information suggests 4 black bags of weed were found in a box with a car seat yesterday 4th December, and another 15 bags found today 5th December. The busts apparently took place in CFS Warehouse 1, allegedly inside of Tropical containers. We will bring further information on this developing story.  *picture is not the actual bags disco...

The Standing Finance Committee (SFC) is in session.  That Committee is made up of all the elected members of the House of Assembly.  The Financial Secretary as the Chief Accounting Officer is its technical expert.The role of the Speaker of the House changes to Chairman of the Committee and, as is customary in the House, those asking as well as answering questions must address the Chairman.The purpose of the Standing Finance Committee is to ensure that all members of the Honourable Hous...

On 28 November 2023, the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA) in collaboration with the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB) and local ship agent ROMASCO GROUP, commemorated the inaugural arrival of Emerald Cruises small luxury yacht, Emerald Sakara with a plaque exchange ceremony.This event took place onboard the ship while it was anchored near Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda with Captain Robert O’Leary. 

In a handover ceremony held this week, members of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) officially handed over their report to Premier Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley and Governor John Rankin, CMG. On 10th June, 2020, Cabinet approved the establishment of the CRC for the purpose of conducting a full review of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007. The commission was then established in 2022.

A memorial service was held yesterday Tuesday 28 November for Detective Paul France whose body was found in his vehicle submerged in the ocean in the vicinity across from the D Orlando Smith Hospital on Saturday morning October 7th. The body is being prepared to be shipped back to the United Kingdom, however, no further details on his demise have been forthcoming from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. While being interviewed on the Morning Braff Show by Host Cindy Rosan, the Commission...

Premier Honourable Dr. Natalio Wheatley is imploring residents of the Virgin Islands to contemplate and honour the efforts of those who have contributed to a more prosperous and functional contemporary society.The call comes as the Territory gears up to observe the 1949 Great March and Restoration Day on Monday, November 27 which is also a public holiday.Premier Wheatley said, “We encourage the public to set aside time to reflect on the historic victory we as a people achieved in taking ci...

The Premier’s $400M budget for 2024 tells a tale of two cities if we can fall back on Dickens’ book so named.  In the one city there is confirmation that BVI is experiencing slow but steady progress and we are returning to claim our share of the global economic pie. In the other city, the challenges we face are making it difficult for businesses to remain viable and for the individual to survive.  And if businesses falter the workers and their families will be severely...

Director of Waste Management Management, Mr. Marcus Solomon has said that his department has received the incinerator’s transfer arms as it makes steady strides in bringing the facility at Pockwood Pond back online.Mr. Solomon explained that the department is expecting the arrival of the control panel and two more pieces of equipment. He said works will begin to remove the roof of the structure housing the incinerator when the full complement of equipment is on island, followed by the chan...

On November 21, 2023, the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA), in collaboration with the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB) and local ship agent Island Shipping Trading Co. Ltd., commemorated the inaugural arrival of the Explora 1 with a special plaque exchange ceremony. This noteworthy event took place while the ship was anchored near Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, with Captain Diego Michelozzi. The ceremony not only symbolized the seamless integration of luxury and respo...

Director of Culture, Dr. Katherine Smith has lauded the “Remember My Name” performing arts production that honoured ten Virgin Islands heroes as a major success.Dr. Smith said the performance made an earnest call for Virgin Islanders to reflect on the significant contributions made by the ten recently designated heroes and their altruistic efforts towards advancing the socio-economic and political interests of the Territory.Dr. Smith said, “One of the oldest and most enduring w...

Kadeem Maynard was sentenced in a Miami federal court late Monday evening 20 November to just under five years in prison for his role in a scheme to traffic cocaine through the British Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland. The Judge ordered a sentence of 57 months to be served. Maynard, 32, of Tortola along with his mother Oleanvine Pickering Maynard had changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty earlier this year. Kadeem Maynard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import co...

Mr. Jay Kendall has been appointed Superintendent of Prisons, effective 30th October, 2023.Mr. Kendall brings over seventeen (17) decorated years of experience in the criminal justice system to this role. Most recently, he has served as the Superintendent of Prisons on Saint Helena Island where he designed and implemented the prison’s five (5) year development plan, as well as worked to progress the new prison build project on the island.As the new Superintendent of Prisons, Mr. Kendall wi...

Acting Premier Kye Rymer and Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith and other officials welcomed the crew of Tradewind Aviation as they made their inaugural commercial flight to Virgin Gorda yesterday.Honourable Rymer and Honourable Hodge-Smith welcomed the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Eric Zipkin and Caribbean General Manager Mr. Jose “Tony” Vallecillo at a ceremony attended by officials from the public and private sector.Honourable Rymer i...