Tourism is everybody’s business and the ability to successfully negotiate those direct flights from Miami to Beef Island has certainly been a blessing to these Virgin Islands and a game changer like no recent other! But now, we must put airport expansion 💯 as an infrastructural top priority! Whether we beg or borrow, as long as we do not steal, it has to happen, like yesterday!“The Premier is bullish about tourism.  As Tourism Minister, he must be for he recognizes that ...

Numerous calls from residents in the Cane Garden Bay  area have confirmed hearing up to fifteen (15) gunshots ring out sometime close to midnight last night Tuesday, January 14th. Residents in close proximity of where the shots were heard, were left shaken and distraught. On Monday this week, reports of concern in heightened gun robberies in Cane Garden Bay began circulating, with a video also making the rounds. We cannot confirm at this time whether Police were called to the...

Residents of the Canaan Road, Purcell Estate community were awaken by gun shots early Wednesday morning.Witnesses say at around 1:43 a.m. up to 10 gun shots broke the silence of the early morning. Residents soon emerged to find police and ambulance services on the scene. As Police wrapped yellow caution tape across electrical poles, an officer cautioned bystanders not to cross police lines or risk being arrested.Eyewitnesses say police proceeded to spray paint around bullet shells on the street....

On Saturday January 11, 2025, our newsroom was informed of an incident on the sea, in the North Sound area, involving Gumption Tours. As in any other incident, our newsroom did the necessary research, and reported on the incident, free of bias. Our account of the incident not only came from numerous eyewitness accounts, but we were also provided with video footage of the ongoing rescue, as well as images of the incident, and the damaged boat. https://www.gbmediahouse.com/Articles/Article/80...

The British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) wishes to inform the public that the East End Clinic, also known as the Iris Penn Smith Clinic, will be closed effective today, January 14, 2025, until further notice.This temporary closure is due to administrative adjustments and resource reallocation aimed at optimizing healthcare delivery within the Eastern area of Tortola. These adjustments will allow us to streamline operations and improve the overall efficiency of services provi...

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is investigating a report of gunshots heard in the Hannah’s Estate area late evening on Wednesday, January 8.Upon receiving the report, officers immediately responded to the scene. Several vehicles in the vicinity were found to have sustained damage from what appeared to be gunshots. Officers also observed damage to an apartment building in the area. A search of the scene and surrounding areas was conducted; however, no projectiles, spent shell...

Royal Virgin Islands Police Force officers responded to a report of an unresponsive male in a derelict vehicle in the Long Swamp area after 11pm on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.Upon arrival at the location, officers discovered a male individual inside a green, derelict RAV4 SUV, dressed in a blue plaid shirt and short blue jeans pants and showed no signs of life. He was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.The deceased has since been identified as Courtney Fahie, 68, of no fixed place of abod...

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) confirms that 22-year-old Shemoi Carey of Huntum’s Ghut, wanted in relation to the attempted murder ofK’zhari Stoutt on November 8, 2024, has been apprehended. He has since been charged with Attempted Murder, Carrying an Unlicensed Firearm and Unlawful Possession of Explosives.In connection with the investigation, two individuals were also arrested on Suspicion of Assisting an Offender. Both persons were interviewed by detectives and subs...

Onlookers reported concerns of what seemed to be an early morning fire on Marina Cay. A video of the incident was also placed on Social Media platform, Facebook.However, after investigations, our newsroom was able to confirm that it was a controlled fire, and that there was no damage to property. 

A Gumption Experience Tour vessel operating in the North Sound near Necker Island has reportedly sank with seven passengers on board. People in the immediate area responded to help those onboard. Reports saw the passengers swimming to the rescue vessel.The vessel believed to be operated by Captain Allington “Gumption” Creque at the time is one of his glass bottom excursion vessels. Captain Creque is also reportedly safe. Further details will be shared as the rescue mission conti...

Holders of a British Overseas Territory Citizen (BOTC) passport from the Virgin Islands are not required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) when traveling to the United Kingdom (UK).The Civil Registry and Passport Office has announced that according to the guidelines published by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), British Overseas Territory passport holders are exempt from the ETA program. Therefore, Virgin Islands BOTC passport holder...

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) announces the outcome of an internal investigation following a significant security breach that occurredduring a planned operation in November 2024.The breach, which involved the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, compromised the success of the operation and raised serious concerns about the integrity of law enforcement protocols. Upon learning of the incident, the RVIPF launched acomprehensive investigation led by a specialized team w...

Paul Jack Apprehended During Joint Operation.

Veteran Tourism Expert to Lead BVI’s Tourism Marketing Initiatives

Demion Percival who was described by his former boss and colleague Floyd ‘Heritage’ Burnette as a rising star in talk radio, has been hired by the Government of the Virgin Islands. He now holds the role of Economic Planning Officer at the Public Works Department, and today Monday January 6th, would be his third (3rd) day on the job. Who Is Demion Percival:Former Government EmployeeDemion Percival is a former civil servant, and last served the territory as Commissioner of the Tax...

The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has revealed the Categories for its 2025 show. The categories have been refreshed with an addition of five (new) categories. The five (5) new categories include: Customer Service Star Award Excellence From The Family Islands The Performing Arts: Choreography and             Dance Award The Industrialists Award Visual Arts-Photography Award A total of twenty-two (22) categories will be presented, with The Lifetime Achieve...

The BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) is thrilled to announce the arrival of the first babies of the new year, born at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital.At 12:10 PM, Rebecca Wohning and Oliver Scott welcomed their beautiful baby boy, James Scott, weighing 3.455 kg (7 lbs 6 oz). Just one minute later, at 12:11 PM, Shantel Caine and Seymore Cole celebrated the arrival of their lovely baby girl, weighing 3.205 kg (7 lbs 0.5 oz).Each year, in celebration of these precious arrivals, the National...

On one of the heaviest travel days of the year, ferry service from the Waterfront is limited to two (2) ferries, with the last ferry for the day leaving at 11am for St. Thomas. Through calls from frustrated travelers to our newsroom, guests have had to return to their hotels, and locals to their homes, and forced to rebook flights. Some travelers have resorted to booking private charters. A travelers worst nightmare. In reaching out to one ferry company, we were advised that the schedu...

The BVI Airports Authority (the Authority) recently honoured senior Firefighters, Messrs. Richard Penn and Kemuel Merry, who will officially retire from the service on December 31.The officers commenced their aviation firefighting career in December 1999 with the then Civil Aviation Department and were transferred to the BVI Airports Authority in June 2006.Remarks were delivered at the recognition ceremony by Director of People and Culture Mrs. Dawn Leonard on behalf of Managing Director Mr. Kur...

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) Hong Kong Office brought together staff from its office, the BVI Financial Services Commission – Hong Kong, as well as students of the BVI Asia Abroad Scholarship Programme in its annual Christmas lunch last Saturday.Director of the BVI Hong Kong Office, Dr. Ricardo Wheatley said the festive gathering on December 21 provided a warm and meaningful opportunity for the students to connect with one another and celebrate the season.Dr. Wheatley said, “We a...