Honourable Lorna Smith, Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services has pulled back on Beneficial Ownership Registers in the BVI in an effort to manage any human rights violation fallout on an international level  The Minister stated that the BVI will not push to implement publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership in the financial services industry until all issues are fully vetted. The issue has been a point of contention with the UK for sometime now. There has been...

Young Virgin Islander Shaamuoy A. Baronville has been appointed new Deputy Director of the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry. At just 29 years old, Mr. Baronville brings a wealth of expertise, holding a Master's Degree in Maritime Administration and Logistics. Having served in various maritime capacities, including roles at the BVI Port Authority and the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, he is well-prepared for this significant role.“I am honored to serve as the first Deputy Direct...

Officers of the Criminal Investigations Department have charged one female for theft following a report and comprehensive investigation.Luz Sanchez, 45, former employee of the Republic Bank and resident of Nottingham Estate, has been charged with sixteen counts of theft and one count of forgery at her former place of employment. She was bailed until her appearance at the Magistrate’s court on December 15, 2023.This incident underscores the Officers' commitment to addressing criminal ac...

Information reaching our news room is that a former Senior Officer of  one of the BVI’s major banks was arrested yesterday 13 December at her new place of work. The allegations we understand is in relation to theft of more than some $100k dollars. We also understand that the said individual is also a member of the BVI Festival & Fairs Committee. There have been major concerns and leaked information of large sums of misplaced monies there as well.   We understan...

A petition signed by some 30 police officers calling for the removal of Commissioner Mark Collins is making the rounds. The petition dated November 25, 2023 and addressed to the Governor, John J Rankin outlines allegations of wrong doing on the part of the Commissioner, and calls for his immediate removal. Some of the alleged breaches in the letter include misconduct in public office, abuse of office and deceiving a witness. Some 30 plus allegations have been laid out in the petition.&...

A Senior Government Official from HM Customs has been charged with Breach of Trust in Public Office. The charges were laid today 13 December.The Official will face court in early January. Further details to come. 

Shocking news for the Caribbean entertainment fraternity, Ricardo Drew, soca powerhouse has died. He is reported to have had a heart attack early Tuesday 12 December. According to the Antigua Observer, he was rushed to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre after being found unresponsive in his room, and had been scheduled to fly out of the island later the afternoon. The Antiguan born, who was at the pinnacle of his career was only 38. Drue who won a road March just this year, was en...

A massive fire has broken out at the Pockwood Pond Dump area in the early hours of this morning, and is ongoing. Attempts are being made to extinguish the flames. “Good morning, for those of you awakening to the smell of smoke, like me, there is a waste fire at Pockwood Pond. It is not a landfill fire but a fire of the waste area alongside the building where the trucks dump before the material is transported up the hill to the landfill. Fire and Rescue are on site and working to conta...

In March of this year, the Virgin Islands underwent a mutual evaluation assessment by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), the regional body of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), to measure the Virgin Islands’ compliance with the FATF’s recommendations and the effectiveness of its anti-money laundering and terrorist financing framework.Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade Honourable Lorna Smith said, “Although I was not in office during the asses...

Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer is featured as he welcomed the pilots and crew members of the Caribbean Air Rally on their arrival at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island on December 6. The BVI Tourist Board facilitated the scheduled visit of the 20 aircraft to the Virgin Islands during the multi-island Caribbean Air Rally.

The Office of the Deputy Governor will continue its consultations this week with public officers on the new Public Service Salary Structure, to come into effect on January 1.The consultations follow the completion of the Compensation Review and Job Classification, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers Trinidad and Tobago. Following its completion, the final report was presented to the Cabinet on November 8.Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley announced Cabinet’...

Letter box holders can now resume collection of their mail from their assigned BVI Post letter boxes at the location across from the Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Complex.Acting Post Master General Mrs. Iris Romney said letter box holders of numbers 1 to 4347 in the Road Town area can resume the use of their boxes from December 11.Mrs. Romney said, “Letter box holders are to return the keys for the old letter boxes and collect the new keys at the General Post Office located in the M...

The Governor’s Office, through UK Funding, has provided three grants totaling $30,000 to deliver youth empowerment projects in the BVI to 13 to 21 year olds. The Governor’s Office invited bids earlier this year and received 12 excellent applications from established non-profit organizations in the Territory which were assessed by a committee from the Governor’s Office and BVI Government. The projects were required to contribute to the delivery of the BVI Sustainable Developmen...

All of the Overseas Territories (OTs) and Crown Dependencies, have previously committed to the implementation of publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership, commonly referred to as PARBOs, on the basis of European Union (EU) Member States' implementation of the EU Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive.However, the decision late last year by the European Court of Justice changed the international context, affirming privacy and data protection as fundamental human rights which must ...

We are no longer assured by the fresh smell of paint, the baking of tarts, cakes, puddings and bread; And neither do we care that old furniture is replaced by new.  These are things that happen throughout the year and, nowadays, they do not present the strongest evidence that we have slammed into ‘the most wonderful time of the year;’ The holiday season.We cannot mark yuletide by the chill in the air for while we are now experiencing some cool days, the seasonal calendar is no l...

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.