Commentary By Ayana Hull

Reports reaching our news room early this morning 23 August are that Officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force are on Anegada and searching homes. On Saturday 19 August, we reported a major drug bust on the small island. In a press release dated 19 August 2023, RVIPF confirmed - AIRPLANE SEIZED DURING JOINT OPERATION ON ANEGADA - A joint operation between US Authorities and RVIPF Officers was conducted earlier today (19-8-23) on Anegada. An airplane and a significant ...

SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI: Two residents of District 3, Ms.  Kishma P. Forbes of Virgin Islands School and Office Supplies and Mr. Julian Willock of Advance Marketing and Professional Services have teamed up to host what they are hoping to be an annual event: a Back-to-School giveaway for students in the district.The back-to-school event will take place on Sunday, August 27, 2023, from 12:00 noon until 5:00pm at the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School Grounds, located in Sea Cows Bay. ...

We missed an opportunity to extend the runway of the T.B Lettsome International Airport about 8 years ago when the NDP government stopped to argue about position and positioning of its members and dropped the ball.  The public rewarded them with expulsion from office.That travesty was compounded when the green tide created a spurious argument over a loan guarantee that should have fixed our infrastructure including the airport.Since then, we were fortunate enough to entice American Airlines...

On 14 August 2023, a report was made  to the White Collar Crime Unit in St. Kitts & Nevis regarding a case of false pretense involving former BVI Public Prosecutor and most recently, DPP in the St. Kitts’ DPP’s Office. The complaint centered around a vehicle that was purchased in February 2023.According to the report, St. Kitts & Nevis Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. McCarta Browne had purchased a vehicle from former Director of Public Prosecutions Mr. Valston ...

These are not petty distinctions. This is not mere fussing over semantics to hold on to names that are fast slipping from Virgin Islands usage. As a researcher, educator, and practitioner in Cultural Studies, I say without apology that we are disrespectful to dismiss as quibbling or out-of-touch any Virgin Islanders' claim to the ancestral or folk language that expresses their own sense of heritage and cultural identity.That being said, we have to be honest in acknowledging that decades of i...

In an unprecedented move today, Honourable Lorna Smith OBE, Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Trade and Labour when asked for costs on the Mission to Guyana trip, went into her bag and pulled out her tickets as proof of cost and level of travel. “I even sat by a dog, at the very back of the plane.” she gleefully exclaimedThe move humored and surprised those sitting in the room which included Media and other members of the mission trip. Honourable Smith was...

Residents of Tortola are notified that the water supply will be shut off in the Road Town area from 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m on Tuesday, 15 August.The reason for this interruption is to fix a broken pipeline at the Road Town Port. Residents in the affected area are urged to fill up containers with water before the shutoff time to ensure that they have an adequate supply of water to use during the interruption period. Water supply remains a sore issue for residents across the entire Virgin ...

Kadeem Maynard’s attorneys have petitioned the presiding judge for leniency on behalf of their client. Ahead of the sentencing date for Oleanvine and Kadeem Maynard which is set for August 21, his attorneys have submitted varying objections to the pre-sentencing report and is asking the judge to consider a reduced or no custodial sentence at all for their client, siting that he ‘only made an introduction’ and was not a part of the alleged grand scheme to turn the BVI water...

Tuesday, July 25 – Police have charged a fourth person in its continued inquiries into the cocaine, firearms, boat and ammunition seizure during its drug bust operation last week Wednesday.Rico Penn, 34, of Fat Hogs Bay was charged with possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply to another, unlawful possession of a controlled drug, keeping an unlicenced firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.Rico Penn is a fireman and the son of Diego Penn who conteste...

Saturday, July 22 – Police charged three persons and arrested several others as it continues inquiries into the cocaine seizure, as well as firearms, boat and ammunition detained during the operation on Wednesday evening (19 July).Dion Leslie McMaster, 38, of Brady Ghut was charged with possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply to another, unlawful possession of a controlled drug, keeping an unlicenced firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. In addition, Zuri Reid, ...

Civil Servants and Public Officers are fed up with working conditions and treatment across the Civil Service. Unconfirmed reports of industrial action in the Customs Department are being reported. It is understood that Customs Officers intended to strike today Wednesday 19 July, however, the information was apparently leaked to the Deputy Governor who called an emergency meeting with officers. Reports are that the Officers are in a meeting presently with the Deputy Governor David Archer and...

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force charged two men last night in relation to last Saturday’s robbery of House of Luxury jewelry store at Cyril B. Romney Pier Park.Charged for robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offense are Shamul Mitchell, 35, of Sand Box Road and Jelani Marquis, 27, of Hannahs Estate. Both will appear before the Magistrate’s Court at the next available sitting.Last Tuesday, Acting Commissioner St. Clair Amory said that while no...

A press release on the Royal Anguilla Police Force Facebook page dated today Saturday 8 July states that in a joint international anti narcotic smuggling operation involving the US authorities, International partners, the UK National Crime Agency and the Royal Virgin Island Police Force (RVIPF), the RVIPF marine unit yesterday (07/07/23), in cooperation with the Royal Anguilla Police Force (RAPF) and HM Anguilla Customs department (HM Customs), intercepted two vessels within Anguillan ...

The BVI Community raised just over $30,000 in 24 hours to save the house of Dameon Percival, a well-known on-air radio personality. The talk show host’s house went into foreclosure in June and was posted on the National Bank of the Virgin Islands’ Facebook page on Thursday, 22 June. The money was raised via pledges made by persons inside and outside the community who called and donated pledges as low as $15.00 and as high as $3,000.00. Pledges were made by private citizens and p...

One Teacher of the Elmore Stoutt High School was left shaken when one student unleashed his rage due to his dissatisfaction with the manner in how the said teacher handled a matter with the student. Guavaberry Media understands the student broke the rear windshield of the teachers car with a rock causing severe damage to the windshield. It is also understood that there were children in the back of the car and one received splinters in his eyes from the broken glass. There are two ...

Guavaberry Media has received information that six Cameroon nationals were able to enter the BVI illegally recently. It is understood they were able to enter the BVI via Antigua. The group has been apprehended by immigration authorities after contacting 911 after enduring challenging conditions the information noted. The group initially expected to meet an accomplice upon arrival but had to seek refuge in the bushes due to unforeseen circumstances.A request to the Chief Immig...

Kadeem Maynard has changed his not guilty plea to guilty on the count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance. Maynard appeared in a Miami court this afternoon to change his not guilty plea to guilty in his case USA v Kadeem Maynard. The son of former Port boss was slapped with three charges but has only changed his plea in one, same as his mother Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard  Sentencing has been set for 21 August 2023.Both Maynards and former Premie...

Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard has changed her not guilty plea to guilty on the count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance. Pickering-Maynard appeared in a Miami court this morning in her case USA v Oleanvine Pickering Maynard. The former Port boss was slapped with three charges but has only changed her plea in one. Sentencing has been set for 21 August 2023. Maynard could be facing a minimum 10 years in prison. More to come on this developing story. 

Premier Wheatley Blasted for Quarter Million Dollar Concert and Surprise Press Conference Invitation An invitation to the press came at 3:00 p.m. for a press conference to happen on the same day at 3:30 p.m.  The invitation which was for a ‘special announcement’ to be made by the Premier, came late in the afternoon and set the territory abuzz concerning the nature of the announcement. Speculations were that the press conference could be in relation to the Territory&rsq...