BVI News

Archive for March, 2021

Inquiry Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom (left) and Inquiry Secretary, Steven Chandler.

COI team returning next week as they consider holding hearings

Head of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Sir Gary Hickinbottom and his team will be returning to the BVI next week to continue with the information gathering stage of the inquiry. The team that will join Sir Gary include COI […]

by / on March 22, 2021 at 2:29 PM /
“The individual at Bobby’s, like any other individual, they will have their day and their opportunity to explain themselves to the independent judiciary” — Commissioner Michael Matthews

Police needs power to nab those with unexplained wealth

Police Commissioner Michael Matthews has reiterated the BVI’s need for legislation that will give the authorities power to nab people who have unexplained wealth. Commissioner Matthews said such legislation would not only stop those involved in trading cocaine and other […]

by / on March 22, 2021 at 7:52 AM /
Premier Andrew Fahie

Gov’t expects modest economic recovery in 12 to 18 months

Premier and Minister of Finance, Andrew Fahie has stated that his government expects the BVI economy to make a modest recovery within the next two years. The Premier disclosed this prediction at a forum hosted by the Economic Commission for […]

by / on March 22, 2021 at 7:44 AM /
Gov’t awards Cable & Wireless contract to install fibre network

Gov’t awards Cable & Wireless contract to install fibre network

Amid cries for better internet connectivity across the territory, the government will be contracting Cable & Wireless (BVI) Limited to install an islandwide Fibre Network. Fibre network technology uses high-speed fibre cables that are better able to deliver high-speed data […]

by / on March 22, 2021 at 7:03 AM /
Close-up. Arrested man handcuffed hands at the back isolated on gray background. Prisoner or arrested terrorist, close-up of hands in handcuffs.

Police need power to hold suspects longer than a day

Police Commissioner Michael Matthews said he is looking forward to proposed amendments to the Police Act that would allow the police to detain suspects for a longer time, even if they are not charged with an offence. Holding suspects for […]

by / on March 22, 2021 at 6:06 AM /
Cruise pier reopening in June!

Cruise pier reopening in June!

The BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) will be reopening its cruise port to ships in the next three months. Government has approved the arrival of cruise vessels with fully vaccinated passengers and crew, the BVIPA announced on Friday, March 19. “One […]

by / on March 19, 2021 at 3:35 PM /
Kenyatta Boynes (in jacket) being escorted from court after the verdict

Gov’t outsources legal services as Boynes appeals murder conviction

Kenyatta Boynes is appealing his 2017 murder and attempted murder convictions and government is hiring external legal services to conduct the appeal. The government has outsourced Queen’s Counsel (QC) John Black for the case. This was indicated in the post-meeting […]

by / on March 19, 2021 at 7:52 AM /
BVI ranked the most competitive financial services centre in region

BVI ranked the most competitive financial services centre in region

The British Virgin Islands has been listed as the most competitive financial centre in the Caribbean and Latin America. They received this rating in the 29th edition of the biannual Global Financial Centres Index — which ranks competitiveness based on […]

by / on March 19, 2021 at 7:43 AM /
Her Majesty's Customs is one of the local law enforcement agencies providing enhanced border patrols as the territory closes its ports of entry because of the coronavirus pandemic.

BVI’s border restrictions cause stockpile of drugs for police to find

The government’s border restrictions that have been in place for a year now has caused an irregular build-up of illicit drugs in the territory. Police Commissioner Michael Matthews put forward that hypothesis during a joint press conference to discuss the […]

by / on March 19, 2021 at 7:20 AM /
Cops taking DNA ‘by force’ will not be aggressive! It’s a key capability

Cops taking DNA ‘by force’ will not be aggressive! It’s a key capability

When news first broke that the new Police Act would give cops the power to take DNA from criminal suspects by force, there was a public uproar against the proposed policy. Police Commissioner Michael Matthews said during a press conference […]

by / on March 19, 2021 at 7:17 AM /