Statutory boards in the BVI need to be protected in order to maintain their independence from the executive government. This was the conclusion drawn in the Sir Gary Hickinbottom-led Commission of Inquiry (COI) report. Sir Gary said the overwhelming evidence […]
Archive for May, 2022
COI Report: Former FS was in conflict-of-interest spot with BVIA project
Former Financial Secretary (FS) Neil Smith found himself in a position of apparent conflict of interest in relation to the BVI Airways project, the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report has shown. The report found this to be one of several […]
Audit finds COVID-19 church grants inflated by over 600%
An audit conducted on the now-dismantled VIP government’s 2020 COVID-19 assistance programme showed that grants awarded to local religious institutions were inflated by more than 600 per cent above the recommended amounts. This information was disclosed in the Commission of […]
Gov’t plans to make Self-Governance Assessment Report public
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has indicated plans to bring the territory’s recently conducted Self-Governance Assessment Report before the House of Assembly so residents can understand the options to achieve political independence from the United Kingdom. Earlier this year, the BVI […]
Finance Minister to assess Custom duties reduction
As the territory tries to recover its economic output, Premier and Finance Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley has said his government will be looking to review the Custom’s import duty reduction implemented by former Premier, Andrew Fahie. Speaking at a recent […]
Fire burns at hillside above Pockwood Pond waste facility
A hillside fire has erupted up at the waste site in Pockwood Pond, Tortola. Thick plumes of smoke were seen coming from the area Sunday morning, May 22. It is not clear how the blaze stated but it has become […]
Have you seen this escaped detainee?
The following is a media release from the Immigration Department. Chief Immigration Officer, Mr Ian Penn is seeking the public’s assistance to locate Haitian national Ms Elena Milord who escaped detention between the late hours of Wednesday, May 18 and […]
A return from UK takeover will be hard without constitutional reform
If the UK was to take over, a return to ministerial government and the House of Assembly (HOA) after the proposed two-year period would be “challenging“ without constitutional reform being established. This is according to Sir Gary Hickinbottom who — […]
Timing of VIP’s good governance initiatives not a coincidence
Commissioner of the now concluded Commission of Inquiry (COI), Sir Gary Hickinbottom, has found that the timing of good governance initiatives by the former Andrew Fahie-led government were not coincidental. In the COI report issued by Sir Gary, he shared […]
Adaejah Hodge looks to end season on a high at World Championships
Triple CARIFTA 2022 gold medallist Adaejah Hodge is looking to finish her long track and field season on a high by competing at both the senior and junior World Athletics Championship later this year and meeting the goals she has […]
