BVI News—News from BVI

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McMaster wins again! Qualifies for Olympic final

Kyron McMaster has made the Olympic final of the men’s 400-metre hurdles event. Running out of lane number seven, McMaster finished his semi-final in first with a time of 48.26 on Sunday morning, August 1 (BVI time). This makes him […]
4

Historic! Chantel Malone jumps into the Olympic finals

Local long jumper Chantel Malone has made history for the British Virgin Islands during her performance at the Summer Olympic Games happening in Tokyo, Japan. She has become the first athlete in the history of the territory to ever make […]
26

Police sergeant charged for drug possession with intent to supply

This article has been updated A police sergeant in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has been charged with possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply. He is Officer Troy St Helen who has been suspended from […]
34

BVIPA deducting ‘quarantine time’ from staff’s vacation allotment

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn said he has received complaints from staff at the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) that their vacation allocations were unfairly being deducted for quarantine purposes if they are suspected to have COVID-19. The BVI experienced an unprecedented […]
18

New BVIHSA chair expected to use US connections to improve hospital

Newly appointed BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Chairman, Moleto Smith Jr has a weight of expectation on his shoulders according to Opposition legislator, Julian Fraser. Smith’s appointment was confirmed before the House of Assembly (HOA) on Thursday, July 29. He […]

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Ambiguity enshrouds HOA d...
A stirring debate about a section of law that allows a House of Assembly (HOA) member exemption from...
July 30, 2021 at 8:05 AM
10
Cabinet to send stimulus ...
The VIP administration has used the summary document of Cabinet’s latest decisions to, once again,...
July 30, 2021 at 6:34 AM
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McMaster cruises to victo...
Kyron McMaster, moments ago, finished first in his heat of the Men’s 400-metre hurdles event at...
July 29, 2021 at 11:00 PM

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Smith seeks retroactive exemption for months-old gov’t contracts

In an emergency virtual meeting called for today in the House of Assembly (HOA), Deputy Speaker Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith will be retroactively exempted from vacating his seat after entering into at least two contracts with...
July 29, 2021 at 8:36 AM
14

Premier has habit of hiring ‘political’ consultants for party

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn is contending that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government has established a record of hiring political consultants to push its party’s agenda, even before entering office. In a recent interview with...
July 29, 2021 at 8:30 AM
11

Pfizer touts 3rd vaccine dose as BVI eyes getting that brand from USVI

As the BVI government moves to open registration for residents interested in receiving the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the US Virgin Islands (USVI), manufacturers of the Pfizer vaccine said a third dose of...
July 29, 2021 at 7:03 AM

17

Former USVI gubernatorial candidate lands BVIHSA chairmanship

Former US Virgin Islands (USVI) gubernatorial candidate, Moleto Smith Jr, has been appointed as the newest chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA). The revelation was made through the order paper for today’s emergency...
July 29, 2021 at 6:32 AM
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Gov’t awards 52 students scholarships to study abroad

Fifty-two persons have been granted government scholarships to study abroad. The Cabinet approved the recommendations of the BVI Scholarship Committee to award these scholarships when they met this month. The government will fund the...
July 29, 2021 at 6:06 AM
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BVI opening registration to get alternative vaccines in USVI

Health Minister Carvin Malone said registration will likely begin today for BVI residents interested in receiving the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the US Virgin Islands (USVI). According to Malone, the protocols are...
July 28, 2021 at 9:58 AM

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Premier rubbishes claims that gov’t “doing nothing”, denies cronyism

Premier Andrew Fahie has come out against detractors that have accused his government of being at a standstill and of practising cronyism. Fahie, who was speaking on the governing VIP’s Let’s Talk radio show last evening, said...
July 28, 2021 at 8:22 AM
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Burial Protocols: Only immediate family allowed during viewing

The government’s recently implemented burial protocols mandate that only immediate family members of deceased persons are allowed to view the bodies of their dead. Immediate family members are classified as parents, siblings,...
July 28, 2021 at 7:05 AM
6

Still no assent for Whistleblower, Contractor General Acts — Premier

The Whistleblower and Contractor General Acts — two significant pieces of legislation passed in the House of Assembly several weeks ago — are still awaiting assent from Governor John Rankin. The two Acts were championed...
July 28, 2021 at 7:04 AM

4

FIA bemoans cooperation issues between law enforcement agencies

The BVI’s Financial Investigation Agency (FIA) has joined in to bemoan the reported lack of trust among local law enforcement agencies in the territory. In an invited position statement to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recently,...
July 28, 2021 at 6:31 AM
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BVI’s COVID-19 death toll climbs to 31! Active cases reduced to 584

The BVI’s COVID-19 death toll has now climbed to 31 persons. The previous death toll reported last Friday stood at 25 people. Health Minister Carvin Malone made the disclosure Tuesday evening on the VIP’s Let’s Talk radio programme. “We...
July 27, 2021 at 10:30 PM
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Paradox! Fahie blames past gov’ts for needing political advisors

A winding, near 40-minute speech from Premier Andrew Fahie did little to put critics at bay after he set out to clear the air last evening about why his government needed to hire political ministerial advisers. Instead, there were...
July 27, 2021 at 9:24 AM

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Hospital staff seek counselling after high rate of COVID deaths — CEO

Staff at the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital were left traumatised after coming face to face with the unusual reality of nearly four deaths per day during the height of the BVI’s COVID-19 surge in recent weeks. CEO of the BVI Health...
July 27, 2021 at 8:36 AM
11

Rapid COVID tests start at major ports of entry locally

The BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) has announced that rapid antigen testing is now officially part of the territory’s COVID 19 screening process. The BVIHSA said this alternative coronavirus testing option was rolled out...
July 27, 2021 at 7:35 AM
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Challenging times but hospital not underfunded — Premier

Reports that the Health Ministry has been cash strapped and the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) has seen diminished supplies have been dismissed by Premier Andrew Fahie. In an appearance on JTV’s The Big Story recently,...
July 27, 2021 at 7:29 AM

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Inadequate funding hindering BVI’s Financial Investigation Agency

Director of the Financial Investigation Agency (FIA), Errol George, has listed funding as one of the weaknesses hindering the FIA from carrying out its work more effectively. He said the current funding the FIA receives is inadequate,...
July 27, 2021 at 6:41 AM
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Outrageous! Penn calls on gov’t to rescind ‘political advisers decision’

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has called for the governing Virgin Islands Party (VIP) to rescind its recent decision to hire political advisers to service Cabinet and juniors ministers within the government. The government said it...
July 26, 2021 at 12:51 PM
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Untrue! Gov’t political advisers will not collectively earn $1M yearly

Premier Andrew Fahie has dispelled claims that his government’s initiative to introduce ministerial political advisers will cost as much as one million dollars per year. A cabinet document recently disclosed that the government’s...
July 26, 2021 at 9:12 AM

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We’re ungrateful! The BVI has too many gov’t critics — Patsy Lake

Local businesswoman, Patsy Lake, has complained that the BVI may have too many critics, especially when it comes to decisions made by the government. Appearing on the Honestly Speaking radio programme recently, Lake defended decisions...
July 26, 2021 at 8:46 AM
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Nearly half of local businesses back employee vaccination requirement

Nearly 50 percent of local businesses that participated in a recent survey from the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) have said they support requiring employee vaccination. Almost 20 percent of these businesses...
July 26, 2021 at 7:35 AM
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No COVID variants of concern found in BVI — Chief Medical Officer

Samples returned from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) have revealed no variants of concern, and more importantly, no traces of the much-feared Delta variant of COVID-19 in the BVI. This news, which the Acting Chief Medical...
July 26, 2021 at 7:20 AM