REVISED VOTERS’ LIST TO BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW!

The Supervisor of Elections is informing the public that the Revised Voters’ List will be published on Tuesday, September 28 in accordance with section 23 (1) of the Elections Act, 1994 and Amendments. The Act states the following: (2) The copies published under subsection (1) shall be deemed to be the Registers of Voters for … Continued

HOA SPEAKER FOR MANDATORY VACCINATIONS IN THE BVI WITH ONLY EXEMPTIONS FOR MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS REASONS

Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock believes that vaccinations should be made mandatory in the British Virgin Islands for all residents except two special categories of persons. The speaker made the statement during a recent Sitting of the House of Assembly, where he said he believes vaccines should be made mandatory for all … Continued

GOVERNMENT NEVER ATTEMPTED TO HIDE MINISTERIAL POLITICAL ADVISOR INITIATIVE – SAYS PREMIER ANDREW FAHIE

Premier Andrew Fahie says his administration did not in any way try to hide the recent ministerial political advisor initiative from the people, stating that his government made sure the information was brought to residents through publications. Premier Fahie made the statement during a recent broadcast of the Virgin Islands Party Let’s Talk radio programme. … Continued

GOVERNMENT RUSHES TO HOLD EMERGENCY HOA MEETING TO EXEMPT NEVILLE SMITH FROM VACATING HIS SEAT AFTER ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS AS OLD AS 8 MONTHS, TOTALING MORE THAN $170K

The Government of the Virgin Islands will be seeking to move a motion in the House of Assembly on Thursday to prevent Territorial at Large Representative Neville Smith from having to vacate his seat after entering into two contracts with government agencies valuing more than $170,000. This was revealed in the Order Paper of the … Continued

COI TO BREAK UNTIL LATE AUGUST DUE TO COVID SPIKE & OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTATION FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Due to the territory’s current spike in COVID-19 cases, coupled with many outstanding important documents, the Commission of Inquiry (COI) will be breaking for hearings until late August as the team prepares to make a brief return to the United Kingdom. This is according to a media release from the COI’s Secretary Steven Chandler who … Continued

WHISTLEBLOWER ACT PASSES IN HOA- PROTECTS PERSONS FROM ACTS OF VICTIMISATION

Whistleblowers in the British Virgin Islands may no longer have to worry about acts of victimisation following the recent passing of the legislation which legally protects persons from such acts. A whistleblower can be defined as any person – usually an employee – who exposes information or activity within a private, public, or government organization … Continued

SEVERAL DEFICIENCIES DISCOVERED IN CABINET’S SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE – GOVERNOR RANKIN

Governor John Rankin has flagged several deficiencies observed within Cabinet’s system of governance since taking office in late January 2021. The governor highlighted some of those deficiencies in his Position Statement submission to the Commission of Inquiry recently. According to the BVI’s Constitution, the Governor is responsible for chairing each Cabinet meeting, but he does … Continued

GOVERNMENT WORKING ON MEASURES TO MAKE THE REGISTER OF INTERESTS DOCUMENTS EITHER PUBLIC OR PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE

Government is working on making the Register of Interests declarations by legislators a public document, but will be bringing forward two options to the House of Assembly (HOA) to best choose from. This is according to Premier Andrew Fahie who made the statement before the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) recently. He said the amendments … Continued

REGISTER OF INTERESTS ACT BREACHES SHOULD NOT BE USED TO LABEL HOA MEMBERS AS INCOMPETENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Premier Andrew Fahie has said that recent breaches of the Register of Interests Act by both past and present legislators should not be used to label Members of the House of Assembly as being incompetent to their responsibilities. The premier made the statement during a hearing of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Friday June … Continued