“An icon is dead!  ‘The Queen of Hearts,’ one of the brightest lights that shone in the British Virgin Islands, has flickered and faded.  The repose of her soul marks the end of an era in BVI public, political, cultural and social life.Eileene Lucia Parsons; A practicing socialite; A lover of people; A friend of the friendless; A speaker extraordinaire; A cultural icon; A horse racing enthusiast; A sports woman;A formidable opponent; A writer; A Festival lover; A...

The Government of the Virgin Islands has appointed three professionals to the Board of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) as part of its commitment to enhancing healthcare governance and service in the Territory.The newly appointed members are: Ms. Noelene D. Levons Ms. Samantha L. Stevens Mrs. Mitsy J. Ellis-SimpsonThe appointments, retroactive to February 10, 2024, will remain in effect until February 9, 2027.Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, w...

The Government of the Virgin Islands has appointed four professionals to the Allied Health Professionals Council in its commitment to maintaining high standards of allied health services in the Territory.The newly appointed members are: Dr. Virginia Rubaine – Clinical Psychologist Dr. Jerry Smith – Physiotherapist Dr. Aasha-Marie Flax-Miller – Medical Practitioner Dr. Michelle Martin – Clinical PsychologistThe Allied Health Professionals Council plays ...

The public is notified that portion of Station Avenue in the vicinity of the Road Town Police Station to the entrance of Palm Road (John’s Hole) will be temporarily closed on Sunday, July 6 at 12 noon to Monday, July 7 at 1:00 a.m. to facilitate the Virgin Islands Icon Awards.Traffic will be redirected through Palm Road (John’s Hole) and Pickering Road. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to exercise caution while approaching the area. 

Hello You! U made it. To Summer sunshine and beautiful sunsets. Here is something to resonate with the feeling of finding and feeling like yourself again. Remember, you made it! "Summer Found Me, Finally"The sun came back—not just in the sky,but in me. I feel the light air againAfter months of cold goodbyesand silent ache,I finally feel a thawbeneath my skin.June opened like a window, a window of finding my power back, my strength back, my voice back,and for the first time i...

Yesterday morning we released Part 2 of this story titled “Gambling with Customer Deposits by Making ‘Loans’ to the Bankrupt Wens, Corporate Corpses and More”Based on the Premier’s press conference on Monday June 23, 2025, and further research, we are now prepared to report on the movements of the people’s five million dollars in and out of the Bank of Asia. We have the underlying documents to support our reporting and will be sharing those with the rest of th...

Gambling with Customer Deposits by Making ‘Loans’ to the Bankrupt Wens, Corporate Corpses and More

We are now prepared to report the details of extraordinary, coordinated, and fraudulent schemes orchestrated by the leadership of Bank of Asia to mask its true equity position; these while its disgraced and bankrupt founder, Mr Carson Wen, attempted to sell the bank for around $400 million and extract cash for himself and others despite a worldwide freezing order being in place.None other than Lorna Smith OBE, now Junior Minister Smith, was at the helm of Bank of Asia at all material times while...

A coordinated multi-agency operation conducted between June 17 and 18, 2025, involving the Department of Immigration, His Majesty’s Customs, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), and external law enforcement partners, resulted in several arrests and the seizure of approximately 1,440 kilograms of cocaine. The recovered drugs have an estimated street value of $144 million.The intelligence-led operation was launched on June 17 following investigations by the Joint Task Force (JTF) i...

Effective July 1, the new minimum wage in the Territory will be $7.25 per hour.Cabinet at its meeting of 28 May 2025, approved the increase that will be adjusted using a phased approach, as recommended in the comprehensive review conducted by the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee, which was established under Section 38(1)(c) of the Labour Code, 2010.In addition to the phased approach to increasing the minimum wage, a number of targeted interventions are expected to be introduced. Employers ar...

The House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands mourns the loss of a distinguished leader and dedicated public servant, Mrs.  Eileene Lucia Parsons, OBE.  Throughout her lifetime of exemplary service to the Virgin Islands, Mrs. Parsons was a respected member of the then Legislative Council. Her dedication extended right up to her passing, as she remained actively engaged in matters related to the House of Assembly, notably serving as a vital sub-committee member advising on the upcomi...

The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission (BVITBFC) announces the 284 Excellence Film Festival (284XFF), a landmark event aimed at bridging the gap between Caribbean literature and Cinema. Spearheaded by the BVI Tourist Board & Film Commission, this inaugural festival will run from 30th October to 2nd November 2025, offering a vibrant showcase of global cinema with a powerful spotlight on Caribbean stories and voices.The 284 Excellence Film Festival w...

The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA), in partnership with Creative Waves, would like to announce the completion of a new mural at the Dog Hole Facility on Jost Van Dyke. A brief ceremony was held on Tuesday, 17 June to mark the occasion and celebrate the artist’s work.This is the second mural delivered through the Creative Waves and BVI Ports Authority initiative which invites local artists to enhance port spaces with artwork that reflects the life, culture and spirit of the ...

The Environmental Health Division is making preparations to accommodate the influx of persons requiring food handler’s certification ahead of the Emancipation Festival. Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer, Ms. Henrietta Alexander said that the division will be offering weekly food handlers’ courses for the months of June and July and persons should take advantage of this opportunity. “We want to remind the public that all food handlers are required to be ce...

The Social Development Department is reaffirming its commitment to supporting survivors of abuse and is encouraging the public to speak out and seek assistance.Recognising the emotional and psychological toll of abuse—especially within the context of small, tightly-knit communities—the department is reminding survivors that they are not alone, and that their experiences matter. Survivors are assured that they are never at fault for the abuse they have endured and are urged to access ...

Deputy Premier, and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Honourable Julian Fraser RA, is reminding the public of the importance of preserving the Territory’s environment, in light of reports of an upsurge in sand mining activities.The ministry has received numerous accounts of sand mining at Long Bay, Beef Island which is compromising the walkway to the western end of the beach, undermining beach restoration efforts and affecting the long-term health of the beach...

In the heart of the Virgin Islands, a beacon shone bright,  A queen of our culture, a guiding light.  With wisdom and grace that inspired so many,  Her voice was a chorus, a melody, uncanny.  Ms. "P," as she’s fondly known,  A legacy of strength, in each heart she’s sown.  Through valleys of history, she walked with pride,  A storyteller, a leader, with courage as her guide.  At ninety-five year...

TB Lettsome Airport Fire Officer shot to death outside home.

Former Legislator and cultural icon Eileen Parsons OBE has died. She passed away this morning Sunday June 22 at the Dr D Orlando Hospital. She was 94 years old. During her political career, she served as a Member of the HOA, Minister for Health Education and Welfare, Deputy Premier, and Deputy Speaker of the House. She helped to  paved the way for women in Virgin Islands politics. Ms Parsons, outside of politics, and maybe her truest love, was a culture and heritage aficionado. Sh...

Much has now been written about the Government’s ill-advised $5.0 million deposit into the troubled Bank of Asia.  Finger pointing has gone on, no proper answers have been provided, and there have been calls for the Governor to now investigate.But is the economic problem just one of $5.0 million?  We have reasons to believe that the problem might be much bigger than that.  We have attempted to do as much research on the financials of Bank of Asia as possible, but the informa...