The Government of the Virgin Islands has published its Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment 2025, reflecting the Territory’s continued efforts to safeguard the integrity of its financial system, and its commitment to evolving international standards in counter-terrorist financing.The updated assessment, which builds on the Territory’s first Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment published in 2020, was initiated proactively by the Government of the Virgin Islands to inform and strengthen ...

The Government of the Virgin Islands has today published its National Strategic AML/CFT/CPF Action Plan, a comprehensive and coordinated roadmap to enhance the Territory’s resilience against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing threats.The Action Plan, approved by the National Anti-Money Laundering Coordinating Council on 21st February 2025, supports the implementation of the 2024–2026 National AML/CFT/CPF Strategy. It outlines legislative, regulatory, i...

The Ministry of Health and Social Development has announced that several community centres across the Territory are now open and available for the public’s use.The centres can be used for approved events including meetings, weddings and receptions, birthday and retirement celebrations, camps, religious gatherings, workshops and community meetings and other activities in accordance with established guidelines.They are the Long Trench Community Centre, Emile Dunlop Community Centre (Anegada)...

Recovers firearm and ammunition. Two arrested.

Ms. Janelle Hodge has been appointed Executive Secretary to the Service Commissions Secretariat, where she will lead the Secretariat’s duties to support the Public Service’s various Service Commissions.The Service Commissions Secretariat was established in this year and directly supports the Public Service Commission, Judicial and Legal Services Commission, Police Service Commission and the Teaching Service Commission in the execution of their various functions.Permanent Secretary, M...

The British Virgin Islands recently welcomed a UK-based film crew from Daisybeck Studios for the filming of an episode of “Susan Calman’s Cruise of a Lifetime”, a popular UK travel series airing on Channel 5 and streaming on My5.The production captured the natural beauty and vibrant culture of the BVI, with featured stops in Virgin Gorda, Prickly Pear, and Jost Van Dyke. Hosted by beloved Scottish comedian and presenter Susan Calman, the series offers audiences an intimate look...

Last week we focused on the Law Enforcement Review Report volume 2 and the implications of some of the recommendations that were made. But we must discuss how we got there in the first place.The COI and the Law Enforcement Review Reports would never have been necessary if the 13 were working more assiduously on behalf of the people of these Virgin Islands.And, also, if the people were making demands that they do.Arundhati Roy in “The Algebra of Infinite Justice” noted that “It ...

An unknown scooter rider attempted to rob someone on the outside of Road Town Wholesale, Pasea. Thanks to a couple of officers that were in the area, the attempt was thwarted. Information circulating suggests that RTW, Pasea was robbed a couple hours ago. However, that has proven to be incorrect information.We understand a male on a scooter sought to harass one male on the outside of the establishment, and attempted to rob another. We will update pending further information from t...

Poem for the Broken Hearted. So many people deal with heart break and go through emotional warfare alone. We all deserve love not confusion. We all deserve honesty without half- truths. We all deserve peace. We all been lied too and manipulated thinking it is love, but it is not. It's control. People who loves you do not play with your emotions. We need to define and set clear boundaries. Firstly, accept the hurt and then start to Heal. Here is a short poem to express how we all feel. &...

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is reporting some of the most significant reductions in serious crime in recent years, with first-quarter figuresfor 2025 (January–March) showing notable improvements over both last year and a five-year average from 2020 to 2024.Key Crime Reductions:• Serious Assaults declined by 17% compared to the same period in 2024 and are now 11% below the five-year average.• Sexual Offenses saw a dramatic drop,...

Carlene Herbert has been appointed Supervisor of Elections effective 10th March.Herbert joins the Public Service with more than 20 years of experience in governance, administration and communications within the public sector.Deputy Governor, Mr. David D. Archer, Jr. welcomed Ms. Herbert to the role, noting that the Office of the Supervisor of Elections carries out critical functions that oversee the maintenance of the Territory’s democratic foundations; the electoral process.The Deputy Gov...

119 persons are now British Overseas Territories Citizens following two ceremonies held at Government House on 25th and 28th March.During the ceremonies, the newly naturalised individuals heard congratulatory remarks from His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Daniel Pruce, Premier of the Virgin Islands, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley, and Registrar General, Mrs. Tashi O’Flaherty-Maduro.During his remarks, Governor Pruce reminded the celebrants that Naturalisation is an enriching process fro...

Baron Jeffrey Howard Archer surmised in his novel A Prisoner of Birth that:“We all suffer in our different ways from being prisoners of birth.”  His story mirrors the one Alexandre Dumas told in The Count of Monte Cristo.  Both men were failed by the systems that should have protected them.Last week the members of the Honorable House threatened solidarity when they united to lambaste the recommendations made in volume two of the “Law Enforcement Review Report.”&...

After much public push back, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) have amended earlier Good Friday restrictions announced earlier today Friday, April 18th.Businesses are now allowed to open and serve alcohol beginning at 6:00 p.m. this evening, Good Friday, and business hours resume as regular fr tomorrow, Saturday April 19th, throughout the weekend. An initial announcement from the RVIPF, called for full closures, and stoppage on  alcohol service in observance of Good Friday....

The public is notified that the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has been published for review. The Bill, which was introduced and read for the first time to the House of Assembly on Thursday, 3rd April, 2025, is now available for review on the Virgin Islands Official Gazette website at https://eservices.gov.vg/gazette/ in an extraordinary issue of the Gazette No. 44 dated 15th April, 2025.For more information or assistance, please contact the Gazette Unit of the Cabinet...

Chief Librarian, Ms. Suzanne Greenaway has said that libraries and literacy is an integral part of community building as the Territory observes Library Week 2025.The week will be observed from from April 21 to 25 under the theme, “Linking You to a World of Information: Your Library, Anytime, Anywhere” and is scheduled to coincide with World Book and Copyright Day, observed on April 23.The Chief Librarian said that this year’s theme reflects the unique role the Public ...

The Government of the Virgin Islands today published its inaugural National Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment of Legal Persons and Legal Arrangements, reaffirming the Territory’s commitment to global standards on transparency, beneficial ownership, and the prevention of financial crime.The risk assessment—mandated under the revised Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations 24 and 25—provides a comprehensive review of the ...

A brief power outage Saturday night, March 29th, could not dim the burning light within new convert and new Christian Artiste, “KC ASAP”.  The artiste whose given name is Khiry Creque is a 31-year-old from East End, Tortola known for dancing more than singing. His listening party changed that, a his debut project featured 12 songs, many of which features him singing while he raps on others.He opened the listening party with crowd favourite ‘Journey’ which recapped po...

The Safe Haven Transitional Centre has completed its outreach initiative targeting vulnerable males in the Virgin Gorda community.The event held on  April 4, was made possible through sponsorship of Mourant BVI, whose support enabled the distribution of Gift Vouchers from Riteway Foods Market to individuals identified as most in need.Director of the Safe Haven Transitional Centre, Mrs. Nellville George Bronstorph, said it was a pleasure to be able to extend support to the vulnerable male po...

Director of Disaster Management Jasen Penn joined other regional disaster management leaders in Turks and Caicos Islands, for the 16th meeting of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency Technical Advisory Committee (CDEMA-TAC).Heads of national disaster management agencies meet annually to discuss the CDEMA Coordinating Unit's work program of past and ongoing disaster risk management projects and activities designed to benefit all 20 participating states.Mr. Penn said the TAC is a...