Shocking news for the Caribbean entertainment fraternity, Ricardo Drew, soca powerhouse has died. He is reported to have had a heart attack early Tuesday 12 December. According to the Antigua Observer, he was rushed to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre after being found unresponsive in his room, and had been scheduled to fly out of the island later the afternoon. The Antiguan born, who was at the pinnacle of his career was only 38. Drue who won a road March just this year, was en...

A massive fire has broken out at the Pockwood Pond Dump area in the early hours of this morning, and is ongoing. Attempts are being made to extinguish the flames. “Good morning, for those of you awakening to the smell of smoke, like me, there is a waste fire at Pockwood Pond. It is not a landfill fire but a fire of the waste area alongside the building where the trucks dump before the material is transported up the hill to the landfill. Fire and Rescue are on site and working to conta...

In March of this year, the Virgin Islands underwent a mutual evaluation assessment by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), the regional body of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), to measure the Virgin Islands’ compliance with the FATF’s recommendations and the effectiveness of its anti-money laundering and terrorist financing framework.Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade Honourable Lorna Smith said, “Although I was not in office during the asses...

Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer is featured as he welcomed the pilots and crew members of the Caribbean Air Rally on their arrival at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island on December 6. The BVI Tourist Board facilitated the scheduled visit of the 20 aircraft to the Virgin Islands during the multi-island Caribbean Air Rally.

The Office of the Deputy Governor will continue its consultations this week with public officers on the new Public Service Salary Structure, to come into effect on January 1.The consultations follow the completion of the Compensation Review and Job Classification, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers Trinidad and Tobago. Following its completion, the final report was presented to the Cabinet on November 8.Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley announced Cabinet’...

Letter box holders can now resume collection of their mail from their assigned BVI Post letter boxes at the location across from the Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Complex.Acting Post Master General Mrs. Iris Romney said letter box holders of numbers 1 to 4347 in the Road Town area can resume the use of their boxes from December 11.Mrs. Romney said, “Letter box holders are to return the keys for the old letter boxes and collect the new keys at the General Post Office located in the M...

The Governor’s Office, through UK Funding, has provided three grants totaling $30,000 to deliver youth empowerment projects in the BVI to 13 to 21 year olds. The Governor’s Office invited bids earlier this year and received 12 excellent applications from established non-profit organizations in the Territory which were assessed by a committee from the Governor’s Office and BVI Government. The projects were required to contribute to the delivery of the BVI Sustainable Developmen...

All of the Overseas Territories (OTs) and Crown Dependencies, have previously committed to the implementation of publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership, commonly referred to as PARBOs, on the basis of European Union (EU) Member States' implementation of the EU Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive.However, the decision late last year by the European Court of Justice changed the international context, affirming privacy and data protection as fundamental human rights which must ...

We are no longer assured by the fresh smell of paint, the baking of tarts, cakes, puddings and bread; And neither do we care that old furniture is replaced by new.  These are things that happen throughout the year and, nowadays, they do not present the strongest evidence that we have slammed into ‘the most wonderful time of the year;’ The holiday season.We cannot mark yuletide by the chill in the air for while we are now experiencing some cool days, the seasonal calendar is no l...

The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA) in collaboration with the Tortola Pier Park Ltd, British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB) and local ship agent Island Shipping Trading Co. Ltd, commemorated the inaugural arrival of Norwegian’s first of five Prima-Class Ships, PR1MA with a plaque exchange ceremony.This event took place onboard the ship while it was berthed at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, Tortola with Captain Kevin Bellido and Minister of Communication and Wor...

Schools Dazzled With Multiple Creative Entries

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is reminding the motoring public that it is illegal to operate a vehicle that is unlicensed and uninsured on any public road. A person that operates a vehicle without the requisite qualifications specified under the Road Traffic Act Cap. 218 commits an offense and, if found, will be arrested, charged, and prosecuted for such acts.For the entire month of December, the RVIPF will pay special attention to motorists, particularly to large trucks, ATVs, and passe...

Scrub Island Resort Spa & Marina has appointed Ellison George as Marina Manager of the 55-slip marina at the luxury, private-island resort in the British Virgin Islands. George will oversee daily operations of the marina, docks and ferry boats at both Scrub Island Resort and Marina Cay Bar & Grill.“Ellison brings an impressive list of certifications and experience in the marine industry to our team,” said Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina General Manager Sandra ...

An elderly female tourist has lost her life. She died as a result of a drowning incident at Long Bay Beach, Beef Island earlier today Wednesday 6 December. This incident follows the near drowning of another tourist at Smugglers Cove on 22 November. Guavaberry Media extends condolences to the family. 

The HSA is ending its year with a new ambulance to its fleet. Minister for the subject, the Honourable Vincent Wheatley unofficially announced via his Facebook page this morning Wednesday 6 December that the first of two new ambulances had arrived on island. There has been a shortage of ambulances across the Territory, which has from time to time, caused angst for residents, especially on the Sister Islands. The Minister did not indicate when the other ambulance will be on island,...

Our media house understands that some twenty plus UK personnel arrived in the Territory over the weekend to conduct a Police, Customs and Ports inspection exercise. The persons are said to be from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.  HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire & rescue services – in the public interest.There is speculation that the arrivals of said personnel in the Terr...

Information reaching our newsroom indicate that two drug busts have taken place at Port Authority at Pasea over the past 24 hours. Information suggests 4 black bags of weed were found in a box with a car seat yesterday 4th December, and another 15 bags found today 5th December. The busts apparently took place in CFS Warehouse 1, allegedly inside of Tropical containers. We will bring further information on this developing story.  *picture is not the actual bags disco...

The Standing Finance Committee (SFC) is in session.  That Committee is made up of all the elected members of the House of Assembly.  The Financial Secretary as the Chief Accounting Officer is its technical expert.The role of the Speaker of the House changes to Chairman of the Committee and, as is customary in the House, those asking as well as answering questions must address the Chairman.The purpose of the Standing Finance Committee is to ensure that all members of the Honourable Hous...

On 28 November 2023, the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA) in collaboration with the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB) and local ship agent ROMASCO GROUP, commemorated the inaugural arrival of Emerald Cruises small luxury yacht, Emerald Sakara with a plaque exchange ceremony.This event took place onboard the ship while it was anchored near Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda with Captain Robert O’Leary. 

In a handover ceremony held this week, members of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) officially handed over their report to Premier Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley and Governor John Rankin, CMG. On 10th June, 2020, Cabinet approved the establishment of the CRC for the purpose of conducting a full review of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007. The commission was then established in 2022.