Melissa Brewley has been appointed as Information Commissioner effective 11th May 2026. Ms. Brewley is a qualified attorney and in-house legal counsel with more than five years of experience in legal, regulatory compliance, and international tax cooperation matters within the Virgin Islands. Most recently, Ms. Brewley, served as In-House Counsel at the Virgin Islands International Tax Authority (ITA). Prior to joining the ITA, she  worked as Crown Counsel within the Office of the Direc...

Fifty-eight persons have been naturalised as British Overseas Territories Citizens following a Naturalisation Ceremony held at Government House on Friday, 29 May, 2026.The newly naturalised citizens received congratulatory remarks from Acting Governor Mr. David D. Archer Jr., Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley, and Registrar General Mrs. Tashi O'Flaherty-Maduro.In his remarks, Acting Governor Mr. David D. Archer Jr. congratulated the new citizens and acknowled...

Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Kye M. Rymer is urging Virgin Islanders to renew their hurricane preparedness as the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins. Forecasts point to a potentially active season which began June 1, and the ministry and agencies including the Department of Disaster Management and the Public Works Department are taking proactive measures to protect communities and critical communications infrastructure.Minister Rymer noted that his ministry is in coor...

The Virgin Islands Communal Association (VICA) salutes renowned Virgin Islands entrepreneur and community leader - Mr. Lesmore Smith, who was honoured with two prestigious Awards at the Virgin Islands Pride Awards Dinner and Dance Awards Ceremony, held in New York on May 17, 2026.Dr. Muriel Shulterbrandt Williams, Founder and Director of MSW and Company and Grapeseed Business and Educational Consulting sponsored the Virgin Islands Pride Awards Dinner and Dance Awards Ceremony. Dr. Shulterbrandt,...

Long Bay beach, Beef Island, must now be the most beautiful beach to grace the Tortola shoreline.  There was a time when Cane Garden Bay beach held that distinction.  But her lungs, the ponds, that protected her are filled in and, coupled with eutrophication, she is compromised.Long Bay is still ringed by its ponds which carry out their sedimentation and filtration functions so the beach remains painfully beautiful.I visited Long Bay last Saturday as the sun was illuminating a panorami...

The organizers of Summer Sizzle BVI have announced that acclaimed actress, entrepreneur, television personality, and former Miss USA Crystle Stewart will serve as the Celebrity Host for the highly anticipated 16th Edition of Summer Sizzle BVI. The event is set to take place in the British Virgin Islands from July 15–20, 2026.Crystle Stewart stars as Mallory in Tyler Perry’s Netflix global hit Beauty in Black, portraying one of the series’ most unforgettable and talked-about cha...

The Police Welfare Association (PWA) has issued a strong public statement demanding immediate government intervention to address what it describes as longstanding salary inequities, unresolved acting appointments, unpaid allowances, and systemic administrative failures affecting police officers across the Territory.In a sharply worded release, the Association said officers have endured years of unfair treatment that has negatively impacted morale within the Force and undermined confidence in the...

Frustration is mounting among travellers using the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) in the British Virgin Islands, with growing complaints that several airport and security requirements are outdated, stressful and inconsistent with modern regional and international travel standards.Passengers travelling through EIS have increasingly voiced concerns over what they describe as excessive screening procedures, confusing rules and added inconveniences that many larger international ai...