The Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority (MSIRA), Premier’s Office, is moving forward with a collaborative strategy with stakeholders to elevate industry standards, enhance marine safety, and strengthen environmental stewardship across in The Virgin Islands.
On March 24, 2025, Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, celebrated the opening of Ponce Health Sciences University’s School of Medicine in the Virgin Islands. He highlighted the school as a major step towards improving local healthcare and education, providing students with the opportunity to study medicine without leaving the Territory. The school will address healthcare challenges, create job opportunities, and foster medical research, while offering scholarships for Virgin Islanders. This initiative is expected to enhance healthcare services and contribute to the Territory’s development.
On June 3, 2025, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development, announced the launch of the Virgin Islands Eat Well Guide and Dietary Guidelines during the Fifth Sitting of the House of Assembly. The Guide is a key part of the Territory’s strategy to combat chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease by promoting balanced nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Built around five core food groups, it encourages the consumption of local, nutritious foods and supports national goals of food security and public health. It will serve as a standard tool in schools, healthcare, and community programmes, with further plans to introduce a protected essential food basket to make healthy options more accessible. The Minister emphasized that the Guide is not just a document but a call to action for individuals, families, and communities to build a healthier Virgin Islands.
Educators in the Virgin Islands have completed an intensive week of training on the new digital OECS Harmonised Primary Curriculum, an initiative set to transform teaching and learning across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The curriculum, developed under the OECS PEARL Project (Programme for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning), spans Kindergarten through Grade 6 and covers all four core subject areas. The initiative represents a unified regional effort to modernize classroom instruction, strengthen student engagement, and provide teachers with digital tools that enhance their effectiveness.
The Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation continues to lead the Virgin Islands’ engagement with international partners to promote investment, strengthen financial services, and advance sustainable economic growth. Through overseas missions such as the recent visit to Latin America, the Ministry works to deepen global partnerships, highlight the Territory’s adherence to international standards, and showcase the Virgin Islands as a trusted and well-regulated international finance centre built on integrity, innovation, and reliability.
The Department of Trade, Investment Promotion and Consumer Affairs successfully hosted its final Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Grant Award Ceremony for 2025 on Friday, 19 December, in Road Town, reaffirming the Government of the Virgin Islands’ commitment to supporting local entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable business development.
The Premier of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) began by expressing condolences to those who have lost loved ones and emphasizing the government’s commitment to democratic accountability. He mentioned the recent trade mission to Asia, where the BVI delegation promoted the territory’s financial services in China and Malaysia. The trip reinforced the BVI’s reputation, and Malaysia’s newfound economic relations position the BVI to offer corporate structures to Malaysian clients. Financial services account for around 60% of BVI’s revenue and are crucial for funding public services. The Premier opposed calls for public registers of beneficial ownership from the UK Parliament, stressing the BVI’s capacity to regulate its own financial services. He then addressed recent tensions between the BVI and the US Virgin Islands (USVI), particularly in the marine sector, where the BVI’s fees have not kept up with the growing charter industry’s prosperity. The BVI government is modernizing its legislation to bring balance to the economic benefits from USVI-chartered vessels using BVI waters. The Premier emphasized the importance of dialogue and collaboration between the two territories. He proposed a meeting with Governor Bryan of the USVI to discuss the issue and explore further economic opportunities, particularly in tourism. He concluded by reaffirming the familial and economic ties between the BVI and USVI, expressing the desire for both sides to prosper together.
The Government of the Virgin Islands is seeking qualified persons to fill several positions on the Gaming and Betting (Gambling) Control Commission.
The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission has announced the inaugural 284 Excellence Film Festival (284XFF), set for October 30 to November 2, 2025, aiming to bridge Caribbean literature and cinema. With the theme “Caribbean Literature in Motion: Caribbean Stories Reimagined,” the festival will showcase global films while spotlighting Caribbean narratives adapted for the screen. Featuring national, regional, and international competitions, as well as student and youth challenges, the event fosters creative collaboration and cultural exchange. Supported by major international film festivals and hosted in the BVI, 284XFF positions the Territory as a cinematic hub while empowering local and regional talent.
The Government of the Virgin Islands has formally commissioned the Long Swamp Sewerage Pump Station, a major milestone in delivering a long awaited sewerage system for the East End and Long Look communities. The commissioning ties together three of four key project pillars, the Long Swamp collection hub, the transmission mains, and the repaired Paraquita Bay treatment plant, and begins the commissioning and testing phase ahead of full system operation.