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Statement by Honourable Kye M. Rymer-Renewable and Energy Efficient Products to have Zero Percent Customs Duty
Good day, my fellow Virgin Islanders. I speak to you today not just as Minister responsible for alternative energy but as your neighbour — someone who cares deeply about the places we call home, the children we raise here, and the future we will leave them. A greener, more resilient, and energy-independent future for the Virgin Islands is within our reach.
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Government Commissions Long Swamp Sewerage Pump Station
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.
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Students Empowered with Lifesaving Skills Through Street Doctors Training Programme
Fourteen secondary school students from across the Virgin Islands have successfully completed the Street Doctors training programme, an initiative designed to empower young people to become peer leaders, positive influencers, and advocates for safer communities.
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Contract Signed for Design of Immigration Detention Centre
On June 12, 2025, the Government of the Virgin Islands signed a US$370,000 contract with Trojan Design and Development Ltd for the design and construction management of a new 12,000 sq. ft. Immigration Detention Centre. Funded through a $100 million loan facility with CIBC and led by the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) in partnership with the Ministry of Financial Services, the project aims to strengthen national security while upholding human rights standards. The modern facility will provide secure, humane accommodations for detainees and include medical, recreational, and operational spaces. Officials highlighted the project's importance to immigration reform and national development, with construction seen as both urgent and transformative.
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Premier's Message for Heroes and Foreparents Day
Message by Dr. the Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley Premier of the Virgin Islands Heroes and Foreparents Day 20 October, 2025 People of the Virgin Islands, Today, we pause to honour the strength, courage, and vision of those whose shoulders we stand upon, our heroes and foreparents. Heroes and Foreparents Day is not simply a holiday; it is a sacred moment of remembrance and gratitude.
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CONTRACT SIGNED FOR ROOF REPAIRS AND LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM AT DR. D. ORLANDO SMITH HOSPITAL AND ANNEX
The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), in collaboration with the Government of the Virgin Islands and the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), has signed a contract for Roof Repairs and a Lightning Protection System at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital and its Annex building.
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Government Honours Farmers and Fishers at 2026 Agriculture and Fisheries Exhibition and Market
The Government of The Virgin Islands honoured outstanding farmers and fishers from across the Territory during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Agriculture and Fisheries Exhibition and Market, held at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Paraquita Bay, on Friday, 10 April 2026.
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Mr Andre Braithwaite awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire in New Year’s Honours 2026
Mr Andre Braithwaite, Music Director at Elmore Stoutt High School and H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty the King’s New Year 2026 Overseas and International Honours list. Mr Braithwaite has received the award ‘For services to Young People and the Music Industry in the Virgin Islands’, recognising Mr Braithwaite’s lifelong dedication to music education, cultural preservation, and the development of young musicians across the Territory
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Statement By Honourable Sharie B. de Castro Minister for Education, Youth Affairs & Sports on Recent Developments at HLSCC
On June 3, 2025, Minister Sharie B. de Castro delivered a statement on recent developments at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), highlighting progress in enrollment trends, programme expansion, and institutional effectiveness. Key updates included a rise in part-time and male student enrolment, growth in technical and marine studies, continued success of the Dual-Enrolment and CAPE programmes, and the start of preparations for HLSCC’s 2028 accreditation renewal. With $900,000 in additional government support, the College also implemented a new salary structure following an Ernst & Young compensation review, increasing faculty starting salaries by 35%. Additionally, HLSCC is exploring four-year degree-granting status, beginning with a bachelor’s in education. These efforts affirm HLSCC’s commitment to providing high-quality, accessible education and align with national development goals as the institution celebrates its 35th anniversary.
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Statement By The Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley Minister For Health And Social Development Update On The Derelict Vehicle Programme
At the Fifth Sitting of the House of Assembly on June 3, 2025, Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, provided an update on the Government’s efforts to manage derelict vehicles across the Virgin Islands. He reported that a total of 642 abandoned vehicles were collected from the Havers site—exceeding the initial target of 500—and are scheduled for export by June 19. While the current site will soon be cleared, a new long-term storage location is being sought in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment. In the interim, collection is suspended, but removal notices and fines will continue for hazardous vehicles. To fund ongoing efforts, the Derelict Vehicle Disposal Fee will be reinstated on September 1, 2025, based on vehicle weight, with a public information campaign planned. Additionally, a revised policy is being developed to modernize the outdated 2000 legislation, aiming for better inter-agency collaboration, fee collection at ports of entry, and a more sustainable, technology-driven approach to derelict vehicle management.