Local News
Adaejah Hodge Is Disappointed About Caritfa Games Withdrawal
Tonya Hodge, the mother of 200m Under-20 World Record holder Adaejah Hodge, disclosed that her daughter is disappointed she will not participate in the 50th Carifta Games due to a sore ankle.
Hodge on Saturday, April 8, withdrew from the much anticipated U20 100m race in the Thomas Robinson Track and Field Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
Her mother explained: “She rode her ankle…we monitored it, we iced it, elevated it, rested it. No swelling, no major injury, it’s just a little soreness. Today (April 8) when she was trying to execute out the blocks, her acceleration wasn’t powerful enough so we decided to pull her to prevent any further injuries that can occur.”
“She is a bit disappointed. She was preparing…for the Carifta Games, coming back to defend the Austin Sealey Award.”
Adaejah won the award at the 2022 Carifta Games in Jamaica where she won the 100m in 11.29, the 200m in 23.42, and gold in the long jump with a distance of 6.20 metres
This year, the 16-year-old British Virgin Islander travelled to the Bahamas with the 30-member BVI team just a few weeks after being named MileSplit50 Athlete of the Year.
She has had an impressive season, racing 22.33 seconds and smashing a national record in the 200m that re-set a new World U20 record at the New Balance Indoors High School Championships in Boston.
Tonya said Adaejah is “in good spirits. She understands that she is gifted and she has to protect her gift. This is just one event.”
The territory’s athletes have performed well on the track on the first day of competition – April 8 – setting personal best times and advancing to the next rounds.
Jah’Kyla Morton won BVI’s first goal – a silver in the highly competitive high jump.
The Carifta Games were inaugurated by Austin Sealy, then president of the Amateur Athletic Association of Barbados in 1972.
The main goal behind the well known junior regional competition ( Under 17 and Under 20) is to improve relations between Caribbean countries using sports.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has confirmed that Tarik Aaron was arrested shortly before midnight on Friday, April 17, on extradition orders issued by authorities in the United States Virgin Islands, and has since appeared before the Magistrate’s Court.
According to police, the arrest was carried out in connection with a request from USVI authorities, though further details have not been disclosed.
Aaron appeared before the Magistrate’s Court today and was denied bail.
Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
The Civil Registry and Passport Office has announced an increase in fees for United Kingdom passports, effective April 8, 2026.
According to the office, the revised fees apply to new, renewal and replacement passport applications, as well as other related services.
Under the new structure, the cost for a new, renewal or replacement adult passport has been set at £116.50, while the fee for a child passport is £75.50. Adult frequent traveller passports will cost £130.50, and child frequent traveller passports £89.50.
The fee for changes to an existing passport will also be £116.50. In addition, a delivery fee of £14.32 will apply.
The Civil Registry and Passport Office advised that the updated fees are now in effect and apply to all relevant applications submitted on or after April 8.
A bill proposing wide-ranging changes to the Virgin Islands’ electoral system was introduced in the House of Assembly today, Tuesday, April 22, by Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley.
The proposed Elections (Amendment) Act, 2026, is based on consultations with stakeholders and recommendations from observer missions, as well as input from the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections.
“This is the Elections Amendment Act 2026, following extensive deliberations with a number of entities, including a committee of the House who looked at recommendations of various observer missions that came to The Virgin Islands,” Hon. Wheatley said during the continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly.
He said the bill also builds on work undertaken by the previous House of Assembly. “Also, the last House of Assembly looked at a number of recommendations that were forwarded through the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections,” he said.
Hon. Wheatley said the proposed amendments were developed through discussions on changes to the Elections Act. “We had very extensive discussions about amendments to the Elections Act, and of course, those recommendations were used to make this Amendment Act. This received its first reading some time ago, and now we are here to debate this Elections Act, so that it can therefore become law,” he said.
The bill introduces several reforms to the electoral framework, including expanded access to voting through mobile and curbside options for individuals with physical limitations and the formal use of assistive technologies for voters with disabilities.
It also provides for the establishment of a Department of Elections and an Elections Advisory Committee to oversee voter registration and election administration.
Additional provisions include a formal Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates, along with new rules governing campaign donations and political financing.
The legislation also proposes restrictions on the announcement of major public grants or projects shortly before an election, aimed at addressing potential incumbency advantages.
The bill has already received its first reading and is expected to be referred to a committee when the House of Assembly resumes on April 30, 2026, at 10 a.m., where it will undergo further review as part of the legislative process.
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