The Miss British Virgin Islands Pageant will not be staged in 2025, according to an official statement issued Wednesday, June 11, by Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Luce Hodge Smith.

The announcement came following consultations between the Miss BVI Pageant Committee and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development. Officials cited a comprehensive review of this year’s planning timeline and participation levels as the basis for the decision.

“While the pageant will not take place in its traditional format, we remain committed to upholding this important national event’s longstanding legacy and high standards,” the statement read.

Minister Hodge Smith acknowledged the efforts of Committee Chair Ms. Jno Lewis and her team, commending them for their work in preparing for the 2025 staging.

“Their hard work and dedication continue to play a vital role in the ongoing success of the Miss BVI platform,” she said.

Although the pageant has been canceled for this year, the Ministry assured the public that planning is underway for the event’s return in 2026.

“The Miss BVI Pageant remains a proud celebration of young women’s talent, intelligence, and cultural pride across the Virgin Islands,” the statement continued. “We encourage all eligible candidates to consider participating in the future.”

Further updates on future pageant plans are expected to be released in the coming months.

he Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has confirmed the identities of three men who were found deceased in separate incidents across the Territory between June 6 and June 9.

The first incident occurred on Friday, June 6, when the body of 47-year-old Vincent Warner of Free Bottom was recovered from the waters near Maria’s by the Sea in Road Town. Police said the body was retrieved shortly after 5 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.

“Investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death are ongoing,” the RVIPF stated in a press release issued Tuesday.

In a second, unrelated incident on Virgin Gorda, authorities reported that the body of Jan Zettel Jr., a 31-year-old long-time resident of Nail Bay, was discovered on Sunday, June 8. According to the RVIPF, Zettel was last seen around midnight at Blue House Bar on Virgin Gorda. He was reported missing in the early hours of Sunday, prompting a coordinated search effort.

“His body was found shortly after 9 a.m. that morning,” police said. No further details regarding the cause of death have been released at this time.

The third incident involved a 71-year-old American visitor, Johnnie Hoffman, who was found unresponsive in the water on Monday, June 9. According to the RVIPF, Hoffman had been swimming with family members when the incident occurred.

He was rescued by the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue team (VISAR) and transported for medical treatment, but was later pronounced dead.

“The investigations into each of these deaths remain active, and we are working to determine the full circumstances,” the RVIPF said.

Police are urging members of the public who may have information relevant to any of the incidents to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at +1-284-368-9339 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 (or +1-284-800-8477 from overseas).

“Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of these individuals during this time of loss,” the RVIPF added.

Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, Opposition Leader and Sixth District Representative, in an address to the Virgin Islands public on June 10, raised alarm bells over the apparent mismanagement of $5 million in public funds —monies deposited into a financially unstable bank that has since collapsed.

His remarks, delivered in a speech titled “The $5 Million Question: A Deep Dive into the Fate of Public Funds in the Bank of Asia’s Collapse,” outlined a timeline of events and decisions that he argued point to serious failures in oversight.

“I come to you to address a matter of serious concern, one that directly affects the trust and financial security of the people of this territory,” Walwyn said. “I’m referring to the recent revelations surrounding Bank of Asia BVI Limited, and the troubling discovery that $5 million of the people’s money was deposited into that bank—even after the public signs that it was failing.”

According to Walwyn, Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Dr. Natalio Wheatley disclosed in the House of Assembly that as of December 31, 2024, the Government of the Virgin Islands held no funds in the bank. However, by April 30, 2025—after the bank’s parent company had filed for bankruptcy and assets were reportedly frozen—$5 million was deposited into a newly opened account.

Walwyn cited public reports from OffshoreAlert, a financial investigative outlet, which had flagged the bank’s financial troubles. He also pointed to Bank of Asia’s failure to submit audited financial statements for multiple years as a red flag.

With the bank now under liquidation, the government is considered an unsecured creditor. Under the protections offered by the Virgin Islands Deposit Insurance Corporation (VIDIC), only the first $100,000 of the deposit is insured, leaving $4.9 million potentially unrecoverable.

“In other words,” Walwyn said, “we are probably very likely to lose most, if not all, of that $5 million—while our people continue to struggle with the high cost of living, with roads that are crumbling, water shortages that have become a way of life, and local businesses barely staying afloat.”

He went on to raise broader concerns about what he described as fiscal mismanagement, including a $20 million shortfall in funding for civil service salary increases and alleged excessive government spending on entertainment, vehicles, and overseas travel.

In response to the controversy, Premier Wheatley issued an official statement on June 6, asserting that the decision to place the funds in Bank of Asia was made by designated public officers within the Ministry of Finance, not by elected officials. He emphasized that the deposit was part of a broader strategy to diversify the government’s financial portfolio, a common practice in public finance.

“As Premier, my priority is the stability and wellbeing of our Islands, guided by our strong institutions, whose independence and expertise uphold our banking sector’s integrity,” Premier Wheatley stated.

Premier Natalio Wheatley

He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to transparency and announced he had requested an internal audit of the transaction. “To reassure taxpayers and ensure full transparency, I am requesting an internal audit to review this specific transaction. I hope this will offer clear insight, foster confidence, and bring greater understanding to all,” he said.

The Premier also expressed confidence in the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and VIDIC, which are overseeing the bank’s winding down process.

“These institutions, backed by professional expertise and international best practices, ensure that our regulatory framework remains strong, responsive, and trusted,” the statement continued. “The Government fully supports their work and appreciates their steadfast commitment to integrity and transparency.”

However, Walwyn challenged the Premier’s distancing from the decision. Citing the Public Finance Management Act of 2004, he said that the Minister of Finance bears ultimate legal and ethical responsibility for decisions involving public funds. He referenced Section 17, which assigns supervision of government finances to the Minister, and Section 29, which gives the Minister the authority to determine where funds from the Consolidated Fund are deposited.

“One of the most troubling signs of weak leadership is the tendency to shift blame onto subordinates when things go wrong,” Walwyn said. “True leaders take responsibility.”

He also raised doubts about the usefulness of an internal audit in addressing public concerns, noting that such audits are typically confidential. Instead, he called on the Governor to initiate an independent investigation into the matter.

“It is a fundamental principle of good governance that one cannot investigate or call an investigation into a matter in which they have personal or institutional involvement,” Walwyn said. “The people of this territory deserve no less.”