Local News
Positive Action Movement Member Verne Maduro Dies
Verne Maduro, friend of the late British Virgin Islands political activist Noel Lloyd and member of the Positive Action Movement, has died.
Maduro, also known as ‘Old Oak’, was involved in the 1960s opposition movement led by Lloyd to stop British developer Kenneth Bates from owning large portions of land in the territory.
In 1967, then Administrator Martin S. Stavely signed two 199 year leases with a British Company, Bates-Hill, giving the company control over 60 acres of reclaimed land around the small mangrove-fringed Wickham’s Cay and almost three quarters of the island of Anegada.
Lloyd publicly opposed the Bates-Hill Agreement when it was rumoured that the company did not plan to allow locals access to the site except in a service capacity.
The Positive Action Movement was formed and following public meetings at the Bandstand on the Old Recreation Ground in Road Town, demonstrations and marches to Government House and the Chief Minister’s Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) was finally persuaded to appoint a commission of inquiry.
The United Kingdom loaned the territory $5.8M to buy out Kenneth Bates-Hill’s contractual interest in 1970.
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Tola Radio Battles Legal Dispute Over Shutdown, Calls for Public Support
Tola Radio VI 100.5 FM, known as “the people’s radio,” has been off the air for 14 days amidst a legal standoff with Caribbean Cellular Telephone Limited (CCT). Managing Director Floyd P. Burnett, also known as “Heritage,” is urging public support as the station navigates what he describes as a targeted attack on freedom of speech and locally-owned businesses.
Mr. Burnett alleges that despite meeting all payment requirements and deadlines, CCT refused to accept Tola Radio’s payment and later disabled the station’s broadcasting equipment. “They physically touched our equipment and locked them off, despite written legal letters asking and instructing it not to be done,” he stated.
The dispute follows CCT’s October announcement terminating its service agreement with the radio station. CCT clarified that Tola Radio could retain its services if it became a paying customer, but according to Burnett, his payment was rejected without justification.
The controversy escalated when Burnett claimed an attempt was made to have him arrested and charged with attempted murder. “The public was to wake up and hear the radio off along with hearing I was arrested and charged, but God is greater than man!” he said.
Efforts to secure an extension for relocating Tola Radio’s equipment were also denied, Burnett said. Additionally, an urgent injunction filed in the High Court was postponed by a visiting judge until November 22 without hearing any arguments.
The ongoing shutdown has left eight employees without income, caused significant financial losses, and breached client agreements. Burnett criticized government officials for their lack of action, accusing them of failing to address the issue despite the government being a major client of CCT.
“Like most problems facing the BVI, they can’t [find] no way to help us! Even though the government is the tower people’s biggest client,” Burnett remarked.
Burnett is calling on the public to boycott CCT in protest. “Plug out the phone, plug out the chip, don’t pay your bill! We need to make a statement to corporate BVI today!” he urged.
He framed the situation as a broader fight for “freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of information,” asserting that the attack on Tola Radio sets a dangerous precedent for other local businesses.
Despite the challenges, Burnett assured Tola Radio’s listeners and partners that the station will resume broadcasting soon. “We will be back on air shortly, hopefully before the day is out,” he promised.
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