Local News
Rennea Powell Appointed BVI Red Cross New Chair
The British Virgin Islands Red Cross has announced a new Board with Rennea Powell as Chair.
Board members – Estaban Smith, Micheal B. Matthews, Theodore John, Secretary Maria Abraham, and Treasurer Sylvia Romney-Moses – were appointed during the non-profit’s annual general meeting on June 19 in Road Town, Tortola.
Powell, who previously served as secretary and vice-chair, replaces Troy K. Christopher who was appointed Chairman in 2020
BVI Red Cross Director Stacy Lloyd welcomed Powell as the new Chair and noted that the new Board reflects the diversity of the organisation’s volunteer base.
“I am happy to welcome Ms. Powell as our new Chairperson as well as the other new Board members. Our Board reflects the diversity of our volunteer base. I am confident that this new elected Board will continue to propel the organisations from strength to strength in line with our mission of assisting the most vulnerable population during crisis,” Lloyd said.
The Board will uphold the core ethos and values of the Red Cross with a key objective ” to mobilise the power of humanity so that individuals and communities have the capacity to prepare for, deal with and recover from crisis.”
The statement explained that the Board “sets and reviews policies, maintains the organisation’s financial integrity and evaluates its operations and effectiveness. Its role includes safeguarding the long-term reputation and assets of the Branch, and appointing the Director, who is responsible for the operational management of the organisation.”
The BVI Red Cross, which was established here in 1956, is the oldest non-profit in the territory.
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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