Local News
BVI Government Considering Lifting Visa Requirements For Guyanese
– Territory Seeks Business Partnerships WIth The Oil Rich South American Nation
Deputy Premier Lorna Smith has revealed that the British Virgin Islands government is seriously considering lifting the visa requirement for Guyanese travelling to the territory.
Smith on August 4 wrapped up a 17-member Trade Mission to the South American oil-rich country. She made the disclosure during an interview with a top local news agency – Newsroom.
“I have had discussions with the premier. In fact I have asked him very directly about the visa situation because Guyanese do require visas to visit the BVI and he has authorised me to say that we are considering lifting that requirement,” the Deputy Premier said.
“I expect that to happen very soon,” she added in the interview that was broadcast locally and on social media.
The Financial Services, Labour and Trade Minister stressed that if the British Virgin Islands is “serious about doing business with Guyana, if we are serious about a partnership with Guyana that is the first thing that has to be lifted. So I have no doubt that that is something that will happen very quickly.”
The delegation arrived in Guyana on July 30 and wrapped up discussions with high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Mark Phillips on August 4.
The main aim was to foster collaborative opportunities, enhance bilateral trade, and promote mutual economic growth.
Junior Minister for Agriculture Karl Dawson also travelled with the group and held talks to explore partnerships to boost the territory’s food security using Guyana’s agricultural expertise.
“I have made it very clear that it’s a two-way street. Guaynese have been supporting BVI’s development since the 60s,” the Deputy Premier noted, sharing that she remembers Guyanese working with a British company that “helped us to build our infrastructure, our main roads, our access to our airport, bridge..” and “Guyanese supporting me and teaching me.”
Smith reassured the Guyanese public that “we are not here to take anything from Guyana, we want to support each other and I firmly believed that because of our wealth of knowledge in financial service especially. I am very optimistic about being here, about the future relations between Guyana and the British Virgin Islands.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has launched an investigation following an armed robbery at a popular bar in the Sea Cows Bay area late Monday night.
According to police, a group of armed individuals entered the establishment on the night of May 12, demanding valuables from patrons and staff. While no injuries were reported, the incident has raised concerns about safety in the usually tranquil community.
Officers responded to the scene and are actively working to identify those involved. The RVIPF has confirmed that investigators are maintaining close contact with key witnesses and gathering critical information as the inquiry continues.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the robbery or who has relevant information to come forward. Tips can be provided confidentially to the Intelligence Unit at 368-9339, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 (TIPS) or from overseas at (284) 800-8477.
As Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week kicks off from May 12 to 16, health officials in the Virgin Islands are calling on residents to take proactive steps to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
Acting Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer Shamelle Thomas said this year’s campaign, themed “Small Bite, Big Threat – Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction,” aims to empower communities to combat the spread of illnesses like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.
“The message is clear,” Thomas emphasized. “While the mosquito may be small, its bite carries a serious threat to public health.”
Officials are urging residents to eliminate standing water around their homes, a critical breeding ground for mosquitoes. “Source reduction is the most effective way to prevent outbreaks and protect our communities,” Thomas added, noting that even small amounts of water can become mosquito nurseries.
However, inconsistent community participation has been a persistent challenge. “People are not maintaining their properties or properly managing stored water, partly due to the intermittent water supply,” Thomas said. “We want to remind the community that vector control is not solely the government’s responsibility, but a shared community effort.”
To mark the week, the Environmental Health Division will host a series of public outreach activities, including an art and poetry competition for students, school visits, and an expo aimed at encouraging behavior change.
Residents are also encouraged to inspect and clean water containers weekly, properly dispose of waste that can collect water, use screens on windows and doors, and wear protective clothing or mosquito repellents when necessary.
Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week serves as a critical reminder of the connection between mosquitoes and the potentially severe illnesses they transmit, underscoring the importance of community action in reducing these risks.
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has credited the British Virgin Islands’ commitment to sweeping governance reforms for avoiding direct rule by the United Kingdom, a critical moment in the Territory’s political history.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Premier Wheatley highlighted the dedication of public officers who were instrumental in implementing the necessary reforms to preserve local self-governance.
“The period challenged us as British Virgin Islanders to the core and forced us to confront some harsh realities of our governance deficiencies,” Wheatley said. “We had to make the choices necessary to uphold the values imparted to us by our fore parents. We had to defend who we are as a people and protect our future aspirations.”
The reform process, initiated in response to the 2022 British Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report, required the establishment of new structures, processes, and procedures to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust. Despite these challenges, Wheatley praised the resilience of public officers who managed both the reforms and their regular duties under demanding conditions.
“Our public officers developed and implemented the structures, processes, and procedures necessary for the reforms while simultaneously managing daily operations,” he said. “This was especially challenging given the systemic conditions highlighted in the COI Report.”
The Government’s recently submitted Self-Assessment Report to the UK is a critical component in determining whether the Order in Council to partially suspend the British Virgin Islands Constitution will be lifted.
Wheatley expressed optimism that the Territory is now on a path toward greater self-governance, supported by a newly approved Governance Reform Transition Plan, which outlines the next steps in the ongoing transformation.
“Today is a day we should all applaud,” Wheatley said. “It symbolizes our collective resilience and commitment to the ideals that make us British Virgin Islanders and commits us to the pursuit of self-determination.”
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