Isabella Merton, a woman convicted in 2020 of grievous bodily harm, has been ordered deported from the British Virgin Islands by Governor Daniel Pruce. The deportation order, signed on February 21, directs Merton to leave the territory within seven days of receiving official notice.

Merton, who lived in Josiah’s Bay at the time of her arrest, was found guilty of striking a man with her vehicle, resulting in a broken ankle.
According to court records, the incident stemmed from a dispute involving Merton’s boyfriend. On the day in question, the victim had been involved in an altercation with Merton’s partner. Later, as he walked through an area in Greenland, Tortola, Merton allegedly drove toward him at high speed.

The victim attempted to evade the vehicle but was struck on his right side. The Jeep reportedly turned and drove toward him again, prompting him to jump into a nearby ghut to avoid further injury.

While in the ghut, the victim claimed Merton pointed a firearm at him and threatened his life. Another man reportedly intervened and pulled her away.

Merton was also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life; however, the court dismissed that charge due to insufficient evidence.

In his official order, Governor Pruce stated that Merton is not deemed to belong to the Virgin Islands and that her presence in the territory is “undesirable and not conducive to the public good.” The order was issued under section 40(1)(b) of the Immigration and Passport Act (Revised Edition 2013).

Merton is required to leave the territory within seven days of receiving the order. If she does not voluntarily depart, authorities are authorized to place her on the first available departing vessel or aircraft. She may also be detained until her removal unless she files a written appeal with the governor within the specified timeframe.

At this time, it remains unclear where Merton is originally from.

A widespread power outage is disrupting parts of Tortola today, Saturday, March 1, after a fault at the Long Bush power station leaves several communities without electricity.

According to the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), the outage is affecting Road Town, Purcell, Horsepath, Ridge, and Baughers Bay. Engineers have been dispatched to assess the situation, and restoration efforts are underway.

BVIEC releases a brief statement apologizing for the disruption, stating, “We are working fervently to restore the power. Please accept our apologies.”

The corporation did not provide an estimated time for full restoration .

– Blasts Gittens for Weakening USVI Position

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. vows to take the USVI-BVI trade dispute to President Trump if necessary, accusing Senator Gittens of undermining negotiations. The canceled meeting will be rescheduled as officials work toward a resolution that protects USVI interests.

Following the abrupt cancellation of a scheduled meeting between the 36th Legislature and Bryan administration officials regarding the ongoing trade dispute with the British Virgin Islands, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. condemned Senator Kenneth Gittens for weakening the territory’s negotiating stance. Bryan also stated that he is prepared to petition President Trump to impose tariffs on the BVI that could have significant economic repercussions.

The meeting was canceled after information was made public regarding the USVI’s lack of authority to levy tariffs independently. Senator Gittens had sought clarification from the Senate’s legal counsel on the issue, and the legal opinion confirmed that only the President of the United States has the power to impose such tariffs. Governor Bryan believes that by making this information public, the USVI’s negotiating position was undermined, leading to the sudden cancellation of the meeting.

“Whose side is he on?” Governor Bryan said, referring to Senator Gittens. “It’s about his ego. He isn’t about the Virgin Islands.” The governor had initially called for the emergency meeting to discuss imposing a 25% tariff on BVI goods in response to proposed legislation in the BVI that would significantly raise charter fees. USVI marine industry leaders have warned that such a move could severely impact local businesses.

Governor Bryan stressed that his administration is moving forward with decisive action against the BVI. He also revealed that if necessary, he would seek support from President Trump to implement the proposed tariffs.

“We are moving forward with our own strategy, and if we need help from the White House, I’ll get it from there too,” Bryan said. “I don’t think it will come to that, but I have shared my position with the Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House. He told me, ‘If you need my help, just let me know.’” The governor noted that his goal is to create an equitable and sustainable sailing and charter boat environment in the greater Virgin Islands.

The meeting has been rescheduled for next week, the governor revealed. He also noted that BVI officials have indicated a willingness to collaborate on a deal that would be beneficial to all parties involved. Discussions are expected to focus on finding a resolution that supports both territories’ economic interests while addressing concerns raised by USVI marine industry leaders.

Source: VI Consortium