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Kinisha Forbes Appointed as Director of Programme Strategy for Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency
Kinisha Forbes has been appointed as the new Director of Programme Strategy for the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), effective September 12.
The RDA is thrilled to have Ms. Forbes join their team and lead the development of immediate and long-term plans while overseeing the Programme Strategy Department.
In her new role, Ms. Forbes will be working closely with Chief Executive Officer Anthony McMaster to engage with and implement the provisions outlined in the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the RDA and the Ministry of Finance. Her responsibilities will also include directing the assessment and refinement phase of the planning process and providing strategic input throughout the project cycle. Collaborating with key partners, Ms. Forbes will tackle complex projects and contribute to the overall success of the RDA’s initiatives.
Ms. Forbes brings a wealth of experience to her new position. She joined the RDA in February 2019 as the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation, where she successfully developed the Monitoring and Evaluation Results and Value for Money frameworks. These frameworks have been instrumental in tracking the RDA’s project implementation and ensuring the achievement of set goals.
Before joining the RDA, Ms. Forbes held the position of Head of the Macro Fiscal Unit and worked as a Policy Analyst in the Ministry of Finance for an impressive seven years. During her tenure, she led the government’s macroeconomic and fiscal forecasting, research, and policy analysis program. Her contributions included the preparation of the annually-updated Medium Term Fiscal Plan and the reform of Central Government’s planning and tracking frameworks to prioritize results.
Prior to her work in the Ministry of Finance, Ms. Forbes served as a Research Officer at the International Labour Office (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Her research at the ILO focused on the impacts of the global economic crisis on inequality and vulnerable groups, with a specific emphasis on the role of public policy in mitigating these impacts.
Ms. Forbes holds a Master’s degree in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Women’s Studies, and Spanish from Georgetown University. With research interests spanning inequality, fiscal space for public investment, and the political economy of crises, Ms. Forbes continues to expand her knowledge and skills. Earlier this year, she achieved an Executive Certificate in Economic Development from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity, Ms. Forbes stated, “I am humbled by the confidence that the Board and Management of the RDA has placed in me to provide strategic input into the continued contribution of the Agency in our Territory’s recovery and development story. I look forward to helping to chart the way forward for the Agency in supporting the Government to tackle our development challenges.”
Soaring electricity bills, rising fuel prices and increasing import costs are placing growing pressure on households and businesses across the British Virgin Islands, prompting Claude Skelton Cline to warn during his Honestly Speaking radio program on May 19 that the territory should prepare for more difficult economic conditions and consider whether emergency measures may be needed to ease the burden.
Speaking on ZBVI Radio, Skelton Cline said the territory was entering a period of prolonged financial strain and urged residents, businesses and government officials to plan accordingly.
“The most dangerous position to be in right now is to be unprepared,” Skelton Cline said. “This thing is only going to intensify.”
Skelton Cline said higher utility costs were affecting nearly every sector of the economy, from households struggling to pay monthly bills to businesses facing decisions about staffing and operating expenses.
“These monthly utility bills are so exorbitant,” he said. “There is a domino effect of whether you can keep the same amount of staff.”
He questioned whether the government should consider using reserve funds and other measures to help stabilize fuel prices and provide relief to consumers.
“At what point does any of that trigger that creates a national state of emergency in this country?” Skelton Cline asked.
Skelton Cline noted that the territory has reserve funds and argued that policymakers should examine whether some of those resources could be used to reduce the impact of rising costs.
“There’s no reason why we should not be locking in fuel prices,” he said.
In addition to government action, Skelton Cline encouraged residents to take practical steps to reduce household expenses, including limiting electricity use and unplugging appliances when not in use.
“There are some things that are beyond our control, but there are some things that are within our control,” he said. “We must control those things.”
Skelton Cline said the British Virgin Islands had navigated difficult economic periods before and urged residents not to lose confidence.
“We cannot surrender to our frustration,” he said. “We cannot surrender to our cynicism and our skepticism.”
His comments come as consumers and business owners continue to face higher costs for electricity, fuel and imported goods, increasing concerns about the broader impact on employment, household budgets and the territory’s economy.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has announced 64 nominees across 13 categories for its 2026 ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations for contributions in fields including sports, entrepreneurship, media, music, agriculture and public service, founder and executive producer Kareem Nelson Hull said.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards was established to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the social, cultural and economic development of the Territory.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is monitoring an outbreak of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius that has resulted in several confirmed cases and three deaths, but Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development, and Dr. Ronald Georges, Chief Medical Officer, said Monday that the risk to the Virgin Islands remains low.
The ministry said the reported cases involve passengers and crew aboard the Dutch expedition vessel, which was operating outside the Caribbean region. Health officials said there is no evidence of any cases in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Honourable Wheatley said the ministry is working with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to monitor the situation and strengthen surveillance systems.
“At this time, the risk to the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands, is considered low,” Dr. Georges said. “We are utilizing enhanced surveillance systems and maintaining routine port health inspections and preparedness protocols to ensure the continued protection of public health.”
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease that is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is extremely uncommon.
The ministry said the rodent species typically associated with the virus are not commonly found in Caribbean environments, further reducing the likelihood of local transmission.
Residents are advised to avoid contact with rodents and areas where they may be present, safely clean and disinfect areas contaminated by rodent waste, maintain proper sanitation and waste disposal, and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever or respiratory distress.
Early symptoms of hantavirus can resemble the flu but may progress to more serious respiratory complications if not treated promptly.
“We will continue to work closely with regional and international partners to ensure that any potential risks are identified early and managed effectively,” Dr. Georges said. “Protecting the health and safety of our residents remains our top priority.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Development said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Rising Costs Will Intensify, Skelton Cline Warns as He Suggests Emergency Measures
Coronavirus disease 2019
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