Local News
Department of Waste Management Relaunches House-to-House Garbage Collection Pilot Programme
The Department of Waste Management in the British Virgin Islands is set to relaunch its house-to-house garbage collection programme, in an effort to enhance waste management and environmental cleanliness.
This initiative will run from 3rd June to 30th September, covering select areas of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke.
Director Marcus Solomon outlined the objectives and scope of the pilot programme, emphasising its importance for future waste management strategies. “The information that we will be collecting through this pilot programme will help to inform garbage collection strategies for the next three to four years,” Solomon said. “We aim to reduce the reliance on public bins, which can be seen as unsightly and a public health concern.”
Residents in the designated pilot areas are requested to participate by placing their garbage in bins and setting them out for collection on scheduled days and times. To ensure comprehensive participation, community dumpsters in these areas will be removed. “We have also labelled every community dumpster on Tortola, and the dumpsters in the pilot area will be removed because we want full participation,” Solomon explained.
The potential expansion and longevity of the programme will be determined by the results of this pilot phase. Reflecting on a similar initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, Solomon noted, “We tried it during COVID-19 and received positive feedback. We want to see if this type of collection programme can be sustainable.”
Solomon urged residents in the pilot communities to fully engage with the programme, reinforcing the government’s commitment to environmental stewardship. “We are asking the pilot communities for their full participation as we continue to progress towards a cleaner, greener British Virgin Islands,” he stated.
As the pilot programme progresses, the Department of Waste Management will be closely monitoring its effectiveness and gathering data to refine and potentially expand the initiative, aiming for a significant improvement in the territory’s waste management practices.
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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