Local News
Premier of the Attends 54th Caribbean Development Bank Annual Meeting in Ontario
Hon. Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley, Premier and Minister of Finance of the Virgin Islands, is currently attending the 54th Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in Ontario, Canada.
This event, running from June 18 to 21, gathers the bank’s highest decision-making body, along with thought-leaders, innovators, academics, business leaders, policymakers, and government officials to engage in critical discussions aimed at advancing sustainable development in the Caribbean region.
The theme of this year’s meeting, “Partnerships for Resilient Prosperity,” highlights the collaborative efforts of the CDB and its member countries towards achieving resilient and sustainable growth. Emphasis will be placed on developing comprehensive measures for sustainable development and securing the necessary financial resources to support these initiatives.
Dr. Wheatley serves as the Governor representing the British Overseas Territories within the CDB. Each member country of the bank nominates a Governor and an Alternate Governor, with Governors casting votes on behalf of their respective territories. The British Overseas Territories, including Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, are collectively recognized as a single member entity in the bank.
Accompanying Premier Wheatley is the Acting Financial Secretary, Dr. Drexel Glasgow, who serves as the primary liaison for the CDB’s partnership with the Government of the Virgin Islands.
In Premier Wheatley’s absence, Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE, has been appointed Acting Premier and Minister of Finance from June 18 to June 21, 2024. This appointment is in accordance with Section 55 (1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, which mandates that the Governor authorize the Deputy Premier to perform the Premier’s duties if the Premier is absent from the territory for more than forty-eight hours.
Premier Wheatley is scheduled to return to the Virgin Islands on June 21.
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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