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Former BVI Speaker Julian Willock Arrested for Alleged Visa Waiver and Document Forgery Offences
Former House of Assembly Speaker Julian Willock has been arrested on charges related to document forgery and infractions involving visa waivers allegedly committed between 2018 and 2022.
He is currently out on $50,000 bail and is set to appear in the Magistrate’s Court on September 12.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) confirmed in a statement on June 4 that the 56-year-old resident of Sea Cow’s Bay, Tortola, has been charged with several offences.
These include “one count of a Public Official Using his Office for Gratification, contrary to section 83 of the 2013 Criminal Code, one count of Conspiracy to Provide False Information to a Person Employed in a Public Service, contrary to sections 124 and 346 of the 2013 Criminal Code, and one count of Conspiracy to Uttering a Forged Document, contrary to sections 257 and 346 of the 2013 Criminal Code.”
According to the police statement, an 18-month investigation led by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Police Investigation Team focused on visa waivers issued between 2018 and 2022, as well as a forged document allegedly presented to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Immigration Department in 2022.
The 2021 Commission of Inquiry, conducted by Sir Gary Hickinbottom , highlighted systemic issues, stating that “Almost everywhere, the principles of good governance, such as openness, transparency and even the rule of law, are ignored. In many important areas of government – including the procurement of contracts, grants of assistance, appointments to statutory boards, the disposal of Crown Land and the grant of residence and belonger status – discretionary decisions are made by elected officials (usually, Ministers) on the basis of no criteria, or patently inadequate and/or unpublished criteria, or criteria which are as often as not simply ignored.
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Safer, Greener Schools for Virgin Islands Students Under BVI SMART Schools Project
Students across 14 public schools in the Virgin Islands returned to safer and more sustainable learning environments this term, thanks to the ongoing efforts of the BVI SMART Schools Project. This initiative, managed by the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and several local organizations, aims to enhance the climate resilience and sustainability of schools throughout the Territory.
The current phase of the project, funded by the European Union through the Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity (RESEMBID) programme, builds upon previous efforts to safeguard schools by upgrading infrastructure, improving safety standards, and integrating environmentally friendly practices. By adding new partners like Green VI, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and the BVI Red Cross, the project is working to make schools better equipped to handle climate change and disaster risks.
“With this project and the work of our partners, the goal is to ensure that schools can protect students and empower them with the tools they need to thrive in a changing world,” said Michel Ambrose, the SMART Schools Project Manager. “The upgrades are a crucial step toward that goal.”
The 14 schools involved have undergone extensive assessments and improvements to meet stringent international safety standards under DDM’s oversight. These enhancements include structural upgrades, energy and water conservation measures, and the introduction of sustainable practices such as school gardens, recycling programs, and waste reduction. Schools meeting these safety standards are certified as “Safe,” while those incorporating green practices are designated as “SMART.”
Participating schools include Alexandrina Maduro Primary, Bregado Flax Educational Centre (Primary and Secondary), Claudia Creque Educational Centre, Ebenezer Thomas Primary, Enis Adams Primary, Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary, Elmore Stoutt High, Francis Lettsome Primary, Ivan Dawson Primary, Joyce Samuel Primary, Leonora Delville Primary, Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary, and Willard Wheatley Primary.
As the BVI SMART Schools Project continues, the DDM remains committed to ensuring that all public schools are resilient, sustainable, and prepared to meet future challenges. For ongoing updates, visit the Department of Disaster Management’s website and social media channels.
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BVI Athletes to Compete in PanAmerican U23 Squash Championships
Three squash players from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are set to compete in the PanAmerican Under-23 Squash Championships, scheduled to take place in Bucaramanga, Colombia, from October 6 to 12. The event will feature individual, doubles, and team competitions, where the young athletes will have the opportunity to compete against some of the strongest squash nations in the region.
Representing Team BVI are Luca Reich, Oliver Henderson, and Daniel Henderson. Luca, 21, is currently studying at Western University in Canada. With experience competing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the PanAmerican Senior Championships in Guatemala, Luca brings valuable international exposure to the team. His teammate, Oliver, 18, recently began his degree at Birmingham University in the United Kingdom, where he trains alongside players ranked in the top 100 of the senior world rankings. Daniel, the youngest team member at 16, is still a student at Cedar School. As the reigning Caribbean Under-17 Champion and a quarterfinalist in the U17 PanAmerican Championships, Daniel has already established himself as a promising talent in the sport.
Despite their young ages, the athletes will face strong competition from squash powerhouses such as Colombia, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Canada. Their participation in this prestigious event marks an important step in their development as they compete on the PanAmerican stage.
National Coach Adam Murrills emphasised the significance of the competition for these young players. “We’ve seen great progress from this group over the past five years, with their standout performance at the Junior Caribbean Championships, where they earned three gold medals. Competing at the PanAmerican level will be an important challenge for them. Although they are young for this category, this experience will help them bridge the gap with top-tier players over time,” Murrills stated.
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