Local News
Will Rikkoi Brathwaite Emerge as A New Force In The 100 Meters Dash In Paris?
As the Paris 2024 Olympic athletics Games commence, all eyes are on the Stade de France for the men’s 100-meter heats set to begin on Saturday morning. Among the star-studded lineup, one name stands out from the British Virgin Islands: Rikkoi Brathwaite. With a personal best of 10.03 seconds this year, Brathwaite aims to cement his place among the world’s fastest men.
Brathwaite’s journey to the Olympics has been one of perseverance. Representing a small territory in the Caribbean, he has consistently proven himself on the track, earning his spot alongside the greatest 100m record holders. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Brathwaite will be the one to come from behind and make history.
The competition is fierce. Team USA’s superstar Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion, is expected to dominate the track. Lyles, 27, has already made a name for himself with gold medals in the 200-meter sprint and 4×100-meter relay at the 2019 World Championships, and a repeat victory in the 200 meters at the 2022 World Championships. Lyles’ performance at the 2023 World Championships, where he completed the sprint treble with victories in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4×100-meter relay events, has established him as the man to beat.
Lyles’ ambition doesn’t stop there. In Paris, he aims for an unprecedented quadruple by adding the 4x400m relay to his list of events. Alongside Lyles, Fred Kerley, the world champion in 2022 and silver medallist in the Tokyo Games, is also in top form, making the American contingent a formidable force.
But the Americans are not the only ones vying for the title. Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, a 22-year-old sensation, clocked the year’s best performance with a time of 9.77 seconds in June. His compatriot, Oblique Seville, has also proven his mettle by defeating Lyles earlier this year.
The competition extends beyond the Americas. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, only 21, became the first African to medal in the 100 meters at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, where he took silver. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, the African record-holder with a time of 9.77 seconds, also poses a significant threat. Omanyala, licensed in Miramas, France, adds a local flavor to the international mix.
Italian sprinter Marcell Jacobs, the defending Olympic champion, is back in form after two injury-plagued seasons. Crowned European champion in June, Jacobs is determined to retain his title.
Despite the fierce competition, Brathwaite remains undeterred. As the heats progress, the world will watch closely to see if Brathwaite can defy the odds and emerge as a new force in the 100 meters.
In a race historically dominated by legends like Usain Bolt, the quest for the next undisputed king of the 100 meters continues. Will Rikkoi Brathwaite rise to the occasion and etch his name in Olympic history? Only time will tell as the athletes take their marks and the starter’s gun fires, signaling the start of a thrilling race to glory.
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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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