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Early Closure for NBVI, Social Security and National Health Insurance in Support of Kyron McMaster
The National Bank of the Virgin Islands (NBVI) has announced an early closure on Friday, August 9, at 2 p.m. to allow team members to attend the official watch party for the highly anticipated 400m hurdles finals, where Kyron McMaster, OBE, will be competing as an Olympic finalist.
In a statement released earlier today, the bank expressed its commitment to supporting McMaster, who has captured the hearts of many in the British Virgin Islands with his remarkable Olympic journey. The NBVI team will resume regular hours on Monday, August 12, and they apologise for any inconvenience this early closure may cause.
The Social Security Board and National Health Insurance have also joined in this effort, announcing their offices will close at 2:30 p.m. on the same day. “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the Board stated, emphasising their pride in McMaster and all athletes representing the British Virgin Islands at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The watch party, organised by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the BVI Athletics Association, will commence at 3:00 p.m. at Rena’s Festival Village.
McMaster finished first in heat 2 of the 400m hurdles on August 2, with a time of 48.15 seconds. His victory not only secured his spot in the finals but also set the stage for a thrilling contest against elite competitors, including Norway’s Karsten Warholm and France’s Clément Ducos. Warholm dominated heat 1 with a remarkable time of 47.67 seconds, while Ducos followed closely at 47.85 seconds.
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Four Men Cleared of Murder Charges in 2020 Killing of Matthew Daly
Four men accused of the 2020 murder of Matthew Daly were acquitted today after Justice Rajiv Persad upheld a No Case submission presented by their defense attorneys. Edward Crooke, Dajshon Benjamin, Micah Ormond, and K’Vawn Choucoutou had been on trial for five weeks for Daly’s killing on September 10, 2020. The trial, which began on September 16, 2024, concluded with the judge directing the jury to return Not Guilty verdicts for all defendants.
Crooke, Ormond, and Choucoutou left the High Court as free men, with no other legal matters pending. However, Benjamin remained in custody due to a separate guilty plea in a case before the Magistrate’s Court, as confirmed by his attorney, Michael Maduro.
The defense team included Attorney-at-Law Stephen Daniels for Crooke, Valston Graham for Choucoutou, and Valarie Stevens-Gordon for Ormond. The jury, consisting of seven women and two men, heard testimony throughout the trial before being instructed by Justice Persad to clear the defendants of the charges.
Before dismissing the men, Justice Persad urged them to contribute positively to society and avoid returning to the courts. “Make this a turning point,” he advised as they were formally released.
However, after the verdict, officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force attempted to serve notices of appeal to the men outside the courthouse. This action was met with strong opposition from the defense attorneys, who argued that the notices were prepared before the judge’s decision was announced. The lawyers advised their clients not to accept the appeal documents, which the men complied with.
Despite the officers’ claims that the documents were timestamped after the judge’s ruling, the defense refused to acknowledge the service, leading to a tense standoff in the courthouse yard.
The case remains in legal limbo as both sides weigh their next steps.
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Quick Action by Firefighters Prevents Major Loss at Tortola Auto Group
A swift response by the Fire and Rescue Services averted what could have been a significant disaster for Tortola Auto Group (TAG) after a fire broke out at one of their storage sites. The blaze, which occurred at the Duff Bottom location behind the Island Department Store, threatened a large number of vehicles but was brought under control before causing widespread damage.
According to reports, the fire started in an area where numerous cars were stored. However, the quick actions of the firefighters, along with TAG staff members, prevented the flames from spreading to the majority of vehicles. Workers were able to relocate most of the cars to safety before the fire could escalate.
A source close to the company stated: “We were able to move most of the cars, thankfully. Yes, we lost a few to the fire, but the vast majority are safe and undamaged.”
While some losses were reported, the combined efforts of the Fire and Rescue Services and TAG’s team ensured that the potential for major damage was minimised. The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, and further details are expected as investigations continue.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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