Local News
Slow Start to Hurricane Season Offers Window for Preparedness, BVI Officials Say
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet so far, but officials in the British Virgin Islands are urging residents not to take the calm for granted.
Jasen Penn, Director of the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), said this early lull presents a valuable opportunity for the public to prepare for storms that may develop rapidly later in the season.
“If we look back, Beryl was an example of a system that went from a tropical depression to a hurricane in just 48 hours,” Mr. Penn said during an appearance on the Virgin Islands Voice programme. He noted that previous storms, including Hurricanes Irma and Maria, also underwent rapid intensification before impacting the region.
Mr. Penn attributed the lack of early-season storm activity in part to frequent incursions of Saharan dust, which has reduced atmospheric moisture and helped suppress tropical cyclone formation. However, he warned that those conditions are expected to change.
“Early season activity has been concentrated in the southern Caribbean,” he said. “But as the season progresses, changing wind patterns and ocean currents increase the likelihood of systems taking a northern track.”
In addition to meteorological developments, Mr. Penn pointed to a recent change in satellite monitoring capabilities. The United States has officially ended the Defence Meteorological Satellite Program, which had provided critical structural data to forecasters at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
“They assisted with gathering detailed data on storm intensity, location of the centre, and development,” Mr. Penn said, describing the satellites’ role. Although other tools — including the GOES satellites and Hurricane Hunter aircraft — remain in use, the loss of the older program could introduce a greater margin of error in forecasts, he added.
“All this should drive us to be even more rigorous in our efforts to prepare,” Mr. Penn said.
Residents are being encouraged to update emergency plans, assemble supply kits, and ensure access to multiple channels for receiving emergency alerts. For guidance on preparedness at home or at work, the public can contact the Department of Disaster Management at ddm@gov.vg or by calling 468-4200.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30.
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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