Local News
Virgin Islands Hosts Regional Disaster Coordinators for CDEMA Technical Advisory Meeting
The Virgin Islands is hosting national disaster management coordinators and regional hazard experts for the 17th meeting of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s Technical Advisory Committee, officials said. The meeting brings together representatives from 20 participating states, including Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Cayman Islands, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, the Republic of Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome, who serves as chair of the committee from April 2026 to April 2027, said the meeting is intended to strengthen regional resilience through coordinated disaster management planning.
“Caribbean peoples and states rely on each other for comprehensive disaster management support through CDEMA mechanisms such as the TAC,” Mrs. DaBreo-Lettsome said. “This approach of regional cooperation makes us more self-sufficient because we are in a position to better anticipate and respond to all kinds of risks.”
Mrs. DaBreo-Lettsome said that improving coordination is necessary as hazards become more complex and frequent, adding that adjustments to existing strategies will be a focus of the meeting.
“We have a strong regional strategy and are moving in the right direction, but this year’s meeting will help make adjustments to account for a hazard landscape that is changing by the day,” she said.
Jasen Penn, the Virgin Islands’ director of disaster management, said the discussions will include updates to the regional comprehensive disaster management plan, as well as reviews of CDEMA’s programs and activities at both regional and national levels.
“This is an opportunity for all the participating states to advocate for our individual needs, and to share what we have learned from recent incidents and hazard impacts,” Mr. Penn said.
Officials said the meeting is part of ongoing efforts to improve collaboration among Caribbean states in preparing for and responding to natural hazards and emergencies.
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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