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  • Friendly Competition Sparks Unity Between Francis Lettsome and Willard Wheatley Primary Schools || Safer, Greener Schools for Virgin Islands Students Under BVI SMART Schools Project || BVI Athletes to Compete in PanAmerican U23 Squash Championships || Smith-Abbot and Bertie Confirmed as Permanent Secretaries in Major Ministries || BVI Resident Held in U.S. Custody Over Human Smuggling Allegations || Longshoremen Strike Threatens to Disrupt Caribbean Trade and Supply Chains || UN Resident Coordinator Simon Springette Visits Virgin Islands to Strengthen Development Efforts || Flow BVI Appoints Maria De Grads as First Female General Manager || Team BVI Falls to Rugby Puerto Rico in International Test Match, 51-27 || BVI Lit Fest 2024: International Writers and Local Talent Shine Under “Roots to Routes” Theme || HLSCC Launches Concrete Construction Training, Offers NCCER Certification || Government to Announce Removal of Visa Restrictions for Guyanese Citizens, Sources Reveal. ||. British Virgin Islands Joins Global Observance of World Tourism Day || Public Health and Environmental Teams Launch Community Effort to Combat Mosquito Breeding in High-Risk Areas || Healthcare Crisis Looms in Virgin Gorda as Government Fails to Act on Critical Funding Requests || BVI Archery Team Returns with 9 Medals from Regional Championship in Jamaica || Virgin Islands to Launch Online Embarkation System, Streamlining Travel Process || Ministry of Education Addresses Allegations of Student-Teacher Incident at Elmore Stoutt High School || ADVERTISEMENT: Need a banner in a hurry? Look no further than JAHPHIX DESIGNS. Our high-quality banners can be delivered to you in 24 hours or less. Tel: (284) 340-1995 or email us at mail@jahphix.com ||
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Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport Expansion Key To Tourism Growth, Says Premier Natalio Wheatley

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Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has stressed that the expansion of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island is key to the continued growth of the British Virgin Islands’ tourism product.

He made the remarks at a Friday, August 18 meeting attended by stakeholders of the industry who met to discuss the potential development of the territory’s main airport on Tortola.

“It is ultimately going to be our efforts. The efforts of ourselves which will lead to the expansion and strengthening of our tourism product and economy overall. So we cannot take a passive approach that if they want to come, they will come. We have to put ourselves in the best possible position for our economy to grow and to develop. One of the major things that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will thank us for is expanding this runway,” the Finance Minister shared.

Ministry of Communications and Works Permanent Secretary Elvia Smith-Maduro chaired the meeting and presented the data of past administration’s attempts to scale up the airport.

Wheatley added that “when we look to the expansion of our economy, we have to look towards tourism, and certainly this government and whenever I have the opportunity, I speak to the fact that we have to develop tourism and invest more in tourism.”

The vision meetings are being held by Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer and his team, who noted that his ministry has already engaged the Attorney General’s Chambers about their plans for the airport.

“I know these conversations wouldn’t be the first for some of you. But after being given the mandate of extending the runway publicly, I thought it was important that we have this dialogue and engage the stakeholders on how to move forward with the airport expansion,” Minister Rymer shared.

He added: “We have already engaged the Attorney General’s chambers and other stakeholders in terms of moving this project forward. But it’s time for us to get to the wider populace so that we can further these discussions.”

Education

Friendly Competition Sparks Unity Between Francis Lettsome and Willard Wheatley Primary Schools

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As the new school year began, Francis Lettsome Primary School and Willard Wheatley Primary School were officially zoned together, marking the start of what promises to be a powerful collaboration between the two institutions. In celebration of Teacher’s Week, both schools came together for a friendly bowling match between the Wolves and the Wildcats.

The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as students, staff, and teachers embraced their competitive spirits. Beyond the fun, the event symbolised the beginning of a new chapter, with both schools set on working together to foster academic and social improvement.

“This is just the beginning,” said one teacher. “We’re excited about the opportunities ahead as we collaborate to support the success of our pupils.”

With more joint activities planned, the newly dubbed East Coast “Wolfcats” are poised to make great strides in building a united and dynamic learning environment. Stay tuned for further developments as these schools continue to strengthen their partnership.

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International

UN Resident Coordinator Simon Springette Visits Virgin Islands to Strengthen Development Efforts

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Simon Springette, the newly appointed UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, has arrived in the Virgin Islands for a two-day visit aimed at bolstering collaboration on sustainable development initiatives. His visit, spanning from October 1 to October 2, is seen as a pivotal moment in advancing the Territory’s development goals.

Mr. Springette will formally present his credentials to Premier Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley and engage in high-level discussions focused on joint efforts to address key development challenges facing the Virgin Islands. Premier Wheatley underscored the importance of the visit, noting, “The Resident Coordinator’s presence signals a deepening relationship with the United Nations network, which will lead to tangible results that positively impact the lives of everyone in the Virgin Islands.”

In addition to meeting with Premier Wheatley, Mr. Springette is scheduled to hold discussions with the Government’s Sustainable Development Goals National Coordinating Committee (SDGNCC). These talks will focus on the implementation of the UN Country Implementation Plan (UN CIP) for the Virgin Islands, which serves as the national instrument for realizing the UN Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) 2024-2026. This framework is the primary planning and programming tool for the Caribbean region.

A key highlight of Mr. Springette’s visit will be the official launch of the Working Group on the Development of a Roadmap to Improve Access to Development Finance for Eastern Caribbean Overseas Territories. The initiative is designed to create a strategic plan aimed at enhancing access to development finance, addressing critical issues impacting the region.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development, which is committed to fostering sustainable growth across the Virgin Islands, has welcomed Mr. Springette’s visit. The Ministry continues to promote economic, social, and cultural sustainability through strategic partnerships and forward-thinking policies, aiming to improve the quality of life for all residents.

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Business

Flow BVI Appoints Maria De Grads as First Female General Manager

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Flow British Virgin Islands has welcomed Maria De Grads as its new General Manager, the first woman to hold this position in the company’s 58-year history, effective October 1. The announcement was made by C&W Communications, the parent company of Flow, Flow Business, C&W Business, and BTC, which operates throughout the Caribbean.

Maria De Grads, a telecommunications veteran from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, brings over 21 years of experience in the industry. Her appointment has been hailed as a pivotal moment for Flow BVI. Susana O’Sullivan, Vice President for the North Caribbean at C&W Communications, expressed confidence in De Grads’ leadership: “Her extensive experience, vision, and commitment to empowering teams will be instrumental in driving Flow BVI forward as we continue to innovate and deepen our connection to the BVI community.”

De Grads has held a variety of roles within C&W Communications since joining Flow St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2004. Her previous positions include Commercial Lead for the Southern Caribbean markets, which covered St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, and Barbados. She has also served as Commercial Manager and Product Executive, gaining expertise in growth strategy, customer care, and human resource management. In her most recent role as Senior Manager for Commercial Operations in the South Caribbean, she was responsible for spearheading plans that drove customer acquisition and revenue growth.

“I am deeply honored to become the General Manager of Flow BVI, and being the first woman to step into this role makes it even more meaningful,” said De Grads. “I look forward to leading our talented team as we continue to deliver innovative services, enhance customer experiences, and contribute to the development of the BVI. Together, we’ll build on Flow’s strong legacy and ensure we remain at the forefront of connectivity in the Territory.”

De Grads holds an associate degree in business management from the University of the West Indies and an MBA in Marketing and Sales Management from the University of Edinburgh.

This new leadership is expected to further strengthen Flow BVI’s position as a leading provider of telecommunication services in the British Virgin Islands, offering cutting-edge solutions to both consumers and businesses.

About C&W Communications:
C&W Communications, part of Liberty Latin America, is a comprehensive communications and entertainment provider serving over 20 markets in the Caribbean. It offers video, broadband, mobile, and telephony services, along with IT solutions for business and government clients through its business division.

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