Local News
Jost Van Dyke resident receives home under recovery programme
Mr. Dalvin “Din-Din” Callwood, a resident of Little Harbour Jost Van Dyke, has become the latest homeowner under the Ministry of Health and Social Development’s Housing Recovery Assistance Programme.
With great excitement, Mr. Callwood received the keys to his new studio unit home and expressed his gratitude to the ministry for making his dream of homeownership a reality.
“I am extremely proud of my new home and I promise to take good care of it. I have never been happier. I would like to thank the minister and everyone involved for assisting me,” Mr. Callwood said.
Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, the Minister for Health and Social Development, commended the Housing Unit in the ministry for their efforts in ensuring that residents of the Virgin Islands, like Mr. Callwood, can afford a home.
“We are six years post-Hurricane Irma, and while some are still in the recovery stage, I am pleased to continue this program with the ministry. We currently have at least four homes under construction, and we will strive to continue this program for our residents who were displaced by the hurricanes. I am glad we can hand over yet another house in 2023,” Honourable Wheatley stated.
Mr. Marquese Maduro, the Project Manager at Project Management and Construction Solutions, provided insights into the quality of the house built for Mr. Callwood, highlighting its unique features compared to other houses constructed under the program.
According to Mr. Maduro, the house is a wooden structure, while the bathroom is made from concrete, serving as a hurricane bunker in case the Territory is impacted by future hurricanes.
“This demonstrates the government’s commitment to building better, more efficient homes and protecting the residents who receive them. Hopefully, in the future, if we face anything like Irma, more of our residents will be safeguarded,” Mr. Maduro explained.
Mr. David Fonseca, a representative of Construction Engineering Systems (B.V.I) Ltd., expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health and Social Development for giving their company the opportunity to construct a home for Mr. Callwood. Mr. Fonseca emphasized that the house was built in an efficient and resilient manner to withstand natural disasters.
Since the inception of the Housing Recovery Assistance Programme, more than 25 homes have been constructed and over 200 have been repaired.
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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