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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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Seven Schools Set to Compete in the Inter-School Chess Tournament Showdown

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The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports is all set to host the Inter-Secondary School Chess Tournament, a battle of wits scheduled from December 12 to 13.

Seven schools, including Bregado Flax Educational Centre, Claudia Creque Educational Centre, Ciboney Centre for Excellence, Cedar International School, Elmore Stoutt High School, St. George’s Secondary School, and the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies, will engage in an intense competition for the coveted title of Chess Champion at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex.

Minister for Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro, highlighted the significance of chess in fostering critical thinking within a S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education approach. She expressed enthusiasm, stating, “At Innovation Week 2023, we saw how the chess portion was a huge success, consistent from the previous year.

This year, the young men, specifically the seniors from the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies (VISTS), did not want to leave the chess station. From this, we anticipate the excitement of the Inter-Secondary School Tournament to be riveting and change the way, not only in reimagining education but also by adding to the landscape and culture of sports in the Territory.”

Dr. Marcia Potter, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, voiced support for integrating chess into school curricula, emphasizing its value as a tool in the S.T.E.A.M. educational approach. She stated, “We have embraced chess as an invaluable tool in our S.T.E.A.M. approach as all children can benefit from learning the game.”

Acting Chief Education Officer Mrs. Orlandette Crabbe highlighted the 21st-century skills that playing chess builds. She explained, “Chess fits well with S.T.E.A.M. education because it addresses high order thinking skills, analyzing, evaluating, and creating.” Mrs. Crabbe added, “Chess allows children to focus, plan, think ahead, and even visualize moves in a structured and logical manner, as they must learn to adapt quickly after receiving an unexpected move, making them flexible and creative.”

The tournament kicks off on Tuesday, December 12, with participants registering and an opening ceremony at 9:00 a.m. The initial rounds will follow. Day two, on Wednesday, December 13, will feature check-ins at 8:45 a.m., announcements, and subsequent rounds. The afternoon session will include the semi-finals and finals, culminating in the closing ceremony and awards presentation.

The public is invited to witness and support the schools and their players.

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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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