Opposition Leader Marlon Penn responded to a young woman who said he shut her out when she asked for help finding work. A young woman accused Opposition Leader Marlon Penn of hypocrisy after he raised concerns about young Virgin Islanders struggling to find work. Sharing a BVI Platinum News report on his remarks, she said the experience Penn described was familiar to her because she remembered turning to him for help. “I remember asking you for help and shut me out too. So do

An initiative promising quicker payments to USVI businesses now faces questions about the people behind it - and what the government checked before promoting it. A business delivers the goods, submits its invoice and waits. Payroll comes around. Rent is due. Government still hasn’t paid. Now imagine being offered a way to collect sooner, provided you surrender a portion of what you are owed. You might reasonably consider it. You would also expect the government recommending t

Regional leaders are exploring new shipping arrangements as Tropical Shipping increases freight charges ahead of the Christmas season. For Virgin Islanders who shop online, the price at checkout is often only the beginning. By the time a package reaches the Territory, shipping fees can make even an ordinary purchase considerably more expensive. With the Christmas shopping season approaching, the cost of getting goods into the BVI is particularly relevant. Recent increases ann

Britain’s latest call for LGBTQ protections in Antigua and Barbuda raises questions about the Virgin Islands, where the Premier has proposed civil partnerships as a compromise. In March 2023, Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley warned against what he described as cultural imperialism, arguing that one society should not impose its values on another. The Premier defended the Virgin Islands’ Christian traditions while maintaining that differences in beliefs should not justify discrimi

In 2014, organisers said the move to De Castro Street was temporary. Twelve years later, why the fair never returned to Main Street is still unclear. Nobody heading to Christmas on Main Street in December 2013 had much reason to think it would be the last one. The Lashing Dogs played, schoolchildren performed at Sir Olva Georges Plaza, and hundreds of people came out. Even a year later, when the booths went up on De Castro Street, the woman heading the organising committee to

Stacey Plaskett was making the case against the BVI’s charter fee increases before she ran for governor. What happens now that she’ll be the one negotiating with us? When Stacey Plaskett wanted to explain how the BVI’s charter fees felt to a captain in St. Thomas, she reached for an example she figured we would understand. How would BVI residents feel, she asked on the Caribbean Currency Podcast, if the USVI started charging us a fee to come over and buy groceries? In the ea

What Happened to BVI Airways’ “Missing” Planes? When BVI Airways’ promised Miami service failed to launch, taxpayers were left with a $7.2 million question and uncertainty about the two aircraft intended to deliver it. The impression was that the planes had disappeared and the government was bamboozled. In reality, VP-LWW and VP-LOS continued their journeys overseas under new registrations. Their whereabouts were always traceable, even as questions remained about the National

The Government’s 2027 Budget outlines new equipment to manage the recurring seaweed influx, with Anegada among the areas set to benefit. For anyone who has spent time near a Virgin Islands shoreline during a heavy sargassum season, the problem is hard to ignore. What begins as floating brown seaweed can quickly become a much larger concern when it washes ashore, decomposes and disrupts the coastal environment. For communities that depend on healthy beaches and marine life, th

The Wheatley administration plans to expand its solar programme over the next 18 months, covering half the installation cost and allowing homeowners to repay the balance through electricity savings. For many Virgin Islanders, the idea of switching to solar energy sounds appealing. That is, until someone mentions how much it costs. A typical residential solar system can cost around $10,000, a considerable investment for households already dealing with expensive electricity bil

As Caribbean people, we understand that our ancestors do not need a microphone to be heard. They speak to us in dreams and unexpected changes in the atmosphere, and they have certainly been vocal over the past week. The British Monarch, King Charles III, arrived in a region in late October 2026 to exercise the royal diplomacy that we know all too well. Carefully choreographed photos for the royal archives, enthusiastic school children and speeches about friendship and a share

The government is developing a new policy to tap into the economic potential of Virgin Islanders overseas, whether they plan to return home or not. For a small territory like the British Virgin Islands, sending young people abroad to study comes with an uncomfortable possibility: some of them might never come back. It’s hard to blame them when an overseas education can open doors to careers and opportunities that extend well beyond what the Virgin Islands can presently offer.

Under a wider financial services agreement, eligible BVI companies could access funding, workspace and mentoring as they enter the Hong Kong market or seek expansion there. The BVI and Hong Kong governments have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation between their financial services sectors. One provision could help eligible BVI businesses set up or expand in Hong Kong, according to a recent government press release. For BVI entrepreneurs, the draw is

All 13 asked us to question everyone in politics. We should start with them. There is something uncomfortable about following a page because it seems to speak for you, only to discover that the people behind it want you to vote for them. All 13 built its audience around political criticism. Here was an anonymous page presenting itself as a voice for ordinary residents, with enough conviction to make people feel represented. However, what appeared to be independent citizen jo

The Virgin Islands found the energy to stop a Halloween party. What would happen if we brought that same urgency to the things actually hurting us? Apparently, the most frightening thing that happened in the Virgin Islands this October was the idea of a children’s Halloween event. The National Democratic Party’s Youth Movement announced a Halloween Treat Fest. Christian critics objected. The party cancelled it and promised a Family Fun Day instead. A costume party had become

V.I. Bands ranked according to riddim, lyrics and influence. We know you loved our best rappers list, and with the release of the song 'Run the Route' by Jougo, many arguments have sparked regarding who are the best bands of the VI. Our editors have taken these debates one step further by creating a list of the Greatest VI Bands of All Time using our ranking system and guidelines based on riddim, lyrics and influence. #10 - UMB Soldiers (Photo: Spotify) Songs like 'Cut and Go

Everyone Owes Kleon Penn an Apology Kleon Penn said that he learned to play basketball on the Bell Vue Court in Tortola under the guidance of coaches Morris Wattley and Eddie Fahie. His parents and sports journalist Dean Greenaway were his biggest inspirations. During his time at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Penn made waves in the Virgin Islands Basketball community as one of the best players that our country had to offer. Although Penn was just a young man from our

There’s a major flaw in the VI criminal code At first glance, the sexual offenses section of the Virgin Islands Criminal Code seems pretty straightforward. It’s something the public typically see referenced in a RVIPF arrest blotter. However, when taking a closer look at the Code, there’s a glaring issue with the language used. The Code explicitly states that “a man who rapes a woman commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.” They specify

V.I. rappers ranked according to lyrics, flow and influence. Every year we have this recurring debate about who are the best rappers in the VI & USVI. Lists appear from individuals and corporations of all walks of life, however most don’t include any proper ranking system, guidelines or explanations. Our editors have created our own system and in this article we address this long standing debate head on. #10 - P-Nut Deh Real Nut (Photo: Youtube) P-Nut's influence among the yo