CHRISTIANSTED — Nobody has to tell anyone living in the U.S. Virgin Islands that you pay high prices at the supermarket here. But $84.13 for less than five pounds of smoked salmon? C’mon man. You’re killing us with the high prices here!. Tan Tan, who lives in Christiansted and posts on Facebook, said he found […]
Category: Territorial Affairs
Senate Deal Killer Joe Manchin of West Virginia Offers To Help Territory Improve Its Bond Rating
WASHINGTON — During a congressional hearing to examine the state of the territories, Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee chairman Joe Manchin of West Virginia told Governor Albert Bryan that he will help with Governor Bryan’s request that the territories’ bond offerings are guaranteed by the backing of the federal government. A guarantee of backing by […]
Curacao’s U.S. Military Corps Builds Strong Relationships During COVID-19 Lockdown
WILLEMSTAD — Taking advantage of the reprieve from COVID-19 restrictions, the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron at Forward Operating Location Curacao reinvigorated their community outreach efforts and key leader engagements. In September 2021, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport visited with the leadership team at the FOL; this was the first visit for Prime […]
U.S. Virgin Islands Had The Second-Worst Economy In USA From 2009-2019: Report
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The U.S. Virgin Islands has the second-worst economy in the United States — with only Hawaii worse — over the 10-year period before COVID-19, Bond Buyer reports The news outlet says the USVI shrunk 24 percent “in real terms” from 2009 to 2019 in a report by Robert Slavin on Friday. “The […]
Birthright Citizenship Case For U.S. Territories Heads To Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — Plaintiffs in Fitisemanu v. United States will take their case to the Supreme Court of the United States after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit denied their petition for review by the full court earlier this week. Notably, Judges Robert Bacharach and Nancy Moritz dissented to the denial of review […]
Barbados Plans January 19 Snap Election After Becoming Republic
BRIDGETOWN — Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley this week called a snap general election for January 19, just weeks after the Caribbean country became a republic and said goodbye to the British monarchy. A former British colony that gained independence in 1966, Barbados in October elected Sandra Mason as the country’s first-ever president to replace […]
Can The Caribbean and Latin America Really Trust China As A Business Partner?
On December 7, a few days after the third China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released the China-CELAC Joint Action Plan for 2022-2024. It laid out Beijing’s plans to expand cooperation over a range of areas, including defense, finance, trade, public health, and cultural exchanges. On that same day, […]
Santa Left Omicron Under The Christmas Tree In The U.S. Virgin Islands This Holiday
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — As of Christmas Day, there were 544 active cases of COVID-19 in the territory, the Virgin Islands Department of Health said. It is the highest number of active cases since the start of the pandemic. There were 240 cases on St. Croix, 296 cases on St. Thomas and 8 cases on St. […]
Missing Toddler With Her Father In Chicago For Christmas, Police Say
KINGSHILL — A toddler reported missing on St. Croix is with her father in Illinois and not believed to be in danger, and Police Commissioner Ray Martinez said that investigators will continue working with mainland and federal law enforcement partners until the mother’s missing person report is resolved. “We are still classifying it as a […]
Nomination For Personnel Division, Zoning Map Amendments, Bills Move Forward
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Members of the 34th Legislature, led by Senate President Donna A. Frett-Gregory, convened in Legislative Session at the Capitol Building. Senators voted in the affirmative for a nominee, zonings map amendments, and several bills. All approved items will be forwarded to the Governor for further consideration. Referring to the nomination of Cindy […]