Governor Kenneth E. Mapp has vetoed a bill that would allow tax breaks to be extended for ten additional years without the approval of the Economic Development Commission nor the chief executive. Bill No. 32-0175 purports to grant the commission more autonomy, but instead loosens the requirements for renewing tax benefits. “Dangerous and concerning is …
The Disaster Recovery Reform Act would amend the 1988 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which regulates how disaster recovery dollars are spent throughout the United States and its territories. Soon after Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated much of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Governor Kenneth E. Mapp began lobbying Congressional members and the Trump Administration to revise …
Michele Paige, President of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), says the partnership with the Ports of the U.S. Virgin Islands is “at an all-time high”. Her comments came after this month’s FCCA Operations Committee meeting, which allowed the USVI delegation to exchange hurricane preparedness best practices and lessons learned with colleagues from the British Virgin …
CRUISE GROUP LAUDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS PARTNERSHIPRead More »
The indomitable spirit of the people of the Territory was unmistakable as Virgin Islanders and visitors filled the streets of downtown Charlotte Amalie on Friday for the 2018 Carnival Children’s Parade and on Saturday for this year’s Carnival Adult’s Parade. Despite the challenges of recovering from back-to-back hurricanes this past September, residents across the Territory …
2018 VI CARNIVAL: A testament to community spiritRead More »
Virgin Islanders from home and abroad, along with visitors to the Territory, filled Emancipation Garden for the 66th annual food fair held every Wednesday of Carnival week. The arts and crafts and the food were especially sweet after very challenging months for the Islands. Governor Kenneth E. Mapp and Lieutenant Governor Osbert E. Potter joined Carnival Queen Ji’Kelle …
CARNIVAL CULTURAL FOOD FAIR SHOWCASES VIRGIN ISLANDS CREATIVITYRead More »
The Territory’s recovery from last fall’s devastating hurricanes continues to progress with the approval of the contract for the engineering, construction and installation of 240 temporary classrooms by Governor Kenneth E. Mapp. The agreement also provides for 19 large Sprung structures that can serve as cafeterias and gymnasiums. U.S. Virgin Islands Education Commissioner Dr. Sharon …
All of the primary roads in the U.S. Virgin Islands will be completely rebuilt to US Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway standards, Governor Kenneth E. Mapp announced Tuesday. For the first time in history, a full assessment of the Territory’s 1,273-mile public road system was conducted in order to determine conditions after the storms and …
Territory’s Road System To Be Fully Modernized, $530 Million Allocated To First PhaseRead More »
Finance Commissioner Valdamier Collens has announced that just under $5 million in tax refunds will be sent out Tuesday. Approximately 1,500 refund checks will be mailed out totaling $4.95 million, Collens said. About one third of the refunds being sent out are for 2016. Bureau of Internal Revenue Director Marvin Pickering reports that the Mapp-Potter Administration has paid out more than …
U.S. Virgin Islands Carnival Village on St. Thomas, dubbed “Judy’s Gypsyville”, officially opened at the Fort Christian Parking Lot this past Friday. Showing support for this year’s village honoree, the Gypsies themselves entered the parking lot wearing bright red shirts and headscarves, and played tambourines during a mini parade behind Judy Watson. Joined by Lieutenant Governor …
Governor Kenneth E. Mapp addressed the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands during their annual meeting at E’s Garden Teahouse on Saturday. Governor Mapp touched on hurricane recovery, long-term resiliency efforts, tourism, education and many other issues during his remarks and a lengthy question and answer session with League members. “We have a very bright future …
