At the 2014 State of the Industry Conference organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization in St. Thomas, keynote speaker Apple Leisure Group CEO Alex Zozaya emphasized the importance of keeping politics and bureaucracy out of the tourism industry if it’s expected to grow. Instead, Zozaya said, tourism should be run like the business that it
USVI Government to Guarantee Developer Leases
A bill recently passed in the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature would allow the Government of the Virgin Islands to guarantee up to $20 million of hotel developers’ leases for up to 25 years, a move that supporters cheered as a boon to the islands’ economic development.
Under the legislation, the Public Finance Authority would have
Public Finance Authority Sells Nearly $50 Million in Bonds to Fund Projects
In a move that Governor John deJongh, Jr., said would help the U.S. Virgin Islands fund projects already approved by the senate, the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority (PFA) sold $49.6 million in bonds at the end of August. Among other projects, the funds will provide working capital to territorial hospitals and the general fund
Officials Continue to Discuss Unified Court System
The U.S. Virgin Islands Supreme Court and Superior Court remain locked in a debate over the authority the Supreme Court would be allotted if the two systems merged, the courts’ heads said during budget testimonies in July before the 30th Legislature’s Committee on Finance.
Although both courts are in favor of merging into one
Police, Fire Retirements May Stress Public Services in US Virgin Islands
During recent budget hearings before the Finance Committee of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, police and fire officials alerted the Virgin Islands Senate that their agencies, chronically understaffed already over the last few years, may be in even worse shape in the coming months and years.
According to the officials, an unprecedented number of
US Virgin Islands Businesses Gain Access to USDA’s REAP
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) offered a seminar on best practices last month to local businesses at the U.S. Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center.
The informative seminar, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development office, aimed to educate small business owners about resources and options it has available for sustaining
Governor Vetoes Tax Break Changes for RT Park Businesses
In a controversial move, U.S. Virgin Islands Governor John deJongh has vetoed a bill that would have widened the variety of businesses at Kingshill’s Research and Technology (RT) Park deemed eligible for considerable tax breaks.
The tax breaks are incentive benefits bestowed by the RT Park to its tenants at the park, preventing them from
Bill in U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature Could Hurt Local Employers
A proposed bill before the Legislature of the Virgin Islands has the potential to hurt employers and business owners throughout the Territory and inhibit expansion of small businesses.
Bill No. 30-0349, known as the Virgin Islands Healthy Workplace Act of 2014, aims to address issues like bullying, abuse and harassment at work — which
U.S. Virgin Islands Ban on E-Cigarettes for Minors: Are They Really Dangerous?
A recent bill put forth in the U.S. Virgin Islands legislature would make it illegal to sell e-cigarettes and nicotine vaporizers to minors. The bill also bans other alternative tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco and snuff.
Senator Sammuel Sanes sponsored Bill 30-0268, as did co-sponsors Senators Kenneth Gittens and Diane Capehart. On March
U.S. Virgin Islands Government Workers Will Soon Receive Mandatory Assessments
The Government Employee’s Service Commission Health Insurance Board recently passed an important change to territorial government worker health policies in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The new rule stipulates that active government employees and retirees under the age of 65 are required to receive health risk assessments. The alternative is to pay a steep financial penalty