2017 in the British Virgin Islands

Events from the year 2017 in the British Virgin Islands.

Hurricane Irma struck the British Virgin Islands with devastating effect on 6 September 2017, one of two Category-5 hurricanes to strike within a fortnight.

2017
in
the BVI

Decades:
See also:

Incumbents

Events

January

  • 9 January 2017 - Bishop John Cline resigns from the BVI Health Services Authority after criticising the Government.[1]
  • 11 January 2017 - Social Security Board signs a contract to build 43 homes as part of a social housing project, the Territory's first.[2]
  • 23 January 2017
    • Former US President Barack Obama visits the British Virgin Islands.[3]
    • BVI Finance appoints a new board of director from the private sector, transitioning from a publicly run body.[4][5]

February

  • 8 February 2017 - Earl ‘Bob’ Hodge and Robert ‘Tico’ Harrigan are remanded into custody in relation to a long-standing extradition request from the United States.[7]

March

April

  • 1 April 2017 - retirement age is increased from 60 to 65.[9]
  • 25 April 2017 - UNICEF publishes a controversial report on the state of the British Virgin Islands.[10][11]

May

  • 3 May 2017 - new British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation power plant comes online.[12]
  • 8 May 2017 - the Territory records its fifth murder, the highest total since 2008 and second highest ever.[13]

July

  • 1 July 2017 - registers of beneficial ownership are introduced for British Virgin Islands companies.[14]
  • 18 July 2017 - BVI Airways announced it was laying off all staff as it had exhausted its funds, despite having received a $7 million Government subsidy.[15] This followed tit-for-tat accusations between the Government and the airline.[16][17]

August

Gus Jaspert was sworn in as the BVI's new Governor.

September

November

  • 14 November 2017 - At the third attempt the US government secures a ruling to extradite Earl 'Bob' Hodge and Roberto 'Tico' Harrigan to the US to face drugs charges. The initial extradition request was made in 2012.[27]
  • 22 November 2017 - a double homicide brings the country's tally of murders for the year to 10, the highest total ever in a single calendar year.[28]

December

  • 19 December 2017 - The Social Security board acquires a 33% shareholding in National Bank of the Virgin Islands.[29] The bank was formerly wholly owned by the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Deaths

Footnotes

  1. "John Cline resigns amid massive split in NDP gov't". BVI News. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  2. "Social Security signs $11M contract for 43 houses". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  3. "Obamas in BVI for vacation". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  4. "BVI Finance gets new board". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  5. "BVI Finance changes name to BVI Finance Ltd". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  6. "Fraser replaced – Fahie now opposition leader". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  7. "Two wanted in the United States remanded in custody". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  8. "Health minister wants marijuana decriminalized". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  9. "Retirement Age At 65 To Be Enforced In Public & Private Sectors". Island Sun. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  10. "UNICEF denounces bias in social services". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  11. "UNICEF report sparks fiery debate in BVI". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  12. "Power project completed, plant getting new name". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  13. "Murder rate relatively low, but highest since 2008". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  14. "BVI's new beneficial ownership regime to take effect on 1 July 2017". Harneys. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  15. "We need money to fly – BVI Airways lays off staff". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  16. "Airline fully regulated, blames gov't for delay". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  17. "Premier fires back at airline: START FLYING NOW!". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  18. "2017 Emancipation Festival Cancelled". Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  19. "REPORT: Company incorporation finally increases". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  20. "I Will Not Be Afraid To Act---Governor Jaspert Sworn-In". BVI Platinum. 22 August 2017.
  21. "'We are still in survival mode': island of Tortola rebuilds after Hurricane Irma". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  22. "Help Us! Cries for assistance after Irma leaves widespread devastation". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  23. "All 4 casualties of Hurricane Irma now identified". BVI News. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  24. "Governor declares State of Emergency; says fatalities reported". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  25. "British Virgin Islands to face 155mph winds with Hurricane Maria". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  26. "21 inmates from VI transferred to prison in St Lucia". VINO. 28 September 2017.
  27. "Bob Hodge, Tico Harrigan lose extradition case". BVI News. 15 November 2017.
  28. "BREAKING NEWS: Two Dead Following Shooting Incident". BVI Platinum News. 22 November 2017.
  29. "Social Security Buys 33% Shares Of National Bank". The Island Sun. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.