AGP Executive Report

Caribbean Sailing: BVI sailors joined nearly 70 competitors from nine nations at Sint Maarten’s 30th Caribbean Dinghy Championship, racing across seven classes. Youth Football: The Virgin Islands’ under-15 team made history with its first FIFA World Cup win, beating São Tomé and Príncipe 3–0. Film & Culture: The 284 Excellence Film Festival opens in the BVI on October 29, with free masterclasses and workshops for local creatives. Regional Talent: BVI teen K’Dyah James is among 10 finalists for the 44th Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant, set for December 30. Education: The Ministry has launched focus groups to review the BVI’s K–12 curriculum. Community & Recognition: UWI will honour journalist Melvin Claxton, whose reporting for the Virgin Islands Daily News helped expose law enforcement failures, with an honorary degree on November 14. BVI Cancer Society president Gloria Fahie says the group receives the lowest government subvention among nonprofits, while PLM leader Mark Vanterpool says homelessness in the Territory needs more attention.

Youth Football: The Virgin Islands made history with a 3–0 win over São Tomé and Príncipe, earning the territory’s first FIFA U-15 World Cup victory. Caribbean Cinema: The 284 Excellence Film Festival has made its industry masterclasses and workshops free, opening new opportunities for BVI filmmakers and performers from October 29 to November 1. Caribbean Honours: UWI will recognize journalist Melvin Claxton, whose reporting for the Virgin Islands Daily News helped expose law-enforcement failures, at its November 14 graduation. Community Care: BVI Cancer Society president Gloria Fahie says the organization receives the lowest government subvention among nonprofits, even as patients and families rely on its support. Youth and Culture: BVI finalist K’Dyah James will represent the territory at the Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant in December. Social Support: PLM leader Mark Vanterpool is urging the government to address homelessness, pointing to people living in vehicles and calling for more help for residents in need. Education: The Ministry has launched focus groups to review the VI’s K–12 curriculum.

Cathy Richards: A petition is asking Governor Daniel Pruce to reconsider the deportation order for the JTV reporter, who was convicted of uttering forged documents and given a suspended sentence. Caribbean Cinema: The 284 Excellence Film Festival runs Oct. 29–Nov. 1 on Tortola and Virgin Gorda, with screenings, industry workshops and 30 film submissions from 10 countries and territories. Youth & Heritage: Miss Teen BVI K’Dyah James is among 10 finalists for the Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant on Dec. 30, where she will showcase a Virgin Islands treasure. Education: The Ministry has launched focus groups to review the territory’s K–12 curriculum. Tourism: The BVI welcomed more than one million visitors by the end of September, while officials are seeking to attract more cruise ships.

Community Appeal: A petition is urging BVI Governor Daniel Pruce to reconsider the deportation order for Guyanese journalist Cathy O. Richards, convicted of uttering forged documents. It had gathered 214 signatures toward a 500-signature goal. Caribbean Talent: BVI’s K’Dyah James is among 10 finalists for the Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant on Dec. 30 in St. Kitts and Nevis, where delegates will showcase their homelands’ heritage. Film & Culture: The 284 Excellence Film Festival brings four days of Caribbean and international cinema to Tortola and Virgin Gorda, Oct. 29–Nov. 1, with screenings and industry workshops. Education: The Ministry has begun community focus groups to shape a review of the VI’s K–12 curriculum, last comprehensively updated in 2007.

Caribbean Talent: BVI’s K’Dyah James is among 10 finalists for the 44th Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant, set for Dec. 30 in St. Kitts. Contestants will showcase a national treasure under the theme “Radiant Treasures of the Caribbean.” Caribbean Cinema: The 284 Excellence Film Festival brings four days of screenings to Tortola and Virgin Gorda, Oct. 29–Nov. 1. It features 30 films from 10 countries and territories, with events at Tortola Pier Park, HLSCC and Nanny Cay. Tourism: The BVI welcomed 1,071,716 visitors from January through September, nearing 2025’s full-year total. Officials are also pursuing more cruise calls through talks with major operators. Education: Community focus groups are helping shape a review of the BVI’s K–12 curriculum, last comprehensively updated in 2007. The review aims to reflect local values and better prepare students for further study and work. Community: Forty-three people were registered as British citizens in the BVI. Governor Daniel Pruce urged them to support newcomers and embrace their new opportunities and responsibilities.

Youth Culture: BVI’s K’Dyah James is among 10 finalists for the Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant, set for Dec. 30 in St. Kitts. She will present a Virgin Islands treasure under the theme “Radiant Treasures of the Caribbean.” Tourism & Travel: The BVI is courting more cruise calls after talks with major operators at a regional conference. The push follows 1,071,716 visitor arrivals through September, with cruise passengers making up the largest share. Caribbean Cinema: The 284 Excellence Film Festival returns Oct. 29–Nov. 1, with screenings in Tortola and Virgin Gorda, filmmaker events and a showcase of regional stories. Education: Focus groups are gathering views from students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders as the government reviews the K–12 curriculum, last comprehensively updated in 2007. Community: Forty-three people registered as British citizens at a Government House ceremony, where Governor Daniel Pruce urged them to support newcomers to the Territory.

Media & Community: JTV reporter Cathy O. Richards has been ordered to leave the BVI within 30 days. She was convicted of using forged documents and received a suspended sentence. Caribbean Cinema: The 284 Excellence Film Festival brings four days of screenings and industry events to Tortola and Virgin Gorda, Oct. 29–Nov. 1. Organizers received 30 films from 10 countries and territories. Education: The Ministry has begun community focus groups to guide a review of the K–12 curriculum, last comprehensively updated in 2007. Tourism: The BVI welcomed 1,071,716 visitors through September, putting it within 130,337 of its full-year 2025 total, with the final quarter still to come. Belonging: Forty-three people were registered as British citizens at Government House. Governor Daniel Pruce urged them to support newcomers to the Territory.

Media & Community: JTV reporter Cathy O. Richards has been ordered to leave the Virgin Islands within 30 days of receiving the deportation order. She was convicted of uttering forged documents and received a suspended sentence. Caribbean Cinema: The 284 Excellence Film Festival brings four days of screenings, industry events and awards to Tortola and Virgin Gorda, Oct. 29–Nov. 1. It drew 30 film submissions from 10 countries and territories. Community Life: The NDP has canceled its Halloween Treat Fest after religious community members raised concerns. A Family Fun Day for children and families is planned for a later date. Education: The Ministry has begun community focus groups to shape a K–12 curriculum review, with input from students, families, teachers, businesses and other stakeholders. Tourism: The BVI welcomed 1,071,716 visitors through September, nearing its 2025 annual total with the final quarter still ahead. Cruise passengers remain the largest group, while overnight stays are growing. Caribbean Talent: BVI contestant K’Dyah James is among the finalists for the 44th Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant, which will celebrate the region’s heritage and culture.

Caribbean Cuisine: The U.S. Virgin Islands is among 15 destinations competing at Taste of the Caribbean in Barbados, November 16–19, where new seafood, beef and vodka contests join the program. Netball: Trinidad and Tobago is chasing a fourth straight win in the Americas qualifiers; the BVI has already fallen to Canada, 67–20, as teams vie for places at the 2027 World Cup. VI Schools: Power outages forced eight St. Thomas–St. John school sites to close Thursday after an earlier plan to delay opening. VI Athletics: Ereia Smith became the first Virgin Islands official to earn NACAC Technical Manager certification, qualifying her to oversee regional and international track-and-field events. Citizenship & Community: Forty-three people registered as British citizens in the BVI, where Governor Daniel Pruce urged them to support newcomers to the Territory. Local Film: The second 284 Excellence Film Festival received 30 submissions and is expanding industry training with masterclasses and workshops.

Athletics: Ereia Smith is the Virgin Islands’ first NACAC-certified technical manager, strengthening local capacity to stage regional and international competitions. Citizenship & Community: Forty-three people became British citizens at Government House; Governor Daniel Pruce urged them to support newcomers to the Territory. Health: Health Minister Vincent Wheatley says a more flexible funding model is being considered for BVIHSA as part of wider healthcare reforms. Tourism: BVI officials say talks at the FCCA conference in Puerto Rico focused on cruise partnerships and homeporting opportunities. Arts & Culture: The 284 Excellence Film Festival is adding industry training, masterclasses and workshops, with affordable passes. USVI Schools: Power problems forced eight St. Thomas–St. John school sites to close Thursday after a planned delayed opening. Youth Sports: Jamaica’s under-15 team is set to face the USVI on Saturday at the FIFA U-15 World Cup Festival in Azerbaijan.

Community Support: The BVI government has set aside $500,000 to help residents facing water shortages and $600,000 for derelict-vehicle removal and community clean-ups. Funding will also support education and sports grants and a bachelor’s programme at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Tourism & Jobs: After talks with major cruise lines at a Puerto Rico conference, the BVI is seeking more cruise calls and opportunities for local businesses. The Fifth Annual Third District Job Fair is set for Sunday, October 25, in Sea Cows Bay, with employers offering vacancies and interviews. Local Arts: The 284 Excellence Film Festival returns October 29 to November 1 with masterclasses and workshops to help BVI creatives build skills and industry connections.

Tourism Scholarships: The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s scholarship foundation launched a 30-award campaign for 2027, with seven governments already pledging support to train the region’s next generation of tourism professionals. Island Development: The BVI urged ECLAC to shape a transformation plan for Caribbean small islands that reflects their service-based economies. Cruise Tourism: After talks with major cruise lines in Puerto Rico, the BVI is pursuing more cruise calls and opportunities for local businesses. Film and Culture: The 284 Excellence Film Festival returns October 29–November 1 with workshops and masterclasses for local creatives, while Ghana’s Museums and Monuments Board called for deeper cultural ties with the Virgin Islands through shared history and exhibitions.

Cruise Tourism: The BVI is pursuing more cruise calls after talks with Carnival, Norwegian and other major operators at the FCCA conference, with the Ports Authority pointing to opportunities for local businesses and tourism. Creative Industries: The 284 Excellence Film Festival returns October 29–November 1 with masterclasses and workshops to help BVI filmmakers build skills and industry connections. Jobs & Community: The fifth annual Third District Job Fair is set for Sunday, October 25, in Hannah Bay, with employers including resorts, retailers and public agencies expected to attend. Cultural Exchange: Ghana’s Museums and Monuments Board is calling for stronger cultural ties with the Virgin Islands through shared history and co-created projects, while noting that travel costs remain a barrier. Local Flavours: Cane Garden Bay’s Callwood Rum Distillery earned the Best Tasting Rum title in Grenada for its Arundel Panty Dropper.

Film & Creative Industries: The 284 Excellence Film Festival will offer BVI filmmakers masterclasses and workshops from October 29 to November 1, with affordable passes aimed at widening access to the industry. Jobs & Opportunity: Julian Willock’s fifth annual Third District Job Fair is set for Sunday, October 25, in Hannah Bay, with local employers, vacancies and possible interviews on site. Cultural Links: Ghana Museums and Monuments Board educator Samuel Acquah is calling for lasting cultural partnerships with the Virgin Islands, including shared historical projects and better travel links. Local Pride: Cane Garden Bay’s Callwood Rum Distillery took home the Best Tasting Rum title at a Caribbean conference in Grenada for its Arundel Panty Dropper. Health Services: The BVI is exploring a referral arrangement with Trinidad and Tobago’s National Prosthetics Centre to help residents access limb assessment, fitting and rehabilitation. Community Works: Sewerage upgrades have begun along Cane Garden Bay Road, with one-lane traffic restrictions as crews replace ageing infrastructure.

BVI Film: The 284 Excellence Film Festival runs Oct. 29–Nov. 1, bringing four days of screenings, workshops and industry events to Tortola and Virgin Gorda. It drew 30 submissions from 10 countries and territories, including the BVI and USVI. Local Flavour: Cane Garden Bay’s Callwood Rum Distillery took home Best Tasting Rum at a Caribbean conference in Grenada, putting BVI-made Arundel Panty Dropper in the spotlight. Food Security: At World Food Day, Premier Natalio Wheatley urged residents and businesses to buy local, saying stronger food production can help the Territory withstand supply disruptions. Cane Garden Bay Works: Sewer upgrades begin Oct. 20 along the road from Hodge’s Gas Station toward De Wedding. Expect single-lane traffic restrictions.

Health Access: The BVI is working toward a referral arrangement with Trinidad and Tobago’s National Prosthetics Centre, which can make and fit prosthetic limbs within days. Screen Culture: The 284 Excellence Film Festival returns October 29–November 1 with 30 submissions from 10 countries and territories, plus screenings, workshops and industry events. Island Flavours: Cane Garden Bay’s Callwood Rum Distillery won Best Tasting Rum in Grenada for its Arundel Panty Dropper. Food Security: Premier Natalio Wheatley urged residents and businesses to buy local, saying stronger food production can build the Territory’s resilience. Youth Sport: The BVI named its 14-player U15 football squad for the FIFA World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan.