title: 2017 in the British Virgin Islands
text: # 2017 in the British Virgin Islands
  
  Events from the year 2017 in the British Virgin Islands.
  
  ## Incumbents
  
  * Governor:
     * until 8 August: John Duncan
     * 8 August - 12 August: Robert Mathavious (acting)
     * 12 August - 22 August: Rosalie Adams (acting)
     * starting 22 August: Augustus Jaspert
  * Premier: Orlando Smith
  
  ## Events
  
  ### January
  
  * 9 January 2017 - Bishop John Cline resigns from the BVI Health Services Authority after criticising the Government.
  * 11 January 2017 - Social Security Board signs a contract to build 43 homes as part of a social housing project, the Territory's first.
  * 23 January 2017
     * Former US President Barack Obama visits the British Virgin Islands.
     * BVI Finance appoints a new board of director from the private sector, transitioning from a publicly run body.
  
  ### February
  
  * 6 February 2017 - Andrew Fahie replaces Julian Fraser as leader of the opposition Virgin Islands Party.
  * 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.
  
  ### March
  
  * 3 March 2017 - Minister of Health, Ronnie Skelton, calls for the decriminalisation of marijuana.
  
  ### April
  
  * 1 April 2017 - retirement age is increased from 60 to 65.
  * 25 April 2017 - UNICEF publishes a controversial report on the state of the British Virgin Islands.
  
  ### May
  
  * 3 May 2017 - new British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation power plant comes online.
  * 8 May 2017 - the Territory records its fifth murder, the highest total since 2008 and second highest ever.
  
  ### July
  
  * 1 July 2017 - registers of beneficial ownership are introduced for British Virgin Islands companies.
  * 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. This followed tit-for-tat accusations between the Government and the airline.
  
  ### August
  
  * 8 August 2017 - Emancipation Festival celebrations are cancelled after flooding damage caused by torrential rains, the first cancellation due to weather in decades.
  * 17 August 2017 - contrary to expectations, the Financial Services Commission announces an increase in incorporation rates since the introduction of beneficial ownership registration.
  * 22 August 2017 - Augustus "Gus" Jaspert is sworn in as the new Governor of the Virgin Islands.
  
  ### September
  
  * 6 September 2017 - Hurricane Irma strikes the British Virgin Islands directly causing widespread damage and 4 deaths.
  * 7 September 2017 - Governor declares state of emergency under the Constitution of the British Virgin Islands, the first time this has ever happened.
  * 20 September 2017 - Hurricane Maria strikes the British Virgin Islands obliquely, causing modest damage. Damage caused by the Hurricane to nearby Puerto Rico affects recovery efforts following Hurricane Irma.
  * 27 September 2017 - A number of high-risk inmates are transferred from Tortola to Bordelais Correctional Facility in St Lucia because of the damaged state of the Balsam Ghut prison.
  
  ### 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.
  * 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.
  
  ### December
  
  * 19 December 2017 - The Social Security board acquires a 33% shareholding in National Bank of the Virgin Islands. The bank was formerly wholly owned by the Government of the Virgin Islands.
  
  ## Deaths
  
  * 20 December - Omar Hodge, politician.
  
  ## Footnotes
  
  * ↑ "John Cline resigns amid massive split in NDP gov't". BVI News. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  * ↑ "Social Security signs $11M contract for 43 houses". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Obamas in BVI for vacation". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "BVI Finance gets new board". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "BVI Finance changes name to BVI Finance Ltd". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Fraser replaced – Fahie now opposition leader". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Two wanted in the United States remanded in custody". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Health minister wants marijuana decriminalized". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Retirement Age At 65 To Be Enforced In Public & Private Sectors". Island Sun. 17 April 2017. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  * ↑ "UNICEF denounces bias in social services". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "UNICEF report sparks fiery debate in BVI". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Power project completed, plant getting new name". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Murder rate relatively low, but highest since 2008". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "BVI's new beneficial ownership regime to take effect on 1 July 2017". Harneys. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "We need money to fly – BVI Airways lays off staff". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Airline fully regulated, blames gov't for delay". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Premier fires back at airline: START FLYING NOW!". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "2017 Emancipation Festival Cancelled". Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "REPORT: Company incorporation finally increases". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "I Will Not Be Afraid To Act---Governor Jaspert Sworn-In". BVI Platinum. 22 August 2017.
  * ↑ "'We are still in survival mode': island of Tortola rebuilds after Hurricane Irma". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  * ↑ "Help Us! Cries for assistance after Irma leaves widespread devastation". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "All 4 casualties of Hurricane Irma now identified". BVI News. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  * ↑ "Governor declares State of Emergency; says fatalities reported". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "British Virgin Islands to face 155mph winds with Hurricane Maria". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "21 inmates from VI transferred to prison in St Lucia". VINO. 28 September 2017.
  * ↑ "Bob Hodge, Tico Harrigan lose extradition case". BVI News. 15 November 2017.
  * ↑ "BREAKING NEWS: Two Dead Following Shooting Incident". BVI Platinum News. 22 November 2017.
  * ↑ "Social Security Buys 33% Shares Of National Bank". The Island Sun. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  