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Half-day for Public Officers on Nov 18 due to Uber Cruise BVI Event

The Ubersoca Cruise is expected to visit the Virgin Islands, bringing over 3,000 guests to Tortola as part of its inaugural trip to the territory for the Ocean’s 11 Edition. Photo: Internet Source
The Governor has considered the request of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), in photo, to grant permission for public officers to work a half day on Tuesday, in an effort to reduce the traffic congestion expected to be caused by the planned UberSoca Cruise BVI Event in Road Town. Photo: File
The Governor has considered the request of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), in photo, to grant permission for public officers to work a half day on Tuesday, in an effort to reduce the traffic congestion expected to be caused by the planned UberSoca Cruise BVI Event in Road Town. Photo: File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Public officers in the Virgin Islands (VI) will only be required to work a half day on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Deputy Governor David D. Archer Jr has informed.

In a letter to public servants on November 13, 2025, and seen by our News Centre, Mr Archer Jr said the Governor has considered the Premier's request to grant permission for public officers to work a half day on Tuesday, in an effort to reduce the traffic congestion expected to be caused by the planned UberSoca Cruise BVI Event in Road Town.

The Ubersoca Cruise is expected to visit the Virgin Islands, bringing over 3,000 guests to Tortola as part of its inaugural trip to the territory for the Ocean’s 11 Edition. The Virgin Islands is the latest destination added to the cruise’s itinerary.

The UberSoca Cruise is the largest soca festival at sea and will depart from Miami, Florida, before docking at Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park in Road Town on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Decision based on 'risk assessment'

Public officers are advised that normal working hours on that day will be from 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon. "This adjustment has been made in advance of the commencement of the Uber Soca Tramp, which is scheduled to begin at or around 2:00 PM."

This decision, according to the Deputy Governor, is based on the risk assessment included in the Mass Gathering Plan for the UberSoca Cruise event, submitted by the Department of Disaster Management (DDM).

Heads of Departments are asked to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the continuation of essential services during the afternoon period as required.

39 Responses to “Half-day for Public Officers on Nov 18 due to Uber Cruise BVI Event”

  • Cha (13/11/2025, 12:15) Like (49) Dislike (1) Reply
    The UberSoca Cruise is a priority strupps.
    • smdh (13/11/2025, 15:52) Like (42) Dislike (3) Reply
      The BVI should have said NO to this nonsense! Our priorities are all screwed up. Strupps.
      • @smdh (13/11/2025, 21:42) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
        I hear you. but a lot of them don’t have common sense or have the mentality to think like you and I would. Our priorities are way pass screwed up thanks to the non functioning slow cowards we are living among.
      • @smdh (14/11/2025, 10:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        we should march against this too. no wonder why the Uk is not taking us seriously and I agree; we are a bunch of punks, male and female punks. We need to close down the House of Assembly and ask for a general election before the party government and don't have a clues bring the BVi to its knees.
    • Keep Proving His Ignorance (13/11/2025, 21:24) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      Every opportunity he gets, he demonstrates the definition of the word nincompoop.
  • help us (13/11/2025, 12:15) Like (42) Dislike (2) Reply
    Aww lard more partying messon. Party on!!!! You folks never cease to amaze me with your planning. Always half a$$. Anyhow I have a legitimate concern. What about the traffic when the schools are over and that's about the time ayo gone start the grind up and wine up. Everybody gone be in town or through town to collect them chirren.
    • @help us (13/11/2025, 14:15) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
      Work with me. Is a teacher a public officer? And if a teacher goes home at 12 noon, doesn't it follow that school is dismissed at that time?
      • @ @ help us (13/11/2025, 20:39) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
        Ok Einstein, so is only public schools the BVI have? You mama mek you with you brains under yuh foot bottom? Work with me here

        You stupid just like…… well me ain’t gonna say
      • idk (14/11/2025, 01:53) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        Aren’t the teachers under the Teaching Service Commission? Isn’t that different from the civil service? Just want clarity.
        • @idk (14/11/2025, 10:16) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
          Still a Public Servant/Civil Servant. All paid from the same account that will run dry in due course.
      • ... (14/11/2025, 09:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        duhh
  • Honestly (13/11/2025, 12:38) Like (53) Dislike (3) Reply
    The whole thing was poorly planned. Another street fest for the gangsters, hood rats and ghetto folks.
  • Why (13/11/2025, 12:42) Like (37) Dislike (2) Reply
    The British Virgin Island have to follow everything some one else does? They are only doing this because St.Thomas did it.
  • wooow (13/11/2025, 12:42) Like (48) Dislike (4) Reply
    We need protest for slowande to get out.
  • VG proud (13/11/2025, 13:17) Like (49) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is just wrong!!!! Utter nonsense and a true waste of taxpayers' money.
  • now (13/11/2025, 13:39) Like (36) Dislike (4) Reply
    UK hope you’re watching.
    • now (13/11/2025, 14:31) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
      Oh for sure the UK is watching and taking notes. A damn SOCA CRUISE. That is not going to benefit a select few. YOU ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR DAMN NON THINKING PEOPLE. I AGREE, YOU PEOPLE ARE BITING OFF WHAT THE USVI DID. I DON’ T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST PASCAL OR JUGO BUT DON’T USE THEM TO PULL IN THE CROWD OF CRIMINALS, STREET SKANKS AND GHETTO CROWDS.
  • soccermom (13/11/2025, 14:12) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    What’s the route ??
  • Roger Burnett (13/11/2025, 14:21) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
    They tell me to cheer up, things could be worse.

    So I cheer up and sure enough, things do get worse.
  • Rubber Duck (13/11/2025, 14:22) Like (0) Dislike (26) Reply
    Vip four more years
    • @rubber duck (14/11/2025, 10:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      your Censor will not work; not this time. VIP must and will go. Hurry up finish whatever projects you all have and vacate our offices. What a huge mistake we made; worse government in the history of the BVI.
  • Lost ras (13/11/2025, 15:11) Like (35) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ha, no wonder this place is a laughing stock. Only in the BVI would you see this dumb sh!t happening.
  • PARTY!!! Lol (13/11/2025, 15:12) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    See ayu is the problem lol The Premier during his political campaign made it clear that he was running for a PARTY. It’s ayu who assumed it was VIP or NDP party lmaooo

    We have been having parties ever since.
    A man of his word!!! Hahaaaa lolol

    November 18th half day we OUTSIDE!!! Lmfaooo lolol
  • Dear Supervisor (13/11/2025, 15:13) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    At 12:00, Let me outttt!!! lololol
  • Absolutely unbelievable (13/11/2025, 15:32) Like (28) Dislike (2) Reply
    The only thing Tortola is good for is throwing parties for men to whine up on loose dirty women in the streets and drinking liquor. By the way, Hennessy is a drink that was developed for hood rats and ghetto people. LUCE YOU AND WHOEVER PLAN AND PUT THIS NONSENSE TOGETHER SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR DANM SELVES. THEN THE NEXT DAY YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR IT WAS A SUCESS.
  • 1 (13/11/2025, 16:29) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    How come we did not get the day off to match for Jacky? He really a party premier
    • @I (13/11/2025, 21:46) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      Because the Premier is a two faced hypocrite in sheep’s clothing Remember now, you can see a man’s face but you cannot see his heart. The Premier is playing both sides of the fence.
  • laughing (13/11/2025, 17:04) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    Another flop show that is going to be taken place.
  • Wellsah (13/11/2025, 17:37) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    take them on a santo bar crawl show them how we party
  • 4Hire (13/11/2025, 18:18) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Since the 24th is a public holiday, why didn't they schedule it then?
  • Yes (13/11/2025, 18:47) Like (20) Dislike (12) Reply
    We party anytime we want, we even get a half day to party. B.V.I nice
  • …Just for clarity (13/11/2025, 20:09) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    How long did the cruise line have this itinerary planned? When was the port authority and other governmental departments aware of this soca cruise’s port of call? This whole idea of now asking the governor for permission to approve 1/2 day to facilitate a random tramp through the streets MAKES NO SENSE!! What if the governor didn’t approve it? Did you factor in how much it is going to cost the government to pay employees not to work? What about the disruption it’ll cause for schools , banks, businesses etc? Show how this is a benefit. It doesn’t make dollars and this makes no sense (cents)
  • Bad Idea (13/11/2025, 21:31) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ship arrives to the dock at 2:00. The ship has to be cleared, the gangway need to be rigged, the disembarkation stations manned It will take until 3:00 for the first 500 passengers to come ashore and walk to Waterfront Drive
    The staff could have worked until 2:00 and be comfortably out of town by the time the people can come ashore. Doesn’t anyone do their math anymore? And how is the ordinary “working class” getting out from their workday, trying to get their children and getting through a wild drunken crowd safely home? A whole Island is inconvenienced for what may I ask? They bring their own drinks ashore (which should be promoted!), they party and have no time to spend money in shops, a restaurant or take a taxi to enjoy the beauty of our island. And all we get is some $20,000.00 departure tax. Ah I forgot The garbage trucks! They’ll make big money cleaning up our city. Sorry - BAD IDEA
    • Bad Idea (14/11/2025, 15:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Sorry! I meant to say it should be PROHIBITED to bring any drinks ashore
  • Ok. But Why?. Ok. Lets do this. (14/11/2025, 06:21) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Hope they put VIBE on the Road for a Afternoon fun Tramp. From From 6pm to 830pm around those roads so rounding the admin building. Round and round the admin building. Encourage all to come out in numbers to have fun together with the party people on the Boat...Big up to Trinidad and Tempo TV, they made this Fun cruise a reality...A Trini and VI invention. Trini love to Party, !
  • hmm (14/11/2025, 06:40) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    So they sit down and planned well for when the cruise arrived but they cannot make a rightful decision yet about exemption and residency status.
  • Get thee behind me satan (15/11/2025, 09:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can we get a ½ day to celebrate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? When yall running for office, everything is God. Get in and throw God under the bus. There's an evil cloud hanging over is. This Uber going add to the weight.
    Lord help us
  • Madea (17/11/2025, 11:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope there is enough police on duty. I will leaving town as I am frightened that so many people are coming in who will get drunk and misbehave badly.
  • Madea (17/11/2025, 14:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    For us who have to work and are totally disrupted by this are we getting any refund on our payroll taxes?


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