Tortola, British Virgin Islands, October 14, 2008 - The BSAFE (Bicycle Safety Awareness For Everyone) programme started at the Althea Scatcliffe School yesterday with twenty children attending the first two lessons.  Nationally recognized cyclist Chris Ghiorse has developed the scheme and will be running BSAFE to help children build cycling skills and safety awareness for when they venture onto BVI roads.  Caribbean Alliance Insurance and their BVI agents, Caribbean Insurers Limited, are title sponsors of BSAFE.

BSAFE is aimed at 8-10 year olds and will run in 10 one-hour sessions over a five-week period. The fourteen public schools on Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and Anegada will benefit from the programme which will run from now until the end of May 2009. Chris Ghiorse said: “The first wide ranging freedom a child will have is often experienced on a bicycle.  Children will frequently face situations that are beyond their level of road safety understanding.  BSAFE is a program that will develop a healthier lifestyle and influence the choices children face when venturing out on their own.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Caribbean Alliance Insurance and Caribbean Insurers for their support.  Without it, BSAFE would not be possible and 400 children of the BVI would not be able to benefit from such an important programme.”

Tortola, British Virgin Islands, October 10, 2008 - PUSSER'S®, "the single malt of rum", has added a magnificent "Yachting Decanter" to its popular range of rum-filled ceramics that includes decanters, flagons and hip flasks. This decanter pays tribute to the history of yacht racing. The feature scene painted by world-renowned marine artist, A.D. Blake, depicts most of the modern rigs that are sailing today, and all of the Olympic classes.

The shoulder of the decanter is emblazoned in gold lettering with the names of the world's most prestigious yacht races: America's Cup, Transpac, Volvo Ocean Race, Fastnet, Vendée Globe, Chicago-Mackinac, Bermuda Race, Admiral's Cup and the Sydney to Hobart. Three smaller cameos also adorn the shoulder: Captain Joshua Slocum's "Spray", Captain Slocum was the first man to sail alone around the world from 1895-1898; the Schooner 'America', winner of the first America's Cup Race on August 22, 1851; the 'Jolie Brise', winner of the first Fastnet Race in 1925.
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Tortola, British Virgin Islands, September 3, 2008 - The fourth annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup will take place the weekend of November 15/16 off Nanny Cay Marina in the British Virgin Islands.  The US Virgin Islands team of Peter and John Holmberg, winners of last year’s event, will be returning to defend their title.Team Bitter End Holmberg rounds the windward mark in front of Team Canuk.

In a hard-fought last race, the Holmbergs snatched the crown from the British Virgin Islands’ Hirst brothers who had held the title since the event’s inception in 2005.  The Hirst brothers needed to finish with three boats between themselves and the Holmbergs to earn their third title.  But after the 20th - and last - race of the event, there was only a two-boat gap; the Hirsts and Holmbergs finished tied on 18 points each.  The tie was broken with race wins and the Holmbergs bested the Hirsts with six wins to their five.

Tortola, British Virgin Islands, July 7th, 2008 - Locally based chef, Davide Pugliese of Brandywine Bay Restaurant, will be joining twelve international master chefs at the 2008 Winemakers Dinners. The series of eight dinners will be hosted at select venues in the BVI from July 26th to August 2nd.Davide, well known in the region for his talents as a creative chef, will be preparing a course at Government House on July 26th. This will be the first dinner of the weeklong event. The net proceeds of the dinners will benefit the BVI Charitable Fund.

"I'm delighted to be part of this commendable effort." says Davide "It's a good feeling to donate time towards a charitable cause. I'm also looking forward to working with the visiting chefs.  These occasions are always a great opportunity to share experiences and technique tips from our respective kitchens.

"We are each going to be preparing a course for the dinner which must compliment the selected wine maker's wines. I'm working on a recipe which I hope will surprise and delight the palates of the guests." adds Davide.
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Tortola, British Virgin Islands, May 28th 2008 - Details of the FirstCaribbean International Bank 2008 Unsung Heroes campaign were revealed at a recent press conference hosted at Maria's by the Sea. The campaign seeks to identify and acknowledge those people in our community who dedicate their personal time to improving the quality of life for others. Members of the media and community leaders were encouraged to support the annual programme, which invites the public to nominate an individual who is enriching the lives of others without personal gain. Nominations must be submitted by June 30th.

The criteria for nomination requires the individual to be over the age of 21 and be a Caribbean person or resident in the Caribbean for over five years. Further the individual or cause should have no or minimal publicity in the media but the cause could benefit from the exposure.

Ms Sherica Thomas, customer services representative for FirstCaribbean is the campaign coordinator in Virgin Gorda. She described the nominees as being possible champions of small or large causes, popular or esoteric:

"It could be an individual who voluntarily runs a 'homework club' - engaging the young in productive after school activities or it could be someone whose door is always open to the less fortunate members of our community - the key commonality is their shared determination to make the world a little more pleasant, a little better than it was before," explained Ms. Thomas.
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Tortola, British Virgin Islands, April 10, 2008 - Two lucky people won $500 dollars each at the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival 2008. Mr Sean Rose and Mr David Finlayson, both resident in the BVI, were two of the many hopeful entrants in a free raffle promoted during the event by gold sponsor, FirstCaribbean International Bank. Mr Michael Spencer, country manager for FirstCaribbean announced the two names which were drawn by the Premier, the Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal and by the Governor, His Excellency, David Pearey during the Regatta awards ceremony.

FirstCaribbean provided eligible participants and visitors to the Regatta Village the opportunity to enter a free draw to win one of two prizes of a $500 deposit account.
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Tortola, British Virgin Islands, April 1, 2008 - Visitors to the BVI Spring Regatta Village at Nanny Cay are being given the opportunity to win free money. FirstCaribbean International Bank, gold sponsor of the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival 2008, is inviting all eligible participants and visitors to the Regatta Village, to enter a free raffle draw which could win them one of two prizes of a $500 Deposit Account.

Entries for the draw can be made at the FirstCaribbean International Bank tent at the Regatta Village from 5pm - 8pm, Friday, April 4th through Saturday, April 5th. The two winning entries will be drawn at 5pm just before the BVI Spring Regatta awards on Sunday, April 6th.

"For the last four years, FirstCaribbean International Bank has been a proud supporter of the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, a major annual international event, which greatly benefits the local community and welcomes world wide visitors to experience the best of the sailing spirit in the BVI," says FirstCaribbean's head of corporate banking and country manager, Michael Spencer. "Our free raffle, which last year was won by two BVI residents, provides an additional element of fun to the occasion as well as an opportunity for FirstCaribbean to raise awareness of the variety of services we offer. This year we have doubled the value of the deposit accounts making it even more of a windfall for the lucky winners!"
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Tortola, British Virgin Islands, December 12, 2007 - The BVI Diabetes Association shone as the beneficiary of a recent fund raising event held at the new Cicchetti Lounge @ Brandywine Bay Restaurant. The evening of cicchetti (chi-KET-tee -Venetian style tapas) and wine raised $1300 dollars for the association.

Members of the BVI Diabetes Association spoke to guests about the disease, its symptoms and management. Much emphasis was put on the fact that the prevention of type 2 diabetes was in our hands and that a healthy, balanced diet combined with regular exercise could greatly reduce the risk of becoming a diabetic.

"The rate of obesity is rapidly rising in BVI youngsters, and as a result, we are seeing more and more cases of diabetes in that age group," said Dr Jana Downing, medical advisor for the BVI Diabetes Association.  "By taking control of what we serve at meal times and by educating children to make healthier choices we can start to eliminate the biggest contributing factor in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the BVI."

"Another preventative measure is to take regular exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming and running." added Dr. Downing.

The fundraiser was well attended as guests mingled under the lantern lit, Moroccan themed marquee. Platters of freshly prepared, finger food from the regular Cicchetti menu such as Caesar salad hand-rolls, Mussels Oreganata, Bresaola and Goat cheese, Crostini and a variety of Bruschette were brought out for guests to sample. Later in the evening, host and owner of Brandywine Bay Restaurant, Chef Davide Pugliese thanked guests for coming and invited Mr Allan Rhymer, president of the BVI Diabetes Association to address the guests.
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Tortola, British Virgin Islands, November 27, 2007 - The BVI Diabetes Association is set to benefit from a fund raising event to be hosted at the Cicchetti Lounge at Brandywine Bay Restaurant from 6.00pm on Wednesday, December 5th.

The fundraiser is welcomed by Mr Allan Rhymer, president of the BVI Diabetes Association, as being an additional social event, which will serve to punctuate ongoing public awareness of diabetes in the BVI.

"Diabetes is a serious condition that needs to be managed effectively," says Mr Rhymer. "The BVI Diabetes Association has an ever increasing demand on its resources. Anything that is done to help us highlight the disease and raise funds to improve our range of service and quality of support is always appreciated."
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Tortola, British Virgin Islands, November 26, 2007 - The 38th Pusser's Round Tortola Race took place on Saturday (November 24) and the smallest boat in the fleet - INTAC, an IC24 - won the racing class. Besting much larger boats in a race which saw it battling big seas and winds gusting in the 20-25 knot range, INTAC won this annual circumnavigation of Tortola after corrected time was calculated.  Second Nature, the Hughes 38 skippered by Bill Bailey, won the cruising class.

INTAC, owned by Mark Plaxton and skippered by 16-year old Alec Anderson, was tenacious as it hung on to the bigger boats that desperately tried to shake them off. "Annoyingly close the whole time," said one competitor.