2017 in the British Virgin Islands

Events from the year 2017 in the British Virgin Islands.

Incumbents

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.