Virgin Islands News Online continues to believe and practice the values of a free, fair and transparent press, but a press that is responsible and always tells the truth. Photo: VINO

Virgin Islands News Online did not escape the wrath of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO

It has been an exciting seven years for Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), with lows and highs, but we are so proud that our reporters have maintained their journalistic integrity, their fairness, their objectivity and it has been well established that VINO reporters and editors are not for sale.

VINO stayed true to mandate

We can boast that we are fearless but balanced and no one can dictate to our newsroom what to write, what to cover or what should be posted, once we stay within professional, legal and objective reporting. We have said in our mandate that the news site will never be used to go after anyone, to settle any political, personal or social scores or to promote anyone.

We have kept that trust and that is why we are rated number 1 by the public and remains the voice of the voiceless.

Notwithstanding, like any small business, we have faced our fair share of challenges and also our fair cup of successes. Hurricane Irma has not been kind to us, as our Headquarters in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola (office building and home) was destroyed by the monster storm, leaving reporters homeless and losing everything, including all our computers, cellular phones, cameras, files and other equipment.

While we cannot boast that we are back on our feet we will strive to continue to bring you our loyal readers news that is first, fair and accurate. Our cartoonist has relocated following Hurricanes Irma and Maria; however, we have re-established contact and will be resuming our popular cartoon feature again shorty.

Free Press but be responsible

We will continue to open our articles for comments/blogs as readers’ input is vital to free speech and public debate, as it is said without VINO the light of democracy in these Greater Virgin Islands will go out.

We could not end without thanking the hardworking staff, the overwhelming support from the public, our growing team of reporters around the Territory, our affiliate newspapers and radio stations and other news organisations locally, regionally and internationally and our loyal, faithful and consistent advertisers. Without you there is no VINO.

The day to day operation of our newsroom is run by the Editor in Chief, who determines stories, comments/blogs, assigning reporters and what is posted, without interference from the parent company Advance Marketing and Professional Services.

We continue to believe and practice the values of a free, fair and transparent press, but a press that is responsible and always tells the truth. That is why being accurate means so much to our newsroom.

We say again thank you to all who have been by our side for the past seven years and we look forward to another seven and change.