VIRGIN ISLANDS

The Inland Revenue Department is reminding residents to pay their property tax, due and payable from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30. Anyone in arrears will be charged a penalty of 20 percent per year for each year the taxes remain unpaid, according to Government Information Services. Property tax payments can be made at the IRD’s main offices in Tortola or Virgin Gorda. Cheques, credit cards and cash are accepted. The post office branches in the East End and West End districts are also accepting payments during September only. On Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, district officers accept payments on the department’s behalf. For more information, contact the IRD at 468-3701, extension 2155, or e-mail

REGIONAL

Digicel announced Tuesday that it has signed up 11 million customers across 32 markets worldwide. Since launching in Jamaica nine and a half years ago, the company has grown rapidly across the Caribbean, Central America and Pacific regions. The company said it has achieved 10 percent subscriber growth year on year and increased its market share quarter on quarter in all of its major markets, including El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago.

REGIONAL

USA Today reported this week that at least 10 cruise ships changed their itineraries from eastern Caribbean destinations as Hurricane Earl travelled through the region. The ships included the 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory, the 4,100-passenger Norwegian Epic and three Royal Caribbean ships: the 2,446-passenger Enchantment of the Seas, the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas and the 3,634-passenger Freedom of the Seas — all bound for St. Thomas. Most of the redirected ships substituted destinations in the western Caribbean.