The BVI Beacon is published every Thursday, and circulates worldwide.The tabloid was started June 7, 1984 in response to the unmet communications needs of a rapidly developing British Virgin Islands and an increasingly sophisticated readership.

The Beacon set out to build a reputation of professional coverage and delivery of community news, and in its nearly 17 years has done just that. Primarily through consistently covering the tough issues inherent in government, politics, the territory's rapid growth, the economy's mainstays of tourism and offshore banking, socio-economic changes, and so on.

As a result, the Beacon has earned wide readership appeal. Besides its steadily growing number of overseas subscribers, the Beacon serves a local population varying in levels of income, education and sophistication. The BVI Beacon zealously guards the democratic principle of a free press and the people's right to freedom of expression.

It promotes public participation in the territory's affairs through the forum of a newspaper that fully understands and takes its role seriously. Accordingly, the Beacon encourages dialogue and debate through the lively, thought-provoking opinions published here weekly.

Linnell M. Abbott is editor.
Dora L. Harrigan is business manager.
Advertising is handled by Jessica Bianchini

Our offices are located downtown at 10 Russell Hill Road, Road Town, Tortola, Virgin Islands. Besides our local postal address of P.O. Box 3030, you may also write to us at P.O. Box 305498, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands 00803. Or phone (284) 494-3767, 494-3434; fax (284) 494-6267, or e-mail us at 'bvibeacn@surfbvi.com.'