Twelve months after the worst natural disaster in Virgin Islands modern history, the territory is still reeling and roaming about in the wilderness! That Hurricane Irma set the development of …
September 11, 2018
August 21, 2018
COMMENTARY — Stats seen as essential for recovery
Accurate statistics and sound economic metrics are critical to engineering economic recovery for the Virgin Islands. A July article in a national online newspaper stated that the territory’s public debt …
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August 7, 2018
COMMENTARY — Businesses seen as key to recovery
Locally owned small businesses are critical for getting the Virgin Islands out of recession. Small business is at the core of the VI economic engine. Building strong small businesses is …
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July 24, 2018
COMMENTARY — Recession potential causes concerns
The United States economy is booming, and it is expected to grow 4.5 percent this year. This is a very strong growth rate, and it is unusual for the current …
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July 9, 2018
COMMENTARY — Next election described as critical
The territory’s next general election is to take place before the end of next summer. It will be an epic affair. The election will be a hard fought battle. In …
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June 19, 2018
COMMENTARY — Call made to build back green
The world is facing huge environmental threats and a climate change narrative that is changing the culture and way of life of geographically and ecologically vulnerable communities and societies. Communities …
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June 4, 2018
COMMENTARY — Territory warned to diversify economy
Economies that depend upon a single product and a single market for their existence put all their eggs into a single basket. When that basket takes a hit, all hell …
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May 23, 2018
Commentary — Maritime college envisioned at Prospect
Simple location and geography suggest that Prospect Reef, a marina and resort devastated by Hurricane Irma, is one of the best locations in the Caribbean to build a nautical and …
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April 18, 2018
COMMENTARY — Options weighed for next election
The economy is front, centre and rear of any disaster recovery effort after hurricanes Irma and Maria. So the next government, after a 2019 general election, must adopt a specific …
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April 11, 2018
COMMENTARY — Call made for a recovery ‘vision’
Vision is critical to economics. The math, statistics, psychology, history and sociology that create the concepts and narratives of economic thought are mere tools of the visionary. Vision is what …
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April 4, 2018
COMMENTARY — Writer supports recovery agency
The recent ten-to-two vote in the Virgin Islands legislature allowing for the establishment of the Disaster Recover Agency is a vote for transparent, accountable, equitable, measured and well audited governance. …
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March 28, 2018
COMMENTARY — Ideas aired on gov’t borrowing
Governments, even micro-administrations of tiny jurisdictions, have the ability to raise finance to an exponentially greater degree than individuals and small businesses. In the aftermath of the September 2017 natural …
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March 21, 2018
COMMENTARY — Writer defends Virgin Islander workers
The Virgin Islands economy — composed primarily of the financial services industry, tourism and the domestic market economy — is the core tool for the empowerment of Virgin Islanders and …
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March 14, 2018
COMMENTARY — More ideas offered for recovery funding
The western world is overflowing with cash. This is a consequence of quantitative easing and monetary stimulus combined with fearful and debt-laden consumers. The Virgin Islands inhabits a paradoxical place. …
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March 7, 2018
COMMENTARY — Writer analyses post-Irma economics
Physical and economic recovery after the natural disasters of September 2017 requires fitting the territory’s economic restorative models into the moulds of the twin western economic cultures of stimulus and …
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February 7, 2018
COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for tourism plan
One fine evening at Pusser’s in Road Town, this Old Boy sat with a fellow Old Boy from the same United Kingdom alma mater. After a cold drink, the men …
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January 31, 2018
COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for economic planning
Effective long-term strategic economic planning specific to a country’s customs, traditions and culture is great for everyone: national stakeholders, citizens, employees, employers, businessmen, investors and governments. However, any type of …
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September 14, 2016
‘Why social class fails in the VI’
This writer did not realise that a commentary on social class in the Virgin Islands would generate great interest, but he has received much feedback on his submission of last …
September 21, 2011
Beef Island situation called ‘paradox’
This lay conservationist was grateful to read in the Aug. 25 edition of The BVI Beacon William Walker’s