"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
The Virgin Islands’ Recovery to Development Plan promises to make the territory “near carbon neutral.” But what does that mean exactly, and how would it get done? The Beacon recently …
Continue reading “How to be carbon neutral: A Q&A with Bhutan’s former prime minister”
Imagine that a foreign billionaire wants to influence a Virgin Islands election because of a lucrative investment opportunity he wishes to make in the territory. To do so, he secretly …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Campaign finance reform should come by next election”
About a month ago, excavations began along the beach in the north end of Cane Garden Bay as part of a government project designed to protect a shoreline that slips …
Continue reading “Shore fix in Cane unlikely to last, experts say”
Police officers responded to the temporary Elmore Stoutt High School in Pasea after a “disturbance” there on Monday morning, according to Police Information Officer Diane Drayton. In a two-sentence statement …
Continue reading “Police respond to ESHS, but tight-lipped on ‘disturbance’”
The recently formed Reform Action Alliance announced on Monday that it won’t field at-large election candidates as originally planned. Instead, it will focus on serving as a “non-partisan watchdog for …
Continue reading “RAA won’t field candidates, but pledges to be ‘watchdog’”
During a press conference on Jan. 21, 2016, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith promised to commission an audit into the cruise pier project, which had given rise to allegations of impropriety …
Continue reading “Technically, pier project ‘audit’ was not an audit”
The recently launched Reform Action Alliance issued a call last Thursday for a raft of laws that it claims are long overdue in fostering good governance, transparency, environmental protection, consumer …
Continue reading “RAA calls for ‘overdue’ laws, election reforms”
After about 14 years of using Delta Petroleum as its primary fuel provider, the BVI Electricity Corporation has awarded SOL St. Lucia Limited a contract to provide fuel for Tortola’s …
Continue reading “SOL unseats Delta to win BVIEC fuel contract worth some $35-40m”
A safari bus carrying 13 tourists caught fire on Tuesday near the top of Joes Hill road, but officials said the passengers were quickly evacuated and no one was injured. …
Continue reading “Safari bus burns on Joes Hill, but no one injured”
Government officials recently threatened to fine a South African businessman who removed a large swath of mangroves and other vegetation from the Paraquita Bay lagoon as part of efforts to …
Continue reading “As eco-law delayed, mangroves and wetlands left exposed”
Forty years ago last month, the Virgin Islands took a major step toward financial freedom when, with a $1.3 million budget surplus, the government ended its reliance on grant-in-aid from …
After a backhoe cleared a wide swath of mangroves and other vegetation as part of efforts to remove a grounded yacht from the Paraquita Bay lagoon last month, government has …
Continue reading “Mangrove removal sparks outcry, but yacht buyer says he had gov’t permission”
At-large representative Ronnie Skelton has been appointed opposition leader, replacing First District Representative Andrew Fahie, Governor Gus Jaspert announced Friday. Mr. Jaspert said he received a letter from Mr. Skelton …
Continue reading “Ronnie Skelton replaces Andrew Fahie at helm of opposition”
With less than a month to spare, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith on Tuesday announced Cabinet’s approval of a draft law designed to keep the Virgin Islands off a European Union …
Continue reading “As EU blacklist looms, House to fast-track law”
The Virgin Islands Party will choose a slate of four at-large candidates from at least nine hopefuls on Saturday, Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie announced Monday. Mr. Fahie, the VIP chairman, …
Continue reading “Virgin Islands Party to choose at-large slate Saturday”
The territory is one step closer to banning certain plastics and Styrofoam, joining other islands around the region in a move that has been lauded by waste managers and environmental …
After a scaled-down BVI Food Fete last year following Hurricane Irma, Cindy Rosan-Jones is thrilled. “This year, it’s caught on,” said the BVI Tourist Board events coordinator, who helps organise …
Continue reading “BVI Food Fete bounces back after scaled-back post-Irma version”
Colin Campbell was mixing a “Mount Gay XO Old-Fashioned” cocktail on Sunday afternoon at the Cooper Island Rum Festival. “We’re gonna have a two-ounce pour in a glass, a splash …
Continue reading “Rum festival draws crowd to Cooper Island Beach Club”
Road Town was devastated by Hurricane Irma, but the capital is building back in leaps and bounds. Scroll down to compare scenes captured shortly after Hurricane Irma to the same …
Continue reading “Irma, Then and Now: Photos from around Road Town”
Much has changed since Hurricane Irma struck the Virgin Islands on Sept. 6, 2017. In some locations, the recovery effort has transformed the landscape. Other areas, however, don’t look much …
Continue reading “Irma, then and now: Photos from around Tortola”
Hurricane Isaac is expected to pass about 206 miles south of the Virgin Islands as a hurricane or a strong tropical storm on Thursday morning, possibly bringing showers and seas …
Continue reading “Isaac expected to pass 200-plus miles south of Virgin Islands”
Virgin Islands election officials are continuing to push for electronic vote-counting machines after observing the primary elections in St. Thomas this month. But before that can happen, Cabinet will need …
Continue reading “Vote-counting machines could come by next election”
The Recovery and Development Agency recently awarded nine bidders with 13 contracts to clear debris around the territory left by last year’s hurricanes. Though the agency has touted its commitment …
The re-installation of disaster warning systems across the territory is in full swing, according to the Department of Disaster Management. “We have been able to source and purchase a number …
Continue reading “Work continues to restore emergency warning systems”
The Taddy Bay Airport on Virgin Gorda is likely to reopen in mid-September, the BVI Airports Authority announced Monday. The facility closed in April because officials were concerned that its …
Continue reading “Virgin Gorda airport likely to reopen in September”