"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
MADRID — No Virgin Islands delegation took part in the negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this month in Madrid, but decisions made as the fractious two-week meeting …
Continue reading “Slow progress at climate talks bodes ill for Virgin Islands”
As a few large countries delayed needed action at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this month in Spain, people are dying from storms, rising sea levels, droughts and other …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: COP25 a call to climate action”
The day of former Premier Ralph O’Neal’s funeral will be a public holiday, according to a proclamation by acting Governor David Archer Jr. published in the government’s Gazette on Friday. …
Continue reading “Public holiday declared for day of first premier’s funeral”
As Virgin Islands chef Ariq Flax-Clarke garnished samples of coconut-flavoured risotto with micro-greens during Taste of Virgin Gorda on Saturday night, emcee Angelle Cameron narrated with the help of a …
Continue reading “Taste of Virgin Gorda draws more than 300 people”
The BVI Food Fete officially got under way last Thursday night at the Scrub Island Resort and Spa, where Virgin Islands chefs served plates at the Gourmet Soiree. The event …
Electricity has been restored to the incinerator at Pockwood Pond, and repairs are “nearing completion” even though a needed part still has not been shipped from the United States, government …
Continue reading “Incinerator part still not shipped, but repairs ‘nearing completion’”
As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, forecasters were expecting the centre of Tropical Storm Dorian to pass well to the south of the Virgin Islands, buffeting Puerto Rico and possibly …
Continue reading “In surprise, Dorian brushes VI, but no major damage reported”
Jared Lettsome, a friendly 30-year-old with Down syndrome, survived Hurricane Irma huddled in a closet with his family as the wind blew the roof off their East End home. Sixteen …
Continue reading “The official toll is 4, but Irma likely killed more than 30”
The government plans to distribute facemasks and to reduce the smoke coming from the Pockwood Pond landfill, but the parts needed to repair the non-functional incinerator there still have not …
Continue reading “Contract for incinerator parts not yet signed”
The day after public urging from Premier Andrew Fahie, Speaker of the House Julian Willock last week dropped his appeal against a High Court order to swear in Mark Vanterpool …
Continue reading “Speaker mum on why he dropped Vanterpool appeal”
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”