Smooth service

Last week, a Beaconite realised that her Social Security card was missing, and she needed one in order to get her driver’s licence. So she called the Social Security Board. A friendly receptionist told her what to do, and within 10 minutes she had visited the office and obtained a new card. The Beaconite was very pleased with the service she received, and she thinks that other government agencies could learn a thing or two from the SSB.

 

Obsessed?

A Beaconite was taken aback at a Friday press conference when Governor John Duncan described him as “obsessed” with the airport project’s business case, a document whose second draft was completed in May and obtained by the Beacon last month, and which forecasts the potential impact the project could have on the territory. Mr. Duncan has been downplaying the importance of the business case since April, and stressed on Friday that “the key issue of the current [airport] model is affordability. It’s not its business case.” Instead, he said, reporters should focus their efforts on the territory’s lack of a Human Rights Commission and other issues that are more important. Frankly, the Beaconite is confused with Mr. Duncan’s position on the issue. The business case, in fact, assesses the airport project’s affordability, among other factors. Therefore, it would seem that the issue of the business case and the airport’s affordability are part and parcel. The Beaconite wonders if perhaps Mr. Duncan is using a different definition of “business case” than the one used in the Protocols for Effective Financial Management. He would also like to note that the Beacon shares Mr. Duncan’s concern that there isn’t a Human Rights Commission here — so much so, in fact, that the newspaper ran a front page story on the issue on June 23, and followed up last month with an editorial calling for the commission to be established.

Power outages

A Beaconite was excited to learn that the BVI Electricity Corporation’s new generators have arrived in the territory. Like many residents, she has been waking up at about 3 a.m. lately in a pool of sweat, only to discover that her fan and air-conditioner are not functioning due to a power outage. She thinks it’s great that the BVIEC is trying to improve, and she hopes the generators will be up and running soon.

The spill

Beaconites often notice trucks in the territory carrying loads that aren’t properly secured. Perhaps that was the problem on Saturday, when bags of a sand-like material fell off a flatbed near the BVI Fishing Complex. Because of the spill, traffic was backed up, inconveniencing drivers and causing a general nuisance. Beaconites hope that the incident will serve as a lesson to truckers and other drivers: Loads should be properly secured at all times. And if they’re not, police should take action.

Marlin tourneys

A Beaconite would like to congratulate the various stakeholders and organisations involved in orchestrating two back-to-back sport fishing tournaments this month. Both the Virgin Gorda and Scrub Island competitions seemed to proceed without major issues and brought visitors to the Virgin Islands during the slow season. They earned praise from participants, and have the potential to grow into larger tournaments in the coming years. This could be a positive development for the territory, which many enthusiasts say has some of the best sport fishing waters on the planet.

{fcomment}