Court Registry problems
A Beaconite who occasionally browses through public records at the High Court Registry noticed some ominous visuals while there on Wednesday of last week: Almost every employee was sporting some sort of breathing mask, and part of the ceiling in the reception room appeared to be cracked and bulging.
High Court Registrar Erica Smith-Penn declined to comment about the issue this week, saying that the HCR was “preparing all that needs to be told to the public,” but the Beaconite did notice that she complained about the location in the old administration building during the most recent deliberations of the Standing Finance Committee. According to the 2016 SFC report, Ms. Smith-Penn expressed concern to the committee of lawmakers about the building’s structure and air quality, which she said was causing HCR officers to become ill. The Beaconite hopes the registry can solve whatever issues are plaguing its workers, and he also thinks government should be responsible for housing its employees in appropriately healthy locations.
To print or not to print
A Beaconite was put in an awkward position this week when a government official asked him not to print a story about the National Health Insurance scheme. When reading through the legislation governing NHI, he found a provision stating that workers can’t lose their benefits just because their bosses aren’t paying into the fund. The Beaconite found this odd, considering that the Social Security Board has recently been telling people they would lose their benefits if their employers are delinquent. When the Beaconite took this finding to the government official, that official asked him not to report the fact he had just found. The official explained that the SSB had been threatening to suspend benefits in an effort to put pressure on delinquent employers to start paying what they owe. As evidenced by the story on page one, the Beacon decided to publish the story anyway — for many reasons. For starters, the Beaconite feels an obligation to report the truth. Moreover, he felt it important to inform residents of their rights, including their legal right to NHI coverage even if their employers may be delinquent. Listing his other reasons would take too much space, so the Beaconite will simply say that he understands NHI officials were well-intentioned in employing their tactic — they are concerned with the long-term sustainability of NHI — but he disagrees with what they did on every level.
More ham, please
A Beaconite enjoys covering community events, but even more so when there are free Virgin Islands delicacies for attendees. Needless to say, she was very pleased with the Clash of the Carolers at the Queen Elizabeth II Park. Attendees were not only treated to lovely singing and performances, but there was free ham, turkey, tarts and local drinks for all. In fact, this Beaconite had her first serving of ham for the season. She’s looking forward to much more, and she isn’t against the idea of generous residents dropping some by at the office. After all, this season is all about sharing.
Guardrails needed
Over the last week, photos have been circulating online of a white vehicle that swerved off the road while travelling towards Cane Garden Bay. Luckily for the driver, his car didn’t plummet off the hill because it was saved by a fence post. However, there are many sections on the roadway from Road Town to CGB that are unprotected by fences or guardrails. Given that this is a heavily trafficked area, and one that is frequently plagued by falling rocks, tree limbs and roaming livestock, the Beaconite would like to see government add more rails along the road. She hopes the Public Works Department will consider undertaking this project in the New Year.
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