Trial trials
Although trials usually take place in courtrooms, one Beaconite was intrigued to learn this week that jurors in an ongoing trial were being taken by boat to view the scene of a marine wreck. She headed to the ferry dock hoping to come along, but guards told her that the press was not permitted, as the court had paid for the boat. Given that the boat looked plenty spacious, and that the trip was part of an open trial, the reporter was confused about why she was blocked from boarding. In the interest of open justice, Beaconites hope that the court will do all it can to ensure that the press and other members of the public are able to attend all future trial proceedings, no matter where they are held.
VI connections
Like many others in the territory, a Beaconite enjoyed Super Bowl 50 Sunday evening with friends and food. It wasn’t until after the game that she learned that this particular match-up, which the Denver Broncos won, has a Virgin Islands connection. Broncos running back Juwan Thompson, who wasn’t able to play Sunday due to an injury, originally hails from St. Croix, according to the VI Consortium. Mr. Thompson is in his second season with the team, and this was his first Super Bowl. The reporter hopes the running back will earn many more rings in his football career.
Debate schmebate
A Beaconite from the United States watched the Republican presidential debate on Saturday night, and was not impressed by the level of discourse between the candidates. From rhetoric about how incumbent president Barack Obama is trying to “make America different from the rest of the world” to empty promises to “make America great again,” there was very little substantive debate over public policy. Moreover, when actual policies were discussed, many of the ideas seemed to be simplistic “solutions” to complex issues, such as using torture and carpet bombing to combat terrorism, or building a giant wall between the US and Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants. The Beaconite has heard proposals to have debates set up for elections in the Virgin Islands. If that happens again, he hopes the discourse between VI candidates will be better than what he heard on Saturday.
VI pea soup
Over the weekend, a Beaconite who has lived in the Virgin Islands for 10 years realised that she’s never had the traditional VI pea soup with milk, sugar and pig tail. She’s not sure how she managed to avoid the delicacy, considering that she attends cultural food fairs several times a year. Recently, a taxi driver found out. Next time he meets her, he said, he hopes to hear positive reviews of her first VI pea soup experience. She hopes not to disappoint him, as she is looking forward to sampling the dish.
‘Hello, Tortola’
When a Beaconite was growing up in her native Nigeria, her father often played songs by the South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. No matter how much her father touted the singers, however, she disliked their music, in part because of its traditional roots. However, as she grew older, she began to appreciate the group’s singing style, which reflects a heritage that she is very proud of. As such, she will be dressed in a traditional outfit as she covers the group’s performance at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College on Feb. 23 and 24. This week, she got even more excited after seeing a video the group recorded to promote the VI visit.
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