Seaweed alert

Readers, one of whom sent the above photo, have pointed out that the sargassum is back again. This time the floating seaweed is particularly abundant on the shorelines of Beef Island. In recent days, it has covered the beach at the island’s Long Bay (above), and it has choked off much of Trellis Bay as well. Beaconites hope that the new sargassum harvesting machines will be able to clean out the areas before the stench from the rotting algae becomes unbearable.

 

Dangerous ‘wining’

Trinidad soca diva Destra Garcia is known for performing sexy dances during her concerts. Not only does the “Lucy” crooner gyrate seductively, she invites male concertgoers to join her on stage. But it appears the “wining” may cost the performer $8,000 following a lawsuit a fan filed against her in 2015 after her “Carnival Overload” performance in Belize that year. According to the Jamaican Observer, Fernando Oliva claimed that Ms. Garcia, who is scheduled to perform at this year’s East End/Long Look Festival Village in the Virgin Islands, jumped on him and ruptured his bladder. A YouTube video shows a man purported to be Mr. Oliva on stage with Destra. “If you’s [sic] bad boy, I will treat you bad!” Destra said before jumping wrestling-style on the eager patron. Mr. Oliva was later rushed to the hospital after he left the stage, according to the Observer. In a default judgment last week after Ms. Garcia allegedly failed to appear in court or enter a plea, she reportedly was ordered to pay $8,000. While there have been no casualties following Destra’s many performances in the VI, Beaconites hope patrons will carefully consider their decision if called on stage during Festival this year.

Ants!

A Beaconite was hiking up Russell Hill with a friend last Thursday, when that friend asked him to pick some leaves from a tree so she could use them to make tea. The Beaconite stepped into the grass beside the road to oblige his friend, when suddenly he felt several sharp stings to the bottom of his right calf. Looking down, he was horrified by the ghastly sight of dozens of fire ants crawling up his right leg. The panic-stricken Beaconite furiously swatted at the nasty little insects until his friend advised him to stomp on the ground to shake them off. That tactic worked, but not before his leg was covered in painful bites, which turned into itchy welts the next day. As of this issue’s press deadline, some of those welts are still on his leg. The Beaconite tells his story as a cautionary tale to his fellow hikers: Watch your step, especially when stepping into the brush.

By the numbers

A Beaconite’s favourite numbers for the week are the following.

• • Latest estimates put the Virgin Islands’ gross domestic product per capita at $33,983, according to the VI government’s credit report from Caribbean Information & Credit Rating Services Limited.
• • The same report notes that this figure is the fourth highest in the Western Hemisphere, after Bermuda ($84,381), the United States ($57,300) and the Cayman Islands ($47,000)
• • The latest data figures also put the VI’s unemployment rate at 2.8 percent, according to CariCRIS.

Storm

Beaconites hope that everyone is ready for a possible storm. As of press time yesterday, there was one brewing over the Atlantic Ocean. Though the system was forecast to track slightly north of the Virgin Islands, weather can be unpredictable and storms have been known to change course with precious little warning. So Beaconites urge everyone to establish a disaster plan, create a preparedness kit, and stock up on plenty of drinking water and non-perishable food items. You might be glad you did.

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