Dancin’ road worker

While riding back from Nanny Cay one day last week, the Beaconite encountered some serious roadwork just outside of Road Town.

Traffic could only move in one direction at a time, and the car the Beaconite was riding in was forced to stop and wait while a traffic controller waived across vehicles from the other direction. This traffic controller, however, was engaged in some practices the Beaconite would not recommend, given her line of work: She was listening to music, singing along and slightly dancing, apparently not paying careful attention to the work being completed around her. Sure enough, she waved the Beaconite’s ride through prematurely, and a road worker was forced to chase the car down and slap on its rear windshield to get it to brake. It was a good thing he did, because an excavator rapidly swung its claw onto the road ahead of the vehicle. A simple word of advice to all would-be traffic controllers: Pay attention.

Mango season

It’s a wonderful time of the year: mango season. A Beaconite enjoys indulging in the sweet tropical delight. Already, she’s seen many trees heavy with ripe fruit, and she can’t wait to get her hands on some. Thankfully, the Safe Haven Transitional Centre has some grafted trees and often sell mangoes to raise funds for the facility. The Beaconite likely will take advantage.

Budding Mozarts

A Beaconite who attended St. William’s Catholic Church’s International Luncheon on Sunday at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park would like to send a shout-out to the young musicians who performed. The students, who were part of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports After School Music Programme, all did a great job on their instruments. As someone who loves music but never had the patience to learn to play an instrument, the Beaconite commends all the kids for their dedication. Keep up the hard work, little Mozarts!

Sympathy

A Beaconite who used to get very anxious when speaking in front of crowds as a teenager sends her sympathy to a student who got choked up this weekend while speaking at a competition. She hopes the student doesn’t worry too much about it. Almost everyone has gotten nervous at least once when speaking to a crowd. The Beaconite, who noted that audience members and other participants encouraged the girl to continue, thought it was great that everyone was supportive. She wishes the student better luck next time!

First impressions

A Beaconite would like to thank the Immigration Department officials at the Road Town ferry terminal for once again providing an unwelcome first impression for visiting guests. Two of the Beaconite’s arriving friends were hassled by a rude official for not being able to provide an exact address of where they were staying, despite that official’s definite awareness of the general lack of residential addresses in the Virgin Islands. The Beaconite’s friends were told to move to the back of the line, despite providing the neighbourhood where they planned to stay. The official’s behaviour mirrors other negative immigration encounters described to this Beaconite by visitors and residents alike. Even the Beaconite himself, on his initial arrival to the VI, received a horrible first impression: Upon walking up to a female immigration official, he smiled and asked how her day was going. She looked up, glared and said, “Well, I was trying to enjoy my coffee.” For a jurisdiction that prides itself on offering incredible tourism, some of the Immigration officials at the Road Town ferry terminal serve as an experience-tainting hiccup, diluting the quality of the territory’s product. One can only hope they receive further customer service training, so as not to ward off incoming guests in the future.

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