Award
Beaconites are proud to announce that an important honour has been awarded to a cross-border series on sargassum seaweed published last April in the Beacon and several other partnering media outlets around the Caribbean and further abroad. The six-article series was one of four finalists for the 2025 Victor K. McElheny Award from the Knight Science Journalism Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The prize is awarded annually for outstanding coverage of science, public health, technology and environmental issues at the local and regional levels. For the cross-border series, which was facilitated by the Puerto Rico Centre of Investigative Journalism, the Beacon worked with journalists in six other countries and territories to probe the sargassum problem and policymakers’ failure to adequately address it. As the stinky seaweed begins to wash up on the region’s shores once again, the award was also a reminder that the problem has not been solved.
Sea legs
A Beaconite underwent his official initiation to the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival when he got sick off the stern of a vessel named Roaz in the race to Scrub Island on Wednesday of last week. Before any maritime veterans scoff at the young buck, know that his seat on Roaz was completely accidental. The vessel he was meant to board was a powerboat for photographers, which was docked behind the regatta committee’s power cat, out of view at Nanny Cay. After hearing someone call his name from the direction of an adjacent dock, however, he was told that his vessel awaited. This turn of events was surprising, as he hadn’t made prior arrangements to be on a sailboat. But the crew and two other journalists welcomed him aboard as if his presence was expected. An hour later, he was ballast, moving from port to starboard and back again as the boat sailed east along Tortola’s coast. He was mid-conversation, snacking on an apple, when something in his stomach felt off. Uh-oh. With immense tact and coordination, he excused himself to the stern to pacify his gut. Apparently, his first time on a monohull sailboat wasn’t the time to be drinking sparkling water and eating fruit. Relieved, and with no evidence of his seasickness to speak of, he resumed his post as ballast. Oddly, he felt completely fine. He greatly appreciates the Rite Way personnel who were crewing the boat. They didn’t appear at all frustrated with his brief episode. Perhaps they were even impressed with his aim. In any event, each of the Beaconite’s following days at sea was marked with much more success. Not once were any of his transgressions repeated — though admittedly he didn’t race again. Instead, he stuck to the press boat, which in itself was a challenging endeavour as he dodged spray from the choppy waters. Nevertheless, he doesn’t intend on ending his racing career anytime soon. Now he just needs to keep out of the classifieds in case he develops a pressing need to buy his own boat.
And Jesus wept
The Lord moves in mysterious ways, as everyone knows. Yet a Beaconite was still surprised to see He/She/They endorse the new public trash bin in Cane Garden Bay. The two giant ugly green skips where Caners dump their garbage bags have suddenly been surrounded by a rather tasteful white fence frame (presumably after pressure from the cruise ship operators who shuttle guests up to the golden beaches on the north shore of Tortola?). While this is a welcome, aesthetically pleasing move, the reporter could not help but be startled by the advertising on the side of the construction. The sign reads: “Your Mistakes Are Thrown Away; My Love Remains. Signed Jesus.” A local church appears to be one of the sponsors of the unusual pitch for prayers. Maybe it’s an attempt to try and lighten the load of Christianity, but God has never really been known for a sense of humour — unless you count creating the kangaroo. The placing of the message struck a Beaconite as being, well, a bit trashy.
