Skydiving
It’s not every day that a Beaconite jumps out of a plane, but she was happy to have the experience over the weekend. She took a trip to San Juan, rented a car, and drove out to Arecibo, where she went on her first skydive. At first, she was a little nervous before getting on the plane. But during the experience — flying into the air in a small plane, being strapped onto an instructor, having her feet dangling thousands of feet over the Earth, free falling like a bird — she was quite happy and exhilarated. She’s always had dreams of flying above trees, and this was like a dream come true for her. It’s definitely something she will do again once the opportunity arises. She also hopes that exciting things like this can be incorporated into the Virgin Islands’ tourism product. During her next trip to the neighbouring island, she hopes to zipline through the jungle, explore some caves, go night kayaking in bioluminescent bays, and rappel down mountainsides.
Registration reminder
With the 2023 general election approaching in less than three months, a Beaconite would like to remind voters to make sure they are registered. The system is going through an upgrade, and it’s important for anyone wishing to exercise their democratic rights to make sure their information is correct before it’s too late. Last November, the Office of the Supervisor of Elections also put out a notice urging voters to check that their name is not one of the many duplicates in the system. This list can be found at bit.ly/duplicatenames, and anyone needing to verify their information can visit the office at 216 Main Street at the Creque Building, email electionsoffice@gov.vg, or call 468-4380. She hopes that voters will also pay close attention as candidates launch their campaigns in the coming weeks, learning as much as possible about their views on major issues facing the territory.
Slow down, please
A Beaconite has observed several near misses on the roadways within the capital recently. One occurred on Friday as he walked past the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital, where a line of fast-moving traffic was approaching. Leading the traffic was a truck, which several motorbikes were attempting to pass. Everyone was speeding. That’s when an ambulance siren blared. As other traffic slowed, however, the truck kept going, and the Beaconite was sure he would see an accident. Astonishingly, the ambulance made its way around the truck, barely missing cars that had come to a stop in the opposite lane. The Beaconite cringed and a biker yelled, “Oh, no!” But everyone was okay in the end. The Beaconite encourages all drivers to be safe, even if they are in charge of an ambulance. Though he understands that emergency drivers have a special job to do, he believes they must also prioritise good judgment. And all motorists should try to ease up on the gas pedal. Accidents happen, and they can be deadly.
Flu blues
Just last week, Health and Social Development Minister Marlon Penn offered a reminder to the community that the recently peaked influenza season is still here. Like clockwork, a reporter and her friends got sick over the weekend. That achy, sickening feeling is no fun, and the Beaconite is kicking herself for forgetting to get a flu shot last year. She hopes not too many readers are affected for the remainder of the season, and she will be setting a reminder for herself next year.