Nature’s little hideaway?
A Beaconite noted that the Virgin Islands has been splashed all over the British media this week. Unfortunately, it is not being portrayed as one of Nature’s Little Secrets, but instead as nature’s little hideaway. After the dramatic arrest of disgraced former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, it was ex-senior minister Lord Peter Mandelson’s turn to get his collar felt by the cops. Both are being investigated for possible misconduct in public office over their business contacts with friend and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Both deny any wrongdoing). Mr. Mandelson was meant to go in for a police interview under caution in two weeks’ time, but Scotland Yard purportedly got wind of allegations that he was planning to flee to the VI and swooped in on his North London home Monday. To make matters even more intriguing, Parliament was told yesterday that it was no less than Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle who tipped off the cops. This came to light after The Times reported that Sir Lindsay had been informed of the escape plan — which Mandelson has flatly denied as “complete fiction” — by a “local source” during his trip to the VI to address the House of Assembly last week. The British media will now be straining at the bit to find that “local source.” A most curious affair indeed.
Let it ride
When a local internet provider came to his apartment to install his router and didn’t provide any account or means of payment, a Beaconite thought he’d have to figure it out himself. After both calling and going to the store to explain that he could not sign into his account as he was never given one, he was told to keep trying, perhaps with a new password. What? The first month passed, then the second, and no bill arrived. The Beaconite thought he’d let it ride. After all, it wasn’t like he was avoiding payment — he went directly to them to pay, but there’s an illusion that just because something can be done online, it’s automatically easier, or at least more convenient. After four months, he woke up one morning asking, “Is this it?” The Wi-Fi was out, and when he called the company, they gladly told him that his service was suspended and his bill was ready to be paid. A ride into town and $400 later, he was given an account and a password and his service was returned. The best lessons are the ones learned over again: No good deed goes unpunished, and nothing is free.
Sidewalk progress
A Beaconite was recently walking through Road Town when she noticed that a part of the sidewalk next to Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park was being refurbished. The renovation of this sidewalk, which runs along Positive Action Drive, was a welcomed sight. Many times she has walked along this stretch in the past and feared that she could easily be hit by any of the cars driving past along the narrow road. This concern has in fact led her to often adjust her route to avoid this part of the road as a pedestrian. But once this renovation is complete, she looks forward to traversing the area with ease. Indeed, there are many sidewalks around the capital that are in need of attention. Too often, she sees tourists and residents alike struggling to navigate the crumbling walkways. This proves to be even more difficult for those who need special access to navigate the area, such as those in wheelchairs or with strollers. She hopes that the renovations of sidewalks do not stop at Positive Action Drive, but rather continue across the territory.