Whoops
In motocross, sections of track with many rolling bumps are known as “whoops.” On Tortola, the section of road between Nanny Cay and Sea Cows Bay can now officially be labelled the same. Riding through the area recently, a Beaconite was dismayed to see a road crew erecting a third massive speed bump in the area. Thank heaven most residents drive SUVs, or there would be some serious problems with traffic. Not that there aren’t already. The bumps appear to be the result of an effort to clear drainage pathways, but the Beaconite doesn’t understand why they should be so obtrusive. He often jokes that dirt bikes are best for traversing the island’s roads, but he’s now wondering if somebody in government has been watching motocross on television. If so, he has a better idea: Convert the abandoned Ellis Thomas Downs to a motorcycle dirt oval and bring in a new kind of racing. Before dismissing that idea, remember that motorcycles are much cheaper than horses. In his opinion, they smell better too. With that programme, or any other initiative developed with some foresight, the government might actually make enough cash to convert the motocross track currently under construction in Sea Cows Bay into a normal road. Ask anyone: “Would you like smooth asphalt, or whatever nonsense is going on in SCB right now?” The Beaconite thinks he knows what they would say.
Sound bites
If a Beaconite had more space above, he would title this Reporter’s Notebook item, “What politicians say versus what they actually do (part 4,192).” First, United States Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. made the Beaconite chuckle when he grandly announced at a press conference on Monday, “I do not engage in diplomacy through headlines.” This would be the same Mr. Bryan who threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on this territory for daring to raise charter fees for the first time in 33 years — a Trumpian move which Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said he learned about online. Then, at a Friday press conference in which Mr. Wheatley denounced such “bullying” from the USVI, he suddenly gushed over former deputy premier Lorna Smith, lauding her experience and claiming he would love to work closely with her in future. Erm… The Beaconite presumes that would be the same Lorna Smith who’s now only a “former” deputy premier because Mr. Wheatley abruptly fired her from the post last October when he feared she would not take his side in a confidence vote? Finally, at the same press conference, the man who replaced Ms. Smith in the role, Julian Fraser, tried to explain why he crossed from the opposition to the government weeks after pushing to oust the premier. As John F. Kennedy said, politics can often be a struggle between “doing the right thing and staying in office.”
Concert
A Beaconite commends the organisers of the Sunday concert on the eve of the public holiday commemorating the birthday of H. Lavity Stoutt. The steps leading to the main building of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College were turned into a stage where dozens of singers and dancers performed. Residents young and old gathered on the campus grounds to listen. The fact that the event was free made it feel all the more like it was for the people. The Beaconite is curious to see if more concerts will be held on the HLSCC grounds, and she hopes that Sunday’s event becomes a staple in future commemorations of the territory’s first chief minister.