Slow down, drivers

A Beaconite is enjoying the hustle and bustle of Road Town as tourists return in much greater numbers now that the Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted. But he is also concerned for their safety under the new traffic system that was implemented in the capital during the pandemic. The two-lane one-way roads seem to have given the green light for many motorists to drive much too fast. Combine that excessive speed with tourists unfamiliar with a town that isn’t at all pedestrian friendly, and the territory has a deadly accident waiting to happen. Indeed, the Beaconite has seen several near misses in recent weeks. He calls on all drivers to slow down and be safe. He also calls on government officials to review the situation and add more crosswalks, sidewalks, speed bumps and other safety measures. Finally, he calls on police to buy radar guns or figure out another way to enforce the speed limit, which drivers rarely follow. There is absolutely no reason for vehicles to speed through Road Town, but such behaviour is encouraged by the current traffic arrangements and the patchy enforcement of road rules. Officials must act soon.

UK relations

A Beaconite is curious to see what will come of Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley’s visit to the United Kingdom this week. The premier will be out of the territory until Sunday, and he’s spoken previously of what he hopes to accomplish. As everyone is likely aware, the future relationship between the Virgin Islands and UK is a major focus of the current constitutional review, especially following the fallout from the Commission of Inquiry. What exactly will this “modern partnership” look like moving forward? This trip provides an opportunity for international leaders to have valuable conversations about how good governance reforms have been progressing and what still needs to be done. It is also a time to discuss reforms that have stalled on the UK’s side, like the legalisation of medicinal marijuana in the territory. The recent completion of the new Elmore Stoutt High School buildings certainly seems to have provided new vigour in addressing outstanding hurricane recovery projects, and funding discussions will certainly be part of UK discussions. The reporter hopes the meetings prove fruitful, and she looks forward to hearing about them.

On the water

Over the weekend, a Beaconite had the pleasure of attending the annual Painkiller Cup. She recalled the last time she covered the event and missed the boat that was supposed to take her out to Sandy Cay. Thankfully, this year, she was called to the boat a half hour ahead of the scheduled departure. She thanks the organisers for thinking ahead and ensuring everyone made it out in time. The ride to Sandy Cay was nice and relaxing. The reporter was able to meet new people and make new friends. She enjoyed watching the competition and she enjoyed the atmosphere amongst contestants afterwards at Hendo’s Hideout. It was nice to meet people from outside of the Virgin Islands and see everyone get along well in a beautiful place.

Culture shock

A Beaconite who has been working remotely from Guyana is finalising his plans to relocate to the Virgin Islands, and he knows a culture shock awaits him. At the top of his “culture shock list” is the absence of fast-food franchises such as KFC and Pizza Hut. Luckily for him, he loves to cook, and YouTubing the best KFC chicken-look-alike videos may be his best bet as he adjusts. Then there is the scarcity of public transportation. For that, he may have to purchase his own vehicle or moped to get around. He has been trying to lose some weight in recent months, so walking may be a good option too. Despite any challenges, he is excited to make the necessary adjustments on his impending arrival as he adjusts to life in the VI.