Facebook folly
A Beaconite has been wondering something: When does a forensic probe into a major government announcement descend into a taxpayer-funded vanity project? And lo, the answer came: It’s when the press conference that would typically occur when unveiling a new minimum wage is scrapped for a giggly Facebook folly where Deputy Premier Minister Lorna Smith is “questioned” by the government’s own top press officer. “Ah, well,” you might say, “Surely it broadens out the process for the masses, who can post questions on Facebook during the session?” Well, perhaps not so much, considering that only three people typed in questions and one of them was this reporter. And the Beaconite’s inquiry on whether Ms. Smith herself could live on the new minimum wage of $8.50 an hour — and if she could, what she would cut to achieve it — was so mangled when conveyed to the minister that a second attempt was needed. And then Ms. Smith’s jokey “answer” appeared facile at best: “What can I take away from the $8.50? I live very frugally. You see my size. I don’t eat too much.” Then she made a suprising claim: “I have one of the tiniest cottages in the country.” The weirdest thing about this children’s-TV-for-adults approach is that Ms. Smith is the very last person in government who needs shielding from the pesky press. In the many press conferences the government has held since taking office last year (outpacing previous administrations by a long shot), she has handled any tricky questions with aplomb, and she often comes across as the most assured and empathetic of all ministers. The tagline of The Washington Post is “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” Let’s hope this ill-judged new wheeze by the government does not herald a new ham-fisted strategy of “Accountability Fizzles on Facebook.”
Love vine
It was while a Beaconite was out hiking the trail toward the Bat Cave in Brewers Bay that she first really noticed the spirally yellowish-orange vines that weigh down the branches of various trees and bushes across the territory. Known colloquially as the “love vine,” this parasitic plant is anything but loving. Coastal areas are among the habitats where the plant, whose scientific name is Cassytha filiformis, grows — infesting a variety of hosts. “Infections may be fatal,” according to a report on the plant from the Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences in the University of Hawaii. “Heavy infestations can eventually smother and kill plants and their coppice re-growth in coastal habitats.” Since her hike, the reporter feels she sees the orange vines everywhere, dotting the hillsides across the Virgin Islands. The plant is known to be a threat to endangered plant species around the world, according to the report from the University of Hawaii. But despite these problems, people have also found benefits to the vine. According to the same report, islanders in the Pacific and West Indies use it for medicinal purposes.
Staycations
The slow season is here, and a Beaconite is pleased that the BVI Tourists Board’s annual Staycation Programme is offering plenty of deals during the summer months. Current offerings on Tortola and the sister islands include discounted resort stays, spa visits, meals, car rentals and more. The Beaconite intends to take full advantage, and he hopes that other residents do too. The Virgin Islands, after all, is one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in the world. But it is too easy to get caught up in the grind of work and daily life and forget to take advantage of what the islands have to offer. The Beaconite also hopes everyone will take part in the coming August Emancipation Festival, which is marking 70 this year and promises to be a grand celebration.