‘A miracle’
As a Beaconite waited for a tow truck to come drag her vehicle out of the ditch last week (long story short, wear better sunglasses when driving up Joes Hill at 5:30 p.m.), she was very appreciative of the many strangers and friends who slowed down to ask whether she was okay. She also couldn’t help but think of another story of Virgin Islands native Kishorne “Troy” Hughes, who proved himself a hero earlier this month in Atlanta when he and another man pulled a woman and her daughter out of their burning car after they were run off the freeway by a reckless driver. The victim, Melissa Magen, told the Beacon that after rescuing them, Mr. Hughes tracked them down at the hospital, keeping them company for hours as Ms. Magen’s husband frantically tried to get there from their home six hours away. Ms. Magen’s 14-year-old daughter, she said, reminded him of a childhood friend from home. “He mentioned that he was from the BVI and that everyone’s nice there,” she said, adding that she and her daughter escaped with only minor injuries. “He told my daughter that she has a new big brother. She calls him her teddy bear. I was just so happy that he was selfless and that he stopped. It was nothing short of a miracle.”
Media friendly
A Beaconite had the privilege of attending the Buju Banton concert with media passes that granted her access to all but the backstage of the show. That included VIP and “Ultra VIP,” where she noticed many government officials and other dignitaries. She was to the right of Jamaican reggae artist Koffee as she performed her hit “Toast.” It was a truly special occasion for the reporter, who remembers hearing the song for the first time at a Virgin Islands Party rally on a Friday evening. She remembers being captivated by the beat and song so much that she scrambled to find out what it was. She Googled “Caribbean hits 2019,” YouTubed “Top Virgin Islands music” — anything she could do to listen to that beat one more time. And as the reporter stood to the right of Koffee, admiring the energy and enthusiasm the young artist emanated to the crowd before her, she also rocked out with the thousands in the crowd. It was a privilege to be granted such access throughout the night, and to have the ability to move freely (which is crucial to the reporter’s livelihood). The Beaconite wants to thank and commend the event organisers. She hopes that other organisers will take a page from their book — especially since giving journalists good access makes it easier for them to provide better coverage (see page one).
Good vibes
Another Beaconite also had a magical experience at the Buju Banton show this weekend. A few months ago she had no idea who he was, but as she learned more about him in her reporting she became intrigued. And once she found out she was going to get a press pass she was excited. It was the first time she had ever had access to anything titled “Super VIP,” so she was pretty pleased about that. It delighted her to no end every time she flashed that pass to get backstage. But beyond that it was amazing to see so many people in one place united in good vibes and dancing. Her only complaint is how late the event went before Buju performed. Luckily she found a nice spot in the back of a bus where she could take a nap so that she was all refreshed and ready to go when he came on.