Stained-glass history

On Tuesday, the United Kingdom Parliament announced that all British overseas territories and Crown dependencies have been immortalised in two stained glass windows within Speaker’s House in London. Embedded in the glass are all the territories’ heraldic shields. The glass serves as a “permanent and tangible” reminder of the close links between the UK and its OTs, according to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The windows also include the coats of arms from the Virgin Islands. According to a press release from the UK Parliament, the original windows dated from 1858 and contained the arms of 19th Century Speaker Evelyn Denison. Since then, the glass was removed and replaced by plain plate glass. The new design was created by John Reyntiens Glass Studio in London. Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said the window acknowledges “the importance of the territory and its people” and “their contributions to our shared history and heritage.”

Investigative inspiration

A Beaconite joined journalists from across the region this weekend in Puerto Rico for Caribe Fest, a series of workshops and lectures on investigative journalism that was organised by the Puerto Rico Center for Investigative Journalism. She thanks all the organisers, speakers, volunteers and participants who made the forum incredibly inspiring. Journalism is all about finding creative ways to uncover and share stories that matter to the community, and she hopes to put to good use the skills she learned on data journalism and more. The event also offered opportunities to meet and connect with fellow Caribbean reporters, who were brilliant yet humble and friendly. Especially following the onset of the pandemic, the reporter considers it a privilege to engage with these writers, and she looks forward to working with them in the future to tell stories affecting the region. The trip also reawakened her love for exploring new cities — who can help romanticising the cobbled streets of Old San Juan? — which she hopes to indulge further in the years ahead.

Powerless

A Beaconite was working in his office last week when he heard a great crash. He soon learned the cause: A concrete truck driving past had snagged the lines above the road, jerking them off the light pole and away from the wall of the Beacon. Instead of stopping to address the issue, however, the driver left the scene. However, he walked back a few minutes later, looked around, and then walked off again. Fortunately, a Flow technician showed up very soon to repair the internet cable, and the BVI Electricity Corporation arrived not long after. The Beaconite still isn’t sure who to blame for the incident, but he hopes that all power lines will be strung high enough to ensure that no trucks will snag them. There were no injuries this time, but the outcome could have been far worse.

Tip for traffic cops

A Beaconite has an important tip for traffic police in the territory: A minor fender bender isn’t a reason to stop traffic for hours while taking meticulous measurements and painting marks on the asphalt. Instead, when minor wrecks occur, drivers should quickly photograph the scene and then remove their vehicles from the roadway. Besides easing inconvenience for other drivers, this course of action will dramatically lower the risk of another accident stemming from the first.