Ladies fest
A Beaconite was pleased to note that the final line-up for next week’s BVI Music Festival includes many female artists. In addition to this week’s addition of Melanie Amaro, of X Factor fame, the three-day concert will feature Virgin Islands musician Reema; St. Croix-based reggae artist Mada “Fyah” Nile; English R&B singer-songwriter Estelle; female-fronted Antiguan soca group El A Kru; and the reporter’s favourite female dancehall performer, Lady Saw. The Beaconite thinks she might have to attend all three nights of Music Fest this year.
Honours
A Beaconite from the United States has a confession to make: For many months, he had been confused by the array of letters that some politicians and others use after their names. But the Beaconite got a chance to research the Queen’s Honours system for an article and now he has a better understanding of it. The most common honours granted in the Virgin Islands include several levels of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, including MBE, member of the order; OBE, officer of the order; and CBE, commander of the order. But, according to a list of the Queen’s Honours provided to the Beacon by the Governor’s Office, there’s a long list of other orders in the Queen’s Honours system. Most of the orders were established by a ruling monarch to award contributions in a particular category. For instance, in 1886 Queen Victoria created the Distinguished Service Order to recognise distinguished military service. The name of one order, though, struck the Beaconite as particularly interesting: the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. The order was established in 1687 and is associated with Scotland.
Traffic jam
A Beaconite recently watched the making of a potential traffic accident. A motorist stopped in the middle of Waterfront Drive to let his passenger read an advertising banner stretched over the street. The passenger read it out loud so that the driver could hear what the signs said. However, several vehicles lined up behind the car started honking. But this didn’t stop the passenger from reading the sign. Instead, she started to read it louder. The sign is an advertisement for the BVI Music Festival, but the motorist who took time to stop in the middle of the road should note that it is inaccurate: The dates do not match the actual days.
Finishing in style
On Saturday during the Virgin Gorda half marathon, one runner finished in style. Kay Reddy is known to cartwheel over the finish line when competing in running races. So a Beaconite positioned himself in the right spot to catch Ms. Reddy’s signature finish. But she didn’t do it. The photographer was disappointed, but she later made it up to him when she jumped off the dock at Mermaid’s Dockside Bar and Grill. Although several other runners took the plunge, only Ms. Reddy did a flip into the water.
Puppy treatment
In Road Town on Sunday, a Beaconite wondered if he were seeing Michael Vick, the National Football League quarterback who was implicated in an illegal interstate dog-fighting ring and served 21 months in prison.
The Beaconite soon realised the man wasn’t Mr. Vick, however, because he was wearing a New York Nicks basketball jersey. But the way he treated animals was similar. The Beaconite watched the man drag three puppies on a leash so fast that the dogs couldn’t keep up. When he reached the Road Town Ferry Terminal, he threw the puppies in the water and let them swim until they were completely exhausted. He then plucked them out of the water and flopped them on the dock like wet towels. The puppies lay on their backs gasping for air. Eventually the man took the dogs and put them in a cardboard box and left the area.
The Beaconite is uncertain what the man was doing, but he had never seen puppies treated that way. He hopes the animals aren’t abused anymore.
Volunteering
While waiting for an interview at the Road Town Senior Citizens Centre last week, one Beaconite went into the BVI Red Cross headquarters next door. There, she had a conversation with a volunteer. Before she knew it, she had registered as a volunteer herself, and she is looking forward to helping out soon. Throughout this month, the organisation is on a drive to get more volunteers. The reporter hopes residents will heed the call.
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