When Hurricane Irma hit the territory three years ago, John Klein had been in the process of expanding his Jost Van Dyke property White Bay Villas. “The only reason we …
September 14, 2020
September 14, 2020
EDITORIAL: Covid is highlighting Irma recovery failures
Three years after Hurricane Irma, successive governments’ failure to secure the needed level of recovery funding — which now could be doing much more to help the stalled economy through …
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September 13, 2020
Remembering Irma in the Covid age
A recent uptick in cases of Covid-19 in the Virgin Islands meant that community members couldn’t host any sort of large gathering on Sunday to reflect on the past three …
September 13, 2020
Hundreds left out of housing programme
Shortly after hurricanes Irma and Maria caused an estimated $572 million in damage to nearly 7,000 residential buildings across the territory, Virgin Islands leaders announced a plan to spend more …
September 11, 2020
Underfunded hurricane recovery still dragging
As the Covid-19 crisis has decimated the economy in recent months, leaders have sought to counter the dismal outlook while rolling out more than $10 million worth of contracts under …
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February 4, 2020
Where are they now? Irma survivors abroad share their journeys
Connie Haines Barry lives in an island-inspired haven in Spooner, Wisconsin, a town in the United States with a population of about 2,600 people. A pineapple-themed welcome sign hangs above …
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September 16, 2019
Irma’s mental health issues linger
Dr. Virginia Rubaine had plans to travel on Sept. 7, 2017. But on Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma swept through the Virgin Islands, devastating homes, businesses and livelihoods, and dashing any …
September 11, 2019
Businesses take a lead in Hurricane Irma recovery
Two years after Hurricane Irma, a walk through Road Town suggests that the biggest victory of the private sector also remains its greatest challenge: rebuilding. “Many of the businesses are …
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September 11, 2019
Two years after Irma, many still struggling
For about 10 months before Hurricane Dorian brushed the Virgin Islands last week, Wendy Hendricks would wake up each morning in the tattered tent in which she was living near …
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September 9, 2019
Gov’t recovery drags amid funding woes
In the weeks after Hurricane Irma, the recovery effort roared to life. With the help of funding and personnel from the United Kingdom and other partners, the Virgin Islands government …
September 9, 2019
Premier’s Office silences RDA CEO
Over the past five weeks, Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly scheduled and cancelled three interviews with the Beacon before ultimately declining to speak at the reported request of …
September 6, 2019
October 4, 2018
Rooftop tapas, homegrown vegetables and brunch
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. Though Irma’s destruction is still visible throughout Road Town, the capital’s new culinary choices don’t reflect the spartan lifestyle often …
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October 4, 2018
In looking back at Irma, hindsight is 20/20
This article appeared in the Beacon’s “Irma Anniversary” special edition on Sept. 6. Sharleen DaBreo, the director of the Department of Disaster Management, is trained to think about all the …
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September 26, 2018
‘Doing a little bit towards something big’
Before volunteers started reconstructing Wonder Years Daycare & Preschool, there was essentially no upper floor left at all. “The roof was completely gone,” project manager Mitch Lederman said while giving …
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September 26, 2018
One year after Irma, Virgin Gorda fights to recover
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. The team of people who once served as Virgin Gorda’s de facto government now have their headquarters in …
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September 24, 2018
Boats back on Jost van Dyke, though challenges remain
In White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, the boats are back. Seddy’s One Love, Gertrude’s Beach Bar, Coco Locos and Soggy Dollar regularly teem with charter guests sucking down painkillers and …
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September 24, 2018
Irma, Then and Now: Photos from around Road Town
Road Town was devastated by Hurricane Irma, but the capital is building back in leaps and bounds. Scroll down to compare scenes captured shortly after Hurricane Irma to the same …
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September 21, 2018
Anegada “pushing for bigger and better things” after Irma
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. For the some 300 people living on Anegada, day-to-day life is punctuated by boat arrivals. Road Town-based passenger ferries pull …
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September 14, 2018
In their Words: Governor Gus Jaspert
Mr. Jaspert was sworn in as governor on Aug. 22, 2017, 15 days before Hurricane Irma decimated the territory. This is his account of the storm, condensed and edited by …
September 12, 2018
Virgin Islands economy takes new shapes after Irma
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. Like many people throughout the Virgin Islands, Courdney Williams has a very different daily routine than he did 12 months …
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September 11, 2018
One year later, some still struggling
Kennard Malley is still waiting to get his electricity restored. But before he does, he needs a roof. Mr. Malley, who works as a security guard at Nanny Cay, lived …
September 11, 2018
Irma, then and now: Photos from around Tortola
Much has changed since Hurricane Irma struck the Virgin Islands on Sept. 6, 2017. In some locations, the recovery effort has transformed the landscape. Other areas, however, don’t look much …
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September 10, 2018
Irma Anniversary: Seven unsung heroes of the storm
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6, 2018 Irma Anniversary edition. It seems that everyone in the Virgin Islands knows at least one hero of Hurricane Irma. …
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