"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Monday was a dark day for the Virgin Islands, with the United Kingdom flexing its colonial muscle and announcing a wide-ranging corruption inquiry in the territory. However, we are sad …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Unfortunately, the corruption inquiry is needed”
Housing hiatus A Beaconite found it somewhat shocking when government announced retroactively this month that the Housing Recovery Assistance Programme was no longer accepting applicants as of November because …
Last year was a disaster for Caribbean tourism. Estimates suggest that visitor arrivals to the region fell by 75 percent in the last three quarters of 2020, causing overall Caribbean …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Full Caribbean tourism recovery seen as a possibility after 2021”
We are continuously being told by our leaders that qualified Virgin Islanders and belongers must come first in any employment stakes. Last week, the premier rants on for three hours …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Questions raised about exotic-dancer warning”
Kudos to the government for finally reforming the territory’s public holidays to better accord with the Virgin Islands’ own history and culture. The changes unveiled last month are comprehensive and …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Public holiday reforms a cause for celebration”
Gateway glitches For the first time in two years, a Beaconite has family visiting her from overseas, and she has been using the BVI Gateway application and learning about the …
Massive global debt is a serious concern for banking and finance. One would have thought that after the banking crash of 2008, banks would have learned the bitter lessons of …
Foxy’s Tamarind Bar on Jost Van Dyke was in the news because his famous Old Year’s Night party was cancelled. They just had dinner and dancing for a few. That …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — A tale of Foxy’s ‘first real phone’”
Following the struggles of the past year, we know we’re not alone in wishing for a much brighter 2021. The following is our list of a few ways to help …
19 calls A Beaconite has already complained on this page about the government’s “Customer Care Service Centre,” which in May replaced the former system of switchboard operators who were …
It is hard to know what the future holds for Venezuela, its opposition leader Juan Guaidó, or the present United States-led policy that emphasises sanctions and isolation. Last week, as …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Post-election, Venezuela’s future considered”
The 2008 financial crisis showed the Milton Friedman economic model of a laissez faire, production-oriented, trickledown, austere and financially driven economy to be a paper tiger. The idea that the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Need seen for ‘big government’”
The end is in sight. As an exceedingly difficult year winds down, we hope the Virgin Islands will use this holiday season to reflect on the lessons of 2020 while …
Holiday schedule With somewhat less-than-heavy hearts, Beaconites are reminding readers and advertisers that this edition is the last Beacon of 2020. Advertising and editorial deadlines will be as usual for …
The 2008 financial crisis showed the Milton Friedman economic model of a laissez faire, production-oriented, trickledown, austere and financially driven economy to be a paper tiger. The idea that the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Need seen for ‘big government’”
It is hard to know what the future holds for Venezuela, its opposition leader Juan Guaidó, or the present United States-led policy that emphasises sanctions and isolation. Last week, as …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Post-election, Venezuela’s future considered”
In November 1950 the Virgin Islands held its first general election in nearly half a century, choosing the members of the soon-to-be-restored Legislative Council in accordance with a constitution adopted …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Legislature’s 70th is a time to reflect on the way forward”
Follow the money A Beaconite is no stranger to covering budget meetings, including those of student clubs, port districts, and capital cities. But last month was her first introduction to …
Today, people all over the world view the United States with alarm. Non-Americans are at a loss to explain the downward trajectory of the supposed most powerful country on earth. …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — US viewed with alarm, but change expected soon”
This was the year when much of the Caribbean went to the polls. General elections were held in Anguilla, Belize, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Writer says democracy alone is ‘not enough’ in Caribbean”
In recent weeks, there has been much debate about the border reopening that got under way last week, but now everyone must work together to achieve success as tourism returns. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: As borders reopen, better safe than sorry”
Library launch Saturday was a very special day for one Beaconite, as it marked the official launch of the Turtle Dove Library. Several moments from the grand opening will stick …
In the past few days, Pfizer BioNTech, a German-United States company, and the US company Moderna have separately announced that the Covid-19 vaccines they have been developing have proved 95 …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Logistical challenges predicted to follow Covid-19 vaccine”
Capitalism and individualism, with the stress on the market economy, will not be able to deal with the new world of climate change, environmental degradation, and rising power polarities that …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Post-Covid economy considered”
This Culture and Tourism Month has been a great success, and we hope that such celebrations will continue and expand into a long-term renaissance of Virgin Islands heritage. Events held …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands should celebrate culture every month”
