At the root of the male youth crisis in the Virgin Islands are adults who inadvertently support their misdemeanors and poor behaviours. The issue of poor male behaviours in the …
Continue reading “LETTER — Adults blamed for ‘male youth crisis’”
At the root of the male youth crisis in the Virgin Islands are adults who inadvertently support their misdemeanors and poor behaviours. The issue of poor male behaviours in the …
Continue reading “LETTER — Adults blamed for ‘male youth crisis’”
On Emancipation Sunday, the Abolition Act 1833 was read from a reprint published by the Virgin Islands Public Library in 1984. The following year, the library also published a reprint …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made for ‘shift’ in national life”
As the first fully in-person August Emancipation Festival in three years gets under way, we encourage everyone to celebrate while also remembering the reason for the annual observance. On Aug. …
Festival schedule The Beacon won’t print next week because of the August Emancipation Festival holiday. Advertising and editorial deadlines will return to normal leading up to the next edition on …
The present discomfort and nervousness with United Kingdom indirect rule of the Virgin Islands is a very necessary wake-up call for the territory. We all know that the grandstanding and …
With a general election due early next year, there is a very real danger that a divisive campaign season could derail the ongoing governance reforms and trigger direct rule by …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Next year’s general election must not derail reforms”
Happy 50th! July 12 marked the 50th anniversary of the first official graduation at the BVI High School, as noted by community members on social media this week. Photos of …
The recently ended Summit of the Americas will likely be best remembered for the United States’ decision not to invite Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua; the chaotic unprepared way in which …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — ‘US influence in the Americas is waning’”
Customer service A Beaconite is happy to hear that a director of customer service is to be appointed to “enhance” the government’s Customer Service Care Centre. For whoever is hired, …
Members of the House of Assembly representing a district are rewarded with a salary and other benefits for participating in the lawmaking process and furthering the interests of residents in …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Fahie urged to resign D-1 seat”
The term “the silent majority” is much used by politicians who attempt to identify where the mass of voters and other residents sit on any matter. Commentary and activism are …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY— ‘Silent majority’ seen as influential”
First District Representative Andrew Fahie should resign his seat in the House of Assembly without further ado. If he refuses, he should be removed as soon as possible. Mr. Fahie, …
Despite a few hitches, the National Unity Government is off to a good start with the governance reforms agreed with the United Kingdom. Already, the territory is seeing badly needed …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: So far, so good on governance reforms”
Roadside service During the recent roadworks in Fish Bay, a Beaconite noticed a refreshing example of excellent customer service. Twice, he drove up to the site from the Road Town …
The National Unity Government’s performance to date gives its well-wishers scant assurance that its members understand the challenges the Virgin Islands is confronting, let alone have a strong enough vision …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Reform plan’s viability questioned”
The one clear and straightforward route to Virgin Islands independence is through a referendum. So why are the “elites” shirking from a referendum and yet pontificating on the subject of …
Make no mistake: The people of the Virgin Islands are fed up. For decades, they have watched their elected leaders waste taxpayer money, reward cronies, shun transparency, and otherwise break …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Reform detractors should put up or shut up”
No rapid tests When returning to the Virgin Islands from St. Kitts this week, a Beaconite opted to get her Covid-19 rapid test upon arrival since government announced recently that …
I am taking this matter to the media since I’ve had no meaningful response from the authorities whom I thought were responsible. Which ministry, department or agency is responsible for …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — D-8 road seen as potential disaster”
In 1975, while sailing north through the Caribbean, stormy weather caused me to take shelter in the Virgin Islands. The anchorage off Road Town was exposed and uncomfortable, and I …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — VI urged to rediscover ‘paradise lost’”
In 1974, when the Virgin Islands’ population was less than 11,000, the government’s annual agenda included a national sewage treatment plant that would help eliminate the need to flush Tortola’s …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: It’s time to stop flushing raw sewage into the ocean”
We applaud the specific deadlines in the reform proposal agreed this month by the Virgin Islands and United Kingdom governments. The targets are ambitious, but they represent exactly the sort …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Coming reports and audits must be published quickly”
Flower On her next hike, a Beaconite will keep her eye out for the highly endangered Marrón bacora, a 10-foot-tall flowering shrub that produces purple-and-yellow flowers. Why? Tortola is one …
Since watching the recent press conference where the governor and premier discussed overdue police service increments, I have been waiting for the wider conversation. Payment of increments should be step …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Gov’t urged to up civil service pay”
The culture of “wrong and strong” is a Virgin Islands folly that will be the territory’s undoing. Currently, a significant subset is averse to the new reality of correctly imposed …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — COI came ‘just in time,’ writer says”