Anyone with the barest of observation skills must notice the rising level of angst, anger and frustration on the Virgin Islands street. Some weeks ago, this writer met up with …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Leaders blasted for stirring division”
Anyone with the barest of observation skills must notice the rising level of angst, anger and frustration on the Virgin Islands street. Some weeks ago, this writer met up with …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Leaders blasted for stirring division”
Reaping generosity Is a simple lesson in reciprocity When we give We not only portray God’s goodness But we exercise a Commitment to making The world a better place One …
We are appalled that the House of Assembly is considering putting taxpayers on the hook for $120,000 in legal fees racked up by HOA Speaker Julian Willock when he acted …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: A dozen better uses for $120,000”
Boat show A Beaconite recently attended the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where she got to glimpse hundreds of impressive vessels, including gleaming superyachts, speedboats, and even a personal submarine …
Picking up from where I left off recently about a national development plan, let us talk about the value of planning. If you missed that article, it can be found …
A permanent governance watchdog is the Virgin Islands’ last hope. Swift intervention is the only thing that will save the VI’s integrity when the Rubicon has been crossed from legitimate …
Like much of the rest of the world, the Virgin Islands is seeing rising prices and scarcity of some goods because of global supply-chain struggles related to the Covid-19 pandemic. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Prepare, don’t panic, in face of global supply woes”
Inquiry lessons A Beaconite and his colleagues were quite relieved when Sir Gary Hickinbottom announced last week that the Commission of Inquiry has mostly completed its collection of oral evidence. …
Governance is driven by a society’s values, morals and culture. Now, once upon a time this believer went to church and heard a sermon. The preacher stated that when it …
Growing up in the Virgin Islands, I had the opportunity to hear and learn the meaning of certain sayings which we now refer to as local proverbs. Recently, I was …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — In response to letter, a history lesson”
Monday was a red-letter day in Virgin Islands history. In a long-needed cultural leap, the territory left behind the quixotic St. Ursula’s Day and celebrated the first Heroes and Forefathers …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: New public holiday a reason to celebrate”
At a time when much of the world is steadily switching to alternative energy, the Virgin Islands is falling further and further behind as it continues to generate nearly all …
Trashy bathrooms A Beaconite was appalled by the recent state of the bathrooms in the Queen Elizabeth II Park. They were littered with plastic bags, food containers, beer bottles and …
There has been a “talk shop” over the last 20 years about where we want to see our territory in the future. Two decades later, we are still talking. I …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — USVI’s 20-year plan seen as example to follow”
Poor governance is a road to hell on earth for a country or territory’s residents. Once upon a time, there was a land in Africa sitting on the fertile and …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Bad governance blamed for ‘hell on earth’”
For decades, the government’s system for awarding belongership has been broken. It is inconsistent and unfair, and it lacks transparency. Thus, much of the information about the topic aired recently …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Belongership system urgently needs reform”
The institution of government matters, and it is legit. Nonetheless, the government is often criticised, maligned and raked mercilessly over hot coal. Some of the criticism is self-inflicted and well-deserved. …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for better gov’t”
Without an enforcement mechanism ensuring that rules are followed by government officials, good governance is a mirage. Virgin Islands residents are today witnessing the true meaning of the rule of …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — COI called ‘enforcer of good governance’”
“That’s how we’ve always done it.” This excuse has been bandied about with shocking abandon in the Commission of Inquiry in recent weeks as elected leaders and other senior officials …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: UK shares responsibility for governance failings”
We were deeply troubled to hear police warn recently that mental health crises are on the rise in the territory after they rescued a hospital patient from the water in …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Mental health crises are a big red flag”
Money management The House of Assembly passed budget adjustments last week approving about $29 million in extra recurrent expenditure, among other changes. A Beaconite, however, continues to be perplexed …
The Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry is a watchdog that acts as a guarantee of good behaviour by the powerful. VI residents today understand the true meaning of checks and …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — COI called a ‘very public watchdog’”
I have been hearing the phrase “young democracy” in conversations lately when referring to the Virgin Islands’ development. I am not sure when the “birth” of the territory is being …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made for ‘legacy’ mindset”
In recent weeks, hearings in the Commission of Inquiry have again highlighted a longstanding problem in the territory: Successive governments have used exceedingly poor practice when appointing and removing the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Boards mishandled, almost across the board”
Youth for the future On Saturday, a Beaconite joined in a territory-wide clean-up effort and was delighted to see how excited children and parents were to share in the experience. …