"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
I am pleased for the people and businesses of Virgin Gorda that they once again have banking facilities, albeit through only one bank, and not full time. Of course, one …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Writer weighs in on VG bank, other issues”
This writer met a very old friend on a street corner in the Virgin Islands on a recent Wednesday. The man is a political bigwig in these parts and from …
Various events this month have been helping to nurture and preserve Virgin Islands culture, but in-depth dialogue and sustained effort need to continue over the long term if this community …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Recent events a great start, but more needed for VI culture”
The Laundromat A Beaconite who regularly covers the financial services industry was looking forward to watching the new Netflix original film The Laundromat, directed by Steven Soderbergh, which tells the …
In Pursuit of Peace in Africa: An Autobiography, by retired Kenyan Army Lieutenant General Daniel Opande, was published a few months ago in Nairobi, Kenya, but sharp-eyed readers will spot …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Kenyan author’s VI ties noted”
The environment extends across all governmental and private-sector actions and operations. As such, the Virgin Islands government should establish a strong environmental programme. Proper environmental management entails conserving, protecting, employing …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — VI urged to explore ‘blue economy’”
The European Union-funded effort to refurbish and stock emergency shelters around the territory is music to our ears. It was also a long time in coming. When Hurricane Irma struck …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Thanks, European Union, for shelter funding”
Typo tantrum A Beaconite was disheartened to find several typographical errors in the government’s revised Recovery to Development Plan. The second page, for example, refers to “students beginning housed in …
Following my comments on National Health Insurance last week, Roy Barry — the deputy director of the Social Security Board with responsibility for NHI — gave a radio interview on …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — NHI interview sparks more questions”
Nationalism has been superseded by globalism. The world is changing significantly and rapidly. The screams of fear and anger from western citizens — especially blue-collar whites in the United States …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — ‘Invisible war’ seen in the West”
When we heard that the new government was drafting a revised recovery plan as part of its efforts to secure the United Kingdom loan guarantee, we had high hopes. But …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: The revised recovery plan is even worse than the last”
After this month’s House of Assembly meeting, it is clear that the opposition needs to do a better job of working as a team. During the session, different members asked …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Opposition must work as a team”
Two in one Over the weekend, a Beaconite had the opportunity to travel to St. Thomas to cover Virgin Islands Friendship Day, a celebration of VI culture attended by representatives …
If the new Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre is to open soon on Virgin Gorda, with vastly improved facilities, hopefully (that word again — more later), why is the BVI …
Continue reading “Commentary — VG clinic, other issues spark concerns”
Caribbean people swing from one political party to the next with no real rhyme or reason. Rampant waste of taxpayer monies? Stratospheric incompetence? Blatant corruption? Vote them out. Vote them …
Continue reading “Commentary — Call made for governance reforms”
The extra congestion plaguing Road Town in the days since the traffic lights were replaced highlights the urgency of solving the capital’s traffic woes. To that end, the new government …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Traffic woes are getting worse in Road Town”
The lizard and the nail A Beaconite was first amused, then dismayed, last week when two restaurant patrons claimed to have found objects in their food that shouldn’t have been …
During my first visit to the United Kingdom since 2012, my first priority was to claim my senior citizen’s benefits, like entitlement to free travel on public transport. However, I …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Gov’t called out over closed libraries”
Brexit has entered an expected phase. The United Kingdom is becoming Balkanised. The Brexit civil war has generated divisions in the UK that cannot be bridged unless the two sides …
Continue reading “Commentary — UK seen as ‘Balkanised’ amid Brexit woes”
Kudos to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court for introducing its first set of sentencing guidelines. The new system should help ensure that justice is administered fairly and consistently in the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Sentencing guidelines are huge, but more reforms should follow”
Air anxiety A Beaconite, who suffers from major anxiety in the air, refused to travel by plane for a large portion of her teen years. Until last month, she had …
Sometime next month, Russia Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is expected to travel to Cuba. His visit is likely to cement the two nations’ future bilateral relations. It comes after months …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — As US sanctions Cubans, Russia seen to build Caribbean presence”
Unregulated capitalism and United States isolationism are destroying mankind. One family owning more wealth than hundreds of millions of people is no longer environmentally or socially sustainable in a world …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — VI warned of ‘climate change precipice’”
The unexplained closure of the East End public library last month is yet another unfortunate example of successive governments’ longstanding neglect of the territory’s library system. The Virgin Islands now …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: EE closure is one more sign libraries are being neglected”
Turn right at the yellow house, drive up a steep hill, bear left after the cow field, and turn right immediately past the second mango tree. Most anyone who has …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: 30 years later, addressing system is a milestone”
