"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Nothing better illustrates the divide that exists between today’s Caribbean and its past than two unfortunate images of Prince William and his wife Catherine during their recent visit to Jamaica: …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — ‘Royalty, republics, and reparations’”
Rising inflation diminishes the economic and social well-being of consumers, especially people on fixed incomes: employees, retirees, students on scholarship, small business owners of nonessential products and services, and unemployed …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Inflation seen as economic threat”
For all the talk about transparency that has come out of the Governor’s Office in recent years, we were disappointed by Governor John Rankin’s decision not to release the Commission …
Halls of justice While covering High Court this week, a Beaconite saw the transition from the Sakal building in Pasea back to the official Virgin Islands Supreme Court building. In …
In the Virgin Islands, there is a huge problem with the young men riding motorbikes in our quiet neighbourhood in East End. The ages of these riders appear to range …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Scooters seen as ‘death trap’ for kids”
The Virgin Islands, along with the sister overseas territories and the United Kingdom, is part of a unique family that spans the globe, covering nine time zones. Whilst each member …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — After VI visit, UK minister weighs in on Ukraine”
The stakes are high as the United Kingdom-appointed Commission of Inquiry prepares to submit its recommendations to Governor John Rankin next month. Following two similar COIs in the Turks and …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Direct UK rule should be a very last resort”
I am a marine business owner as well as being involved in the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival and the Royal BVI Yacht Club. It seems the non-marine population …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY – Sailor counts cost of yacht crackdown”
I had the honour this month to participate in an important dialogue about how we prepare our students for life. The discussion centred around two questions: “Preparing learners to be …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Turning ‘learners to leaders’”
All too frequently in recent months, we have found ourselves writing about another hurricane recovery project that is far behind. This week, it’s the public library. The main branch in …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Where, oh where, is the new library?”
Court reporting For one Beaconite, reporting on a recent High Court trial was made more stressful by the difficulty of obtaining basic information about the case from relevant government offices. …
Caribbean Community heads meeting in Belize recently could not have been clearer about the “perfect storm” that is about to strike the Caribbean. Speaking at a post-summit press conference, Belize …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Region warned about ‘economic storm’”
Fighting inflation has been the task of central banking from the 1970s, when the oil crisis drove hyperinflation in the west. Hyperinflation is a combination of rising prices and recession. …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Inflation seen as dire threat”
Just as the world seemed to be steadily emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, another global crisis has arrived. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an affront to democracy, and our hearts …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Prepare for price hikes and more shortages”
The sudden recent discovery of severe damage to a bridge in East End is a troubling warning sign that should make the government review its approach to maintaining road infrastructure …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: East End bridge was a warning sign”
Public facilities A Beaconite appreciates the work that Dean “Sportsman” Greenaway recently put in through social media to show the state of public recreation facilities in the territory. Though some …
International Women’s Day is a marker in our calendars to cause us to pause and recognise the accomplishments of women and girls. This year I felt it was important to …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made for gender equality in VI”
From the Great Recession of 2008 to today, the world has stumbled from crisis to crisis without cease. For the Virgin Islands, add the devastating storms of 2017 to the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for handling inflation”
With a Caribe Wave drill slated for tomorrow, the entire community should recommit to preparing for earthquakes and tsunamis. In recent decades, the Virgin Islands has been spared these disasters, …
Unmasked A Beaconite wonders if Virgin Islands officials are aware that the United Kingdom and all 50 states in the United States have now announced plans to drop indoor mask …
Before invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin would have done well listening to Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu: “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” Success …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Putin criticised for Ukraine invasion”
COI report The Commission of Inquiry has been absent from the headlines recently, as the hearings have wrapped up and Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom is presumably hard at work on …
You have to have drive to survive to stay alive to thrive but remember there are times when you will sigh and you may even cry your eyes dry but …
Russia President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was the act of a tyrant and bully. There will be no benefit to Russia in the long run of plunging the world …
Yet again, a fire has shut down the Pockwood Pond incinerator. Yet again, the resulting trash buildup will inevitably cause fires at the nearby landfill, and toxic smoke will blow …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Incinerator woes expose government inaction”