"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
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”
Facing Jackass Ghut Following a press conference last week celebrating the launch of the territory’s new addressing system — which is still in its pilot phase — a Beaconite digitally …
A few days ago, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan’s largest ally in the Pacific, recognised China. Beijing’s success in encouraging the island grouping to do so is the latest indication of …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — China’s growing influence seen in Caribbean”
In the age of global warming, building resilience and defence against climate change and natural disasters have to be at the core of Caribbean social and economic development. Lifestyle change …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for storm prep”
Finally. Two years after Hurricane Irma, public high schoolers are no longer attending class on a part-time basis under a shift system. This welcome news comes with the long-delayed reopening …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: End of shift system is welcome, but work needed in schools”
Books galore After stopping by the BVI Red Cross headquarters last week for an interview, a Beaconite seized on an opportunity to do something he has been meaning to since …
Belief that the Virgin Islands may escape another devastating hurricane such as Irma, Maria or Dorian is simple delusion and dangerous complacency. As the United Kingdom convulses in a major …
Continue reading “Commentary — More big storms seen as imminent”
Cruise tourism has become a big business, with the Caribbean now accounting for more than 35 percent of all such vacations globally. This year more ships will sail in or …
Continue reading “Commentary — Cruise tourism gets a hard look”
Hurricane Dorian’s tragic destruction in the Bahamas was yet another dire warning to the entire Caribbean. Scientists expect climate change to bring more frequent and more intense storms to the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Dorian a tragic warning as global climate warms”
Helping the Bahamas It’s strange to be out on a sea as smooth as glass, cruising on a boat toward the back of Ginger Island, when more than 900 …
What could I have known of the easeful ways of sliding through this world? A dew drop descending the petal’s sloping splendour; this same moon that rose over great …