"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Prior to Hurricane Irma, I had been experiencing a sense of helplessness and hopelessness about what the Virgin Islands had become. That feeling was reinforced when I listened to a …
Continue reading “Commentary — Irma like ‘the voice of God’”
“The Virgin Islands must build back stronger.” In the weeks after Hurricane Irma, this phrase was repeated like a mantra. A year later, is the territory succeeding? The answer varies …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands strong, but must be stronger”
New intern The Beacon has a new intern. Tiana Hewitt is a 16-year-old student at Cedar International School. A proud feminist, she appreciates people who stand up for gender equality …
I have been in correspondence with the Department of Waste Management regarding the ongoing fire and ensuing health hazard at Pockwood Pond. The department has been responsive, open and empathetic, …
Continue reading “LETTER — Call made to reform waste system”
I indicated earlier that the provisions of the 1948 Nationality Act did not favour ancestral Virgin Islanders and that fact was not generally known here. It may be that the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Past nationality laws deemed unfair”
I related in “From Linz to Berlin” (in a July 19 Beacon commentary titled “Lifelong walker recounts more travels) some walking experiences while living in an Austrian refugee camp, returning …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — ‘Life notes of a dedicated walker’”
It is troubling that the United Kingdom Parliament’s inquiry into the UK’s relationship with the overseas territories was launched without a comprehensive effort to solicit input from OT citizens. The …
Post-Irma optimism In the process of reporting for the Beacon’s upcoming “Irma Anniversary” edition scheduled for Sept. 6, a Beaconite has spoken to dozens of people across several sectors of …
Volunteerism is defined as serving one’s community without compensation. Unfortunately, because of greed, many volunteer organisations worldwide have been robbed by their executive officers. In today’s world, there are numerous …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Politicians urged to be selfless”
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Affairs Committee is leading an inquiry into the UK’s constitutional relationship with the Virgin Islands and other overseas territories (OTs). To that end, it plans to …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — CDs seen as model for UK relations”
There are very serious economic and financial implications for the Virgin Islands as a consequence of the United Kingdom decision to impose public registers of beneficial ownership on the overseas …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Need seen to ‘rebalance’ economy”
Instead of launching expedited “executive work permits” for high earners, the Labour Department should concentrate on reforming its systems from the ground up in order to process all work permits …
A dog’s life Though the issue has been aired often on social media, in international and local news articles, and in public chatter, it still surprises and disgusts a Beaconite …
Accurate statistics and sound economic metrics are critical to engineering economic recovery for the Virgin Islands. A July article in a national online newspaper stated that the territory’s public debt …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Stats seen as essential for recovery”
Every year leading up to and after our August Emancipation Festival, there is plenty of commentary and critique over what has transpired, and this year has been no exception. What …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Ideas offered to find Festival’s ‘roots’”
I have written more than one commentary on this subject. I think that if you stay with me we can come to a place where there is understanding of what …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Former citizenship rules get more scrutiny”
This year we have been reminded repeatedly of the origins of our August Emancipation Festival. The lessons came from elders, educators and historians; from the pulpit; from the Sunday Morning …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made to clean up Festival”
Though the government’s new “Recovery to Development Plan” lists general spending projections and touts many laudable goals, it is disappointingly vague. Because the document does not include specific priorities and …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Recovery plan is still too vague”
In the post-Hurricane Irma landscape, we welcome government’s plan to scale back the August Emancipation Festival while ramping up its emphasis on culture and history. As the celebrations get under …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Post-Irma, scaled-back Festival with culture focus is a good plan”
Festival printing schedule Because of the August Emancipation Festival holidays Monday through Wednesday, the Beacon won’t publish next week. The temporary office in Pasea will reopen next Thursday, however, and …
As the Virgin Islands continues to rebuild from hurricanes Irma and Maria, a compelling vision is needed to capture the imagination of the people of the islands and gain the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Roadmap offered for ‘truly modern’ VI”
I support Michael Riegel’s complaints in last week’s Beacon about our postal services, updating those expressed by others over many years. I recently voiced my own concern that some of …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Writer weighs in on trash transparency, tourism”
Locally owned small businesses are critical for getting the Virgin Islands out of recession. Small business is at the core of the VI economic engine. Building strong small businesses is …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Businesses seen as key to recovery”
In an earlier commentary, I referred to certain categories of ancestral Virgin Islanders who were placed at a disadvantage by the 1948 British Nationality Act. Among these were illegitimate children; …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Former citizenship rules draw more fire”
Tourism problems, tourism solutions At a tourism stakeholder meeting hosted by the BVI Tourist Board on Tuesday morning, one attendee raised his hand and made an interesting point: Some of …
