"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Economies that depend upon a single product and a single market for their existence put all their eggs into a single basket. When that basket takes a hit, all hell …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Territory warned to diversify economy”
I am writing to commend and concur with Tessa Callwood’s March 22 letter — titled “WE port seen as neglected post-Irma” — regarding the rebuilding of the West End ferry …
Continue reading “LETTER — Tourist echoes call to fix WE dock”
We are now going through another “National Democratic Party Done Deal” in the form of the Recovery and Development Plan, which many are talking about — some in a negative …
My recent observation that perceptions can be more powerful than facts in politics (“Writer weighs in on Beacon articles” in the May 10 edition) was borne out by the poor …
Continue reading “Commentary — The VI company that influenced an election”
The biggest trash fire in the territory’s history, which continues to burn at Coxheath, likely could have been avoided. It is certainly true that the mountains of garbage accumulating since …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL — Coxheath fire was likely avoidable”
Thinking outside the dump A Beaconite believes the government could turn to an unlikely ally in the ongoing fight against the Coxheath fire: BVI Airways! Or, more specifically, the …
This month symbolises a proud moment for me, witnessing the conviction of the people of our beloved Virgin Islands — not so much because I am for or against a …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Protest called a ‘proud moment’”
The United Kingdom Parliament’s decision to impose a public registry of beneficial ownership on its overseas territories is just another hurdle to jump over. We have jumped over a few …
Simple location and geography suggest that Prospect Reef, a marina and resort devastated by Hurricane Irma, is one of the best locations in the Caribbean to build a nautical and …
Continue reading “Commentary — Maritime college envisioned at Prospect”
The Virgin Islands’ first Perinatal Conference this month was a well-conceived event that provided an important opportunity to reflect candidly on the quality of maternal health care in the territory. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL — VI birth stats fairly strong, but improvement needed”
Public holiday The Beacon office will be closed for the Whit Monday holiday. It will reopen on Tuesday at the usual time, and advertising and editorial deadlines will remain …
Are you playing the blame game? Don’t beat yourself up if the answer is yes. We all tend to get caught in the unproductive cycle blame creates. Self-review is a …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Trade, DWM praised for service”
The devastating hurricanes of 2017 were a gift to the United Kingdom. Think about it for a moment! Imagine yourself as the parent of a recalcitrant young adult, living in …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Storms called ‘a gift’ to the UK”
We hear politicians, ministers of religion, business owners and many others refer to this territory as a Christian community. Those of us who read the Bible have read the conversation …
At a time when scientists are warning that climate change could devastate the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands is a regional leader in certain preparation efforts. Unfortunately, however, that’s not saying …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL — With climate already changing, VI must do more to prepare”
Shakedown? A Beaconite completed a medical procedure at a Road Town clinic last Thursday that involved an ample level of medically induced sedation. Right before he was injected with good-night …
Joe Friday, a Californian detective in Dragnet, a long-running television series, was often quoted for asking his female suspects for “the facts, ma’am — just the facts,” but he never …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Writer weighs in on Beacon articles”
This is the final installment of a three-part letter to the government’s Disaster Recovery Coordinating Committee providing suggestions for restoring and improving the territory’s Commercial Court. In addition to …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Former judge offers recovery ideas, part 3”
(A tribute to Hurricane Irma) I was not here on that dreadful day when Irma came and had her way. So why should I explain her rage, that made a …
Tuesday was a disheartening day for the Virgin Islands and other British overseas territories. In a move that represents an existential threat to some OTs’ economic well-being, United Kingdom parliamentarians …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL — UK decision breaks trust with OTs”
Thank you, Madam Speaker A Beaconite would like to offer praise to House of Assembly Speaker Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe, who smartly decided to limit HOA members to 30-minute speaking contributions during …
When people think about the legalisation of marijuana, they often imagine a scene of chaos as crowds run amok, smoking up a storm, lazing around and getting nothing done. Vehicles …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made to legalise pot in the territory”
This is the second installment of a three-part letter to the government’s Disaster Recovery Coordinating Committee providing suggestions for restoring and improving the territory’s Commercial Court. The Virgin Islands Commercial …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Former judge offers recovery ideas, part 2”
I swallowed the pill and headed for my car, confident I’d completed the course as instructed. I usually left home on Saturdays well over an hour earlier to join the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — ‘The pill that changed my life’”
Establishing a state-of-the-art national archive repository should be a priority as the territory works to build back stronger after last year’s hurricanes. For too long, Virgin Islands records have been …