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”
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 …
Pirates on the move The Virgin Islands may need to brace for a pirate invasion. Luckily for the territory, the buccaneers knocking on its doorstep are made largely of plastic …
Dear Disaster Recovery Coordinating Committee, I am writing, in my personal capacity, in response to the solicitation of comments in relation to the Recovery and Development Plan for the Virgin …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Former judge offers recovery ideas, part 1”
The following is an open letter to Premier Dr. Orlando Smith, Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering and Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie. Dear Sirs: I am writing with regard to …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Open letter offers ideas for Sopers”
In the dream, I climbed out of bed and as I looked down the long back garden, a hail of small stones rushed at the windows soundlessly, but with increasing …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — ‘Looking back to the future’”
It is good news that the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has submitted its report on the police shooting that preceded the December death of Virgin Islands prison …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL — Shooting report should be released now”
Goodbye, Irma For those who are sick of hearing the word “Irma,” you’re in luck — at least in a future sense. The World Meteorological Organization decided to retire the …
The economy is front, centre and rear of any disaster recovery effort after hurricanes Irma and Maria. So the next government, after a 2019 general election, must adopt a specific …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Options weighed for next election”
May someone direct me to the office of checks and balances for Virgin Islands government agencies? I have been searching for this magical place for years now. As a VI …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Woman irked by public-service delays”
During a time when the civil service is launching a major reform initiative, there is much to learn from the life of Elton Georges, who served the territory selflessly throughout …
Spider-Woman A Beaconite spent Hurricane Irma alone in her house — except for the spider. The six-inch-long, reddish-orange, acrobatic, turbocharged arachnid was more than capable of being across the room, on …
Vision is critical to economics. The math, statistics, psychology, history and sociology that create the concepts and narratives of economic thought are mere tools of the visionary. Vision is what …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made for a recovery ‘vision’”
Sometimes pressure is a pleasure but in most times, it’s not… While we treasure some simple moments when you have pain it feels like it’s forever constant and sometimes even …