As usual, I had a blast during the August Emancipation Festival, and I count myself lucky to have attended the 60th anniversary celebrations.
August 13, 2014
August 13, 2014
Weighing in on Festival
Last year I wrote about how I was disappointed with the low turnout every year for the most important part of our August Emancipation Festival. This year, the service at …
August 13, 2014
Ideas offered for guarding financial services
The success of the Virgin Islands’ financial services industry has raised the territory’s profile in world affairs, underscoring the importance of its international engagement and presence abroad to advance the …
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August 13, 2014
WWI: Causes of ‘The Great War’ considered
The causes of World War I originated many years before the first shot was fired, yet it might have been averted with goodwill and diplomacy on all sides The United …
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August 13, 2014
Lawyer mulls VI independence
Governor Boyd McCleary has departed these shores after serving nearly four years as the Queen’s representative, and there have been some scathing comments about him online. One news website accused …
August 13, 2014
Past EE/LL festivals recalled
During the 1940s and 1950s, social and community development of Tortola’s eastern end rested heavily on the initiatives of the church, the village head teacher, and the government agent of …
June 25, 2014
EDITORIAL — What’s going on at the Ports Authority?
After a thorough investigation into the government’s former agreement with Tortola Ports Partners, the opposition-led Public Accounts Committee has put forward a raft of very serious allegations.
June 25, 2014
DATELINE: PARADISE — An open letter to ferry passengers
Dear Passengers: Please stop whining about the ferry service between Tortola and the United States Virgin Islands.
June 25, 2014
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (JUNE 26, 2014)
You say ‘football’… As the World Cup rages on, a Beaconite from the United States frequently has been reminded by people from around the world that the tournament is a …
June 25, 2014
Passengers irked by ferry ‘adventure’
I ended up on an “adventure” on Monday, and after several conversations with those I met along the way we decided it was too fascinating not to share. I had …
June 25, 2014
Recent Antigua election analysed
A few days after Gaston Browne was sworn in as prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda last week, he and Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack had a serious disagreement. Ms. …
June 25, 2014
Transparency: Gov’t said to have broken promise
At a recent political meeting in idyllic Virgin Gorda, the new chairman and first elected leader of the Virgin Islands Party admitted that in past years his organisation had not …
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June 25, 2014
Open letter calls for parking garage
Dear Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool:
June 25, 2014
Boys seen to be falling behind
Over time, girls have always performed better than boys in school, but the gap is growing. This is troubling. Although different theories have been offered, it is hard to pinpoint …
May 7, 2014
EDITORIAL — Celebrating and supporting seniors
During Senior Citizens Month, the Virgin Islands should ask itself if this territory is a friendly place for the elderly.
May 7, 2014
DATELINE: PARADISE — Bank thinks outside box, hires teller
It’s a common scene on Fridays at Virgin Islands banks: Frustrated customers often have to stand in line for more than 30 minutes to carry out basic transactions.
May 7, 2014
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (May 8, 2014)
Refusing to be stressed On Friday about 20 students from the Agape Total Life Academy visited The BVI Beacon. The kids not only learned a thing or two about how …
May 6, 2014
Gov’t ‘begging’ seen as distasteful
Desperate times call for desperate measures!
May 6, 2014
Writer speaks out against perceived racism
About two months ago, Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn made comments on the radio that seemed to me to suggest that there is racism in the real estate market in …
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May 6, 2014
Jury trials under microscope in region
Recently, The BVI Beacon carried a special report about the jury system and an editorial calling for the amendment of certain aspects of the Jury Act 1914. Meanwhile, several prominent …
May 6, 2014
Lost sheep, archives and buried treasure
I must add another question to those I raised in my commentary last week about “cultural icons:” Why are valuable livestock turned into traffic hazards? I also want to clarify …
May 6, 2014
A Mother’s Love
For Janette Legair From the comfort of your womb
April 9, 2014
EDITORIAL — ‘Role profiles’ a positive step, but transparency is critical
We are pleased that government has started reforming the civil service in keeping with recommendations laid out in the 2012 Job Analysis Project. Moving forward, however, the analysis should be …
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April 9, 2014
DATELINE: PARADISE — Media’s secret agenda exposed
Several media outlets have inexplicably condemned a new law that is expected to make journalists happier, confirming government’s fears about a massive conspiracy designed to tarnish the territory’s good name.
April 9, 2014
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (APRIL 10, 2014)
‘Officer Willis’ In a Beaconite’s opinion, one of the lighter-hearted moments of the trial of two men for allegedly failing to declare currency came during Customs officer Darwin Scatliffe’s testimony.