Digital editions As the coronavirus crisis deepens and many people are retreating to their homes, the Beacon is pleased to announce the rollout of digital subscriptions that will allow readers …
April 1, 2020
April 1, 2020
COMMENTARY — Call made to start considering a post-virus economic strategy
The Caribbean is about to experience a crisis of a kind that no one in the region or anywhere else in the world could have predicted. The COVID-19 coronavirus, which …
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April 1, 2020
COMMENTARY — VI urged to learn from other responses
As the newscasters on the BBC World Service read out their reports on the campaigns against COVID-19 being fought in various countries, it became apparent that the Virgin Islands would …
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March 25, 2020
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (March 19, 2020)
Covering coronavirus As the COVID-19 pandemic plays out here and abroad, readers and advertisers can rest assured that The BVI Beacon will continue covering the issue — and other news …
March 25, 2020
LETTER — Open letter calls out Digicel
Dear Digicel, Congratulations to the ownership and marketing and salespeople. You apparently convinced certain members of our government (or whoever) that you could come in and do a better job …
March 25, 2020
COMMENTARY — VI urged to learn from COVID-19
I continue below the timeline I traced verbally in my March 5 commentary “Writer reassured by gov’t responses,” showing the rapidity with which COVID-19 has spread to the Eastern Caribbean …
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March 25, 2020
COMMENTARY — Major recession seen on horizon
The United States stock exchange has dropped into bear market territory. There has been a sustained downturn in the US stock market for the first time since Donald Trump became …
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March 18, 2020
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (March 12, 2020)
Saving the coral On Saturday, a Beaconite attended a meeting where scientists and a community outreach specialist explained to an attentive crowd their efforts to combat a disease that …
March 18, 2020
COMMENTARY — Call made to celebrate legislature’s 70th year
The Virgin Islands’ freedom to make its own political and economic decisions is often taken for granted by Virgin Islanders and other residents who are unfamiliar with the modern history …
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March 18, 2020
COMMENTARY — Trump’s Cuba policy draws scrutiny
Two weeks ago, Caribbean Community heads of government passed a resolution critical of United States’ policy towards Cuba. Under normal circumstances, this would not be worthy of comment: The region …
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March 11, 2020
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (March 5, 2020)
It’s getting chilly After reaching out to her former law professor about the recently passed Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Amendment) Act, 2019, a Beaconite was pleasantly surprised to receive a …
March 11, 2020
COMMENTARY — Writer reassured by gov’t response
Naturally, I welcome the comprehensive statement by Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone on the government’s response to the rapidly evolving spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. …
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March 11, 2020
COMMENTARY — VI urged not to panic over coronavirus
Is the world already experiencing a pandemic? Many people may feel this way because of the geographic reach of the coronavirus strain known as COVID-19, which has already touched more …
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March 4, 2020
March 4, 2020
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (February 27, 2020)
Public beaches On Sunday, a Beaconite got an unexpected tour of some new-to-her places in the North Sound of Virgin Gorda: Eustatia Island, the back of Cooper Island, and a …
February 26, 2020
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (February 20, 2020)
St. Croix visit On Saturday, a Beaconite joined other media outlets and a group of farmers from Tortola on a journey to St. Croix for the island’s annual Agricultural Fair. …
February 26, 2020
LETTER — Driver calls out bikers, police
Driving in Tortola has always been a challenge, but now we have some new issues. The motorbike operators seem to have their own rules — or should I say they …
February 26, 2020
COMMENTARY — Problem noted, questions asked
I have often commented on the appalling performance of our postal service, both long before and after the hurricanes. The service does not appear to have made any repairs or …
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February 26, 2020
COMMENTARY — Call made to keep sports records
I look forward to listening to the ZBVI Sports Show on Saturday afternoons around 6 p.m. It is informative and usually very humorous. Sometimes it’s so funny that they crack …
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February 19, 2020
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (Feb. 13, 2020)
A risky bet Multiple Beaconites attended the Humane Society of the BVI’s Gaming Night on Saturday, but only one of them volunteered as a blackjack dealer on a whim after …
February 19, 2020
COMMENTARY — Writer sceptical of gov’t claims
I am all for reducing food prices, but I don’t see how the United States Virgin Islands can help us achieve this. Surely most of our imported food comes from …
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February 19, 2020
COMMENTARY — VI warned of likely hard Brexit
Since I urged the Virgin Islands government to prepare for Brexit in the Jan. 30 edition of the Beacon, the United Kingdom’s Parliaments Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) has become the …
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February 12, 2020
COMMENTARY — Post-Brexit, OTs’ place considered
Brexit is simple English tribalism. A redefined relationship between the post-Brexit United Kingdom and the overseas territories is inevitable if, as is expected, the turmoil of a post-Brexit Britain becomes …
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February 12, 2020
LETTER— Dump smoke draws fire from STJ
Dear People of the Virgin Islands, Here is a photo of your smoking, burning dump on Monday. Unfortunately, in the United States Virgin Islands, we get to see and …
February 5, 2020
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (Jan. 30, 2020)
Medical pot The Bahamas, like the Virgin Islands, is among several Caribbean countries that have recently announced plans to consider a medical marijuana initiative. The country’s plan resembles the VI’s …