Unsung heroes While covering a poetry reading recently, a Beaconite found one poem presented by a young writer particularly memorable. He commended waste disposal employees for the work they do …
April 14, 2021
April 14, 2021
COMMENTARY — Vaccines, ferries, speeches draw scrutiny
It’s very commendable that many people, from the premier down, are encouraging reluctant folks to take the vaccine. However, it is not helpful to “threaten” that unused doses approaching their …
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April 14, 2021
COMMENTARY — UK-OT ties considered
Last month Britain published two significant post-Brexit policy documents setting out its future thinking on foreign policy, defence, security and development. Both referenced in general terms the importance to the …
April 7, 2021
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (April 8, 2021)
No fishy business A Beaconite has had fish on the brain. Recently she reported on the Blue Belt fish monitoring programme coming to the overseas territories; discussed proposed changes to …
April 7, 2021
COMMENTARY — Call made to help small biz
Only a strong social democracy, not a trickledown capitalist model, will deliver for the Virgin Islands. It was small business and the working man that kept the VI economy alive …
April 7, 2021
COMMENTARY — UK’s post-Brexit plans analysed
What global role should a post-imperial, post-Brexit Britain play? Can it reinvent itself in a manner that convinces a population increasingly divided by education, age, race, location and inequality, let …
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March 31, 2021
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (April 1, 2021)
Register of interests A Beaconite was not impressed by legislators’ recent bragging about their commitment to transparency when they voted to make the Register of Interests available to the commission …
March 31, 2021
COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for UK-Caribbean relations
There is an old saying that you wait ages for a London bus and then two (or even three) come along at once. It is not an expression, as far …
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March 31, 2021
COMMENTARY — Division seen as threat to VI
Strong and wholesome community is a great tool against adversity: That has been a lesson from the pandemic. The social, economic and physical health of the Virgin Islands community is …
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March 24, 2021
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (March 25, 2021)
‘Bloggers’ Online commenters on Virgin Islands news sites, colloquially known as “bloggers,” often find themselves under fire from politicians and the wider community. Comments that are trolling or offensive are …
March 24, 2021
LETTER — Few cruise ships expected
It’s good news that Royal Caribbean is restarting Celebrity cruises based on St. Marten. But before we get too excited, please note it is for a limited season from June …
March 24, 2021
COMMENTARY — VI urged to use diplomacy with UK
For the Virgin Islands and other British overseas territories, the weapons of diplomacy, tact and negotiation are better options in moving towards self-determination than banging an anticolonial drum. Indeed, tact …
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March 17, 2021
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (March 18, 2021)
Ridge Road closure On Sunday, a Beaconite was on his way to surf at Josiahs Bay when he encountered a red plastic barricade that stretched halfway across Ridge Road. There …
March 17, 2021
COMMENTARY — Central banks’ role analysed
The most powerful institution on earth is the United States Federal Reserve. Here is why. Global financial stability from 2008 is owed to the power of central banks intervening at …
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March 17, 2021
COMMENTARY — Open letter describes inquiry as hypocritical
Dear Commissioner of Inquiry, As touching as this commission of inquiry might be, what do you see? What do you understand is taking place? Let me give you my observations. …
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March 10, 2021
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (March 11, 2021)
Online and onward A Beaconite was glad to see a series of digital-focused bills make their way through the House of Assembly over the past week. One of her friends …
March 10, 2021
COMMENTARY — Racial shifts examined
The ability to change in a changing world is a great human asset — and a mark of resilience and intelligence. However, change gets harder as we grow older. Assumptions …
March 10, 2021
COMMENTARY — Inquiry further analysed
So, the commission of inquiry is searching for information to verify, or not, the claim that there is corruption in the Virgin Islands. Who would be interested in providing this …
March 3, 2021
POEM — Seed of the Vision — A Tribute to Hamilton Lavity Stoutt
Planted in the soil of this nation, on land declared unfit, a seed of hope lay buried, sustained only by God’s remit. This seed had a vision, embedded in its …
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March 3, 2021
COMMENTARY — Land dispute history recounted
Following Black History Month, I would like to share a piece of my maternal family’s history with you. I’ll start where my journey began. My maternal family has been in …
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March 3, 2021
COMMENTARY — Pandemic lessons explored
What was the common denominator for countries and territories that kept the pandemic to a minimum? Unlike in the United States, Brazil and the United Kingdom, draconian action and effective …
February 24, 2021
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (Feb. 25, 2021)
Props A Beaconite, like many residents, has been critical of several aspects of the government’s Covid-19 response. Some missteps were clear: failing to thoroughly explain the disbursement of the $62.9 …
February 24, 2021
COMMENTARY — Call made to honour VI heroes
I applaud the theme of the BVI National Commission for UNESCO World Poetry Competition 2021: “Perspectives of Our Past: Unsung Heroes.” So often our lips declare that “we stand on …
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February 24, 2021
COMMENTARY — VI’s ties with UK examined
Some individuals may not want to acknowledge that there are ties which bind the United Kingdom and the Virgin Islands, and I think I can understand why that would be …
February 24, 2021
COMMENTARY — Residents urged to get vaccine
The decision to take the Covid-19 vaccine or not is primarily a personal one. However, the effect and outcomes of not doing it may not exactly be so personal after …
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