A global economic depression may mean seven years of hardship and turmoil, so be prepared. The ancient story of the Jew Joseph and his dream of a world plunged into …
COMMENTARY — Call made for honest leadership as Caribbean fights COVID-19
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently said of the coronavirus epidemic, “The stress, the emotion, is just incredible, and rightfully so. It is a situation that is one of the …
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COMMENTARY — Distancing seen as a ‘moral duty’
A statistical model of the unchecked spread of COVID-19 predicts that 85 percent of the Virgin Islands population would become infected, with more severe symptoms experienced by seniors and people …
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REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (April 2, 2020)
E-editions The Beacon can now be delivered each Thursday to your smart phone, tablet or computer. To subscribe or purchase single digital issues, go to bvibeacon.com and click the link …
COMMENTARY — Amid pandemic, history recalled
While writing the Dec. 19 commentary “VI libraries gone ‘back to the future,’” I rediscovered an article I had written on “Information Technology in the Caribbean” in April 1987. It …
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POEM — The Treasury of Heaven
There’s a strangeness in the air. Crisis, crisis! But not fear. Knock! Knock! Who is there? I’m a shaking, shaking, shaking up the heaven and the earth: There’s a …
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK (March 26, 2020)
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 …
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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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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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 …
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 …
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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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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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 …
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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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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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 …
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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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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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 …
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. …
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 …
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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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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