I wonder what sort of advice the governor gives in Cabinet meetings? I wonder if the heads of departments know what goes on at the bottom of their hierarchy? I …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Water meter contract sparks questions”
I wonder what sort of advice the governor gives in Cabinet meetings? I wonder if the heads of departments know what goes on at the bottom of their hierarchy? I …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Water meter contract sparks questions”
Sunday will mark 70 years since the Great March of 1949 in which the people of the Virgin Islands peacefully marched through Road Town to protest the gross neglect of …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made to mark 1949 protest”
We recall with amusement how our forefathers entered St. Thomas “through the window,” but Alice’s observations of life in the present-day Virgin Islands through the looking glass (as introduced in …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — VI seen through ‘looking glass’”
Culinary success The Virgin Islands is well on its way to achieving its goal of becoming a renowned culinary destination if last week’s Gourmet Soiree at Scrub Island Resort was …
I am pleased for the people and businesses of Virgin Gorda that they once again have banking facilities, albeit through only one bank, and not full time. Of course, one …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Writer weighs in on VG bank, other issues”
This writer met a very old friend on a street corner in the Virgin Islands on a recent Wednesday. The man is a political bigwig in these parts and from …
In Pursuit of Peace in Africa: An Autobiography, by retired Kenyan Army Lieutenant General Daniel Opande, was published a few months ago in Nairobi, Kenya, but sharp-eyed readers will spot …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Kenyan author’s VI ties noted”
The environment extends across all governmental and private-sector actions and operations. As such, the Virgin Islands government should establish a strong environmental programme. Proper environmental management entails conserving, protecting, employing …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — VI urged to explore ‘blue economy’”
Typo tantrum A Beaconite was disheartened to find several typographical errors in the government’s revised Recovery to Development Plan. The second page, for example, refers to “students beginning housed in …
Following my comments on National Health Insurance last week, Roy Barry — the deputy director of the Social Security Board with responsibility for NHI — gave a radio interview on …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — NHI interview sparks more questions”
Nationalism has been superseded by globalism. The world is changing significantly and rapidly. The screams of fear and anger from western citizens — especially blue-collar whites in the United States …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — ‘Invisible war’ seen in the West”
Two in one Over the weekend, a Beaconite had the opportunity to travel to St. Thomas to cover Virgin Islands Friendship Day, a celebration of VI culture attended by representatives …
If the new Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre is to open soon on Virgin Gorda, with vastly improved facilities, hopefully (that word again — more later), why is the BVI …
Continue reading “Commentary — VG clinic, other issues spark concerns”
Caribbean people swing from one political party to the next with no real rhyme or reason. Rampant waste of taxpayer monies? Stratospheric incompetence? Blatant corruption? Vote them out. Vote them …
Continue reading “Commentary — Call made for governance reforms”
The lizard and the nail A Beaconite was first amused, then dismayed, last week when two restaurant patrons claimed to have found objects in their food that shouldn’t have been …
During my first visit to the United Kingdom since 2012, my first priority was to claim my senior citizen’s benefits, like entitlement to free travel on public transport. However, I …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Gov’t called out over closed libraries”
Brexit has entered an expected phase. The United Kingdom is becoming Balkanised. The Brexit civil war has generated divisions in the UK that cannot be bridged unless the two sides …
Continue reading “Commentary — UK seen as ‘Balkanised’ amid Brexit woes”
Air anxiety A Beaconite, who suffers from major anxiety in the air, refused to travel by plane for a large portion of her teen years. Until last month, she had …
Sometime next month, Russia Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is expected to travel to Cuba. His visit is likely to cement the two nations’ future bilateral relations. It comes after months …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — As US sanctions Cubans, Russia seen to build Caribbean presence”
Unregulated capitalism and United States isolationism are destroying mankind. One family owning more wealth than hundreds of millions of people is no longer environmentally or socially sustainable in a world …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — VI warned of ‘climate change precipice’”
Facing Jackass Ghut Following a press conference last week celebrating the launch of the territory’s new addressing system — which is still in its pilot phase — a Beaconite digitally …
A few days ago, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan’s largest ally in the Pacific, recognised China. Beijing’s success in encouraging the island grouping to do so is the latest indication of …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — China’s growing influence seen in Caribbean”
In the age of global warming, building resilience and defence against climate change and natural disasters have to be at the core of Caribbean social and economic development. Lifestyle change …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for storm prep”
Books galore After stopping by the BVI Red Cross headquarters last week for an interview, a Beaconite seized on an opportunity to do something he has been meaning to since …