"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
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”
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”
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”
Brexit is the most damaging event in recent United Kingdom history, equivalent to the Suez Crisis of the early 1960s in terms of its malevolent effect on UK politics, economics …
Say something kind to someone today. Too soon that someone could pass away, And you’d be left with pain in your heart, Wondering why you didn’t do your part. …
Quiet support The Beacon, like other media outlets, occasionally finds itself embroiled in controversy (the reasons for which are far beyond the scope of this Reporter’s Notebook). When that happens, …
In his preaching on the need for a new capitalism that will power social and economic prosperity in the West in the decades ahead, economist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made for economic change”
Neo liberalism is the idea that markets are self-correcting. For 40 years the belief that free markets allocate resources efficiently ruled. Jack the Tycoon was king, and whatever was good …
Continue reading “Commentary — Call made to separate ‘big money’ and politics”
Neo-liberalism — supply-side trickle-down economics — has failed the world. However, a new economic thinking can save the day, according to a number of influential economists. The new thinking is …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — ‘New economic thinking’ praised”
A week is a long time in politics. Two weeks is an aeon, especially when public meetings are held after the event. Over the weekend, the premier seems to have …
Continue reading “Commentary — Ideas offered for immigration reform”
Our newly appointed “King” Fahie (see government press release) may have called a National Day of Prayer for today but I am afraid he and God have an uphill task …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Residency debate sparks ‘disgust’”
I have been having problems with a nearby resident who I believe is heavily on street drugs. This man has been tormenting the Old Plantation area neighbourhood, my daughter and …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made for more cops in EE”
Sustainability A Beaconite has been heartened to see some of the valuable efforts to contribute to sustainability in the Virgin Islands over the past week. She was so heartened …
Somebody please tell me this is a joke? Over the years we have seen sensible investors such as the Rockefellers, Dr. Henry Jarecki and Sir Richard Branson. But many carpetbaggers …
I am still rescuing books after Hurricane Irma. Incredible! At last I’m getting around to my store of books at the Old Family House, which had been unoccupied for more …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made for national library to house salvaged books”
Smart politicians pay heed to early disenchantment from voters. Why? Because to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Voter grumbling and voter discontentment at specific matters usually mark the beginning …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Gov’t warned of early grumbling”
Ban the ban? The Virgin Islands is among a dwindling number of countries and territories worldwide that continue to ban alcohol sales during Good Friday. Last year, after much …
So we are to get a third reincarnation of the “litter wardens.” What happened to the previous two times they were appointed? Were they paid? Are they still being paid? …
Continue reading “Commentary — ESHS, other projects scrutinised”
The world’s first formal stock exchange was established in Amsterdam in the early 1600s. The two major companies listed on it were the Dutch East India Company (founded in 1602) …
Continue reading “Commentary — ‘A contrarian view of independence’”
Bush whacking A Beaconite was fortunate enough to travel to Guana Island this week with scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, exploring and identifying native plant species. The …
In terms of value for money, investment in the West End ferry terminal is the most critical tourism and seaport investment the Virgin Islands can make right now. Investment in …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — WE ferry dock seen as crucial”
Congratulations to our newly elected members in the Virgin Islands House of Assembly, and God’s blessings throughout your term. The campaigning was quite short. As a result, many candidates did …
Moves towards e-government are welcome but overdue in an economy dependent on telecommunications to make its tourist product and financial services industry more attractive and efficient. We might emulate Estonia’s …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for e-gov’t, telecoms”
Talk show host Claude Skelton-Cline knows perfectly well why the British government imposed the Recovery and Development Agency on us. Just one reason. Successive governments here have shown themselves to …
We in the Virgin Islands have been talking a lot about diversifying our economy. We have spoken about diversifying our financial services pillar and enhancing and diversifying our tourism pillar. …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Food seen as third economic pillar”