November 13, 2019
November 8, 2019
UK and VI in ‘technical’ talks on new recovery plan
The government is in discussions with United Kingdom officials about the new Recovery to Development Plan, which was submitted to the UK on Sept. 27 as part of ongoing efforts …
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November 4, 2019
EDITORIAL: The revised recovery plan is even worse than the last
When we heard that the new government was drafting a revised recovery plan as part of its efforts to secure the United Kingdom loan guarantee, we had high hopes. But …
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November 3, 2019
Premier tables downsized recovery plan
Government tabled a new Recovery to Development Plan during the Oct. 17 House of Assembly sitting, introducing a 33-page document that is designed to replace the previous 116-page plan that …
October 22, 2019
The poetry of recovery
Though many have commended Dr. Richard Georges for publishing three books within three years, he said his secret to such success is actually quite simple: pace. “It’s a natural progression …
October 14, 2019
Rymer: Central Administration Building work to pick up soon
Work is expected to accelerate soon on renovations to the Central Administration Building while public officers are relocated to temporary accommodations, Transportation, Works and Utilities Minister Kye Rymer said Monday …
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October 14, 2019
Contract signed for 3 temp housing units
More than two years after Hurricane Irma damaged most homes in the territory, the government has allotted funds to build three temporary housing units in Tortola and Anegada. The Recovery …
October 3, 2019
Revised recovery plan submitted to UK
Cabinet has approved and submitted a revised Recovery to Development Plan to the United Kingdom as part of efforts toward securing a loan guarantee. Premier Andrew Fahie said Monday that …
September 24, 2019
EDITORIAL: End of shift system is welcome, but work needed in schools
Finally. Two years after Hurricane Irma, public high schoolers are no longer attending class on a part-time basis under a shift system. This welcome news comes with the long-delayed reopening …
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September 19, 2019
Government ‘on the way’ to loan guarantee
After weeks of criticising the United Kingdom’s conditions for a recovery loan guarantee, Premier Andrew Fahie returned from a visit to London and said this week that his government is …
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September 12, 2019
Opposition weighs in on loan guarantee
While Premier Andrew Fahie visited London this week following a public spat with United Kingdom officials, opposition members launched a series of community meetings and pushed back against Mr. Fahie’s …
September 9, 2019
Gov’t recovery drags amid funding woes
In the weeks after Hurricane Irma, the recovery effort roared to life. With the help of funding and personnel from the United Kingdom and other partners, the Virgin Islands government …
September 9, 2019
Premier’s Office silences RDA CEO
Over the past five weeks, Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly scheduled and cancelled three interviews with the Beacon before ultimately declining to speak at the reported request of …
September 5, 2019
EDITORIAL: Roads must be repaired properly
In the weeks before the February general election, the former government quickly resurfaced roads across Tortola. Already, those repairs are falling apart. This is extremely disheartening at a time when …
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September 2, 2019
UNDP office in the works for Virgin Islands
After supporting the territory’s hurricane recovery for nearly two years, the United Nations Development Programme is looking to open a permanent Tortola office and work closely on projects including a …
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August 30, 2019
West End Police Station re-opens
The West End Police Station, which had been out of service since Hurricane Irma, has officially reopened. The two-storey building across from the Benjamin A. Romney Park had its grand …
August 30, 2019
EDITORIAL: Absent alternatives, loan guarantee is needed
At a time when the government’s recovery effort is severely delayed and egregiously underfunded, Premier Andrew Fahie should stop fear-mongering and work quickly with Governor Gus Jaspert to finalise a …
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August 22, 2019
Premier, guv face off over loan guarantee
In a surprise move last week, Premier Andrew Fahie publicly pushed back against the conditions the United Kingdom would attach to the £300 million loan guarantee that it first offered …
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April 10, 2019
EDITORIAL: Where’s the loan guarantee?
More than a year and a half after Hurricane Irma, it was extremely disheartening to learn recently that the previous government had not sent the United Kingdom the information necessary …
February 1, 2019
AC is back in parts of Central Administration Building
The air-conditioning system has been restored in parts of the Central Administration Building, government announced last week. The east atrium, the Premier’s Office, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, …
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January 23, 2019
In their Words: Colin O’Neal
Colin O’Neal is the CEO of JOMA Properties Ltd, a property development and management company based on Tortola. The company, he says, has completed about 95 percent of the work …
December 17, 2018
RDA cranks up with projects and regulations
Repairing sister islands’ administration buildings, upgrading school facilities, and removing derelict boats are among the projects the Recovery and Development Agency is preparing to tackle after working with the Premier’s …
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November 19, 2018
EDITORIAL: Culture is key in hurricane recovery process
In light of this month’s Culture Week celebrations, the Virgin Islands should commit to vigorously incorporating heritage preservation and cultural projects into the hurricane recovery process. After sound recommendations from …
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September 12, 2018
Virgin Islands economy takes new shapes after Irma
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. Like many people throughout the Virgin Islands, Courdney Williams has a very different daily routine than he did 12 months …
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September 11, 2018
Irma, then and now: Photos from around Tortola
Much has changed since Hurricane Irma struck the Virgin Islands on Sept. 6, 2017. In some locations, the recovery effort has transformed the landscape. Other areas, however, don’t look much …
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