"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Three years after Hurricane Irma, successive governments’ failure to secure the needed level of recovery funding — which now could be doing much more to help the stalled economy through …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Covid is highlighting Irma recovery failures”
A recent uptick in cases of Covid-19 in the Virgin Islands meant that community members couldn’t host any sort of large gathering on Sunday to reflect on the past three …
As the Covid-19 crisis has decimated the economy in recent months, leaders have sought to counter the dismal outlook while rolling out more than $10 million worth of contracts under …
Continue reading “Underfunded hurricane recovery still dragging”
A total of 894,991 tourists visited the Virgin Islands during 2019, reaching nearly 80 percent of pre-Irma levels and more than doubling 2018 numbers, Premier Andrew Fahie announced last Thursday …
After submitting a revised Recovery to Development Plan to the United Kingdom in September, the Virgin Islands government is now waiting to learn whether the UK will approve the territory’s …
Continue reading “Premier: Revised Recovery to Development Plan in UK hands”
Connie Haines Barry lives in an island-inspired haven in Spooner, Wisconsin, a town in the United States with a population of about 2,600 people. A pineapple-themed welcome sign hangs above …
Continue reading “Where are they now? Irma survivors abroad share their journeys”
After losing former opposition member Alvera Maduro-Caines to the Virgin Islands Party and seeing the resignation of Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly this month, opposition members acknowledged last …
Continue reading “Opposition promises to hold government accountable”
The slow pace of the government’s hurricane recovery is nothing short of a crisis, and the resignation of Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly is another major blow to …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: RDA CEO’s resignation hurts, but it’s no surprise”
Following low tourism numbers in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the Virgin Islands saw some of the highest growth in the Caribbean during a strong regional …
Continue reading “Post-Irma growth puts VI near top in tourism rankings”
A new Magistrates’ Court is currently being designed and planned as part of the first phase of the “Halls of Justice” project, according to Government Information Services. Premier Andrew Fahie …
Continue reading “Premier: New court facilities coming soon”
During a Friday meeting that lasted about two hours at the Church of God of Prophecy in East End, Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Dr. Natalio Wheatley …
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 …
Continue reading “UK and VI in ‘technical’ talks on new recovery plan”
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 …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: The revised recovery plan is even worse than the last”
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Rymer: Central Administration Building work to pick up soon”
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: End of shift system is welcome, but work needed in schools”
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 …
Continue reading “Government ‘on the way’ to 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Roads must be repaired properly”