"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
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”
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 …
Continue reading “UNDP office in the works for Virgin Islands”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Absent alternatives, loan guarantee is needed”
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 …
Continue reading “Premier, guv face off over 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 …
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, …
Continue reading “AC is back in parts of Central Administration Building”
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 …
