"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
The affordable housing project at Joes Hill could significantly benefit a segment of the Virgin Islands community that is often overlooked and marginalised. But to make it work, government leaders …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Affordable home project must be fair, transparent”
Dear Premier Andrew Fahie: We noticed that you went on a media blitz in recent days, giving interviews on talk shows broadcast on the radio and on Facebook. We were …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: An open letter to Premier Andrew Fahie”
The success of the ongoing commission of inquiry depends heavily on the trust and support of the Virgin Islands community. For this reason, we are glad that COI members have …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Presence, transparency will win trust for COI”
The BVI Electricity Corporation owes the public an explanation. Starting in late 2019, the utility used a highly unusual tender process to choose a contractor to build a multimillion-dollar solar …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: BVIEC owes explanation on Anegada solar contract”
Shortly after the 2019 election, the government gave two communications consultants from abroad one-year contracts worth a total of $176,000, according to a document provided to the opposition in the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Why hire communications consultants from abroad?”
The ritual was familiar to any Virgin Islands journalist. Before awarding a major contract in past years, the BVI Electricity Corporation typically would call a press conference where BVIEC officials …
Continue reading “With no sealed bids, tender process for Anegada solar was highly unusual”
We were encouraged to hear Premier Andrew Fahie say last month that his government plans to turn its attention to governance reforms starting at this week’s House of Assembly meeting. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Now, governance reform is more urgent than ever”
With a monumental task to complete in only six months, the commission of inquiry must devise a tightly focused strategy for shining its powerful spotlight into the dark corners of …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Inquiry will need a tightly focused strategy”
Monday was a dark day for the Virgin Islands, with the United Kingdom flexing its colonial muscle and announcing a wide-ranging corruption inquiry in the territory. However, we are sad …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Unfortunately, the corruption inquiry is needed”
If leaders in the new government proceed with their predecessors’ plan to expand the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, they must turn over a new leaf by being fully transparent …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Before airport expansion, transparency needed”
On March 17, Premier Andrew Fahie and Deputy Premier Carvin Malone promised to keep the public informed about the coronavirus pandemic by holding weekly press conferences on the topic and …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Press conferences needed as Covid questions go unanswered”
Premier Andrew Fahie called for greater transparency in government as he reported April 16 on planned measures that would establish a legally binding ministerial code of conduct. “The ministerial code …
Kudos to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court for introducing its first set of sentencing guidelines. The new system should help ensure that justice is administered fairly and consistently in the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Sentencing guidelines are huge, but more reforms should follow”
Premier Andrew Fahie should start holding regular press conferences that give journalists a chance ask about topics of their choosing. Though Mr. Fahie occasionally has met with the media about …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Premier should start holding open press conferences”
The international team that observed the February general election has provided a sound roadmap for badly needed election reforms in the Virgin Islands. If the new government is serious about …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Recommended election reform is long overdue”
On March 23 Virgin Islands News Online published a bizarrely vicious attack against The BVI Beacon and our reporter Genevieve Glatsky, making outlandish false claims under the guise of an …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Bullying won’t silence the Beacon”
Imagine that a foreign billionaire wants to influence a Virgin Islands election because of a lucrative investment opportunity he wishes to make in the territory. To do so, he secretly …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Campaign finance reform should come by next election”
The people have spoken, and the message is clear. The Virgin Islands Party’s win was a ringing declaration that voters want a change. It is also clear what form they …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: VI wants change, and new government must bring it”
During a press conference on Jan. 21, 2016, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith promised to commission an audit into the cruise pier project, which had given rise to allegations of impropriety …
Continue reading “Technically, pier project ‘audit’ was not an audit”
It’s a new year, and the Virgin Islands should strive to make 2019 the fresh start it desperately needs. To that end, the time for excuses is over. Instead of …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: A new year, a new Virgin Islands”
As soon as possible, the government should keep its promise to provide a comprehensive account of how it used the donations it received after Hurricane Irma. If it doesn’t, other …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Government should account for all Irma donations ASAP “
We are pleased that Cabinet has finally started publishing basic information about its decisions, many of which were previously kept under wraps. The promised weekly updates, which will keep the …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Kudos to Cabinet for releasing weekly updates”
In a long-awaited move to increase government transparency, the first set of weekly Cabinet decisions was released to the public last Thursday. “The publicising of Cabinet decisions marks another milestone …
At this pivotal time in the hurricane recovery process, it is troubling that the government suddenly has no communications director. On Aug. 20, Arliene Penn, who formerly held the position, …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: A communications director is needed now more than ever”
The Friday march in Road Town could have benefited greatly from a clearer message and more-realistic demands, but we were delighted that residents took to the streets to push for …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Kudos to the marchers. Here’s what should happen next”
