"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
In the weeks after Hurricane Irma, elected leaders promised legislation designed to help the territory recover and prepare for future storms, including a new building code, consumer protection legislation, a …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: The broken record from the Throne”
Starting Thursday, an airplane will be flying low over the territory using lasers to map the seabed, government announced. The survey, which is funded by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, …
“World-class” new infrastructure, including better-built roads and expanded water storage, are in the works, according to Jeremy Hodge, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works. Remedial roadworks …
Continue reading “Government promises new roads, more water capacity”
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. The team of people who once served as Virgin Gorda’s de facto government now have their headquarters in …
Continue reading “One year after Irma, Virgin Gorda fights to recover”
Road Town was devastated by Hurricane Irma, but the capital is building back in leaps and bounds. Scroll down to compare scenes captured shortly after Hurricane Irma to the same …
Continue reading “Irma, Then and Now: Photos from around Road Town”
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”
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 …
Continue reading “Irma, then and now: Photos from around Tortola”
Hurricane Isaac is expected to pass about 206 miles south of the Virgin Islands as a hurricane or a strong tropical storm on Thursday morning, possibly bringing showers and seas …
Continue reading “Isaac expected to pass 200-plus miles south of Virgin Islands”
“The Virgin Islands must build back stronger.” In the weeks after Hurricane Irma, this phrase was repeated like a mantra. A year later, is the territory succeeding? The answer varies …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands strong, but must be stronger”
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The Youth Empowerment Project in East End announced last month that it has been accepted as an international affiliate of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. BGCA, a youth …
Continue reading “YEP links with Boys and Girls Clubs of America”
It is troubling that the United Kingdom Parliament’s inquiry into the UK’s relationship with the overseas territories was launched without a comprehensive effort to solicit input from OT citizens. The …
Instead of launching expedited “executive work permits” for high earners, the Labour Department should concentrate on reforming its systems from the ground up in order to process all work permits …
Virgin Islands election officials are continuing to push for electronic vote-counting machines after observing the primary elections in St. Thomas this month. But before that can happen, Cabinet will need …
Continue reading “Vote-counting machines could come by next election”
Though the government’s new “Recovery to Development Plan” lists general spending projections and touts many laudable goals, it is disappointingly vague. Because the document does not include specific priorities and …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Recovery plan is still too vague”
The government was awarded $221,935.86 for cleanup costs as a result of an oil spill that occurred after the cargo ship Vagabond ran aground near Fallen Jerusalem in 2006. The …
Continue reading “Government wins $221k for cleanup after Vagabond wreck”
In the post-Hurricane Irma landscape, we welcome government’s plan to scale back the August Emancipation Festival while ramping up its emphasis on culture and history. As the celebrations get under …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Post-Irma, scaled-back Festival with culture focus is a good plan”
Tourism problems, tourism solutions At a tourism stakeholder meeting hosted by the BVI Tourist Board on Tuesday morning, one attendee raised his hand and made an interesting point: Some of …
I read with a wry smile in your esteemed newspaper that the government is moving forward to establish physical addresses for all properties in the Virgin Islands, one of the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Postal system called ‘disgrace’”
When I speak of ancestral Virgin Islanders, I am referring to those persons whose ancestry goes back to the middle and late 1800s. I expect that such persons would have …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Former nationality rules draw scrutiny”
It is disheartening that the long-delayed Human Rights Commission Act was removed from the House of Assembly’s agenda last week. For about a decade, legislators have been promising to pass …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Human rights law needed urgently”
Special kudos are due to this year’s graduates, many of whom have demonstrated remarkable perseverance to finish school after Hurricane Irma. Their challenges, we suspect, are far from over. Nevertheless, …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Kudos to post-Irma graduates, who now have much work to do”
News next door Sometimes Beaconites have to find the news; other times it finds them. On Monday, Virgin Gorda recycler Julie Swartz of Green and Clean VI was next door …
If the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport runway is extended and terminal upgraded, will major airlines from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and so on dash to start nonstop …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Will runway project bring enough planes?”
The United States economy is booming, and it is expected to grow 4.5 percent this year. This is a very strong growth rate, and it is unusual for the current …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Recession potential causes concerns”