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From the Schools
Holiday Gift Guide
Island Weekend & Culture — page 6
Thursday, December 12, 2013 |
SPECIAL REPORT: MIDTERM, PART 4 OF 5
Two years in, Vanterpool is touting ‘small wins’
But critics not impressed By CHRYSTALL KANYUCK ckanyuck@bvibeacon.com
“Mess!” shouted some of the 300 residents gathered under a “big tent” near the Band Stand on a warm evening in March 2011. It was the National Democratic Party’s official campaign launch, and residents were responding to Fourth District candidate Mark Vanterpool. “Our roads are in a —” prompted Mr. Vanterpool. “Mess!” yelled the crowds. “Our sewers are a —” he said. “Mess!” they shouted again. The routine went on for several minutes, with Mr. Vanterpool Midterm see page 28
The light that comes from wisdom never goes out.
Frugal in spending, but not in spirit
Christmas on Main Street kicks off holidays By NGOVOU GYANG ngyang@bvibeacon.com
T
he heavier the rain fell, the harder the karate students sparred. Dressed in white uniforms, the young Purple Dragon members performed in the pouring rain as hundreds of onlookers cheered from under tents set up in the Sir Olva Georges Plaza on Saturday night during Christmas on Main Street. “They are always awesome to watch,” said Collita Francis, whose 8-year-old son was among the martial artists. “It doesn’t matter how the weather is: They are always on target.” Other residents were not as brave: Participation in Christmas on Main Street this year was down from previous years, said orChristmas see page 17
By ERIC VOORHIS evoorhis@bvibeacon.com
Beacon Business..........................8 Vol. 29 No. 24 • 2 sections, 56 pages Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands © 2013, The BVI BEACON
Photo: NGOVOU GYANG Music students from the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports’ After School Programme play carols during Christmas on Main Street on Saturday. The two-day event also included the finals for the Clash of the Carollers.
Marching against violence Virgin Islands observes Human Rights Day
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For those who have a positive outlook on life, the wind and rain only added to the mood of the Celebration of Life Concert held Tuesday night to mark International Human Rights Day. Others may have said it was cold and wet. But at least when the event
began, with a large group of students, parents and teachers marching down Waterfront Drive in the name of non-violence, the sun was beaming. “It’s really wonderful to see our young people participating,” said Gender Affairs Coordinator Lorolie Connor, who works in the Ministry of Health and Social Development. “Because what this represents is us standing in solidarity to take back our community, our territory, from violence.” Though crime in the Virgin Is-
March see page 21
Photo: ERIC VOORHIS Students walk down Waterfront Drive on Tuesday afternoon during a march that led into a Celebration of Life Concert at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park.