In these challenging times, it is hard to look past COVID-19 and the uncertainty related to this global pandemic, especially as it affects us on our beloved islands.

I believe in the adage that diamonds are created under extreme pressure. That is why I also believe that great things can happen when people are challenged by extraordinary pressures in life.

After this past week of disinfecting myself and my home, I decided I needed a new way to fight the effects of coronavirus. And having more time on my hands now that we are all isolated, I found several good ways to do just that.

In honor of V.I. History Month I pay homage to the culture bearers who have maintained our history through storytelling. If you look back through the history of these islands, you will find a long line of storytellers and troubadours who have taught, warned and entertained. For today’s story…

Dear Editor,

Editor’s Note: Following is a message delivered by British Virgin Islands Gov. Augustus Jaspert on Monday in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

A lot of thoughts are running through our minds. In a relatively short amount of time, our daily lives changed. Not a day goes by without talk of the “Big C” virus, how long will it be around, when we can get back to normal, and what will happen in general.

Times are certainly challenging right now. With a pathogen wreaking havoc on everyone in the world, we are all holding our collective breath.

In normal times a sudden drop in the price of oil would elicit a collective sigh of relief among Caribbean governments and Central Bankers. However, these are not normal times.

As anxiety levels rise in the region over the rapidly escalating coronavirus crisis, there’s hope that what was once an alarming lack of transparency may be a thing of the past and that more information, not less, is being shared by public officials.

Throughout the history of humankind, people have been confronted with pestilence that has been challenging and threatening. It has altered the direction of history and provided an opportunity for leadership —then and now.

As a kid of the pre-internet age, I am just befuddled by kids today who have all the access to technology and content that we dreamed about, saying that they are bored. What? But I also get it. There is only so much you can consume.

The coronavirus is going to erode our very fragile tax base in the Virgin Islands. Every aspect and area of our economy will be negatively affected.

I have lived on St. John for over 50 years. Certain things were iconic way back then and are still today. Our National Park, for one, still attracts visitors and locals alike and probably always will. However, another equally famous icon has shuttered its doors and lies in ruin: Caneel Bay.

What would you do if you owned a company and your highly paid top decision-makers lost the company’s biggest contract, costing you $5 million in annual revenue and forcing you to lay off a large number of employees?

Three weeks ago, Caribbean Heads of Government passed a resolution critical of U.S. policy towards Cuba.

Recently, I met two Virgin Islanders — police officers with a combined service of almost 50 years to the community, still working to fix things.

My words

For a few years now I’ve been going to a trainer twice a week. He helps me with my weight training. One day we do deadlifts and one day we either do overhead or bench presses. We’ve kind of settled into a routine that Tuesdays are for deadlifting and Thursdays are for presses.

In one of the U.S. Capitol hallways that House members pass through to get to the chambers, there’s an inscription of a comment by Alexander Hamilton. It reads simply, “Here, Sir, the people govern.”

Dear Editor,

There are days when I feel like good old Charlie Brown, racing toward that football that his protagonist, Lucy, is holding.

Dear Editor,

While cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Caribbean, the immediate danger is that unwarranted concern is being spread within the region and externally.

When I heard we were taking the students on a field trip to see a play, I was excited. When I found out it was a play called “Sweet Chariot,” about the use of spirituals during slavery and emancipation, I became much less enthused.

Having served on many foreign policy committees and panels during my 34 years in Congress and for years afterward, I vividly recall that American policymakers continually devoted a great deal of time and effort to challenges in the Middle East.

Last month Britain held an Africa investment summit. It was live- streamed and hosted by the country’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. In the words of the U.K. government, it was aimed at “strengthening its economic partnerships with African nations, as part of a government drive to ensure th…

They say you don’t adopt a cat, it adopts you. Having been a dog person, I never thought I would find myself carrying huge bags of cat nibbles into my home.

Dear Editor,

Sometimes, you just need to step back. The political conversations I hear these days are strikingly negative, and there’s a lot of discouragement out there. I’ve done my share of carping, too. But at times like these, I find it helpful to look for the positives, as a reminder not to lose sig…

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

One of the more interesting aspects of the recently ended Heads of Government meeting was the positive tone of the remarks made by CARICOM’s ad interim chair, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

The long expected blame game over the failing Government Employees’ Retirement System continues.

Everything Virgin Islanders have always suspected about unequal treatment of the rich and poor has been confirmed in the way V.I. government officials, private firms and power brokers dealt with multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein during the 20 years he lived in the territory.

There is a commercial that has the tag line, “In life you can do things their way or you can do things your way.”

Dear Editor,

Defender in chief of the republic

Two weeks ago, Trinidad’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley delivered a major speech. It sought to define the future trajectory of his country’s energy policy. Speaking at the conference, “Shaping the Caribbean’s Energy Future,” he indicated why, over the next 10 years, the way the world thinks ab…

For decades, the Virgin Islands government has pledged a goal towards improvement. These pledges, administration after administration, have consistently promised a cleaner, more responsible government.