Commentary

“Frederiksted, despite its stunning vistas and rich cultural heritage, pales in comparison to modern coastal towns in terms of year-round vibrancy, community engagement, and public safety.”

Even if Almighty God Himself came down and said, "Elections System of the Virgin Islands, y'all have time to appeal Judge Molloy's Jan. 10, 2024 ruling on election unconstitutionality," as a current Board Member, I know there was, is, nor will be no money to appeal it. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allow 30 days for appeals as a civilian; 60 days for government officials. Understanding the background is equally as important.

Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett hosted a reception in honor of National Police Week, where two fallen heroes from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Detective Delbert Phipps Jr. and Patrolman Lionel E. Issa, were celebrated.

The Virtues Project is about promoting positive behaviors and attitudes for healthy and supportive communities. This week's virtue is Justice.

I read with interest that the Estate Whim Museum on St. Croix made it on the list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. It is a good thing, I think, that Whim Museum was listed as an “Endangered Historic Place” because for too long this Caribbean gem of history in the American Virgin Islands has been setting there deteriorating into the rich Crucian fertile soil.

In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory. This week’s topic discusses finding the best version of yourself.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens says that vetoes of legislation passed to help address the ongoing crisis at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority are not productive.

“The GAO report recommends that the OMB develop a coordinated, government-wide strategy to involve the territories in federal statistical outputs and address these data gaps effectively.”

Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett writes that Estate Whim’s historical and cultural contributions span from the 18th century to the present day.

In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory. This week’s introduces The Lounge.

In the culture of the Virgin Islands, there is an old saying by the older people: “Whenever it rained on New Year’s Day, it would be a dry year.” Old people of yesterday lived by the signs and wonders of nature. They didn’t live by technological devices telling them about the weather. We are so modernized today that we have lost touch with nature. This year, when it comes to the weather, it is unusual. If you have been paying attention, we have been getting rain in months that are normally dry.

Despite the best intentions and efforts of both the administration and the leadership of WAPA, the authority is still unable to provide reliable and affordable power to the community.  All three islands are plagued by systemic blackouts that occur regularly and have for decades. The damage to families and businesses by WAPA’s failures is incalculable.

In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.

The bridges in the Virgin Islands are being repaired and maintained if needed, which is a good thing for motorists. However, what most residents of the Virgin Islands don’t know is that we have historic bridges dating back hundreds of years to the Danish occupation of the islands, and they are protected under the law. I hope the contractor or contractors are working with the V.I. State Historic Preservation Office.

In the past 20 years, humanity has seen huge advancements in just about every industry. This progression can be attributed to varying factors, including broader access to educational opportunities and more collaboration among neighboring countries around the world. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given a grant to the Virgin Islands Energy Office that will enable low-income and disadvantaged households to benefit from solar power.

In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.

Senator Carla Joseph is pleased to announce that two bills she sponsored were signed into law by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. on April 11.

A press release from WAPA with prior notice does not lessen the pain and suffering that blackouts pose to the community. The hardship on families, particularly those unable to afford generators, is heavy. Businesses and families already struggling with the high cost of electricity must also be saddled with frequent power failures. Outages kill store revenues and can cause expensive equipment damage.