Yvonne Huntt-Liburd wanted to be an airline stewardess and explore the world. Instead she became a V.I. Police Department detective and explored crime scenes on St. Croix.
Liburd said she likes solving mysteries and crimes like Sherlock Holmes. She studied the art of finger prints, photography and criminal investigations. “Something sparked in me,” she says. “It was a challenge and I loved it.”
She wanted to give back to her community so in 1974 she joined the VIPD. She felt she could give back to St. Croix in a more meaningful way there than doing secretarial work at the Departments of Public Works, Health and Education where she first worked after her graduation from Christiansted High School in the late 1950s.
Liburd said she didn’t want to walk the beat. She decided to get a degree in police science-forensic-criminal investigation from the Institute of Applied Science. When she returned home in 1977 she was transferred to the Identification Unit, now known as the Forensic Unit. In 1979 she was promoted to detective and by 1985 she was made sergeant and became supervisor of the unit.
She took FBI courses and certified training classes and attended the College of the Virgin Islands – now the University of the Virgin Islands. She said former Police Commissioners Elton Lewis and Ancil Alexander were inspirations for her police career.
“It felt good to go to court and win the case,” Liburd said when asked about the best part of the job. “It was a job where we worked long, hard hours, but it was worth it.”
She said now-a-days, when she drives around St. Croix it is a flashback for her to see the scenes of the crimes she helped solve.
In 1994, the 20th Legislature presented her with a resolution for her outstanding service to the government. She has received many commendations and awards from organizations such as the Department of Justice and Pan African Group and Business and Professional Women.
After retiring in 1994 Liburd took a little time off then started to volunteer right in her own neighborhood where she said it was needed, at Lew Muckle Elementary School.
“Children always need guidance and help,” Liburd says.
She is a member of Rotary Mid Isle, where she has served in a variety of capacities. And she is a member and past officer of BPW of St. Croix where she enjoys mentoring professional women. She is also active in the Friends of Denmark Society, her church Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church and more.
On top of all that she sews her own clothing and has Geovon Sales, a line of toys and dolls she sews costumes for and sells to cruise line passengers and locals.
She has been married to Donald Liburd for 13 years. He owns Liburd’s Masonry Contracting.
Since retiring she has gotten her chance to explore the world from Alaska to France and beyond. She said she loves to see new things and learn about other cultures and will travel as long as she is able.
