The Virgin Islands doesn't have a National Public Radio station, but it does have a non-commercial educational one – WIUJ-FM – that offers a diversity of local programing free of advertising much as an NPR station would do.
Licensed to the not-for-profit V.I. Youth Development Radio Inc., WIUJ is perhaps best known for its live coverage of V.I. Senate sessions and committee hearings. But on the weekends, general manager Leo Moron points out, it's a whole different lineup – of one musical and community "special" after another, with formats for just about all tastes and interests. Here's what there is to hear on the station, found at 102.9 on the FM dial:
Friday
8 to 10 p.m. – a Spanish-language talk and call-in show addressing issues of concern to the V.I. Hispanic community. "Guests are often government officials," Moron says. "For those who cannot speak Spanish, there is an interpreter." The program, he says, "is the first talk show in Spanish produced on St. Thomas."
Saturday
Noon to 2 p.m. – a program of French-Caribbean music "from Cadance to Zouk."
2 to 6 p.m. – a Spanish-language program of up-tempo music with birthday call-ins and other requests.
Sunday
1 to 2 p.m. – "The Sunday Classics with Charlene," in which host Charlene Dick intersperses classical music with background on the composers and performing artists. She'll often preview local classical concerts by playing recordings by the artists.
2 to 3 p.m. – "The Doug Lewis Show," an eclectic mix of adult album alternative music, encompassing classic rock, folk, blues, r&b, Celtic and Cajun music, plus trivia and a historical context.
3 to 6 p.m. – "The Latin Show," with Carlos Ariz and Pete Martinez co-hosting a program of Hispanic music, talk and call-ins focusing on information pertinent to the local Hispanic community.
6 to 7 p.m. – "Putumayo World Music Hour," a pre-recorded, syndicated program showcasing the best of world music. It's "the one weekend show that's not live and local," Moron notes.
7 to 8 p.m. – "Me and Jimmy," with host Heinrich Lockhart playing the music of that son of a son of a sailor who made cheeseburgers essential eating in the American Paradise, Jimmy Buffett.
8 to 10 p.m. – "Blues in Paradise," featuring host Mark Hillsman's picks of the best in both modern and classic blues.
As a non-commercial/educational forum, WIUJ offers "an alternative to the commercial stations," says Lewis, known off-air as Assistant Attorney General Douglas Dick (and husband of Charlene). The Dicks and Hillsman are all alumni of WIVI-FM, where they previously hosted similar shows.
Broadcasting at 3,000 watts from studios on Mountaintop, WIUJ "reaches all of the USVI and BVI and eastern Puerto Rico," Moron says, and "on a good day, as far as Anguilla and St. Martin." It's on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Moron, who launched WIUJ in the early '80s, recalls with pride that "I built the station with my bare hands, from Day One." It functioned at first as a tiny 10-watt operation that "you could just hear around town," he says. His objectives were to provide training for young people interested in broadcasting careers and live coverage of all V.I. Legislature deliberations.
Nearly two decades later, it has stayed true to those commitments, in the process outliving many a commercial station. "We carry the legislature live from wherever it meets," Moron says, noting that, after years of coverage from St. Thomas and St. Croix, "St. John was hooked up about half a year ago."
Moron, who also works at WVWI/Radio One, also takes pride in the fact that some of his young trainees have gone into broadcasting on the mainland, others (such as Kishma "Kay-Vee" Vincent at JAMZ) are working at V.I. commercial stations, and sisters Lisa and Sandra Canning are pursuing acting careers in Hollywood. The station is governed by a six-member board, with Moron as chief executive officer.
Despite its longevity and track records, WIUJ is still not a station familiar to many radio listeners. As an effort toward changing all that, the locally hosted music and talk show format was introduced this fall; the newest entry, Hillsman's show, was added about a month ago. With their mixed bag of offerings, Moron and the weekend program hosts are hoping to get the ear of more local music appreciators. The hosts are all volunteers, but there are underwriters for the shows.
To learn more about the station or to get involved as a volunteer, telephone Moron at 777-9485 or 776-1029, or e-mail to wiuj@ us.net.
