Friday night, the Tim Tebow-sponsored Night to Shine enfolded the St. Croix Montessori School with lights and music as special guests arrived and were escorted to a night of dining and dancing by volunteers with pom-poms and noise makers. Noel Wynter provided high-energy steel pan music.
A young ‘king” is escorted on the red carpet to the Night to Shine prom by La’Shonte Joseph, Miss St. Croix Festival Queen and Amenti Philip, Miss Crucian Christmas Festival. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
The guests, “kings” and “queens,” were people with special needs over the age of 14. They were often accompanied by caregivers, with everybody dressed in their finest for the third prom night hosted by the St. Croix Christian Church. Some gowns and black-tie attire were donated by community members.
“Kings” and “queens” enjoy the prom dance floor after dinner at Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and St. Croix Christian Church.
The Montessori gym was decorated for the event with lights, streamers, glitter, and music. A huge buffet was set up at the back of the room and seemed to be enjoyed by all. Round tables were decorated with candles and shimmering tablecloths.
The most popular activity seemed to be smiling, laughing, and talking. Guests also enjoyed having makeup applied, hair styled, and shoes shined by volunteers. In another area, it was easy to hear who enjoyed singing karaoke.
A young “queen” is pampered with a shoeshine before she enjoys the dinner and dancing. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Many of the volunteers are employees from JS Therapies and St. Croix Animal Welfare Center. Others are friends and relatives.
Puppies, cuddled by Ashley Bouzianis and Julie Summer, borrowed from the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center, were available for snuggles and giggles. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and then embarked on a football career with the Denver Broncos. He later played professional baseball. Tebow started his foundation in 2010 to help the most vulnerable people – 153 orphaned and abandoned children around the world. Night to Shine has been hosted by hundreds of churches in more than 50 countries.
A man was hospitalized early Friday after shots were fired near Divi Carina Casino on St. Croix, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.
Police said the 911 Emergency Call Center received a call at approximately 12:11 a.m. Friday reporting shots fired in the vicinity of Divi Carina Casino. Moments later, 911 received another call reporting a gunshot victim, according to the police report.
When officers arrived, they observed a vehicle with multiple bullet holes that had crashed into a palm tree and a large amount of spent casings in the roadway near Divi Carina Hotel, the police report stated.
The victim, an adult male, was transported by private vehicle to the Juan F. Luis Hospital emergency room. He sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of his abdomen, was admitted to the hospital and is in stable condition, the report stated.
The case remains under active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact 911, the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-778-2211 or Crime Stoppers VI at 800-222-8477.
Organizers of Friday’s event sponsored by Right to Democracy, from left, Tom Krise, Imani Daniel, and Adi Martinez-Roman. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Recent talks by top U.S. officials over acquiring Greenland — a Danish territory — have led advocates for territorial rights to hold talks of their own in recent days. Leaders of the group Right to Democracy invited the public to join the conversation at a breakfast gathering held Friday on St. Thomas.
Right to Democracy cofounders Neil Weare and Adi Martinez-Roman hosted a dialogue at Bluebeard’s Castle Hotel with a group of about a dozen residents. Organizers saw that as a chance to update supporters on current topics before them.
The invitation billed Friday’s event as a chance to share information about efforts to confront territorial challenges occurring in Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. “We tried to get them here before work for breakfast to be able to talk to them about the work we’ve been doing,” Martinez-Roman said.
Over the three years since Right to Democracy first took shape, efforts have been made to hold listening sessions in the different territories and create strategies to address some of the issues that came from those sessions, the cofounder said.
Lawyers active in the group’s leadership then took some first steps in court to address inequities found in the system created by the U.S. government, many of which are found in a 20th-century body of laws called the Insular Cases. Two of the group’s board members — both of them attorneys — raised separate topics likely to stir cross-territorial concerns.
Attorney Charles Alai-Lima told the story of an American Samoan family charged with election fraud in Alaska; Attorney Jackie Turlogie raised the topic of U.S. government plans to pursue deep seabed mining along the Tonga Trench in Samoa.
In April of last year, the White House issued an executive order creating policies they hope will make the U.S. a world leader in deep-seabed mining pursuits.
Given the presence of other deep-seabed areas between Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Martinez-Roman said similar scenarios may appear here. “That is why we think this deep-seabed mining might be a menace to the Caribbean,” she said.
For those and other reasons, the group raised money to create environmental fellowships for each territory. Imani Daniel of St. Thomas was chosen as the V.I. fellow. Efforts by members of the group have also led to the creation of a cross-territorial coalition that meets virtually.
But the cofounder said it may still take more time to form durable bonds among the five territories to advance what’s described as “a movement across the territories to confront the colonial framework that affects all of us in many ways.”
“We do have a presence; we are striving to maintain it, and we swear we are going to get the resources to be able to maintain this presence in each of the territories,” Martinez-Roman said.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a stabbing on St. John that left a victim with life-threatening injuries, the Virgin Islands Police Department report.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Bureau on St. Thomas arrested Disnei Figueroa Rijo and charged him with assault in the third degree, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disturbance of the peace (fight), according to the police report.
Police said that on Friday, a male victim reported that on Thursday he sustained life-threatening injuries in Enighed, St. John. The victim told police he suffered multiple stab wounds to the left side of his body that required stitches for closure, the police report stated.
The investigation identified Figueroa Rijo as the suspect. Later that day, he was transported from the United States Immigration Enforcement Detention Facility to the Richard N. Callwood Command Criminal Investigation Bureau, where he was booked and processed, the report stated.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact 911 or Detective E. Rijo of the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-774-2211. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers V.I. at 800-222-8477.
Police said the attempted theft of a Gucci gold necklace led to a gunfight at Coki Beach. (Photo courtesy Omni Jewelry)
Police have arrested a second man in connection with a gunfight near Coki Point Beach Tuesday afternoon.
After reviewing surveillance camera footage, police charged gypsy-cab driver Mohammed B. Mohammad with unauthorized possession of a firearm, according to court records.
Mohammad told police he’d found a black handgun in his taxi and assumed a former passenger had accidentally left it behind. The gun was in his waistband when he got out of the car at Coki Point around 4:30 p.m.
Police said surveillance footage showed Mohammad talking to another man when Albert Lindo III approached from behind and yanked off Mohammad’s “gold Gucci diamond-cut chain,” police said in charging documents. Mohammad put his hands up as if to surrender while Lindo allegedly pocketed the necklace. Lindo followed Mohammad as he walked away. Mohammad then turned, pulled out the handgun, and allegedly shot at Lindo, according to court records
Lindo allegedly pulled out his own handgun and shot back before being struck by a bullet.
Police caught up with Lindo at Roy Lester Schneider Hospital. Lindo first told police he was an innocent bystander, shot while trying to break up a fight. When told of the surveillance footage, Lindo suggested the chain may have broken during the fight, but denied trying to take it or having a handgun, police said.
Lindo allegedly attempted to cut a deal while being arrested for assault, robbery, reckless endangerment, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and other crimes.
“When informed of his arrest, he inquired whether returning the chain would prevent arrest,” police said in charging documents.
Lindo called a female acquaintance who brought the chain to the hospital, “as a favor for Mr. Lindo,” police said. Police warned her she was in possession of stolen property. If authentic, the Gucci necklace could be worth more than $2,500.
Lindo allegedly became confrontational after learning he was being arrested despite returning the necklace. He allegedly threatened to kill an officer’s family, including the officer’s child.
“While awaiting further direction, Mr. Lindo became noncompliant, repeatedly disregarding lawful commands to remain inside the booking cell and attempting to exit. After verbal commands failed, necessary and reasonable force was utilized to maintain custody and prevent escape,” police told the Superior Court.
Mohammad allegedly acknowledged he did not have a gun license.
An arrest warrant was issued by the Superior Court on Feb. 10 for Rashede Emmanuel. On Feb. 12, 45-year-old Emmanuel was arrested and transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police station, where he was booked. He was charged with attempted murder first degree, assault first degree, assault third degree, carrying a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition, reported the Virgin Islands Police Department.
His arrest is in connection with an incident on Sept. 11, 2025, where the 911 Emergency Call Center received a call reporting a male needing assistance in reference to an assault in the vicinity of Marvelous in Estate Glynn, according to the police report.
A Criminal Investigation Bureau detective was assigned to the case and made contact with the victim. The victim stated that he was assisting a friend at a house, and while he was inside his vehicle, the suspect, identified as Emmanuel, arrived in the yard and ordered him to leave immediately. The suspect approached him with a firearm, pointed the firearm in his direction, fired two shots, then struck him with the gun twice on his head, causing visible injuries, the report stated.
Following Emmanuel’s arrest, his bail was set at $100,000. He was unable to post bail and was remanded to the John Bell Adult Correction Facility pending his advice of rights hearing.
Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett denounced a sweeping Trump Administration directive targeting historical markers at national parks nationwide—a campaign that has reached the Virgin Islands National Park, where signs and exhibits documenting the territory’s history are being removed.
The Virgin Islands National Park includes many historic ruins near the site of the new school in Estate Catherineberg. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
The Virgin Islands National Park protects more than 7,000 acres on St. John that tell the story of the territory’s past: Taino archaeological sites documenting indigenous life and sugar plantation ruins that stand as testament to the forced labor of enslaved Africans who built the colonial economy.
The directive implements President Trump’s March 2025 Executive Order 14253, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which has resulted in the removal or modification of displays related to Native American history, climate change, and the treatment of enslaved peoples at parks including the Grand Canyon, Glacier, Big Bend, and Grand Teton.
“The erasure of history does not change history—it only ensures we are condemned to repeat it. The Virgin Islands National Park preserves the history of our ancestors – from the indigenous peoples who first called these islands home to those who endured enslavement and built our communities through unimaginable hardship. These stories must be told accurately and completely so current and future generations understand where we come from and the lessons we must carry forward. The removal of these historical markers robs our children and all Americans of the truth they deserve.
“National parks serve as America’s storytellers, with a responsibility to present our history accurately – the beautiful and the painful, the triumphs and the tragedies. Removing references to the displacement of indigenous peoples, the realities of enslavement, or the scientific evidence of climate change is not restoring truth. It is manufacturing a sanitized fiction that disrespects every American who deserves to know the full truth of our history.
“The Virgin Islands has never shied away from our history. We honor our ancestors by telling their stories truthfully, teach our children by acknowledging what came before, and protect our future by learning from our past. I have worked across the aisle to ensure our history is preserved—including passing bipartisan legislation to install a plaque at Ram Head commemorating the 1733 slave rebellion.
“I am engaging directly with the Department of the Interior and calling on the Administration to reverse these removals and restore accurate historical interpretation at the Virgin Islands National Park. I will continue fighting to
ensure the Virgin Islands National Park preserves our complete history and supports St. John and the entire Virgin Islands—our land, people, culture, and future—for generations to come.”
Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services Director Antonio Stevens appeared at the Senate Homeland Security, Public Safety and Justice Committee on Friday. (Screenshot from V.I. Legislature livestream)
On Friday, lawmakers met with Fire and Emergency Medical Services leaders to address paramedic shortages, overtime, aging stations, FEMA projects, and plans for a revenue-generating Emergency Medical Services billing system.
Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services Director Antonio Stevens told the Senate Homeland Security, Public Safety and Justice Committee that four stations are barely serviceable, even as the agency struggles to staff them with enough paramedics to meet demand.
“All those facilities are currently operational. Put it bluntly, they’re holding on by a thread,” Stevens said of four firehouses awaiting FEMA-funded reconstruction. On staffing, he said the territory has only 10 paramedics between St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John and needs at least 16. “We still need at least six more.”
Stevens said recent hires have helped slightly, with supervisors still covering shifts. “Hiring two paramedics did assist. It helped us out significantly. But that’s just a drop in the bucket right now,” he said. He noted the agency is training existing firefighters as EMTs and building a paramedic pipeline to meet future needs. Human Resources and Payroll Director Barbara Williams‑Brown told senators that retirements and other separations have cut into hiring gains
Lawmakers also pressed about aging, storm‑vulnerable stations. Stevens said the station in Cotton Valley could not remain open during a Category 1 storm or higher. On broader FEMA projects, he added, “Every week we continue to meet, and every week we continue to move forward … It is a process.”
FEMS is preparing for a financial shift once it can bill directly for ambulance service instead of having billing handled by the Health Department. Assistant Director of EMS Lisle Evelyn Jr. said the agency recently secured its own federal tax ID and lockbox and expects the system to go live soon. “Once the EMS billing comes online, we are projecting possibly between $2.5 and $3 million a year,” they said, adding that officials hope to launch it later this month or early March.
Training and operational readiness were also highlighted. FEMS officials described weekly in-station drills and territory-wide training covering wildland, extrication, live fire, and hazmat operations. Senators urged the territorial training coordinator to attend live incidents more frequently to ensure field tactics match training. Equipment readiness remains a concern: ladder trucks require constant attention due to hydraulic leaks, and bay doors on some St. Croix stations only function manually.
Senators focused on firefighter safety, highlighting concerns about aging protective equipment. Many veteran personnel in the St. Thomas–St. John district still use turnout gear, the specialized clothing firefighters wear to protect against heat, flames, and hazardous materials, that exceeds the 10-year lifespan recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, a U.S.-based organization that sets safety and performance standards for fire equipment and procedures. Gear beyond this age can lose its protective qualities and may contain chemicals linked to increased cancer risk.
FEMS has secured an Assistance to Firefighters Grant to replace self-contained breathing apparatus and plans to target the next grant cycle toward new bunker coats and pants. Officials said stations are equipped with specialized washing machines to clean gear after fires and that the department is working to bring all protective equipment in line with current NFPA standards.
Senators argued that once direct EMS billing is fully online, ambulance revenues should be structured to cover medications, supplies, and fleet upkeep, rather than leaving crews short of the tools they need in the field.
When asked about filling the fire marshal vacancy, Stevens cited a shortage of captains. Sen. Novelle Francis Jr. suggested temporarily elevating a lieutenant under the collective bargaining agreement to fill the role.
Public Surveyor Wayne Callwood retired Friday as the Lt. Governor’s office investigated alleged misconduct. (Source photo by Mat Probasco)
Public Surveyor Wayne Callwood retired Friday during a second misconduct investigation after his professional license was suspended in January, Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach said in a written statement.
Roach said his office had launched its own investigation into Callwood’s actions after the Virgin Islands Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors suspended him for six months.
For many years, Callwood had performed private surveys under another man’s name to avoid detection and the appearance of conflict of interest, he said, according to hearing transcripts.
Callwood had been allowed to keep his $72,000 government job because it did not require he have a surveyor’s license.
Allegations mounted, however, that Callwood had prioritized making and recording his own surveys, and neglected or purposefully delayed the work of others submitting records to the cadastral office. Transactions that should take less than 30 minutes were delayed weeks or months, they said.
Surveyor Larry Best, who first made allegations against Callwood, said the public surveyor had frequently put his surveys “at the back of the line” in part because of a long-standing personal grievance. Best had complained about Callwood for years before officially notifying the board of Callwood using engineer Francisco Nadal’s seal on documents in May 2023. It would take 31 months for the board to issue the suspension.
Others claimed an infuriatingly glacial pace at the cadastral office was because it was interjecting far beyond its scope or expertise.
The public surveyor should be a record keeper, not someone offering opinions on legal proceedings, said St. Thomas real estate and estate planning attorney Jessica Tully.
The cadastral office should not be validating surveys, assessing the legality of documents, or anything else beyond ensuring surveys are formatted correctly before being recorded, Tully said.
“Their job is to record maps and attest property descriptions in deeds. If there are legal problems in the documents, that’s on me as the lawyer and we can hash it out later. Because, again, unauthorized practice of law plays a role in this. I’m having government workers that don’t have any background in the law trying to tell me whether a document is legally effective, when all they need to tell me is whether the property description I provided to them matches the official map and meets modern property description requirements so we can standardize their record keeping,” she said.
There was no need for Callwood’s subterfuge so long as everyone’s records were recorded without favoritism, Tully said. Instead, business at the office relied on personal favors and frustrated pleas for attention. She suspected Callwood was spending more time surveying than recording them, as the public surveyor was required.
Title insurance companies in the territory came to know Callwood as a quick and reliable surveyor. He was able to perform and get his surveys recorded quickly, even if his work lacked the detail of other surveyor assessments, they said. Best claimed Callwood’s work was sloppy and sometimes off by as much as 30 feet.
Perhaps worse, the cadastral office’s foundational mandate and the rules it operated by were unclear, Tully said.
“I repeatedly call for that office to be transparent so the public and legal practitioners know the standards, policies, procedures and methodologies Cadastral uses to attest a deed. Right now, requirements are not known. It’s something new and different every time, which is fundamentally a disservice to the public,” she said.
More than a hassle, delays in recording documents can disrupt estate transfers. Someone with a very short time to live can’t wait weeks or months for deeds to be recorded. A slowdown could doom an estate into costly and lengthy probate, Tully said.
Callwood has sought a pause of his license suspension until after a judicial review.
Attorney General Gordon Rhea wrote to the Virgin Islands Superior Court Tuesday saying neither a stay of the suspension nor a review was appropriate. An unrepentant Callwood had readily admitted to using another man’s credentials to avoid detection and a judicial review was unlikely to reverse the board’s decision.
“A stay would substantially injure other parties at least inasmuch as Callwood persists in believing it is lawful and ethical for him to use the professional seal of others as a falsehood, to prevent disclosure of a conflict of interest with his public office. At this point, if Callwood’s license is not suspended, it is uncertain whether he would again use another’s professional seal as part of another falsehood. After completion of his suspension and the ethics course the Board also mandated, this will hopefully be less of a concern,” Rhea wrote to the court.
“Professional seals are invested with a public trust sufficiently profound that it is ‘unlawful for an architect, engineer, or land surveyor to affix, or permit his seal to be affixed, to … surveys, or other documents after expiration of a license or for the purpose of aiding or abetting any other person to evade or attempt to evade’ the provisions governing them,” the attorney general wrote, citing Virgin Islands law. “Callwood’s continuing insistence of the propriety of using another’s professional seal to mask his identity is inconsistent with that public trust.”
In Callwood’s absence, the Office of the Tax Assessor was assigned to collaborate with the Geospatial Information Systems Division of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to complete the public surveyor’s work until a replacement is found, Roach said.
