Team picture of Yale University, Champions of the 2025 Paradise Jam Men’s Tournament. Source photo by Mark Daniel)
The final game of the 26th Edition of Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament left one team in joyous celebration and the other in disbelief as the shot to take the game into overtime bounced off the rim at the University of the Virgin Islands Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center.
Championship Game – Yale 97 – Akron 94
The University of Yale Bulldogs held off a resilient University of Akron team to claim the 2025 Paradise Jam Men’s Championship 97 – 94. The Bulldogs controlled much of this game, flaunting a 15-point lead with under three minutes to go in the first half. The Zips of Akron never waved the white flag as they fought all the way back to tie the game at 80 with 5:00 minutes to play.
Yale’s Trevor Martin and Riley Fox hit back-to-back three-point baskets, providing basic insurance for the Bulldogs. Tavari Johnson scored two of his game-high 35 points and Amani Lyles nailed two free throws to bring Akron within two points. Yale’s Fox drained another three-point basket to stretch the lead to five points. In the final two minutes of the game, Johnson made two layups, and Bowen Hardman ignited the crowd by landing a bomb from downtown, shrinking the lead to one point with nine seconds left on the clock. But Mullin was a true Bulldog as he calmly made three pairs of free throws each time the Zips scored in the waning moments of this game.
Akron’s Tavari Johnson #5 scores two of his game-high 35 points in the Championship Game of the 2025 Paradise Jam Men’s Tournament. (Source photo by Ananta Pancham)
Nick Townsend dominated on the offensive end, registering a double-double with 21 points and distributing 10 assists for Yale. Isaac Celiscar contributed 23 points for the Bulldogs. Johnson and Scott were the top scorers for the Zips with 35 and 25, respectively.
Nick Townsend of Yale, blue jersey, makes a tough basket in the Championship Game of the 2025 Paradise Jam Men’s Tournament. Townsend scored 21 points. (Source photo by Mark J Daniel)
Yale’s Townsend was named the tournament MVP. Johnson and Eric Mahaffey of Akron were named to the All-Tournament Team. Justin Allen of Green Bay and Marcus Banks of the University of Massachusetts round off the five-man 2025 Paradise Jam Men’s All-Tournament Team Roster.
Third Place Game – College of Charleston 78 – Evansville 59
The College of Charleston defeated the University of Evansville 78 – 59 in the third-place game. Martin Kalu scored 21 points and snagged seven rebounds, and Connor Hickman added 16 points for the Cougars of Charleston. Connor Turnbull and Keishon Porter were the top two offensive performers for the Purple Aces with 18 and 14 points, respectively.
Fifth Place Game – Green Bay 80 – Iona 75
The University of Wisconsin Green Bay defeated Iona University 80 to 75, Monday afternoon at the University of the Virgin Islands Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center. Justin Allen sparked Green Bay’s offense with 28 points. Iona’s Lamin Sabally recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Seventh Place Game – UMass 73 – Oregon State 65
The University of Massachusetts earned its first win of the tournament, defeating the Beavers of Oregon State 73 – 65. Daniel Hankins-Sanford messed around and got a double-double for the Minutemen of UMass with 24 points and 11 boards. Oregon State’s Malcolm Christie scored 17 points.
Opening tip of the UMass versus Oregon State game on Day 4 of the 2025 Paradise Jam Men’s Tournament. (Source photo by Mark J Daniel)
Expert speakers engage youth at a CERCA center in Puerto Rico. The Virgin Islands will soon have similar hands-on learning and hazard-preparedness experiences with the opening of CERCA St. Thomas. (Photo courtesy Amber McCammon)
On Dec. 13, the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum will host the grand opening of CERCA St. Thomas, a new science and safety center, with a free community event from 1 to 3 p.m.
CERCA, the Center for Education about Risks both Coastal and Aquatic, is designed to help families understand local environmental and marine hazards. Visitors will explore hands-on exhibits, preparedness stations, and demonstrations led by scientists and emergency officials. Grant funding will provide free admission not only for the grand opening but also for multiple CERCA events throughout 2026.
“At CERCA, hazard experts — including scientists, professors and local stakeholders — will engage visitors through live talks, multimedia resources and interactive activity tables,” said Amber McCammon, CEO of the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum and CERCA St. Thomas. “Guests of all ages will be able to deepen their knowledge of environmental risks and hazard-mitigation strategies while taking part in fun activities and even earning prizes.”
The center’s exhibits will give children and families practical, science-based tools for understanding hurricanes, flooding, tsunamis, earthquakes, sargassum and other hazards that regularly affect the territory. Displays focus on preparedness, hazard awareness and how to interpret real-world data in ways that are locally relevant.
Visitors at the opening will meet scientists and hazard professionals from the Caribbean Green Technology Center, the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, Ocean Coastal Observing–Virgin Islands, VITEMA and other regional partners. Scheduled speakers include Regina Browne, VITEMA’s deputy director of planning and preparedness; oceanographers Roy Watlington and Lincoln Critchley of OCOVI; and representatives from CARICOOS in Puerto Rico, who will discuss local environmental conditions and the importance of coastal and aquatic safety.
After the opening, the museum will host CERCA Saturdays throughout 2026, offering free open houses on nationally recognized math and science days such as Pi Day (March 14), Infinity Day (Aug. 8), Worldwide Day of Play (tentative, Sept. 19) and Fibonacci Day (Nov. 21).
“Our CERCA Saturdays will align with other major math days happening all over the world,” McCammon said. Sessions will include guest scientists, demonstrations, hands-on activities and lessons connecting math, environmental science and hazard literacy. Children will learn to read wave and wind trackers, interpret oceanographic data and use early-warning tools commonly relied on by fishers, surfers and emergency personnel.
“A lot of our fishermen and surfers are accessing this information all the time. It is free, and CERCA St. Thomas is going to be showing people what these tools are and where they can access them on a daily basis,” McCammon said.
The new St. Thomas center joins four existing CERCA centers in Puerto Rico and is the first in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The initiative is funded through NOAA and the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, with additional support from partners including the International Tsunami Information Center, the National Weather Service, Caribbean GeoTech Center, and other organizations.
For 2025, McCammon said CERCA St. Thomas will rely largely on infographics, videos and other materials already developed for CERCA sites in Puerto Rico, allowing the program to “hit the ground running.” Beginning in 2026, the museum plans to pursue new grants and partnerships to create content tailored specifically to the Virgin Islands, including local maps, charts and action plans that reflect the territory’s own hazards.
“The long-term goal is to keep building partnerships and resources that really help our children, families, and the wider community learn more,” McCammon said, noting that plans also include offering content in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole to better serve the territory’s multilingual community.
McCammon said early hazard education is essential because it reduces fear and panic during real emergencies. She said that with practiced knowledge, like knowing evacuation points or how to respond to earthquakes and tsunamis, children and families are far less likely to freeze or react unpredictably
McCammon said the CERCA classroom inside the museum will also serve as a pop-up learning space for school groups, summer camps and other visitors. Staff can open the room during field trips or special visits to introduce students to safety tools and hold guided discussions. In addition to these pop-ups, the museum will host free open-house days to “welcome as many people as possible.”
She emphasized that CERCA St. Thomas and VICM are designed to broaden access for the territory’s parents and children. Free admission for both the grand opening and future CERCA events will help to remove financial barriers. “So many people think everything’s for the tourists, but we are very much here for the locals,” McCammon said, noting that more than 80% of museum visitors in 2024 were local children and families.
Overall, CERCA’s educational programming will cover topics relevant to the Virgin Islands, including coastal erosion, storm surge, hurricane formation, tsunamis, flooding, earthquakes, sargassum, and water safety. Families will learn to interpret vital oceanographic data and understand evacuation routes, safety maps, and the role of local ecosystems like seagrasses, coral reefs, and mangroves in protecting the community. The curriculum also addresses the impacts of native, naturalized, and invasive species on environmental resilience.
McCammon said that by giving the community inclusive, hands-on learning opportunities, CERCA St. Thomas will help residents better understand local environmental risks. “The information and hands-on interactive content that community members can engage with at CERCA will deepen their understanding of local environmental risks and contribute to a more resilient and prepared Virgin Islands,” she said.
Volunteers will prepare food for the free Thanksgiving community dinner at Emancipation Garden, an event organized by May’s Kitchen to support families still recovering from the recent federal shutdown.
May’s Kitchen and more than 20 community partners will host a free Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday to support families still recovering from the recent federal government shutdown, a press release announced.
The dinner will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. at Emancipation Garden on St. Thomas and is expected to serve between 500 and 1,000 people, with priority for SNAP recipients, according to the press release.
May Leader, founder of May’s Kitchen, said the shutdown left lasting impacts on households across the territory. “The recent shutdown didn’t just disrupt services on the mainland. It sent shock waves through households right here in the Virgin Islands,” she said. “Families who depend on SNAP benefits faced sudden gaps that created real hardship. While the shutdown has ended, many are still catching up financially. We wanted to do something tangible to ease that burden during the holiday season.”
Three chefs — Chef Benji of Blue11 and Indigo4, youth chef Alexandre from the British Virgin Islands, and Chef Cory Baker of Barefoot Buddha — will prepare a full Thanksgiving meal. The menu includes turkey, ham, salmon, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Vegetarian dishes such as lentil soup, vegetable lasagna and tofu options will also be available, the press release stated.
Entertainment will be provided by The Elijhaie Braithwaite Project, the release stated.
Medical partners include the Virgin Islands Center for Integrative Medicine, the Chiropractic Health Center and the St. Thomas East End Medical Center. Dr. Richards of the East End Medical Center said their participation focuses on both physical and emotional support. “Moments of connection and shared support are essential for mental health, especially during times of added stress,” he said. “We believe caring for our community means supporting both physical and emotional well-being.”
Sponsors include the Virgin Islands Center for Integrative Medicine, St. Thomas East End Medical Center, Viking Corporation, Tap & Still, Smith’s Barbershop, Blue11, Indigo4, St. Thomas Social, Creative Marketing, Leader’s Auto Repair, Antilles School, UVI Social Group, PriceSmart, Soul to Sole, VIPD, Government House, Lucky Jewelry, Artistic Jewelry and Barefoot Buddha and countless others, according to the release.
Leader said the partners involved show the strength of the community.
The event is free and open to the public, with no RSVP required. SNAP recipients are encouraged to bring their benefit cards for priority seating.
Event details What: Thanksgiving Community Dinner When: Wednesday, 5 to 9 p.m. Where: Emancipation Gardens, Charlotte Amalie Who: Open to all; SNAP recipients receive priority Cost: Free
Movement comes to the classroom through the St. John School of the Arts. (Photo courtesy St. John School of the Arts)
The St. John School of the Arts is inviting the public to “Artistry Under the Stars,” a special community fundraiser taking place on Friday, Dec. 12, beginning at 5 p.m. at Shambles Island Bar & Grill in Susannaberg.
Fifty percent of food and beverage proceeds from the evening will directly support SJSA’s mission to provide high-quality arts education to children and their families on St. John.
With national federal budget cuts threatening arts programs across the country, Artistry Under the Stars offers the St. John community an opportunity to stand together in support of creativity, youth development, and expanded access to the arts.
A proud student displays her artwork, including natural materials. (Photo courtesy St. John School of the Arts)
“Arts education is more than taking a class,” said the Jeuné Provost, SJSA’s executive director. “It is a lifeline for creative exploration, confidence building, and community connection. This fundraiser helps ensure that every child on St. John continues to have access to transformative arts experiences, regardless of financial barriers.”
Crochet instructor Jamine Dalmida shows a student how to make a stitch. (Photo courtesy St. John School of the Arts)
Guests will enjoy an evening of talent, inspiration, and community spirit under the night sky. The event also serves as a platform to highlight the impact of SJSA’s programming, which includes dance, music, theater, and visual arts.
For further information, please call the St. John School of the Arts at 340-779-4322 or email info@stjohnschoolofthearts.org.
It is with deep sorrow, that we announce the passing of Georgiana Farrell from Frederiksted, St. Croix. Georgiana passed away quietly on Oct. 21, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. Georgiana touched many lives with her wisdom, humor, and singing. She was one of a kind and she will be missed by all who knew her.
Georgiana Farrell
She was preceded in death by her son Romig “Zion” Francis.
She is survived by her Daughter, Tracy Benn-Canton; Son, Anthony “Tony” Farrell; Son-In-Law: Devon Canton; Sister, Paula Powel; Brothers, Charles Farrell & Victor Farrell; Sister-In-Law, Geralda “Audrey” Farrell; Special Friend, Alexander “Gizmo” Williams; Grand Children, Tiffani, Derek Jr & Tyra Lanclos; Raniya, Rianna, De’Myda, De’Myra, Ro’Nyah, Romig Jr Francis; Ahmira Navarro & Lovanne Briggs Nieces & Nephews, Shaun, Wayne, Michael, Rasheema, Rashida, Rasheena, Layonna, Chyna Hassan, Hasheem, Hakeem, Haseem & Hadeem Farrell; Nellie & Paul Williams, Tywann Challenger; Close Friends, Winona Seales-Lester, Bernadette “RasB” Williams, Amira Russell, Valentine Ible, Baluba Ross, Debbie Sackey, Ashel Belardo, Jennifer Crawford, Alba’s Restaurant crew, Jackie & Romona Menders, William’s Delight crew, Queen B. Cousins & other friends too numerous to mention.
Memorial services will be at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Frederiksted on December 4, 2025 at 9:00 am.
Interment will follow at Frederiksted Cemetery.
Those in attendance are asked to wear Georgiana’s favorite color blue.
It is with deep sadness and love that we celebrate the life of Beatrice Neptune-Wallace who was born Aug. 7, 1938 to Ingerborg and Lionel A. Neptune.
Beatrice Neptune-Wallace
She died on Oct. 20, 2025 and is survived by Sisters, Bernice N. Clendenen, Ellenor V. N. Chapman, Leonile A. Sealey, Irene M. Walcott-Prentice, Anna Maria Hector, Leona Neptune, Joan Neptune, Mavis Neptune, Angelica R. Schuster and Brothers, Samuel Neptune (deceased), Lionel A. Neptune and VanBorn R. Neptune, Sr.; In-Laws, Monroe Clendenen, Henry Schuster,Miguelina Neptune, and Winthropp Hector.Aunts, Medora Martin Granville and Sylvia Martin Farrow; Nieces, Marjorie Clendenen, MaeAgnes Clendenen, Debara Sealey, Jurene Walcott, Lynell W. Chapman (deceased), Lorma Sealey, Delicia Sealey-Espinosa, Naureen Hector-O’Neale, Linsey Neptune, Margaux Neptune, Lurene Hector-Flores, Leonicia Percival-Mayberry, Vanya Neptune, Marielle Neptune, Yncidea Neptune; Nephews, Eugene Clendenen, Randall Sealey, Johnny Neptune, Eugene Neptune, Leonard Chapman, Jr., Christopher Neptune, Lawrence A. Walcott, Jr., Kenny D. Walcott, Robert Phipps, Anthony Neptune,Enrique and Andrew Schuster,Reynaldo Neptune, Bryan Hector, Michael Neptune, VanBorn R. Neptune, Jr. (deceased), Raymie Neptune (Deceased); Special cousins, Laurene Robles, Craig “Chip” Benjamin, Lucien Spencer,Gregory Frorup, Kemba Martin, Gerard Martin, Abraham “G’Nash” Martin; Lawrence Nielsen;Great nieces, Shani Isaac, Maria Espinosa, Lureena Flores-Strong, Chrystina Clendenen, Desiree Sealey-Moore, Regina Sealey-Davis, JeLlana Canton-Anderson, JeNeé Walcott, Kayla Walcott, Lynell Nelson-Lee, Theresa Clendenen, Shardonnay, Kaylee, and Leilani Schuster, A’Jiydah Schuster, Reanna Phipps; Great Nephews, Antonio “Pops” Walcott, Rondy Phipps, Robert J.Phipps, Robert L. Phipps, Jr., Lawrence Ritter, Terrence Ritter, Darren and Lamar O’Reilly, Z’Qi and Z’Jari Chapman, Amouri, Nickhai, Enrique, Jr., and Kayden Schuster, Robert “Bobby” Clendenen; Families, Martin, Neptune, Lynch,Simmonds, Encarnacion, Miller, James, Sealey, O’Reilly, Nesbitt; God-Daughter, Jenice O’Reilly; Special Friends, Agnes C. Clarke, Daniel Castillo, Ava A. Schulterbrandt, Joyce T. Letang, Cheryl Registe, Delores Edwards,Edna O’Reilly, Adell Nicholas, Molly Seegolam, Members of the class of 1957 of Christiansted High School. Beatrice was a committed nurse, an arts and crafts enthusiast, a member of the Friedensthal Moravian Church, and the Retired Nurses Association of St. Croix. She will be forever in our hearts. May she rest in peace until she is received into God’s eternal care.
Funeral Services will be at the Friedensthal Moravian Church on Dec. 4.
Tributes will begin at 9 a.m. and the service will commence at 10 a.m.
Burial will follow at the Moravian Church Cemetery.
Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
I would like to announce the passing of James F. White Sr. on Nov. 5, 2025. He was known to most people as Frank, of St. Thomas, USVI and Anegada, BVI.
James F. White Sr.
Mr. White is survived by:
Wife: Shirley White (St. Thomas)
Sons: James F. White Jr. (Roswell, GA), Roger White (Roswell), Jim White (Anegada)
Daughters: Brenda L. White-Ross (New York), Claudette White (Roswell)
Grandchildren: Shakya White (Roswell), Miaia White (Virginia), Laila White, (Virginia), Mikala Drake (New Jersey)
Great-grandchild: Miriela Gonzales (Virginia)
Brothers: John White (New York), Thomas White (New York)
Sisters: Catherine Faulkner (St. Thomas), Gladia Matthews (New Jersey)
Son-In-Law: Anthony Ross (New York)
Grandson-In-Law: Jose Gonzales (Virginia)
Three sisters-in-laws, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The service will be held at Turnbull’s Funeral Home. Viewing will be at 9-10, and service at 10 on Dec. 8.
President Donald J. Trump hosts a dinner on Sept. 25, 2017, in the Blue Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., with Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America; Tim Phillips, president of the Americans for Prosperity; Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union; Leonard Leo, executive vice president of the The Federalist Society; Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition; Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List; Ed Feulner, founder and acting president of The Heritage Foundation; Tim Goeglein, vice president of external relations, Focus on the Family; and Bob McEwen, former congressman and executive director of the Council for National Policy. (Official White House Photos by Shealah Craighead)
What is unfolding in the United States has been simmering for over four decades. The sudden surge in talk about strongmen and rule by a wealthy few feels foreign to America, yet it could mark the dawn of a nation forever steered by a single faction. To truly grasp this moment, we must examine the Project 2025 manual and the threat it poses to democracy.
Otis D. Alexander
The Heritage Foundation’s ambitions stretch far beyond the actions of any current president. Led by Kevin D. Roberts, an academic who once served as president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, this deeply conservative think tank is shaping the future. Over 100 fiercely conservative Eurocentric groups, each championing the primacy of European culture and values, have shaped the proposals behind Project 2025. These think tanks do more than float suggestions; they lay the groundwork for their ideals to become reality. I am not saying they pull the strings of government, but they are certainly preparing the ground for their vision to take root.
Project 2025, launched by The Heritage Foundation, is a bold conservative blueprint crafted for the next Republican president. Known as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project, it offers a step-by-step playbook for rapidly reshaping the federal government in line with conservative ideals. The Heritage Foundation kicked off this initiative in April 2022, but its roots stretch back to the Reagan era, when the Foundation’s 1980 policy manual, Mandate for Leadership, became the guiding star for Reagan’s team. Today’s developments echo into that turning moment, as history threatens to repeat itself.
Project 2025 brands itself as a “government-in-a-box,” promising a seamless handoff of power and a swift rollout of new policies the moment the opportunity arises.
For Republican leaders in a hurry to erase Biden-era policies and push a conservative agenda, Project 2025 is more than an ally, it is a launchpad. Its blueprint slashes federal regulations, targeting fossil fuels, finance, and education with surgical precision.
Businesses desperate for fewer environmental rules, lower taxes, and a lighter government touch see Project 2025 as a windfall. The plan also tightens abortion laws, champions traditional family values, and rolls back protections for LGBTQIA people, echoing the dreams of social conservatives. But these sweeping changes are sure to spark fierce resistance from marginalized communities, environmental advocates, and defenders of abortion and LGBTQIA rights.
It is very important to note that while Project 2025 heavily pushes school choice and greater parental control, these shifts could drain resources from public schools serving Black students. Its emphasis on “law and order” also raises alarms about increased policing in Black and marginal communities.
Project 2025 includes plans to shrink the Department of Justice’s civil rights division and limit programs like affirmative action, which could weaken protections for Black, Latin Americans, and women. The plan clearly says it wants to end affirmative action and “race-based preferences” in federal jobs, contracts, schools, and other government programs. It also suggests focusing more on “traditional” civil rights, like religious freedom and free speech, and paying less attention to things like police reform, voting rights, and cases about unfair treatment based on race, gender, or sexual orientation. Ending DEI programs and offices in federal agencies is said to support “identity politics” instead of hiring based on ability. The plan also wants to reduce the DOJ’s use of agreements and investigations into police departments, which have often helped stop unfair treatment in Black and Latin American communities.
Project 2025 maintains a ready list of steadfast conservative candidates, prepared to fill powerful government posts at a moment’s notice. This makes the president’s identity almost irrelevant; without vigilance, our country could slip deeper into a reality where a handful of people hold all power. We have watched this pattern before, as new regimes emerge overnight, like stubborn grass pushing through the cracks in concrete. Between 2020 and 2033, nations such as Belarus, Burkina Faso, Mali, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, and Sudan saw their freedoms disappear. Let’s not join them.
Get into Project 2025 now and pass the word, because staying silent could turn today’s warning signs into tomorrow’s “melee.” Let your voice rise, even as the world shifts beneath you, and guard your freedom with the courage of Queens Mary, Agnes, Mathilda, and Susana before it slips away unnoticed.
Sources:
Bryan Woodward, Project 2025 Explained Chapter by Chapter: Understanding the Conservative Promise. A Comprehensive Fully Vetted Analysis of The Heritage Foundation’s Mandate for Leadership, (Independently published, 2025)
Bryce H. Caldwell, Project 2025 Full Document Breakdown: Comprehensive Analysis and Insights, (Independently published, 2025).
David A. Graham, The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America, New York: (Random House, 2025).
Simon Pierce, Project 2025: A Mandate for Authoritarian Leadership: The Heritage Foundation’s Conservative Promise for A Second Trump Administration, (Independently published, 2024).
— Otis D. Alexander, PhD, is a retired music teacher who previously worked at St. Croix Central High School. He has also taught at Sprauve School and Guy Benjamin School on St. John. Additionally, he is an alum of Harvard’s Leadership for Academic Librarians program. If you’re interested in collaboration opportunities, you can reach him at od.alex1972@gmail.com.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
The world is being rewired, and the U.S. Virgin Islands’ geographic position places us at the center of that transformation. (Shutterstock image)
Every society has a defining strength that shapes its place in the world. For the U.S. Virgin Islands, that defining strength has always been our location. It is our superpower. At the crossroads of the Americas, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean, our islands occupy one of the most strategically significant positions on the planet. That advantage shaped why the United States acquired the Virgin Islands more than a century ago, and today it is the foundation of a new opportunity that we cannot afford to ignore.
As global markets shift, supply chains reorganize, and nations compete for technological leadership, the strategic value of the Virgin Islands is more relevant than ever in our history. The world is being rewired, and our geographic position places us at the center of that transformation.
A Strategic Advantage Recognized Since 1917
In 1917, the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold. This was no accident of history. It was a deliberate response to two defining strategic concerns.
1. Protecting the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal, opened just three years earlier, had instantly become the backbone of American military mobility and global trade. The United States recognized that securing the surrounding Caribbean region was crucial to its defense and commercial interests. St. Thomas, with its deep and naturally protected harbor, offered an ideal location for refueling, naval operations, and maritime surveillance.
2. Preventing German Expansion in the Caribbean
During World War I, U.S. leaders feared that Germany might acquire the Virgin Islands from Denmark and establish a base dangerously close to both the Panama Canal and the U.S. East Coast. Purchasing the Virgin Islands eliminated that risk and strengthened America’s presence in the Western Hemisphere.
This history makes one point clear. Our geographic position has always been our most valuable asset.
Why Our Strategic Location Matters Even More Today
What made the Virgin Islands valuable in 1917 makes us even more valuable in 2025. The global marketplace is being reshaped by forces such as digital connectivity, energy security, supply chain consolidation, and geopolitical competition. Our location gives us a front-row seat to all of them.
1. A Maritime Crossroads for Modern Trade
The Virgin Islands sit along major shipping routes that connect the Gulf Coast, the Eastern Seaboard, the Panama Canal, and South America. As companies nearshore and reshore supply chains to reduce risks and shorten delivery times, our Territory can emerge as a logistics, storage, and maritime services hub within a U.S. jurisdiction.
2. A Growing Digital Gateway
The modern economy flows through fiber-optic cables rather than shipping containers. The Caribbean is becoming an essential digital corridor that connects the Americas, Europe, and West Africa. With deep-water conditions and U.S. regulatory stability, the Virgin Islands are well-positioned to host subsea cable landings, data centers, cloud connectivity, and cybersecurity operations.
This creates a pathway to high-wage technology careers and a new pillar of economic development.
3. A Platform for Clean Energy Leadership
The Territory has abundant solar resources and is receiving significant federal investment. This combination creates an opportunity to build one of the most reliable and resilient clean energy systems in the Caribbean. A modern power grid strengthens economic competitiveness and supports technology-driven industries.
4. A Forward Position for U.S. Interests in a Competitive Region
Even without a large naval base today, the U.S. Virgin Islands remain an important location for maritime domain awareness, border security, disaster response, and the protection of telecommunications and energy infrastructure. As global powers increase their influence in the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands anchors American presence and regional stability.
Turning Strategic Value Into Economic Growth
The superpower of the Virgin Islands opens the door to real economic transformation through:
Digital infrastructure and cloud services
Subsea cable landings and data center development
Renewable energy and microgrid innovation
Logistics and nearshoring support
Workforce training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and clean technology
Tourism diversification based on culture, sustainability, and innovation
These opportunities can help the Virgin Islands evolve from a tourism-dependent economy into a diversified and globally connected hub.
Conclusion: A Moment We Cannot Miss
The superpower of the U.S. Virgin Islands has always been our location. It shaped why the United States acquired our islands in 1917, and it explains why our value today is extraordinary. In a global marketplace defined by data flows, energy transition, and supply chain realignment, the Virgin Islands are not a remote outpost. We are a gateway to the future.
The question we face is not whether we possess strategic value. It is whether we will use this superpower to build a resilient, competitive, and prosperous economy for generations to come.
The opportunity is here. The world is changing. The Virgin Islands are again at a crossroads.
This piece is part of the “Virgin Islands at a Crossroads” series, which invites Virgin Islanders at home and abroad to join the conversation on building a resilient, diversified future.
— Bernard Dyer is a Virgin Islander in the diaspora, technologist, and strategist with more than 25 years of public-sector experience, including 17 years with Booz Allen Hamilton supporting large-scale digital transformation and system consolidation initiatives in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He is also a monthly co-host on WSTX AM 970 radio’s Community Digest, where he has been for the last 16 years, highlighting new ideas and best practices to help build a more diversified and sustainable Virgin Islands economy.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
Freshwater Fish, Shrimp, and Crab In The Guts Of The USVI Seminar
Friends Of The Park Cinnamon Campground Chat
Monday, Dec. 2, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park logo
The Raintree Cafe, Cinnamon Campground, St. John
Join us for this guest speaker in our Cinnamon Campground Chats at The Raintree Cafe. Coming from Clemson University, Jacob Laurain has a background in fish ecology, habitat assessment, and watershed science. Jacob previously worked with the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey, where he supported field research and aquatic Endangered Species monitoring. His graduate thesis focuses on the presence and distribution of freshwater species across the USVI. This presentation takes place on Monday, Dec. 2 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Raintree Cafe at Cinnamon Campground. All are welcome.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park’s Cinnamon Campground Chats take place every Monday to Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. until the end of June. With the exception of a few special presentations, the weekly schedule of topics is Monday: Sea Turtle Talk, Tuesday: Traditional Arts & Crafts, Wednesday: Music of the Caribbean, Thursday: Birds Of St. John, and Friday: Coral Reef Ecosystems. To learn more about Friends events, visit their website at www.friendsvinp.org.
Giving Thanks Friends of the Park Store Discount
It’s time for giving thanks to donors, supporters and volunteers! From Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) to Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2) Friends of the Park is offering a 25% discount to everyone shopping in the Park Store in the Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center in Cruz Bay, or online at www.friendsvinp.org with the discount code: THANKYOU. All proceeds contribute to the support of programs like School Kids In The Park, Learn To Swim, Trails Management, and Sea Turtle Protection.
