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Governor Bryan Acts on Bills Passed by the 36th Legislature

Mat Probasco
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Governor Bryan Acts on Bills Passed by the 36th Legislature

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has taken action on several measures approved by the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands during its Oct. 30, 2025, session, signing into law a range of bills addressing cultural recognition, government operations, tax relief, and community initiatives.

Government House (Source Photo by Linda Morland)

Governor Bryan approved Bill No. 36-0058, honoring and commending Virgin Islands soca artist Dennis “Pumpa” Lennox Leroy Liburd, Jr. for his contributions to the Territory’s culture and music industry. The act awards him the Official Key to the Territory and designates the main entrance of 6-Y Peters Rest Road, Christiansted, in his honor.

He also signed Bill No. 36-0061, which amends the Virgin Islands Code to allow retirees receiving a Government Employees’ Retirement System (GERS) annuity who return to work at the University of the Virgin Islands to continue receiving their annuity while earning a salary from the University, provided they enroll in a different retirement plan.

The Governor approved Bill No. 36-0083, establishing a 90-day tax amnesty period waiving penalties for overdue property, income, and gross receipts taxes to assist taxpayers and businesses still recovering from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and Tropical Storm Ernesto. He also signed Bill No. 36-0099, expanding the Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act. However, he cautioned that the bill’s provision requiring the Department of Justice to maintain a registry of older adult offenders presents financial and legal challenges, urging the Legislature to work with the Department to develop a feasible implementation plan and funding mechanism.

Governor Bryan approved Bill No. 36-0119, a comprehensive measure reprogramming funds for the completion of the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack, providing appropriations for community and cultural projects, and amending several sections of the Virgin Islands Code. However, he exercised line-item vetoes on Sections 2 and 3, citing constitutional and drafting concerns.

Section 2, he explained, would have removed the six-month grace period for judges serving with expired terms—an essential safeguard that maintains checks and balances between the Executive and Legislative branches.

Section 3, he noted, inadvertently eliminated language allowing certain retirees, including teachers, nurses, and police officers, to return to work immediately after retirement. Governor Bryan recommended that the Legislature restore this provision to ensure continuity in critical services.

Governor Bryan also signed several other measures:

  • Bill No. 36-0121, renaming the Peter Carl Limpricht Park on St. Croix as the Ten Sleepless Knights Park and appropriating $25,000 for new signage.
  • Bill No. 36-0123, lowering the blood alcohol threshold for operating a commercial motor vehicle to 0.04 percent.
  • Bill No. 36-0128, rezoning Parcel No. 68A Estate Lindberg Bay on St. Thomas from Public to Residential-Medium Density.
  • Bill No. 36-0136, mandating lethal weapon training for licensed security guards and investigators.
  • Bill No. 36-0140, clarifying the term of service for members of the Historic Preservation Commission.
  • Bill No. 36-0141, setting term limits for members of the Board of Physical Therapy.
  • Bill No. 36-0142, adjusting the maximum number of members per district on the Board for the Licensing of Barbering and Cosmetology.
  • Bill No. 36-0201, extending the deadlines and appropriating funds for the Sixth Constitutional Convention of the Virgin Islands.

Governor Bryan also acknowledged two resolutions passed by the Legislature:

Resolution No. 1920 (Bill No. 36-0107), honoring Dr. Alfred Lee Anduze for his contributions to medicine, science, and public service; and Resolution No. 1921 (Bill No. 36-0203), petitioning the U.S. Congress to include the Virgin Islands as full participants in the Affordable Care Act.

In closing, Governor Bryan thanked the Legislature for its favorable action on the nominations of Joan P. Foy to the Governing Board of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and Mark M. Wiechnik to the Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission.

“I thank the members of the Thirty-Sixth Legislature for their continued work on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan said.

St. Croix Couple Arrested Following Domestic Violence Dispute

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St. Croix Couple Arrested Following Domestic Violence Dispute

Two people were arrested Sunday night following a domestic dispute at a Frederiksted residence, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.

Patrol officers responded to the home around 8 p.m. on Sunday, where they met with Jahmali Johannes, who told police that Jazzmine Ferdinand came to his home, assaulted him, and began destroying property, according to the police report.

When officers later contacted Ferdinand, she said that while at Johannes’ residence, the two got into an argument that escalated when he assaulted her, leading her to damage several items in his home, the police report stated.

Police arrested Johannes, 32, and charged him with Simple Assault and Battery (Domestic Violence). Ferdinand, 21, was arrested for Destruction of Property (Domestic Violence), the report stated.

No bail was set for either under the Domestic Violence Law. Both were transported to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility, where they were remanded pending their advice of rights hearing, it stated.

St. Thomas Man Arrested for Unauthorized Use of Vehicle

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St. Thomas Man Arrested for Unauthorized Use of Vehicle

A St. Thomas man was arrested Saturday after police recovered a stolen vehicle that had been taken from the Virgin Islands Rescue staging lot late last month, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.

Officers responded to Polyberg Hill around 8:36 p.m. on Nov. 8, following reports of a recovered gray Toyota that had been removed without permission from the Rescue staging lot on Oct. 29, according to the police report.

An investigation identified 36-year-old Janijah Benjamin as the person seen in possession of the vehicle. The victim told police that Benjamin did not have permission to use it, the police report stated.

Benjamin was arrested and transported to the Richard Callwood Command, where he was booked on a charge of Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. His bail was set at $25,000. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections, the report stated.

Tax Refunds, SNAP and STT Harbor Dredging Updates Offered in Gov’t House Briefing

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Tax Refunds, SNAP and STT Harbor Dredging Updates Offered in Gov’t House Briefing

The Virgin Islands government is preparing to release $10 million in tax refunds to Virgin Islanders who filed their income tax returns by March 2024, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced during a Government House press briefing Monday.

“I want to speak directly to the households that are feeling the strain of this federal shutdown,” Bryan said. “Many of you are stretching every dollar you have. You’re trying to keep up with the light bill, groceries, gas, and the start of the holiday season. Getting these refunds out the door now provides just a little help with the essentials for so many of our families. It gives them a little bit more breathing room for Thanksgiving and Christmas — which we are all looking forward to.”

Bryan said the refunds will cover 3,328 households and acknowledged that there’s more work to be done in making Virgin Islanders whole.

“We are not all the way yet, but we are moving to meet the commitment that we made in our first year,” he said. “This refund issuance is just another step forward. It reflects the steady work by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Department of Finance, and I want to thank those teams for being focused and staying diligent, because this has been … a challenging couple weeks.”

Federal food assistance for the roughly 42 million Americans — including tens of thousands of Virgin Islanders — was halted amid a shutdown of the federal government, which began last month. That shutdown appeared to be nearing its end Monday after a handful of U.S. Senate Democrats broke ranks Sunday night and voted in favor of a stopgap funding measure, which did not include an extension to Affordable Care Act subsidies. Locally, the government paid out $2.77 million to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries to cover the lapse in federal assistance.

During a press briefing last week, Bryan said the territory was one of only six jurisdictions to cover the shortfall using local funds. At least 25 other states sued the Trump administration over the funding freeze. A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the administration last week to fully release this month’s benefits. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stayed the order last Friday to give the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit time to consider the matter.

“Our fingers are definitely crossed about us getting something through the Senate and the House this week,” Bryan said Monday. “But if not, I’ll call a state of emergency and issue the SNAP payment — the second SNAP payment — by next week.”

Bryan said the 36th Legislature only authorized funds to cover the first half of households’ November benefits and that they might not meet in time to authorize a second payout. Beyond SNAP, Bryan said the shutdown has caused “all kinds of other havoc” for the territory as it seeks approvals for its myriad federally funded disaster recovery projects.

Monday’s briefing also included updates on the second phase of the Veterans Drive revitalization effort and the V.I. Port Authority’s second attempt at soliciting a contractor to dredge Charlotte Amalie Harbor. The first time around, Bryan said, “a lot of the bidders were confused about what they would do with the waste” and the dredging depth.

“But last week, the Legislature approved $2 million for the demolition of the old Addelita Cancryn school — which the PFA put up the money for, once again,” he said. “So what that does now is it creates a space for all the dredge spoilage. Hopefully, because we do have the waterfront project going on just about the same time, we could use some of that spoilage as well, in that project, but now we don’t have to figure out how to dump it out at sea, or we don’t have to truck it over to St. Croix.”

Update: Man Found Dead on St. Thomas in Nov. 6 Shooting Identified

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Update: Man Found Dead on St. Thomas in Nov. 6 Shooting Identified

Nov. 10 | 9:13 p.m.

On Monday, the deceased gunshot victim was identified as 55-year-old Randy L. Williams, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.

Nov. 6 | 7:15 p.m.

The Virgin Islands Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred early Thursday morning in Contant, the department announced.

At about 12:15 a.m. Thursday, the Shot Spotter Detection System alerted police to multiple gunshots in the area. Moments later, a concerned citizen called to report a man lying in the roadway bleeding from his upper body, according to the police report.

Patrol officers responding to the scene discovered an unresponsive male who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Technicians on site determined that the victim showed no signs of life, the police report stated.

The man’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, it stated.

This death marks the 12th homicide on St. Thomas and 24th in the territory for 2025, with 10 homicides on St. Croix and two on St. John, according to the Source Homicide List.*

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Virgin Islands Police Department at 340-774-2211, the Major Crimes Unit at 340-642-8449 via WhatsApp, Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 (TIPS), or call 911.

*The Source Homicide List is a chronological log of the homicides recorded in 2025 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as reported by the VIPD. Cases are broken down by island. While this listing is based on VIPD reports, the Source does not include suicides or vehicular homicides in its listing, which the police and some other media do. This can lead to a discrepancy in the number of incidents reported.

Crucian Christmas Festival Returns With Big Names, Local Flavor, and Island Pride

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Crucian Christmas Festival Returns With Big Names, Local Flavor, and Island Pride

Culture, music, and island spirit will take center stage this holiday season as the Virgin Islands Tourism Department and the Division of Festivals announce the lineup and schedule for the 2025-2026 Crucian Christmas Festival.

The week-long celebration begins Dec. 27 and will highlight the island’s vibrant culture, bringing together locals, visitors, and the Virgin Islands diaspora to honor tradition while elevating the festival experience, Tourism announced in a press release.

At daybreak on Wednesday, Dec. 31, the streets of St. Croix will come alive for J’ouvert morning, culminating near the Buddhoe Park Bandstand, where a colorful Food Fair will showcase the island’s culinary heritage and authentic local flavors, according to the press release.

“The Crucian Christmas Festival continues to be one of our most cherished cultural celebrations,” said Jennifer Matarangas-King, commissioner-nominee of Tourism. “This year’s lineup brings together the best of local talent, regional stars, and international performers, giving visitors and locals alike an unforgettable celebration of our culture, music, and community.”

The Festival Village, dedicated to St. Croix’s own Xpress Band, will feature performances from top regional and international artists, including Voice, Nadia Batson, Romain Virgo, Morgan Heritage, and D’Yani. Local artists such as Nikki Brooks, Adam O, and Pumpa —who have made their mark across the Caribbean music scene — will also take the stage, the press release stated.

A special tribute honoring the late Unkle Sasso, the legendary Virgin Islands Bass Rhythm and Melody artist, will be held during the annual Soca Monarch competition on Monday, Dec. 29. The tribute will celebrate his lasting influence on Virgin Islands music and culture, the release stated.

Following the Adults Parade on Saturday, Jan. 3, the Festival Village will close with a high-energy concert by international soca star Kes the Band, performing hits such as “Hello, Cocoa Tea, Wotless, and Savannah Grass,” the release stated.

“We are thrilled to offer an updated schedule that honors our traditions while ensuring the safety of all festivalgoers through coordination with our partners at the Virgin Islands Police Department,” said Alvin Burke Jr., assistant director of Festivals. “From sunrise J’ouvert to the closing concert with Kes the Band, every event is designed to showcase the vibrant energy and talent of St. Croix.”

The Tourism Department and the Division of Festivals invite residents and visitors to join the celebration and experience why the Crucian Christmas Festival remains a cornerstone of Virgin Islands heritage.

St. John All-Island Children’s Choir Performs With Warren “Addis” Smith on Nov. 19

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St. John All-Island Children’s Choir Performs With Warren “Addis” Smith on Nov. 19
Kristen Carmichael-Bowers directs the All-Island Children’s Choir in the November 2024 concert. (Photo by William Stelzer)

The community is invited to enjoy a performance by 100 children from St. John when the All-Island Children’s Choir presents a concert at the Julius E. Sprauve School auditorium in Cruz Bay on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Each fall, the St. John All-Island Children’s Choir brings together the children in grades three through five from all three St. John elementary schools — the Julius E. Sprauve School, the Gifft Hill School, and the St. John Christian Academy. The All-Island Children’s Choir performs uplifting and inspiring songs in the languages of our community.

“This year, we have a very local and reggae theme,” said Kristen Carmichael-Bowers, the choir’s director. “We’re so excited to sing original songs by — and with — an ancestral St. Johnian musician, Warren ‘Addis’ Smith.” Smith has been placed on the 2025 Official Grammy Ballots for Grammy Considerations.

The fourth graders will sing his song “Paradise,” which is about growing up on St. John, and third graders will sing “Reggae Rock.”

Smith attended the Julius E. Sprauve School from “kindergarten on through” and said it was inspiring to be back in classrooms there.

Warren “Addis” Smith surprises the fourth graders at the St. John Christian Academy during rehearsal earlier this year. (Photo by William Stelzer)

Several years ago, Smith produced a video of “Reggae Rock” featuring many familiar faces from St. John. His videographer, also from St. John, was Edward Cazaubon of Ecaz Unlimited Media Productions.

Cazaubon is also a songwriter, and for the concert finale, the St. John All-Island Children’s Choir will perform his original song “Upliftment Build Strength.”

“It was an honor to have the children perform this song which was written as a reminder that even in challenging times, our spirit grows when we lift each other up,” said Cazaubon. “The voices of our young people carry power — they carry the future. When they sing about unity, resilience, and hope, it strengthens all of us as a community. Hearing these children sing together — with joy, courage, and pride — reminds us that St. John is strong, and our story continues forward through them.”

For those who can’t attend in person, the concert will be livestreamed on AllAhWe TV’s YouTube channel and can be viewed by following this link:
https://youtube.com/live/0ndmKMcoLN4?feature=share.

For further information, call 340-227-4920 or send an email to info@singstjohn.org.

The St. John All-Island Children’s Choir is one of four programs presented by Sing St. John, which is supported solely by community donations and grants.

Sing St. John is deep into its annual fall appeal to raise $240,000 to meet its operating expenses for community singing programs for all ages in 2025-26. They have been gifted a matching grant generously offered by Martha and Dana Robes, which will double the first $65K of donations received.

Donations can be made online with a credit or debit card, or through PayPal by clicking this link https://www.singstjohn.org/annual-fund.html.

Checks can be mailed to Sing St. John, Box 1173, St. John, VI 00831.

In addition to community and business donors, Sing St. John is jointly supported by a grant from VI Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC, a federal agency.

Hans Isaiah Lewis Dies at 55

Mat Probasco
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Hans Isaiah Lewis Dies at 55

It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Hans Isaiah Lewis, age 55.  Hans passed away peacefully at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami FL on Oct. 2, 2025. 

Hans Isaiah Lewis

Hans is survived by his daughter, Nicole Lewis, and son, Isaiah Lewis.

Sisters: Sandra Lockhart, Cristal Bronigan

Brother: Rodney Webbe

Brother-in-law: Rev. Samuel Bronigan

Grand Children: Da’Veion Lewis, Le’Andrea Grubbs, Le’Andre Grubbs, Harmony Lewis (deceased)

Aunties: Marlene James, Heather Williams, Consie Greene, Iona Greene-Roberts, Veronica Greene

Uncles: Anthony Williams, Alphonso Williams, Sylvester Williams, Codwell Williams, Vincent Greene, Simeon Greene

Cousins: Larry Williams, Felicita Edwards, Yolanda Scott, Charlesworth Gonsalves Jr., Rhea Edwards, Elroy Hall Jr., Rhenese Hall, Ronnie McPherson, Deshawn Gonsalves, Derrick Williams, Alex Williams, Samuel & Sherline & David & Keith & John & Julia James, James Williams, Vincent Walters and others too numerous to mention

Nieces and Nephews: Patricia Harrell, Paul Lockhart, Wayne Lockhart, Daphne Lockhart, Caleb Bronigan (deceased), Rheniecya Webbe, Rodney Webbe Jr., Daquan Webbe (deceased), Dehemiah Maynard, Elisha Webbe, De’Noia Webbe.

Special friends: Peter Augustine, Tico Augustine, Dwight Felix, Denvor Felix, Lampie Weekes, Sis Mona Barnes, Linda Romain, Celia Knowles, Giselle Peter, Bob (Louis E. Brown Villas).

Hans was also predeceased by his father, Hans Lewis and his mother Daphne Lewis.

A memorial service will be held on Nov. 14, at Island Baptist Church 105CA Whim, Frederiksted, St. Croix USVI.  Service begins at 10 a.m.

St. Croix Man Arrested in Domestic Violence Case

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St. Croix Man Arrested in Domestic Violence Case

The Virgin Islands Police Department announced that 20-year-old J’Lorne Henley was arrested Friday, following a domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend.

Police said that officers from the Patrol Division responded to the victim’s residence at approximately 2:16 p.m. and determined during their investigation that Henley had damaged the victim’s portable speaker.

Because the case involved domestic violence, no bail was set. Henley was transported to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility and is scheduled to appear for his advice of rights hearing Monday, police said.

Police Investigating Bomb Threat at Lockhart K-8 School and Charlotte Amalie High School

Mat Probasco
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There has been a bomb threat at Lockhart K-8 School and Charlotte Amalie High School. The Virgin Islands Police Department is currently on the scene. All students are safe, and parents do not need to pick them up at this time. Students are being kept in a secure location as authorities work to ensure the area is safe and provide an all clear. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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