Check out our weekly weather forecast with Jesse Daley, covering Sunday, Oct. 12, through Saturday, Oct. 18. Our YouTube playlist is updated every week, AND check out Jesse’s daily weather updates here.
Raymix Stuns CAPA in Big 4 Semifinal Penalty Shootout
St. Thomas’s second-seeded Raymix FC upset St. Croix’s top-ranked CAPA 4-2 in a penalty shootout today at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex, advancing to the USVISF Men’s Premier League Big 4 final after 120 minutes of scoreless soccer.
The St. Thomas side converted all four of its penalty attempts while goalkeeper Clarens Doralus made a crucial save to send the young, relentless club into Sunday’s championship match against Helenites.
The semifinal victory marked a significant achievement for Raymix, who replaced LRVI FC in the St. Thomas division this year. Raymix executed a primarily defensive game plan against CAPA’s physically imposing roster, frustrating the usually dominant squad for two full hours before claiming the match on spot kicks.
Raymix huddled in prayer before the penalties began, a circle of players in sweat-soaked jerseys who had just battled through regulation and two overtime periods against a team that, as their head coach Glen Monticeux would later joke, “looked like grown men facing schoolboys.”
“We fought hard,” said Doralus, whose diving save on CAPA’s second penalty attempt kept his team’s hopes alive. “We had a plan, and we just came and we [did] it.”
The plan was simple in theory, brutal in execution. Raymix absorbed pressure for two full hours of regulation and overtime, pushing past their limits in the afternoon heat.
“What matters is who is able to put that ball in the back of the net,” said commentator Kurtice Lewis. “Raymix stuck in there and did not give in despite all the pressure, not having the numbers, not having the support. Their defense was very organized.”
CAPA dominated possession and created chances, including two dangerous free kicks in overtime, but tight defending came at a cost. One minute into the first overtime period, CAPA’s Alexi Bedford, a key player, was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury that left him sidelined for the remainder of the match.
The game had everything except goals. Raymix’s defensive shape, marshaled by Gali Prat, frustrated wave after wave of CAPA attacks. Prat was in the trenches, unafraid to take tackles and get dirty.
“Raymix defense moved like wolves,” Sheppard observed, noting how defenders swarmed CAPA’s offense, seldom leaving one-on-one matchups. “They hunted in packs.”
When the final whistle blew to signal penalty kicks, Raymix’s Prat stepped up first. He sailed his penalty into the net, answered by CAPA’s Kassall Greene. Herve Omilus brought Raymix’s score to 2. Then came Doralus’s crucial save on CAPA’s second attempt to protect the 2-1 lead. CAPA’s Jamol Yorke converted to pull it back to 2-2, but Wood Pierre and Bendy Omilus buried Raymix’s third and fourth kicks to make it 4-2.
When CAPA’s final attempt sailed wide, the Raymix bench exploded onto the field in a wave of pure joy. Players front-flipped, swirled their jerseys overhead, and hoisted Doralus onto their shoulders as the crowd roared.
“The team played with such heart,” Sheppard noted. “They created their chances and took them.”
“Raymix is a young team and competed at a high enough level to make it to the Big 4 finals,” Lewis added. “A very good look for the youngsters.”
Around the property, kids played their own mini Big 4 tournaments off the turf, their shouts and laughter providing the perfect soundtrack to an afternoon that showcased how much soccer is growing in the territory.
Tomorrow at 4 p.m., Raymix will return to the Bethlehem Soccer Complex to face the Helenites, the second seed from St. Croix, in the Big 4 final. The game will stream live on FIFA +.
Thomas Clay Jr. Dies
Reverend Thomas Clay Jr., of Estate Concordia, passed away on Oct. 1, 2025. He was 83.
He is survived by his spouse, Elsa Springer- Clay; son, Quentin Clay; daughter-in-law, Mrs. Quentin Clay; brothers-in-law, Roy Lynch, John Jarrus; special friends, Addie Butler, Rev. Jesse Brown Jr., Annette Sample, Albert & Marie Schuster; other precious relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Professional services entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
Senator Carla Joseph Says No Rules Were Broken
Senator Carla Joseph says statements made by Senator Kenneth Gitten during the Oct. 9, 2025, Committee on Rules and Judiciary legislative meeting are a misrepresentation of facts and misleading.
Senator Carla Joseph stated, “Senator Gittens’s assertion that the opportunity to hear from invited testifiers on Bill No: 36-0144 is as “a waste of time” is a denial of the democratic process.”
Furthermore, Senator Gitten’s assertion that Senator Carla Joseph did not respond to Senator Clifford Joseph, Sr.’s memo is untrue. In fact, on September 26th a letter was sent to Senator Joseph, Sr., in response and all Senators were copied including Senator Gittens.
More importantly Senator Joseph states, “Both legislations, Bill No. 36-0105 and 36,0144, sponsored by Senator Joseph, Sr. at his verbal request, were initially on the September 8, 2025 Rules and Judiciary Committee Hearing agenda. At that hearing a motion was made to hold these bills as well as two other Bills in Committee at the call of the Chair.”
The Rules of the 36th Legislature enables senators to conduct additional deliberations as well as offer amendments on the legislation in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary prior to submission to the entire legislative body for review.
The motion to remove Bill Nos. 36-0144 and Bill 36-0105 from the agenda during the Oct. 9, Committee meeting with invited testifiers present, according to Senator Carla Joseph, was an attempt to impede the democratic legislative process.
During Thursday’s Rules Committee meeting, Senator Carla Joseph said, “ I don’t want us in this body and our integrity to be in a position where we are stifling the people’s voice.” She said, “testifiers are here saying that they have not all been included. We cannot be a body where we are not including people who are affected by certain legislation. That’s hypocritical. We are their servants, and they have every right and they shouldn’t be dismissed.”
Senator Carla Joseph stated that the testifiers on the Rules and Judiciary Committee meeting were unable to provide input during the initial hearing within the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice, and Public Safety, although correspondence of opposition was submitted.
The Committee on Rules and Judiciary meeting on October 9, 2025, was the subsequent phase in the legislative process of Bill Nos. 36-0144 and 36-0105. The purpose of the Committee hearing was to continue the dialogue and vetting process, and, most importantly, to gather feedback from subject matter experts and constituents who are directly affected by the bill. She also stated that the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Rules were not violated.”
Senator Carla Joseph concluded, “She remains steadfast to be the people’s voice and follow through with action in the legislative process.”
Sen. Gittens Says Bills Need Further Review
In his capacity as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Rules & Judiciary, Senate Vice President Kenneth L. Gittens successfully made a motion Thursday to remove Bills #36-0105 and #36-0144 from the October 9, 2025 agenda, returning them to the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice & Public Safety for further refinement.
The procedural motion was made on behalf of the bills’ sponsor, Senator Clifford Joseph, who was participating in the hearing remotely. Senator Clifford Joseph requested this action to ensure the proposed amendments were given the detailed review they merit, Senator Gittens said. The bills sent back to committee dealt with firearm and cannabis product regulations, complex issues that Committee members agreed required further expertise and examination before moving forward.
“This was not a rejection of the bills nor their underlying intent,” Senator Gittens stated Thursday during his point of information. “It is a responsible and necessary step to allow the committee of jurisdiction adequate time to strengthen the legislation before it advances.”
Senator Gittens motion was supported by all but one of the members of the Rules & Judiciary Committee. However, Senator Gittens expressed serious concern regarding the subsequent conduct of the Committee’s Chairwoman, who temporarily relinquished the gavel in order to object to Senator Gittens’ motion.
“Her decision to use a point of personal privilege to publicly demean fellow committee members was both inappropriate and inconsistent with the decorum expected within this institution,” he said. “Parliamentary rules clearly prohibit members from explaining a ‘no’ vote once it has been cast, whether under the guise of personal privilege or formal objection. These rules exist to preserve the fairness and integrity of our legislative process.”
Senator Gittens expressed growing concern over what he described as troubling pattern of conduct by the Chairwoman.
“I urge my colleagues to remain vigilant,” he said. “The integrity of our process and mutual respect among senators must be safeguarded at all times.”
Senator Gittens noted that he had hoped there would be further opportunity to explain his concerns Thursday, but that he was called away after learning a family member was experiencing a medical emergency.
Op-Ed: Bowing to the Spirit of the Law: Stop Signs and Lights
I had been thinking for years about a column that would clarify for those who might not know or be clear about what the laws of the U.S. Virgin Islands say. And to be fair, most lawyers in the V.I. would agree some of the code is ambiguous and even “outdated.” But that is not my job to fix, though perhaps a gentle nudge through this effort might encourage some clarity and updating.
A decade or so ago when I first thought about it and discussed it with the then-executive editor, Bill Kossler, I wanted to call the effort: “It’s the Law!”
I have mellowed since then and thus, when I stumbled upon the poem that follows by 19th century poet and transcendentalist Margaret Fuller,* the notion came alive again under this gentler rubric: Bowing to the Spirit of the Law
Freedom and Truth
by Margaret Fuller
The shrine is vowed to freedom, but, my friend,
Freedom is but a means to gain an end.
Freedom should build the temple, but the shrine
Be consecrate to thought still more divine.
The human bliss which angel hopes foresaw
Is liberty to comprehend the law.
Give, then, thy book a larger scope and frame,
Comprising means and end in Truth’s great name.
As a lifelong lover and reader of poetry, Fuller’s eight-line verse spoke directly to me of freedom and respect, saying, “True Freedom is to comprehend and obey the law, especially where the law gives rise to consideration for others as an act of kindness and dedication to the safety and well-being of all living things.”
It is in the spirit of the law that I have come to this column, which has also sprung from years of frustration and fear while observing the carelessness that has arisen over my lifetime with regard to caring for and about someone or something other than ourselves.
We live in a violence-ridden world. Much of the savagery highlighted, fed and nurtured by commerce-driven, mainstream and anti-social media springs from buried, and thus unresolved, trauma and pain.
If only those who wantonly flout the law understood the congestion of harm they were contributing to, perhaps they would reconsider the behavior that daily and even hourly threatens our peace.
It is with that intention of understanding, and thus reconsideration, that I consecrate our “codes” of conduct — as we refer to our laws in the Virgin Islands and elsewhere — as I hope and pray it is not too late for us to change.
I will start with stopping; the simplest of universal laws signified by the hexagonal red sign found in the same shape in local verbiage at intersections across the globe.
I was fortunate to be taught to drive by my mother who, among her other jobs with Bell Telephone Corp., taught driver education to employees. Remember, she taught driver ed in the early ’50s when there were only about 2 billion people on the planet, and automobiles were relatively new, relatively slow moving and much rarer contraptions. Needless to say, no one was texting while driving.
All laws across the nation, including New York State where I was born, basically say the same thing about what the stop sign requires: “Come to a full stop, yield the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians in or heading toward the intersection. Go [only] when it is safe.”
The additional common-sense directive my mother gave me was, “look both ways,” which seems necessary and common-sensical in order to know when it is safe.
The consequences of not respecting the directives above are dire. After going down the Google Gopher hole, I feel safe in saying that more than half of all traffic injuries and one quarter of all traffic fatalities occur at intersections.
This, of course, includes the more frightening and egregious act of total disregard for the sacredness of life — running red lights. In January 2025, that specific act resulted in two tourists being thrown “up into the air” by a vehicle driven, as far as we know, by another human being who was running a red light in disregard of the qualified “left on red after stopping.” Allow me to add: “much less looking, for God’s sake.”
To add personal, unresolved (though I have tried and tried) trauma and harming thoughts to injury: When I was 25 years old I was struck by a vehicle while crossing (not in a crosswalk and late at night, to acknowledge my part of the responsibility) a long city stretch in Rochester, New York, called Lake Avenue. The driver of the vehicle that struck me was going 40 miles an hour, according to the police report, which was presumably the speed limit at the time. I too was thrown into the air as were the tourists and landed on the hood, my barely-adult skull cracking the windshield.
When I read the story of the hapless pedestrians who trusted the traffic lights when crossing the intersection by the Lucinda A. Millin Home senior center on St. Thomas, I was transported back 50 years to an occurrence I do not consciously remember, no doubt due to the resulting concussion. Yet, the trauma lives on in my body somewhere, also triggering thoughts of violence when I observe the insanity of drivers running stop signs and red lights.
Addendum: We must not disregard the trauma of the perpetrators, who will carry their own psychic injury, if left unresolved, of being a first-hand witness to the pain — even death — they have caused. That is what is known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and widely acknowledged as a mental health disorder and recognized as such in the DSM-III and DSM-5. If there was only one victim and one driver, we now have two people with mental health disorders when stopping would have cost nothing but a movement or two of consideration.
So, the ask here is best articulated by The Supremes: Stop in the Name of Love
*Poet, essayist, journalist, and transcendentalist activist Sarah Margaret Fuller was born on May 23, 1810, in Cambridgeport, Massachusetts. She is best known for her controversial treatise, Woman in the Nineteenth Century (Greeley & McElrath, 1845). Fuller died on July 19, 1850, in a shipwreck off Fire Island, New York.
Building a Resilient Grid – WAPA’s Bet on Infrastructure, Renewables, and Adaption
For the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, financial recovery is only part of the equation. True stability, CEO Karl Knight said in a recent interview with the Source, depends on rebuilding the system itself — hardening the grid, expanding renewable generation, and preparing for a future where outages are the exception, not the norm.
“The reality is, we’ve neglected maintenance for too long,” Knight said. “We’re fixing one system and another fails. It’s been a constant game of catch-up. But what we’re doing now — with these major infrastructure and renewable projects — is building for resilience.”
Across the territory, that resilience is taking shape in visible ways. WAPA’s composite pole program is nearly complete, replacing thousands of aging wooden poles with more flexible, storm-resistant ones designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. Funded largely through FEMA, the program covers areas where undergrounding isn’t possible. “The composite poles have been a real success,” Knight said. “They’re stronger, safer, and we’ve amended contracts to keep adding more wherever we can.”
Where possible, the utility is also burying lines. Projects like Feeder 13’s bypass on St. Thomas — a long-troubled underground cable route responsible for frequent outages — are about 80% complete. Once finished, Knight said, it will allow crews to take aging cables offline and replace them without affecting service. “That project will make a noticeable difference for customers,” he noted.
The utility’s most ambitious work, however, centers on generation. On St. Croix, WAPA is moving forward with a complete rebuild of the Richmond Power Plant — a project funded through FEMA that includes new generation units, upgraded substations, digital control systems, and another battery energy-storage system. Construction will take several years, but temporary generation and battery components are expected within the next 12 to 18 months to stabilize supply. “It’s a once-in-a-generation project,” Knight said. “We’re not just replacing what we had — we’re modernizing it.”
The St. Thomas–St. John district is seeing similar investment. WAPA plans to add about 40 megawatts of new generation to the Harley Power Plant, along with additional battery backup systems and temporary generation to bridge the transition. Knight said the project, now in design, will take roughly three years to complete.
At the same time, WAPA is expanding renewable capacity through two large solar farms on St. Thomas — one at Estate Fortuna and another at Estate Bovoni — both developed through private partnerships. Each site will include battery storage, enabling WAPA to shift daytime solar power into the evening hours. “The solar at Fortuna should start generating by mid-2026,” Knight said, “with Bovoni coming online shortly after.” Together, they are expected to provide enough daytime generation to power St. Thomas and St. John while allowing the utility to idle older, inefficient gas turbines.
Renewable efforts extend beyond the main islands. On St. John, WAPA is developing a battery-energy-storage project in Coral Bay — the foundation of a planned microgrid that could allow portions of the island to operate independently from St. Thomas during outages. “It’s about energy independence and reliability,” Knight said. “If we can isolate portions of St. John, we can keep the lights on even when the main grid is down.”
The investments are massive. WAPA estimates that federal funding across all water and power projects totals several billion dollars, including roughly a billion each for St. Thomas and St. Croix waterline and underground work. But those funds are restricted — they can only be used for capital improvements, not operating costs. Knight acknowledged that supply-chain delays, labor shortages, and rising costs for equipment such as transformers continue to test schedules and budgets. “It’s not easy,” he said. “We’re building at a time when everything — materials, freight, labor — costs more. But the alternative is to keep patching the old system, and that’s not sustainable.”
Despite those obstacles, many of the authority’s short-term projects are nearing completion. Underground upgrades at Blackbeard’s Hill, Mahogany Estate, and other neighborhoods are wrapping up by year’s end, and WAPA expects the Feeder 13 bypass to be energized before December.
What these efforts represent, Knight said, is a philosophical shift. “We’re not just reacting to problems anymore — we’re designing the grid we should have had twenty years ago,” he explained. “Every project we complete, from a single composite pole to an entire solar field, brings us closer to that goal.”
Still, Knight remains realistic about public expectations. Power interruptions will continue in the near term, especially as older units fail and new systems come online. “We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said. “But every investment we’re making now — in generation, storage, and infrastructure — is a step toward a stronger, more reliable, and more affordable WAPA.”
Teachers Explore Territorial Status, Economic Development, and Community Health at Roundtable
Educators from St. Croix gathered at the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park Thursday evening for a teacher roundtable focused on developing classroom resources that connect territorial status, economic development, and community health. The discussion highlighted how these interconnected topics shape students’ understanding of the territory and their role as future community leaders.
The event featured Historian Joanna Poblete, Ph.D., who shared her work over the summer in collaboration with educators Chalana Brown, Sayeeda Carter, and Monica Marin. Together, they developed a four-lesson unit plan and teacher’s edition/guide on these topics, designed for students in grades 11 and up. The resources are freely available online and aim to provide teachers with practical tools to make these subjects relevant and engaging.
The free online archive is a project started by Joanna Poblete, professor of history at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. Since 2018, Poblete has researched the health experiences of people on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands during the Hess Oil/HOVENSA period, from the 1960s to 2012.
After finding that historic health data from that period was difficult to access — and inspired by the 2021 “Building Environmental Justice on STX” project at Bennington College, developed by David Bond in collaboration with Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism, the VI Good Food Coalition, and the St. Croix Environmental Association — Poblete launched a yearlong online survey to collect information on health experiences on St. Croix during the Hess Oil/HOVENSA era.
“I hope students can see how political status, economic growth, and public health are connected to their daily lives,” Poblete said. “These materials give educators concrete ways to bring those connections into the classroom.”
During the roundtable, educators shared their own classroom experiences and discussed strategies for engaging students in complex topics. Participants explored ways to integrate local history, current events, and civic engagement projects into lessons. Ideas ranged from case studies of local businesses and public health initiatives to student-led research projects on territorial policies and economic trends.
Teachers emphasized making lessons interactive. Local ecologist and environmental activist Olasee Davis said, “When students can connect the dots between policy decisions, economic outcomes, and health in their own communities, the learning becomes real.” Carter, who attended the round table, added, “Students are more engaged when they see how government decisions impact the lives of people they know. It sparks curiosity and responsibility.”
The discussion also covered challenges in teaching these topics. Several educators noted that while students are often aware of local issues, they sometimes struggle to see the larger connections. Poblete encouraged teachers to use the unit plan’s guided questions and activities to bridge that gap. “It’s about asking the right questions and encouraging students to explore solutions themselves,” she explained.
Participants responded positively to the hands-on activities included in the materials. Davis said, “The case studies and discussion prompts give students opportunities to think critically rather than just memorize facts. That’s exactly what our classrooms need.” Marin, who was also present, noted the potential for cross-curricular projects, linking social studies, economics, and health education in one cohesive lesson.
This week, Poblete will meet with educators on St. Croix to share the free teaching materials and demonstrate ways they can be incorporated into curricula.
Educators at the roundtable expressed excitement about the resources and the opportunity to collaborate on lessons that promote critical thinking and active citizenship. “The goal is to prepare students not just for tests, but to understand their community and participate in shaping its future,” said Marin. Others added that the materials could serve as a model for teacher collaboration across the territory.
The roundtable and related events reflect a broader effort to support teachers in the Virgin Islands, provide relevant instructional materials, and encourage students to engage deeply with topics that affect the territory’s social, economic, and political landscape. By equipping teachers with interactive resources, the initiative aims to inspire a new generation of informed and engaged citizens ready to contribute to the territory’s future.
The site is a free, online space for the public to access community health data, historic materials, and other resources connected to health experiences on St. Croix, particularly during the Hess Oil/HOVENSA period from the 1960s to 2012. The website also includes a link for anyone to fill out a health survey or share a quick story about health experiences during that period. Anyone with documents they would like uploaded to the archive for community access can send materials to STXcommunityhealtharchive@gmail.com. To view the lesson plans, educators can visit https://research.cgu.edu/stxcommunityhealth/.
Tunes and Tacos Return to Magens Bay to Support Nana Baby Children’s Home
Nana Baby Children’s Home will host its fourth annual “Tunes and Tacos Throw Down” fundraiser on Nov. 8 at Magens Bay to raise funds for ongoing programs and future expansion.
Nana Baby Children’s Home, founded in 1989, is the only 24-hour emergency placement group home on St. Thomas. It provides immediate shelter, meals, medical care, and emotional support to children from birth to 12 years old, accepting placements at any time through the Human Services Department, according to their website.
Proceeds from the event will help fund programs for children and support the launch of a new program for teenagers.
“All of the funding comes directly back to Nana Baby,” said Darian Torrice-Hairston, executive director of Nana Baby Children’s Home. “This year’s event is helping us establish a second program for teenagers, as there are currently no group homes for teens on St. Thomas.”
This new program comes as Nana Baby Home prepares to move its current residents into a larger, government-purchased house within the next three to six months. The move will allow the organization to convert its existing facility into a group home for teenagers, a population Torrice-Hairston stressed is underserved on St. Thomas.
“We are a zero to 12 organization. However, we’re consistently asked to provide a home to teenagers as well, because there are no homes for teenagers on St. Thomas,” Torrice-Hairston said. She added that while this task is necessary, it is not ideal. “It’s not usually an appropriate placement setting, because our program is designed for younger children.”
Torrice-Hairston said the new program will serve youth ages 13 to 18, providing a safe place for teens in crisis, those experiencing homelessness, or those who have been abused or neglected.
“There’s just no group homes for teenagers on St. Thomas,” Torrice-Hairston said. “There are two places on St. Croix for teenagers, but they’re small and have their own stipulations.”
The lack of local resources means that, in some cases, teenagers are sent to the states to find care. “Sometimes, kids get sent to the states if there’s no other opportunities,” Torrice-Hairston said, noting that the transition can be especially difficult and turbulent for young people who are already facing instability.
By opening a group home for teenagers on St. Thomas, Nana Baby Home plans to expand its support for youth in the community. “We want to do the same thing we’re doing for the little kids, for our older kids,” Torrice-Hairston said.
The new program will help teens navigate the challenges of adolescence and prepare for adulthood. Torrice-Hairston said many teenagers in care end up “aging out” of the system without a stable place to go or the skills they need to succeed.
“What we’ll be able to do is help them through that process — learn about budgeting, graduate high school, learn about job opportunities, whether it’s college, trade school, or apartments,” she said. “We’ll build that into our support system for them.”
Torrice-Hairston said the goal is to provide stability and guidance at a critical time in a young person’s life, ensuring they have the resources and support to build a successful future.
The new program for 13 to 18-year-olds isn’t the only welcome change to the fundraising event this year, as the fourth annual “Tunes and Tacos Throw Down” will also debut a new taco category: dessert, adding a sweet twist to the traditional lineup.
Attendees will sample meat, fish, vegetarian and dessert tacos, as well as margaritas, and vote for their favorites. Both competitions will be judged blind, with cash prizes and trophies awarded to the top entries.
Live music will be featured throughout the noon-to-5 p.m. event, with performances by local acts including DubLab Reggae Band and The Eljhaie Brathwaite Project.
“You can definitely expect to hear awesome music,” Torrice-Hairston said. “It’s really meant to be interactive and positive. We’ve had three successful events, and we’re hoping the fourth is even bigger and better.”
The event will also feature a silent auction, with items donated by local businesses such as hotel stays and charters.
She encouraged local chefs, restaurants, and home cooks to enter the competitions, and noted there are still opportunities for volunteers, vendors, and sponsors. Those interested in competing, volunteering, sponsoring, or becoming a vendor can find more information and sign-up links on the events tab on the Nana Baby Home website.
Torrice-Hairston encouraged the community to show their support by participating in the event. “We hear a lot throughout the year, ‘How can I help? What can I do?’ And it’s not easy to answer, because what we do is a very specific task. But this is a really easy way to support the home. Every volunteer counts, every single patron or community member that comes counts. It all just adds to the success of what we’re doing, so it’s a really easy and direct way to support the kids.”
St. Croix Man Turns Himself In on Rape and Sexual Contact Charges
A 36-year-old man wanted in connection with a 2023 sexual assault on St. Croix has surrendered to police, the V.I. Police Department reported.
Earl Shervington turned himself in to officers at the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station Thursday, accompanied by his defense attorney, according to the police report.
Police said the case stems from a Dec. 13, 2023, report in which a female victim told investigators that Shervington had sexually assaulted her. The Criminal Investigations Bureau was assigned to the case, and detectives later determined that Shervington “forced himself on the victim and sexually assaulted her,” the police report stated.
An arrest warrant was issued on Oct. 3 by a magistrate judge of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, charging Shervington with first-degree rape and first-degree unlawful sexual contact. His bail was set at $75,000, the report stated.
After turning himself in, Shervington was booked and allowed by the court to post 10% of his bail, the department said. He is scheduled to appear for an advice of rights hearing Friday, police said.
