The Virgin Islands Police Department would like to inform the community that on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, there will parking restrictions during the VI-PR Block Party & Concert on Queen Cross Street in front of the Caravelle Hotel and Casino.
Parking Restrictions are as follows:
NO PARKING will be allowed on Queen Cross Street, from the corner of Strand Lane (Purple Papaya) to the boardwalk from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The ONLY vehicles allowed beyond Purple Papaya will be VI-PR Committee members and vendors coming to set up for the event and leave.
There will be NO Exceptions.
NO PARKING signs will be posted from Thursday, October 9, 2026. Any vehicles found parked in the restricted area during the hours posted will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
The Virgin Islands Police Department appreciates everyone’s cooperation and wishes all a Happy Virgin Islands – Puerto Rico Friendship Day
Eleanor Griffith Parris of Estate Grove Place transitioned into eternal life on Sept. 18, 2025. She was 87 years old.
Eleanor Griffith Parris
She was preceded in death by her Spouse, Joseph Parris; Mother, Olivia Foy; Father, Alexander Griffith; Daughter, Sharon Sobratti; Sisters, Virginia Andrew, Delores Griffith, Pealine Griffith; Brothers, Alexander Griffith Jr., Joseph Griffith and Clemence Griffith; Step-Daughters, Brenda Hodge, Mary Parris; Step- Son, Ray Parris
She is survived by her Daughter, Annette Parris; Son, Micheal Haynes; Grandchildren, Kenneth Sobratti, Kenisha Sobratti, Kaleef Sobratti, Keian Rogers, Michael Haynes Jr., Sharmaine Martin; Great Grandchildren, Nah’J & Naheem Sobratti, Andrew Messam, Kaiden, KayDee Sobratti; Sisters, Ada Griffith, Joyce Griffith Prescott; Brothers, Melvin Griffith,Calvin Griffith, Joel Griffith; Sister-In-Law, Victoria Griffith; God Children, Nacoya Johnson, Whitney Parris-Martin, Janea Simon; Special Friends, Joan Henley, Ena Berry, Anita Mitchell, Yvonne Charles; Nieces & Nephews, Geraldine (Richard), Laverne, Claudette, Norma, Natasha, Earl, Ptrick (Nadine), Ephriam Jr., Chantele, Chane, Julissa, Tieshia, Alexis, Norma G, Beverly, Patisha, Clement, Zabra, Okpara, Jamila, Joy, Jamine, Annetta, Michelle, Lisa, Davis, Dawn, Jeffery, Janice, Monique, Afiya, Wanda, Joseph, Alexander, Kelvin, Keyesha, Brandi, Calvin, Dexter, Edison, Raymond, D-Wayne, June, Junior, Joletta and Joleen; Cousin and Other Relatives, Petersen Family, Messer Family, Cornelius Family, Boynes Family, Johannes Family, Dennis Family, Lynch Family, Johnson Family, Allen Family, Andrews Family, William Family, Francis Family, Samuel Family, Milligan Family, Abramson Family, Brady Family, Henry Family, Foy Family, Payne Family, Miller Family, Armstrong Family, Edney Family, O’Reilly Family. Other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Friedensfeld Moravian Church. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. with service at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in the Friedensfeld churchyard.
Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Jose Quinones Ortiz on Sept. 29, 2025. He passed away peacefully at home at the golden age of 90 years old.
Jose Quinones Ortiz
Jose or as many people knew him as “Che Che” was our dearly loved father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and cousin and he will be greatly missed by his loving family and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother Aurora Ortiz, father Augustin Quinones, ex-wife Petra Perez, and sons Jose Antonio and Jose Enrique Quinones.
He survived by his daughter Carmen Milagro Quinones; Sons: Hector and Jesus Quinones; Grandchildren: Anna Luisa Serrano, Jose Luis Serrano, Carmen Milagro Serrano, and Rose Marie Charles; Great Grandchildren: Joshua Ladriye, Dion Meyers, Allan Greaux, Destiny Montanez, Amarion Greaux, Joatan Rosado, Myah Montanez, Luis Miguel Rojas-Serrano, and Zaliyah Angeliz Charles; Great grandson in law: Jaime Navarro II; Great Grandchildren: Jaime Antonio Navarro III, Miguel Antonio Navarrro, De’Nailah Meyers, and Aasira Greaux; Brother: Francisco Robinson; Sisters: Maria Mclat, Nydia Raley, and Migdalia Garcia. Special friend: Marcos Rijo. He also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and family members too numerous to mention.
His viewing will be held on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Divine Chapel, 129 Peter’s Rest.
His going home ceremony will be held on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Christiansted, St. Croix. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m., with the Eulogy at 9:20am, and the service at 10 a.m. Interment will follow to the Kingshill Cemetery
Jeannette Marie Richards-Iles of Frederiksted St. Croix U.S.V.I. transitioned into eternal life on Sept. 20, 2025. She was 91 years old.
Jeannette Marie Richards-Iles
She was preceded in Death By: Parents, Claude J. and Evelyn M. Richards; Brothers, Arthur A. Richards, Russell D. Richards, Louis Richards, Donald Richards; Sisters & Sisters-In-Law, Rita Grant, Alice Nielsen, Myrna Richards, Elena Richards; Nephews & Niece, Clyde Grant, Russell D. Richards, Jr., Anthony Richards, Pamela Richards, Aaron Derrick.
She is survived her: Siblings, Claude R. Richards and Dr. Claudette P. Richards Derrick;Sisters-In-Law,Bernice Richards, Aurelia Richards and Hanna Richards; Nephews & Nieces, Evelyn Brathwaite, Claude L. & Paula Richards, Jr., Robert E. & Genitta Richards, Daryl A. Richards, Sr., Donna M. & Edward Richards, Steven A. Richards, Linda D. Richards, Wesley E. & Anna Richards, Duane & Gigi Richards, Lawrence J. & Nataki Richards, Leroy Grant, Betty Nielsen, Claudia M. Richards, Claude M. Richards, Amanuel J. Richards, Daniel C. Richards, Samuel Gabremariam, Gregory A. & Almitra Richards, Evelyn L. Richards, Troy M. Richards, Michael A. Richards, Chimoy N. Richards, Dorna F. Werdelin, Chanel & Wayne Alleyne, Tamika Richards, Daryl Richards, Jr., Geron Richards, Che Richards, Kia N. & Randall Sharpe, Shayne Richards, Alyx Richards, Joshua Richards, Aswad Richards, Bomani Richards, Tayma Richards, Don Richards, Lena Richards, Ashton Richards, Jodeci Richards, Brice Richards, Malia Richards, Deja Bellamy, Ahmad Williams; Special Friends, Claire Roker, Elba Proctor, The Carrington Family, The Arnold Family, José Ventura, Dianne Hendersen, Ray Iles and Family, Joy Santoli. Other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Frederiksted St. Croix. Viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m. with service at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Frederiksted Cemetery.
Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
Cyril Anderson Daniel Sr., aka “Andy,” of Enfield Green, transitioned into eternal life on Sept. 23. He was 80 years old.
Cyril Anderson Daniel Sr.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Sarah A. Daniel; father, William Daniel; spouse, Magarita Daniel; sisters, Enid Flemming, Ruth Tyson, Gladys Greenaway, Linda Morris; and brothers, Roy Daniel, George Daniel.
He is survived by his daughters, Beverly Williams, Ernestine, Margaret, Audrey and Rosetta Daniel; sons, Allister Hanley, Cyril Jr. Richard and David Daniel; grandchildren, Sheon Hanley, Danielle Hanley, Otis, Shantel, Shevonne Hanley, Patricia and Bevrick Williams, Adritony Browne, Ian Daniel, Daleianna Roberts; great grandchildren, Joseem, Jeanine, Judah Frances; nieces, Janet Panris, Cynthia, Mary, Joan Fleming, Myrthlyn, Hilda, Helen, Audrey, Sandra, Olivia, Denise, Marylinda, Eugenie; nephews, Bishop- Ernest Flemming, George, Esmon, Paul, and Sinclair Flemming, Calvin, Cecil, Cyril, and Virgil Daniel, Daxta, Lenny, Donald Daniel, Melvin Morris; great niece, Rhea Johnson, Jaime Richards; daughters-in-law, Shawndra Daniel; brothers-in-law, Hollis and David Prentice, Trevor, Carl, and Tracy Hanley; sister-in-law, Brenda, Beulah, Petronela and Vadencia Hanley, Marcia David, Paulina Hendrickson, Adline Tobus and Delita Slack, Selma Hanley; godchildren, Annaliza Joseph; cousins and other relatives, Candice Brown, The Liburd, Daniel, Hendrickson and Hamilton, Family of Barnes Ghaut Village Nevis, The Nesbitt Family, Oliver Hanley and Family, Arch Deacon Rudolph Smithen, Tyrone Petersen; special friends, Oliver Smithen, John French, Melvin Hanley, Mr. Leland Walcott, Janette Mafford, Monica Jacobs, Daphne Christian, Samuel Tyson, Patrick Williams, Pastor Carty, Grace, Christian, Adasa Edwards, Carmelita Roame, Members of the St. Johns Choir, and the Men’s Chorale; other precious relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be held on October 16 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI. Viewing will begin at 9 am with service at 10 am. Interment will follow at Kingshill Cemetery.
Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
In profound sorrow, the management and staff of Turnbull’s Funeral Home & Crematory Services announce the passing of Marion Roslin Brooks, 80, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, who entered eternal rest on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.
Marion Roslin Brooks
Marion is survived by her husband, Daniel (Donald), her children Nira (boom boom), Michael (Mickey) and daughter-in-law Ellen (El) , Her Grandchildren Avery Jr. (Terry), LaTricia (Trisha), Natoshia (Toshia), Sydney (syd) Amelia, and Charolette (Alex), her great-grandchildren, Shawn (Shawnee), LaNiece ( NeNe) and,Ciara (CiCi) Also, her remaining sisters, Evangeline, Edris, and Grace. Along with many Nieces andnephews, God children, and dear friends.
Viewing will be held Sunday, Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at Shiloh Seventh day Adventist church followed by 10:30 a.m. service. Internment Eastern Cemetery
Arrangements entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home & Crematory Services.
Carlton Dowe at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on Wednesday. (Screenshot from Zoom meeting)
The V.I. Port Authority held its third and final forum on St. Croix Wednesday night at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport to discuss the contentious proposal to raise marine fees.
Earlier public hearings on St. Thomas and St. John drew significant interest, with residents voicing strong objections to the proposed changes.
During the latest public gathering, officials from VIPA discussed ongoing infrastructure improvements across the territory, financial projections for the next fiscal year, and further details of the proposed increases in marine dockage fees. The session drew a mix of praise, concern, and calls for greater transparency from residents and business owners who rely on the ports for their livelihoods.
Some of the proposed fees include a $2 per passenger marine tariff for the Red Hook barge ramp, new fees for cargo staging, and a new parking fee at the Victor Sewer Marine Facility in Cruz Bay, among others. For a full list of the proposed increases, click here.
Executive Director Carlton Dowe opened by reaffirming that VIPA is an independent, self-sustaining government agency, not reliant on annual government appropriations.
“We are not part of the central government budget,” Dowe said. “The Port Authority operates based on the revenues it generates — from leases, user fees, and federal grants. That’s how we fund our operations, pay our employees, and maintain our facilities,” he said.
He explained that VIPA’s revenues are reinvested into maintenance, dredging, and expansion on St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, citing improvements at the Gallows Bay Marine Facility, Red Hook Transportation Center, and both airports.
“These projects are being paid for through bond financing and internal revenues,” he noted, referencing a 2014 bond. “If we don’t modernize, we fall behind. The industry is changing and ships are larger, passenger traffic is increasing, and we must keep up.”
Addressing questions about a projected $5 million revenue increase for the next fiscal year, Dowe said those numbers remain preliminary.
“Once the conclusion of those negotiations is completed, then we’ll reassess our operations and have a better outlook as to how our future would look,” Dowe explained.
Several attendees demanded greater transparency around how VIPA develops such projections.
Audience member and entrepreneur Jed JohnHope said, “The public is asking for more information. Projections help us in business — they help us plan.”
Dowe cautioned against reading too much into a debated $7 million profit figure.
“Remember, the reporting period that was referenced was through July,” he said. “We still have a few months to go. I don’t want anyone to believe it’s going to be $7 million and some of that is timing. Projects that were in design or delayed in construction meant certain expenditures didn’t yet happen.”
He reiterated VIPA’s openness to further stakeholder engagement. “We’ve been transparent,” Dowe said. “We show you exactly how and where our money comes from. Our offices are open if you want a deeper discussion, we’ll have it,” he said.
Another objection came from Mike Simpson, a marine operator in Frederiksted, who challenged the proposed 150% increase in dockage fees.
Mike Simpson, a marine operator in Frederiksted, challenged the proposed 150% increase in dockage fees. (Screenshot from Zoom meeting)
“The company I work for is family-owned and has supported the Frederiksted community for the past 10 years,” Simpson said. “This increase would add up to about $3,000 per month for our vessel. That kind of change could drive small operators away from Frederiksted,” he said.
He warned that sudden increases would not align with existing contracts and could have ripple effects on local commerce.
“Our cruise ship charter contracts are signed for two years,” Simpson said. “We can’t suddenly raise rates to cover the added hardship. This could hurt not just operators, but the restaurants, shops, and workers who rely on that business.”
Simpson also pointed to ongoing maintenance deficiencies at the Abramson Marine Facility, noting poor lighting, no public restrooms on non-cruise days, and insufficient bollards for moorings. He proposed a more moderate increase of $1.25 per foot for the 2025–2026 season, phased in incrementally to allow businesses time to adjust.
“This fee hike would put a knife into the very heart of those operations,” Simpson warned. “Frederiksted and its pier are unique, and the businesses there deliver a superior tourism product.”
Dowe responded that VIPA remains open to negotiation. He noted that several ferry operators to the British Virgin Islands had expressed willingness to support smaller increases.
“Three of the major operators we met with said they’d be willing to support a 50-cent increase,” Dowe said. “Your suggestion of $1.25 will certainly be taken into consideration. That’s the purpose of these meetings: to get real feedback before final decisions are made.”
He added that VIPA will address concerns at Frederiksted, including lighting and mooring infrastructure. “We appreciate your observations,” Dowe said. “I’ll look into the lighting and the bollards you mentioned. At the end of the day, I take full responsibility for what happens at the Port Authority. You can always reach out to me directly,” he said.
As the public feedback continued, Dowe reiterated that nothing has been finalized.
“This is not a done deal,” he said. “The reason we come to the public is to get real discourse. We want everyone to understand that any adjustment we make is tied to the cost of maintaining and improving the ports.”
Throughout the meeting, Dowe emphasized VIPA’s unified approach across all three islands.
“We are one Virgin Islands,” Dowe said. “When we improve one port, we improve them all. That’s what keeps this economy moving forward.”
St. Croix is ready to lead the Virgin Islands into a new era of clean, renewable energy. For decades, our dependence on imported fuel has left us vulnerable to high costs and unreliable service. The time has come to invest in our own energy independence—powered by the sun, the wind, and the strength of our people.
Omar B.U. Henry (Submitted photo)
The St. Croix 2026–2051 Economic Plan envisions a fully renewable island economy that creates local jobs, attracts green investment, and lowers energy costs for families and businesses. By developing community-owned solar projects, training residents in green technology, and modernizing our power grid, we can build a stronger, more resilient future.
Renewable energy is not just an environmental choice — it’s an economic opportunity. It’s a chance to keep more of our dollars circulating locally, to empower our youth with new skills, and to protect the natural beauty that defines who we are.
Let’s make St. Croix a model of sustainability for the Caribbean and the world. The future is bright if we choose to power it ourselves.
When Karl Knight stepped into the role of CEO at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, the utility was, in his words, “on the brink of insolvency.” Expenses were outpacing revenue by nearly $8 million a month, deferred maintenance was catching up, and public confidence was at an all-time low. A year later, Knight says the hole is narrowing — but the climb out is far from over.
“It’s better than when I first started,” he said during an interview with the Source for the kickoff of Public Power Week. “We’ve shrunk that monthly deficit from around $8 million to about a million and a half. We’re still operating in the red, but we’re rapidly working to close that deficit.”
Knight credits that progress to a series of tough fiscal and operational reforms — renegotiating diesel contracts, pursuing a lower-cost long-term propane supply, trimming payroll, and cutting expenses wherever possible. He confirmed that WAPA has also made strides in lowering its diesel costs and securing a temporary LPG agreement that’s less expensive than before. Procurement is underway for a new, permanent LPG supplier, which Knight hopes will “bring more favorable pricing and help really offset some of that expense.”
The deeper challenge isn’t just cutting costs — it’s structural. WAPA’s financial pressure comes largely from its deferred fuel balance, a running tab of fuel costs that have been paid but not recovered from customers through the fuel surcharge, or Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause. That balance ballooned as WAPA froze rate increases to spare residents from higher bills, despite global spikes in oil prices. “We’ve been spending more on fuel than we’ve been able to bring in,” Knight said, “but we didn’t want to raise rates and hurt people. There’s a balance between what’s affordable and what’s sustainable.”
That balance is now formalized in a settlement agreement with the Public Services Commission, holding the LEAC rate steady through June 2026 while WAPA and the PSC evaluate both its base rate and fuel surcharge structure. The Source previously reported that the PSC approved the settlement in August, with WAPA agreeing not to seek new fuel surcharges during the period — a decision that locks in revenue but limits flexibility if fuel prices rise again.
In the meantime, WAPA continues to rely heavily on federal capital funding to offset the cost of major infrastructure projects — but as Knight emphasized, “those funds can’t buy fuel or pay salaries.” Federal dollars can rebuild power plants and fund resiliency projects, but the authority’s day-to-day operations must still come from customer payments. “We are a public utility,” Knight said. “We’re accountable to the people of the Virgin Islands, but we also have to function like a business. Every dollar that pays for maintenance, fuel, or salaries comes from the bills we send out.”
WAPA currently budgets roughly $40 million annually for fuel, an amount that fluctuates depending on generation needs and global prices. Knight estimated the authority faces around $35 million in deferred maintenance — the cost of fixing aging units, restoring turbines, and addressing years of postponed repairs. “If you’re supposed to change the oil in your car every 5,000 miles, and you don’t do it until 15,000, eventually something breaks,” he said. “That’s what we’ve been dealing with for years.”
Still, there are signs of progress. Knight said that solar generation on St. Croix has already reduced operational costs, and with additional renewable projects coming online on St. Thomas next year, he expects efficiency to improve further. WAPA has also reduced what it pays for diesel deliveries and projects lower overall fuel costs once propane conversion on all Wärtsilä units stabilizes, he said.
Looking ahead, Knight believes 2026 will mark a turning point. “By the end of next year, we expect to be operating in the black,” he said. “That means we’ll finally be cash-flow positive — paying our vendors on time, catching up on our payables, and being able to pass at least a portion of the savings back to our customers who’ve been so patient.”
The optimism is tempered with realism. The authority still carries tens of millions in debt and must continue negotiating with the PSC to find a sustainable long-term rate structure. But Knight says the difference between now and a year ago is that the utility is no longer in free fall. “When I came in, we were in what the EY report called the ‘zone of insolvency,’” he said. “Now, we’re managing that risk. We’re cutting expenses, we’re seeing results, and we’re starting to rebuild trust.”
For residents still grappling with outages and billing frustrations, that trust may take longer to restore. But if the financial turnaround holds — and if WAPA can stabilize its revenue while reducing costs —solvency and stability could be around the corner, he added.
Virgin Islands Attorney General Gordon Rhea is pushing back against suggestions that his recent opinion affirming the validity of the Summer’s End Marina permit in Coral Bay was politically motivated, saying his conclusions were based strictly on law — not pressure from Government House.
In a public statement issued Thursday, Rhea called recent insinuations that his legal opinion had been influenced by outside forces “simply untrue.”
“I was asked by Government House to provide a legal opinion concerning the applicability of statutory deadlines to contingent coastal zone permits that require approval from the Federal Government,” Rhea said. “The resulting opinion was researched and drafted by an experienced attorney in DOJ’s Solicitor General’s Division, reviewed by the Solicitor General, and then reviewed by me before being issued and forwarded to Government House.”
Rhea emphasized that neither the governor nor his staff sought to influence the outcome. “At no time has anyone from Government House suggested or implied what my conclusions should be,” he said. “The law is the law, and my job is to state it clearly and correctly.” He added that Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. “has always respected my independence in this regard.”
The statement follows a week of scrutiny over Rhea’s opinion, which was first disclosed Monday by Government House Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. during a press briefing. According to Motta, the attorney general concluded that the five-year-old Major Coastal Zone Management permit for the Summer’s End Marina remains valid and has not expired.
“Specifically, he clarified that the 12-month commencement deadline outlined in Title 12 of the Virgin Islands Code, under subsection 910, does not begin until all federal approvals are secured,” Motta said Monday. “This interpretation provides certainty where there had been questions as of late, and it confirms that the Summer’s End permit has not lapsed. Nor has it expired.”
Motta said the opinion means the permit will remain active pending final clearances from agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, after which the developers can proceed with construction.
The opinion comes just months after a contentious Senate debate over the controversial project. In July, lawmakers voted 9–3 to reject a request from Gov. Bryan to ratify the same permit, which had been issued in 2019 and remained tied up in litigation and procedural challenges. Several senators argued that the governor’s proposal appeared to sidestep the Coastal Zone Management process, while others said the project’s lengthy delay had already invalidated its authorization.
During Monday’s briefing, Motta said the attorney general’s interpretation “reassures our community, our developers, and our federal partners that this project continues on a lawful and transparent path,” and that it “underscores our administration’s commitment to striking the right and appropriate balance between progress and preservation.”
Rhea’s statement on Thursday reinforced that distinction. While his analysis may clear a key legal hurdle for the Summer’s End developers, he said his role is to interpret the law — not weigh the political or environmental implications of the project.
“The Attorney General’s opinion that I have issued concerning the Summer’s End permit represents my office’s carefully considered legal analysis, and I stand by it,” Rhea said.
As federal reviews continue, the question of when — or whether — Summer’s End will break ground remains open. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has yet to issue its final permit, which would authorize work in the Coral Bay Harbor.
