The Virgin Islands Lottery informs the public that drawing 1054, slated for Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, is now rescheduled for Friday, Sept. 12, due to technical difficulties.
Throw Out Day has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 10, and this will give our dealers the opportunity to make more purchases.
The VI Lottery thanks its dealers, customers and the community for its patience and understanding.
With deep sadness but unwavering faith, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved matriarch, Annie Louise Bennett – affectionately known as Beryl Bennett or Mother Bennett – aged 97 on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 at her home in Estate St. George.
She was surrounded by her loving family and special friends.
Beryl is survived by her only child, Geraldine Jenkins-Simon; her only granddaughter, Dr. Barbara Armstrong-Flemming; her three great-grandchildren – Angelique, Eleyce, and DeMetri Flemming; son in law, Charles Simon; grand son in law, Dr. Paul Flemming; her sister, Lucy Bennett-Brathwaite and family in the Villa and Yorks Areas in Antigua; her brother Sylvester Bennett known as ‘Black-Sam’ from New Winthorpes; Special friends and Spiritual leaders – Pastor Anthony Benjamin and family and Pastor David Archibald and Family of Calvary Baptist Church of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands; Cousin, Vincent Samuel and family of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; cousin, Dr. Valerie Combie and family from Cedar Grove, Antigua; cousin Mary Waithe in Barbados; cousin, Ruth Ambrose and family in Antigua and Florida; nieces, Francina Bennett and family and Claudette Bennett and family of St. Croix and USA; nephew, Tony Bennett and sisters in Antigua; The Bennett and Ambrose families in Cedar Grove, Clare Hall, and New Winthorpes in Antigua; adopted daughters, Mrs. Margaret Tweed-Joseph and Mrs. Angela Belardo-Riveira of St.Croix; close friends, Pastor Cecil and Mrs. Naomi Coker of St. Croix; Bernadine Lloyd and Ricky Joseph of St. Thomas; Lenny Josiah and family of Old Road, Antigua; Virginia Henry, Michelle Joseph and family of Villa Area, Antigua; Mrs. Audrey Scotland and Mrs. Joan Goodwin of Antigua; and Angelita Mitchell of Brookly, New York.
Beryl also left to mourn numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends in Antigua, Barbados, the United States Virgin Islands, the United States of America, and England.
Beryl raised several children as her own to include Jermaine Browne and Sherriffa Dublin in Antigua. She is preceded in death by her parents, James Bennett known as Neddy; and Irene Bloodman of Cedar Grove, Antigua and by a few of her brothers and sisters.
A home-going service will be held at the Calvary Baptist Church, 90A Upper Love, Frederiksted, St. Croix on Friday, September 19, 2025. Viewing begins at 9 am with a ‘Celebration of Life’ service at 10 am. Burial will take place at the Kingshill Cemetery.
Beryl will be missed by her family and friends. May her soul rests peacefully in the loving arms of Jesus Christ. Her family appreciates your thoughts and prayers during this time.
“Well done, good and faithful servant”. Matt. 25:23
9:15 a.m.
No injuries have been reported as firefighters and other emergency personnel work to fully extinguish Wednesday morning’s blaze at the Blackbeard’s Castle Apartments in downtown St. Thomas. According to Assistant Fire Services Director Clarence Stephenson, as of 9 a.m., the fire has been contained, but crews are still working on hot spots.
This story will continue to be updated.
6:45 a.m.
Firefighters and police were on the scene of a blaze that broke out at an apartment complex across from Blackbeard’s Castle early Wednesday morning on St. Thomas.
Nobody was inside the apartment when a man called 911 around 5:16 a.m. to report a fire that was spreading to other units, according to V.I. Police Public Information Officer Glen Dratte, who said emergency officials also received calls from neighboring residents.
V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Services remains on the scene and the case is still active, Dratte said just after 6:30 a.m.
The long-discussed resort at Botany Bay on St. Thomas has taken another step forward after FirstBank announced a $13 million financing deal with By-the-Sea Resort Properties earlier this month.
The agreement, backed by the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative in partnership with the V.I. Economic Development Authority, is intended to help advance construction of a $25 million eco-luxury project called The Botany, slated to open in Spring 2026.
The 365-acre property on the island’s far west end has been tied to resort plans for decades. Once home to a sugar estate and later marketed for residential development, the site has changed hands and concepts multiple times. A residential community was partially developed, but hotel plans — including a proposal for Ritz-Carlton Residences — never reached completion.
In June 2020, the V.I. Economic Development Authority approved Economic Development Commission benefits for Botany Bay developers, including 90% reductions on corporate and income taxes, exemptions on gross receipts and excise taxes, and customs duty breaks on imported goods. In return, the company pledged to hire at least 35 full-time employees and donate $50,000 annually to local charitable causes. Within months, however, the pandemic shuttered tourism and construction projects across the territory. By November, the EDA issued waivers of those requirements, citing the collapse of travel and economic activity. Botany Bay was among the beneficiaries.
After several quiet years, the project resurfaced in 2025 with a redesigned vision. In July, the EDA board approved a new plan that emphasizes sustainability: solar-powered villas, communal amenities built into the hillside, and an operating model centered on renewable energy. Dallas-based Practice Hospitality, a boutique operator known for design-focused properties, signed on to manage the resort.
According to the EDA’s July decision summary, the company committed to employing 45 full-time staff, maintaining a minimum payroll of $1.5 million annually, and contributing $75,000 each year to community programs. The updated agreement also requires the developer to offer at least $20,000 annually in scholarships and $10,000 in sponsorships, along with partnerships to provide internships and job training opportunities.
Officials describe the project as a model for sustainable tourism. VIEDA CEO Wayne Biggs Jr. called the financing “a commitment to meaningful partnerships that drive long-term growth, honor the natural heritage of our islands, and create lasting opportunities for our people.”
But the project also raises familiar concerns. Large-scale resort developments in the Virgin Islands have often been criticized for failing to deliver on jobs and community benefits, or for limiting public access to sensitive coastal areas. Botany Bay’s secluded beaches and historic ruins have long been part of that debate. Supporters of the new plan say the financing signals a serious commitment; skeptics note that only completion will answer whether this iteration delivers on promises made over the years.
With financing now in place and a projected opening in 2026, The Botany marks the furthest the Botany Bay resort project has advanced in decades.
In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.
Leadership is not for the fragile. It will expose you, exhaust you, and test your character in ways titles cannot protect you from. And if you are not emotionally mature, you will eventually use the weight of leadership as a weapon instead of a responsibility. That is why emotional intelligence is not optional for leaders — it is foundational.
When I say leadership, I am not just talking about corporate or political spaces. I am talking about the pastor. The father. The coach. The big brother. The community voice. The neighborhood anchor. The boss and the business owner. I am talking about the kind of leadership that has nothing to do with salary but everything to do with influence. If people look to you for direction, support, or protection, you wear the collar — whether you admit it or not.
And that collar has weight.
A lot of people want the mic. They want the title, the applause, the recognition. But they do not want the accountability that comes with it. They do not want to examine how their unresolved issues spill out onto the people they lead. They do not want to admit how ego can dress itself up as excellence. But here is the truth: if your emotional world is out of control, your leadership will eventually mirror that chaos.
I have learned that people do not just respond to your vision — they respond to your presence. They respond to how you carry stress, how you navigate conflict, how you apologize, how you listen, how you admit when you are wrong. And they remember how you made them feel more than they remember your big idea. That is the part of leadership nobody puts in the brochure.
The dangerous thing is that many leaders think that because they are in control of the outcomes, they are in control of the impact. But that is not always true. A leader can be hitting numbers, closing deals, delivering sermons, and still be hurting people with their tone, their temper, or their silence. This is why emotional intelligence is grown folks’ work. Because it demands that you do not just know your stuff — you know yourself. You do not just manage the room — you manage your reactions inside the room.
Leadership without emotional intelligence becomes performance. It becomes about what you can produce, not who you are becoming. But leadership with emotional intelligence? That is where impact lives. That is where legacy is built. That is when people start following you, not because they have to, but because they trust what flows from your life.
There are things you can only see clearly when you are in the lead. When you are at the front, people do not always tell you the full truth. They tiptoe. They flatter. They hesitate. So you have to be the kind of leader who creates safety, not fear. That means watching how you respond when someone gives you feedback. It means owning your energy. It means taking inventory of the room and not pretending things are fine when you know the atmosphere is heavy. Emotional intelligence will have you asking, “What did I miss? What part of this do I need to own?” And accountability will have you doing something about it.
I have been the leader who was too tired to deal with people’s needs. I have been the one who thought the goal mattered more than the people on the team. I have pushed through burnout, ignored signs, and spiritualized my stress. And every time, God had to sit me down and remind me that leadership is not about me. It is not about how much I can endure in silence. It is not about how well I can mask my mood. It is about how intentionally I create space for others to grow, thrive, and succeed—especially when I am under pressure.
You do not have to be perfect to lead well. But you do have to be accountable. You have to be willing to pause before you speak. You have to be open to growing in areas that nobody else sees but everyone else feels. You have to let people know that their value is not tied to their output. You have to be emotionally steady enough not to transfer your frustration onto your team. That is what wearing the collar means. Not just showing up — it means showing up with care, clarity, and consistency.
So to every leader reading this — check your weight. Not your status, not your calendar, not your numbers. Check the weight of your emotional habits. Check your tone. Check how people feel after leaving a meeting with you. Check whether you are building a culture or just managing a task list. Leadership will always require vision, but great leadership also requires vulnerability, humility, and self-regulation. Because people can feel when you are leading from a wound, and they can tell when you are leading with wisdom.
If they cannot trust your tone, they will not follow your vision.
And if you are not willing to be accountable for your emotional impact, you are not ready for the collar.
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.
Young athletes on St. Croix will get the chance to learn the game of golf from the pros this weekend, thanks to a partnership between the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, the LPGA/USGA, and the Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort.
A free Junior Golf Clinic will take place on this Saturday, Sept. 13, from 3 to 5 p.m., with professional instruction led by USVI-based golf pro Kenneth Peets. The program is open to youth ages 6–18 and aims to introduce the sport in a way that is both fun and accessible.
Participants can look forward to a mix of activities designed to sharpen their skills and spark excitement for the game, from the “Hit the Hippo” full-swing challenge to Tic-Tac-Toe duck chipping, mini-golf putting, and even creative crafts. Each child will also receive a gift bag, and LPGA media will be on hand to cover the event.
Officials say the clinic is part of Tourism’s commitment to expanding sports and entertainment opportunities across the territory while fostering inter-island connections. “This clinic is about more than golf — it’s about creating pathways for young people to try something new in a supportive environment,” organizers said.
Advance registration is available online, while in-person sign-ups are being accepted at the Department of Tourism offices in Frederiksted and Christiansted.
There’s a good chance you have a glamour shot of a cat or dog on your mobile phone. If it isn’t yours, Aunt Taminella has surely sent you countless photos of Sweetums sleeping or swimming or staring down an iguana. Or maybe Sweetums is an iguana and your dear aunty has convinced herself it’s adorable, and simply won’t stop sending pictures of its scaly, weirdly-iridescent green scowl.
Either way, good news! The Humane Society of St. Thomas is considering your pet photo for their 2026 Pets in America’s Paradise Calendar — or will consider it once you send it in.
Your cat or dog or fish or, yes, even that iguana, could land on a page of the Humane Society calendar that helps raise funds for the territory’s needy animals. Send your photo, a short essay on how your pet has enriched your life, and $10 to the Humane Society (at this link) before noon Oct. 15 for a chance to win one of 12 coveted spots.
But wait, there’s more. Virgin Islanders are also invited to judge the competition. At $1 a vote, you can cast as many ballots as you like for aunty’s creepy lizard to be Ms. February, the shortest month. But Aunt Taminella can’t be in the photo, looker that she is. The photos must be of pets only. No people.
Dellia Holodenschi, the former Humane Society of St. Thomas president, has entered her dogs in previous years and even her pet rabbit. This year, she’s considering her French hen. While it’s good fun to celebrate the territory’s pets, keeping them healthy is a community effort, she said.
With Virgin Islanders’ generosity, Humane Society is able to provide spay and neuter services vital to controlling stray animal populations. More than that, the society also houses many animals until they can find homes.
“We were built to house 70 cats and 40 dogs, and on any given day you have double that number here,” Holodenschi said. “If you find a kitten on the road, you’ve got to take it into your home and foster it because we have nowhere to put it. We can help you.”
Some of that help comes in the form of wellness clinics that cover much of a pet’s basic preventive medical care, she said. Without such free or reduced-cost clinics, pet ownership would be unaffordable for many Virgin Islanders and could lead to the stray animal problem afflicting much of the Caribbean, she said.
“If you don’t have a strong organization to take care of that, it’s like what Gandhi said: ‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated,’” she said.
Hear that, Sweetums? You’re cherished. And even if Sweetums doesn’t make the darling dozen, its lipless grin will be featured on a collage page of all entries.
“If you consider that iguana a pet, then that’s fine,” Holodenschi said. “Once you put that $10 in, that guarantees you not only a calendar but it’s going to be featured in the calendar on the collage page.”
The prizes don’t stop with the pinup calendar either. The grand prize will get the cover photo as well as a month inside, a two-night stay at Emerald Beach Resort, presumably with the pet’s owners, and an exclusive photo shoot with Don Herbert Photography.
The 12 first prize winners will have their photo on one of the 12 months two complimentary copies of “Pets in America’s Paradise” 2026 Limited Edition Calendar.
Additional sponsorship comes from Sponsors Bellows International and Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
As of Sept. 9, the competition was still within barking distance of new entrants. The sideways grin of Babyface – THE HD wonder dog was way out front with $600 raised, followed by a twosome of Ryley and Lola with $220 raised across seven individual donors.
“One dollar equals one vote and it’s all for the animals,” Holodenschi said.
University of the Virgin Islands women’s basketball Head Coach Stephanie Cooper outlined ambitious plans for the upcoming season during a Tuesday interview on 90.9 FM’s “Girls With Balls” with host Carol Howell.
After what she calls an “amazing growth season” in her debut year, Cooper celebrates the team’s progress toward making a name for the UVI Lady Buccaneers. “The win-loss record didn’t speak to the respect that the ladies earned,” Cooper said during the radio interview. “It’s not an automatic win anymore – teams have to scout UVI.”
Now in her second year, Cooper has constructed what she believes is a more competitive roster, featuring only one true freshman and seven transfers. “It’s only up from here,” Cooper said of the program’s trajectory.
The program has secured significant recruiting wins, including USVI national team forward Keshara Romain and St. John native Diara Parsons alongside Ashlynn Lemos, Khaelii Robertson-Mack, Aspyn Roberson, Atalia Thomas, and Natalie Williams.
Cooper noted that five transfers came from junior colleges, attracted by the opportunity to complete their four-year degrees while competing in NAIA basketball.
Forwards Lameez Khan, Kashay Bass, and Sydney Taylor and St. Thomian Guard Ariana Renault will be returning.
Graduate assistant Aliyah-Deen Ahmad enhances the lineup, bringing expertise as a decorated Sun Conference champion and professional competitor.
The roster experience has allowed Cooper to adjust her coaching approach significantly. “We’re going the pro route,” she explained. “They have the experience and IQ to where I don’t have to teach the basics anymore.”
Cooper emphasized that her philosophy has shifted toward letting the team lead themselves, a luxury afforded by the veteran presence on this year’s squad.
Cooper has branded this season with the theme “Road to Tuscaloosa, AL,” referencing the site of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championships. Acknowledging the program’s strengthened position entering conference play, Cooper said all preparation is focused on competing with the league’s top teams.
“In March we’ll be talking about what size rings we wear,” Cooper declared during the interview. “We’re bringing a ring to the rock!”
Cooper reflected on her personal growth since arriving in the Virgin Islands, describing it as integral to her coaching development. “For me, my biggest growth was embracing the culture and tying that in with basketball,” she said.
The cultural connection extends to team messaging, including the motto #j’ouverthoops. Cooper joked, “If you can get up at 4 a.m. for J’ouvert, you better come to practice with that same energy!”
Cooper described the current team culture as defined by grit, emphasizing the characteristic as emblematic of the program’s new identity. She also emphasized the importance of community support during the radio interview, stating, “We just need you guys’ support; come to the games. Your energy behind us makes the difference.” Games will be available via HBCU League Pass for remote viewing.
Key events for the upcoming season include the Sept. 19 Buccaneer Meet and Greet, Women’s Basketball Media Day on Sept. 20-21, and Buccaneer Madness on Oct. 3.
Ahmad is expected to provide additional perspective on the season during her scheduled appearance on 90.9FM at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Follow the Lady Buccaneers on Instagram @uvi_athletics, Facebook at The University of the Virgin Islands Athletics, and Coach Cooper @coachscooper23 for season updates.
Haydee Virginia Pichardo, aka “Ida”, mother, Norberta Almestica, and father, Jose Nazario, passed away Aug. 24, 2025. She was 78 years old.
Loved Ones: Spouse, Salomon Laurencin; daughters, Annette Christensen, Amada Rosario, Haydee Pichardo, Miguelina Tucker, Natacha Butler, Dana Harrington; sons, Francisco Nazario, Ramon Pichardo, Mario Pichardo, Micheal Pichardo, Moses Pichardo; grandchildren, Ramon Pichardo Jr., Marisha Stubbs, D’atrice Stubbs, Shanoy Nazario, Montario Nazario, Jacob Finkley, Don Edwards, Patrick Wheeler, Carlton Butler Jr., Brandon Spencer, Shavonne Holland, Vhyn Pichardo, Mihya Pichardo, Sohley Pichardo, Nicolas Pichardo, Anthony Pichardo, Caleb Nazario, Brienzo Nazario, Cameron Walker.
Funeral service will be held Sept. 16 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the service will start at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Frederiksted Cemetery.
Professional services entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
The Virgin Islands Port Authority is excited to announce the inaugural arrival of Royal Caribbean International’s newest and most innovative ship, the Star of the Seas. The vessel will berth at the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal in Crown Bay, St. Thomas, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. and depart at 8 p.m.
This visit marks the first time Star of the Seas, the latest vessel in Royal Caribbean’s ICON-class cruise ships, will call on the US Virgin Islands — offering a new wave of opportunity for the territory’s cruise tourism sector.
“We’re delighted to welcome the magnificent Star of the Seas to our shores,” said Carlton Dowe, executive director of VIPA. “Royal Caribbean has been an invaluable partner to the territory. This visit by their newest ship, which represents the future of cruising, truly reflects Royal’s confidence in the USVI as a premier cruise destination.”
Officials from Royal Caribbean International, along with representatives from the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, the Port Authority, and other government and private sector representatives, will participate in a traditional plaque and key exchange ceremony on board the ship to commemorate the occasion. Live entertainment and cultural performances will greet guests and crew as they arrive on the island.
The Star of the Seas is the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s ICON-class. It measures 1,196.9 feet in length and weighs 250,800 gross tons. This ship is the same size as its sister ship, the Icon of the Seas, and both are recognized as the world’s largest cruise ships. It can accommodate 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity and 2,350 crew members. The vessel features eight unique neighborhoods and the largest waterpark at sea, including six record-setting waterslides. It also incorporates advanced sustainability efforts, such as LNG propulsion, shore power connectivity, and sophisticated waste management systems.
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