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Police Investigate Fatal Shooting in Estate Tutu
Officers dispatched to Yellow Cedar Avenue in Estate Tutu, Saturday May 16, discovered an unresponsive male who sustained what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. This followed the Shot Spotter Detection system detecting gunshots around 11:32 p.m. Friday, May 15th in the area of Estate Tutu, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.
Emergency Medical Technicians responded to the scene and concluded the male did not have any vital signs. The victim’s next of kin identified him as 54-year-old Luciano A. Warrell Jr., the police report stated. His death marks the fifth homicide of the year on St. Thomas, and the 12th for the territory, according to the Source Homicide List.*
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the VIPD at 340-774-2211 or the Major Crimes Unit at 340-642-8449 via WhatsApp. Individuals can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or dial 911.
*The Source Homicide List is a chronological log of the homicides recorded in 2026 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.
Two Virgin Islands Cargo Ships Banned From San Juan
Two Virgin Islands cargo ships returned to Christiansted and Tortola Friday after being barred from San Juan for allegedly blocking a vital shipping lane.
The Water Spirit 2, operated by Water Spirit Freight Services VI, conducted regular sailings between St. Croix, Tortola, St. Thomas, and Puerto Rico — until May 1 when the U.S. Coast Guard cited the ship and another vessel for blocking San Antonio Channel within the San Juan Harbor.
“Until further notice, vessels Water Spirit 2 and Admiral Pride will not be cleared to re-enter San Juan Harbor unless they demonstrate to the Coast Guard their ability to moor in accordance with well-established industry standards without impacting the safe navigation of vessels within the harbor’s finite waterways,” according to a statement from the Coast Guard.
The two boats were improperly moored in the narrow channel, according to the Coast Guard. The 1.2-mile-long waterway is one of the busiest in the Eastern Caribbean despite being only 300-to-500-feet wide. Some of the world’s largest cruise ships regularly moor “just across” from where the Admiral Pride and the Water Spirit 2 had used the med-mooring technique while obstructing the navigable channel, the statement said.
It was not clear if the vessel owners had been fined, but they could have faced fines of up to $117,608 for each day of a continuing violation, according to the statement. It was not immediately clear if Water Spirit Freight Services VI also owned the Admiral Pride, which arrived in Road Harbour Friday.
“It is critical for commercial, military, and recreational traffic to have equitable and safe access to the federal navigable waterways in the bay. While urban development has displaced some cargo operations, facilities still exist to accommodate these vital supply vessels. Laying anchor in the channel and reducing its navigable capacity is unlawful, endangers navigation, affects the local economy and puts the safety of our maritime facilities and vessels at risk,” said Capt. Luis J. Rodríguez, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan.
The Water Spirit website has added a statement that they no longer offer shipping to and from San Juan. A person answering the phone at their office said they were not sure when it would be able to again.
The VI Port Authority issued a statement Friday recognizing the docking restriction would significantly impact cargo transportation services between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, adversely affecting residents and local businesses.
Water Spirit Freight Services VI had offered twice weekly sailings from the USVI to San Juan and once weekly from Tortola, shipping dry goods, produce, refrigerated material, vehicles, heavy equipment, furniture, large appliances, construction materials, and fragile items, according to the company’s website.
USVI Outdoor Recreation Website Invites Public to Help Shape Future Park, Trail, and Waterfront Projects
A new public engagement website is inviting residents and visitors to weigh in on the future of parks, trails, beaches, sports fields, and other outdoor recreation spaces across the U.S. Virgin Islands, as officials prepare a plan to guide improvements over the next decade.
The website is part of the 2026-2036 U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (TCORP), a federally required plan that will help guide outdoor recreation and conservation priorities across St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.
New Website Launches for Public Input
The public engagement site was launched by the Horsley Witten Group (HWG), an environmental consulting firm working with the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) and its Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas.
The site gives the public two ways to provide feedback: a public opinion survey and an interactive mapping tool.
“The online platform marks a key step in the public engagement process for the TCORP, providing tools for island residents and visitors to share how they use outdoor recreation and conservation areas,” according to a press release from HWG. “It features two separate surveys: a traditional public opinion survey for feedback on recreation habits, preferred amenities, and access to parks, trails, and waterfront spaces, and an interactive “Survey123” web map for location-specific input,” HWG said.
“The interactive map allows users to drop pins directly on a digital map of the U.S. Virgin Islands and leave comments tied to specific sites. Participants can highlight areas needing improvement or suggest new recreational amenities, offering a detailed and geographically specific form of public input.”
The Source contacted Craig Pereira, senior planner/project manager with the Horsley Witten Group, for additional details about the project. Pereira explained that his role includes coordinating with Kristina “Kitty” Edwards, director of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas as the project moves through inventory work, site assessments, and public engagement.
Pereira said the team has been developing an inventory of recreation sites that will be reviewed as part of the planning process. The work will include on-island site assessments, meetings with stakeholders, consultations with a technical advisory committee, and public workshops across the territory.
“Currently we’re working on developing our itinerary and schedule for those on-island site assessments as well as the public meetings across the three main islands of the USVI,” Pereira said.
Interactive Map
The “Survey123” mapping tool allows users to drop a pin on an existing or proposed recreation location and provide input tied to that specific place. The website also allows users to view a map inventory of outdoor recreation facilities in the territory, click on map points for more information, and upload photos for the project team to review.
“This phase of the project is about making it easy for residents and visitors to provide meaningful feedback on the territory’s outdoor recreation resources,” Pereira said in the press release announcing the website launch. “The interactive map, in particular, allows users to connect their input directly to specific parks, trails, sports fields, and waterfronts, helping ensure future investments will reflect how these spaces are actually used.”
Pereira told the Source that the interactive map gives the public a way to comment on existing sites, identify concerns, and point out locations that may not yet be formally recognized as recreation assets.
Through the mapping tool, users can also identify lesser-known outdoor spaces that they believe should be considered in the planning process.
Public Survey Looks at How Recreation Areas Are Used
The website also includes a separate Public Opinion Survey, which asks broader questions about how people use outdoor recreation facilities and open spaces in the territory.
“We want to know what individuals across the territory are happy with and what activities they are not happy with. For example, are people satisfied with amenities that are provided at a park, and are there issues like safety or security measures or better access to a park that would improve the use and enjoyment of an outdoor recreation facility? When we understand the needs of the public, we can start to develop a list of what’s working and what could be improved upon,” Pereira said.
The online survey is open to residents and visitors. Pereira said the project team is seeking input from anyone who uses outdoor recreation facilities and open spaces in the territory.
Edwards said in the press release that the surveys will help the project team better understand how outdoor recreation areas are currently used and where improvements may be needed.
“We are excited to have the public engagement phase of this project kicked off! The Public Opinion Survey will serve to better understand how residents and tourists utilize outdoor recreation – where they visit, what are the preferred amenities, and how they typically access parks, trails, and waterfront areas,” Edwards stated. “The Survey 123 web map will provide site-specific information regarding favorite destinations or the identification of areas that may be underserved and in need of outdoor recreational facilities.”
Public participation will continue beyond the online tools, with outreach efforts expected to include on-island meetings and coordination with local organizations.
Pereira said the project team will post information about upcoming workshops and meetings once the schedule is finalized.
“Once our on-island itinerary is confirmed, we’ll be posting our workshops and meetings, including when we’re going to be on island and where, so we want to make sure people are well aware of that in advance,” Pereira said.
Plan Will Guide Future Recreation Funding
The public input gathered through the website will help inform a plan that carries both local and federal importance for the territory’s outdoor recreation future, according to the HWG press release.
“The TCORP is a federally required plan that allows the U.S. Virgin Islands to remain eligible for Land and Water Conservation Fund support, administered by the National Park Service,” the HWG reported. “More than $2 million is expected to fund improvements to parks, recreational facilities, and public access across the territory, with the plan guiding how these funds are prioritized and invested over the next decade in coordination with DPNR and its Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas. The TCORP is expected to be completed by early 2027.”
Residents and visitors can access the project website, public opinion survey, and interactive maps at https://www.usvioutdoors.com/.
Virgin Islands Center for Autonomous Research showcases technology at Boating Expo
On Saturday, at the third annual Virgin Islands Boating Expo, held at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande Marina in St. Thomas, researchers from the University of the Virgin Islands showcased cutting-edge technology during a Virgin Islands Center for Autonomous Research demonstration.
At the VICAR outreach event, researchers from the University of the Virgin Islands’ Virgin Islands Reef Response and VICAR also showcased live coral, virtual reality headsets, and underwater robots to help residents, especially children, better understand what is happening beneath the surface of local waters.
Lauren Ollinger, a research assistant professor at UVI’s Center for Marine and Environmental Studies and head of VICAR, said the work builds on years of diver-based coral reef surveys.
“The history of the Center for Autonomous Research is we have for a long time been doing manual diver-based surveys of coral reefs, specifically. Here in the Virgin Islands, we have 34 sites that we monitor annually, so divers go out every year to the same sites. These systems are changing and dying faster than we can keep up with using these traditional ways of surveying them.”
She said advances in artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, sensors, and batteries are now reshaping how that work is done.
“With this explosion in artificial intelligence and this revolution in autonomous vehicles and sensors, even batteries, there’s really a lot of these kinds of devices coming online. We set out early on to see how we could use these kinds of technologies to incorporate them into this program, and it was a strategic approach to develop methods specifically for the monitoring program.”
Ollinger said the team is already using the robots on real missions.
“We are actually deploying these technologies out on the coral reefs, and we pre-program these missions so they run by themselves. They can behave intelligently, they have obstacle avoidance, and they collect images at a really efficient rate compared to humans. That’s one of the reasons we’re motivated to use them, because they help us collect higher-resolution data.”
Samuel Gittins Jr., a coral research fellow and professional science master’s student at the University of the Virgin Islands, said the technology is being developed to identify “diseases and other different stressors in the coral space” underwater.
Gittins also said the hands-on experience helps spark student interest in marine science and robotics.
“It really helps spark their excitement,” he said. “Honestly, in the world of science, I bet they didn’t know that something like this existed, that you could actually control it yourself.”
Ollinger said children quickly adapted to the robot controls. She added that VICAR works with many different groups within the Center for Marine Science at UVI.
Nicholas Durgadeen, coral restoration technician with the Virgin Islands Reef Response program at UVI, said the technology helps students better understand an underwater world many have never experienced firsthand.
“Technology just provides that extra avenue in which we can teach them and really get them to understand what it’s like to be in that world,” Durgadeen said. “For kids who may not have had the experience to be in the water or scuba dive before, they get to see what it’s like and decide if this is a path they want to go down in life.”
Durgadeen said the reef restoration work often runs alongside the autonomous research group at UVI, which takes a different approach to accomplishing the same goals.
“They have a lot of autonomous and remotely operated vehicles that they try to go out and survey and monitor coral reefs. Instead of what our lab does, where we’ll go down to these sites and assess them with manpower people actually there, this lab is trying a different approach using remotely operated vehicles or autonomous operating vehicles.”
Ollinger said VICAR is a core group within the university working to develop new technologies and apply them across multiple research labs.
“We are the VICAR Lab, so we are a core group of people working to develop these technologies and then plug them into different labs,” she said. “A big part of that is the data infrastructure that we’re building. Behind the scenes of all this snazzy robots is actually a lot of coding that we’re doing day to day, and the purpose of that is to make these approaches usable for our entire department, not only for our single project and our single lab, but to eventually be used for mangrove surveys or coral restoration.”
She said the hands-on learning component is also important for students.
“Learning these kinds of skills, learning about engineering, learning about how things work, how it looks versus how it functions. I think it’s important,” she said.
Win Secures Smith Spot in SEC Championships Saturday
VI Sports Ambassador Michelle Smith, a sophomore at the University of Georgia, delivered an outstanding performance in the 400m Hurdles at the SEC Championships, winning her heat in a time of 56.05 seconds.
With this victory, she has secured her place in the finals, set to take place on Saturday, May 16.
The Virgin Islands Track & Field Federation proudly congratulates Michelle on this achievement, recognizing her talent, dedication, and continued success as she represents the Virgin Islands on the collegiate stage.
Harold Ezekiel Brown Sr. Dies at 85
Harold “Harry” Ezekiel Brown, Sr. of Estate Prosperity, Frederiksted, transitioned into eternal peace on Friday, April 24, 2026, in Florida. He was 85 years old.
He is survived by his wife, Claudia Abramson Brown; sons, Harold Brown, Jr. and Howard Brown; adopted son, Governor Albert Bryan, Jr.; grandson, Harold “Tre” Brown III; brothers, Ken McIntosh, Dennis McIntosh, and Bertrand McIntosh; adopted brother, James Delroy Henry (Sax); sisters-in-law, Grace McIntosh, Dolores Abramson Iles, and Godelieve Abramson; nieces and nephews, Ericka McIntosh-Malcolm, Almitra McIntosh, Omega McIntosh-Abramson, Micah McIntosh, Chimwala McIntosh (Monifa), Charlene Abramson-Joseph, John Abramson, Jr., Shawn Abramson-Samuel, Rodelique Williams-Bradshaw, Jacqueline Abramson, and many other nieces and nephews; cousins and other relatives, Mark Milligan, Eddie Milligan, Rosie Sackey, Patsy Sackey-Dublin, Basil Williams, Valerie Lawrence and family, the Sackey family, McIntosh family, Williams family, Milligan family, Abramson family, Adams family, Crews family; special friends, Eustace Roach, Gizette Canegata-Thomas, Beverly Nesbitt, Cecil Williams, Aubrey Payne, Anita Nibbs, Keisha Allen, Edwardo Rivera, Edwin Encarnacion, Larry Francis, Curtis and Magnolia Williams, Anastasia Doward, Raymond and Ludvig Armstrong, Vertilie and Andre Daniel, Alfred Williams and family, Cristina and Carmen Nielsen, Annette Carrington, Gloria Joseph; as well as other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be held on May 27 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Viewing begins at 9 a.m., with service at 10 a.m. Interment will be held at Frederiksted Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
Pedro “Pete” Encarnacion Remembered for Lifetime of Service, Music, and Community Connection
Former Sen. Pedro “Pete” Encarnacion moved through public life in the Virgin Islands with a kind of ease that made him instantly familiar to people across St. Croix long before — and long after — he ever held elected office.
Whether he was standing behind a saxophone, walking through a government office, coaching on a baseball field, speaking with residents at a community event, or greeting someone in Frederiksted or Christiansted with his trademark smile, Encarnacion carried himself with a warmth that many friends and former colleagues say never changed, regardless of title or position.
Encarnacion died May 8, 2026, in Orlando, Florida, at the age of 66.
To some, he was the longtime firefighter who rose through the ranks of the Virgin Islands Fire Service to become director of the department. To others, he was the senator whose practical emergency services background shaped his work in the Legislature during the 26th Legislature from 2005 to 2007. Many also remembered him as the approachable St. Croix administrator under former Gov. John de Jongh Jr. — a role friends often said fit him naturally because he genuinely loved interacting with people.
But beyond the government titles, Encarnacion was also deeply rooted in music, mentorship, church life, sports, and family.
Born March 21, 1960, in Brooklyn to Ana Encarnacion, who preceded him in death, he moved to St. Croix as an infant and proudly identified as a Crucian and Virgin Islander throughout his life.
Music became one of the earliest and most enduring parts of his identity.
Inspired by uncles who performed with the band Five Notes, Encarnacion developed into an accomplished saxophonist whose performances became familiar across St. Croix and beyond. As a teenager, he performed with the St. Croix Majorettes and Marching Band before continuing with the St. Croix Central High School Band, Young Image Band, and later serving as leader of the Code 9 Band. In more recent years, he continued his musical journey with Speak the Word Ministries Worship Band.
Family members said music gave him opportunities to travel extensively throughout the Caribbean and the mainland United States, sharing both his talent and passion with audiences everywhere he went. But those closest to him said music was never simply about performance. It became one of the ways he connected with younger generations, mentoring students in music, instrumental development, discipline, and educational achievement.
Among his proudest accomplishments, relatives said, was helping nurture his son Khyle’s love for music and encouraging him as he developed his own talents.
That instinct toward mentorship and service carried directly into Encarnacion’s professional life.
He spent more than 20 years in the Virgin Islands Fire Service, beginning as a firefighter before steadily rising through the ranks as fire marshal, arson investigator, chief, and eventually director of the agency. During his tenure, former colleagues credited him with helping modernize departmental operations during a period of transition for the Fire Service while maintaining a strong focus on community involvement.
Programs involving young people became especially important to him, particularly the Junior Fire Fighters program, which family members described as one of the accomplishments he cherished most.
Retired Fire Service officials and colleagues have also remembered Encarnacion as someone who brought professionalism and structure into the department during his years of leadership. Former Fire Service personnel recalled his attention to detail as an investigator and his push to modernize operations, including helping transition aspects of the department into a more technology-driven era.
After retiring from the Fire Service in 2004, Encarnacion turned toward elective office, launching a successful campaign for the Legislature from the District of St. Croix.
Serving in the 26th Legislature from 2005 through 2007, Encarnacion chaired the Committee on Public Safety, Homeland Security and Justice during a time when emergency response, crime, and infrastructure concerns were major issues territory-wide. He also served as the Legislature’s liaison to the White House, reflecting the confidence colleagues placed in his judgment and professionalism.
During his time in office, Encarnacion became known for focusing heavily on public safety and infrastructure issues. Former colleagues later credited him with helping advance long-discussed projects, including improvements connected to Midland Road on St. Croix, while also bringing the perspective of a longtime first responder directly into legislative policymaking.
Still, friends say what often stood out most was not necessarily his politics, but his personality.
Encarnacion remained remarkably approachable throughout his years in office. Residents frequently encountered him at community events, youth activities, church gatherings, baseball games, and neighborhood functions, where conversations rarely felt formal or distant. People who knew him often described him as someone who seemed genuinely energized by interaction and conversation.
That quality became even more visible after former Gov. John de Jongh Jr. appointed him St. Croix administrator in 2007.
The role placed Encarnacion directly at the center of community life on St. Croix — helping oversee projects, attending meetings, responding to residents’ concerns, and serving as one of Government House’s most visible representatives on the island. Those who worked alongside him during that period often said the position suited him perfectly because it allowed him to do what came naturally: engage with people.
Whether handling constituent concerns, attending public functions, or simply moving through the community, Encarnacion carried the same familiar friendliness into Government House that people had long associated with him from the Fire Service, music scene, youth athletics, and church life.
He later continued his public service as assistant commissioner of the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, while remaining active in youth mentorship and athletics.
Baseball also remained a major part of his life. Encarnacion played for years in government leagues, coached Little League teams, and mentored young athletes through various programs on St. Croix. Much like music and public service, sports became another avenue through which he connected with younger Virgin Islanders and encouraged discipline, teamwork, and personal growth.
In recent years, his faith became an increasingly central part of his life through Speak the Word Ministries, where he continued performing with the worship band and remained active within the congregation and church community.
“Pete understood that public service was not a title, it was a commitment,” his family wrote in an obituary shared this week.
The obituary also described him as “a God-fearing, committed, family-oriented man who showed his love and humility without restriction.”
Encarnacion is survived by his wife, Janie Encarnacion, with whom he shared 34 years of marriage and nearly 48 years together after first meeting as high school sweethearts; daughter Kimberly Torres and son-in-law Wilfredo Torres; son Khyle Encarnacion and special friend Chadelle Lawrence; grandsons Kaylan and Kaysen Torres; sisters Catalina Ledesma and Juliette E. Canegata; brothers-in-law Raul Ledesma, Jamil Ali, Richard Pagan, Gary Miller and Miguel A. Pena; sisters-in-law Lydia Ali, Gladys Miller, Evelyn Pena and Elizabeth Pagan; mother-in-law Juanita V. Bermudez; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, church members, friends, and former colleagues throughout the Virgin Islands community.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Ana Encarnacion, as well as pastors Dexter and Dr. Terry Skepple of Speak the Word Ministries.
Funeral services are scheduled for May 22, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 1717 Old Boggy Creek Road in Kissimmee, Florida, followed by interment at Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Memorial donations, postcards, love gifts, or flowers may be sent to Janie Encarnacion at 5689 Merlin Way, St. Cloud, Florida, 34772, or through Zelle at jencarn@gmail.com
Messages of Pride, Perseverance Highlight UVI’s 62nd Commencement on St. Croix
The University of the Virgin Islands continued celebrating nearly 300 graduates Friday during the 62nd commencement ceremony for the Albert A. Sheen Campus at Island Center for the Performing Arts on St. Croix, where messages of perseverance, cultural pride, community service and resilience echoed throughout the celebration.
The ceremony followed Thursday’s commencement exercises on St. Thomas.
From reflections on hidden growth and generational achievement to reminders to “pour back” into the Virgin Islands community, speakers challenged the “ambitious, courageous and empowered” Class of 2026 to use their education to uplift the territory and shape its future.
UVI President Safiya George said the university has celebrated more than 11,000 graduates since its founding in 1962, with this year’s graduating class adding nearly 300 more alumni to that legacy.
George also recognized students graduating with 4.0 grade-point averages, along with summa cum laude and magna cum laude honorees, and others in the class, referring to them as “unicorns” for their exceptional academic achievements.
The ceremony also marked a milestone for UVI’s School of Agriculture, as the university celebrated only its second graduating class from the program.
“UVI has celebrated over 11,000 graduates and degrees since 1962. Yesterday and today, 300 of you, nearly, will be adding to the already 4,424 business leaders who earned degrees from UVI,” George said. “You’ll be adding 26 to the 2,100 educators who got their degree from UVI, adding 63 to the nearly 2,000 liberal arts and social science degrees, including five masters in social work, three masters in public administration, and three masters in psychology.”
She continued by highlighting the university’s contributions to science, healthcare and agriculture.
“You’ll also be adding 74 to the 1,700 science and math degrees, including 15 masters in marine and environmental sciences, and 26 of the healing bliss class of 2026 will add to the nearly 1,000 nurses that UVI has already produced,” George said. “And adding five to the 11 agriculture professionals.”
George also celebrated the university’s growing doctoral programs, noting that 14 new Ph.D. graduates joined the ranks of more than 31 UVI alumni with doctoral degrees.
The ceremony also included special recognition for Adam O’Neal and Rena Brodhurst, both of whom received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.
Brodhurst was recognized for her longstanding contributions to journalism and the community as publisher and editor of the St. Croix Avis, the longest continuously published newspaper in the history of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Adam O’Neal, affectionately known throughout the territory as “Adam O.,” was honored for helping elevate Virgin Islands music and culture on the global stage through his work as an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur and cultural ambassador.
Referring to himself jokingly as “Dr. O.,” Adam O. delivered emotional remarks about kindness, community and the people who shaped his life growing up on St. Croix.
“There’s an icon … I feel never got his flowers, and today I want to honor that icon,” he said before describing the beloved “fraco man,” who would serve icy treats to children throughout the community.
“This man, to me, was an icon from since I was a child,” Adam O. said. “Each of you graduates here today, you have something that the fraco man showed me. You have a light. You have the ability to make somebody go from bad to good, and all it takes is a moment of kindness.”
Near the conclusion of his remarks, Adam O. reflected on the people who supported him throughout his upbringing.
“I seen faces in this crowd that raised me. I see people in this crowd that gave me a ride when I walked on the side of the road,” he said. “And I want to say that I am proud to stand in front of you as Dr. Adam Lamar O’Neal, a.k.a. Adam O.”
Graduate speaker SaVaughna John-Baptiste delivered an inspirational address focused on perseverance, comparing personal growth to the unseen development that occurs beneath the soil.
“Through horticulture, I learned something from the land itself,” John-Baptiste said. “Growth is not always visible. A seed underground can look like nothing. A field can look empty before it becomes abundant.”
She encouraged graduates not to become discouraged during difficult or uncertain seasons in life.
“So to anyone who ever felt like their progress was too slow, do not confuse hidden growth with no growth,” she said. “Some roots deepen before anything blooms. And today, we bloomed.”
Delegate Stacey Plaskett also addressed graduates, reminding them that earning a degree represents an opportunity rather than a final destination.
“Today, we celebrate a milestone for the graduates who did not merely reach it, they earned it,” Plaskett said.
“I want to begin with a simple truth. The world does not reward you for having a degree. It hands you an opportunity,” she continued. “What you do with that opportunity is entirely up to you.”
Plaskett acknowledged the sacrifices many students and families made to reach graduation day.
“Some of you here today were the first in your family to earn a college degree. Some of you had the weight of a family who required it,” she said. “What you have accomplished is not just personal. It’s for generations. You have changed the trajectory of your family’s story forever, and no one can take that away from you.”
Calling a degree “a departure point,” Plaskett encouraged graduates to embrace their identities and heritage proudly.
“You have heard that you were graduating from the only historically Black college and university in the Caribbean. That as well carries weight,” she said. “Because in a time and place where being Black in this country is a target, is an attempted erasure, being Black is important. Being fully Black is necessary.”
“And as Caribbean people, we know no one can take from us what we will not give,” Plaskett added. “And so you have a special requirement in this time.”
Milton Potter, president of the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, encouraged graduates to remain connected to the Virgin Islands and use their talents to strengthen their communities.
“Waste nothing. Not your talent, not your time, not your connection to this place and these people,” Potter said. “The Virgin Islands did not produce you so that you could disappear into mediocrity.”
“These islands, this water, this sun, this culture, this community poured itself into you,” he continued. “Now pour it back.”
Lieutenant Gov. Tregenza A. Roach praised the accomplishments of the graduating class and encouraged students to honor those who paved the way for them.
“I am proud of your accomplishments and proud of the faculty that has instilled in you this desire, this wish to learn, to become and to build your communities,” Roach said.
“Because this place, which we have inherited and which we will leave, will depend on you to make good choices for it,” he said. “And I want you to consider the people who have gone before you, who have paved the way for you to be here.”
“When you make these choices for the Virgin Islands, and when you help it become to its full potential,” Roach added.
He also took the opportunity to emphasize that UVI’s free tuition program is here to stay.
“It will not go away. We have to find a way to make it live,” Roach said, noting that the initiative has contributed to a 67% increase in enrollment in the territory’s public schools.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. encouraged graduates to pursue their passions fearlessly and remain resilient despite challenges.
“What matters is how hard you put your heart into what you do,” Bryan said. “This is the most passionate generation we have ever had.”
“Be passionate about something,” he continued. “Figure out what it is you want to do, dance to your own music, be different, excel.”
Bryan reminded graduates that obstacles are inevitable but said the determination that brought them to graduation would carry them even further.
“It’s gonna be harder. That’s just how life is,” he said. “But you had the grit to make it this far. You could make it further.”
Also present for the ceremony were senators, government officials and other dignitaries from across the Virgin Islands community.
UVI Celebrates 62nd Commencement Ceremony on St. Thomas
Hundreds of candidates for college graduation donned caps and gowns to celebrate one of the great milestones of their lives on Thursday as the University of the Virgin Islands held their 62nd annual Commencement Ceremony. Thursday’s ceremony was the first of two graduation events held this week.
Candidates for associates, bachelors, and graduate degrees took their seats in the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center shortly after 1 p.m. They were welcomed by UVI President Safiyah George and Board of Trustees Chairman Henry Smock.
”I am extremely proud of the entire ambitious Class of 2026,” the president said. “The nearly 300 graduates in the Class of 2026 will be adding to the over 11,000 graduates from the College of the Virgin Islands and the University of the Virgin Islands over the past 64 years since our founding in 1962 as the territory’s only institution of higher education,” George said.
Joining the president on stage were members of her administration, Lieutenant Gov. Tregenza Roach, Senate President Milton Potter and Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett. They were joined by Class Speaker Zeidan Bass and Keynote Speaker Adam O’Neal.
Chairman Smock led the line of dignitaries handing out diplomas to students who completed their studies and qualified for graduation.
In her remarks, George pointed out the degrees earned by five students completing studies as Education Specialists in School Psychology – degrees being awarded for the first time in 10 years. The Class of 2026 also included students completing studies in the School of Agriculture and others from the Executive Masters in Business Administration.
Also singled out for recognition were students graduating with top grade point averages, student athletes and leaders of the UVI Student Government Association.
“UVI’s Class of 2026 is full of unicorns and scholars,” the president said.
Bass, the class speaker, once served as student government president. He is also one of UVI’s international student hailing from St. Kitts. He addressed his classmates with a mix of humor and relief.
“Today is more than just a ceremony. It is a celebration of years of sacrifice, determination, and surviving on little sleep and pure faith during finals week,” he said. “Each of us sit here at this graduation ceremony with different backgrounds, different struggles, different dreams; but today all of those journeys meet with one shared accomplishment — we made it,” Bass said.
It was also a day to celebrate the recognition of a popular local entertainer, entrepreneur and military combat veteran. St. Croix Soca Artist Adam O’Neal – known as Adam O – received a Doctorate of Humane Letters for valor, creativity and global reach as a Virgin Islands cultural ambassador.
“It’s an honor to be here with you and I want to debunk one thing; one thing that keeps circulating in our community, and that thing is this: the Virgin Islands does support our own. The Virgin Islands supports our own in ways that the rest of the world can’t understand.
‘And I’m standing here right now as an embodiment of my community supporting me and making me go all around the world with a flag I am most proud of,” O’Neal said.
Commencement celebrations wrapped up on Friday at the Albert Sheen Campus on St. Croix presenting degrees to students there. The keynote speaker for the day was Rena Brodhurst, longtime publisher and editor of the St. Croix Avis.
