Extreme heat summit explores trends, health impacts and workplace safety factors. (Photo courtesy NWS, San Juan, Puerto Rico)
As the Eastern Caribbean approaches its season of sweltering heat, the University of the Virgin Islands Green Technology Center is planning to host a summit on extreme heat. Researchers are expected to share their latest findings on links between extreme heat and climate change.
Government planning and health officials, along with a coalition of stakeholders, are working to help the region adapt to a changing climate. Green Technology Center Director Greg Guannel described the summit’s goals: “the purpose of the meeting in the heat summit is to discuss, to understand what’s happening, to understand (sic) why it’s happening, how it manifests itself and solutions … in our home, in our business, but also for us when we go outside,” Guannel said.
Organizers say they also hope to hear from experts at the National Weather Service about factors contributing to extreme heat. Health experts are expected to share their latest findings on how elevated temperatures impact human health; representatives from the UVI Safety in Paradise program will be on hand to help employers learn how to protect their outdoor crews.
So far, in 2025, the Virgin Islands has enjoyed seasonally warm weather with one exception — on June 25, when the daily high reached 93 degrees. But higher temperatures are expected from July to October.
Forecasts published by Almanac.com for parts of the Atlantic, including the Caribbean, predict there will be some “hot” days between mid-July and August where daily high temperatures reach 90 degrees. When combined with high humidity, a factor called the “feels like” temperature could reach up to 100 degrees.
“It’s getting warmer and warmer. And our summers are getting hotter and hotter. A lot of the temperature that we are experiencing in the territory is linked to the sea surface temperature. And as sea surface temperatures continue to rise, our experience on land is going to be hotter and hotter,” Guannel said.
Those seeking further information about Heat Summit 2025 are urged to contact the UVI Green Technology Center at CGTC@UVI.edu or by calling 340-693-1158.
Committee on Ethical Conduct of the 36th Legislature announces that, in accordance with the Rules of the Legislature, Senator At-large Angel Bolques, Jr. has formally filed a response through his legal representative to the Statement of Violations issued by the Committee on June 17, 2025.
Pursuant to legislative procedures and in line with due process, a formal hearing will be scheduled by the Committee to consider the matters raised in the Statement of Violations and the respondent’s reply. The hearing, which will be held later this month, will provide an opportunity for all relevant evidence and testimony to be presented and reviewed.
Following the conclusion of the hearing, the Committee will deliberate and prepare its final recommendations, which will then be forwarded to the full body of the Legislature for final action as required under the Rules of theLegislature.
The Committee remains committed to a fair, transparent, and impartial process, and will continue to uphold the ethical standards expected of all members of the Legislature.
With deep regret, the family of Raphael A. Wilson, 70, announces his unexpected passing on May 9, 2025. He was better known in the Old Tutu community of St. Thomas as “Ching the Mechanic”.
Raphael A. Wilson
He was preceded in death by his parents: James W. Wilson and Gladys C. [Bradshaw] Wilson; and siblings: Jacquelyn V. Wilson and St. Clair A. Bradshaw.
Survivors include siblings: Audrey Bradshaw, Catherine Brown, Razalin Wilson-Mills, and James A. Wilson; and nephews/nieces: St. Clair L. Bradshaw, Rasheed Wilson, Nneka Hart, Nataki Griffin, Nashela George, Maobuddhis Wilson, Tanisha Mills, Zione Reyes, Abdul-Raheem Wilson, and Bianca Bradshaw.
Services will be held on Monday, July 14 at Turnbull’s Funeral Home. Viewing begins at 9:00am, followed by a memorial service at 10:00am. Internment: Private
A score of protesters line Pepper Tree Road Tuesday on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
The territory’s challenged health care system prompted a small but passionate group of protesters to gather outside the Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix and the Roy Lester Schneider Medical Center on St. Thomas Tuesday to demand action.
The main event occurred on St. Croix, where Karen Dickenson, representing the grassroots organization People’s Choice, led a score of people in lambasting hospital leadership and elected officials for underfunding the territory’s hospitals to the point where basic and critical equipment are in short supply.
Karen Dickenson, of the People’s Choice Virgin Islands and Collective Collaboration, leads a protest in front of Juan F. Luis Hospital Tuesday on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
“When you live in a society where health care is not important, your society is doomed,” she cried into a microphone. “Health is wealth. And when you have a healthy society, you have a healthy hospital, because it goes together. Money has no object in this here, because if you don’t have health, you can’t spend money. If you don’t have health, you can’t educate. If you don’t have health, you can’t love.”
Dickenson, who also runs the Collective Collaboration shelter for unhoused people, ticked off a number of deficiencies at the hospital.
“We don’t have a portable X-ray machine. We’re taking feeding tubes and washing them out and putting them back in our children,” she claimed. “We don’t have doctors. We don’t have the necessary sanitary equipment for doctors to wash their hands, to take care of our people. We don’t have a neurologist. And the list goes on of ‘don’ts.’”
Juan F. Luis Hospital Chief Executive Darlene Baptiste, right, listens as Karen Dickenson, left, outlines grievances with the territory’s health care system Tuesday on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
Before long, JFL Chief Executive Darlene Baptiste, who assumed leadership of the hospital in February, crossed Pepper Tree Road. When Dickenson handed her the microphone, she initially explained that she was there to listen. Then, she answered protesters’ questions directly.
“We do have challenges,” she acknowledged. “As a matter of fact, we do have a lot of challenges, but at the end of the day, I am extremely hopeful, and that’s one of the reasons I want us to have this collaborative discussion.”
Darlene Baptiste, chief executive of Juan F. Luis Hospital and former V.I. Health Department commissioner addresses a group protesting the state of health care Tuesday on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
Baptiste said that “98 and a half percent” of the funds recently allocated to the hospitals from Epstein-related settlement money had been spent — mostly on the hospital’s arrears.
“That’s not the real-time costing of what it costs us to do business,” she said. “There’s two tiers for our uncompensated care overall … and it’ll take us a while — just like any big boat or ship — to navigate and turn things around, but our team is working diligently to address those concerns.”
Baptiste said procuring hospital equipment is a “supply and demand” issue for a jurisdiction surrounded by water.
“So if we make the payments today, we’re not going to get the supplies in tomorrow,” she said. “So that’s one of the other pieces.”
In a statement provided after the protest, Baptiste shared, “Every concern raised is important, and every challenge presented is one I take seriously. We cannot, and will not, move forward alone. We need the community’s trust, support, and partnership to rebuild and rise together.”
Baptiste said she would be meeting with protest organizers Friday at noon to further discuss and work together toward community-driven solutions.
Meanwhile, Richard Bachoo, who attended Tuesday’s protest, questioned how the hospital could continue to operate if one-time emergency payments are being used to cover arrears.
“She’s talking about paying off debt that they have, but the hospital has to continue a life beyond debt,” he told the Source. “So the question is, what are we doing to ensure the hospital is meeting its basic financial obligation, plus they have the revenue to move forward, so we’re not constantly in crisis? The hospital cannot be in crisis. It is the only place we have for emergency and stabilization issues, and so it needs to be fully funded and taken care of. That should be the number one priority of the government — not funding tourism or other things.”
Bachoo described himself as one of the people elected officials often talk about — a Virgin Islander who found success on the mainland but moved back home to be a part of their community. Now, he said, his family’s biggest concern is the state of the hospital.
“Over 40 years ago, my father cut his finger off in an accident,” he said, adding that his parents lived nearby at the time. “Came to the hospital, they sewed it back on — it was fine.”
Bachoo said that three months ago, a friend’s boyfriend had a different story.
“He cut his finger off in an accident. He came to the hospital, they couldn’t sew it back on. That indicates that we’re not moving in the right direction,” he said. “And when I think of the governor is calling for a special session to discuss what is clearly his gripe over salaries, or whatever it is, and not calling to deal with the most important responsibility he has — which is to the health and safety of the people — we should have had an emergency meeting on the hospitals.”
Dr. Cleopatra Peter speaks to a score of protesters in front of Juan F. Luis Hospital Tuesday on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
While the spotlight remained on St. Croix, a small but determined group also assembled outside Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas — many of them familiar faces in local advocacy circles.
Among them was former Senate candidate Margaret Price, who voiced frustration over what she described as years of neglect at the hospital. Referring to Monday’s legislative hearing on the abrupt shutdown of Caribbean Kidney Center’s St. Thomas facility — and the strain it placed on SRMC — Price said the territory cannot rely solely on one hospital to fill all the gaps.
“There needs to be other options for dialysis care because the hospital is in dire straits,” she said. “It’s lacking so much — it’s understaffed, it’s short on supplies — and more people need to come out and show their support.”
She added that the pay scale for nurses needs to be raised but that lawmakers and the governor must help carry that weight. “They can’t do everything themselves,” she said.
Price also shared her own experience, saying she was scheduled for cataract surgery in April but has yet to receive a follow-up appointment.
“They told me they just don’t have the staff or the supplies,” she said. “What are we supposed to do? What we need is for the government to get the money that the hospital needs to properly operate.”
Also present was community member Elwin D. Chinnery Sr., who said Tuesday was his first time speaking out publicly. Reflecting on a past experience when he had to wait hours for treatment after being stabbed, he said, “If that was years ago, imagine what it’s like now — and we just keep hearing the same thing.”
Chinnery said he had been inspired by the advocacy efforts on St. Croix and wanted to lend his voice.
“We’re in a dire state of health, lacking necessities and supplies — and we need to get involved and try and help,” he said.
Lorraine L. Berry served 12 consecutive terms in the Virgin Islands Legislature. (Submitted photo)
The political legacy of the U.S. Virgin Islands has been shaped by individuals who viewed public service as a responsibility. Few demonstrated that commitment more fully than Lorraine L. Berry.
The longtime senator, who served 12 consecutive terms from 1983 to 2007, played a central role in many of the territory’s civic, health care, and cultural advancements. From advocating for youth and education to preserving the French-Caribbean heritage of St. Thomas, Berry’s work continues to influence the Virgin Islands today.
Her death in 2010, following a battle with colon cancer, left a lasting absence in the hearts of many across the territory and the wider Caribbean. Still, her contributions remain visible in legislation, institutions, community programming, and the lives of those who benefited from her unwavering dedication to public service.
Born Lorraine Ledee in 1949, she was a daughter of the French-Caribbean community on St. Thomas, with family roots extending to Sandy Point, St. Kitts. She attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and the University of the Virgin Islands, where she built a foundation of discipline, faith, and civic responsibility. Her father, Joseph Ledee, died shortly before her own death, further linking her story to the region’s interwoven Caribbean lineage.
Berry’s political journey began in the community as a PTA president during a time of teacher strikes. Her passion for advocacy grew from there, prompting her to leave her role in the Finance Department and work under Delegate Ron de Lugo. She launched her first Senate campaign in 1982, and although few expected her to succeed, she not only secured a seat but went on to hold it for the next 24 years. The people of St. John, whose strong voter turnout helped elevate her standing in that first election, always held a special place in her heart.
Lorraine L. Berry launched her first Senate campaign in 1982. (Submitted photo)
Throughout her time in the Legislature, Berry maintained a record of consistency and effectiveness. She chaired eight committees, drafted or cosponsored approximately 400 bills, and served in key leadership roles, including majority leader, vice president, and Senate president. She was one of only two women to hold the position of Senate president and the only person to do so twice.
Her legislative work had far-reaching impacts. She secured tobacco settlement funds that led to the creation of the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute on St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands Cardiac Center on St. Croix. She also championed a landmark policy that allowed government employees to donate accrued sick leave to colleagues in need, providing financial relief and compassion for families during times of health crises. Her focus extended to health care, education, public accountability, and economic development, always with the intent of delivering long-term benefits to her constituents.
Berry believed in meeting people where they were. She hosted a regular radio program, The Lorraine Berry Report, on WSTA, which became a vital platform for demystifying legislation and directly answering questions from the public. Known for her energy and determination, she often worked 10- to 15-hour days, including weekends, maintaining a rigorous pace that few could match. She rarely missed a roll call and was known for her professionalism and attention to detail.
In addition to her Senate work, Berry created and sustained several community programs. From 1995 to 2006, she organized an annual Mother’s Day Luncheon to honor women across the territory. The event highlighted her appreciation for everyday heroes and often celebrated unsung community figures. She also founded the annual Youth Symposium, a Black History Month essay contest for students known as “Hands Off, Back Off, I’m Special,” and introduced the Beacon School model, which provided after-school support for youth in need. Following Hurricane Marilyn, she established the Women’s Symposium, which was later renamed simply The Symposium. It became a trusted space for public conversation around healing, family, and rebuilding.
Berry’s commitment to cultural preservation was especially felt in the French-Caribbean community of St. Thomas. She was a driving force behind the formal recognition of French Heritage Week, collaborating with local civic organizations, cultural leaders, and the French government to honor the legacy of French Virgin Islanders. Through her advocacy, the week was elevated from informal observance to an official part of the territory’s cultural calendar, including ceremonies, exhibitions, and educational programs celebrating French-Caribbean identity.
Her leadership helped secure resources and visibility for the community, ensuring that the contributions of French-descended Virgin Islanders would not be forgotten. Her efforts were later honored by the French government with the Ordre National du Mérite, which recognized her work in protecting and promoting French Caribbean culture in the territory.
Lorraine L. Berry was honored by the French government. (Submitted photo)
Berry also sought higher office, running for governor in 1986 and for lieutenant governor in 2006. Though not elected to those roles, her campaigns reflected a lifelong commitment to public service and a fearless willingness to challenge the political status quo.
In recognition of her service, the Virgin Islands Legislature later dedicated its legal counsel building in her honor. The Lorraine L. Berry Legislative Annex stands today as a testament to her legacy. The dedication ceremony, attended by colleagues, family, and friends, remembered her as a champion for fiscal responsibility, women’s and children’s rights, transparent governance, and interisland equity. A plaque bearing the legislative act naming the building now hangs as a lasting reminder of her years of service.
Berry’s life was marked by vision, strength, and heart. She stood firm in her principles, collaborated across political lines, and never shied away from doing what was difficult when it meant doing what was right. Her record is etched into the institutions she helped build, the families she supported through thoughtful legislation, and the culture she worked to preserve.
To speak of Lorraine L. Berry is to speak of a woman who changed the course of Virgin Islands history through determination, compassion, and extraordinary leadership. Her legacy is not only one of policies and programs but of people. They are people empowered, protected, and uplifted by her service. Today, her voice still echoes through the halls of government, resonates in the rhythms of cultural celebration, and lives on in the stories passed from one generation to the next.
Photographs are featured all around the French Heritage Museum, celebrating families and the close-knit bonds within the community. (Source photo by Gabrielle Querrard)
The French Heritage Museum, located on the island of St. Thomas, is more than just a collection of artifacts; it’s a tribute to the enduring spirit of the French community.
First opening its doors in 2004, the museum has served as a living memorial to the ancestors of the French community, as well as a gathering space for descendants to explore their roots. The museum is itself a piece of history. Originally built as a fire station in 1944, the building has been repurposed several times to support the needs of the growing Frenchtown community, including serving as a kindergarten and later transitioning into a health clinic.
In 2004, the Frenchtown Civic Organization, a cornerstone of the community since 1957, transformed the space into a cultural museum. Henry Richardson, president of the FTCO, believes that the French Heritage Museum is an important step in the movement toward cultural preservation and revival.
A corner of the museum is dedicated to celebrating how art has taken various forms in the French community, including paintings, sketches, and straw weaving. (Source photo by Gabrielle Querrard)
“With advocacy from Senator Lorraine Berry, the museum was secured as a permanent home for French heritage, but its mission is far from complete. Today it stands as a testament to generations of contributions from the North Side and Frenchtown communities, both to their own small neighborhood communities and then to the Virgin Islands at large,” said Richardson.
Walking into the museum feels like a step back in time; shelves overflow with family portraits, model sailboats, handwoven fishing nets, and antique furniture. These items hold not just historical value but emotional weight, as everything in the museum has been donated by families who wish to contribute to the preservation of French and Virgin Islands’ culture and history.
A display of antique appliances, including sewing machines and irons, showcases what day to day life consisted of for multiple generations. (Source photo by Gabrielle Querrard)
“These objects are keepsakes of the heart. We dream of transitioning to a larger space with educational programs and tourism partnerships that can bring French Caribbean history to life. Additionally, a larger space would allow us the flexibility to expand our displays and really bring the stories behind these heirloom pieces and family histories to life,” said Richardson.
To realize this vision, the museum needs community support and involvement. Families from North Side and Frenchtown are encouraged to donate family heirlooms to ensure that these invaluable stories are preserved and endured. Additionally, volunteers are always welcome to support archiving, guided tours, and event initiatives. Lastly, financial contributions would help improve exhibits, enhance marketing efforts, and foster key partnerships with organizations such as the Tourism Department. “This isn’t the FTCO’s museum; it belongs to everyone who has their history reflected here,” says Richardson.
The French Heritage Museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where visitors and residents alike can visit the space and participate in a guided tour. Private tours are also available upon request.
For more information or to make donations, the French Heritage Museum can be contacted at 340-714-2583 or emailed at frenchhmuseum@gmail.com. Additionally, the community is invited to follow the French Heritage Museum’s Facebook page, which actively shares historical archives and information about upcoming events, generating meaningful discussions that everyone is welcome to participate in.
The students tested cotton and other natural fibers to examine how long it takes for them to biodegrade. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Editor’s Note: This story has been revised following feedback received from the Department of Education and participating students.
Instead of relaxing over the summer vacation, around 70 middle and high school students spent the last several weeks preparing for and displaying projects at the Math and Science STEM Summer Research Academy at St. Croix Educational Complex High School.
All students are invited to participate—but those that applied were praised for their curiosity, enthusiasm, and interest in science. The project ideas were developed by the teachers, who designed them to be both age-appropriate and engaging. Throughout the program, teachers worked closely with students, providing structure, encouragement, and guidance as they explored each stage of the scientific process—from forming a question and conducting background research to testing hypotheses, analyzing results, and presenting conclusions.
There were more than a dozen projects and each student was responsible for describing the process and their group’s results. Depending on their interests, the number of participants in each group varied.
Charles Walter, grade 7, and Jordan Nandlal, a raising sixth grader, explored the “Engineering Design Process” and, as a result, built a working robot with a motion sensor.
“I like building stuff. This was fun for me,” Nandlal said.
Mya Austrie and Jared Saret Cedo explored the engineering design process using the scientific method for their science fair project. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
The Cut Sew Save group worked with used clothing, first measuring it and then recycling the items into new garments. The goal was to waste as little fabric as possible. They constructed some of the clothing they were wearing — decorated jeans and shirts and sewed designs using scraps.
“We did waste a bit, but it was better than 100%,” Fawziya Aderahumme, grade 9, said.
Other groups studied and tested financial literacy, made a balloon-powered car, studied waves and one couple made an anemometer to measure wind.
Pictures represent a 3D model of Caribbean, and various historical hurricane tracks that have made landfall in the region, along with, a replica of a hurricane, said creator Sanaa Burke. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Individual students created displays to demonstrate their future goals. One created, with clay, a tongue with taste buds indicating the various tastes. A student who wants to be an anesthetist created the molecules of the drugs to sedate patients, and another who wants to be a cosmetologist talked about the uses of coconut oil.
Jayden Nandlal said he wants to be a professional chef and fashioned a tongue and taste buds out of clay while discussing taste and flavor. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Tuesday was the final day of the students’ exhibit.
Editor’s Note: St. Thomas-St. John District Director of Professional Development Michealrose Ravalier shares a recap of her 2025 Model School Conference presentation experience.
The lights dimmed. Thunder roared through the ballroom. Winds howled across the screen. In an unforgettable moment of raw emotion and truth, educators from the St. Thomas–St. John School District turned a national stage into a visceral journey of trauma, survival, and hope inviting participants to walk not just through a storm, but into the lives of the children they serve.
From left, Symra Brown-Gumbs, deputy superintendent, Michealrose Ravalier, director of Professional Development, and Stefan Jürgen, insular superintendent
This was no ordinary conference session. It was an experience. Led by Director Ravalier, alongside Superintendent Stefan Jürgen and Deputy Superintendent Symra-Dee Brown-Gumbs, the trio presented “SEL: A Holistic Approach — Supporting Students and Teams” to a packed audience at the 2025 Model Schools Conference last month in Orlando, Florida.
At the heart of the session was “Overcoming: An Anthology,” a powerful collection of narratives authored by 12 graduating seniors from both Charlotte Amalie High School and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. These stories spoke of displacement, survival, strength, and healing in the aftermath of Category 5 hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic. When we give our students voice, they have a chance to heal themselves and others.
A district tested by disaster. Jürgen opened with an overview of demographics and the trauma of natural disasters: over 5,500 students, 10 schools, two Category 5 hurricanes, one global pandemic, and above all resilience.
Suddenly, the room went dark. The audience was plunged into a full sensory simulation of a hurricane: lightning visuals, the sound of torrential rain, wind, thunder. Then came real footage of roofs being torn away and the aftermath that followed. A question echoed through the room: “What if that was your student walking into your classroom today homeless, displaced, depressed, or disruptive?”
Next came the “Air of Care” balloon activity a fun, symbolic exercise illustrating how it takes the entire educational community to lift and support both students and staff amid chaos.
A scenario-based role-play followed, empowering educators to problem-solve through real-life post-disaster situations: teacher fatigue, student trauma, lack of technology, and more. Collaboration turned insights into strategy.
The session closed with a joyful quiz competition and book giveaways. Anchored in the voices of 12 graduating seniors who authored “Overcoming: An Anthology,” the session left some in tears and, more importantly, inspired to act. Feedback highlighted the presentation as both powerful and transformative.
Writing the book gave our students an opportunity to open a window that had been closed for years. The experience was not just remembering but feeling all over again.
From St. Thomas–St. John, with love, courage, and unwavering commitment our students’ voices were heard, and our message was shared. It wasn’t just a session. It was healing in motion.
A map of sargassum in June 2025 indicated a record amount of seaweed. Darker red colors indicate more sargassum. (Photo courtesy USF Optical Oceanography Laboratory)
Sargassum levels stayed near historic highs in the Caribbean in June, even as algae blooms began to slow across several of the regions monitored for the seaweed, according to the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab. However, coastal inundations are still expected to continue along shorelines across the region.
The OOL at USF uses satellite imagery to monitor the presence of sargassum across the tropical Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf.
“As predicted in the sargassum bulletin in May 2025, total sargassum amount in three of the five regions continued to increase in June,” according to an update from a sargassum outlook report released on July 1 from the OOL at USF. “These regions include the Gulf, the western Caribbean, and the eastern Caribbean. In contrast, total sargassum amount decreased slightly in the central western Atlantic, and dropped substantially in the eastern Atlantic,” the report said.
“Such a disparity indicates that most increases in the first three regions were due to physical transport, while sargassum growth in the tropical Atlantic lost momentum. Nevertheless, most regions still reached their historical highs,” USF explained.
“On the other hand, the spatial distribution patterns in June remained stable from May, and significant sargassum inundation events have continuously been reported around most Caribbean nations and islands, including the Mexican Caribbean coast,” USF stated. “A small amount of sargassum continued to reach the Straits of Florida.”
A Possible Decrease in Seaweed Across Some Regions
The USF report explained that while there has continued to be an enormous amount of sargassum across several monitored regions, certain areas monitored by satellites may begin to see a reduction in the seaweed, including the tropical Atlantic region.
Sargassum seaweed is observed on June 26, 2025, on the Northside of St. Croix. More sargassum is possible across the region over the coming months. (Source photo by Jesse Daley)
“June 2025 appears to be the month of a turning point for the tropical Atlantic, after which the total sargassum amount will decline, although the absolute amount will continue to be higher than most of the previous years,” the USF report said. “The amount in the Caribbean Sea may remain stable as local decrease may be compensated by physical transport, but more sargassum is expected to be transported to the Gulf through the Yucatan,” the report noted.
However, unfortunately, areas across the USVI and Puerto Rico will still need to endure the seaweed for at least a few months longer before seeing a noticeable difference across local beaches. Several areas across the USVI, including Coral Bay on St. John and the Northside of St. Croix, have experienced massive amounts of sargassum this year.
“Sargassum inundation of variable degree will continue to occur in most of the Caribbean nations and islands as well as along the southeast coast of Florida,” USF explained. “However, whether a beach or small region receives a large amount of sargassum depends on local factors that are difficult to predict, including winds and ocean currents.”
Sargassum Impact to Continue for Months Across USVI
The Source connected with Brian Barnes, Ph.D., an assistant research professor at USF, to obtain more details about the large amount of sargassum and when it may begin to abate across the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Sargassum biomass overall in the entire tropical Atlantic will decrease as summer progresses, but the impact of this on Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands region and the Caribbean overall is still a few months away,” Barnes predicted.
Sargassum seaweed on the Northside of St. Croix on June 26, 2025. (Source photo by Jesse Daley)
Regarding potential steps individuals can take to help manage algae, Barnes offered the following advice.
“Booms may be installed to protect certain coastlines, particularly those that are ecologically sensitive, but these are not perfect,” Barnes acknowledged. “However, rapid removal can minimize environmental consequences and can provide a result that is more useful to downstream valorized uses. As such, having removal equipment or personnel staged for rapid removal is important.”
While the noxious algal mats are not particularly dangerous to humans, reducing or eliminating as much of the sargassum is crucial to help protect marine life.
The Environmental Protection Agency shared the following details regarding the possible effects on marine life due to the seaweed:
“Sargassum inundation events can harm seagrasses and corals by blocking the light the grasses need for health, reproduction, and survival,” the EPA said. “This in turn impacts the availability of food and habitats for other aquatic species and reduces the amount of oxygen in the water. The seaweed mass can stress or kill plants and animals in the water and makes it easier for invasive species to establish or grow,” the EPA stated.
“Sargassum may also affect aquatic species and their ecosystems by accumulating marine debris, including microplastics, and leaching heavy metals, pesticides, and other pollutants, some of which may be generated from its decomposition,” the EPA added.
Reasons for Increased Sargassum are Being Studied
As was reported in a previous Source article, Barnes stated that more research is needed to understand the cause of the increase.
“Unfortunately, we do not have a good explanation for the significant increase of sargassum; this is an active area of investigation,” Barnes acknowledged. “In a broad sense, whenever a seed population meets appropriate conditions for growth, such as the temperature, nutrients, light regime, etc., there can be rapid biomass expansion,” Barnes explained. “The exact confluence of environmental factors is unknown,” he said in the previous article.
Barnes had also explained that another area of ongoing research is the potential connection between cyclone development and the abundance of the algal mats, including how factors such as ocean conditions and atmospheric changes might influence the amount of sargassum in the ocean.
“This is an active topic of research,” Barnes said. “Following previous hurricanes, we’ve seen both increases and decreases in sargassum abundance,” he added.
“Inundations are really dependent on very local winds and currents, so I cannot give a solid answer here that applies to the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands regions.”
Finally, in addition to tracking the occurrence of sargassum, residents and visitors across the U.S. Virgin Islands are encouraged to continue monitoring the local weather forecast.
The NHC does not expect cyclonic development over the next seven days. However, warm temperatures, showers and hazy conditions are expected, and individuals are encouraged to continue to monitor the forecast. (Photo courtesy NHC)
The National Hurricane Center does not expect any cyclonic development across the Atlantic basin over the next seven days. However, the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has warned that very warm temperatures will affect the region and a tropical wave is anticipated to pass through the Caribbean on Thursday, possibly raising the chance of showers. Saharan dust will also be prevalent in the atmosphere, causing a hazy sky and reduced air quality.
A 30-year-old woman was arrested on St. Croix after allegedly brandishing a knife during a disturbance in the early morning hours of May 19, according to the V.I. Police Department.
At approximately 1:58 a.m., Patrol Bureau officers responded to a report of harassment and a disturbance of the peace involving multiple individuals. Upon arrival, officers observed several people fighting and intervened to break up the altercation, according to the police report.
During the response, officers said they witnessed Kaylah Joseph holding and displaying a knife. She was immediately taken into custody and transported to the Police Operations Administrative Building, where she was booked and processed, the police report stated.
Joseph was charged with brandishing and exhibiting a weapon in the presence of officers. Her bail was set at $25,000. She was remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending her advice of rights hearing in Superior Court, the report stated.
