We conclude our tour of St. John Celebration Village on Day 5, by what is considered the most popular night on the Village musical calendar. Here are some of the offerings music fans can find to complement that reggae vibe:
King Gotti – Booth No. 11
While reggae artists perform on stage, a calypso legend in the making is making a name for himself at Booth No. 11. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Evans Lucas, also known as John Gotti, is now a three-time Calypso Monarch. His booth, King Gotti, has conch soup. “When you eat that soup a musical kind of thing goes on in your belly,” he said.
Way Back When – Booth No. 9
“People love our beef pates. We have been doing this at this specific spot for over 10 years,” said booth owner Gabriel Audain. “People also love our johnny cakes; the dough is nice and sweet, but not too sweet, and fluffy.”
Booth 9 also offers a refillable rum bucket at a discount price for refills. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Audain is one of the new generation Village operators on St. John and has been in the business for the past three years.
Miss I – Booth No. 13
Ingrid Scatliffe works alongside her mom, Ivy Scatliffe, to give their customers some good home cooking. “Our specialty every year — and even after Carnival — is corned pork and dumplings with sweet potato, green banana and all the provisions.
Booth 13 is also the place for folks who enjoy local fruit drinks — fruit punch and passion fruit. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
A 25-year-old Puerto Rican man has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for smuggling cocaine near the waters of St. Thomas, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.
Brian Santiago Gonzalez was sentenced Tuesday by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy to 137 months in prison and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty in December to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, Santiago Gonzalez and co-defendant Wesly Albert Amaro were intercepted on March 29, 2022, near Savanah Island, west of St. Thomas, while traveling at high speed in a vessel without navigation lights. U.S. Coast Guard officials tracked the vessel, which was heading from Culebra, Puerto Rico, toward Hendrick Bay on St. Thomas, and coordinated with Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations to respond.
AMO agents located the vessel using radar and attempted to stop it, but the boat fled. The two men onboard began throwing bags overboard as the vessel continued to evade authorities. Agents ultimately disabled the vessel’s engine and later recovered three duffel bags containing 79 kilograms of cocaine from the water.
Amaro was sentenced in August 2022 to 108 months in prison and three years of supervised release following his guilty plea.
Infrared satellite imagery obtained at 4:40 p.m. Thursday shows a tropical wave entering the Caribbean. Precipitation is possible across the USVI and Puerto Rico as the wave passes south of the local islands. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
A weak tropical wave is expected to bring spotty showers to parts of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Friday, as residents and visitors mark the Fourth of July holiday. More Saharan dust is forecast to follow and linger into the weekend, possibly reducing air quality and visibility.
Local Weather Information
The weather across the USVI was relatively tranquil overall on Emancipation Day, July 3. However, according to the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a tropical wave passing through the Caribbean may increase the chance of showers and thunderstorms beginning Friday.
“Although the core of the wave is expected to remain south of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, enhanced moisture will move across the area,” the NWS explained. “This will support scattered showers throughout the day, with afternoon convection likely across eastern Puerto Rico, as well as the interior and western areas,” the NWS said.
After the passage of the wave, another plume of Saharan dust will move into the region, causing a hazy sky.
“A dense plume of Saharan dust is forecast to gradually arrive by Friday afternoon, bringing moderate to high concentrations across the region through the weekend,” the NWS stated. “As a result, limited deep rainfall development, hazy skies, reduced visibility, and a decline in air quality are expected.”
Additionally, the NWS warned that temperatures will be very warm across the local islands.
“Temperatures will continue to trend above normal, with heat indices expected to reach heat advisory criteria, particularly in coastal and urban areas,” the NWS warned. “Therefore, residents and visitors are advised to stay well hydrated, wear lightweight and breathable clothing, and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun by taking frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas,” the NWS advised.
“These precautions are especially important for those participating in outdoor activities, as the combination of high heat and dusty conditions can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and respiratory discomfort,” the NWS added.
Looking ahead, the forecast for the upcoming workweek indicates additional moisture from an upper-level low, which may bring increased cloudiness, scattered showers, and isolated thunderstorms. Gusty winds are also expected to continue, which may generate wind-driven, choppy seas.
The NWS noted that next Wednesday and Thursday could have the highest chance of instability, although there is some uncertainty among the weather forecast models.
“Although models had some high levels of uncertainty, next Wednesday into Thursday will be the most unstable days for the long-term period,” the NWS said.
National Hurricane Center Watching for Development
As of Thursday afternoon, in the Atlantic basin, the NHC explained that an area of low pressure may soon develop off the southeastern coast of the United States. The NHC has noted that the system may become a tropical depression in the coming days.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring an area off the southeastern USA for potential development over the coming days. (Photo courtesy NHC)
“Environmental conditions appear only marginally conducive for some slow development, but a tropical or subtropical depression could form over the weekend or early next week while the system drifts northward or northeastward,” the NHC said on Thursday. “Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is possible across portions of the southeast U.S., and particularly across the west-central Florida coast,” the NHC noted.
If the storm eventually intensifies into a tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph, it will be designated “Chantal,” the third-named tropical cyclone of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Pacific basin has been busy with cyclonic development. The remnants of Tropical Storm Flossie are churning in the Pacific Ocean as it moves away from Mexico, and the NHC expects another disturbance to develop over the coming days.
The NHC continues to monitor the Eastern Pacific basin, including the remnants of Tropical Storm Flossie and another disturbance that is forecast to develop. (Photo courtesy NHC)
The NHC does not anticipate cyclonic development near the USVI or Puerto Rico in the immediate future. Notably, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center’s recent Global Tropics Hazards Outlook does not predict cyclonic development across the Atlantic basin during the middle to latter part of July. Still, the forecast can change quickly, and individuals are encouraged to remain informed.
The Climate Prediction Center’s recent Global Tropics Hazards Outlook does not predict additional cyclonic development across the Atlantic basin during the middle to latter part of July.
Stay Updated on the Weather
The Atlantic hurricane season will run until Nov. 30, with the climatological peak of the season occurring in mid-September. USVI residents and visitors are urged to be prepared.
Restored buildings at 15 Main and 9 Wimmelskaft Gade are among the first on St. Thomas to qualify for the federal historic tax credit program. (Photo courtesy DPNR – Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office)
As one local development group continues to push forward with the rehabilitation of two historic buildings in downtown Charlotte Amalie, preservation officials are hoping others will be inspired to follow suit — and are making sure developers and property owners know exactly how to do it.
The recent work by local development group Fifteenand9Main, the group behind the restoration of 15 Main and Wimmelskaft Gade 9, marked a major milestone for St. Thomas: their project became one of the first in Charlotte Amalie to be approved for the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit program. But as Sean Krigger, director of the Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office, points out, the opportunity isn’t limited to just one group.
“This is a really good program,” Krigger said. “It’s important that the community understands the full spectrum of how the program runs — we just want our potential developers and our property owners to know.”
The program offers a 20% income tax credit for the rehabilitation of income-producing historic buildings.
For developers or property owners interested in the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit, Krigger says the first step is surprisingly simple: just Google “Federal Historic Tax Credit.” The National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Tax Incentives page should be one of the first search results — and that’s a great place to start.
“Once they’ve done that, they pursue the website. The next step — give the Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office a call, because that’s where we want to start the conversation. We want to start the partnership,” Krigger said.
The State Historic Preservation Office, he said, works with developers and consultants to confirm the building’s history, help draft the historical narrative, and formally submits the required application forms to the National Park Service for review.
“We are the ones that officially upload those applications,” Krigger said. “And I have to prepare a certification review for it.”
“So that’s the first step. Part one, getting it certified, and then it moves on to part two and three.” Krigger said.
The tax credit program operates through a three-part process:
Part 1: confirms that a building is historically significant.
Part 2: evaluates the developer’s proposed rehabilitation plans.
Part 3: ensures the completed project meets federal preservation standards.
In addition to the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit, developers in the Virgin Islands may also qualify for additional benefits through the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, Enterprise Zone Commission Program, designed to encourage investments in historically significant yet economically distressed areas like Christiansted and Frederiksted.
“So if you have a property owner or a developer that has the good fortune of not only having a building in the historic district, but also it falls into one of the enterprise zones — they can combine those credits,” Krigger said.
Enterprise Zone benefits may include tax credits for construction and rehabilitation work, reduced gross receipts taxes, and property tax exemptions.
“The federal historic (credit) is towards your income tax. The enterprise zone (program) could be either income tax or gross receipts,” Krigger said. “If they’re pursuing income tax, they could potentially have a credit up to like 40% based on their investment. So that’s a significant return.”
“You have to have the capital to do the work to earn the credit,” Krigger said.
This can be a major roadblock for many developers, especially for nonprofit organizations. To overcome it, some turn to tax credit syndication, a way to make money in which banks purchase the approved tax credits in advance, providing immediate funding to projects in exchange for future tax benefits.
“If they (nonprofits) go through the certification process and they get certified, they could potentially sell the credits. It’s not gonna be dollar for dollar of course. But what it means is that that nonprofit entity can use that as a capital raising effort to fund their historic rehabilitation project.” Krigger said.
Krigger encourages anyone interested in learning more to reach out to their local State Historic Preservation Office with any questions.
Krigger emphasized that at its core, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program is about preserving the Virgin Islands’ cultural heritage and history. The more accessible the process becomes, the greater the chance these historic buildings will be protected for generations to come.
After the last musical note had dropped for J’ouvert near St. John Celebration Village, the folks at Shuga Shack were frying up johnny cakes, waiting for the crowds to pour in.
Shuga Shack fries up johnny cakes for hungry J’ouvert revelers. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
In most years, the tramp would flow downhill from the Cruz Bay Roundabout (now called Veterans Circle) and turn left toward the post office.
Not this year. Instead, they hooked a right and came to a stop near Mongoose Junction. Val Parakis at Booth No. 12 looked surprised. “You mean they’re not coming here?” she said.
Early morning revelers, band musicians and longtime customers found her anyway. So did J’ouvert party people who parked up in a customized car playing soca through the speaker system.
Behind her simmered a pot of avgolemono — a traditional Greek chicken soup with lemon, fresh vegetables, and an egg stirred in. Soup is a traditional breakfast offering in Carnival, Celebration and Festival Villages throughout the V.I.
Smitty’s Place – Booth No. 14
Former Caneel Bay chef and renowned caterer Brian Smith greets his J’ouvert Morning customers with goat water and conch soup.
Former Caneel Bay chef and renowned caterer Brian Smith. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
“That’s our specialty,” Smith said.
And if tramping through the streets makes people want a special sip, Booth 14 offers the Hammer and the Formula. “That’s a moonshine we make down in Nevis,” he said.
Hot Topic – Booth No. 6
Here at the Source, we’re always looking to cover the next hot topic. This year, Booth No. 6 owner Deitra Powell says she decided to give her booth Hot Topic because “everyone is going to be talking about the Hot Topic as they go through the Village to see what Hot Topic is all about,” Powell said.
Fish Soup and saltfish stew with boiled egg were posted on the slate on J’ouvert morning. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
The specialty drink, she said, is whatever the customer says they like best.
On Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Delegate Stacey E. Plaskett and Congressman James Moylan of Guam announced in a statement the introduction of bipartisan legislation to establish a Congressional Task Force focused on voting rights for U.S. citizens living in the territories.
The proposed legislation calls for a 15-member task force made up of appointees from both the U.S. House and Senate to study and report on the barriers to voting rights and representation for more than 3.5 million Americans residing in U.S. territories. The task force would be disbanded after issuing its final report to Congress, according to the statement.
“This is a critical step toward addressing one of the most glaring inequities in our democracy,” Plaskett said in a statement Thursday. “More than 3.5 million Americans living in U.S. territories are denied the fundamental right to vote for President and lack full representation in Congress.”
Plaskett emphasized the significance of announcing the legislation on July 3, Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands — the date in 1848 when enslaved people in the then-Danish West Indies won their freedom. “The timing of this announcement honors the historic significance of July 3, 1848 … marking a pivotal moment in the fight for equal rights and representation,” she said.
Moylan noted that despite their lack of voting rights, residents of the territories serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at disproportionately high rates. “Yet, we cannot vote for our Commander in chief, nor vote in the House of Representatives, nor have our voices heard in the Senate,” he said.
The task force would be charged with submitting a status update to Congress within 180 days of the bill’s enactment and delivering a final report within one year. The report would assess existing barriers to voting and recommend paths to full and equal representation. The task force will have the authority to hold hearings, consult with territorial governments, and use existing congressional resources to complete its mandate, the statement said.
“We cannot continue to accept second-class citizenship for Americans based solely on their geographic location,” Plaskett said.
She concluded by thanking Moylan for coleading the bill and called on congressional colleagues to join their effort “to ensure that all Americans have a voice in their government, regardless of which territory or state they call home.”
Senator Carla Joseph has written to Sandra Setorie, the Executive Director of the Public Service Commission, to request a partnership in organizing a town hall meeting regarding the development of solar farms by VI Electron on St. Thomas.
Senator Carla Joseph promptly convened a meeting on Monday, June 30, after receiving calls from constituents on the west end of St. Thomas who had observed a significant bulldozing and clearing of land in their community. The meeting was attended by executive members of the Bluewater Crest Homeowners Association, representatives for VI Electron and officials of the Public Service Commission. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an initial insight on the planned solar farm development on the West End of St. Thomas.
Senator Carla Joseph stated in her letter to PSC Executive Director Setorie, “It is imperative to engage all stakeholders in the discussion of any significant developments within our community, as the Public Service Commission and all involved have a fiduciary duty as corporate citizens and neighbors.” She also acknowledged that residents have a right to know. This encompasses the dissemination of information to the community, as well as to homeowners and residents in the vicinity of the development.
According to Senator Carla Joseph, the convening of a town hall meeting provides the Public Service Commission with the opportunity to disseminate information regarding Power Providers and Power Purchase Agreements in the territory, VI Electron to discuss its planned development, operations, management, and safeguards, and for residents specifically in the Fortuna and Bovoni areas to have any questions or concerns about the planned solar farm developments in their neighborhoods addressed.
Senator Joseph has stated that she is prepared and eager to meet with PSC Executive Director Sandra Setorie at her earliest convenience in order to collaborate on this endeavor to inform the community of the significant developments that are planned for the St. Thomas/St. John District.
In order to ensure that the perspectives and concerns of our community residents are recognized and addressed, Senator Carla Joseph concluded that “Transparency and inclusivity are essential.”
As a member of the 36th Legislature, Senator Carla J. Joseph serves as an Ex-Officio Member of the Public Service Commission for the St. Thomas/St. John District.
Senate President Milton E. Potter today issued the following statement in response to Governor Albert Bryan Jr.’s announcement of a forthcoming special session of the Legislature to consider proposals on self-funded insurance, pension limitations for lawmakers, and removing restrictions on government employees running for elected office:
“It is disappointing that I first learned of this proposed special session through media reports. To date, the Governor has not transmitted a single piece of draft legislation, supporting documentation, or any formal communication to the Legislature regarding his stated proposals. As the presiding officer of this body, it is not my intent to be pulled into a press-driven performance meant to distract from the real matters at hand. If this administration is serious about collaboration, transparency, and reform, the process must begin with basic communication and respect for theco-equal branches of government.
The Governor’s remarks this week were not only misleading—they were retaliatory and laced with personal grievance. The tone and substance of his comments demonstrate a leader preoccupied with petty vendettas. Let us be honest: this sudden push is a direct response to the Legislature rightfully repealing a $50,000 salary increase that the Governor quietly inserted into the FY2024 budget. Rather than accept that decision the Governor has chosen to lash out, dressing up political spite as policy reform.
On Self-Funded Insurance
The Governor’s proposal to move the Government of the Virgin Islands to a self-funded insurance model deserves serious scrutiny—not press conference theatrics. Before the Legislature can even begin to entertain such a transition, we must ask: was the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, as the Commissioner of Insurance, consulted? Were the GESC Board and other key stakeholders engaged? Where is the comparative analysis between our current structure and the risks of moving to a self-funded model?
Let me be unequivocal: while self-funding may sound fiscally attractive on paper, it becomes a dangerous and irresponsible gamble when applied to a government with cash flow instability, weak reserves, and limited administrative infrastructure. Under a self-funded model, the government is responsible for paying claims directly. Any disruption in liquidity puts employees’ access to care at risk. A misstep here would result in delayed payments to providers, eroded trust in the system, and serious legal and ethical consequences. To propose such a drastic shift without comprehensive vetting and actuarial review is reckless and premature.
On Legislator Pensions
The Governor’s targeting of current and former public servants who legally receive retirement pensions is as unserious as it is misleading. This practice exists across numerous jurisdictions and is grounded in law. If the Governor believes reform is warranted, let him submit a detailed proposal rather than resorting to name-calling and shaming individual senators from the podium. The attempt to divide lawmakers and incite public ire without offering policy clarity or legal grounding is beneath the dignity of his office.
On Government Employees Seeking Office
Finally, on the question of government employees running for elected office: the Governor’s assertion that senators continue to “travel on government funds” while campaigning is factually incorrect and offensive. More importantly, the legislative history he conveniently omits is telling. The bill to revise the prohibition on candidacy by active public servants was originally introduced by former Senator Janelle Sarauw, then carried by Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, and is currently championed by Senator Marise James. It has not advanced—not due to legislative apathy—but because of consistent resistance from members of our own party.
Yes, the leave-of-absence requirements merit thoughtful reconsideration, particularly in an election year. But unlike members of Congress, senators in the Virgin Islands do not go on recess. We are in active budget negotiations, required by law to pass a balanced budget by October 1.
Senators must fulfill statutory duties, attend hearings, and conduct public oversight. The Governor’s comparisons are flawed, and his failure to acknowledge the structural realities of our legislative calendar once again demonstrates a troubling lack of seriousness.
Closing
The people of the Virgin Islands deserve principled policy, not political stunts. They deserve leadership rooted in cooperation, not combativeness. This Legislature will not be bullied or baited into decisions without proper process, analysis, or respect. If the Governor wishes to be taken seriously, let him act like a serious leader. Until then, this body remains committed to doing the people’s work—responsibly, transparently, and without theatrics.”
In a landmark display of regional cooperation, the US Virgin Islands Soccer Federation (USVISF) and the British Virgin Islands Football Association (BVIFA) partnered to deliver a Concacaf Marketing and Commercialization Workshop for clubs and football stakeholders across the Virgin Islands.
Building on the spirit of collaboration set forth in the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the USVISF and BVIFA, this workshop exemplified our commitment to shared development, knowledge exchange, and the long-term growth of football in our territories.
With the support and expertise of Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football, this joint initiative brought together clubs and administrators not only from the US and British Virgin Islands but from across all the Virgin Islands. Over 10 member clubs from the USVISF and BVIFA sent individuals to attend, resulting in a vibrant and engaging course that strengthened the capacity of local clubs to market and commercialize their activities more effectively, enhancing the sustainability and visibility of the sport at all levels.
USVISF and BVIFA extend their heartfelt thanks to Concacaf for their invaluable support and leadership in making this collaborative workshop possible. By investing in the education and capacity-building of our clubs and stakeholders, Concacaf continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to the growth of football throughout the region.
Together, the USVISF, BVIFA, and Concacaf are building a stronger, more connected future for football in the Virgin Islands.
St. John culture bearer Delroy Anthony blows the conch shell, a powerful ancestral call used throughout Caribbean history to signal resistance, gather communities, and mark sacred moments. The conch’s deep, resonant sound honors those who fought for freedom and reminds listeners of the enduring legacy of liberation. (Source file photo)
For nearly two centuries, the Danish West Indies were entangled in the brutal Atlantic Slave Trade, which saw the forced displacement, cultural erasure, and enslavement of millions of African and Indigenous people across the region.
The Danish West Indies, a prominent midpoint in the Triangular Trade Route, grew rapidly into an economic powerhouse fueled by its proximity to the United States and South America, as well as its booming sugar industry, which was largely cultivated on the fertile, flat land of St. Croix.
By the mid-19th century, the plantation economy was exclusively dependent on enslaved African labor. In an effort to keep enslaved Africans, whose population far exceeded that of the majority white slave owning class, docile, harsh punishments, including whipping, branding, and executions, were enforced for minor infractions.
In 1803, Denmark discontinued its participation in the Atlantic Slave Trade; however, the institution of slavery itself remained an integral fixture in the Danish West Indies. As enslaved populations on neighboring Caribbean islands were granted liberation from slavery, tensions among the enslaved populations in the Danish West Indies began to boil over. Just a few miles across the Sir Francis Drake Channel in the British Virgin Islands, enslaved people were emancipated by 1834, while the enslaved population in the Danish West Indies was told they would have to wait several more decades to be granted freedom.
In June 1848, word spread to St. Croix about the recent slave rebellion on Martinique, which had resulted in the proclamation of emancipation in the French colony. Determined to achieve their freedom, enslaved Africans began to mobilize plans. By July 2, crowds of enslaved laborers from plantations across St. Croix began marching toward Frederiksted. Over the course of a day, a crowd of several hundred had swelled to several thousand as news about the uprising continued to spread rapidly through the community. Leaders like Moses “General Buddhoe” Gottlieb organized the efforts and demanded unconditional freedom immediately.
Danish Gov. Peter von Scholten, who was fearful that this unprecedented uprising could easily overpower colonial militias, made the sweeping decision to declare the emancipation of the enslaved people in the Danish West Indies, drawing an extraordinary end to slavery in the Danish colony. This moment represented one of the rare instances in the Atlantic Slave Trade where freedom was taken, rather than granted.
Despite the end to slavery formally, true liberation remained incomplete. In the aftermath of the abolition of slavery, the Danish government implemented an extractive labor system that forced freed people to continue working on plantations for minimal wages. Restrictions on land ownership ensured that land remained under the control of white plantation owners, and leaders of the rebellion were arrested.
This July 3 marks 177 years since the emancipation of slavery in the Virgin Islands, formerly known as the Danish West Indies. As thousands gather across the territory to commemorate the occasion, the community is called to reflect on the power of collective courage joined with collective action. More importantly, this moment in history serves as a reminder that the struggle for liberation is ongoing — one that demands a unified vision and continued effort.
