Tuesday, June 17 | 11:30 a.m.

Although operations appeared to normalize by Monday afternoon, VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said Tuesday morning the department is still managing staffing challenges. While contingency measures remain in place, he acknowledged that adjustments are ongoing to ensure adequate patrol and emergency coverage across the territory.

Monday, June 16 | 6 p.m.

The Virgin Islands Police Department confirmed that several officers reported sick on St. Thomas-St. John on Sunday – Father’s Day – forcing a shift in staffing during an already challenging stretch for the department. With some officers also out on military leave, the shortfall came as VIPD continues to respond to a series of high-profile violent crimes that have stretched resources across the territory.

In the days leading up to the shortage, police had responded to a string of serious incidents. On Wednesday, June 12, 28-year-old Shyiane Degallerie was shot and killed at Oswald Harris Court following what investigators said was a confrontation that began with a hit-and-run crash. Just two days later, on Saturday, June 14, officers were called to the Fort Mylner KFC parking lot, where 29-year-old Everton G. Ralph Jr. was found dead in the driver’s seat of an Acura after multiple shots were fired. That killing marked the territory’s 18th homicide of the year. These cases — and other violent episodes in recent weeks — have placed sustained pressure on patrol and investigative units across both districts.

To maintain coverage, VIPD activated its contingency protocols Sunday, reassigning officers from nonessential divisions to critical patrol and emergency response duties. Although the sudden spike in sick calls prompted public speculation of a possible “Blue Flu” sick-out, VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte confirmed that all officers had returned to duty by Monday and that operations had returned to normal. The department emphasized that public safety and community visibility remained intact throughout the temporary disruption.

Backed by a $10 million federal investment, the Virgin Islands Historic Building Recovery Program has already restored more than 45 hurricane-damaged historic buildings across the U.S. Virgin Islands, with dozens more projects in progress.

Following the widespread damage caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria, Congress and former President Biden appropriated $50 million through the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund, which the National Park Service administers. The fund was created to support historic preservation efforts in FEMA-declared disaster zones.

Of the $50 million, just over $10 million was awarded to the Virgin Islands.

The VIHBRP is managed by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ State Historic Preservation Office. So far, the program has supported the rehabilitation of historic buildings all across the territory.

Traditionally, the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund reimburses property owners after repairs are completed according to predetermined preservation standards. However, according to VISHPO Director and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Sean Krigger, most residents didn’t have the means to cover renovation costs while waiting for reimbursement.

“Most of the people that really got the major impacts — they just simply couldn’t afford to do the repairs on their own,” Krigger said. “We lobbied and worked with the National Park Service to get approval so that we could pay for repairs up front… once we achieved that approval, we were then able to make a positive impact in helping projects.”

After this adjustment, the $10 million awarded to the U.S. Virgin Islands from the fund was distributed into two government projects: the rehabilitation of Government House in Charlotte Amalie and the DPNR Submarine Base building, each receiving $1 million for rehabilitation. About $2 million supported staffing and administrative costs, and more than $7 million was directed toward historic building restoration and repair projects.

Projects have included roof and gutter repairs, structural reinforcements, historic shutter restorations, and repainting across many historic locations throughout Christiansted, Frederiksted, Cruz Bay, and Charlotte Amalie.

Krigger said the office hopes the program will result in lasting improvements throughout historic districts in the territory.

“What we are hoping to achieve with this project is that we will have a visual impact on our historic towns for improvements,” Krigger said. “We’re wanting to improve not just buildings, but streetscapes – bringing vitality back to our communities – and I’m happy to say that we’re getting that done.”

Krigger emphasized that the program’s success is due to collaboration between government agencies, contractors, and community partners.

“It’s a team effort,” Krigger said. “We are thankful for the support.”

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority has officially commissioned the Hogensborg Solar Farm on St. Croix, the largest utility-scale solar project in the U.S. Virgin Islands, marking a major milestone in the territory’s shift toward renewable energy, the authority announced in a press release.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday, June 13, in Estate Hogensborg, WAPA leaders and local government officials celebrated the launch of the 48,210-panel facility, which can generate up to 22.4 megawatts of power. The solar farm features advanced battery storage systems, developed by Honeywell, designed to support the grid during outages and peak energy demand, according to the press release.

“This project is more than a milestone — it’s a movement,” said WAPA CEO Karl Knight. “Being able to rely more on indigenous sources of energy and less on costly imported fuels like diesel and propane marks a pivotal shift for WAPA and the Virgin Islands. This solar project demonstrates our dedication to building a cleaner, more reliable energy future — one that empowers our community and protects our environment for generations to come.”

The Hogensborg facility is the third solar installation on St. Croix and the fourth utility-scale renewable energy project WAPA has helped implement. It was developed by VIElectron and is owned by VIRAPC, the press release stated.

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. called the commissioning “real progress” in the territory’s clean energy push.

“This project moves us closer to a future where we can depend less on expensive, imported fuel and more on clean, local energy,” he said. “It also reflects our larger effort to transform the Water and Power Authority into a more modern and sustainable utility.”

WAPA officials say the Hogensborg project supports the territory’s Vision 2040 goal of achieving 75% renewable energy and aligns with the authority’s broader microgrid development strategy to enhance grid resilience, the release stated.

Building on the momentum, WAPA has begun development of the Fortuna Solar Farm on St. Thomas. That project, expected to be completed by late 2026, will include 94,440 panels and a 25-megawatt battery storage system designed to stabilize power for the St. Thomas-St. John district, it said.

A recording of the ribbon-cutting ceremony is available here.