The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority advises the community that an electrical failure has impacted operations at the Cancryn Pump Station, resulting in a temporary pump outage.
As a result, portions of the downtown sewer system may experience disruptions, including possible manhole overflows. Out of an abundance of caution, VIWMA strongly advises residents, business owners, and pedestrians to avoid contact with any standing water in affected areas.
VIWMA crews are actively responding to the issue and working diligently to restore full operations as quickly and safely as possible. The Authority understands the inconvenience this situation may cause and appreciates the public’s continued patience and cooperation while efforts are underway to implement both immediate and long-term corrective measures.
For additional information or to report related concerns, please contact VIWMA Customer Care at 340-715-9100 or email customer_care@viwma.org or communications@viwma.org.
Members of the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands gathered to honor Purple Heart Day.(Photo by Barry Leerdam)
Committee of the Whole
10:00 A.M.
Call to Order: Honorable Milton E. Potter, Chairman, Committee of the Whole
Roll Call: Amaya Ifill, Legislative Clerk
CONSIDERATION OF THE FLOOR AGENDA:
The 36th Legislature will convene in a Committee of the Whole to receive testimony on the following:
BLOCK I
Bill No. 36-0266 An act amending Official Zoning Map No. SJZ-1 for the island of St. John rezoning Parcel 15 Estate Susannaberg, No. 17A Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John from R-4 (ResidentialMedium Density) to R-3 (Residential-Low Density)
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Mr. Ronnie Jones, Property Owner
Kurt Marsh, Jr., Property Owner’s Representative
Bill No. 36-0268 An act granting a zoning use variance from the P (Public) zoning designation for Parcel No. 300-B Revised Cruz Bay Town, Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Honorable Lisa Alejandro, Commissioner, VI Department of Property & Procurement
Bill No. 36–0270 An act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-20, St. Croix to rezone Parcel Nos. 11-F and 11-G Estate Penitentiary Land, Company Quarter, St. Croix from R-3 (Residential-Medium Density) to P (Public)
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Honorable Justa Encarnacion, Commissioner, VI Department of Health
BLOCK II
Bill No. 36-0272 An act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-20 for the island of St. Croix to rezone Plot No. 4 of 12 Estate Richmond, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, from R-3 (Residential-Medium Density) to B-2 (Business-Secondary/Neighborhood)
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Mr. Xavier Acevedo, Property Owner’s Representative
Bill No. 36-0288 An act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-6 for the island of St. Croix to rezone Plot Nos. 242, 243, 563, and 564 Estate Strawberry Hill, Queen Quarter, St. Croix from R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) to R-4 (Residential-Medium Density
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Bill No. 36-0289 An act granting a zoning use variance from the R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) zoning designation for Plot No. 395 Estate Whim, West End Quarter, St. Croix
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Mrs. Andrea Christian-Michel, Property Owner
BLOCK III
Bill No. 36-0290 An act granting a zoning use variance for Plot No. 104 Estate Concordia, Westend Quarter, St. Croix from the R-2 (Residential Low Density–One and Two Family) to allow for the construction and operation of a beauty salon
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Ms. Daphne Jean-Marie, Property Owner
Bill No. 36-0291 An act granting a zoning use variance to Plot No. 295-D-2 Estate Barren Spot, King Quarter, St. Croix to allow warehouse and storage services (general)
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Kevin Rames, Esq., Property Owner’s Representative
Bill No. 36-0287 An Act to rezone Right of Way Parcel No. 1-68A and Parcel Nos. 1-68-1, 1-68-2, 1-68-3, 1-68-4, and 1-68 Remainder Estate Bakkero, No. 5 Frenchman’s Bay Quarter, St. Thomas from R-1 (Residential-Low Density) to PAD (Planned Area Development) R-3 (ResidentialMedium Density)
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Mr. Joseph Todd Donohoo, Property Owner
Mr. Roosevelt David, Property Owner’s Representative
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026
Honorable John A. Bell, Sr. Lie in State Ceremony
11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
MONDAY,
MAY 18, 2026
Committee on Rules and Judiciary
10:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026
Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture
ECONOMIC SUMMIT
7:30 A.M.
U.V.I Great Hall, St. Croix
The Office of Senator Hubert L. Frederick will host an USVI Economic Development Summit on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the University of the Virgin Islands, Albert Sheen Campus, Great Hall, St. Croix. The summit will bring together industry professionals, government agencies, and members of the public to discuss economic growth, agriculture, workforce development, and business opportunities within the Virgin Islands, and provide guidance on available resources and next steps.
Nine Virgin Islanders proudly represented the St. Croix Track Club at the Association of Youth/Junior Athletics League Championship Finals for the 14–19 age divisions. The event, hosted at the Ana G. Méndez University–Gurabo Campus, featured more than 60 clubs and approximately 1,500 athletes who advanced from four qualifying meets. Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in each event.
The St. Croix Track Club delegation in Puerto Rico. (Submitted photo)
The St. Croix Track Club delegation delivered an impressive performance, earning two gold medals, five silver, and four bronze. Points were awarded for the first eighth places. The team finished 13th overall—a remarkable achievement for one of the smallest clubs in attendance.
The standout performer of the meet was Faith Eatmon in the Girls 14–15 division. She captured gold in the 400m with a personal‑best 59.71 seconds, and secured silver in the 200m with a time of 26.36 seconds. All finalists contributed valuable points despite challenging negative wind conditions throughout the competition.
Individual Results
18-19 Girls–Jahlaya George – 1st in Javelin – 15.10meters(m), 7th in Shot Put—7.38m
14-15 Girls–Charlise Morris 2nd in 100m—13.30sec, 3rd in the 200m –26.78sec. in a personal‑best
16-17 Boys–Juvante Hurst – 2nd in 400m—51.27sec., 5th in 100m—11.78
18-19 Boys–Rajon Charies – 2nd in 100m—11.42sec., 6th in 200m—23.07sec
16-17 Boys–Jah’Quan Creque – 2nd in 100m—11.44sec.
18-19 Boys–Yahraya Doctrine –3rd in 100m—11.48sec.
18-19 Boys–Kahlan Beaupierre – 3rd in Javelin—37m, 5th in Shot Put—9.70m
18-19 Girls–Sarai Gomez – 7th in 100m—13.93sec.
The AAJI League continues to provide meaningful competitive opportunities and exposure for developing youth athletes across the region. The St. Croix Track Club remains committed to nurturing young talent and building momentum toward future regional and international competitions.
The St. Croix Track Club extends sincere appreciation to the VI Lottery, Annaly Farms, Ocean Point Terminals, and all supporters who help empower our youth through sport.
In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.
If men have quiet places they rarely express, women have emotional spaces they often feel are ignored. Much of the tension between men and women is not rooted in hatred or hostility, but in misalignment. Women are often speaking from a place of emotional awareness, while men are listening from a place of problem-solving. One feels unheard, the other feels unfairly criticized. Both leave the conversation frustrated, convinced the other simply does not get it.
What many women wish men would hear is not complicated, but it is layered. They want to feel seen beyond their functionality. They want their emotional world to be treated as valid, not excessive. When a woman expresses frustration, it is rarely because she enjoys conflict. More often, it is because something important feels overlooked. Emotion, for many women, is not drama. It is data. It is a signal that something within the relationship requires attention.
When women say, “You’re not listening,” they are not usually critiquing a man’s ability to hear words. They are speaking about emotional presence. Listening, in this context, means engaging without immediately correcting, fixing, or minimizing. It means resisting the urge to defend before understanding. Many women do not need a solution first. They need acknowledgment. They need to know their feelings register as significant.
For men who were trained to respond with action, this can be confusing. Fixing a problem feels productive. Offering advice feels helpful. But when a woman shares something emotional, and the response skips directly to correction or logic, she may feel dismissed. What she often desires is empathy before analysis. She wants to know that her experience matters before it is evaluated.
Another truth many women carry is exhaustion. Not simply physical exhaustion, but emotional labor. In many relationships, women often manage relational details that go unseen. They track birthdays, moods, tensions, family dynamics, and subtle shifts in atmosphere. They anticipate conflict before it surfaces. They interpret silence. They translate tone. When this effort goes unnoticed, it can create resentment. The frustration is not about superiority. It is about imbalance.
Women wish men would hear that emotional expression is not a threat to masculinity. When they ask for conversation, it is not an attack on competence. When they express disappointment, it is not a declaration of failure. It is a request for deeper connection. The desire is not to control, but to collaborate. However, when vulnerability is met with detachment, the message received is that emotional needs are inconvenient.
There is also the matter of consistency. Many women value reliability not only in action but in energy. They want to feel that the tone of the relationship is stable, that affection is not seasonal, and that communication does not disappear when stress increases. Emotional unpredictability can feel unsafe, even if it is unintentional. When a man withdraws under pressure without explanation, a woman may interpret that withdrawal as rejection rather than regulation.
What women often wish men would hear is that reassurance matters. Not constant validation, but intentional affirmation. Words of appreciation, simple acknowledgment, and consistent engagement build trust over time. Silence may feel neutral to a man, but it rarely feels neutral to a woman who is relationally attuned. Silence can feel like distance, and distance can create doubt.
At the same time, many women do not want perfection. They are not asking men to become endlessly expressive or emotionally theatrical. They are asking for effort. They want to see growth. They want to know that when something hurts, it will be taken seriously. They want partnership that includes emotional accountability.
It is also important to acknowledge that many women carry their own wounds. Past disappointments, broken trust, and societal pressures shape how they communicate. When they seem overly cautious or intensely expressive, it may be because they are protecting themselves from repeating old pain. Hearing them fully requires patience. It requires separating tone from intent and emotion from accusation.
What women wish men would hear is that their desire for communication is rooted in investment. Indifference does not argue. Disconnection does not protest. When a woman speaks passionately about a relationship, it is often because she values it deeply. The intensity is not always hostility. It is sometimes hope fighting to stay alive.
Men often ask for peace. Women often ask for engagement. These desires are not incompatible. Peace does not require silence, and engagement does not require chaos. When both sides understand that the underlying need is security, the conversation changes. Security for many women is built through emotional responsiveness. Security for many men is built through respect and trust. When these needs are acknowledged together, balance becomes possible.
Listening without defense is one of the most powerful gifts a man can offer. It communicates strength rather than submission. It signals that the relationship is more important than being right. When women feel heard, their tone softens. When they feel understood, their defenses lower. And when they feel safe, they reciprocate that safety.
This is not about surrendering identity. It is about expanding understanding. Just as men wish for appreciation and peace, women wish for presence and emotional attentiveness. Neither side is irrational. Both are responding to deeply human needs.
When men truly hear what women have been trying to say, the bridge strengthens. The conversation shifts from accusation to alignment. What once felt like criticism begins to feel like collaboration. Hearing does not mean agreeing with every emotion. It means respecting that the emotion exists.
And respect, when practiced consistently, transforms tension into trust.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
For more than 11 years, the Summer’s End Group has been awaiting a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in order to move forward with their plan to build an upscale marina in Coral Bay.
On April 20, that permit was quietly issued, paving the way for construction to begin on the 115-slip marina and land-based development that includes a retail complex, boardwalk, and a luxury boutique hotel.
A drawing shows a plan for the land portion of the Summer’s End Marina project. (Image from Summer’s End’s website in 2024)
But opponents of the project, including David Silverman, president of Save Coral Bay, say they will continue to fight the project, which they consider structurally unsound and detrimental to the environment.
The project has been controversial since it was first presented to the public in 2014. Challenges have been mounted in local and federal courts and even submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. The V.I. Coastal Zone Management Commission, the Board of Land Use Appeals, the Virgin Islands Senate, and numerous federal agencies have all been involved in rulings that have temporarily hastened or halted the project’s viability.
The Summer’s End Marina has been planned for the southwest shore of Coral Bay since 2014. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
The Army Corps’ permit has been considered critical to the project’s survival. As recently as April, Save Coral Bay presented the Corps with a petition including 3,000 signatures asking that the federal agency hold public hearings on the project. That request was denied.
The Army Corps’ announcement of the permit’s approval dated May 1 stated that the agency is moving forward with its “Building Infrastructure Not Paperwork” initiative. The policy is intended to “provide faster decisions” and accelerate “the delivery of vital infrastructure projects.”
“USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) is neither a proponent nor opponent of any proposed project. USACE’s mission is to provide the regulated public with fair and reasonable decisions while providing protection of the Nation’s aquatic resources and navigation,” the statement concludes.
The Army Corps statement outlines the scope of the project:
“The Standard Permit issued to the Summer’s End Group will allow construction of a marina within the Coral Harbor.
“The 67,833 square-foot fixed-dock marina would consist of 115 slips to accommodate vessels of varying lengths estimated to range from 30 feet to over 160 feet in length.
“There would be an additional 12 single moorings constructed southeast of the marina so that the marina could accommodate a total of 127 vessels.
“The marina includes a boardwalk along the shoreline and associated upland amenities.
“As mitigative measures, the applicant would relocate four Solenastrea bournoni corals near the dock, outplant 3,000 coral specimens, install seven informational buoys, install information signs at the marina, provide pump out or waste disposal facilities, plant 300 red mangrove seedlings along the shoreline, and maintain 50 stormwater features in the uplands.
“The applicant would also implement actions that result in the avoidance of impacts to a historic shipwreck.”
“The project would result in impacts to 2.39 acres of seagrasses.
“The applicant will be required to provide compensatory mitigation to offset the unavoidable impacts of the marina by restoring, enhancing, and establishing 4.596 acres of a complex of mangrove islands and 0.975 acres of sea grass habitat, conducting annual cleanup events in Coral Harbor, and complying with monitoring requirements and ecologically based performance standards.
“The central components of that compensatory mitigation project have already been verified under Nationwide Permit 27 as an aquatic ecosystem restoration, enhancement, and establishment project. That project will now be relied on by the Summer’s End Group to provide compensatory mitigation for the authorized marina.”
Chaliese Summers, managing partner for the Summer’s End group, said the developers were pleased to receive the permit. “First, it is critical to understand that the USACE cannot issue this permit unless the project has a net positive impact to the environment.”
Chaliese Summers, managing member of the Summer’s End group, testifies at the Senate’s Committee of the Whole meeting about the Summer’s End Group’s permit. (Screenshot from Senate Committee of the Whole, Aug. 28, 2025)
“From the project’s inception, Summer’s End has worked tirelessly with both our federal and territorial permitting partners to ensure the long-term health and vitality of St. John’s precious marine environment,” Summers continued. “Summer’s End will spend over $5.3 million in the protection of coral, sea grass, mangroves, and shore protection.”
Summers said the developers’ initial investment will be $130 million and will create more than 80 “direct and indirect, long-term full-time employment jobs for the island of St. John.”
She said that debris removal and site demolition have already begun, and work will “proceed uninterrupted until completed, barring any unforeseen circumstances or acts of God.”
Save Coral Bay sees much to dispute in her statements. “A fundamental flaw in the permit issuance is that the project has changed dramatically since it was proposed. Yet, the applicant and the Army Corps relied on required approvals given more than a decade ago for a project that simply no longer exists in that form,” said Silverman.
Among his concerns is “a mitigation plan that requires extensive dredging and at least 20,000 cubic yards of fill discharged into Coral Harbor. That quantity of fill is equivalent to two thousand truckloads of fill transported over Centerline Road and dumped into the harbor.”
Summer’s End Marina will develop the shoreline along Route 107 in Coral Bay. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
He said this plan contradicts a 2014 Water Quality Certificate “which expressly states that there may not be any dredge or fill activity.”
In a post on Facebook, Silverman said he has not yet seen the Army Corps’ permit, so he can’t comment on what Save Coral Bay’s next actions will be. And although “the approval of a federal permit clearly removes a major hurdle for marina construction … it does not, and cannot, provide the territorial approvals required for construction to begin.”
“Summers End will need authorizations for use of submerged trust lands, for planting of coral, for placing 20 thousand cubic yards of fill in Coral Harbor, for excavation of shoreline land on Fortsberg, as well as a number of other authorizations not currently in place,” he added.
“So, although some may say, and some may believe that the story is over, this is actually just the beginning of a new chapter in the long-running saga of the Summer’s End Group,” Silverman said.
Baha’i delegates take part in the 85th governance assembly. (Submitted photo)
The local Baha’i community in the U.S. Virgin Islands recently selected delegates as part of its annual Ridvan observance. Chosen at the close of the 10-day festival, the delegates will help elect members of the National Spiritual Assembly, the faith’s governing body.
Local spokesperson Rodney Clarken and other followers say the Ridvan marks the time just before their leader — called Baha’u’llah — was exiled by the Persian government to Constantinople. The period from April 21 to May 2 is set aside for followers to fast from dawn to dusk, pray and gather in community.
Baha’i is considered one of the newest world religions, dating back to the mid-19th century; adherents follow the teachings of a Persian nobleman who renounced his affluent lifestyle and preached a doctrine of peace and brotherhood, Clarken said.
Followers in the faith number in the thousands in Jamaica and in Antigua/Barbuda; other communities exist in Trinidad and Tobago, and throughout the Lesser Antilles. The group’s spokesman said the count of Virgin Islanders active in the faith is uncertain; there were 85 active members involved in picking leaders in 2026. “It’s the most holy time for Baha’is; it’s also the time we annually reelect our local administrative bodies, which we call Spiritual Assemblies,” Clarken said.
Because the community functions without clergy, Baha’is count on assembly members to serve on one of three local boards of trustees for the year ahead. “Baha’is have a threefold purpose we’re all working on; to make ourselves better people and draw closer to God; to use God-given talents to make our communities a better place, (and) to make the world a better place,” said St. Croix Baha’i member Xawntoia Franklin. “We are all charged with the hard work to grow closer to God and make our communities a better place.”
St. Croix Baha’i in service as part of devotion. (Submitted photo)
“We do have some standard Baha’i activities that we engage in which are called the Core Activities,” Franklin said, “We also have study circles that allow us to have guided, meaningful conversations about things that are important — what does an individual stand for, what will they do; how can they help.”
She also described the group’s prayer circles and other activities. Her personal commitments led her to work with displaced residents from the JFK housing community and to help young people organize a bicycle repair clinic.
Those who join the effort are not required to follow Baha’i faith practices, but through their efforts with like-minded organizations, they help different nonprofits serve young and old, support after-school programs, tenant advocacy in public housing and educational support.
For two of the 280 students awaiting their degrees from the University of the Virgin Islands Thursday, graduation day was far more than marking an academic accomplishment. Their time at UVI served as a middle ground between their native St. Kitts and Nevis and the hustle-bustle demands of the U.S. mainland — and beyond.
Computer science major Zeidan Bass and accounting major Trevincia Browne both wrote to the university’s website Friday to say studying in the U.S. Virgin Islands helped them find their confidence.
Bass, whose brother and cousins also studied at UVI before him, came to the territory in 2023 — his first time away from home. It took some getting used to.
Computer science major Zeidan Bass said leaving St. Kitts and Nevis for St. Thomas was a big adjustment, but one that may help him transition more easily to the fast-paced mainland. (Photo courtesy University of the Virgin Islands)
“For the first three months of the semester, I ate by myself, attended events by myself, and I had no friends. It wasn’t until later on in the semester that I immersed myself in the community. The people here were never mean; it just took some adjusting,” he told UVI Today. “If I came straight from Saint Kitts to the mainland, it’s much more fast paced. The adjustment here was easy.”
If Bass started as a loner, he quickly found his tribe. In 2024, he was elected Student Leadership Council president and will be a student speaker at the St. Thomas graduation ceremony.
Browne, graduating magna cum laude, told a similar story, saying studying at UVI brought her out of her shell. In 2024, Browne started chairing the student government’s entrepreneurial committee. It was a role that required networking, leadership, and public speaking.
Accounting major Trevincia Browne, of St. Kitts and Nevis, said her time at UVI helped her grow into a more confident leader ahead of Thursday’s commencement ceremony. (Photo courtesy University of the Virgin Islands)
“I found myself stepping into spaces I never imagined,” said Browne, also from St. Kitts and Nevis, told UVI Today. “I had the opportunity to speak in front of large crowds, which is something I have never done before and that experience helped me grow in confidence.”
The 2026 Commencement Ceremonies take place Thursday at the Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center on St. Thomas, and Friday at the Island Center for the Performing Arts on St. Croix. Both ceremonies are scheduled for 1 p.m.
“It is with great pride and joy that I congratulate the Class of 2026 on reaching this extraordinary milestone,” UVI President Safiya George said in a written statement. “Your journey reflects resilience, determination, and excellence. As you leave UVI, you carry forward the knowledge, skills, and spirit needed to lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact in your communities and beyond.”
Degree candidates represent a wide range of academic programs across UVI’s schools and colleges, including doctoral, graduate, bachelor’s, and associate degrees, according to the university.
The Class of 2026 student speaker on St. Croix will be SaVaughna John-Baptiste, who will graduate Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture.
The university also plans to issue an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to Rena Brodhurst as recognition of her career in journalism. The longtime publisher and editor of The St. Croix Avis “helped shape public discourse in the territory and championed the importance of a free and independent press,” according to the university.
The keynote speaker will be Adam O’Neal, known professionally as Adam O., who will also receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of his contributions to music, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
The ceremonies will be livestreamed via UVI YouTube, UVI Facebook, UVI Events Calendar, www.uvi.edu, and the Government Access Channel.
Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement in response to a report of over 100 gunshots fired in Frederiksted, St. Croix:
V.I. Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett. (Screenshot from video)
“The ongoing violence in our territory weighs heavily on me. Every incident is a painful reminder of how much work remains for us.
“Frederiksted holds a very special place in my heart and in the work of my office. We have seen this town endure years of neglect and deterioration — and we have also seen the resilience of the people who refuse to give up on it. I am continually inspired by the residents, business owners, advocates, and community members who show up every single day committed to making the town of Frederiksted better. My team and I stand with you, as we always have.
“Frederiksted deserves safety, investment, and the full attention of every level of government. We will continue to fight for nothing less.”
The Virgin Islands Police Department proudly hosted its third Cadet Program Ceremony on Thursday, May 7, at the St. Croix Educational Complex, recognizing and celebrating the dedication and achievements of itsparticipating youth.
This year’s cohort included students from the St. Croix Educational Complex and St. Croix Central High School. (Submitted photo)
This year’s cohort included students from the St. Croix Educational Complex and St. Croix Central High School. The ceremony highlighted the cadets’ commitment, growth, and successful completion of the program, which is designed to build awareness of careers in law enforcement while strengthening community engagement.
The VIPD Cadet Program is a structured youth development and pre-professional initiative aimed at engaging young residents of the United States Virgin Islands. The program provides participants with valuable training and preparation for future careers in law enforcement, while also fostering personal development, discipline, and leadership skills.
Through hands-on experiences, cadets actively participate in community service and gain insight into policing and public safety. The program serves as a recruitment tool for the VIPD, targeting high school students with a strong interest in law enforcement careers. Upon graduation and reaching the age of 18, participants may be offered positions within the department, providing a pathway toward eventual entry into the VIPD Police Academy.
This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Department of Education (21st Century Program), working together to create meaningful opportunities for youth while building a pipeline for future law enforcement professionals in the territory.
The Virgin Islands Police Department extends its sincere congratulations to the following cadets:
Lucianick Alexander
Maleigha Bannis
Je’Quan Barnes
Ke’Mykah Barnes
Catrice Benjamin
Yarelis Bermudez
Jealynneth Cepeda
Jahmal Christian
Cecilia Commabatch
Linroy Forde
Richard James
Mah’Kaijah Jean
Kymani Richards
Jaylin Velazquez
The VIPD remains committed to investing in programs that strengthen community ties, promote civic responsibility, and create positive pathways for the territory’s youth.
The next Cadet Program graduation ceremony will be held on May 18, on St. Thomas, with nine graduates from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
For more information on the Cadet Program, please contact Ms. Carol Cuffy, Director of Community Affairs at 340-774-2211.
Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources is advising the St. Croix community that the Division of Fish and Wildlife is offering free public access to the Isaac Gateword James ParkArchery Range during designated times each week.
The Isaac Gateword James Park Archery Range. (Submitted photo)
Beginning the week of May 11, the archery range will be open Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Please note that these hours represent a change from previous opening days and times.
To ensure safe use of the facility, access is limited to a maximum of 10 individuals per session, with one DPNR staff member overseeing up to nine participants. Each session will consist of a 90-minute time slot, and advance registration is required. Sign-ups open each Monday for the upcoming week, subject to availability.
“DPNRremains committed to providing the Virgin Islands community with safe and accessible outdoor recreational opportunities,” said Commissioner Oriol. Through our collaboration with the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, the archery range offers a designated space where residents can responsibly practice with their equipment. Standard archery targets are permitted. The shooting of domesticated or wild animals is prohibited in the Virgin Islands, except in limited circumstances approved on a case-by-case basis. All safety rules for archery use at IGJP have been carefully reviewed and must be followed.
The government-operated archery range adheres to all Government of the Virgin Islands policies and safety standards. Individuals interested in participating must register online to check availability and reserve a time slot by visiting:Permits & Applications -Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources and filling out the DPNR Archery Field Use application.
DPNR receives funding through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration Program, which supports the maintenance and availability of public archery ranges nationwide.
Groups or individuals with their own archery equipment who are interested in learning or practicing more advanced archery or hunting-related skills are encouraged to contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife directly.
For more information, visit https://dpnr.vi.gov or contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife call St. Croix:(340) 773-1082 or St. Thomas: (340) 774-3320 DFWElectronic@usvi.onmicrosoft.com
In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.
