The family of Fedora Harrigan is sadden to announce her passing on May 2, 2025.
Fedora Harrigan
Fedora is survived by her son: Christopher St. Rose, Grandchildren: Byran St. Rose, Arshari St. Rose, Great grandchildren: JD King, Myles St. Rose, Brother(s): Gilroy Calixte, Linis Emmanuel, sisters: Marilyn Emmanuel, Margarita Marchall, Eudoxia Attie, Nephew: Vibert Monchery and family, St. Croix, St. Lucia and New York, Special Friends: Miss Rawlins, Grove Place, Sweweta, McDonald’s Staff of La Reine and her neighbors in Mutual Homes.
Her funeral service is scheduled to be held on May 23, at Ebenezer Holiness, Plot 48 Grove Place. Viewing 9 a.m., service 10 a.m. There will be no graveside service.
Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea has joined a bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general urging Congress to pass the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act — legislation designed to curb early drug use through evidence-based education and outreach, the Justice Department announced.
The proposed bill, introduced by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize federal funding for youth-targeted public service announcements, peer-led campaigns, and culturally relevant media outreach initiatives.
“Protecting our youth from the dangers of early substance use requires more than just enforcement — it demands education, engagement, and evidence-based prevention,” Rhea stated in a press release issued Thursday. “This legislation recognizes that truth and gives communities the tools they need to reach young people where they are, with messages that resonate. I strongly urge Congress to act on this common sense step toward a healthier, safer future for our children.”
According to the Justice Department, the bill mandates that all campaigns be grounded in research, tailored for cultural relevance, and adapted to meet the needs of local communities. Funded initiatives would include public service announcements across platforms like social media and streaming services, as well as youth-led PSA contests to promote peer engagement. Annual reporting requirements are also included to ensure transparency and effectiveness.
“This thoughtful and timely legislation represents a critical, evidence-based step toward reducing youth substance use through strategic public education and engagement,” the coalition wrote in a letter to Senate leadership.
Rhea and his colleagues emphasized the urgency of the measure, citing the growing prevalence of synthetic drugs and fentanyl-related overdoses. Studies show that early drug use increases the risk of long-term addiction and other serious consequences that ripple through schools, families, and communities.
“It is not just a matter of policy — it is a matter of prevention, education, and hope,” the attorneys general wrote.
The letter of support was led by attorneys general from New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, and South Dakota, and signed by counterparts from 34 other states and territories, including Alaska, California, Georgia, Michigan, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Virgin Islands Police Department and Office of Highway Safety are warning residents and visitors to buckle up — or face the consequences.
Launching the annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign, the VIPD joins the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a territory-wide push to enforce seat belt laws and raise awareness of the deadly risks of non-compliance, the agencies announced.
“Non-compliance causes an unacceptable number of injuries and fatalities on our roads each year,” said VIPD Commissioner Mario Brooks in a press release. “Seat belts, along with increased traffic enforcement, are our best defense to reduce these preventable tragedies. Our message is clear: click it or pay a ticket.”
The enforcement campaign runs through June 1 and includes heightened patrols focused on seat belt usage. Officials said this year’s initiative is especially urgent, as recent data shows that only 71 percent of motorists and front-seat passengers in the territory wear seat belts — far below the national average of 91.2 percent, according to the press release.
With an average of 14 crashes occurring daily in the Virgin Islands, the VIPD is urging the public to take the simple, proven step of wearing a seat belt on every trip. “The Department is proud to stand with NHTSA and law enforcement officials nationwide in their critical effort to remind everyone about this simple and lifesaving safety measure: buckle up,” Brooks said.
For more information on occupant protection programs or to request safety resources, contact the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety at (340) 473-7383 or visit www.vipd.gov.vi.
The VI Department of Health, in partnership with the Humane Society of St. Thomas, is proud to announce a two-week Pet Care Clinic offering comprehensive veterinary services at no cost to pet owners.
Kitten is prepped, given oxygen and ready for surgery. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
The clinic will take place June 17 through June 28, 2025, at the Humane Society of St. Thomas, located at 4012 New Herrnhut.
This unique opportunity is made possible through a grant with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program, which is deploying a 24-member veterinary team to St. Thomas. The team will provide care for cats, dogs, and rabbits, helping to ensure the well-being of the island’s beloved pets. The IRT has committed to bring a similar program to the St. Croix district in 2026.
“This effort began during our second IRT collaboration last year,” said VI Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. “It took some time to come to fruition, but we’re thrilled to now extend care to our extended family — our pets. We know how important animals are to our own mental and emotional well-being, so it’s only right that they are well cared for too. I encourage every pet owner to take advantage of this very special opportunity.”
Services offered at the clinic will include:
Spay and neuter procedures
Vaccinations
Wellness checks
Microchipping
All services are provided at no cost. Appointments are required and can be made by calling the Humane Society of St. Thomas at (321) 327-9142. For more details, visit https://humanesocietystthomas.org or call (340) 775-0599.
“We are honored to host this initiative and grateful for the partnership with the Department of Health and the IRT team,” said Kathryn Kennington, Shelter Manager of the Humane Society of St. Thomas. “This is a tremendous service to our community, and we look forward to welcoming pets and their families to the clinic.”
The IRT program previously supported the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2023 and 2024 by deploying military medical teams to provide healthcare services to residents, delivering approximately $2.25 million in care at no cost.
The Department’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tai Hunte-Ceasar, led the application for the IRT program and was honored with a National IRT Champion Award in 2024.
“We are truly grateful for this program and the military medical professionals who have made such a lasting impact on healthcare in our territory,” said Dr. Hunte-Ceasar. “We’re delighted to welcome them back — this time for our furry companions — and we look forward to hopefully seeing them again in 2026 to serve our residents once more.”
The Department of Health remains committed to promoting the health and well-being of all members of the Virgin Islands community—two-legged and four-legged alike.
With one of the busiest and riskiest travel weekends of the year approaching, the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety is calling on the public to make safety the top priority this Memorial Day. Whether heading to the beach, a family barbecue, or a holiday gathering, drivers are urged to stay sober, alert, and distraction-free.
“Memorial Day weekend should be a time to relax and celebrate, not a time to grieve a tragic loss,” said VIOHS Director Daphne O’Neal in a press release. “We’re asking everyone to make smart choices — whether you’re behind the wheel, on foot, or on a motorcycle or bicycle — so we can all have a safe and memorable holiday weekend.”
The department stressed that even a few seconds of distraction or a single poor decision, such as speeding or driving under the influence, could result in tragedy. Residents and visitors alike are asked to obey speed limits, especially in neighborhoods and near beaches, and to look out for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Virgin Islands Police Department’s safety message also highlights the importance of staying alert during long drives, using designated drivers, and avoiding cellphone use while driving.
“Let’s work together to keep our roads, beaches, and neighborhoods safe. Buckle up, slow down, and make smart choices — because every life matters,” O’Neal said.
To schedule a traffic safety presentation or learn more about safe driving initiatives, contact the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety at (340) 513-5291 or visit www.vipd.gov.vi.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s recent call for Virgin Islanders in the diaspora to “come home” and help build a stronger territory is heartfelt. His appeal taps into a deep connection to the place that raised me — the soil where my dreams first took root. But while his vision is noble, the reality on the ground demands a more grounded conversation.
June Bridges (Submitted photo)
Yes, my dreams began in the Virgin Islands. The culture, the community, the struggle — they shaped my resilience, and my unshakable determination. But it was the mainland that gave me the tools to succeed: with a veteran’s journey, a doctorate in education, and a career dedicated to service. These achievements weren’t handed to me — they were built through sacrifice, and they now equip me with the skills and experience to give back meaningfully to the place where I was born.
And I will give back. I will use every skill I’ve earned to contribute to the Virgin Islands — to empower, to support, and to uplift. But I will also return to my comfort, because I’ve earned it.
The truth is that many of us left not out of selfishness, but out of necessity. I was sent to the states for a better life after completing Wayne Aspinall Jr. High. And while the governor highlights new initiatives — free college, housing support, and healthcare expansion — these are only part of the picture. The territory still faces systemic challenges: limited job markets, high living costs, failing infrastructure, gun violence (July 8, 2024 at Brewers Bay), and deep economic instability. Virgin Islands not all so nice.
So the question becomes: return to what? Will we find employment? Or are we expected to invest personal resources into a system not yet ready to support sustainability? Most Virgin Islanders at home are already stretched thin — struggling to afford housing, food, and medical care. These are not conditions that attract return — they are conditions that push people away.
Still, my heart is tethered to the Virgin Islands. I will come home to teach, to support, to give. I can mentor, I can use my background in workforce development, I can teach résumé and interview skills to give back to the community.
But I will not stay in hardship for the sake of sentiment. I will always return to the life I’ve built — a life that allows me to contribute from a place of strength.
Because loving home doesn’t mean abandoning everything you’ve worked for. It means honoring your roots while walking forward with purpose.
I haven’t forgotten where I came from. And I haven’t stopped giving. But I’m giving from where I can thrive — and for me, that means going home to help, and returning to the comfort I earned with no love lost!
— June Bridges, Palm Beach County, Florida, holds both a master’s and doctorate in education (curriculum, instruction and technology). She is a U.S. Army veteran and has served the federal government for the past 22 years. Her background is in training, workforce development/employee development, curriculum development and technology skills. Though all of her professional blessings and accomplishments were cultivated stateside, the manifestations of her dreams and aspirations began on the island of St. Thomas, which she knew from early childhood would be limited.
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.
The family of Shakisha Ashly announces her passing on April 30, 2025.
Shakisha Ashly
Shakisha was preceded in death by proceeded in death by her grandparents: Caroline Penn Blackwood and Alphonse Ashly; great grandparents: Ophelia and Wilmoth Blackwood Sr., Rosamond and Charles Penn Sr. and Gertrude Antoine; and uncle: Bruno Ashly.
She is survived by her parents: Gail Blackwood and Desmond Ashly; grandparents: Ray Blackwood and Celina Ashly. Also left to mourn are her sisters: Jnique and Delsa Ashly and Asia Canton; brothers: Devante and Desil Ashly; nephew: Kedel Cadasse; aunts: Sylvanese and Vicky Ashly, Patricia and Alexandra Blackwood and Le’Shaunda Stanislas; uncles: Anthony and Hyacinth Ashly, Dale, Ray Jr. ,Ryan and Demetrius Blackwood; God Parents: Ingrid Scatliffe, Cynthia Parsons, Sonia Penn and Lottie Oneal; great aunts: Eleanor Parilla, Ileta David, Bianca Creque, Ruebel Penn, Kittie Penn, Leotitia Smith, Macell Ferguson, Ethna Campbell, Lorna Penn, Lorene Blackwood, Linette Stalliard and Lottie Oneal; great uncles: Richard, Gafford, James, Charles Jr, Cecil, Franklyn and William Penn, William Ferguson and Wilmoth Blackwood Jr.; cousins: Tiffany Ingram, Jayni, Daijah and Deandra Blackwood, Jasmyn and Jaiana James, Justice James, Jeylani and Jayden Blackwood, Gemma, Gemmesha, Gemmali and Gemmal Ashly, Stanley Powell, Lakresha Powell Abraham, Laneisha Abraham, Kanikwa Ashly, Hyacinth Jr, and Ezius and Casiyah Ashly; God daughter: Jada Bastian; special friends: Ian Pemberton, Kayla King, Chenae Joseph, Amalia Buckmire, Michelle McClendon, TSA Crew F Gate, Marriott Renaissance Gateway Crew; and her Fur Baby Cookie Blackwood and many family and friends to numerous to mention.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service on Saturday, June 7 at Wesley Methodist Church, Annas Retreat, St. Thomas. Viewing begins at 9 a.m. and the service at 10 a.m. Interment is at Eastern Cemetery, Smith Bay. The family requests that family and friends were shades of purple.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services.
May 30 is the deadline for tributes. Please send tributes to: tributes340@gmail.com.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation is proud to announce its participation in the 2025 Concacaf Womens Professional Football Development Seminar in Monterrey, Mexico on May 23 and 24. Representing the Federation at this important regional event will be Anna Scott, Chairwoman of the USVISF Women’s Committee.
U.S Virgin Islands Soccer Association (USVISA)
This high-level seminar, organized by Concacaf, aims to build upon the foundation laid at the October 2024 edition held in San Diego, California. The 2025 forum will serve as a platform to discuss the 4-year strategic roadmap for professionalizing women’s football in the region. Key topics will include updates on the Concacaf W Club Licensing Regulations, global best practices in league and club development, and initiatives that continue to elevate the women’s game across the Concacaf region and beyond.
Participation in events such as the Concacaf W Professional Football Development Seminar underscores the Federation’s continued efforts to invest in the future of women’s football and create meaningful opportunities for female athletes, coaches, and administrators throughout the territory.
The Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association (VHFCNBA) is proud to announce that Brendalyn Edwards will be sworn in as its next President at the organization’s 70th Anniversary Gala on June 28, at the Boca Raton Resort. Born and raised in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Edwards will make history as the first Virgin Islander to serve as president of a bar association in the state of Florida.
Swearing in of Brendalyn Edwards. (Submitted photo)
A respected legal advisor, seasoned litigator, and dedicated community leader, Ms. Edwards currently serves as Deputy General Counsel of Operations at Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company. Her distinguished career includes serving as an Assistant County Attorney assigned to the Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office, Assistant General Counsel for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, and Acting Director of Gaming Enforcement for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice.
A distinguished attorney and dedicated advocate for justice, Edwards has been a trailblazer in the legal community. Her presidency marks a significant milestone for Caribbean representation in the legal profession, reflecting the increasing influence of Virgin Islanders and Caribbean nationals in leadership roles across the United States.
“It is an incredible honor to lead this esteemed organization, which has been at the forefront of legal advocacy and diversity for 70 years,” said Edwards. “I am committed to continuing the mission of supporting Black attorneys, expanding opportunities, and reinforcing our commitment to justice for underserved communities. I hope that my journey serves as a reminder to people from similar backgrounds that we belong in every room, at every table, and that our voices matter. I also hope it signals to the broader legal community the importance of recognizing and uplifting leaders from diverse walks of life.”
The theme of the Gala is Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges. It will be a powerful evening of celebration, community, and legacy. The evening will feature the presentation of Medals of Honor recognizing 30 attorneys and judges whose exceptional leadership, advocacy, and enduring commitment have advanced the cause of diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. In the spirit of Virgil Hawkins, whose courageous fight for justice changed the course of legal history, the Medal of Honor recipients are recognized not only for their professional excellence, but for their transformative impact in building a more equitable and representative legal system for generations to come.
The organization will also present Trailblazer Awards to Detra Shaw-Wilder and Florida Bar President-Elect Sia Baker-Barnes. The VHFCNBA Trailblazer Award honors an esteemed member of The Florida Bar with more than 15 years of exemplary service, whose career reflects the enduring legacy and pioneering spirit of Virgil Hawkins. This award recognizes attorneys who have not only broken barriers in the legal profession but have actively paved the way for others within the practice of law.
Following in the footsteps of many of the honorees, under Edwards’ leadership, VHFCNBA will continue to expand its impactful work, including:
Awarding scholarships to promising law students,
Providing mentorship programs for aspiring attorneys,
Hosting free legal clinics to assist underserved communities,
Offering bar preparation seminars to help law students succeed, and
Leading various outreach initiatives aimed at promoting justice, access, and leadership development.
Edwards’ election is a proud moment for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean diaspora. Her leadership is expected to bring new energy and a fresh perspective to the organization, strengthening its reach and impact both in Florida and beyond.
This dynamic two-week program is designed to help students successfully transition into high school. Participants will build academic readiness, connect with peers, and learn valuable strategies to excel at CAHS.
Register now
Scan the QR code on the flyer or call 340-774-0780 for more details.
Let’s start the high school journey strong. See you this summer at CAHS!
