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SECOND UPDATE: More St. Thomas Electrical Feeders Scheduled To Go Offline

Mat Probasco
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SECOND UPDATE: More St. Thomas Electrical Feeders Scheduled To Go Offline

More electrical feeders will be taken offline as Water and Power Authority crews investigate earlier outages.

As of approximately 8:40 a.m., there is an electrical service interruption impacting Feeders 6B, 8B, and 7E. WAPA crews are investigating the cause of the outage. A rotation outage schedule may go into effect until repairs are completed. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Our crews continue to troubleshoot repairs needed for full restoration. Based on load demand, the following feeders may be impacted. We apologize for the inconvenience.

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Feeder 7E
Feeder 8B
Feeder 10B (portion)

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Feeder 7C
Feeder 7B

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Feeder 9C
Feeder 9E

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Feeder 10B
Feeder 7E
Feeder 8B

10:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Feeder 7C
Feeder 7B

To ensure the safety of our crews working in close proximity to live lines, Feeder 8B will remain without electrical service until repairs are safely completed. We understand this may cause some inconvenience and truly appreciate your patience and understanding as our team works to restore and improve service. We will continue to provide updates as work progresses.

Bryan Addresses Gun Violence, Hurricane Season in Post-Carnival Briefing

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Bryan Addresses Gun Violence, Hurricane Season in Post-Carnival Briefing

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. acknowledged the tragic end to the 2025 St. Thomas Carnival during a Government House briefing Monday.

“It’s just with tremendous pride and reflection that we wrapped up another incredible Virgin Islands Carnival in St. Thomas — the celebration that showcased and showcases our culture, talent and community spirit every single year,” he said. “But even as we celebrated, we were reminded of the challenges we continue to face as a community.”

Carnival came to an abrupt end when 26-year-old Franky Matthew was shot and killed late Saturday night in or near the restroom area in the Fort Christian parking lot. One man was injured and another killed in a second deadly shooting approximately 24 hours later.

Bryan extended his condolences to the victims’ families and urged anyone with information about the shootings to either contact law enforcement or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers. Bryan expressed confidence that the perpetrators will be caught but lamented the “cycle of violence and sadness.”

“Because his parents, his mother or family is going to be very sad when they got locked up,” he said before referencing the number of pardons and sentence commutations he’s authorized as governor.

“We need to educate our young people on better ways to handle discrepancies, arguments between one another,” he said a moment later.

Saturday night’s shooting prompted countless discussions and conversations on social media about the state of young men in the territory and the efficacy of law enforcement. Last week’s briefing included a substantial pre-Carnival safety update, during which acting St. Thomas Police Chief Deborah Hodge said surveillance cameras had been installed “throughout the village and the downtown areas and other areas in the territory, which are monitored 24/7” and that drone cameras would also be used.

“Yes, we still maintain a lot of cameras for Carnival,” Bryan said when asked about them Monday. “We still put them up — we have to — but … cameras are not a deterrent for people who are on a mission. I don’t know about the one on Sunday evening, but the one on Saturday night — that definitely looks like something targeted.”

Bryan said cameras can deter a lot — but not all — crime.

“That’s why I asked people to — you need to talk to our young men about resolving matters, because all the amount of cameras, all the amount of police is not going to be a deterrent to people who are determined to take other people’s lives,” he said.

On Monday, Bryan also announced his nomination of acting Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Vincent Roberts to permanently head the department following last summer’s departure of former Commissioner Calvert White, who resigned amid a federal indictment that accused him of selling a $2.1 million surveillance camera contract for $16,000 in kickbacks.

Bryan later acknowledged the start of National Hurricane Preparedness Week and encouraged Virgin Islanders to steel themselves for another hurricane season by creating an emergency plan, replenishing supplies, inspecting and securing homes and establishing clear communication lines and plans with family and friends.

“I like that,” he said of the last suggestion, “because oftentimes you go and you finish securing your home, and that’s when your cousin, your auntie, your grandmother, somebody calls you and say, ‘oh I need help with hurricane preparation,’ right when the winds start to pick up,” he said. “So you gotta make sure that they’re ready, because forecasters have 17 named storms this year and four major hurricanes — nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes.”

An early forecast issued by Colorado State University last month said researchers anticipate that the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will have “above-normal activity” and “an above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean.”

The upcoming hurricane season, which starts on June 1, coincides with the Trump administration’s pursuit of funding and staff cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which houses the National Weather Service. On Friday, five former NWS leaders reportedly signed an open letter to the administration warning that the agency’s remaining staff “will have an impossible task to continue its current level of services.”

“Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be a needless loss of life,” they wrote.

Bryan acknowledged Monday that the territory depends on the agency for hurricane forecasting and said the U.S. Virgin Islands usually has a dedicated meteorologist assigned to the territory.

“I think that’s going to remain in place, as far as I know,” he said. “I think what’s more frightening to me is: President Trump has been denying disaster declarations and saying states have to do more for that. That, for us, could be catastrophic, and that’s why we have to keep these lines of credit open — different sources — where we can respond immediately to a major disaster.”

Trump denied federal disaster relief requested by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee after a series of tornadoes killed dozens of people in that state in March.

Bryan Taps Vincent Roberts to Lead Sports, Parks and Recreation

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Bryan Taps Vincent Roberts to Lead Sports, Parks and Recreation
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced his official nomination Monday of Vince Roberts, above, as DSPR commissioner. (Source photo by Ananta Pancham)

With dozens of Federal Emergency Management Agency-funded projects still in motion and aging public spaces in need of upkeep, Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner-nominee Vince Roberts says the path forward starts with finishing what’s been started — and finding ways to pay for what comes next.

“We started with about 56 FEMA projects — we’re down to 15,” Roberts said Monday after Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced his nomination during the weekly Government House presser. “The immediate goal is to finish those and make sure we use every dollar before we lose it.”

That includes major upgrades like lighting at Lionel E. Roberts Stadium and Griffith Park on St. Thomas, phase two of the D.C. Canegata Recreation Center on St. Croix, and improvements to Frederiksted facilities.

On St. Thomas, the department is also supporting a multiphase revitalization of Ezra Fredericks Ballpark in Estate Frydenhoj. A new playground and shaded seating have already opened, while construction on a new skate and bike park — led by the Virgin Islands Surfing Federation — is expected to be completed this spring. Upcoming work includes resurfacing the basketball court, adding restrooms and a concession stand, and renovating the maintenance office, Roberts said.

Meanwhile, another big milestone is set for this Friday: the reopening of the Vincent F. Mason Sr. Coral Resort Pool in Frederiksted. The five-acre waterfront complex, which includes the public pool, has undergone major improvements — new tiling, shaded cabanas, ADA-accessible features, barbecue grills, and updated playground equipment — all aimed at making the space more welcoming and inclusive. Roberts called the reopening “a major one for us,” and a step forward in restoring quality recreational facilities across the territory.

Still, Roberts was clear that building new isn’t enough. “We get money to build,” he said. “But maintenance and upkeep? That’s the hard part.”

To address that, Roberts said he’s also prioritizing revenue generation. The department, which operates on one of the smallest budgets in government, is looking to revive automated parking systems at Griffith Park, adjust rental fees to match market rates, and reintroduce facility rentals for popular spaces like Oppenheimer Beach on St. John.

While Oppenheimer isn’t a FEMA project, it is undergoing rehabilitation with support from an Economic Development Authority grant and Coastal Zone Management funds. The department is planning to bring the facility back online for weddings, events, and community use, generating income that can be used for upkeep not just there, but across DSPR properties.

“Oppenheimer is one of our more popular venues,” Roberts said. “We want to make it something that works for the community and helps sustain itself.”

Bryan, for his part, said Roberts’ experience made him the right choice to lead the department through this next chapter. “Mr. Roberts has given more than 18 years of dedicated service and has shown real leadership every step of the way,” he said during Monday’s briefing, adding that he hopes the Legislature will move quickly to confirm the nomination.

Roberts said he’s in the process of drafting a list of short- and long-term goals for the remainder of the administration’s term. That includes continuing to expand access to wellness and fitness programs, building more self-sufficient facilities, and ensuring public spaces remain usable and safe.

“We’ve come a long way,” Roberts said. “Now it’s about making sure we finish strong – and leave things better than we found them.”

As Wellness Investments Rise, Mental Health Care Still Faces Uphill Climb

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As Wellness Investments Rise, Mental Health Care Still Faces Uphill Climb

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. this week pointed to new health and wellness initiatives taking shape across the territory — but acknowledged that when it comes to mental health infrastructure, significant gaps remain.

Speaking at Monday’s Government House press briefing, Bryan highlighted the upcoming reopening Friday of the Vincent F. Mason Sr. Coral Resort in Frederiksted as a symbol of progress. The project, completed by J. Benton Construction, is part of a broader effort to create safe, public spaces that support both physical activity and mental well-being.

“These kinds of spaces matter,” Bryan said. “They give families and young people a place to go that supports both physical and mental well-being.”

But beyond pools and parks, the territory’s behavioral health system continues to face long-standing challenges. Bryan acknowledged that the government is still paying to house Virgin Islanders with serious mental health conditions in facilities across the mainland U.S.— some in high-security psychiatric institutions — because there are no appropriate long-term care options locally.

“We’re struggling to pay what we already owe to those facilities,” Bryan said in follow-up remarks. “And we know not everyone still needs to be there.”

Plans are in motion, he said, to return some individuals to the territory, including a proposal to house lower-need individuals in a designated behavioral health unit at Golden Grove Correctional Facility on St. Croix. Others could be moved to long-term care once adequate local facilities are operational.

One possibility is the shuttered Sea View Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility on St. Thomas, which closed in 2020. Bryan said the government is still actively assessing the property and considering its use for expanded mental health services.

“We are about to purchase Sea View, where we have money set aside,” Bryan said. “We’re looking at an engineering report to see what exactly that’s going to take before we purchase it, because we don’t want another rotting facility on the government’s hands.” In the 34th Legislature, $4 million from the Jeffrey Epstein Victims Compensation Fund was set aside to outfit the facility once the purchase is complete, according to former Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory, a primary sponsor of the bill.

Meanwhile, Bryan added after the presser that several health care providers based in the mainland U.S. have expressed interest in operating facilities in the Virgin Islands, and that he plans to meet with them and showcase local options.

“If we buy it, then the person can repair it and run it,” he said, “and we’ll be able to have some extra facilities to put people in.”

The administration is also considering a more immediate solution for residents dealing with homelessness, many of whom also face behavioral health challenges, by repurposing existing government buildings into transitional housing. Bryan said the goal is to make spaces livable quickly, without the costly additions of full kitchens or major infrastructure changes.

Meanwhile, recruiting mental health professionals remains one of the most persistent hurdles. The territory has struggled to bring in licensed psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, and while compacts have been signed to rotate providers through, Bryan admitted the model isn’t ideal.

“For someone dealing with mental illness, it’s important to have a provider they can trust and see regularly,” he said. “That’s something we continue to work on.”

Even as the administration works to expand access and services, Bryan pointed to concerning signs in the broader health landscape. Only about 55 percent of government employees are fully using their government health insurance benefits, like wellness checks, he said, adding that the private sector should expect to see a rise in health insurance costs in the coming year.

“These numbers tell a story,” Bryan said. “If we want to be a healthier Virgin Islands, we have to do more than build — we have to shift how people engage with care.”

Company Petitions Court for VIHFA Procurement Records

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Company Petitions Court for VIHFA Procurement Records
Alexander A. Farrelly Justice Center (Source photo by James Gardner)
The most recent, publicly available version of the V.I. Housing Finance Authority’s procurement procedures took effect in February 2023. An environmental consulting firm petitioned the V.I. Superior Court Monday to compel the agency to release records related to those procedures. (Source file photo)

An environmental engineering and consulting firm seeking clarity into the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority’s procurement practices asked the V.I. Superior Court to compel the agency to comply with the company’s public records request.

The petition, filed Monday by Ohio-based Gandee and Associates, includes a number of allegations about awards the agency made after issuing two requests for qualifications in March and June 2024. VIHFA issued RFQs for environmental review, assessments and testing and environmental services, respectively.

In January, Gandee began submitting “multiple inquiries to VIHFA regarding apparent violations of both the Authority’s Procurement Policy … and federal procurement regulations applicable to HUD-funded projects.”

Implied in those questions, which are included in the complaint, are allegations that VIHFA: selected contractors who “did not appear to meet the minimum qualifications for selection”; revised the scope of work for contracts drafted post-bid award for one of the solicitations; awarded a project to a contractor whose bid was “over 300% higher than G&A’s bid for the same scope of work”; and other claims.

In March, Gandee formally requested records of VIHFA’s activities related to the two RFQs, citing both the federal Freedom of Information Act and V.I. public records laws. The firm prodded VIHFA for an update the following week and received a blanket denial from a VIHFA procurement officer, who cited a section of the agency’s policies and procedures stating that “[p]rocurement files will remain confidential until a selection has been made and approved.”

The section contains no such language, Gandee noted in its response. The section does say that “[m]ost procurement information that is not proprietary is a matter of public record and shall be available to the public to the extent provided in the United States Virgin Islands’ Freedom of Information Act.”

VIHFA also stated its policy against disclosing information prior to executing a contract “in order to preserve the fairness and integrity of the procurement process” and said that position was consistent with the V.I. Code’s provision which they said prohibits disclosing procurement process materials “if disclosure would frustrate procurement or give an unfair advantage to any person.”

“Once again, this is incorrect and does not appear in the 2019 U.S. Virgin Islands Code,” Gandee replied.

The provision the agency cited — Title 3 of the V.I. Code, section 881, subsection (g) — states that “[r]eports to governmental agencies which, if released, would give advantage to competitors and serve no public purpose” should be kept confidential unless otherwise ordered by a court, lawful custodian or anyone else authorized to do so.

“This clause is meant to protect against pre-award disclosure of confidential pricing or strategy that could allow one bidder to undercut another,” Gandee wrote in reply. “Our request was made after the bid process had concluded, concerned a publicly-funded project, and seeks information on a competitive bidding process that has concluded.”

Days later, a VIHFA contract administrator quoted Gandee a cost of $102 to produce documents related to the first RFQ but not the second, using the same language as in the agency’s initial denial. When Gandee asked which documents would be provided, the agency responded an hour later, saying that the total was actually $994.

“The fee demanded in this case is not rooted in reasonableness,” Gandee wrote in its petition to the court. “It is not supported by labor time, material cost, or any identifiable operational burden. It is a flat charge applied to discourage transparency and to burden the very right that [section] 881 was enacted to protect.”

A VIHFA spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

UVI Launches S.P.A.R.K. Initiative To Power Clean Energy Future and Workforce Development

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UVI Launches S.P.A.R.K. Initiative To Power Clean Energy Future and Workforce Development
Shovels sit before the groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the new solar farm at the University of the Virgin Islands RTPark. (Source photo by Diana Dias)

A major step toward energy resilience and sustainable workforce development was celebrated Monday at the University of the Virgin Islands, RTPark, and the Caribbean Green Technology Center formally launched the S.P.A.R.K. Initiative — Sustainable Practices Advancement and Renewable Knowledge.

Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the S.P.A.R.K. Initiative, short for Strategic Projects for Advanced Resilience and Knowledge, aims to reduce UVI’s dependence on fossil fuels while expanding educational opportunities in renewable energy. At the heart of the initiative is the construction of a 423-kilowatt ground-mounted solar farm that will offset the RTPark’s reliance on the grid and serve as a hands-on training site for students.

“This here is going to be something special,” said Hugo Hodge Jr., president of Volt Energy, the local contractor overseeing the project’s construction. The new solar array will not only support campus operations but also feature a dedicated teaching component for UVI’s newly launched Associate of Science in Renewable Energy Technology.

Official groundbreaking for the solar farm at UVI RTPark. (Source photo by Diana Dias)

UVI President Safiya George emphasized the broader educational benefits. “Here, students will learn about energy management, conduct real-time energy audits, and gain valuable experience,” George said. “This initiative is not just for UVI students — it will also serve high school and middle school students across the territory.”

Project Manager and Master of Ceremonies Amina Saleem opened the launch event by acknowledging the many departments and individuals who contributed to the project’s success.

Eric Sonnier, representing UVI RTPark, highlighted the organization’s role in economic development. “We are an economic development organization, just like the local EDA,” he said. “We focus on diversifying the economy by attracting knowledge-based and technology companies to the territory.”

A few employees and key people for the solar farm project at the groundbreaking ceremony. (Source photo by Diana Dias)

The Caribbean Green Technology Center also played a key role. Its director, Greg Guannel, was instrumental in the project’s development and implementation.

Also in attendance were Adrienne Williams-Octalien, director of the U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery, and Karl Knight, CEO of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.

“You have the top hitters on this project,” Williams-Octalien said. “You have the people that know. You have all the homegrown talent.”

Knight praised the project’s long-term vision. “While it might seem like the progress is not happening — maybe the progress is steady, but firm,” he said. “We are making progress. Projects like this make us very excited because they help us build resilience.”

The solar farm will be located on the west side of the RTPark building. (Source photo by Diana Dias)

Ian Tomlinson, chairman of the UVI RTPark Board, added, “We are building opportunities for Virgin Islanders by ensuring that the next generation has the tools, training, and pathways they need to lead in the industries of tomorrow. This is the kind of impact the RTPark was designed for.”

Following the ceremony, a ribbon-cutting marked the official launch of the project, followed by a reception. Also among those in attendance were Sen. Marise James and Virgin Islands Energy Office Director Kyle Fleming.

The solar farm is expected to be fully completed by August.

‘Spring Equinox’ Exhibit Evolves Into ‘A Taste of Spring’ Immersion at CMCARTS Thursday

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‘Spring Equinox’ Exhibit Evolves Into ‘A Taste of Spring’ Immersion at CMCARTS Thursday
Lucien Downes (Photo courtesy Lucien Downes)

Local artist/curator Lucien Downes did it again with the “Spring Equinox” exhibit that opened at CMCArts in downtown Frederiksted April 12. The forces of spring brought feelings of rebirth and renewal for Downes to recreate and curate an exhibit for the second year in a row. It’s in his blood!

Patrons experienced the expertise of Downes’ ability to discern and curate the high-quality work that would be “harmonious to the theme of the show.”

There are 67 entries of artwork displayed in the rooms of the upstairs gallery – submitted by 27 artists in the territory, mostly from St. Croix, with a note to collectors: They are all for sale.

Wee Haven. Mixed media, by Ziva Kim Sanchez (Photo courtesy Lucien Downes)

“Spring is life,” Downes said, as he mused about “folks back in the day.” 

“They looked at spring as the beginning of the year. Everything starts to bloom. Everything comes to life, while the Gregorian calendar sends a nod to Jan. 1 as the beginning of the year. 

“Of course, this is the beginning of the spring equinox,” Downes said. “So, I thought about how we go through life learning about things they taught us. And as we grow older, we learn the truth about things; it’s as if what we learned in our childhood was all a lie,” he laughed as he leaned into his recollection and detection of the ‘truth.’”

Spring Sea Chicken. Acrylic on canvas by Nora Stewart (Photo courtesy Lucien Downes)

Downes found it all very interesting when he decided to do the spring collection show. He believes, he said, in life and the really great energy at this time of the year. 

“We don’t pay attention year ‘round. Then we notice when there’s a good amount of rain, everything turns from brown to green. I love to see the Flamboyant tree in bloom – when everything else is dying, they come out in their splendor; they are the brightest thing around when there’s no water. The islands take care of themselves. They know when to bloom and when not to bloom. It’s still beautiful yearly.”

When the Sun Stands Still. Acrylic yarn, by Kanda Burgess (Photo courtesy Lucien Downes)

Downes spoke to the Source about the “Taste of Spring” collaboration between him and CMCArts. He and executive director Lisa Mordhorst brainstormed about an inspiration for patrons to come again and for new patrons to experience the work. 

“We talked about a ‘meet and greet’ for the artists and the patrons. It would be a very interactive event — a whole immersive experience,” Downes shared.

Divine Feminine. Mixed media, by Lucien Downes (Photo courtesy Lucien Downes)

“Last year, we experimented with a private event: a sit-down dinner as a suggested donation fundraiser with a one-hour walk-through with the artists. It was well-received and very impressive,” Mordhorst said.

This year, the collaborators (Downes and Mordhorst) decided on a more reception-style affair with curator Downes guiding a tour throughout the gallery, giving a more intimate view of the artwork, with some of the artists present to speak about their work.

Serendipity. Acrylic on canvas, by Gene Rotter (Photo courtesy Lucien Downes)

“We are very grateful for our partnership with Lucien each year because he is very conscientious about wanting to create a fundraiser to help CMCArts. Not only does it help the artists, in this case, because we’re talking about the show, to invigorate interest in buying the work. Lucien is always very concerned about creating deeper fundraising opportunities for CMCArts and I’m grateful for that,” Mordhorst said.

“Philanthropy by Design has donated the energy and the food: charcuterie towers — a smorgasbord — paired with wines. CC1, although wholly focused on the St. Thomas Carnival, has donated wines from a specific vineyard for tasting at the event,” Mordhorst shared.

Atabey (The Creator of Goddess). Mixed media, by Eliana Schuster Brown (Photo courtesy Lucien Downes)

“We’re classifying ‘A Taste of Spring’ as a fundraiser. It’s an amazing opportunity for the community. It’s an Equinox Experience: Celebrate the beauty of spring in full bloom with us at a special evening with the ‘Spring Equinox’ Exhibition! Step into a lush world of color, flavor, and creativity with an exclusive artist-guided tour led by curator Lucien Downes, discounts on some original artworks, and savor an exquisite charcuterie spread by Philanthropy by Design with wine pairings sponsored by CC1. May 8, 2025, 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets: $45, Couples: $40 each. All proceeds contribute to the SEA Education Fund Match and Candia Atwater-Shields Scholarship Fund,” Mordhorst said. 

Music by a special guest will take place on May 8. The exhibit will be open until May 24.

For more information:
cmcarts.org
Call: 340-772-2622

The Caribbean Writer Submissions Open

Mat Probasco
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The Caribbean Writer Submissions Open

In anticipation of its upcoming 40th anniversary, The Caribbean Writer (TCW) is issuing dual call for submissions under the theme: “40 years of The Caribbean Writer: A Spectrum of Representation.” We invite contributors to explore this theme in all its permutations with works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, or one-act plays.

In addition to the usual call for creative works, we are also issuing a Call for Papers focused on the diverse themes explored in The Caribbean Writer over the years, highlighting how our shared humanity emerges through the discourse present in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. As an international journal, The Caribbean Writer continues to investigate our humanity at home and in the diaspora in an ever-changing world. Through its dynamic publications, it has remained impactful for over four decades. Papers will be presented at the anniversary symposium scheduled for April 2026 and published in an anniversary supplement of The Caribbean Writer.

Abstracts will be reviewed by a scholarly panel of seven. Successful papers will be published in a TCW supplement while selected authors will be invited to present their papers at the Conference to be held at the University of the Virgin Islands, St Croix campus.

Using the TCW journal as a reference point, authors are invited to explore the themes, subjects, motifs, and topics over the 40 years of The Caribbean Writer and present a scrupulous analysis in one of the following contexts:

1. Building Regional Community, Connections and Transformations

2. Calypso and Conflict: Music and Politics in the Literature

3. Voices of the Diaspora: Migration and Belonging

4. Negotiating Nuances of Legacy, Ethnicity, Hybridity, Identity

5. Masculinity as a Navigational Theme in Caribbean Communities

6. Rewriting History: Literature as a Tool for Social Change

7. How Language Shapes Meaning in Caribbean Text

8. Myths, Monsters, and Morality: Universal Archetypes

9. The Art of Protest: Caribbean Literature as Resistance

10. Women, Sexuality, and Identity

11. Negotiating Borders and Walls: Expressions in the Literature

12. The Caribbean Writer as a Force of Representation

13. Themes Across The Caribbean Writer

14. Visual Art as a Channel for Caribbean Literature

15. Governance and the Complexities of Power Dynamics

16. Disruption as a Motif in the Literature

17. Memory as a Force in the Literature

18. How Environment, Nature and Land Development Shape Property Ownership

19. Food as a Translation of Fellowship, Community and History

20. Contemporary Musings: Literature, Academia and the Canon

 

IMPORTANT DATE CHANGES

The proposal’s abstract (or summary) should be no more than 300 words. Abstracts are due by October 31, 2025. Kindly note that submissions for volume 40 will be accepted until November 30. Submit Word files at www.thecaribbeanwriter.org/online-submissions/

Papers should be based on the analysis of the journal’s published works. We invite you to visit the websites below to reacquaint yourselves with our publications, beginning with the first issue released in 1987:

Digital Library of the Caribbean

https://www.dloc.com/

Volumes 1 through 30 (free to view)

The Caribbean Writer website

https://www.thecaribbeanwriter.org/product-category/volumes/

Volumes 31 to 38 (available for purchase in digital or hard copy format)

As always, contributors may submit works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, or one-act plays around the theme “40 years of The Caribbean Writer: A Spectrum of Representation,” exploring the ideas resonating within the region and its diaspora. The Caribbean should be central to the work or reflect a Caribbean heritage, experience, or perspective. Prospective authors should submit all creative works, drama, fiction, and poetry manuscripts in Word format through the online portal ONLY at www.thecaribbeanwriter.org/online-submission. Note that TCW does not accept hardcopy submissions. Submissions for volume 40 are accepted immediately through to November 30, 2025. Submit Word files at www.thecaribbeanwriter.org/online-submissions/

Individuals may submit poems (3 maximum), short stories (2 maximum), and personal essays (2 maximum) on general topics and themes. The maximum length (for short stories and personal essays) is 3500 words. Only previously unpublished work will be considered. The term “previously published” covers print and electronic publication —including on social media platforms and self-published items. The Caribbean Writer does not accept simultaneous submissions (items being considered for publication elsewhere). On a separate page in that submission, the prospective author should provide contact information, including mailing address, phone number, any professional affiliations, and brief biographical information (no more than 100 words and such as appears under the “Contributors” section of the journal). If the author’s contact information changes, the author should make all updates by logging into the online account.

Artists interested in having their artwork considered for use by TCW should submit electronic files in vertical format as PNG or JPEG files with a resolution of 300 dpi or greater. The journal also accepts black-and-white art (line drawings, sketches, block prints, etc.) but does not accept graphic poetry or narratives.

Before submitting, the writer should carefully edit and proofread the manuscript, adhering to publication-ready details, as well as standards of proofreading such as spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, and consistent language, along with the elimination of typographical errors, and with a focus on the overall quality of the work.

The Caribbean Writer is a refereed journal. There are no fees payable to submit or publish in this journal. All submissions undergo an initial anonymous review by the editor. Creative works, such as fiction, poetry and drama, after editorial review, are advanced by the editor to the double-blind peer review process. In this process, reviewers’ and authors’ identities are concealed from the reviewers and vice versa throughout the review process.

Literary Prizes

All submissions are eligible for these annual prizes:

The Daily News Prize of $600 was awarded to a resident of the US Virgin Islands or the British Virgin Islands.

The Marvin E. Williams Literary Prize of $500 is awarded to a new or emerging writer and donated by Marvin’s widow, Dasil Williams, in honor of her late husband, who served as the editor of The Caribbean Writer from 2003 – 2008.

The Vincent Cooper Literary Prize of $300 is awarded to a Caribbean author for exemplary writing in Caribbean Nation Language (Kamau Brathwaite) and donated by UVI (University of the Virgin Islands) Professor Vincent Cooper, PhD.

The Anacaona Prize of $500 is awarded to anyone published in the respective volume for their interpretation of the theme, level of technical skill, and originality. It is donated by a distinguished TCW Advisory Editorial Board member who wishes to remain anonymous. (Anacaona was a female cacique, poet, and composer. She is memorialized in contemporary art and literature across the Caribbean region. A statue commemorating her legacy is in Leogane, Haiti.)

For more information, contact The Caribbean Writer at thecaribbeanwriter@uvi.edu.

Excise Tax Collections Reminder

Mat Probasco
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Excise Tax Collections Reminder

Joel A. Lee, CPA, Director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue, reminds taxpayers of the process for the clearance of imported goods into the territory.  It should be noted that there has been no change to the excise tax clearance process.  The excise tax collection process is an online process, and returns must be completed on the Bureau’s website.  Personal items being imported must also be cleared using the excise online portal.   The excise online portal can be accessed at excise.bir.vi.gov 

Local manufacturers are also reminded that they are required to file a manufacturer’s excise tax return, Form 721VI, and include the manufacturer’s worksheet, Form 721VI MWK, which will cover the monthly sale of items manufactured in the Virgin Islands. The returns are due 30 days following the month concerned. Manufacturers returns are available on the Bureau’s website, at bir.vi.gov and at the Bureau’s offices.

Questions concerning the excise tax should be directed to Mr. Glenford Hodge, Supervisor of Excise Tax Return at (340) 715-1040, extension 3201.

Maria E. Pinder Dies at 99

Mat Probasco
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Maria E. Pinder Dies at 99

Maria E. Pinder

August 1925 to April, 25, 2025

Church service May 13 at Way Of The Cross Baptist Church, 23 B Work & Rest, Christiansted, St. Croix. Viewing at 9:30 a.m. Church service at 10:30

Maria E. Pinder

She was preceded in death by her husband John I Pinder

Daughters: Eleanor Johnson, Sheron Ramdhanny(deceased), Rena Brodhurst and Lillian Pinder

Sons: Raphael James and Dale Gibbs(deceased)

Son In Law: Harold Johnson(deceased)

Surviving siblings: Dorothy Vivican, Myrtle Daniel and Roy Thomas

Grandchildren: John Ramdhanny Jr., Harold Johnson Jr., Maria Ramdhanny, Dwayne Renny

Ramdhanny(deceased), Britney Hall and Lasiba Knight

Great Grandchildren: Danielle Bryant, Dwayne Anthony Ramdhanny, Kimani Johnson, Tyanna Johnson, Kelisha Johnson, King Tipton, John Ramdhanny III, Jenai Johnson, Aaydin Johnson, Braxton Hall and Maxine Knight

Great Great Grandchildren: Phillip Bryant, Dwayne Ramdhanny III, and Preston Bryant

Her siblings that preceded her in death were Fred, Mary, Edith, Edwin, Alfonso, Christian and Peter

Her siblings’ children are Hazel, Pearl, Fred, Edith, Emelda, Leila, Joy, George, Angela, William, Alfred, David, Veronica, Roberta, Peter, Evelyn and Lawrence.

Niece In Law: Hazel Coulter

Devoted Godchildren: Henry Derricks Jr. and Kira Francis

Adopted Children: Norman (Chi Chi) Gibbs (deceased), Timothy Heidmann, Karina Phillip and Deanna Williams

Other family and friends too numerous to mention.

Special thanks to Deanna Williams, Primary Care, PLLC and staff and Continuum Care of St. Croix and staff.

The viewing will be held at Way Of The Cross Baptist church 23 B Work & Rest on May 13th from 9.30 a.m. -10:30 a.m.

The service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Divine Funeral Home.

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