Relatives and friends are advised of the passing of Joseph Augustine Greaux, affectionately known as “Lalal,” on March 10, 2025, at the age of 83.
Joseph A. Greaux is preceded in death by his parents John Joseph Greaux and Ann Pauline Greaux; Brothers: John Isidore, Paul, and Francisco ”Mush” Greaux; Sisters: Marie Blanchard, Lillan Danet, and Ann C. Greaux.
He is survived by his brother and caregiver, Johnny Greaux, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Celestial Chapel of Dan Hurley Home for Funerals. Viewing begins at 10:00 am, with service to follow at 11:00 am. Interment: Cremation.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Dan Hurley Home for Funerals and Cremation Centers of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. For online condolences or to share a special memory, visit www.hurleydavisfuneralhome.com.
Godchildren: Juniel Charleswell, Jr., Tyler Oliver, Loryiel H. Charleswell
Many great nieces and nephews
Special friends and family: Rev. Jeymonr, Willis Fahie, Orville Brown, Emily Meade, Parson’s Family, Lucinda Parson, Class #1 Cruz Bay Methodist Church, Eulalee, Monsanto, Dean Thomas, Muriel Callwood, Dwight Thomas, Caneel Bay Family, West Indian Dock family, Stafford Digou
Extended family: Henley Christopher, Charleswell, Blyden, Brathwaite, Harrigan, and Fahie
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Wesley Methodist Church – Annas Retreat. Viewing begins 9:00 am – 10:00 am, with service to follow at 10:00 am. Interment: Eastern Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Dan Hurley Home for Funerals and Cremation Centers of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. For online condolences or to share a special memory, visit www.hurleydavisfuneralhome.com.
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority announces a scheduled power outage on Monday, March 17, to facilitate the connection of Feeder 8B to the Hogensborg Solar Farm on St. Croix.
To safely continue this work, there will be two short power outages: one from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and another from 2 PM to 2:30 p.m. The schedule is subject to change based on weather conditions throughout the day.
Impacted areas are:
• Breezewood Villas
• Brook’s Hill
• Butler Bay
• Campo Rico
• Cane
• Cane Carlton
• Canebrake Apts.
• Carlton
• Concordia
• Diamond
• Enfield Green
• Frederiksted
• Frederikhaab
• Goodhope
• Ham’s Bay
• Hannah’s Rest
• Henry Rohlsen Airport
• Hogensborg
• Hope
• La Grange
• Little La Grange
• Manning Bay
• Marley Additions
• Mar’s Hill
• Mountain
• Mt. Washington
• Northside
• Prospect Hill
• Prosperity
• Smithfield
• Sprat Hall
• St. Georges
• Stoney Ground
• Two Brothers
• Two Williams
• Waldberggard
• Walter I.M. Hodge
• Wheel of Fortune
• Whim
• White Bay
• White Lady
• Williams Delight
The Hogensborg Solar Farm is a key renewable energy project and a major step in WAPA’s efforts to enhance energy reliability and sustainability for the Virgin Islands. Currently under development, it is expected to be fully operational later this year. Once completed, the solar farm will diversify energy sources to enhance service reliability and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to a more sustainable future.
The Virgin Islands Department of Education, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, is excited to invite you to the 52nd Annual Virgin Islands Territorial Spelling Bee Competition!
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 9:30 am
Location: Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School Auditorium
Come and cheer on our exceptional young spellers as they showcase their hard work, talent, and determination in this academic showdown! This dynamic event brings together top spellers from across the territory to compete for the championship title.
Join us in celebrating our students’ dedication to literacy and education while supporting their academic journey.
While Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. says it’s too soon to talk about a recession, he stressed in a press release Wednesday that his administration is taking steps to shield the U.S. Virgin Islands from potential economic instability as national markets continue to fluctuate.
On the national level, trade tensions, rising consumer costs, and shifting federal policies have fueled concerns about a broader economic downturn, according to the most recent national financial reports. The S&P 500 recently fell 0.3 percent amid uncertainty over federal budget negotiations and new tariffs targeting major trade partners like Canada, Mexico, and China. These factors have intensified stock market volatility, raising concerns of inflation as businesses adjust prices to offset rising costs.
Meanwhile, some economists continue to assess the long-term impact of President Donald Trump’s fiscal policies, which combine extended tax cuts with increased federal spending. The Congressional Budget Office recently warned that without spending reductions, these measures could drive the national debt up by an additional $4 trillion over the next decade.
Asked by the Source Thursday whether his administration was preparing for a possible recession, Bryan said, “It’s too early for recession talk. You need two consecutive quarters of downturn.” However, he acknowledged that a slowing mainland economy could offer a silver lining for the territory, including lower prices and a potential return of Virgin Islanders seeking employment. “We have jobs,” he said.
The administration has ruled out borrowing more or seeking additional or expanded lines of credit for now. Instead, Bryan has pointed to the billions in federal disaster recovery funds still fueling local infrastructure projects, calling them a key factor in making the USVI more recession-proof than many mainland jurisdictions. Since hurricanes Irma and Maria, the territory has received approximately $2.41 billion in FEMA allocations and an additional $1.02 billion from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
Tourism, which plays a vital role in the USVI economy, could be affected by a national downturn, but Bryan believes the territory’s mid-luxury and luxury market positioning offers some insulation. “Our traveler is a little better off as we are mid-luxury/luxury in the market,” he said. Additionally, a slowdown in tourism could shift short-term rentals back into the long-term housing market, helping alleviate pressure on local residents.
In his release, Bryan said behind the scenes, his administration is assessing potential vulnerabilities and trends that could impact the territory’s economy. Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte has been tasked with analyzing travel trends and shifts in visitor spending, while the Office of Management and Budget is conducting a full review of government expenditures to ensure financial stability, according to the release.
At the same time, Bryan said in his release that he’s pushing to accelerate key infrastructure projects, including major construction initiatives and discussions on reopening the refinery. His administration views these efforts as critical to stimulating job growth and diversifying the economy beyond tourism.
Contacted by the Source Thursday, Anthony Weeks, president and CEO of the St. Croix Economic Development Initiative, said that government policy plays a critical role in economic stability, warning that investor sentiment often drives market reactions.
“Public policy is directly correlated to how the capital markets respond to news and events,” he noted. “Investors hedge their positions based on what the Fed does, what the Treasury does, and what the president does.” Weeks also pointed to the potential impact of tariffs, which he called a direct tax on consumers. “A tariff is a tax, and we’re the ones paying for it,” he said. “If companies have to increase their prices to offset higher costs, consumers pull back, household expenses go up, and discretionary spending shrinks.”
Weeks also warned that the territory often feels the effects of national economic policy six months after the mainland. “We’re always in crisis mode here,” he said. “There’s rarely a proactive approach. At least this time, there’s an effort to get ahead of the problem instead of waiting until it’s too late.”
Bryan, for his part, said he is focused on positioning the territory to weather any economic headwinds — not taking on new debt, closely monitoring market conditions, and working with private-sector partners to sustain local economic activity. “We are about as well positioned for a recession as any locale can be,” Bryan said to the Source Thursday.
A recession is defined as a significant decline in economic activity that lasts more than a few months, typically reflected in gross domestic product, employment, and industrial output. It is officially recognized after two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. Stock market volatility, on the other hand, refers to the frequency and size of price swings in financial markets — often a reaction to investor uncertainty or economic instability.
During the 2008 recession, U.S. territories experienced severe economic strain. In Puerto Rico, the situation worsened as the federal government phased out Section 936 tax incentives, which had long attracted manufacturers to the island. Without these benefits, companies pulled out, leading to sharp declines in manufacturing and private-sector investment. The Puerto Rican government tried to offset the losses through public spending and debt restructuring, but these measures were not enough to prevent a prolonged economic downturn.
At the same time, the USVI, under former Gov. John deJongh Jr., took a different approach, focusing on infrastructure investment and fiscal responsibility. DeJongh’s administration issued $400 million in bonds to finance capital projects that were meant to keep public services running, create jobs, and sustain economic activity. In his 2009 State of the Territory Address, deJongh acknowledged that the USVI was already in a recession but stressed the importance of cost-cutting measures, securing federal funding, and reducing government expenses to help the territory ride out the downturn.
President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency shake-up hasn’t frozen funds pledged to the Virgin Islands yet, but local officials are on alert. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
New Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin’s termination of a reported $20 billion meant for clean energy projects has sparked lawsuits from large grant recipients. Funding for U.S. Virgin Islands solar projects had not been pulled as of Thursday but officials from Washington, D.C., to St. Croix said they were in the dark about how long it would last.
Less than a year ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pledged $62.45 million to the territory for residential community solar and power storage projects.
Awarded through the Solar for All Grant Program, the funding is meant to allow the Virgin Islands Energy Office to develop long-lasting solar programs that enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to benefit from solar power and offset the territory’s precarious reliance on the Water and Power Authority’s reliance on fossil fuels.
V.I. Energy Office Deputy Director Mike Jaffurs said the territory’s grant-funded solar projects were continuing until there is a reason not to.
“We haven’t heard not to move forward with the solar for all project,” Jaffurs said, adding that the office has open communication lines with the EPA. “We do feel confident.”
In its application for the $62.45 million grant, the Energy Office said the funding could transform the USVI’s residential energy landscape, addressing high electricity costs while creating new opportunities for energy resilience and reliable, affordable, clean power for communities most in need. The grant was a big step up from a $2.6 million grant in April 2023 for similar purposes.
In April 2024, the Energy Office planned to build on its former Solar+ Financing Pilot and provide solar power for the most underserved residents, according to a statement from President Joe Biden’s EPA. President Donald Trump’s EPA, by contrast, called such equity efforts overtly discriminatory and ordered all the EPA’s Environmental Justice offices closed.
The Virgin Islands doesn’t have any Environmental Justice offices, an EPA spokesperson in New York said. There is a physical EPA office in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and a presence in the Virgin Islands — although the EPA spokesperson said even the definition of the word “office” has come under scrutiny recently.
In a written statement Wednesday, Zeldin said prioritizing those hit hardest by inequity in environmental protection was discriminatory and labeled such efforts as opposite to Trump’s agenda.
“Some believe that so-called ‘environmental justice’ is warranted to assist communities that have been left behind. This idea sounds good in theory and receives bipartisan support. But in reality, ‘environmental justice’ has been used primarily as an excuse to fund left-wing activists instead of actually spending those dollars to directly remediate environmental issues for those communities,” Zeldin said.
Zeldin represented New York’s eastern Long Island in the House of Representatives before a failed gubernatorial bid in 2022. The League of Conservation Voters gave Zeldin a lifetime scorecard of just 14 percent. In 2022, the environmental activist group counted just one pro-environment vote from Zeldin — establishing national heritage areas. It was a low point on their scale, down from a 28 percent score in 2019 when he voted eight times for issues the group found pro-environment and 21 times against environmental efforts.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. had said he hoped a less active EPA might help the St. Croix oil refinery reopen after years of failed efforts and cleanups.
A less-stringent EPA might help the refinery on St. Croix restart, he said, adding that there was “a lot of interest” in getting the refinery operating again.
Bryan and some members of the Public Finance Authority board of directors said in December that Zeldin, whom Trump said would promote swift deregulation, would offer welcome relief for St. Croix’s long-troubled oil refinery.
“Things should start to look a lot better for the refinery on the hill. But there’s still a lot of legal things to work on,” Bryan said. “You can’t say you’re going to turn on the refinery tomorrow.”
Zeldin’s statement this week seemed to meet Bryan’s exceptions.
“While accomplishing EPA’s core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump’s promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions,” Zeldin said.
Zeldin has reportedly targeted a vast number of EPA projects for reconsideration, many of which include pollutants to air, soil, and water that could not be limited to one state or jurisdiction.
Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released a statement Thursday about the proposed imposition of punitive service fees and restrictions on shipping companies, which could skyrocket costs for Americans and exponentially for island locations like the Virgin Islands.
“I am deeply concerned by the Trump Administration’s U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) proposed actions to impose significant port fees on maritime transport operators with fleets comprised of Chinese-built vessels. If implemented, the proposed action will have far reaching economic consequences throughout the United States, including increased shipping costs and shipping delays. I am particularly concerned for coastal and island communities, including the Virgin Islands, where the imposition of these punitive measures will skyrocket costs of food and other everyday items that must be imported by the maritime industry.
“I am working with the Virgin Islands maritime industry to track the implications of USTR’s proposal on ship owners, operators, and builders. Under this proposal, transport operators with fleets comprised of Chinese-built vessels will be charged up to $1.5 million per vessel entrance to an American port, as well as an ‘additional fee’ of up to $1 million per vessel entrance to an American port if the number of foreign-built vessels in the operator’s fleet is equal to or greater than 25 percent. Even vessels under the U.S. flag, operated and owned by a U.S. entity that are Chinese-built would be subject to the fees in USTR’s proposal.
“The impacts will be felt across most industries, given the role ocean transportation plays in virtually all supply chains. American businesses and consumers will be hit with price increases at the grocery store, the gas station, and the hardware store. The Virgin Islands will be disproportionately impacted, given our reliance on the maritime industry to import essential products. The price increases will be directly passed on to consumers in the Virgin Islands and across our nation. If imposed, USTR’s proposal will have drastic consequences on Americans.
“My office has been working with the shipping industry and members of Congress, particularly in those areas that have large shipping industries and primarily rely on maritime commerce. We are urging the Trump Administration to heed the feedback of elected officials, the maritime industry, and stakeholders before imposing these actions that will have radically negative consequences for our corner of the American experience. I will continue to collaborate in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues, stakeholders, and the Virgin Islands community to advance the interests of the Virgin Islands.”
The Red Cross’s Sound the Alarm program will offer fire alarm installations and fire prevention information for areas across the USVI community. (Photo courtesy American Red Cross)
The American Red Cross will host its annual “Sound the Alarm” event on March 22 to raise awareness about fire safety and the importance of smoke detectors. The program will offer fire alarm installations and fire prevention information for areas across the USVI community.
“Every day [across the United States], seven people die in home fires, most often in homes without working smoke alarms,” according to information on the Red Cross’s website. “[The] American Red Cross launched our Home Fire Campaign in 2014 to save lives, [and] Sound the Alarm is a critical part of the campaign,” the Red Cross said. “Through our home visits, we’ve installed more than 2.5 million free smoke alarms and made more than one million households safer across the country,” the Red Cross added.
“American Red Cross started Sound the Alarm in 2014 as a national Home Fire Safety program, [and] the focus of the program is to install smoke alarms in homes of vulnerable and underserved individuals and families,” Beazer stated. “As a national program, the first set in alarm installations is considered a ‘Signature ‘Event,’ [and] after the first phase of installations in a given community, the program continues throughout the year on an appointment basis,” Beazer explained.
“For the Signature Event, particular communities are targeted,” Beazer said. “In the [United States,] the decision as to which community is selected [for fire alarm installations] is determined by the use of “heat maps” obtained through fire departments in various communities,” Beazer said. “Here in USVI, we choose the community by the density of the population, the proximity of homes to each other, and the number of home fires reported in the community,” she continued.
Sound the Alarm Community Locations Across the USVI
The Sound the Alarm Program will offer services at locations on St. Croix and St. Thomas between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, March 22. A community program will not occur on St. John; however, residents of St. John can contact the Red Cross to set up an appointment for smoke detector installation.
The Red Cross emphasizes that smoke detectors should be placed in every home. USVI residents can receive free alarm installations through the Sound the Alarm program. (Photo courtesy American Red Cross)
This year, the communities selected for the Sound the Alarm activities are Estate La Grande Princesse on St. Croix and Anna’s Retreat on St. Thomas. Volunteers with the Red Cross and several partners, including the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services, will provide individuals within the selected communities with the opportunity to have smoke detectors installed and receive fire safety information.
Beazer said that residents in the La Grande Princesse location on St. Croix and Anna’s Retreat on St. Thomas could expect to hear announcements by volunteers from the Red Cross and its partners explaining that teams are on-site to offer fire safety services. She explained that teams of three would provide the services at homes in the communities.
“The [three] individuals who enter the homes [to install alarms and provide fire safety tips include] an ‘educator’ and an [alarm] ‘installer’ who [before the event] attend a training with [the Red Cross], and the third individual is a ‘documenter,’” Beazer explained.
“There is an educational component [at the time of the smoke detector installation] in which we speak with the adult in the home about [fire dangers including] overpowering extension cords, having curtains close to the stove, smoking indoors, [and other things] that could spark a fire,” Beazer stated.
Approximately 30 individuals will assist the Red Cross and participate in the Sound the Alarm Program, including volunteers who will be vetted prior to working with the organization.
Beazer explained that individuals across the USVI who are interested in volunteering at the event can contact the Red Cross to register.
“If anyone is interested in participating, they can contact us at 340-778-5104 on St. Croix or 340-774-0375 on St. Thomas to sign up to volunteer,” Beazer said.
Additionally, it is important to note that residents not located in the selected communities can also contact the Red Cross for assistance with smoke detector installation appointments.
Ongoing Support for the USVI
The Red Cross’ work through Sound the Alarm has proved to be lifesaving across the United States and the USVI.
“Nationally, [the Red Cross] installed 13,814 alarms in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, saving 15,993 lives,” Beazer proclaimed. “[In the USVI] our 2023-2024 records indicate that we installed 258 alarms last year, making 220 homes safer, [and] our goal for this Signature Event on March 22 is [to complete] 80 [smoke alarm] installations – 40 on St. Croix and 40 on St. Thomas,” she added.
In addition to Sound the Alarm, the American Red Cross provides year-round help across the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“The Red Cross supports the [USVI] community first through preparedness education, [and] we visit schools from kindergarten to 12th grade and provide preparedness education,” Beazer explained. “Additionally, we [offer] preparedness education to groups through community places such as houses of worship, places of employment, and senior residences,” she said.
“[The Red Cross] also provides information to the public at community events such as [Agrifest on St. Croix], which we attend annually, community expositions, and other community gatherings to which we are invited,” Beazer noted.
“We also support [individuals] who experience a home fire by showing up to assess their needs, [and] we offer emotional and spiritual support through our licensed professional volunteers,” Beazer stated. “If a resident [or residents] qualify, we offer temporary financial assistance, [and] we assist [by connecting the individual] to agencies that could be of assistance as they try to get back on their feet,” she added.
Individuals can find more information about the Red Cross’s Sound the Alarm program on the organization’s official website, where fire safety details are also available.
Jovonn Industrious is the visionary behind Industrious Technology Services. (Photo courtesy Jovonn Industrious)
Ensuring reliable, high-speed internet at outdoor events can be challenging, but Virgin Islands entrepreneur Jovonn Industrious has developed a solution.
In November 2024, Industrious began prototyping a revolutionary mobile Wi-Fi cart that delivers fast connectivity without requiring a power outlet. Designed to be portable, quick to deploy, and equipped with a long-lasting battery, the device is poised to transform event connectivity.
Industrious, the visionary behind Industrious Technology Services, which started in 2019, earned a degree in Information Systems and Technology at the University of the Virgin Islands in 2016. Industrious, whose experience ranges from support technician at Celebrity Financial Inc. to fiber optic technician at the Virgin Islands Next Generation Network, has long dreamed of entrepreneurship in the tech industry. “I have always been into tech and gadgets. I consider myself mechanically inclined. I spent a lot of time in my childhood taking things apart, figuring out how they worked, and reassembling them,” Industrious said.
“One of the driving forces behind my entrepreneurship was a desire to make an income that would support a comfortable life. I decided to combine all the skills I had acquired through my education and the various positions I had worked and I crafted a business that would fill a gap in the existing market locally. I knew people really wanted one-on-one tech support including camera and other tech installations, and from there I continued to add services as my business’s capacity grew,” Industrious said.
That same desire inspired his latest innovation — a mobile Wi-Fi cart designed for outdoor events that often struggle with connectivity issues. “I had previously collaborated with Westline Productions, who was in partnership with the Buju Banton concert facilitators and I approached them about this idea that I had been toying with in order to gauge whether they thought there was a real need. When they gave me the green light, I quickly began ordering the materials I knew I would need and worked on building out the device. I had this picture in my head of a mobile WiFi cart that had wheels and could easily be packed into my vehicle. The final product ended up being a cart that is ultra-portable, completely waterproof, a battery life of up to 20 hours, with a commercial grade wireless access point that ensures fast Wi-Fi out to about 5,000 square feet. I am so proud of it and I have plans to continue optimizing the device for future events,” he said.
Industrious’ WiFi mobile cart is a first-of-its-kind design. (Photo courtesy Jovonn Industrious)
Industrious’ start in his entrepreneurial endeavors has not come without challenge. In addition to building out his business, Industrious continues to work full-time so he can fund the development of his brand, including purchasing equipment and investing in the marketing of his business. “I love business ownership and I enjoy the journey of trial and error; working to figure out what works, what doesn’t and dreaming into all of the possibilities of where this pursuit could take me,” Industrious said.
For more information about Industrious Technology Services or to inquire about services, visit industrioustechservices.com or call 340-690-7316.
Students from the St. John Christian Academy respond in various ways to Kristen Carmichael-Bowers, director of the St. John All Island Children‘s Choir. (Photo courtesy Sing St. John)
Put about 120 primary school children from St. John on a stage to sing together, and what do you see? Some are concentrating, some are rapturous, and some are squirming. Their faces touch your heart and make you wish for a better future for our youngsters.
Helping children find their voices and join with others is a major goal of the St. John All Island Children’s Choir, now in its tenth year. On Wednesday, March 19, at 5:30 p.m., the children in grades K-2 will perform at the Julius E. Sprauve School auditorium, and all are welcome to attend for free. The half-hour concert will also be live-streamed.
“Singing together raises the children’s self-esteem and nurtures a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves,” said choir director Kristen Carmichael-Bowers. She seeks to strengthen community spirit by teaching songs in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
Julius E. Sprauve students sit in a circle to learn a song for their concert on March 19 at 5:30 p.m. (Photo courtesy Sing St. John)
The concert day is the time when all the children from all three schools on St. John — the Julius E. Sprauve School, the Gifft Hill School, the St. John Christian Academy, as well as home-schoolers — come together for a day of activities, games, and rehearsal.
Wrangling 120 children is not easy, Carmichael-Bowers says. She depends on more than 30 educators and volunteers (and pizza) to keep the production on track. Community members who wish to volunteer can contact her at 340-227-4920 or send an email to info@singstjohn.org.
The St. John All-Island Children’s Choir is one of four programs presented by Sing St. John, which is supported solely by community donations and grants.
“Sing St. John is sustained by the generosity of our community members and businesses, as well as by grants from the Virgin Islands Lottery and MidAtlantic Arts,” said Carmichael-Bowers. “This project is jointly supported by a grant from the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC, a federal agency.”
Relatives and friends are advised of the passing of Joseph Augustine Greaux, affectionately known as “Lalal,” on March 10, 2025, at the age of 83.
Relatives and Friends are advised of the passing of Conrad Henley on February 17, 2025, at the age of 87.
