Henry Powell cuts the cake at the American Legion’s anniversary event held on St. John. From left, Maria Sewer Lett, Henry Powell, Ina Daniel; in background: Jacqueline Clendinen and Harry Daniel (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
American Legion Post 131 Charge Officer Henry Powell received some long-awaited recognition at an event held on St. John. Organizers said Powell was supposed to be the honoree at the 2024 Veteran’s Day parade and ceremony but heavy rains led to a cancellation.
The weather was better on Saturday when Powell received a commemorative plaque and a slice of cake at the legion’s 106th anniversary party. Post Commander Harry Daniel praised the honoree as a legionnaire dedicated to the wellbeing of his fellow military vets.
Powell has served as the post’s charge officer for over five years. “He comes to meetings regularly; he goes to conventions to get information that brings back for the veterans, and then he makes phone calls to the veterans — some of them are stateside and quite a few of them are not responding. So we make body calls to make sure that they are up and going in conditions and status,” Daniel said.
Powell said he performs his duties for those in need of assistance and does so as a helpful volunteer. I’ve been instrumental in helping some of our veterans. I’ve helped different people get things done, even though I don’t have all the training,” he said.
More than a dozen legionnaires and members of the American Legion Auxiliary joined the gathering in the Bethany Moravian Church to mark the anniversary.
The American Legion got its start in 1919 in Paris as members of the American Expeditionary Forces. The organization was chartered by an act of Congress later that year. Its mission was to support veterans and their families by offering programs and services, and to focus on veteran’s affairs, American nationalism and national security in an apolitical and nonsectarian way.
Organizers also handed out pamphlets promoting membership in the legion. Daniel said the number of chapter members needs a boost and he asked those attending to help with outreach to military vets living on St. John.
The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency announces the territory’s participation in CARIBE WAVE 2025, an international tsunami exercise scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2025. This annual exercise, coordinated by the UNESCO/IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other CoastalHazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS), tests the effectiveness of tsunami warning systems throughout the Caribbean region.
CARIBE WAVE 2025 scenario will be a magnitude 8.6 earthquake off the coast of Portugal.
This scenario will simulate the communication and coordination processes that would occur during an actual tsunami threat to the Caribbean region.
“Tsunami preparedness is critical for our island communities,” said Daryl Jaschen, Director of VITEMA. “The USVI’s participation in CARIBE WAVE provides an essential opportunity to test our emergency response systems and enhance public awareness about tsunami hazards.”
How the Public Can Participate
VITEMA encourages all residents, businesses, schools, and organizations to participate in this
important preparedness exercise:
1. Register your participation by March 17 at TsunamiZone.org/usvi
2. On March 20:
o Review or practice your tsunami evacuation plan with family, co-workers, orclassmates
o Conduct a simple tsunami discussion at home or work
o Visit VITEMA website – Tsunami section to review / download Tsunami
o Identify evacuation routes from your location to higher ground
Residents should expect a test message to be delivered to their mobile phones on March 20.
This system-wide test is separate from the Alert VI system and does not require residents to option to receive the alert.
IMPORTANT: The alerts you receive on March 20th are ONLY A TEST. No action is required beyond practicing your tsunami preparedness plan.
“We want to emphasize that this is only a test,” added Director Jaschen. “When residents receive emergency alerts on their phones on March 20th, they should recognize this is part of our participation in the international CARIBE WAVE exercise. It’s an excellent opportunity for everyone to think about what they would do in an actual tsunami emergency.”
CARIBE WAVE exercises have been conducted annually since 2011, with participation growing each year. In 2024, the exercise involved 45 out of 48 Caribbean member states and territories with over 475,000 participants.
For more information about CARIBE WAVE 2025 and tsunami preparedness resources, visit vitema.vi.gov or tsunamizone.org.
Young scientists show their love for science at UVI RTPark. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
The UVI Research and Technology Park welcomed 157 young learners Friday morning at its headquarters to celebrate Pi Day. The event, hosted in partnership with Farm Education for All and the Children’s Museum of St. Croix, aimed to introduce kindergarten and pre-K students to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Agriculture, and Mathematics through hands-on learning experiences.
Children participate in one of many activities at UVI RTPark for STEAM learning. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Participating schools included Lew Muckle Elementary, Juanita Gardine Elementary, Ricardo Richards Elementary, Church of God Academy, Claude O. Markoe Elementary, Alfredo Andrews Elementary, Eulalie Rivera Elementary, Pearl B. Larsen Elementary, Church of God Holiness Academy, and the UVI Inclusive Early Childhood Education Center. Students were divided into two sessions — one in the morning and another in the afternoon — to ensure an engaging experience for all.
Farm Education for All educated young learners on agriculture. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
According to a press release from UVI RTPark, the program is part of its STEM Enrichment Program, an initiative that underscores its commitment to fostering early curiosity and engagement in STEAM disciplines — critical fields for the future workforce of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Ready, set, go! Young learners learn about air-powered cars. (Source photo by Diana Dias)Child plays with kinetic sand. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
“The earlier you introduce children to STEAM fields, the more comfortable and confident they become as they grow. We want to ensure they’re not intimidated when they hear words like Science, Technology, or Mathematics,” said Marisha Perkins, RTPark STEM Enrichment Coordinator.
A pizza pie for Pi Day. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
The event featured interactive activity stations where students explored concepts such as biology under a microscope, rocket launches, engineering challenges, agriculture, color theory, and building with magnets and gears. They also participated in a chemistry station, creating chromatography butterflies, and a physics station, where they experimented with air-powered cars. Additional activities included coding, engineering, and other interactive learning experiences. Farm Education for All and the Children’s Museum of St. Croix provided sensory-based learning stations featuring kinetic sand, slime, and mini pizza-making demonstrations.
Children’s Museum of St. Croix partners with the UVI RTPark to offer sensory-based learning experiences. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
“Everything is play-based learning,” said Perkins.
Children learn about primary and secondary colors. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Eric Sonnier, executive director of UVI RTPark, emphasized the importance of community-focused initiatives like this.
Creating something out of paper. Children learn about chromatography and create butterflies. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
“Seeing the smiles on these young students’ faces today as they built, experimented, and discovered new things was a reminder of why we open our doors for events like this,” said Sonnier. “The RTPark isn’t just an innovation hub for businesses — it’s a space where learning and creativity thrive at every level. By welcoming students into our space, we reinforce the message that technology and innovation belong to all of us. We want to inspire the next generation to see themselves in this future. This event is just one example of how our Community Advancement Division is helping to shape a resilient, technology-driven economy for the Virgin Islands.”
Young future biologists look under the microscope. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Officials and developers broke ground Friday on the reconstruction of the David Hamilton Jackson Terrace housing community on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
The 14 buildings and 106 units that comprise David Hamilton Jackson Terrace are ready for reconstruction after officials and developers broke ground at the 70-year-old housing community Friday on St. Croix.
The $121.6 million project marks the second partnership between the V.I. Housing Authority and New York-based affordable housing developer MDG Design and Construction under the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program. The first was the Walter I. M. Hodge Pavilion in Frederiksted. Officials cut the ribbon for that housing community in December.
The rehabilitation includes design, infrastructure and energy efficiency upgrades to make the community more resilient to future weather events, preserve affordability and improve residents’ quality of life, according to an MDG press release. Beyond storm-hardening measures like hurricane wind-resistant windows and shutters, amenities are slated to include EnergyStar appliances and ceiling fans, LED lighting, low-water usage fixtures, and electric water heaters. Other improvements include solar power, a security camera system, improved site lighting and backup generators for common area lighting.
Vacated units in the David Hamilton Jackson Terrace housing community are fenced off for a $121 million rehabilitation that will cover 14 buildings and 106 units. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
According to MDG’s statement, VIHA Executive Director Dwayne Alexander called Friday’s groundbreaking a significant milestone in the territory’s effort to provide affordable housing.
“The groundbreaking of D. Hamilton Jackson Terrace symbolizes hope and resilience for the residents of St. Croix, as we transform a vital community impacted by natural disasters into a safe, beautiful and sustainable living environment,” he stated. “This project not only addresses the urgent need for affordable housing but also enhances the community’s ability to withstand future challenges.”
J. Benton Construction will serve as the project’s general contractor. Puerto Rico-based Cost Control Company will be the community’s property manager.
Former British Virgin Islands Ports Authority Director Oleanvine Pickering Maynard and her 33-year-old son will soon be released from prison in the United States — well ahead of schedule. (Photo collage by VI Source)
Oleanvine Pickering Maynard, the former director of the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority convicted of a brazen drug smuggling plot, and her 33-year-old son, Kadeem Maynard, will be released from prison in the United States well ahead of schedule, according to government officials.
In June 2024, Pickering Maynard, 63, was sentenced to more than nine years in prison for her role in a plot to ship at least 6,600 pounds of cocaine from Tortola to the U.S. mainland. If released March 21 as scheduled, she will have been incarcerated for less than three years since her April 2022 arrest. In February, she was moved from a prison cell to a “reentry center” or home confinement in Baltimore, according to a Bureau of Prisons official.
Pleading guilty in May 2023 to a single count of conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine, Pickering Maynard avoided money laundering and racketeering charges by agreeing to testify against her former boss, then BVI Premier Andrew Fahie.
Kadeem Maynard was sentenced to 57 months in prison. If released from a Florida prison April 1 as scheduled, he would have been incarcerated less than 36 months.
A Bureau of Prisons official in Washington D.C. said there were several factors that could lead to early release, including good behavior, credit for time behind bars between arrest and conviction, and completing programs meant to reduce the chance of recidivism.
The Bureau of Prisons declined to say what would happen to the Maynards after their release — if they’d be officially deported, be allowed to leave the United States on their own, or be allowed to stay in the U.S. However, according to their plea agreements, “removal is presumptively mandatory” due to the nature of their crimes and they have waived “any rights relating to any and all forms of relief from removal or exclusion” and agree to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security during removal proceedings.
Fahie, 54 — who was found guilty by a Miami jury in February 2024 of conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, attempted money laundering, and foreign travel in aid of racketeering — is scheduled for release from a Georgia prison in June 2033. He’s appealing his conviction.
Fahie argued unsuccessfully that he had a relatively minor role in the smuggling plot compared to Pickering Maynard’s, who was supposed to get required licenses for cocaine-laden ships to gain legitimacy by spending a few days in the British overseas territory.
The pair were arrested at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on April 28, 2022, after stepping off a private jet they thought contained $700,000 as prepayment for a first cocaine shipment, prosecutors said. That same day, Maynard was arrested on St. Thomas, where prosecutors said he expected to receive his first payment.
Evidence presented at trial included text messages, WhatsApp communications, and more than 8,000 minutes of secretly recorded audiotape on which the three enthusiastically agreed to make Tortola a major narcotics through point. On those recordings, Fahie, a fixture in BVI politics since 1999, bragged to undercover U.S. government agents about decades of ill deeds and gave the name of at least one smuggler that he considered like family.
The plan was for enormous cocaine shipments to sit on cargo ships off the Tortola coast for a few days to gain legitimacy before sailing to Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland.
Fahie, represented by attorney Theresa Van Vliet, said that he believed he was being “framed” by U.K. officials in a bid to remove him from office and that he intended to have the cash-laden jet seized when it landed in Tortola.
Despite evidence that a network of BVI police and port officials may have agreed to partake in the smuggling plot, no on-island arrests directly connected to the scheme have been announced.
The 2025 Folklife Festival continued Friday night at the Island Center on St. Croix with an evening of bomba, bamboula and African dance.
The night began with the Dembaya Arts Conservatory’s performance of Malian drumming and dance. Puerto Rico-based bomba group Afriktaal took the stage next. Their act was followed by Cedelle Christopher’s cariso history of St. Croix.
Presented by the Ten Sleepless Knights, the Folklife Festival kicked off at the Whim Museum two weeks ago with a day of cultural activities like moko jumbie mask-making, head-tie wrapping, woodworking and maypole dancing.
Upcoming events include “A Crucian Taste,” which starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at Fort Frederik, and the “Rock Your Style/The Splendor of USVI Madras,” which starts at 7 p.m. March 22 at Fort Frederik.
Upcoming St. Thomas events include:
The Evolution of the Moko Jumbie at 7 p.m. on March 28 at Fort Christian
Night of Bomba, Bamboula, and African Dance at 7 p.m. on March 29 at Fort Christian
Folklore Festival Workshops from noon to 6 p.m. on March 30 at Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Park
Afriktaal member Jocelyn Velez performs with the Puerto Rico-based bomba group during the 2025 Folklife Festival’s Night of Bomba, Bamboula and African Dance Friday night at the Island Center on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)The evening kicks off with performances from the Dembaya Arts Conservatory Friday night at the Island Center on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Dembaya Arts Conservatory founding member Shanarae Matthew introduces the group during the 2025 Folklife Festival’s Night of Bomba, Bamboula and African Dance Friday night at the Island Center on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Bomba group Afriktaal takes to the stage during the 2025 Folklife Festival’s Night of Bomba, Bamboula and African Dance on Friday night at the Island Center on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Drummers with the Dembaya Arts Conservatory perform Friday night at the Island Center on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Shanarae Matthew performs with the Dembaya Arts Conservatory Friday night at the Island Center on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Diondra Setorie and Kaisha Arnold of the Dembaya Arts Conservatory perform Kassa, a harvest dance from Guinea in West Africa, on Friday night at the Island Center on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)From left, Afriktaal members Jean Osorio, Esteban Millán, Luis Negrón, Alejandro Ramón, Alondra Ortiz, Karlina Cintrón, Lizbette Guerrido, Paula Clemente, Ramdol Ramirez and Jocelyn Velez perform during the 2025 Folklife Festival’s Night of Bomba, Bamboula and African Dance Friday at the Island Center on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)Cedelle Christopher tells the history of St. Croix through cariso during the 2025 Folklife Festival’s Night of Bomba, Bamboula and African Dance Friday at the Island Center on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
Students of SCECHS Modern Dance one Class and SCECHS Dance Ensemble. (Photo from Essi Gaston-Edwards’ Facebook page)
The arts will take center stage this weekend as Artistic Fusion presents a Performing Arts Showcase. The event will be held Sunday at the Island Center for the Performing Arts on St. Croix, bringing together a dynamic collaboration of Exquisite Performing Arts Ensemble, Maestro Productions, and Movement 340.
Organizers Essi Gaston-Edwards who is a dance educator and founder of Exquisite Performing Arts and musician, service member, and educator Kevre Hendricks spoke with the Source about the event’s evolution. Gaston-Edwards shared that the showcase initially started as a dance-focused event in 2017. The showcase was put on hold after successfully hosting two years of performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now returning in an expanded format, the event will highlight not just dance, but all aspects of the performing arts.
“We noticed a need for more activities supporting the performing arts and the various clubs and organizations involved,” said Gaston-Edwards. “Everybody is in need of something when it comes to the arts.”
“With the spring semester underway, there aren’t many opportunities for students to perform,” Gaston-Edwards explained. “This showcase gives them something to prepare for after the festival season. It’s also a way to celebrate music, art, and the performing arts during the month of March, alongside V.I. History Month,” she said.
Hendricks emphasized the significance of the arts as an essential outlet for students, noting that they often do not get the opportunity to explore their full creative potential.
“A lot of times, schools focus on core subjects, but the arts develop critical thinking skills that enhance learning across all subjects,” he said. “Reinforcing initiatives like this is essential in reestablishing arts education standards across the territory, whether in dance or music. Giving students something to aspire to helps them build a future in the arts.”
As both an educator and a music producer, Hendricks also highlighted the importance of shifting the perception of the arts as merely a hobby.
“Many parents and professionals don’t see the arts as a viable source of income, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. A skilled artist can generate multiple streams of income once they master their craft,” he said.
Among the participants in the showcase is the newly formed SLT Legacy Majorettes, led by directors Khalifa Antoine and Sharifa Armstrong. This will mark their first official performance as SLT Legacy Majorettes.
“This is more than just a debut — it’s the continuation of a dream, a tradition, and a powerful legacy,” said Antoine. “When our mother, Takiyah Antoine, founded the Sparkle Lite Twirlers in 2003, she created more than just a majorette group; she built a community where young people could grow in confidence, character, and sisterhood. For 11 years, she uplifted countless young women, leaving a lasting impact. Now, as her daughters, we proudly carry that torch forward, ensuring that her vision continues for future generations.”
She further explained that while their roots began as Sparkle Lite Twirlers, they have since evolved into SLT — Strength in Light and Tenacity Majorettes. “This transition represents more than a name change; it’s a renewed mission to instill resilience, passion, and purpose in every young person who joins us,” Antoine added. “SLT Legacy is more than a majorette group; we are a united force fueled by precision, perseverance, and the unwavering support of our community.”
The showcase will also feature performances by the UVI Dance Program, Pearl B. Larsen School, St. Croix Central High School Golden Voices, Claude O. Markoe Elementary School, Free Will Baptist School, and the St. Croix Educational Complex High School Choir, Band, and Dance Ensemble. The showcase will be hosted by Emcee Nay and will include special guest performances by Bugz Bugs and Blackest.
Tickets are priced at $10 before the event, with a slight increase at the gate. Gaston-Edwards stated that proceeds from ticket sales will support their annual initiative, which aims to assist a local club, organization, or school. This year, funds will benefit the St. Croix Educational Complex Dance Ensemble as they prepare for their upcoming dance tour in California. Any remaining funds will be used to create more opportunities for students interested in the arts.
“We want to support them in any way that we can,” Gaston-Edwards affirmed.
The event promises to be a night of creativity, talent, and community support, ensuring that the arts continue to thrive in the Virgin Islands.
The Virgin Islands Justice Department will provide limited services in its St. Croix and St. Thomas offices on select dates due to staff participation in National Association of Attorneys General training, Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea announced.
The St. Croix office will have reduced services March 17-18, while the St. Thomas office will continue operating as usual. Conversely, the St. Thomas office will limit services March 20-21, with the St. Croix office remaining fully operational, according to the press release.
Paternity & Child Support Offices on both islands will maintain regular business hours. Full services will resume on St. Croix March 19 and on St. Thomas March 24, the press release stated.
For more information, the public may contact the St. Thomas office at 340-774-5666 or the St. Croix office at 340-773-0295.
Three Ecuadorian nationals admitted in District Court to smuggling 800 kilograms of cocaine after their vessel was intercepted in international waters, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith announced.
Luis Menocal-Mero, 41, Carlos Baque-Pincay, 23, and Carlos Anchundia-Mero, 24, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance while on board a vessel subject to U.S. jurisdiction, according to court documents.
Court documents show that on March 8, 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Farragut, on routine patrol, intercepted a go-fast vessel approximately 110 nautical miles southeast of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The vessel, which lacked a national flag or other identifying markers, raised suspicion of illicit maritime activity. Coast Guard personnel boarded the boat under the right of visit authority, finding Menocal-Mero, Baque-Pincay, and Anchundia-Mero aboard. A crew member claimed Ecuadorian nationality for the vessel, but Ecuadorian officials could not confirm or deny the claim. As a result, the vessel was deemed stateless and fell under U.S. jurisdiction. Authorities discovered 30 bales containing 800 kilograms of cocaine on board.
The defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years when sentenced on July 16.
Clyde Sibilly,Susan Donovan, Eric Martin, Esther Brown, Curtis Davies, Dornett Chinnery, Jacqueline & James Lescott, Genevieve Bryan, Felecia Wattley-September, Coleen Bryan-James, Bevan, Gregory, Karen, Jacqueline Carty nee’, and Delphine Bryan
Nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles too numerous to mention
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend first viewing on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Celestial Chapel of Dan Hurley Home for Funerals 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Funeral service will be held on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Memorial Moravian Church. Viewing: 9:00 am – 10:00 am Service to follow 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Burial: Western Cemetery #1.
Family request shades of purple to be worn.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Dan Hurley Home for Funeral and Cremation Centers of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. For online condolences or to share a special memory, visit www.hurleydavisfuneralhome.com.
Relatives and friends are advised of the passing of Eunice Delores Bryan on February 17, 2025. 
