Kapok trees grow quickly, and this flowering one on the edge of the parking lot may have shot up since the 2017 storms. (Photo Gail Karlsson)
When the hurricane-damaged Caneel Bay property on St. John was opened up for limited public access, I was able to visit with some of my old friends there. I was relieved to find at least eight big kapok trees (Ceiba pentandra) in the area that used to be the employees’ parking lot.
A few of the older kapoks are looking pretty gnarly now, like those ancient sculptures with missing arms. The storm winds definitely came through fiercely and reshaped them, tearing off large branches.
This tree trunk made me think of the Bible story about Lot’s wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, against God’s instructions. (Photo Gail Karlsson)
Many of the trees’ wounds have healed over in the isolated years following the storms, often leaving bulging scars where branches were lost.
These thick upper branches swirl around like a whirlwind with face-like images protruding from their surfaces. (Photo Gail Karlsson)
The growths where branches seem to have broken off caught my eye and began to look like fanciful faces.
This stump reminded me of the Cheshire cat from the Alice in Wonderland story, lying in a tree and giving advice to Alice through riddles. (Photo Gail Karlsson)
Several stumps have a protruding ghostlike appearance, like weathered gargoyles on the top of a medieval building.
I was reminded of the time I climbed to the top of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. (Photo Gail Karlsson)
And some look quite dark and menacing, possibly threatening to hurl their seed pods down on intruders standing below in the parking lot.
When the trees’ pods open up they are filled with soft fluff that floats through the air, carrying the seeds over a large area. (Photo Gail Karlsson)
A few of the tree faces are more friendly and whimsical.
This lumpy spot looked a bit like an owl to me, with thorns for eyes. (Photo Gail Karlsson)
On one tree, the buttress roots at the bottom seemed to have grown out like the head of a tortoise.
Kapok trees grow buttress roots to help stabilize their trunks so they can grow tall in shallow soil. (Photo Gail Karlsson)
My favorite is one I used to call the elephant tree because of its really wide base, which has expanded into huge gray hump. It is now battered and partially hidden behind bushes, but still thriving, producing flowers and making seed pods.
This tree’s base is more like a bark-covered boulder than a buttress. (Photo Gail Karlsson)
These trees are not statues, though. They are living beings – and they have definitely seen some things. I can feel their dynamic energy surrounding me when I am standing among them.
Since no one was able to visit the Caneel Bay property for many years after the storm, I imagine that the kapoks and other great trees appreciate that I remember them with fondness and have come back to look for them. But probably they were comfortable enough just being left alone, and are fine with the fact that hardly anyone sees them there, even now.
Still, I worry about their future. Who will value these dramatic trees, I wonder, and care enough to protect them. Or will they just be knocked down, because they are old and weird looking and in the way, when the plans for redeveloping Caneel Bay as a new resort are finally implemented.
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Gail Karlsson is the author of a photo book Looking for Birds on St. John, as well as two other books about nature in the Virgin Islands –The Wild Life in an Island House, and Learning About Trees and Plants – A Project of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St. John. Follow her on Instagram @gailkarlsson and gvkarlsson.blogspot.com. More info at gailkarlsson.com
All feeders with the exception of feeders 6A and 6B have been restored. We are currently experiencing reduced generation capacity, due to one of the units stalling, and the Aggreko units undergoing previously scheduled maintenance. Plant Personnel are working to bring online additional units to restore all affected customers.
Police seek former Senate candidate Ke’Shawn Louis on attempted murder charges. (Photo from Facebook)
Officers have apprehended a man wanted for attempted murder after the former Senate candidate escaped police custody Wednesday morning, officials said.
A concerned citizen phoned police around 11 p.m. Tuesday to report a gunpoint robbery in Grove Place, police said. When officers arrived, however, they found no guns or robbery but a fight, where Ke’Shawn Louis, 27, had allegedly attempted to run someone over with a car.
Louis was taken into custody but early Wednesday morning, while not wearing handcuffs, he was able to slip away from Frederiksted’s Wilbur Francis Command police station, according to authorities.
Police issued a wanted poster Thursday morning and, by 3 p.m., he was found in the Gentle Winds area, near Salt River, more than six miles away, they said.
Known for his mild manner, Louis, manager of the multi-island Gold Star All-In-One Service landscaping company, was on stage at St. Croix Educational Complex April 22 talking with youth about career options. In photos of the event, Louis, in a button-down pink dress shirt, is smiling with other presenters. In stark contrast to this, and Louis’ soft-spoken persona during his 2022 Senate campaign, police said in the wanted poster that he was now considered dangerous and should not be approached.
In June 2025, Louis pleaded guilty to four counts of grand larceny. Four other charges of obtaining money by false pretense were dropped. In August 2025, he received a two year suspended sentence and two years’ probation.
In the sentencing order, Superior Court Judge Denise Francois warned against violating the terms of probation.
Louisran for Senate in 2022 on a platform emphasizing affordable housing. He’d hoped to represent St. Thomas-St. John. The then-23-year-old garnered 599 votes, or about 5% of ballots.
The Island Green Living Association piloted a green waste composting program after the 2017 hurricanes. (Source file photo by Amy H. Roberts)
On April 17 the Local Food and Farm Council (LFFC), co-chaired by Agriculture Commissioner Louis E. Petersen Jr. and UVI President Safiya George, passed an urgent resolution.
Proposed by a local farmer, Royce Creque, and home gardener Harith Wickrema, and seconded by farmer Dr. Nate Olive, the motion was adopted unanimously:
We, the members of LFFC, appeal to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (VIWMA) and our senators to change course and support a sustainable waste management policy whereby the USVI prioritizes the chipping, shredding and composting our green and brown debris in order to support agriculture and our farming community as opposed to burning this rich resource.
One of the biggest challenges for farmers is the poor soil quality of our land in the territory. Vegetative debris is an invaluable resource which can be turned into much needed compost and mulch. We consider this material as “black gold” as it adds essential nutrients back into our soil. In addition to serving as an agricultural product and soil amendment for farmers and gardeners, it can also be used for landscaping and erosion control as well as an export product similar to Puerto Rico’s compost.
We urge our policy makers not to rob our farmers of this precious natural resource.
Ninety-seven percent (97%) of our food supply is currently imported, a fact that led to the passage of Act 8404, mandating the creation of a Territorial Agricultural Plan in 2021 to support food security and food sovereignty. In order to ensure the success of this Plan, which the LFFC was established to manage, a primary need is the improvement of our soil quality.
Dr. Nate Olive, president of V.I. Farmers Alliance, shared his firsthand feedback from farmers who are asking for clean mulch and compost to increase yield. The way to reduce green waste from entering our overburdened landfills is to start chipping, mulching and composting tomorrow and not wait for a lengthy legal process that air curtain incineration will face.
Please help support food security, the livelihood of our farmers, and the health and welfare of our community by chipping, mulching and composting our vegetative debris.
The LFFC is charged with guiding the implementation of the Territorial Agricultural Plan and its eight mandates, which were approved and endorsed by the governor and ratified by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.
The Local Food and Farm Council is made up of 17 members, including Co-Chairs Petersen and George; Dr. Usman Adamu, dean and director of the School of Agriculture, UVI; Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington, commissioner, Education Department; Jean-Pierre L. Oriol, commissioner, DPNR; Wayne L. Biggs Jr., CEO, USVI Economic Development Authority; Honorary Farm Members Abeba Sellassie, Ityopia Rootz Farm; Dr. Nate Olive, Ridge to Reef Farm; Edmon Titre, New Breed Farm; Royce Creque, Greenridge Guavaberry Farm; Honorary Fisher Members Winston Ledee and Mavel Maldonado; VIDE Designees Dr. Renee Charleswell, deputy commissioner of Curriculum and Instruction, VIDE; Harith Wickrema, president, Island Green Living; and Cydney Meadows, territorial director of Sustainability and Agricultural Education, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, VIDE; and DPNR Designees Dr. Nicole Angeli, director of Fish and Wildlife, DPNR, and Dr. Sennai Habtes, bureau chief, Fisheries, DPNR.
There is an districtwide outage impacting all customers on St. Croix due to loss generation at the Richmond Power Plant. Plant Personnel are working to restore power as soon as possible.
The Crown Bay Shopping Center was packed for Wednesday’s event, drawing crowds into the late afternoon (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
Whether you sat patiently in bumper-to-bumper traffic, opted to get in a few extra steps and walk to the venue, braved the midday heat, or stood in line for your favorite local delicacies, the 2026 St. Thomas Food Fair delivered an experience that made it all worthwhile.
Held at the Crown Bay Shopping Center in and around the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal on Wednesday, the annual event brought together more than 150 vendors, offering something for every palate and interest. From traditional Virgin Islands dishes and seasonal must-haves to cakes, sweets, hearty stews, and fresh local produce, the fair was a vibrant showcase of the territory’s culinary richness. Beyond the food, patrons browsed an array of handcrafted goods, including jewelry, plants, candles, sandals, and an assortment of locally made products that reflected the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the community.
Honoree Junior Cecil Huggins helps officially open this year’s Food Fair, along with Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., Lieutenant Gov. Tregenza Roach, Delegate Stacey Plaskett, Senate President Mitlon Potter and other dignitaries, along with Department of Tourism officials (Photo by Government House)
This year’s celebration also paid tribute to longtime vendor Junior Cecil Huggins, who was recognized as the 2026 Food Fair honoree. Huggins, who has been a consistent presence at the event since 2007, represents the dedication, resilience, and cultural pride that have helped sustain the Food Fair as a cornerstone of the Carnival experience, according to organizers. Speaking after the official ribbon cutting, Huggins reminisced about this 19 years as an Armstrong Homemade Ice Cream distributor on St. Thomas, saying that he was on a trip overseas when he told his wife this was what he was going to do – and since then, he hasn’t looked back.
“I’m not necessarily a sweets guy myself, but people love Armstrong Ice Cream,” he said, sharing that his favorite flavor – contrary to those who flock to the gooseberry – is actually banana.
“Once you find something you just love to do, there’s nothing else better,” Huggins said. “It’s really the most important thing.”
To beat the heat, many flocked to either the ice cream stands, or fracos, with vendors offering up every kind of flavor. (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
Behind the scenes, the success of the event was driven by a committed organizing team. Co-Chair Kyza Callwood shared that he was pleased with both the turnout and the overall execution of the day’s event, noting that the committee of six, led by Chair Lu’Anne Roberts, remains keen on preserving and promoting the cultural traditions that define the Food Fair. He also lauded the contributions of students from Charlotte Amalie High School, along with Shamang Straun, a teacher, who played a key role in developing the vendor layout schematics — an effort that helped ensure a smooth and engaging experience for both vendors and patrons.
The committee also expressed its gratitude to Banco Popular de Puerto Rico for serving as a sponsor of this year’s event, underscoring the importance of private-sector support in sustaining large-scale cultural celebrations.
And for many visitors Wednesday, experiencing the territory at its best was certainly worth every penny of their trip down.
“I came with a friend whose wife is from St. Thomas – he made me,” joked Julius Harris, who came down just a few days ago from Valrico, Florida. Harris said that his favorite Carnival, up to now, has been Toronto’s Caribana, but his time in the territory might just have been enough to change his mind.
“In Canada, it’s large-scale – days filled with parades and activities,” he said. “Events like that, it’s about going with someone that you know, and hoping you can get into the action. Here, you feel welcomed every where. We’re really having a blast.”
The line for Hot on the Spot stretched wide for most of the afternoon, with residents sharing their excitement over sampling the truck’s famous lobster plate (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
Around the center, the aroma of sizzling meats, spices, and sweet confections filled the air, blending seamlessly with the sounds of laughter, conversation, and music. Thousands gathered to celebrate the splendor of the Carnival season, creating a space where locals and visitors alike could reconnect with family and friends, meet new people, and simply enjoy an afternoon rooted in culture and community.
Despite the day’s heat, the energy remained high. Attendees moved from vendor to vendor, supporting local businesses, while others paused to take in live performances from bands such as Spectrum Band, Razor Blades, Quelbe Resurrection, and Par T Band. The rhythmic sounds of steel pan music, delivered by the Rising Stars Steel Orchestra, added another layer of cultural authenticity.
Madras prints were also a staple for many vendors, who also got to share with visitors the significance of the fabric (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
In true Carnival fashion, the Food Fair was not only a feast for the palate but also a showcase of style and cultural expression. Many attendees were adorned in vibrant madras prints, colorful ensembles, and festive pieces that reflected the spirit of the season. From coordinated outfits to bold, statement accessories, the crowd embodied a visual celebration of heritage and creativity. Flowing dresses, headwraps, and handcrafted adornments added to the tapestry of color, transforming the grounds into a living display of Virgin Islands culture. In many ways, the fashion was as much a part of the experience as the food itself.
Among the most heartwarming sights were those who chose to slow down and simply take it all in — families seated on the lawn, friends gathered under shaded areas, and elders congregating in cool spots, sharing meals, stories, and laughter. These moments spoke to the true essence of the Food Fair: connection, continuity, and community.
V.I.-born soca sensation Adam O. stops to take a selfie with fans – among them Barbara Petersen. (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
As an election year adds another dimension to the social landscape, political candidates were also present, engaging with attendees and connecting with supporters throughout the day. Their presence, while notable, blended into the larger atmosphere of fellowship and celebration that defined the event.
All good things must come to an end, and the 2026 St. Thomas Food Fair once again affirmed its place as a cornerstone of Carnival — where culture is not only preserved, but proudly lived, shared, and celebrated.
The magistrate judge said the preliminary hearing would resume Thursday morning. (Source file photo)
Three people charged in a sex trafficking conspiracy tied to Tootsys Gentleman’s Club appeared for a preliminary hearing Wednesday in District Court on St. Thomas, where hours of testimony and cross-examination pushed proceedings into the late afternoon and prompted a judge to continue the case for a second day.
U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Alan Teague cited the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure as he allowed attorneys representing Hussein Jamil and Magda Castro Santos to question an FBI investigator at length during that hearing. Special Agent Kiernan Whitworthy answered questions about surveillance and undercover operations conducted in and around Tootsys Gentleman’s Club in Red Hook.
Information obtained from those operations helped investigators file an affidavit with the court on April 17. Authorities staged a raid on the club hours later, arresting club manager Santos and Hidalgo de Pena.
Court records show that Jamil was taken into custody the following day at a property in Bolongo Bay, where several of the performers at Tootsys rented sleeping quarters.
Under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Baker, Whitworthy described his role in the operation, working as part of a team led by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.
Defense attorney Carlos Sanchez La Costa began his cross-examination by producing a series of photos from inside the club. Baker said she did not object and asked that they be entered as evidence before the questioning began.
Questions ranged from the immigration status of dancers and the manager to evidence recovered from the club showing that commercial sex acts were taking place there. Sanchez also asked Whitworthy if agents entering the club took note of a posted sign saying prostitution was prohibited at Tootsys.
No, the witness said, he was not aware. Jamil’s lawyer also asked if Whitworthy knew about passports found at the club during the raid. That prompted the judge to remind the legal teams they agreed to question information contained in the affidavit only, and that the Affidavit in Support of a Criminal Complaint was filed earlier in the day on April 17, prior to the raid.
Bandas took over the cross-examination on behalf of Santos after being told by the judge to avoid redundancy. “You don’t need to ask questions if matters have already been answered,” Teague said.
Bandas told the court that he and Sanchez had a late-afternoon flight to catch back to Puerto Rico, but he felt obliged to question the witness on behalf of his client. He began by asking Whitworthy if he had ever gone to Tootsys himself.
The answer began with a pause — “No.” Bandas asked how long the special agent had been working on the Tootsys case.
Since 2023, Whitworthy said.
The lawyer asked whether there was evidence that his client transported persons to St. Thomas, and if any of the recorded receipts handled by the club manager indicated commercial sex transactions. “Did any of those receipts clearly state that those customers were paying for sex?” Bandas asked.
“No,” Whitworthy said.
“But you clearly understand that there were clients paying for sex there?” Bandas asked.
“Yes. There was an undercover operation there,” producing statements from agents that transactions with the dancers were taking place, the witness said.
Additional questioning followed about surveillance operations conducted on different occasions.
By then, it was almost time for the traveling lawyers to leave.
Baker for the prosecution said, although the government agreed to let the cross-examination go forward, “95 percent of these questions were arguments and could have been asked at a later proceeding.”
Teague agreed and noted that while some questions posed by Bandas sought information about criminal acts directly committed, the charges against the three defendants pointed to conspiracy.
The judge told those at Wednesday’s hearing to return to the courtroom Thursday at 10:30 a.m. At that time, defense attorney Robert Millan would conduct his cross-examination, and Baker for the government would offer her rebuttal.
“The court is going to be ruling from the bench, and the court is going to have a pretty extensive ruling as to whether there is probable cause,” Teague said.
Attorneys with the U.S. Justice Department stated their opposition to motions from former V.I. Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former V.I. Management and Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal requesting acquittals and new trials. (Shutterstock image)
The U.S. Justice Department has filed its opposition to separate requests by Ray Martinez and Jenifer O’Neal for acquittals and new trials, arguing last Wednesday and Friday that a jury found both guilty based on witness testimony, bank records, invoices, contracts, text messages, phone calls and the defendants’ “own conduct.”
The former police commissioner and Management and Budget Office director are set to be sentenced in June. A jury found both guilty in December of crimes including wire fraud, bribery and money laundering conspiracy. Martinez was further charged with and convicted of obstructing justice. Upon their convictions, both defendants swiftly filed motions for acquittal, questioning — as they did at trial — the credibility of the government’s cooperating witness, David Whitaker, and other procedural matters.
“A verdict is not legally insufficient because a cooperating witness has a criminal record,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Cherrisse Amaro and DOJ Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey wrote last week. “The relevant question is not whether Whitaker had reasons to lie, but whether the jury had a rational basis to believe his testimony. Here, his testimony was significantly corroborated, and the jury plainly did believe it.”
Amaro and Dempsey noted that, according to the evidence at trial, Martinez accepted bribes from Whitaker in the form of cash, luxury travel, payment of personal expenses, private-school tuition for his children and restaurant equipment. In exchange, Martinez “used his official authority to approve invoices and assist with awarding Whitaker a $1.4 million dollar contract” funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
“O’Neal, who served as the Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget, knowingly approved an inflated invoice under that same contract and later accepted a $17,730 lease payment for her business from the inflated invoice,” they added.
O’Neal’s attorney, Dale Lionel Smith, has argued that jurors were prejudiced against his client by “the overwhelming evidence of a long-running and unrelated conspiracy” between Martinez and Whitaker, of which O’Neal “was never made aware.”
“As a result, she was deprived of her constitutional right to a fair trial, which could have only been provided to her by a trial separate and apart,” from Martinez, Smith argued.
Though Martinez’s attorneys moved at trial to sever the two defendants’ cases after opening arguments — which U.S. District Court Judge Mark Kearney denied — O’Neal “never joined Martinez’s oral motion to sever,” according to the Justice Department.
“Despite not raising the issue before or during the trial, the defendant now asks the Court to overturn her convictions based on vague and unspecified allegations of prejudice related to the joint trial with her coconspirator,” Amaro and Dempsey wrote. “The Court should deny this belated request.”
Public Works employee Arick Thomas was gunned down while cleaning up debris from the 2023 Carnival parade. (Source photo by Ananta Pancham)
On the evening of April 29, 2023, just after the Adults’ Parade had ended, someone gunned down Alrick Thomas as he was sweeping a street between the Lutheran Church and Emancipation Garden.
Children scattered as the suspected shooter, 21-year-old Dion Johnson, ran through Carnival Village and into Roosevelt Park, where he was apprehended, according to police reports.
Three years to the day later, the case remains open. Called a flight risk and danger to the community, Johnson, charged with first-degree murder, has remained behind bars as his attorneys and prosecutors argue over how to proceed.
Of the more than 125 legal filings in the case against Johnson, nothing new has been submitted to the Superior Court since Dec. 12, 2025.
Thomas, a Public Works Department employee, was 54 when shot to death. Witnesses told police they didn’t hear an altercation and, seemingly, the killer ran up, fired between four and eight rounds, and ran away. Police found multiple .40 caliber shell casings, the same caliber as the handgun police allegedly found on Johnson, according to court records. Johnson had a permit for the weapon.
For much of 2025, the attorneys argued over bullet fragments recovered from the crime. Forensic experts tested the handgun and found distinct similarities between marks on test bullets and two bullets found at the scene. Two other bullets did not seem to have these same marks, however. To what degree the bullets and the expert witnesses’ testimony will be admitted into evidence has not yet been decided.
Thomas’ death was one of 20 homicides on St. Thomas in 2023. The killing of the husband and father of six rocked the Public Works office, where he was a longtime and well-liked employee. Commissioner Derek Gabriel offered condolences to Thomas’ family, and described him as a “valued employee” of the department’s St. John Operations Division, where he has worked since October of 2016.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to Alrick’s family and friends, especially his wife and children,” Gabriel said in a written statement shortly after the killing. “It is more than unfortunate that this incident occurred, more so while he was performing work duties. Public servants must feel safe, regardless of their duties and responsibilities, while carrying out their work on behalf of the people of the territory.”
M. Lyn stands in front of several pieces of her original art at an art show hosted at CMCA in St. Croix. (Photo courtesy M. Lyn Arts)
M. Lyn Arts will host her first 2026 Art Show on Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, from 6-10 p.m. at Mystic Brew in Tillet Gardens. The Mother’s Day weekend event will feature original artwork on display for sale, with food and drinks available from Mystic Brew and Rock City Tacos.
Following a successful previous show, this year’s exhibition introduces significant changes to the artist’s body of work. Returning visitors will find a noticeably evolved exhibition. According to M. Lyn, each show is an opportunity to take creative work to the next level. For this year’s event, the artist has focused on new techniques, explored different color palettes, and recreated several past pieces that resonated with the community. The most concrete change is scale. “I have doubled down to produce double the work,” said M.Lyn.
A past piece that represents an earlier stage of the artist’s growth is the painting “Irma-Ria,” created during recovery after hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the region. The 2026 show includes multiple new storm-themed pieces, but the approach has shifted significantly. Rather than sticking to literal reality, the artist now personifies storms and translates their intensity into human emotions. “Instead of just painting the storm as it looks in reality, I’m working to convey the feeling and the power of the storm,” said M.Lyn.
M. Lyn credits the local community and business partners for their strong support. The artist’s requirements are simple: just walls to hang work on and amenities for collectors and patrons. “If everyone has fun, I’m happy. At the end of the day, I’m just grateful that together we can make this happen,” says M.Lyn.
The local community has shaped M. Lyn’s work in numerous ways. The artist observes the faces and natures of people, noting that Caribbean culture is exceptionally strong, resilient, and vibrant. Gratitude for witnessing that strength and beauty is a recurring theme. However, the artist’s influences are not limited to the Virgin Islands. M. Lyn considers the entire world as community, observing that the planet is quite small in comparison to the universe. Inspiration comes from cultures across the globe.
M. Lyn hopes viewers walk away with a sense of recognition and comfort. “I hope people can find light in the darkness and color in the gloom. Whether representing strength or pain, the goal is for people to feel seen and understood. I just want people to know they aren’t alone,” said M.Lyn.
