Friends of Virgin Islands National Park’s annual Ocean Week encourages everyone to participate, learn about the marine environment surrounding the Virgin Islands, and assist in maintaining the cleanliness of the beaches and coastline.
In the words of renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle, “Health to our oceans means health to us.”
This year, Ocean Week activities include three virtual seminars on sea turtles, marine life rehabilitation, and coral reef ecosystems, and a marine debris cleanup of Drunk Bay. Schools, in particular, are welcome to register for the seminars and high schoolers who help with the Drunk Bay cleanup are eligible for community service hours, according to the press release.
“Inspired by International Coastal Cleanup Day, we join millions around the world to make a difference because every bottle, every straw, every piece of trash we clean up can lead to a cleaner, healthier ocean,” said Tonia Lovejoy, executive director of Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. “Let’s protect our ocean, marine life, and coral reefs together!”
Samuel Eliades, director of Research & Conservation at Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI) will present on the rescue and rehabilitation process at Coral World with extra focus on sea turtles. Register on the Friends website for this free seminar to receive Zoom information.
Join Friends Education Specialist Kaitlyn Cummings and learn about the general life cycle of a sea turtle, the three turtles found in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the things to do to protect our turtles! Register on the Friends website for this free seminar to receive Zoom information.
Jeff Miller is a retired fisheries biologist formerly stationed at Virgin Islands National Park. It’s a tough time to be a coral. Jeff shares his passion for the spectacular animals of the coral reefs and suggests ways you can help. Register on the Friends website for this free seminar to receive Zoom information.
Join Friends Of Virgin Islands National Park at Drunk Bay and help clean up marine debris and trash. Meeting point is the Salt Pond parking lot at 9 a.m. Wear comfortable shoes, as Drunk Bay is rocky, and bring sun protection and water. Friends will provide gloves and bags. High schoolers will be credited with five community service hours.
Family, relatives, and friends, be advised of the passing of Dennis (Sam) Mactavious Sr., who departed this life on October 4, 2024.
Left to mourn his passing are his four children:
Carren Mactavious and Delrice Mactavious of Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Dr. Barbara Mactavious and Dennis (JahYouth) Mactavious Jr., of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Four stepchildren:
Bernice Turnbull-Jacobs of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Julian (Tallboy) Turnbull and Rita Durant Brin of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, and Dr. Dafney Fahie of Chesapeake, Virginia.
He also left behind to mourn his passing:
Grandchildren
Step-Grandchildren
7 Great Grandchildren
1 Great Great Grandchild
16 Great Step Grandchild
Great Great Step Grandchild
Sister-Irene Frazer of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Aunt-Delmina Ruth Barry of Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Brother-In-Law- Austin Frazer of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
The First Viewing will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, from 4-6 p.m. at Turnbulls Funeral Home.
The Second Viewing will be held at Wesley Methodist Church “Anna’s Retreat” on Friday, October 25, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Followed by the Service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Eastern Cemetery.
Arrangements Entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home & Crematory Services.
Senate candidate Eugene Farrell shares more about his past government experience, and priorities, on this episode of The Fish Fry. The Fish Fry is produced by VI Crawl, powered by Mad Hot Media and the VI Source – there’s always something new!
The Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission (LEPC) is offering a public review opportunity for its application submission for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance (JAG) Grant. The grant is administered through the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funds. They are used to address: law enforcement efforts to prevent and reduce crime and violence, drug-related and juvenile delinquency issues, law enforcement programs, drug treatment and enforcement programs, prevention and education programs, prosecution and court programs, corrections and community correction programs, planning programs, evaluation programs, technology improvement programs, crime victim and witness protection programs, and mental health programs and related law enforcement programs, including behavioral health and crisis intervention.
For any person who would like to review the Law Enforcement Planning Commission’s application for FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding, contact Carmen Potter, executive assistant to the director, at 774-6400 or via email at carmen.potter@lepc.vi.gov.
Law Enforcement Planning Commission is committed to supporting criminal justice initiatives and programs through collaboration, advice and resources to promote safer communities in the Virgin Islands.
In his bi-weekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.
The topic of closure has been something I have both wrestled with and something that has come up in recent conversations. I am unsure where the idea of needing closure originated, but we have placed too much power and responsibility for it in the hands of others. Understand that nothing you receive from the other person in terms of answers, explanations, or rationale will leave you feeling settled and better about whatever has transpired. You will simply have more questions, which lead to deeper self-doubt. Take, not only your power back, but reclaim your peace.
When a person has been slighted, wronged, hurt, or abandoned, the natural question that circulates is, “Why?” We feel compelled to try and figure out what happened, why it happened, what could have been done differently, how we could have stopped it from occurring. There is nothing wrong with this train of thought, especially when we are blindsided by an unexpected dissolution. We begin to question if that relationship was real, did they care, etc. The shock of the sudden change of heart or direction leaves us feeling empty and helpless, further justifying our search for clarification.
Let me pause here because there are those who pretend to be taken aback or shocked, when in fact, they are fully aware of their behaviors and hoped the other person wouldn’t catch on. Those individuals prey on the goodness of others, using and manipulating them, then playing victim when they are caught. I neglect to use the label we most often associate with these types of personalities because it has become over-utilized, broadened, and over-generalized on social media. Suffice to say that they are exempt from this examination due to their intentional attempts to control and demoralize others.
For those of us who are genuinely working on trying to become better, we have to understand that the search for closure is the breeding ground for unforgiveness. We become so focused on trying to find answers that this quest keeps us from the actual work we need to do. That is the effort put into letting go of the emotional attachment. We have heard the saying, “unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”. If you are unfamiliar with it, it simply means that holding on to the hate, hurt, anger, etc., is only destroying you internally.
As I previously stated, it is natural to want answers. I would be remiss if I didn’t say that you have a right to know. However, even with those things considered, you may still never obtain the information you seek. This is twofold because you may not want or like the answers you receive, so you are continuing to seek beyond what is in front of you. I am reminded of another saying that I have used before, which is, “When people show you who they are, believe them.” In the case of the search for closure, if you are fortunate enough to receive an answer, take it for what it is and move on. Again, this is if you even obtain some semblance of clarity from the other person. The other side of the coin is that you may never receive a response. You will be stuck wondering, wishing, and asking yourself hundreds of questions repeatedly.
This is where you can take control. Stop seeking “closure” and start seeking improvement. You can improve your health, your habits, your thoughts, and ultimately, your perception of the previous situation. This will yield great results and propel you into a place where the next opportunity to present itself won’t be overlooked, missed, or delayed. This is your life, and you no longer are required to allow anyone to disrupt your course your mind. You do not have to linger in the purgatory of being uninformed or lost. You can choose to simply stop giving that situation anymore energy. Closure happens when you decide you have had enough of yourself. When you are done being detached from the present, tired of being downtrodden, tired of being upset, tired of allowing someone else to control your thoughts and emotions. When you reach this point, you have come to the door of accountability and opportunity. You can cross this threshold and move away from what was into what will be.
I would never go so far as to say closure does not exist, but the belief that it will be obtained from someone else is misguided. Sometimes what we hear will only drive us further down a path that will keep us bound to the past and anchored to misery. In other instances, not knowing can be equally catastrophic to our emotions. In either case, it is the allowance of disruption that ultimately prevents us from shutting the book or at least closing the chapter on that part of the story. Do not let anyone else control your story. Pick up your pen and change the narrative.
Langley “Casual-Word” Shazor is a poet, author, publisher, entrepreneur, public speaking coach, podcast host, and pastor who is an advocate for youth and men. His goal is to enlighten, empower, and liberate those who are silenced, marginalized, and enslaved to self-destructive thoughts and behaviors.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
Early voting opens at 9 a.m. Monday. Despite bumps in the road, Elections Supervisor Caroline Fawkes said the Elections Office was well prepared. (Photo courtesy Elections System of the Virgin Islands)
With early voting underway Monday and regular voting starting Nov. 4, Elections Supervisor Caroline Fawkes remains characteristically unflappable, but not without trepidation.
As a Virgin Islands National Guard helicopter pilot, Col. Fawkes flew U.S. senators and international terrorists in and out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Determined and dedicated, the Crucian’s 22 years of military service spills over into her pledge to civilian service, she said. Fawkes has piloted the Elections System through eligibility disputes, a decade of lawsuits, and the painstaking process of collecting and counting ballots.
Yet the territory is always on the precipice of potential problems that even preparation and military precision may have difficulty surmounting, she worried. The storms slamming into Florida in recent weeks are a stark example.
“One of my worse fears is to have a natural disaster a month before election day,” Fawkes said. “However, we as election workers will do whatever we must to defend democracy.”
External factors aren’t the only threat. Unfounded conspiracy theories about voter fraud or rigged elections — the kind that sparked the Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington, D.C. — can lead to pessimism, distrust, and apathy. Disinformation, misinformation, and malicious malinformation serve to disenfranchise voters, she said.
“I encourage them to educate themselves, visit the offices and witness the processes with the voting machines for themselves. However, it’s important they participate in the process by casting their vote,” she said, then quoted Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. “Not voting is not a protest; it’s a surrender.”
Fawkes said her vision is to regain the public trust and confidence in the election system and increase voter turnout by ensuring all elections are honest.
“Elections will be fair, accessible, secure, and transparent. My goal is an accurate report of timely elections results,” she said.
With an engaged, collaborative, customer-focused culture, the Elections Office is “an exemplary organization” with experienced staff, Fawkes said.
It’s that steady hand that has helped the Elections System weather a variety of storms.
In January, less than eight months before the primary election, District Court Chief Judge Robert Molloy ruled eight sections of the V.I. Code were unconstitutional and another section, barring political parties from using national party symbols, was preempted by existing federal law.
Then in August, Fawkes ruled would-be candidate for Delegate to Congress Ida Smith was ineligible. Smith had canceled her New York registration more than a month after the deadline to have only USVI registration, a requirement for the position, Fawkes said.
An emergency Elections Board meeting was held where Smith wanted to know why she was disqualified and Fawkes quoted existing law.
“As the supervisor of Elections, I follow the law as written, not what I wished it should be. Laws change and many persons revert to memory and old antiquated laws, not realizing the law has been amended and updated. I do my due diligence, read, read and comprehend the current laws,” she said in October.
Fawkes pushed back against those who said Smith had a slim chance of beating current Delegate to Congress, Stacey Plaskett. Odds of winning did not figure into Fawkes’ reading of the law, she said.
“That’s not my issue. Precedence and principles is my mantra. In God I trust, everyone else I check and verify,” she said.
Eventually, the Board of Elections overruled the disqualification and put Smith back on the ballot. It was a decision Fawkes disagreed with and hired a lawyer to protect herself and the integrity of the system, she said.
“No one influence me in any way to seek legal redress. Experience matters – 11 years in this position. I emailed the Board of Elections the next day and informed them I would be seeking legal counsel,” she said. “The Board of Elections and the Office of the Supervisor must fully perform our functions adhering to the letter of the law. This will continue way past my tenure.”
Fawks, 63, was born on St. Croix and joined the military after graduating from Central High School. She was the first female aide-de-camp to a general officer selected within the V.I. National Guard in 1982. By 1986, she was the first female Virgin Islander to become a pilot and serve in the V.I. National Guard, flying both helicopters and airplanes. Until 2002, Fawkes was the first and only female State Army Aviation Officer within the National Guard as a whole. From 1992 to 2002 she was the first and only female within the Armed Forces to pilot a C-23B Sherpa Aircraft. She obtained her Airline Transport Pilot License in 1997 and has more than 4,000 accident-free flight hours over 16 years.
Back home, she received a master’s degree in business management from the University of the Virgin Islands. She became supervisor of Elections in 2013 after 32 years in the military. As supervisor of Elections, Fawkes administers and regulates the territory’s election laws under the direction, control, and supervision of the Board of Elections. She’s championed early voting and other modernization initiatives to aid turnout.
Fawkes does have a few fears: snakes, creaky floors and stairs in old buildings, and spicy food. She faces these with two mottos: “Obstacles are only opportunities in disguise” and “Standards always – no compromise.”
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring Invest 94L as it travels across the Atlantic Ocean. The system has been given a 40 percent chance of development over the next seven days. (Photo courtesy NHC)
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical wave in the central Atlantic that has a moderate chance of developing later this week.
The disturbance, called Invest 94L, has been given a 40 percent chance of development over the next seven days as it moves across the Atlantic Ocean. As of 8 p.m. on Sunday, the system is moving through an area not conducive to cyclonic development. However, the NHC has reported that Invest 94L will encounter more favorable weather conditions for potential development during the middle to second half of the week. (An “invest” is an area under investigation for tropical development by the National Weather Service.)
“This system is currently embedded in an unfavorable environment and development is not anticipated over the next couple of days,” the NHC explained. “However, this [tropical wave] is forecast to move generally westward to west-southwestward, and environmental conditions could become more favorable for additional development by the mid to latter part of this week,” the NHC continued. “A tropical depression could form as the system begins moving west-northwestward and approaches or moves near the Leeward Islands by the end of this week,” the NHC added.
If Invest 94L eventually intensifies into a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of at least 39 miles per hour, it will be named Nadine, the fourteenth named cyclone of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Other weather impacts forecast to affect Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands include excessive heat throughout the week, and staying hydrated and cool is essential to help avoid heat-related illnesses. Additionally, powerful ocean swells generated by tropical systems in the Atlantic are expected to continue to reach the local islands through at least Monday, causing choppy seas and an elevated risk of rip currents.
Weather Updates
Weather forecast information, including severe weather alerts, is available from the VITEMA website and the National Weather Service.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing two separate applications for floating taco bars operated by Lime Out LLC on St. John and St. Thomas.
Graphic shows location of proposed mooring for Lime Out 1 in Coral Bay. (Image from USACE permit announcement Sept. 17, 2024)
The first application –– SAJ-2019-02391(SP-KMU)CESAJ-RD-SA ––pertains to the Lime Out 1, a wildly successful destination for boaters that has been operating in Coral Bay since 2020. This application can be reviewed here.
Graphic shows the location of the proposed floating taco bar in Lindberg Bay. (Image from USACE permit announcement Sept. 17, 2024)
The second application ––SAJ-2023-00411(SP-KMU)CESAJ-RD-SA –– is for Lime Out 2, a similar taco bar proposed for Lindbergh Bay on St. Thomas. That application can be reviewed here.
Lime Out 1 underwent intense scrutiny when it first opened in Limetree Cove within Round Bay on the East End of St. John in 2019. The quiet anchorage was suddenly inundated with boats and even seaplanes, leading to complaints from nearby residents. Within weeks, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources withdrew the operators’ anchoring permit.
The restaurant relocated to a designated anchorage in Coral Bay in February 2020 but was soon closed because of COVID-19 restrictions. It reopened several months later and, since then, attracted national attention in most major travel publications and on social media.
An aerial view shows boats anchored at Lime Out 1. (Photo submitted by Lime Out)
“People would tell me that when a family member came to the island, they’d say, ‘The one thing I want to do is go to the taco boat,’” said Richard Baranowski, who co-owns Lime out with his wife Chelsea, Dylan Buchalter, and Dane and Val Tarr, all of whom were raised on St. John. Angelo Raimondi, who was raised on St. John but now resides on St. Thomas, is joining them in the partnership for Lime Out 2.
Baranowski said the Coastal Zone Commission on St. Thomas will hold a public hearing on Lime Out 2 within a few weeks. The exact date has not been officially announced.
According to the USACE application, “Lime Out 2 would be a 53-foot (ft) long x 20-ft wide (1,060 ft²) floating barge with a 2-ft draft. It would be anchored with four helix anchor mooring systems and floated lines and mid-line buoys. The applicant also proposes to install 10-day use moorings to minimize anchoring by restaurant patrons and other boaters. All moorings will have floated lines, mid-line floats, and helix anchors.”
Back in 2019, the owners allowed customers to swim up to the taco bar or approach by kayak, but for safety reasons, they soon required that customers approach on a boat with a captain. Patrons are now invited to quaff craft cocktails and munch tacos while seated in the water on 12 floating “lily pad” seating pods. Several small boat companies provide shuttle service from the shoreline in Coral Bay.
Customers enjoy the “lily pads” surrounding Lime Out 1 in Coral Bay. (Image from USACE permit announcement Sept. 17, 2024)
Lime Out 2 will also offer floating seating pods. The owners are now working with cruise ship companies and local tour operators to provide access once permitting and final construction details are completed. The hull has been ordered and is due on island soon.
Neither Lime Out 1 nor 2 is technically a vessel. Neither has an engine and must be towed to land if a major storm approaches. Lime Out 1 has a trailer and is stored on shore in Coral Bay. Lime Out 2, which is slightly larger, will be hauled by a crane and stored on the V.I. Port Authority Dock, according to Baranowski.
Baranowski said the process for applying for a USACE permit for Lime Out 1 began a couple of years ago and environmental impact studies have been completed. The studies for Lime Out 2 are moving forward, he said.
Permitting for floating restaurants and bars lies in a “somewhat gray area,” according to Baranowski, because there are currently no specific regulations in the territory beyond the ones for anchoring and moorings. However federal laws do apply, and the Army Corps relies on reports by numerous federal agencies which have oversight of environmental issues.
Architectural drawing shows the design of Lime Out 2 proposed for Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas. (Image from USACE permit announcement Sept. 17, 2024)
Lindbergh Bay, the site for Lime Out 2, is a recreation area that includes a water playground. Anchoring is not allowed because of submerged power lines, but the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association has installed five moorings. The taco bar will be moored about 1,100 feet offshore from the Emerald Beach Resort which will offer shuttle service.
Members of the public have until Friday to submit comments, questions, or request a public hearing by emailing karen.m.urelius@usace.army.mil. Questions can also be directed to Project Manager Karen Urelius at (787) 370-8359.
Virtue of the Week focuses on building peaceful and caring communities through understanding and fostering the practice of virtues. The Source supports the Virtues Project and will publish one virtue developed by the project each week.
Decisiveness
Decisiveness is firmness of mind in taking a stand or making a decision. It needs us to be courageous and discerning. At times, a choice appears and we must make it instantly, prompted by a deep knowing that it is right and timely. Decisiveness can call us to hold a decision with patience and deep contemplation. We seek a pure intent, which guides us to a conclusion we can trust. We move forward with resolve and confidence. We are content with our decisions and do not second-guess ourselves.
Quote: “The way to develop decisiveness is to start right where you are, with the very next question you face.” -Napoleon Hill
The Practice of Decisiveness
I have the courage to decide.
I have confidence in my choices.
I am not afraid to act in the moment.
I take the time I need to discern the wisest path.
I trust my deepest truth.
I carry my decisions into action.
Questions for Discussion
How can we invite decisiveness through a social justice lens?
What conditions do we need to strengthen in order to hold a decision with deep contemplation?
Through a social justice lens, how do we move forward with resolve and confidence?
What do we need so that we can carry our decisions into action?
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Virtue of the Week is provided by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) in partnership with the VI Source and Virtues Matter.
About the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands
Since 1990, CFVI has been a catalyst for positive change in the territory through initiatives committed to youth, learning, family support and the environment. With a professional staff and a volunteer Board of Directors composed of community leaders, CFVI is a trusted advocate and supporter of programs that ensure opportunity and sustainability for current and future generations. CFVI is a registered non-profit organization entirely supported by individual donors, grants, trusts, corporate donations and estate planning. For more information, visit cfvi.net.
About Virtues Matter Virtues Matter was started by a passionate wife-husband team of social entrepreneurs seeking to positively uplift as many lives as possible. We aim to inspire and empower, to build capacity, strengthen relationships, and help everyone lead lives of passion and purpose.
Virtues Matter believes in a world where people are committed to kindness and respect, strive to be their best, and live with hope, courage and in unity. We built the Virtues Cards mobile app, an interactive personal and team development tool, to help people identify and develop key virtue skills. We also offer dynamic workshops, online training, and customized programs to help people cultivate these positive qualities of character. To learn more, visit virtuesmatter.com.
On Sunday, at approximately 3:05 a.m., the 911 Emergency Call Center was alerted by the ShotSpotter detection system that multiple gunshots were fired on Kronprindsens Gade on St. Thomas, the V.I. Police Department reported.
Responding officers traveled to the area of the Tequila Bar and discovered a man who had sustained gunshot wounds about his body. An emergency medical technician at the scene concluded that he did not have any vital signs, the police report stated.
The identity of the victim is pending identification by next of kin. He is the territory’s 26th homicide victim of the year, and the 16th on St. Thomas, according to the Source Homicide List.*
Anyone with information about this incident can contact the Virgin Islands Police Department at 340-774-2211, or the Criminal Investigation Unit’s Major Crimes Division at 340-714-9823, 340-714-9828, or 340-714-9829. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
*The Source Homicide List is a chronological log of the homicides recorded in 2024 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as reported by the VIPD. Cases are broken down by island. While this listing is based on VIPD reports, the Source does not include suicides or vehicular homicides in its listing, which the police and some other media do. This can lead to a discrepancy in the number of incidents reported.
In his bi-weekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.
