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USVI to Receive more than $500K in Grant Funds to Boost Technical Assistance Services for Local Small Businesses

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USVI to Receive more than $500K in Grant Funds to Boost Technical Assistance Services for Local Small Businesses

The U.S. Virgin Islands recently received a grant of $521,109 from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority announced.

This grant allows the Economic Development Bank (EDB) to administer the SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program. The program will provide consultants to help qualifying small businesses in the territory. This is in addition to the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Federal Credit Guarantee Program, according to the press release. 

The EDB, the lending arm of the VIEDA, will utilize consultants to conduct one-on-one counseling sessions with very small and underserved businesses in the territory to assess their needs, develop action plans, and provide specialized technical assistance services, the press release stated.

Such services include legal, accounting, or financial advisory consultations for qualifying small businesses that can assist with their readiness when applying for funding offered through participating SSBCI lenders to enhance their daily operations, the release stated.

These technical services will be offered at no cost and the official start date will be announced later, it said.

For more information, send an email to info@usvieda.org.

 

UVI Welcomes New and Transfer Students with Orientation Week Events

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UVI Welcomes New and Transfer Students with Orientation Week Events

New and transfer students enrolled at the University of the Virgin Islands will receive a warm welcome as faculty and staff on both campuses prepare for the start of the 2024 Fall Semester. Events will take place both on and off campus, the university announced.

On the Orville E. Kean Campus, there will be two orientation sessions held in the Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center on St. Thomas. The first session, designed for students from St. Thomas and St. John, will take place on Saturday, and the second session for all students will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Both sessions run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the press release.

On the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, welcome activities will be held on Thursday, Aug. 15, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Northwest Wing Great Hall. Orientation continues the following day, including move-in for new and transfer students at 8:30 a.m., the press release stated.

Camille McKayle, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, recommends that new students explore every resource available during the day’s activities, including Student Affairs offices, the Dean’s Office, Counseling and Career Services, Residence Life, Student Life, and Health Services, the release stated.

“Welcoming our new and transfer students to campus is one of the highlights of the academic cycle. It is a unique opportunity to give them a hearty Buccaneer welcome while introducing them to the diversity of opportunities available at UVI and begin to get them acclimated to campus life,” said McKayle.

In addition to campus tours, students will be introduced to many essential resources such as the computer lab and library, Health Services, residence halls, and Information Technology. Additional activities include lunch on campus and presentations about campus security, connecting to financial aid and enrollment resources, clubs and organizations. A portion of the time will be devoted to faculty advisement, course selection, enrollment and financial aid matters, according to the release.

On the Orville E. Kean Campus, the New Student Convocation will take place on Thursday, Aug. 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. On the Albert A. Sheen Campus, the New Student Convocation will take place on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Convocation is a formal ceremony welcoming new students to the University, it said.

Throughout orientation week, there are several activities planned to include island tours, hiking, and other recreational events designed to welcome students, provide social opportunities, and help students adjust to campus life. For details and updates on planned events, visit https://orientation.uvi.edu or https://www.uvi.edu.

“On behalf of the Division of Student Affairs, I extend a warm welcome to all our new and transfer students. We want them to know that we are here to support them every step of the way and are confident that they will find UVI a place where they can grow, learn, and achieve their goals,” said Leslyn Tonge, dean of students on the Orville E. Kean Campus.

Classes begin on both UVI campuses on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, the release stated.

 

 

DOH Extends Free COVID-19 Vaccine Program to Insured Residents

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DOH Extends Free COVID-19 Vaccine Program to Insured Residents

Insured individuals are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and residents are strongly encouraged, especially those planning to travel, to get vaccinated before the CDC’s Bridge Access Program concludes at the end of August, the Virgin Islands Health Department announced.

The Bridge Access Program has been a crucial temporary measure, offering free updated COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults. The program was established following the end of the federal COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program, which provided free vaccines until September 2023, according to the press release.

As part of an Immunization Awareness Month community engagement effort, the department’s Community Health clinics territory-wide are also offering the vaccine to insured adults at no cost, the press release stated.

“I am urging residents, particularly those planning to travel, to get the COVID-19 vaccine and take advantage of the Bridge Access Program before it concludes in August,” said V.I. Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. “The vaccine provides the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 and helps prevent its spread to others.”

On St. Thomas, the Community Health Clinic at Schneider Hospital is administering vaccines from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. For more information, call 340-774-7477, the release stated.

On St. Croix, the Community Health Clinic, located on the second floor of the former Caribe Home Center in Castle Coakley, offers vaccines from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 340-712-0131, it said.

On St. John, residents can contact the Morris F. deCastro Clinic at 340-779-4794 for vaccination dates and times, it said.

“Whether you are insured or not, all adults are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost through our Community Health Clinics for the remainder of August,” Encarnacion emphasized.

The commissioner also highlighted that the department’s Epidemiology Division has noted a slight uptick in reported COVID-19 cases. The territory has 16 active cases: 13 on St. Thomas, three on St. Croix, and none on St. John, according to the release.

For weekly updates on COVID-19 cases in the territory, residents can view the USVI Epidemiology Data Dashboard by clicking here.

 

 

 

Elder Roosevelt Woodley Sr. Dies

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Elder Roosevelt Woodley Sr. Dies
Elder Roosevelt Woodley Sr.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of a beloved father, brother, uncle, and friend: Elder Roosevelt Woodley Sr. of Grace Gospel Chapel, also known as Bub, who died on July 23, 2024 in St. Kitts.

He is survived by his beloved children: Chaplain Laverne A. Woodley, Roosevelt Woodley Jr., and Yulanda Woodley; siblings: Sylvia Buchanan; Wendell Woodley, Micah Woodley, Jeremiah Woodley, Louvina Charles, Mary Woodley, Joseph Woodley, Ruth Woodley, Anna Woodley, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives from the Woodley, Douglas, Richardson and Brown family—too numerous to mention.

The viewing will be held at Emanuel Baptist church from 10:00 am to 11 am in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on August 12th, and the funeral service will be at 11:00, August 12, 2024. The burial will be at Eastern Cemetery.

Family requests to refrain from taking pictures and videos during the funeral service along with the burial.

Arrangements handled by Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services.

Convicted Child Abuser Accused In Attack

Marelise Beach
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Convicted Child Abuser Accused In Attack
The man convicted of child abuse in the strangling death of his infant daughter in 2010 has been accused of assaulting two women in less than two years while on parole. (Source File Photo)

Kaseem Bruno, the man convicted of child abuse who, in 2010, police said choked his two-month-old daughter to death with an electrical cord, was in court Thursday on charges he assaulted a housemate holding her infant child, then pressed a knife to her throat — all because she asked that he move out.

The roommate asked Bruno to vacate the Bovoni apartment Aug. 1 because he was not on the lease, according to court records. This could, she said, cause problems with the Housing Authority. Bruno, 33, “became agitated and began making statements about how no one is helping him and all the terrible things that have happened to him throughout the course of his life.”

The roommate, holding her 1-year-old son, asked Bruno to calm down. He grabbed her neck. She struggled to breathe or speak even after he released his grip, she told police. Bruno, who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and 180 pounds, then pushed the woman and infant into the child’s bassinet.

Bruno later apologized and asked to talk. When the roommate again suggested he move out, he choked her, pinned her down with his knees, and pressed a large knife against her throat, according to a charging document against Bruno.

With her telephone dead, she and her son, fearing Bruno, waited until morning before fleeing to the Family Resource Center, a Charlotte Amalie emergency shelter, according to court records.

Police didn’t find Bruno at the Bovoni apartment Aug. 2. They published a wanted poster for Bruno Sunday and he was arrested Wednesday, charged with assault and battery, use of a dangerous weapon, and other offenses.

Born in New Jersey, Bruno, who left school after the 8th grade, was 19 when he and the 18-year-old mother of his child were charged with first-degree murder in the death of 2-month-old Kailiah Bruno.

The pair initially told police tiny Kailiah had choked to death on milk, suggesting bruises were the result of sleeping in a necklace. But police noted the parents had waited overnight to alert authorities and had not sought the help of neighbors. An autopsy revealed other trauma to Kailiah’s body and head. Charges were dropped against the mother when she told investigators Bruno had choked the child several days earlier with an electrical cord. Bruno had been trying to keep the baby quiet because police wanted him on other felony charges, according to court records. The baby lived in agony for a final few days, she told police, with noticeable neck injuries.

Charges against Bruno were eventually reduced to aggravated child abuse. He pleaded not guilty, then guilty. Then, once convicted, he appealed in 2012 saying he’d not meant to plead guilty. The appeal failed. He was sentenced to 11 years. The Virginia Department of Corrections labeled Bruno a violence risk but paroled him in September 2020. Bruno was to be monitored by the court until April 2027.

Thirteen months after Bruno’s release, in October 2021, he was charged with repeatedly punching an intimate partner and smashing her possessions into the ground. Charges were dropped March 9, 2023.

Bruno was advised of his rights in the most recent arrest on Thursday. A woman signed a custodial agreement to have Bruno live in her Oswald Harris Court apartment if he was to be released. She identified Bruno as her “boy friend.”

Judge Grants Restraining Order in Mon Ethos Case

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Judge Grants Restraining Order in Mon Ethos Case
Mon Ethos’ office in Yacht Haven Grande was closed around 2 p.m. Monday. Employees have said while the company hasn’t folded, its work locally has been minimal as much of the staff has gradually been let go since May. (Source photo by Ananta Pancham)

Judge Carol Thomas-Jacobs granted the V.I. Justice Department’s motion for a temporary restraining order against Mon Ethos Pro Support on Thursday over the objection of company founder David Whitaker.

The Justice Department filed a complaint against Whitaker on July 2 in V.I. Superior Court along with the motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunction, alleging his company breached its contract for cybersecurity services with the V.I. Police Department and was threatening to delete data critical to ongoing investigations and court cases.

According to the verified complaint, Mon Ethos demanded payment of $479,795 on June 15 for previous work “and threatened that data would be ‘lost’ if payment was not immediately remitted.” It was around the same time that the FBI announced that Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and Office of Management and Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal were the targets of a federal investigation regarding the government’s contract with Mon Ethos. Within days, both officials had resigned.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Mon Ethos is refusing to return equipment it was loaned under its contract with the VIPD, which is due to expire on Sept. 30, including a GrayKey — an item that lets police hack into mobile devices and retrieve encrypted information.

According to the complaint, the property also includes iPads, Facebook portals, iPhones, Max West Nitro tablets, Qlink Wireless tablets, laptops, Motorola cellphones, and Android Moto G phones with cases.

Whitaker filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Monday and an objection to the motion for the restraining order, or TRO, on Tuesday. He has denied wrongdoing and said in his response to the complaint that he has not violated his contract because any equipment loaned to him for his work with the VIPD for investigative support services, data discovery and forensic analysis doesn’t have to be returned until the contract expires on Sept. 30. There’s also no allegation that Mon Ethos has failed to perform the work, he said.

Public spending records reveal that the V.I. government has paid $3.31 million to Mon Ethos since August 2022, including $1.7 million from the Office of Management and Budget and $1.5 million from the V.I. Police Department.

Notice of Thomas-Jacobs’ order granting the TRO was filed on the Superior Court docket on Thursday afternoon but not the actual order.

Kevin Sheppard Named Interim Head Coach for UVI’s Men’s Basketball Team

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Kevin Sheppard Named Interim Head Coach for UVI’s Men’s Basketball Team

The University of the Virgin Islands has named Kevin Sheppard as interim head coach of its men’s basketball program, the university’s athletic department announced Thursday.

Sheppard has 20 years of coaching, playing, and training experience. As a former collegiate Division 1 and professional player, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the university, according to the press release.

“Words cannot accurately express how excited I am for Coach Sheppard to lead the men’s basketball program here at UVI,” said Director of Athletics Karen Carty. “His decades of experience in all aspects of basketball and his local connection make him a perfect fit to help us achieve our goals. I know he will hit the ground running and get the program back to the high levels of success that the Buccaneers have historically enjoyed.”

Kevin Sheppard, new interim head coach of men’s basketball at the University of the Virgin Islands. (Submitted Photo)
Kevin Sheppard, new interim head coach of men’s basketball at the University of the Virgin Islands. (Submitted Photo)

Sheppard played basketball at Jacksonville University and went on to have a professional career in various countries, including Spain, Poland, Israel, Australia, China, Argentina, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. He was featured in the documentary “The Iran Job” for his choice to play for a professional team in Iran. Sheppard also captained the Virgin Islands national basketball team from 2001 to 2014, securing multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals while representing the Territory, the press release stated.

“Tigan” or “Coach T,” as he is known by many, started his coaching career in 2011 at his alma mater, the St. Croix Educational Complex. Throughout his time in this role, he guided the Barracudas to seven district titles, all while coaching the Virgin Islands U18 Junior National team. In 2018, he was promoted to the senior men’s national team coaching staff and continues to serve in that capacity. Sheppard also gained coaching experience in the Puerto Rican professional basketball league, the “Baloncesto Superior National,” during a two-year stint with the Guaynabo Mets, the release stated.

“I am excited about the opportunity to guide these student-athletes in their development both on and off the court, mentally, physically, and emotionally,” said Sheppard. “From our approach to nutrition, training, and academic success, I am committed to creating a winning culture that instills pride whenever the Buccaneers are mentioned.”

Sheppard contributes to the community through his non-profit basketball program, VI Elites, which aims to improve basketball skills and elevate the sport. Through this program, Sheppard has shared his basketball expertise and provided opportunities for young Virgin Islands athletes, the release stated.

“I am very excited about the new challenge, and I am prepared to not only make UVI a destination for talent from abroad but also create a solid pipeline for our local athletes to have a place to compete collegiately,” Sheppard concluded.

National Health Center Week 2024

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National Health Center Week 2024

Frederiksted Health Care, Inc. (FHC) will be celebrating National Health Center Week, starting Aug. 3 through Aug. 10, the center announced.

National Health Center Week recognizes the hard work provided by health centers, both locally and nationally, to keep the community safe and healthy. FHC will be celebrating patients, the community, and employees throughout the week, according to the press release.

Community Health Centers (CHCs) like Frederiksted Health Care Inc. are the backbone of the nation’s primary healthcare system. They design innovative, integrated primary care based on what services communities need most while ensuring access to affordable, quality healthcare for all persons every year, the press release stated.

In addition to creating jobs and saving lives, CHCs save taxpayers millions of dollars a year in health care costs by preventing and managing chronic diseases. FHC facilities on St. Croix are not ordinary medical clinics; they are also problem-solvers who reach beyond the exam room to care for the whole person by providing access to services for the entire community. The significant shortage of clinical providers greatly impacts our underserved communities. As such, FHC remains a diligent advocate for providing great medical care and connecting the underserved in our community to local public assistance and other critical services, the release stated.

This year’s theme for National Health Center Week is “Powering Communities through Caring Connections.”  The week will begin with the Back to School Health and Immunization Fair. During the fair, there was support from multiple organizations in the community. Those organizations include The American Red Cross, Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety, Virgin Islands Housing Authority, VITEMA, Island Therapy Solutions, Department of Labor, and the PEchorn Program.

There was also strong donation support which included donations from Crucian Gold, Poison Control Florida & Virgin Islands, Annaly Farms, Cost-U-Less, Plaza East, Caribbean Cinemas, The Market, DJ Selecta P, Tamarind Reef Resort & Spa and Candy Land Bounce House. FHC is appreciative of the community and the endless support that it receives time after time. In return, FHC is dedicated to continue producing caring, no-harm health care that will continue to protect our community against harmful diseases and promote psychological awareness, according to the release.

Frederiksted Health Care Inc. will be engaging with the community this week. On Aug. 5 FHC celebrated patients by giving them a little token of appreciation upon the arrival of their visit. On Aug. 6, the Division of Social and Community Programs will conduct a Homeless Outreach to provide services to our unhoused population. On Aug. 7, the Nursing Department, along with DSCP, will conduct biometric screening and health information for the Agriculture Workers. On Aug. 9, all Frederiksted Health Care sites will be closed to show appreciation to dedicated staff for all their hard work on a day-to-day basis. On Aug. 10, FCH will host the Good Samaritan Saturday, Health for the Homeless. This program provides food and hygiene kits to the unhoused populations, it said.

FHC will reopen to serve patients on Monday, Aug. 12, at 8:00 am, it said.

To schedule an appointment, please contact 340-772-0260 or online by clicking here.

SCAWC’s “Dog Days of Summer Pup Crawl” Heats Up St. Croix Aug. 17

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SCAWC’s “Dog Days of Summer Pup Crawl” Heats Up St. Croix Aug. 17

Summer will continue to heat up as the St. Croix Animal Welfare hosts its “Dog Days of Summer Pup Crawl” on Saturday, Aug. 17, on the Christiansted Boardwalk.

The event will be held at Shupe’s on the Boardwalk, the Mill Boardwalk Brick Oven Pizza, Brew STX and Cruzan Bayou Bistro. Tickets are $50 or two tickets for $90. Each ticket includes one free drink at each participating location, four raffle tickets, and a custom SCAWC bar cup, according to the press release.

A raffle ticket will be drawn at each location. Prizes include a PAWsome gift basket from Cruzan Rum, a four-hour tattoo session by Kukuheart Ink, a half-day Buck Island Tour for two with Big Beards Adventure Tours, and the grand prize is a round-trip flight for two to Puerto Rico with Fly the Whale. The Pup Crawl Ticket includes four raffle tickets, but more can be purchased throughout the event. Raffle tickets will be $5 each, or five tickets for $20. The winner must be present to win, the press release stated.

All proceeds will go to the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center, the release stated.

In the spirit of friendly competition, each participating bar has been tasked with choosing a shelter dog for their themed pup of the night! Each bar will create a shelter pup-themed drink menu using Mutiny Island Vodka, Cruzan Rum, and/or Leatherback Beer or Soca. Whichever bar raises the most money for SCAWC by the end of the night will win a free adoption for their shelter pup, it said.

The following is the evening’s schedule:

  • 1st stop, 7 p.m. – Cruzian Bayou Bistro
    Raffle at 7:30 p.m.
    Walkies at 7:45 p.m.
  • 2nd stop, 7:45 p.m. – Brew STX
    Raffle at 8:15 p.m.
    Walkies at 8:30 p.m.
  • 3rd stop, 8:30 p.m. – The Mill Boardwalk Brick Oven Pizza
    Raffle at 9 p.m.
    Walkies at 9:15 p.m.
  • 4th stop, 9:15 p.m. – Shupe’s on the Boardwalk
    Raffle at 9:45 p.m.

The event ends at 10 p.m.

Rita Lavington Dies at 83

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Rita Lavington Dies at 83
Rita Lavington

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Rita Lavington. Rita transitioned into eternal peace on July 9, 2024. She was 83 years old.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Rose Simmons and Edwin Clarke; sisters: Essie “Mary” Michael, Ismay Phillip, Dinzie Phillip, and brother: King Arthur Simmons

She is survived by her sons: Conrad Clarke and Kurt Lavington; daughters: Jillian Clarke-Webster, Phyllis Clarke, Sylvanie “Fairy” Lavington and Cindy Lavington Pelle; son in law: Alex Pelle; grandsons: Deric Webster; Jermayne Barnes, Curtis Anthony Williams, and Jeremiah Wiltshire Jr.; grandson in laws: Kevin de Lande, Raymond Wiggins III, Marcel Nlandu and Orlando Benitez; granddaughters: Derica Webster-Benitez; Denelle Webster-de Lande, Nicole Smith, Nikisha Pelle, Anika Pelle, Jessica Wiggins, Joanna Nlandu, Jasmine Wiltshire and honorary granddaughter Lorne Joseph; great-grandsons: Kevin de Lande II, Jahseem Wiltshire, Kevin Parrilla, Izrael Barnes, Raymond Wiggins IV, Joel Nlandu, and Adonis Wiggins; great-granddaughters: Jah’Nica Gordon; Jahnya Burnett, Emery Walker, Veronique Nlandu, and Cali Walker.

She is also survived by sisters: Pearl Garnett (STT) and Ena Agustus (UK); special niece and nephew: Angela and Wilford “Mussolini” Hanley (SKN); close cousin: Edgar Ferrell (SKN); children and grandchildren of her late: (Aunt) Winnifred Simon, (Brother) King Arthur Simmon and (Sisters) Essie Michael, Dinzie Phillip, and Ismay Phillip.

Close friends: Albina Benjamin, Brenda James, Miriam Griffith, Jeannette Allen and family, Linda DeCaille and family and Mrs. St. Rose, the de Lande Family, the Benitez Family, the Joseph Family, Shaneka King, the Central Church of the Nazarene family, other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, at Central Church of the Nazarene located at 289 Mary’s Fancy, Christiansted. Viewing is at 9:00 am, and services are at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at the Kingshill Cemetery.

 

 

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