The Virgin Islands claims PepsiCo and Coca-Cola knowingly overstated their plastic bottles’ ability to be recycled and deceived customers into thinking they were making environmentally responsible purchases. (Photo courtesy Superior Court of the Virgin Islands)
The Virgin Islands government’s suit against plastic bottle producers will stay in local courts after a ruling by federal Judge Robert Molloy Monday.
Molloy ruled that the suit from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs and the government of the Virgin Islands against makers of Pepsi and Coke products could proceed in the Virgin Islands Superior Court.
Local government entities claimed in their April 2025 suit that PepsiCo and Coca-Cola were creating, marketing, and distributing plastic products they knew could not be recycled, despite their claims to the contrary. The associated litter, the USVI government said, was burying the territory’s natural beauty under waves of floating garbage.
The suit claimed violations of consumer protection laws, the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and common public nuisance laws.
“PepsiCo and Coca-Cola — the top plastic polluters in the world — have littered the Virgin Islands with their plastic bottles and engaged in a disinformation campaign to make consumers falsely believe that purchasing their products in single-use plastic bottles is an environmentally responsible choice,” according to the lawsuit, which included photos of plastic debris on beaches, waterways, and overflowing landfills.
Contrary to statements from the companies, plastic bottles could only be recycled once, if at all, the suit alleged. In 2019, the companies invested $4.24 billion in advertising and marketing but only $11 million to help fund a river cleanup initiative, the same year, according to court records. The suit also alleged PepsiCo Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean, The Coca-Cola Company, and CC 1 Virgin Islands made “false or misleading statements or representations” about the characteristics of the presence of microplastics.
The beverage companies were not alone, the suit alleged, and belong to organizations that lobby lawmakers and trade groups to define words like “recyclable” more loosely, push back on low-plastic packaging restrictions and single-use plastic use, and create false-front groups — like Alliance to End Plastic Waste — that only pretend to promote environmental sustainability.
It was unclear when the Superior Court might hear the case.
Startup Battle USVI 2026 will bring entrepreneurs, investors, and community members together for a live pitch competition at UVI’s Orville Kean Campus on Thursday. (Shutterstock image)
The UVI Research and Technology Park, in partnership with Southern Equity and the University of the Virgin Islands, is set to host Startup Battle USVI 2026 on Thursday at the Eldridge Wilburn Blake Sports and Fitness Center on UVI’s Orville Kean Campus. The event runs from 6 -9 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
The centerpiece of the evening is a live pitch competition featuring six finalists, four early-stage startups and two student-led ventures, who will present their business concepts before a panel of judges and a live audience. A total of $100,000 in investment capital will be awarded, with $80,000 designated for early-stage startups and $20,000 for UVI student-led ventures.
The competition has previously helped launch Virgin Islands businesses with significant impact. In October 2022, St. Croix-born brothers Khalid and Zayd Salem won the $100,000 top prize for their meal delivery service, Boomerang Eats. At the time, the brothers had been operating on St. Croix for just three months and used the investment to expand their service to St. Thomas and St. John, with plans for broader Caribbean growth. The event drew approximately 400 attendees to St. Thomas, including nearly 150 University of the Virgin Islands students.
The four early-stage finalists for 2026 are:
EstateShield VI: A technology-enabled platform providing holistic estate planning services for families in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Juju & Cece’s Lemonades and Treats: An agricultural enterprise that processes local crops into packaged foods and beverages using modern distribution technologies.
RePlastic Recycle: A climate technology company developing AI-driven infrastructure to support circular economies in island and coastal markets.
cpStacks: A financial technology firm building cloud and AI applications designed to broaden access to trading tools and address wealth gaps.
The two student track finalists are:
MAPPIT: A geospatial mapping and drone imagery company providing spatial data services in the territory.
CTF Consulting: An environmental consulting initiative focused on converting organic waste into fertilizer.
In addition to the pitch competition, the event will feature live musical performances by Virgin Islands artists PUMPA and Kruziano. Local vendors will be on-site, and attendees will have networking opportunities with founders, investors, and community leaders.
For more information, contact Sydney Paul, Director of Marketing at the UVI Research and Technology Park, at sydney.paul@uvirtpark.net.
Weeks of training on how to rush aid to children in an emergency led to the staging of a full-scale disaster drill on Tuesday on St. Thomas. Operation Guardian Angel made its debut at the Lockhart K-8 School in Sugar Estate, according to Emergency Medical Services Director Jacqueline Greenwich-Payne.
Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services personnel, and volunteers from St. Thomas Rescue joined Government House, the departments of Education, Human Services, Labor, Justice, and VITEMA, on-site at the exercise venue. The Health Department served as the lead agency and organizer of the pediatric readiness assessment exercise.
Greenwich-Payne described the emergency scenario. Under the terms of grants provided to EMS, she said, local responders must be able to handle any medical emergency affecting children that may arise.
Practicing a pediatric medical emergency response (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
“ … there was an earthquake, some of the buildings crushed and came down,” Greenwich-Payne said. Some debris fell on the school campus, trapping some of the students. The quake’s impact also damaged a school bus, leaving the driver dead.
First responders on scene at Tuesday’s response drill (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
“And so we want to see how they’re going to respond,” she said.
Details of the disaster scene were worked out in advance in tabletop exercises. On Tuesday first responders, observers, and evaluators went through their paces — counting students, tagging those needing medical treatment, transporting others to a spot nearby where they could be reunited with parents and loved ones, searching for those not accounted for.
The signal to start the drill came around 10:30 a.m. from an administrator at a school identified as “Ginger Thomas Elementary School” — a fictional name used because the real school could not be disclosed — simulating a call to 911. All of those steps were transmitted to a unified command hub at nearby Roy Lester Schneider Hospital, Greenwich-Payne said.
“We have evaluators evaluating all of those agencies so that we can identify the shortcomings so that we can work with them in training to be able to increase their knowledge, their readiness, their confidence, because we don’t want to react. We want to respond and to be able to perform,” she said.
Deputy Health Commissioner Hadiyah Charles said the idea of staging a pediatric medical emergency drill came up after schools across the territory became subject to a series of bomb threats in the current school year.
“When children are involved, we have to be really careful, because some children may have some medical issues. So we need to make sure that you have (sic) some sort of identification for them, medication. You know, with us, our disaster comes in the form of a hurricane, and so we have some warning before that,” Charles said, “so what this disaster drill does is it gives parents and guardians all of the information that they would need in order to adequately prepare.”
It also helps local agencies assess their roles before a real emergency triggers a response, Greenwich-Payne said. For those agencies that have not developed emergency plans, training gives them a chance to put one in place.
Dr. Robin Ellett, a local physician, serving as one of the observers, said seeing responders in action would help doctors like her know what to do. “I’m very thankful that they put this together for pediatrics,” she said.
Charles commended Greenwich-Payne for leading the effort and the evaluation afterward.
Team leaders on the scene at preparedness drill (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
“Miss Greenwich- Greenwich-Payne said that this was to show our shortfalls … but it’s also to give us practice, because who dreams of it? I mean, you can’t even dream of it. And so, seeing the shortfalls is really important. Each department needs to know what we need to do better,” the assistant commissioner said.
Ronald Lee Jr. leads an ensemble performing at the St. John School of the Arts on Monday, March 30. (Submitted photo)
If you missed the Ronald Lee Experience’s sold-out performance on St. John in February, you still have a chance to see the band play on March 30.
The St. John School of the Arts is hosting a free concert featuring the Ronald Lee Experience on Monday, March 30, at 6:30 p.m. The concert is part of the Virgin Islands Education Department’s annual Music is ME Day.
Because seating is limited, concertgoers should sign up at the SJSA’s website to be placed on the guest list here.
The school is partnering with The Refinery to offer a fundraising “Dinner with the Stars” immediately following the concert. The menu is posted on the school’s Ticketing/Events page, and tickets ($85) must be purchased in advance.
Ronald Lee Jr. describes the ensemble’s style as Caribbean-infused jazz. He currently teaches piano at the St. John School of the Arts and serves as president and instructor of Love City Pan Dragons Steel Orchestra.
VIDE’s Division of Music Education and Programs invites students, educators, families, and the community on Monday, March 30, to celebrate the power of fine arts and music education across school campuses throughout the territory.
Events and activities will take place on St. Croix at Sunny Isle Shopping Center from 9 – 11 a.m., on St. Thomas at Tutu Park Mall from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., and across all VIDE campuses
Participants are encouraged to show their support by wearing their FAME T-shirts or any previous Music is ME/All About ME T-shirts.
For additional information about Music Is ME Day, please contact:
VIDE Division of Music Education and Programs
Dionne R. Donadelle dionne.donadelle@vide.vi
340-690-7484
A St. Croix man has been extradited to the Virgin Islands and charged after police say he fraudulently obtained more than $400,000 from the government, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.
According to a Virgin Islands Police Department police report, Kadrion Lomack was returned to the territory on March 23 and arrested at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport following an investigation by the Economic Crimes Unit.
Police said the case began on March 25, 2025, when the Virgin Islands Department of Health filed a complaint of obtaining money by false pretense. Investigators determined that Lomack allegedly impersonated an employee of Germfree, a company contracted by the department for laboratory and cleanroom services.
Authorities said Lomack contacted the department by email and requested that payments owed to Germfree be redirected to a Citi Bank account under his control. As a result, $412,190 was transferred to that account, according to the report.
An arrest warrant was issued and entered into the National Crime Information Center database. Lomack was taken into custody on March 6 in Illinois after experiencing vehicle trouble on a highway, police said.
He was escorted back to the territory by the VIPD Extradition Unit and later processed at the Wilbur H. Francis Police Operation Building. Police said Lomack was advised of his rights and declined to make a statement, the report stated.
Lomack was charged with obtaining money by false pretense, grand larceny, participating in fraud on creditors, fraudulent claims upon the government, and access to computer for fraudulent purposes, the report stated.
Bail was set at $20,000. Unable to post bail, Lomack was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights hearing, police said.
It is with profound sadness that the family of Miriam Filomena La Bast-Greene announces her peaceful passing on March 20, 2026, just days before her 83rd birthday.
Miriam Filomena La Bast-Greene
Miriam lived a life filled with love, strength, and devotion to her family and friends. She will be remembered for her kind heart, caring spirit, and the many lives she touched throughout her lifetime as a nutritionist for UVI, devoted Christian, and an avid community member.
Miriam was a devoted mother, grandmother, aunt, godmother, and friend. Her greatest joy was her family, and she took pride in nurturing and supporting those she loved. She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and cherished memories that will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
She leaves to cherish her memory her loving daughters Thairen Greene and Timara Greene- Edwards; her sons Carl Greene and Lorn Greene; and her beloved grandchildren Saisha Greene, Schayla Greene, Lornique Greene, Lokoy Greene, Thaila Dade, Mikaili Dade, and Michael Dade.
She is also survived by her loving nieces Janella Alment La Bast, Sierelda La Bast, Thaisa File’, Darlen La Bast, Lucelle La Bast, and Nyree La Bast; her nephews Trevor La Bast, Kennedy File’, and Ijel File’; her cherished goddaughter Kamilah Greene; her in-laws Kervin Edwards, Bernadine Edwards, Karen James-Greene, and Keila Greene.
Miriam also leaves behind her dear and special friends Margaret Clavier, Margaret Petersen, Angela Matthews, Claire Clarke, Rosemarie Ignacio, Demaris Bradshaw, Jillian Webster, Alice Frederick, Carey Phillips, and Althea Blake, who will forever treasure her friendship and the many memories they shared.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Divine Chapel,#129 Peter’s Rest Christiansted St. Croix VI 00820.
Viewing will start at 10:00 A.M. and service at 11:00 A.M.
Interment follows at the Kingshill Cemetery.
Miriam will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Her warmth, wisdom, and presence will never be forgotten. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Island Green Living’s recycling crew loads recyclables for Shipment #16. (Photo courtesy Island Green Living)
With their first shipment of 2026, St. John’s Island Green Living reported that it has exceeded the recycling milestone of 5 million aluminum cans and more than 152,000 pounds of ocean-bound plastics.
Shipment #16, loaded the last week of February, included 290,700 aluminum cans and 7,451 pounds of #1, 2 and 5 plastics. The pallets are on their way to partner PADNOS, where these items will be recycled, extending the productive life cycle of the resources, the nonprofit announced.
“We thank the island community for their diligence in separating out aluminum and #1, 2 and 5 plastics from their trash and giving these materials a new lease on life while keeping our oceans, landfills and the environment free of litter,” said Harith Wickrema, president of Island Green Living. “Our stellar recycling team, headed by Akeino Williams, works hard to collect and sort the materials, with invaluable help from our volunteers. Please keep in mind that as a charity operation, managed independently from the municipality, we depend on financial contributions to keep the operation going. We received zero funds from the legislature’s last budget.”
Island Green emphasizes that although recycling is critical to sustainable waste management, the first step is to RETHINK and minimize consumption, especially of single-use plastic. At this time the nonprofit cannot accept glass and cardboard, so please keep these items out of the recycling bins. It is also vital that people do not dispose of needles and other medical waste with recyclables as they can cause serious injury risks to sorters, it added.
Island Green Living picks up recyclables with their dedicated truck at several collection sites on St. John. The public can conveniently deposit their RINSED #1, 2 & 5 plastics and aluminum cans in Island Green’s specially marked receptacles. The locations are as follows:
– Cruz Bay: Main VIWMA site across from EC Gas Station & Alfredo’s Landscaping
– Cruz Bay: Bin at Caneel Bay Fuel Dock
– Gifft Hill Road: VIWMA site just past Gifft Hill School
– Coral Bay: Main VIWMA site across from Love City Mini Mart
Additionally the community can drop off at Island Green Living’s ReSource Depot located behind VITEMA on Gifft Hill Road just off Centerline.
Island Green recycling crew members John Baker and CJ Scatliffe prepare ocean-bound plastic for shipment. (Photo courtesy Island Green Living)
Island Green also has an arrangement with hauling company YES! Waste Management to accept recyclables from several St. Thomas schools and locales. YES! Waste Management does this purely as a community service, the nonprofit said.
Most commonly used plastics have a resin code listed somewhere on the material, typically on the bottom. Island Green Living can accept #1, 2 and 5 plastics, which include items such as water and soda bottles, some food containers, peanut butter jars, milk jugs, shampoo and detergent bottles, yogurt containers, etc. Caps can be recycled but should be removed from containers. Styrofoam and items like plastic utensils, bags, etc. CANNOT be accepted.
Island Green Living has an esteemed history of sustainable programming and conservation in the U.S. Virgin Islands, noting that its ReSource Depot thrift shop has kept more than a million pounds of building, household, clothing and other materials out of landfills. “Please consider donating items you no longer need but that are still in condition others would want to buy — we thank the community for their contributions,” said Keryn Bryan, ReSource Depot manager.
The nonprofit has also worked closely on banning plastic bags, straws and toxic sunscreen, “Ban the Burn” of vegetative debris and other environmental legislation as well as issues such as food security and greening education with Planet Green Force.
Island Green Living Association is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization on St. John dedicated to sustainability throughout the USVI. Visit www.islandgreenliving.org.
Island Green Living Vice President Dawn Henry joins the recycling crew. From left are John Baker, Henry, Akeino Williams, and CJ Scatliffe. (Photo courtesy Island Green Living)
V.I. Water and Power Authority Chief Executive Karl Knight appeared virtually and addressed ongoing outages and repair efforts during a Government House press briefing Monday on St. Croix. (Screenshot from V.I. Government House livestream)
The V.I. Water and Power Authority expects to keep St. Thomas and St. John on a daily power rotation schedule through Wednesday while technicians repair an aging generator at the Randolph Harley Power Plant. WAPA Chief Executive Karl Knight said during a Government House briefing Monday that the rotations are expected to begin around 9:30 a.m. each day and continue through peak demand hours until about 9:30 to 10 p.m.
“I know these outages are hard. I know they’re disruptive to the workday, they’re disruptive to schools, they’re disruptive to our essential workers,” he said. “I assure you that our plant personnel are working around the clock to restore full service.”
Government House spokesperson Richard Motta Jr. said that Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. will likely not declare a state of emergency like the one declared in April 2024 amid repeated outages.
“When the governor calls for a state of emergency, it is because there is a clear pathway for something to be done about the existing issue,” he said. “For example, when he called the state of emergency the last time, it was to enable the government of the Virgin Islands to use funding from the rainy-day fund to assist the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.”
The latest round of outages came just days after power was restored to St. John following an apparent act of vandalism to the island’s transmission cable. On Thursday, Unit 15 was taken offline because of an equipment failure. Knight said during a Government House briefing Monday that two other so-called “legacy” generators were also down for maintenance and that the loss of Unit 15 left a 5-megawatt shortfall in generation, leading to days of rotating outages.
“To put things in perspective, Unit 15 has been slated for retirement,” he added. “The average life expectancy of a gas turbine is somewhere around 30 years. Unit 15 was installed in 1980, making it about 46 years old — so it’s well past its expected life expectancy.”
Both Unit 15 and another legacy generator, which has already been decommissioned, Unit 14, have been approved for replacement by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A WAPA press release Monday noted that while funding for the replacements has been obligated by the V.I. Disaster Recovery Office, “processing and approvals from ODR have taken longer than anticipated.”
“We hope that in the short term, we’ll be able to provide temporary generation that will allow us to rely less on Unit 15,” Knight said. “We are also looking forward to the permanent replacement of the unit, along with the installation of additional battery and energy storage systems into the Harley Plant.”
Knight said later that ODR and the V.I. Public Finance Authority are “tantalizingly close” to executing an agreement with RG Engineering for the FEMA-funded power plant rebuilds, which will involve setting up temporary generation while they work on the full replacement.
While Knight stressed that the latest outages were caused by years of deferred maintenance and not financial or fuel supply issues, fuel prices the world over have surged because of the United States’ war in Iran. Virgin Islanders have felt the impact, and Bryan last week directed commissioners and agency heads to restrict government vehicle use to official and essential activities.
“Outside of those measures … the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs also is doing their due diligence to make sure that, similarly, our merchants aren’t taking advantage of this opportunity,” Motta said during Monday’s briefing. Motta said DLCA had already cited one vendor for increasing their gas prices before filing the proper paperwork.
Amid a spate of recent arrests by federal immigration officers, Government House said Virgin Islanders should not interfere with law enforcement operations but should record them when necessary.
Videos of multiple arrests outside of a market on St. Croix were shared widely on social media Thursday. One depicted several agents subduing and arresting a man, while one agent appeared to have his knee on the man’s head and neck. The U.S. Homeland Security Department, which oversees Customs and Border Protection, has not returned calls to the department’s regional office in San Juan.
“The video that was circulated on St. Croix was particularly disturbing — I think the community can agree,” Government House spokesperson Richard Motta Jr. said during a press briefing Monday. Motta said the administration is encouraging Virgin Islanders not to “engage or interrupt or hinder” law enforcement operations in any way. “Stay away — do not intervene.”
“But,” he added, “we also encourage individuals to record … if they see something that is untoward or if they see excessive use of force, it is not against the law to record that, and so that is what we’re encouraging Virgin Islanders to do when they see those types of activities taking place.”
Motta noted that the federal agency doesn’t share operational details with local authorities, “and so largely we are not in the know” regarding ICE’s operations in the territory.
Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett urged Virgin Islanders last week to make sure they know their rights during encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That information has been posted to Plaskett’s website in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
“Regardless of immigration status, you have constitutional protections,” she said. “I want to remind everyone in the community that in the United States, being present in the country without the appropriate documentation is a civil matter, not a criminal one.”
Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol, who supported Bill No. 36-0232 to allow air curtain incinerators, testifies before the Senate Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection Committee on Monday. (Photo courtesy V.I. Legislature)
Lawmakers on the Senate Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection Committee on Monday advanced legislation allowing the use of air curtain incinerators for green-waste disposal, adding safeguards aimed at protecting air quality and public health.
After hours of testimony and at times tense debate over landfill fires, shrinking capacity and impacts on nearby communities, senators voted to send Bill No. 36-0232 to the Senate Rules and Judiciary Committee with a favorable recommendation. The approval came with new conditions governing how and where the incinerators can operate.
Before the vote, the committee adopted Amendment No. 36-743, offered on behalf of Sen. Clifford Joseph, adding several operational guardrails while keeping the bill’s core authorization intact.
The amendment requires that incinerators be operated by certified personnel and prohibits their use within 300 feet of any residence. It also mandates inspection and approval by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources before any unit begins operation.
To address air-quality concerns, the measure requires at least four perimeter monitors at each site to track fine particulate matter. Data must be made publicly available monthly, and operations must stop if pollution levels exceed national standards until conditions return to compliance.
Additional provisions require twice-yearly inspections of each unit and direct the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, in coordination with DPNR, to establish formal operating policies within 60 days of enactment.
Officials from the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, who supported the measure, said the territory’s two main landfills are nearing capacity, with Anguilla estimated to have about three years of remaining space and Bovoni about seven. They warned that a major storm could rapidly accelerate that timeline by generating large volumes of vegetative debris.
Between 2024 and 2025, VIWMA recorded 15 landfill fires, with another already in 2026, CFO Daryl Griffith testified. “When green waste accumulates at landfill sites, it significantly increases the risk of landfill fires,” he said, citing threats to “public health, air quality, worker safety, critical infrastructure, and of course, our nearby communities.”
Fire and emergency leaders backed him, with Assistant Director Clarence Stephenson warning that “Inaction simply delays the problem until the next landfill fire, at which point our concerns about emissions, air quality and safety become reactive instead of proactive.”
Supporters framed the incinerators as part of a broader Waste Management strategy, alongside mulching, grinding and composting, rather than a replacement for those methods. Still, they said air curtain units can reduce the volume of green waste far more quickly, particularly after storms, when debris can overwhelm other systems. Ultimately, proponents argued that the territory must act now to reduce fire risk and manage waste more effectively.
Opponents urged senators to reject routine use of air curtain incinerators, warning the technology would worsen air pollution for residents and undermine more sustainable solutions like composting.
Community advocates from Bovoni, Bolongo and Nadir described their neighborhoods as long-burdened communities. Felicia Blyden, member of the Bovoni Bolongo Nadir Community Organization said industrial-scale burning would pose a direct health risk, citing asthma and other respiratory concerns, and called for greater focus on composting and mulching.
She criticized the bill as “vague” on protections and called instead for a firm commitment to “composting, mulching and shredding … sustainable activities with the least impacts on human health and the environment.”
Environmental groups echoed those concerns. Dawn Henry, CEO of the Virgin Islands Environmental Association, told lawmakers that air curtain incinerators still emit harmful pollutants, including fine particulate matter. “Clear does not mean clean,” she said, warning that emissions can remain dangerous even when not visible.
Health officials and technical experts also urged caution, emphasizing that fine particulate pollution has no known safe exposure level and can be especially harmful under local weather conditions.
In the end, the committee voted 4-1 to advance the bill, with two members not voting. Sens. Avery Lewis, Kenneth Gittens, Franklin Johnson and Novelle Francis Jr. backed the measure, saying the territory must act to curb landfill fires and manage shrinking space.
Sen. Ray Fonseca, the lone no vote, pointed to the close proximity of homes to the Bovoni landfill, arguing that adding another source of combustion in a residential area is unacceptable. He also signaled plans to introduce amendments to limit the bill’s scope as it moves forward.
Sens. Alma Francis Heyliger and Carla Joseph both abstained. Francis Heyliger said she did not want to take a final position until she could review all proposed amendments in the Senate Rules and Judiciary Committee, saying she prefers to decide only after “a happy medium is figured out.” Joseph, who is preparing her own amendment to limit when the incinerators can operate and to tighten health protections for nearby residents, likewise withheld a vote while those changes are still being drafted.
