Senate Vice President Kenneth L. Gittens announced today that he has formally requested an immediate status update from the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General regarding the long-awaited forensic financial audit of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA), authorized under Act #8731.
Senate Vice President Kenneth L. Gittens (Submitted photo)
Act #8731, sponsored by Senator Gittens and enacted following the Legislature’s override of a gubernatorial veto, appropriated $250,000 for an independent forensic audit of WAPA. The legislation was intended to provide transparency, accountability, and a comprehensive examination of the Authority’s financial operations and management practices.
Three years after the enactment of the law, the audit has yet to be completed and delivered to the Legislature.
The request comes as residents throughout the Territory, particularly in the St. Thomas-St. John District, continue to endure prolonged and recurring power outages that have left families and businesses struggling with significant hardships.
“The frustration being expressed by residents today is justified, and I share that frustration,” Senator Gittens said. “Over the past several days, families have lost hundreds of dollars in groceries, residents have worried about preserving life-sustaining medications, businesses have suffered interruptions, and countless households have experienced damage to appliances and electronics because of unstable power service. We definitely deserve better!”Senator Gittens said he vehemently disagreed with WAPA’s statements today that the current situation in the St. Thomas-St. John district was “not an emergency”.
He emphasized that while utility challenges can occur anywhere, the frequency and severity of outages experienced in recent years have eroded public confidence and heightened the need for transparency and accountability.
“People are tired of excuses. They want answers, and they deserve answers,” Senator Gittens stated. “That is precisely why the Legislature authorized and funded this forensic audit. The purpose was to obtain an independent assessment of WAPA’s operations, financial management, and decision-making processes so that policymakers and the public can fully understand what has contributed to the Authority’s longstanding challenges.”
In his letter to Inspector General Delia Thomas, Senator Gittens requested a detailed status report on the audit, an explanation of any factors contributing to delays, an estimate of the remaining work, and an anticipated timeline for completion.
“The audit was never intended to sit on a shelf unfinished,” Senator Gittens said. “The Legislature invested public funds in this effort because Virgin Islanders deserve transparency. While I respect the complexity of forensic audits, three years is a significant period of time, and the public has a right to know where the process stands and when the findings will be released.”
Senator Gittens stressed that his request is not directed at any individual employee or department but is part of the Legislature’s ongoing responsibility to ensure accountability and good governance.
“At this point, we need facts, not speculation,” he said. “The findings of this audit may help identify operational weaknesses, management failures, systemic challenges, or other factors that have impacted WAPA’s ability to deliver reliable service. Whatever those findings may be, the people of this Territory deserve to know the truth.”
The Senate Vice President also pledged to continue pursuing legislative oversight and reforms aimed at improving utility reliability and protecting consumers.
“Reliable electricity is not a luxury – it is an essential service,” Senator Gittens concluded. “Our residents should not have to wonder whether they will have power when they return home, whether their food will spoil, or whether critical medications will remain safe. The people of the Virgin Islands have waited long enough for answers, and I will continue to press for the transparency and accountability they deserve.”
Senator Ray Fonseca is urgently calling on the Legislature of the Virgin Islands to pass his resolution petitioning the United States Congress to authorize federal oversight and management of the daily operations of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA), as residents across the territory continue to endure widespread and prolonged power outages that began Friday night. Our power grid is unreliable on St. Thomas/St. John.
Senator Ray Fonseca questions service providers. (Photo courtesy of the Legislature of the VI)
“WAPA cannot keep the lights on,” said Senator Fonseca. “Our residents have suffered enough. This is not just an inconvenience — this is a crisis that threatens the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of every person in this territory.”
Senator Fonseca first submitted resolution BR No. 25-0906 back on November 3, 2025, calling on Congress to authorize federal intervention in the daily running and management of WAPA, including full oversight of all contracts, bids, procurements, and expenditures. This weekend’s outages are a stark reminder that the urgency of that call has only grown.
“We submitted this resolution months ago and the situation has only gotten worse,” said Senator Fonseca. “It is time for the Legislature to act. Pass this resolution and let us send a united message to Congress that the people of the Virgin Islands need and deserve federal intervention now.”
Senator Fonseca believes that if Congress were to create a special intervention framework for WAPA, several strong federal options exist that could bring immediate and lasting relief to Virgin Islands residents:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is best positioned to provide emergency stabilization and hands-on infrastructure management, making it an ideal first responder for a utility in crisis. The U.S. Department of Energy brings deep expertise in utility operations, grid reliability, and long-term modernization — critical tools for transforming WAPA into a sustainable, resilient system. Most comprehensively, a federally authorized management board combining the Department of Energy, FEMA, and the Army Corps of Engineers would bring substantial federal resources, expertise, and accountability to immediately address WAPA’s financial, operational, and infrastructure challenges.
“Any one of these approaches would be a dramatic improvement over the status quo,” said Senator Fonseca. “But what matters most right now is that Congress acts — and that our Legislature sends them the message that we are united in demanding it.”
The resolution calls upon President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright, Lieutenant General William H. “Butch” Graham Jr. of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Governor Albert Bryan, and the Delegate to Congress to take all necessary measures to stabilize the territory’s grid and protect ratepayers.
“The Virgin Islands is a U.S. territory and an important port of entry to the United States,” Senator Fonseca stated. “The reliability of our power grid is imperative to the quality of life and livelihood of all Virgin Islanders.”
Senator Fonseca is also urging the Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress to introduce and champion corresponding federal legislation without delay.
“Our people deserve the same reliable power and water services that every American expects. The Legislature must pass this resolution so we can get Congress to act. We cannot wait any longer”
For more information, please contact the Office of Senator Ray Fonseca at 340-693-3577 or by email at SenatorRayFonseca@legvi.org.
V.I. Water and Power Authority chief executive Karl Knight addresses the last spate of pervasive outages on St. Thomas and St. John during a press conference Monday morning held on St. Croix. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
Maintenance issues first triggered by one of the Randolph Harley power plant’s aging “legacy” units have stymied attempts to restore power to large swathes of St. Thomas and St. John and end the latest episode of persistent outages, V.I. Water and Power Authority Chief Executive Officer Karl Knight said during a press conference Monday morning.
“We are working on bringing up additional generation, but I must point out that the plant remains in an unstable condition,” Knight said. “We have been through this over the last two days of starting to restore power. We have … encountered issues that have caused the plant to trip offline, so we can expect that as we bring up these generating units today, there will remain some periods of instability, and we may have to start the restoration process over if we lose the generation units.”
For many on St. Thomas and St. John, power has been sporadic at best since shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday when Unit 27, an aging generator at the Randolph Harley Power Plant, tripped because of a fuel valve issue. Knight said that led to a “series of cascading technical issues” at the Randolph Harley power plant. Unit 27 was brought back online several weeks ago after a similar issue with Unit 15 — another legacy generator — caused days of rotational outages in the district.
“Unit 27 was pressed into service to end those rotations but has not performed optimally since that time,” Knight said Monday. “Attempts to restore service utilizing solely the Wartsilas has resulted in issues with the fuel system and with the air systems. Our maintenance mechanics, electricians, engineers and plant managers have been working around the clock since Saturday evening to resolve these issues.”
Knight said the struggling utility asked Wartsila for personnel to troubleshoot the generators. Some arrived on St. Thomas Monday morning, and Knight said more were expected later in the day.
The Randolph Harley Power Plant has seven Wartsila units. Four of those were commissioned to much fanfare in January 2025 after sitting idle on the island for years, but they quickly ran into problems running on cheaper, more efficient liquefied petroleum gas. During a federal consent decree conference six weeks ago, WAPA Project Management Director Maxwell George told a judge that the four newer generators experienced a “catastrophic failure” when they attempted to run them on LPG, and all seven have issues with controls meant to limit the emission of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide. While U.S. District Judge Mark Kearney signaled a willingness to issue a court order compelling Wartisla to come to the table, Knight said Monday that court intervention “perhaps would not be helpful at this point in them.”
Knight said there are two aspects to the WAPA’s relationship with Wartsila: a dispute over the generators’ warranty period and “ongoing conversations” about the root cause of the generators’ failures.
“I think what’s important for the court and the public to understand is: we own those generators, and at least they’re not rented — we own them — and they’re going to be with us for the foreseeable future, so the relationship with manufacturer of the generators, as we move forward, is also important to weigh in balance. So there are two separate issues. I think we can address the warranty issues,” he said before drawing a line between that conversation and the dispute over operation and maintenance of the units. “And those two conversations probably need to be kept separate.”
St. Thomas and St. John in particular have been plagued by prolonged, persistent outages in recent months, but Knight shied away from describing the situation as a state of emergency and described it instead as a “power crisis.”
“If it becomes a prolonged crisis, perhaps we can start to refer to it as an emergency. We believe that we can make some progress into stabilizing and normalizing the grid, and if we’re unable to do so, or the prognosis becomes more…,” he said before changing tack. “I know there’s a lot of PTSD from the last round of outages that lasted two and a half weeks. As of this morning, I have no expectation that this will be nearly as prolonged an event.”
Knight said later that an official emergency declaration “changes the scenario” because WAPA already receives substantial federal funding and technical assistance.
“We have federal dollars that are being deployed both for repair and replacement in the power plant,” he said. “We have ongoing relationships with consultants and technical assistance. The federal state of emergency — while it sounds good — doesn’t change the mode of operation for us significantly.”
Both of the territory’s power plants are slated for Federal Emergency Management Agency-funded replacement. The government inked an agreement in May with R-G Engineering and Javelin Gramercy Ventures to perform the replacement, and Knight said Monday that R-G has identified temporary generators to install on St. Thomas while the companies overhaul the plant. He estimated that the temporary units will be installed within 12 months of their purchase.
“They’re probably not going to be as efficient as what we can get with new modern generators — especially if we’re able to return the plant to what we call a combined cycle, using the waste heat to produce steam and additional energy,” he said. “So the permanent generators are going to improve our efficiency, but these generators are going to be large, heavy-duty, industrial generators that can carry the load.”
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on Monday, with many forecasters calling for a slightly below-average season due in large part to an expected El Niño weather pattern. However, experts are encouraging residents to prepare and not let their guard down.
Atlantic Season Kicks Off on June 1
The Atlantic hurricane season runs annually from June 1 through Nov. 30, and the National Hurricane Center said Monday morning that tropical cyclone formation is not expected across the Atlantic basin during the next seven days, although several tropical waves are being monitored.
While the Atlantic basin is relatively quiet as the season begins, meteorologists stress that conditions can change quickly, and residents should not wait until a storm is approaching to prepare.
A NOAA graphic shows the historical peak of Atlantic hurricane and tropical storm activity, which typically occurs from late August through September. (Photo courtesy NOAA)Multiple Forecasts Point to a Slightly Below-Average Season
Several major hurricane season outlooks have called for a near- to below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, largely because of the expected development of an El Niño weather pattern.
NOAA is forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season. (Photo courtesy NOAA)According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Scientists call the two opposing climate patterns of El Niño and La Niña the ‛El Niño-Southern Oscillation’ (ENSO) cycle. El Niño and La Niña can both have global impacts on weather, wildfires, ecosystems, and economies.” An ENSO-neutral phase typically occurs between phases of a La Niña or an El Niño event.
El Niño, which involves a warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, usually helps to increase wind shear — a change in wind direction and velocity with height in the atmosphere. In the Atlantic Ocean the increase in wind shear from El Niño helps to rip apart storms and prevent hurricane formation and intensification. This is the opposite of a La Niña cycle, when the ocean waters across the equatorial Pacific cool significantly. During La Niña, wind shear typically decreases in the Atlantic, and a reduction in wind shear can favor cyclone development.
An AccuWeather graphic explains how El Niño can increase wind shear across portions of the Atlantic basin, which can help limit hurricane activity. (Photo courtesy AccuWeather)According to the NHC, the Atlantic hurricane season averages are 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
As the Source previously reported, NOAA’s official hurricane season outlook calls for eight to 14 named storms, including three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher. NOAA said there is a 55% chance of a below-normal season, a 35% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of an above-normal season.
However, NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., emphasized that a below-normal forecast should not lead to complacency.
“Even though we’re expecting a below-average season in the Atlantic, it’s very important to understand that it only takes one storm,” Jacobs said.
The Source also previously reported that AccuWeather predicted 11 to 16 named storms, including four to seven hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes. Colorado State University predicted 13 named storms, including six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
All three outlooks highlighted the expected development of El Niño as a major factor that could limit Atlantic activity by increasing wind shear, which can make it more difficult for tropical systems to form or intensify.
Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service, also warned residents not to lower their guard because of the seasonal forecast.
“Don’t let words like ‘below-average’ change the way you’re prepared,” Graham said.
Monitoring Hints of Early Tropical Development
Although there are no active cyclones in the Atlantic basin as of Monday, there are some early signals of the potential for development. An AccuWeather article said on Monday that forecasters are monitoring several tropical areas early in hurricane season, including the Gulf, Western Caribbean and southwestern Atlantic, as well as parts of the Eastern Pacific.
The National Hurricane Center’s Seven-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook on Monday afternoon showed no disturbances in the Atlantic basin in the next seven days. (Photo courtesy NOAA and NHC)
Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert at AccuWeather, acknowledged that the chances of cyclonic activity are slim.
“Tropical development chances remain low at this time,” DaSilva said.
AccuWeather noted, however, that the Gulf, Western Caribbean and southwestern Atlantic will need to be monitored during the first two weeks of June, especially if wind shear relaxes and a pulse of tropical thunderstorm activity moves into the region.
The Climate Prediction Center’s latest Global Tropics Hazards Outlook, valid June 3 through June 16, also highlights a greater chance of tropical cyclone development in the Eastern Pacific, while the Atlantic remains quiet.
Local Weather: Saharan Dust, Heat, and Limited Rain
Locally, the NWS in San Juan, Puerto Rico, said a dry, stable and hazy pattern will continue across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through the middle of the week, driven by a Saharan Air Layer and high pressure.
The National Weather Service in San Juan warned that Saharan dust may cause hazy skies, reduced visibility, and poor air quality across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Photo courtesy NWS)
The NWS highlighted Saharan dust as one of the main local weather concerns.
“High concentrations of Saharan dust will promote hazy skies, poor air quality, and reduced visibilities through Tuesday,” the NWS said. Sensitive groups, especially individuals with respiratory conditions, should take precautions to limit outdoor exposure and follow medical guidance as needed.
Another influx of moderate Saharan dust is expected by the end of the week. The NWS said residents and visitors should expect hot, hazy and mostly dry conditions through at least Wednesday, with limited rainfall expected across the region.
“Hot temperatures are expected in general, particularly along the lower elevations and urban areas of the islands,” the NWS said.
The forecast also noted that limited shower activity is expected for the next few days, though a few brief, fast-moving trade wind showers may move across the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
By Friday into Saturday, a weak tropical wave is forecast to pass well south of the area. The NWS said impacts from that wave are expected to be minimal.
Marine and Beach Conditions
The NWS also reported that gusty east-to-east-southeast winds will promote choppy seas across the local waters through much of the week.
Increasing winds and choppy seas may also raise the risk of life-threatening rip currents across beaches in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A moderate risk of rip currents is expected for the majority of beaches across both U.S. territories.
Daily Weather Updates
Regarding hurricane season, forecasters repeatedly caution that seasonal outlooks describe overall activity across the basin, not whether a specific island, coastline or community will be affected.
NOAA encourages residents to prepare before hurricane season by developing an evacuation plan, assembling disaster supplies, and strengthening their homes. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
A quieter year overall can still include a dangerous storm for the Virgin Islands or any other location in the Atlantic basin, and individuals across the islands are encouraged to begin preparing now.
Information about the weather across the USVI, including marine forecasts, is available from the NWS and NOAA.
The local forecast is regularly updated on the Source Weather Page, and a weekly video forecast is available. Additionally, residents and visitors can view weather alerts and disaster preparedness information from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.
The Virgin Islands Architecture Center, in partnership with DPNR’s Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, opened up their new exhibition “When the Walls Answer” at Fort Frederik on St. Croix, bringing together artists, preservation advocates and community members to celebrate the legacy of late architect and artist Gerville Rene Larsen and the enduring cultural significance of Virgin Islands architecture and art.
The exhibit celebrates the work and remarkable legacy of St. Croix artist El’Roy Simmonds, seen here being presented by VIAC Board Chair Mary O. Dema and VIAC Operations and Education Director Amanda Sackey, with an engraved lap desk featuring an honorary plaque. (Source photo by Joshua G Canning)
The exhibition honors Larsen, who died earlier this year, and his vision of transforming the Old Barracks property in Christiansted into a school focused on architecture, design, the building trades and historic preservation. It also celebrates the work of renowned St. Croix artist El’Roy Simmonds, known for paintings and murals depicting Virgin Islands life, culture and history.
Held in Fort Frederik’s central courtyard, the opening reception featured remarks from cultural leaders, museum officials and preservation advocates who reflected on Larsen’s influence and the role of art and architecture in preserving Virgin Islands identity.
Monica Marin, chief curator for the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, said the exhibition explores how art and architecture can challenge colonial narratives and reclaim Virgin Islands history.
Monica Marin, the Chief Curator for the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, explains that the exhibit is designed to “showcase the ways in which art and architecture can challenge colonial hierarchies and reclaim Virgin Islands narratives.” (Source photo by Joshua G Canning)
“The work of both Larsen and Simmonds serves as vital archives, calling attention to important histories and humanizing the people and places of historic significance to the Virgin Islands,” Marin said.
Addressing attendees, Marin described the territory’s towns as “repositories of knowledge and cultural memory,” noting that generations of social, political and economic history remain embedded in the islands’ built environment.
“From the architectural ruins of the colonial era to the vernacular wooden structures of the Free Gut and Savan neighborhoods, which proudly reflect resistance and reinvention post-emancipation, the built environment preserves the cultural identity of the Virgin Islands,” she said.
Marin credited Larsen’s work and advocacy with helping shift public understanding of Virgin Islands architecture by highlighting the contributions of Afro-Caribbean craftspeople who built many of the territory’s historic structures.
“His work illuminated the diverse African and creolized Caribbean legacies inherent within Virgin Islands architecture,” Marin said. “His work shines a light on the remarkable ingenuity of Virgin Islanders’ African forebears, who were more than an invisibilized workforce but were masterful artisans who produced dynamic culture that continues to shape our everyday lives.”
Amanda Sackey, operations and education director for the Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts, said preserving cultural heritage extends beyond protecting historic structures.
VIAC Operations and Education Director Amanda Sackey (Source photo by Joshua G Canning)
“At the Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts, we believe that cultural preservation is not simply about protecting old buildings or accepting incomplete narratives of our past,” Sackey said. “It is about creating opportunities for young people to see themselves as stewards, storytellers, designers, makers and future leaders of the Virgin Islands.”
Sackey said the organization’s mission is rooted in documenting, preserving and passing on both ancestral and contemporary knowledge.
“No More” by Gerville Larsen (Photo courtesy of VIAC)
“Built heritage is more than materials,” she said. “It is memory, it is identity, it is story and perhaps most importantly it is a bridge between generations, one of the most powerful ways that knowledge is passed down.”
Marin also highlighted architectural features common throughout the Virgin Islands, including gingerbread fretwork, jalousie shutters, wrought-iron lattice screens, coral stone blocks, verandas and courtyards, describing them as living expressions of African diasporic identity and craftsmanship.
“…a misnomer, The Myth” by Gerville Larsen (Photo courtesy of VIAC)
“These architectural elements serve as tangible reminders of a deep cultural inheritance,” she said, noting connections to West African iconography, Yoruba symbolism and African building traditions that continue to influence construction practices in the territory today.
According to organizers, the exhibition grew in part from concerns that historic buildings and the communities that shaped them are increasingly at risk.
Marin said the exhibit proposes that art can do more than document the past.
Red Shadow by El’ Roy Simmonds (Photo courtesy of VIAC)
“Before it is lost, it can also educate and inspire people to preserve these Black Virgin Islands spaces as sacred sites of collective memory, belonging and future-building,” she said.
Artists participating in the exhibition were invited to create works in which the walls “answer” back, reflecting what Marin described as the “dialogic, improvisational genius inscribed in our built environment.” Organizers said they hope the exhibit will encourage conversations about cultural preservation, justice and self-determination.
One Way by El’ Roy Simmonds (Photo courtesy of VIAC)
Featured artists include El’Roy Simmonds, Lloyd “Dove” Braffith, La Vaughn Belle, Elwin Joseph, Lucien Downes, Sy Sebastien, Regina Keels, Stephanie Chalana Brown, Janet Cook-Rutnik, Edney Freeman, Nathan Bishop, Luca Gasperi, Jaliyah Gunnell, George Graham, Nicole Canegata, Mike Walsh, Johanna Bermúdez-Ruiz, Vegan Ellis, Waldemar Brodhurst and student artists from VIAC’s VAST 2025 summer program.
A St. Croix man accused of robbing multiple people at gunpoint on Market Street in Christiansted was arrested Thursday after police executed arrest and search warrants connected to the case.
According to a Virgin Islands Police Department police report, officers arrested Roman Sanchez, also known as “Buck,” on May 28 in connection with a robbery reported shortly after midnight on April 11.
The case began when the 911 Emergency Call Center received a ShotSpotter notification at about 12:14 a.m. reporting gunfire in the Market Street area. Police also received reports of a robbery at the location. Responding officers made contact with several victims who reported being robbed at gunpoint. No injuries were reported.
Investigators later identified Sanchez as the suspect, according to the VIPD.
On May 21, a Superior Court judge issued an arrest warrant for Sanchez and a search warrant for his residence. Police said Sanchez was charged with first-degree robbery, carrying a firearm openly or concealed, possession or sale of ammunition, carrying a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence, third-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, and discharging a firearm.
His bail was set at $100,000.
Members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau and Special Operations Bureau executed the warrants Thursday. Sanchez, 40, was arrested, booked and transported to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending an advice-of-rights hearing scheduled for May 29, according to the report.
United Airlines has announced a new nonstop service between St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (STX) and Newark/New York (EWR), becoming the only airline to offer service to the New York City area from St. Croix. The new route will commence on Oct. 31 and will operate on Saturdays on a Boeing 737-700 aircraft, featuring 126 seats including 12 in business class.
U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism logo (Submitted photo)
“United is proud to connect more customers to more Caribbean destinations than any other airline in the New York City region,” said Tom Kozlowski, Senior Manager, Latin & Hawaii Network Planning, United Airlines. “We look forward to introducing even more travelers to the vibrant experiences that await in St. Croix.”
“Today’s announcement is a major milestone for St. Croix and a meaningful expansion of air access for both residents and visitors alike,” said Commissioner Jennifer Matarangas-King of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. “As someone born and raised on St. Croix, I know firsthand how transformative direct connectivity to the New York market can be for our community, our businesses and our tourism economy. United’s new nonstop service not only strengthens our ties to one of our most important visitor markets, but also creates new opportunities for travelers to experience the rich culture, history and natural beauty that make St. Croix so special.”
With this new service, United will serve 23 destinations across the Caribbean from Newark/New York, reaffirming its position as the leading carrier to the region from the New York City area. The new route also complements United’s existing Newark–St. Thomas service, expanding access to the U.S. Virgin Islands and giving travelers more flexibility when planning island-hopping itineraries.
Customers can book flights at united.com and on the United app.
For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, please visit https://www.visitusvi.com/.
Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center wishes to advise the community that all services previously housed in the former JFL Building have been relocated and are now fully operational across various campus buildings.
Gov. Juan Luis Hospital & Medical Center’s new Administration Building. (Photo courtesy JFL)
This transition is part of ongoing efforts to prepare for the demolition and rebuilding of JFL, while ensuring continuity of care and access to essential services.
The following services are now located as follows:
Virgin Islands Cardiac Center – 1st Floor
JFL-North Main Entrance (referred to as Administration Building)
Cashiers
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
JFL also wishes to reassure the community that emergency and inpatient services continue to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without interruption.
Members of the community are encouraged to refer to the JFL Services & Campus Guide for assistance in locating the respective offices and service areas. Individuals requiring additional assistance while on campus may visit any security checkpoint in the lobby of the Virgin Islands Cardiac Center or at the JFL-North Main Entrance (Administration Building).
JFL thanks the community for its patience and cooperation throughout this transition process and remains committed to providing efficient, accessible, and high-quality healthcare services.
As a districtwide power outage continues to affect St. Thomas and St. John, Acting Gov. Tregenza Roach announced that government offices will open at noon Monday. Additionally, Government House said that a press conference at which Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. is expected to make a “major announcement” has been moved from 10 a.m. to noon, and the V.I. Legislature said it would open at 10 a.m.
According to the government, a press conference about the outage is planned for 10 a.m. Monday at WAPA’s Sunny Isles business office on St. Croix.
Most or all of the district has been without power or intermittent power since Saturday around 6 p.m., when the V.I. Water and Power Authority issued an alert that it was investigating the cause of the outage. Multiple alerts followed, blaming “loss of generation at the power plant,” “grid instability,” and this morning, “a safety mechanism built into the generation units” that is leading to a delay in restarting the Wartsila units.
The prolonged outage has led to an outcry on social media by residents frustrated at the loss of productivity as well as food supplies, and the increased cost of running generators due to the surge in fuel prices since the start of the war on Iran. Many are calling on the governor to declare a state of emergency, as he did in the fall of 2024.
The disruption comes just weeks after WAPA and the Office of Disaster Recovery signed a contract to move forward with a major FEMA-funded power plant replacement effort on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The agreement with R-G Engineering/Javelin Gramercy Ventures Joint Venture will replace portions of the Randolph Harley Power Plant on St. Thomas and fully modernize the Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix, marking one of the territory’s largest utility infrastructure undertakings since hurricanes Irma and Maria, according to a statement from ODR.
“This is a transformative opportunity. It completes the positioning of St. Thomas for the future and gives St. Croix the chance to rebuild and transform its plant,” WAPA CEO and Executive Director Karl Knight said in a call with the Source at the time.
The project stems from FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, which pledged support after the 2017 storms to help stabilize and replace damaged and aging generation infrastructure throughout the territory. According to Knight, ODR later bundled the projects together and led efforts to secure a contractor capable of handling the scale of the work.
The selected contractor, based in Puerto Rico, is already familiar with WAPA’s system. Knight said the company previously assisted with repairs tied to Unit 27 and issues involving Unit 15 at the Harley plant, among other things, giving it experience with the authority’s facilities and the operational realities of isolated island grids.
Senator Gittens Requests WAPA Forensic Audit Amid Continuing Power Crisis