Commentary

“Cancer remains the second-leading cause of death in the Virgin Islands. Behind every diagnosis is a mother, father, husband, wife, child, or friend. We have a responsibility to give our people every opportunity to survive through early detection and access to the best available care.” 

The legislation designates the bandstand located at the Christiansted National Historic Site in St. Croix as the "Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand" and directs that any reference to the bandstand in federal law, regulation, or documentation be treated as a reference to its new name.

For decades, constitutional education has occupied only the margins of Virgin Islands politics. Campaigns have centered almost exclusively on personalities, local projects, and partisan loyalties. Rarely have candidates been asked to explain the constitutional framework governing the territory itself. That must change. The Delegate elected this year may be called upon to defend not merely federal funding but the constitutional understanding of citizenship itself. That is a responsibility unlike any faced by previous generations. It also places renewed importance on the Virgin Islands' own efforts toward constitutional reform.

Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett introduced of two bills to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinics on St. Thomas and St. Croix in honor of two Virgin Islanders who gave their lives in service to our country

36th Legislature Calendar July 20, 2026 – July 31, 2026 WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2026 Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services 10:00 A.M. Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall Please be advised that the Committee on Health, Hospitals & Human Services will be conducting a hearing on  Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. in the...

Fellow Virgin Islanders, we are at a crucial turning point. We cannot continue to conduct business as usual. Neglecting our financial management issues is no longer acceptable. Dancing, partying, and turning a blind eye to these issues will not provide solutions. Our islands need new leadership, a fresh mindset, and collective action to navigate out of this turmoil.

To truly aspire to build safer communities, we must recognize a broader reality: community safety begins long before a crime is committed or an emergency call is answered. It begins with healthy children and stable families. It begins with educational opportunity, meaningful employment, quality healthcare, affordable housing, behavioral health services, strong neighborhoods, and communities that reduce risk before tragedy occurs.

In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.

"Today, our territory is grieving the loss of a baby—a four-year-old boy whose life was taken far too soon. No family should ever have to bury a child, and no community should have to carry this kind of pain. My heart is broken for this little boy and for everyone who loved him."

"It means faster resources, fewer bureaucratic delays, and a program that exists before disaster strikes rather than one we have to fight to rebuild from scratch every hurricane season."

In Part 3 of this series on the forests in the Maroon Sanctuary Park on St. Croix, I will discuss understory plants briefly and the general ecological make-up of tree ecosystems throughout the park. Basically, understory simply means plants growing beneath the forest canopy without extensive light penetration onto the forest floor. Sweet lime, a non-native understory plant (Triphasia trifolia), for example, is one of our invasive species plants in the Virgin Islands, found both in the northwest and northeast central forests of the park environment.

While Senator Gittens welcomes efforts to revive the horse racing industry, he voiced concern regarding the manner in which the Special Session was announced.

"We are sincerely grateful for Attorney Joseph’s many contributions and lifelong service to the Virgin Islands community, service marked with integrity and distinction," said Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach.

“A comprehensive recovery plan should focus on increasing revenue and improving accountability, not solely on reducing personnel,” he said.

Governor seeks broad legal guidance to support consistency, transparency and public confidence in the Virgin Islands election process

To the world’s shame, those violent, murderous gales continue unabated, driven by an unconscionable moral erosion. It is only fitting that we persist attempting to grasp the unleashed horror, feel the anguish, listen to the howling of a people crying out to their human family to intervene and end the nightmare.

In Part 2 of this exploration of forest development within the Maroon Sanctuary Territorial Park on St. Croix, bush professor Olasee Davis touches on the indigenous people’s influence on the terrestrial environment in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, specifically on the island of St. Croix.

The legislation was first championed by Congressman Ron de Lugo in the 103rd Congress. The hearing held last week represents the furthest the bill has advanced in its history.

We respectfully call upon territorial and federal leaders to urgently address these funding deficiencies, release overdue government allotments, and develop long-term solutions to support uncompensated care and the increasing healthcare demands facing our institution.

In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.