The Virgin Islands Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau is investigating an armed robbery that occurred Friday night, Nov. 7, at The Palms at Pelican Cove in Christiansted, St. Croix, the department announced in a press release.
According to police, at around 9 p.m. on Nov. 7, units responded to the hotel after receiving reports of an attempted robbery. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victims, who said that while parking their rental vehicle near their hotel room, two masked men approached them with firearms and demanded the car key.
One of the victims told police the suspects got into the rental vehicle but quickly exited after noticing it was equipped with a GPS tracking device. The suspects then fled the scene in a white Toyota Venza bearing license plate CIM-586, reportedly with two additional occupants, taking the victims’ rental car key, police said.
The victims were unable to provide full descriptions of the suspects due to their masks and dark clothing but described one as a tall, dark-skinned man, possibly with dreadlocks, and armed with a black handgun, according to VIPD.
The VIPD is urging anyone with information about the incident to contact 911, the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-778-2211, or Crime Stoppers USVI at 800-222-TIPS.
A St. Croix man allegedly shot at a woman and her small children, then chased them in his car. (Shutterstock image)
The St. Croix man who allegedly shot at a woman and her children as they fled also chased them at high speed down the Melvin Evans Highway, according to court records posted Thursday.
K’Jahni Rivera, 23, was on probation for two previous domestic violence-related convictions when, with nowhere else to go, he begged to sleep at an ex-girlfriend’s apartment, according to court records.
Rather than staying just the night, Rivera took the woman’s keys and refused to return them. He would leave the door unlocked for her, she told police he said.
On Sunday, Rivera demanded the woman wash his clothes. He became enraged when she refused. He smashed up her bedroom and threatened her with a handgun, according to court records.
Fearing for her life and the safety of her two children, the woman followed Rivera’s orders to sit on the bed. She told police she considered running, but saw that Rivera was shaking uncontrollably, which she recognized as an indicator that he was nearing a blind violent outburst.
“The victim stated that she continued thinking of a way to get out and eventually told Mr. Rivera that her throat was very dry, and that she needed to drink some water, which is when he allowed her to go out of the room,” according to a police report of the incident.
Realizing that her phone was inoperable, the woman grabbed her children — aged 10 and 8 — and ran to her car. As she drove away, Rivera allegedly fired a single shot at them. Police later recovered a 9mm bullet casing in front of the apartment, according to court records.
When the victim and her children pulled over to use a telephone, they saw Rivera drive by. Suspecting they had been seen, the woman got back in her car but found the road blocked by Rivera’s blue Honda. Fearing more gunfire, the woman drove around Rivera’s Honda. He tried to ram her vehicle, she said.
Both cars veered off the road into a grassy area before a high-speed chase down the Melvin Evans Highway, according to court records.
“The victim stated that her children, who were seated in the back seat of the vehicle, were shouting Mummy, please go faster as she heard fear in their voices. The victim stated that she got back onto the roadway, overtook five cars, and took a big risk after she assessed the incoming traffic, by quickly veering into incoming traffic which was traveling eastbound on the Melvin H. Evans highway,” police told the Superior Court. “The victim began to cry as she explained the fear that she felt, and the fear that she observed in her children after these two incidents, noting that they did not sleep and continued to stay within a few feet of her.”
Rivera was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempted murder, according to police. It was not clear from court records if he was able to post 20% of his $100,000 bail required to gain release.
It was not Rivera’s first domestic violence arrest. He was on probation for two separate violent incidents.
Rivera had 16 days left on a one-year probation order after allegedly choking a woman and beating her bloody in front of their child in 2023. The woman had suggested ways he could be a better father when, according to court records, Rivera flew into a rage. When she attempted to flee, Rivera allegedly picked her up and threw her back in the house.
The victim was left with a sore neck, severe headaches, red and dark colored marks, abrasions, and swollen contusions on her forehead, left arm, neck, back of ears, back, under her eyes and nose. She also had dried blood on her back, according to court records. She told police it was not the first time Rivera had attacked her so viciously that she feared for her life.
Rivera was initially charged with attempted murder and assault. The charges were eventually reduced to preventing or dissuading a witness from attending trial. On Nov. 26, 2024, Judge Douglas Brady sentenced Rivera to a one-year suspended jail sentence and one year of probation. He was also ordered to stay away from the victim and complete an anger management course for batterers.
In May, Judge Ernest E. Morris found Rivera guilty of two counts of domestic violence assault and battery after Rivera failed to complete an anger management course mandated in a 2021 plea agreement. Rivera, then 18, had been charged with assault and battery after allegedly choking and punching the face of a former girlfriend — a minor.
When Rivera failed to finish an anger management course, Morris sentenced Rivera to two six-month terms for the beating, but suspended the sentence so he could continue his newly-found work as a heavy equipment operator. On May 1, Rivera was given one year of probation, during which he was ordered not to violate any laws.
In July, attorneys for Rivera said he had completed 15 of 16 hours of anger management courses but had not yet enrolled in a mandated “primary batterers intervention” course. Morris gave Rivera until Feb. 4 to do so.
It is with deep sadness that the family announces the passing of Elaine Bicar, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Elaine Bicar departed her earthly life and transitioned to her heavenly home on Oct. 25, 2025, in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Elaine Bicar
Elaine Bicar resided in Whim, Frederiksted, St. Croix and Weston, Florida.
Elaine was born on Dec. 5, 1945, in St. Lucia, W.I., to the late FloraSammy and Louis Sammy. She later made St. Croix her home, where she built a beautiful life surrounded by family, faith, and love. She enjoyed going to church, listening to gospel hymns, country and western music, gardening, cooking, traveling, and staying in touch with all of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends and loved ones near and far.
She is survived by her beloved children Robert, Rufinus “Marley”, Francis, and Linda “Lin”; Daughter-in-law Hellina “Leonie” St. Louis Bicar, Son-in-law O’Neil Alexander Wallace, who will all forever hold her love and wisdom in their hearts. Elaine leaves behind cherished grandchildren Jamaal, Akeem, Cheyenne, Ettienne,Legend, and Legacy; great grandchildren Jaraiya, Kassius and David; and siblings Bertile, Theresa, Hugh, Felix, William and Andrew; along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Sandra, siblings: Rose, Joseph and Francis.
Elaine’s life was a testament to faith, strength, and the power of family. Though she is gone from our sight, her love remains a guiding light for us all.
Funeral Service will be held on Friday, Nov. 21, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, viewing at 9:30 a.m. and service at 10:30 a.m.
Elise M. Huggins of Christiansted died on Oct. 30. Elise M Huggins
She is survived by her daughters: Ciceley Burke, Valerie Henry, Elise Warner, Gerda Frederick, Ermyn Murray, and Merlette Williams; stepdaughters, Franceline Baccus, and Estrella Richards; sons, Ira Hobson, Charles Gumbs, Clive Gumbs, and Kenneth Frederick; adopted son, Vincent Hodge; stepson, Troy Frederick; daughters-in-law, Brenda Hobson, Wendy Frederick, and Bernadine Gumbs; sons-in-law, Montclair Burke, Clinton Henry, Everet Warner, David Murray, and Wilbert Williams; granddaughters, Cleo Burke, Jenel Warner, Sherice Warner, Nahvia Henry, Kenera Freaderick, Aisha Phillip, Asha Phillip, Shirmel Gumbs-Heyliger, Shameka Gumbs, Germaine Morris, Shameka Gumbs, Gia Booth, and Tayaka Daniels; grandsons, Shamade Burke, Dameon Boland, Allinton Hobson, Ira Hobson Jr., Cleon Frederick, Jason Henry, Akiel Frederick, Akeem Frederick, Sahir Lawrence, Stanford Fraser, Lemond Warner, Tyrone Sloan, Wilbert, Quasi, Jonathan, and DuJean Williams; sisters, Mariel Rissing and Doreen Fergusen; brothers, Arnold Gumbs and Howard Gumbs; sisters-in-law, Anita Gumbs; a host of great-grandchildren and great great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to numerous to mention. Special recognition to the Gumbs family, Heyliger family, Rissing family, Fergusen family, Newton family, Richardson family and Fatal family.
The viewing will take place at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m., Friday, November 21, at Ebenezer Methodist Church. Interment will be at Kingshill Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home.
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority advises the public that Saintnals, the operations and maintenance contractor for the Liquefied Petroleum Gas terminal, will carry out a controlled shutdown at the Randolph Harley Power Plant on St. Thomas to complete essential fuel system repairs.
Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
This work may temporarily affect operations on both St. Thomas and St. John.
The shutdown is scheduled to begin tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 14, at 10 p.m., and is expected to be completed by Saturday, Nov. 15, at 8 a.m.
WAPA Plant Personnel are making full efforts to prevent interruptions in service. However, if these measures are not sufficient, a temporary rotation outage schedule may be implemented impacting customers on St. Thomas and St. John.
To stay informed, customers can sign up for WAPA Alerts to receive notifications via text, voice, and email directly to mobile devices: https://member.everbridge.net/892807736728730/new.
These essential repairs are important for the safety and reliability of our service, and the Authority appreciates the community’s understanding and support.
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority advises customers on St. Croix of a scheduled service interruption on Sunday, Nov. 16, affecting Feeders 6B, 8B, and 10B between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
The outage is necessary to allow WAPA’s contractor, J. Benton Construction, to safely continue work on the Queen Mary Highway Underground Electrical Project along Centerline Road. This work is a continuation of activities initiated last Saturday, Nov. 8.
Feeders 6B, 8B, and 10B will be de-energized in phases throughout the work period, and customers in the following areas will experience temporary service interruptions lasting no more than three hours:
Feeder 6B: Concordia, Glynn, La Grande Princess, Mary’s Fancy, Mon Bijou, Morning Star, St. John, and Vista Mar.
Feeder 10B: Annaly, Bethlehem, Calqouhoun, Carambola, Coble, Grove Place, Hard Labor, Hibiscus Point, Jealousy, Joly Hill, La Grange, Little La Grange, Lorraine Village, Lower Love, Montpellier, Mt. Victory, Mt. Pellier, Mutual Home, Nicholas, North Hall, Orange Grove, Frederiksted Oxford, Pleasant Vale, Plessen, Prosperity, River, Springfield, Two Friends, Upper Love, and V.I. Corp Land.
Feeder 8B: Annaberg, Breezewood Villas, Brook’s Hill, Butler Bay, Campo Rico, Cane, Cane Carlton, Canebrake Apartments, Carlton, Concordia (West), Diamond, Enfield Green, Downtown Frederiksted, Frederikhaab, Goodhope, Ham’s Bay, Hannah’s Rest, Henry Rohlsen Airport, Hogensborg, Hope, La Grange, Little La Grange, Manning Bay, Marley Additions, Mar’s Hill, Mountain, Mt. Washington, Northside, Prospect Hill, Prosperity, Smithfield, Sprat Hall, St. Georges, Stoney Ground, Two Brothers, Two Williams, Waldberggard, Walter I.M. Hodge, Wheel of Fortune, Whim, White Bay, White Lady, and Williams Delight.
WAPA thanks its customers for their support and understanding as this critical infrastructure improvement project continues.
Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance Director Craig Benjamin gave an update Wednesday on school maintenance efforts (Photo courtesy of the VI Legislature)
On Wednesday, lawmakers at the Education and Workforce Development Committee heard testimony on the state of the territory’s public schools, with officials reporting that schools are mired in a widespread infrastructure crisis.
With chronic disrepair and neglect visible in nearly every facility, schools across the Virgin Islands face persistent and pervasive problems, including extensive mold infestations and outdated wiring. Electrical, mechanical, and structural issues are a daily reality for students and staff.
“Nearly every school requires some form of emergency intervention, including major plumbing and electrical repairs as well as remediation of suspected mold and air quality issues,” said Craig Benjamin, executive director of the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance.
Roof leaks, faulty air conditioning, and corroded pipes routinely force relocations or closures. In some cases, water has infiltrated electrical conduits, posing severe hazards. “In some cases, the electrical conduits contain more water than the actual water supply line. It’s a safety hazard we can’t ignore,” said Benjamin.
Health and safety concerns have escalated. Classrooms frequently reach unsafe temperatures, and persistent mold triggers respiratory illnesses among students and teachers. “Teachers, staff, and students are getting sick from the constant exposure to mold, extreme heat, and inconsistent potable water.” said Leontyne Jones, President of the St. Thomas-St. John Federation of Teachers.
Lunch warehouses often lack adequate air conditioning, at times exceeding safe temperatures for canned goods. Restrooms and water lines fail repeatedly, creating unsanitary conditions. Union leaders have filed multiple OSHA complaints, leading to site inspections and reports documenting violations such as mold, extreme heat, and electrical hazards.
Emergency repairs have become routine as the school system’s $3 million annual maintenance budget is stretched thin. Of that amount, “approximately $2.1 million is already committed to essential supplies and maintenance contracts, including landscaping, janitorial services, trash removal and pest control, which are vital to maintaining basic school operations,” said Benjamin. “This leaves only about $900,000 to respond to daily emergencies, perform urgent repairs and prepare facilities for the opening of the 2026–2027 school year.”
Procurement delays and contractor shortages continue to disrupt repairs. “Some of them are reluctant for lack of payment or current payments from the government,” said Paul Harrigan, assistant director of school maintenance. “When you talk to them, they have a lot of different issues, but mostly it’s with being paid on a timely fashion.”
Benjamin testified that these problems extend across the Virgin Islands: “The infrastructure across all schools have been severely compromised, with many facilities in poor condition.” Routine inspections must compete with emergencies for the department’s limited resources, forcing the system to respond to breakdowns rather than prevent them.
As a result, schools often wind up in a patchwork state of repair, with staff and students adapting to broken equipment, classroom relocations, and temporary fixes that rarely last.
The infrastructure decline extends directly to learning. Physical education classes are sometimes held in corridors because of unsafe gym conditions, and the lack of adequate air conditioning makes attentive instruction difficult. Students and staff contend with classrooms condemned for mold or heat, sometimes rotating rooms or using makeshift spaces to keep programs running. Bus breakdowns and unreliable special-education transport disrupt attendance and place further stress on families.
Lawmakers raised alarms over significant lost federal funds and a maintenance system stymied by bureaucratic roadblocks.
Sen. Kurt A. Vialet explained that the territory was originally awarded a substantial sum through federal ARPA grants, known as the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided emergency resources for school repairs and upgrades in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had access to a tremendous amount of money in ARPA,” he said.
Vialet said that many of the contracts had expired with no one tracking them. However, after delays and legal challenges, including a class-action lawsuit, the federal government stepped in to give the Virgin Islands a second chance.“They told us, ‘We’re going to reinstate the funds and give you an opportunity to spend them, but you have to do it by a certain deadline.’ That gave us the chance to recoup more than $30 million. But in that process, we already lost some of the money because contracts expired.”
The hearing laid bare a system where maintenance contracts expire, emergency repairs stall, and no single agency takes clear responsibility for keeping schools functional. “We have these contracts… we don’t know when they expire,” Vialet continued. “Somebody’s got to be paying attention.”
The consequences are stark: some repair funds have gone unused through administrative missteps, and students are learning in makeshift spaces, “I got a video today with the teachers outside teaching, with the students outside the classroom,” said Sen. Avery L. Lewis.
Lawmakers questioned whether shifting from in-house maintenance to costly third-party contracts has weakened accountability and oversight. “I was the principal of complex from 1995 to 2011; we never had a contractor to cut the grass. The grass was cut in-house… at one point, the Department of Education maintenance division had a grass-cutting unit of three or four individuals who would go from school to school to cut,” recalled Vialet. “Now, we’re paying for everything instead of utilizing the staff that we have.”
By the end of the hearing, lawmakers called for fundamental changes to how school maintenance is managed. Senators urged the territory to rebuild in-house maintenance teams, create clear and consistent protocols for managing and renewing contracts, and establish unified oversight with well-defined lines of responsibility between agencies. They also pressed for comprehensive planning and regular reporting to ensure accountability.
“We need to come with a comprehensive plan,” said Lewis “We can’t continue doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, that’s insanity.”
Bidding on Friends of Virgin Islands National Park’s Villas For The Park Auction and Fundraiser opened on Friday, Nov. 14 and closes on Friday, Nov. 28. The auction catalog features 30 stays in hotels, villas and cottages on St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix offering an opportunity for both Virgin Islanders and those from further afield to enjoy downtime in the islands and support the protection and preservation of the natural and cultural resources in Virgin Islands National Park.
A villa view for action. (Submitted photo)
“This auction is a wonderful opportunity for people to enjoy a stay in these beautiful Virgin Islands and the help protect and preserve the magic that is Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument,” says Tonia Lovejoy, Executive Director, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. “We are continually in awe of the generosity of our community members who have donated stays to make this event possible.”
Created after the 2017 hurricanes when in person events weren’t possible, this fundraiser is now in its 9th year and is an important source of funding for programs like sea turtle protection, trails management, School Kids In The Park, Learn To Swim and more.
The auction catalog includes stays at Bombalassy Villa, Catch ’n Keep Cottage, Concordia Eco Resort, Coral Caribe Villa, Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel, Desert Rose Villa, Dream Come True, Dreamview On The Hill, Estate Lindholm, Fish Tales Cottage, Gaia’s Pearl, Marketplace Suites, Mayan Sky Villa, On A Clear Day, Pebble Cove, Rebecca’s Fancy, St. John Inn, Samuel Cottages, Seaside at Grande Bay Resort, Stonehouse, Sunnyside Villa, Sunset Ridge Villa, The Fred Boutique Resort & Spa, The Green Iguana Hotel, The Hills St John, The Mary Ann Boutique Hotel, The Other World Villa, Villa Circe, Villa Tiffany, and Wharfside Village Hotel.
To learn about the work that the Friends does and to register for the Villas For The Park Auction visit their website at www.friendsvinp.org.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is a non-profit organization and is the official philanthropic partner of Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. Since 1988, Friends has been supporting the National Park Service in assuring that the park’s unique terrestrial and marine resources are protected, that the Virgin Islands’ cultural treasures in the park are preserved, and that visitors and community are connected to the park through volunteerism, education, and advocacy.For more information: www.friendsvinp.org
The University of the Virgin Islands Women’s basketball student-athlete Keshara Romain takes a hiatus from the team to compete as a member of the United States Virgin Islands Senior Women’s National Team in the International Basketball Federation 2025 Caribbean Basketball Championships.
Keshara Romain at the free throw line. (Submitted photo)
The championships will be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown, Guyana, from November 12 to 16, featuring teams from Suriname, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the host nation, Guyana.
A native of St. Croix, Romain will be competing for the USVI Senior National Team for the second time. Her debut came at the 2024 FIBA Centrobasket Women’s Championship, where she played in five games, averaging 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
Currently in her first year at UVI, Romain has started in four of the team’s five games this season, averaging 11.4 points, 14 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game for the Lady Buccaneers. In just the second official week of the National Athletic Intercollegiate Association season, the junior forward’s outstanding play earned her the titles of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week.
The first matchup for Romain and the USVI national team will come on Thursday, November 13, as they face off with the host team, followed by matchups with Suriname, Jamaica, and the Bahamas on November 14, 15, and 16, respectively, in the group phase before a champion is decided.
Senator Carla Joseph expressed thanks to Governor Albert Bryan, Jr., for signing into law Bill No. 36-0061, now Act 9049, a measure aimed at strengthening the University of the Virgin Islands’ ability to augment the recruitment of experienced faculty and technical personnel.
Senator Carla J. Joseph (Submitted photo)
Senator Carla Joseph commented, “Today is a great day for the University of the Virgin Islands and its history of providing excellent service in higher education in the USVI and the wider Caribbean Region.” She added, “The University is now able to expand its reach in tapping a wealth of knowledge, experience, and specialized skills from retired government workers in developing students and strengthening operations at the university.”
The incentive provided through the enacted law allows retirees who are receiving an annuity from the Government Employees Retirement System (GERS) to continue receiving their pension and now enroll in a separate, alternative UVI pension system to supplement their retirement.
Dr. Safiya George, President of UVI, spoke in favor of the law and stressed how important it is for employee well-being and institutional growth.
Senator Joseph said, “This is a win for the University because it can hire experienced faculty and other technical professionals who are needed to provide important services. It is also a win for experienced professionals to benefit as they help build our workforce,” she concluded.
