#2-9 Estate Mount Pleasant IFB 2026-IFB-016

Legals Editor
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Public Notice

Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) Invitation for Bids (IFB) No. 2026-IFB-016 #2-9 Estate Mount Pleasant (Partially Built Single Family Home)

The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) is soliciting sealed bids from qualified, experienced, and properly licensed General Construction Contractors authorized to conduct business in the U.S. Virgin Islands to provide all labor, materials, equipment, supervision, permits, and services necessary for the completion and reconstruction of one (1) partially built single-family residential home located at #2-9 Estate Mount Pleasant, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

The project consists of the completion and reconstruction of an approximately 1,250 square-foot masonry block and concrete residential dwelling, including installation of a new galvanized roofing assembly, plumbing systems, electrical systems, drywall and interior partitions, ceramic tile flooring, kitchen cabinetry, windows and doors, painting, driveway construction, drainage improvements, cistern rehabilitation, handrails, and all related site and utility improvements.

All work shall be performed in strict accordance with the Contract Documents, applicable building codes, HUD requirements, Davis-Bacon requirements, and all applicable federal and territorial regulations.

This Invitation for Bids (IFB) was issued on May 15, 2026. All bids, questions, communications, and addenda related to this solicitation shall be submitted and accessed exclusively through VIHFA’s e-Procurement system (IonWave) at: www.vihfa.gov/procurement

All bids must be submitted electronically no later than: Monday, June 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM Atlantic Standard Time (AST).

A Pre-Bid Meeting and Site Visit is scheduled for: Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 12:00 PM AST at #2-9 Estate Mount Pleasant, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

All questions concerning this IFB must be submitted in writing through the IonWave system no later than: Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM AST.

All updates, clarifications, and addenda will be posted via the IonWave portal. It is the responsibility of all prospective bidders to monitor the system for any updates prior to submission. This solicitation is issued as an Invitation for Bids (IFB) and will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder whose bid meets the requirements outlined in the solicitation documents.

For additional information, please contact:

Tamia Turner Phone: (340) 772-4432 Ext. 3275 Email: tturner@vihfa.gov

RFP 2026-RFP-011 Independent Audit Services

Legals Editor
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Public Notice

Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 2026-RFP-011 Independent Audit Services

The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (“VIHFA” or the “Authority”) invites sealed proposals from qualified independent certified public accounting firms (each a “Respondent”) to provide independent auditing services for three (3) fiscal years, with two (2) optional one-year renewals exercisable at the sole discretion of the Authority.

The Authority seeks a qualified firm to perform annual audits of its financial statements and, when applicable, its Single Audit, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in the United States, Government Auditing Standards, Uniform Guidance, and other applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards.

This Request for Proposals (“RFP”) establishes the requirements, terms, and conditions applicable to this procurement. Respondents are responsible for carefully reviewing the entire RFP and complying with all submission requirements, deadlines, and instructions. All official communications, addenda, and solicitation updates will be issued through the Authority’s e-procurement portal. Respondents are solely responsible for monitoring the portal until the proposal due date.

Interested firms may register and download the full procurement package at: www.vihfa.gov/procurement.

Key Dates:
  • Issue Date: 5/18/2026
  • Final date to submit questions: 06/04/2026, at 11:59 p.m. AST
  • Submission Deadline Date: 06/18/2026, at 4:00 p.m. AST
For more information, please contact: Kate C. Davis Director of Procurement and Contracts Virgin islands Hosuing Finance Authority kdavis@vihfa.gov | (340) 777-4432 ext.4248

Record High Sargassum Predicted

Mat Probasco
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As sargassum clumps and mats continue to move into the territory, Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources Jean-Pierre L. Oriol on behalf of the Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds the public of steps they can take to protect themselves in what is predicted to be a record high year for accumulation at the territory’s beaches. “When the brown, free-floating algae reaches the shore and begins to decompose, it releases hydrogen sulfide, which produces a strong ‘rotten egg’ odor and causes eye, nose, throat, and respiratory irritation, particularly for individuals with asthma,” Oriol said. “Avoiding beaches with large amounts of decaying sargassum is the best method of prevention.” Beachfront businesses facing large amounts of nuisance sargassum are also invited to request authorization for mechanical removal from the Divisions of Fish & Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management. Deployment of containment booms requires a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. DFW also provides required training to ensure removal efforts follow ecological best practices and comply with Virgin Islands Code.  “The trend in the last few months has continued, resulting in increased Sargassum amounts in every region shown on the map. Nearly every region also continued to see record-high Sargassum amount for the month of April,” according to a lab report released on April 30 by the University of South Florida College of Marine Science’s Optical Oceanography Lab. The lab has collaborated with DPNRDFW, the University of South Florida, and regional partners through support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms Research Program at https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/developing-an-operationalsargassum-hab-monitoring-and-forecasting-system-for-the-southeastern-u-s-and-u-s-caribbean/. Daily reports can be viewed through NOAA’s Sargassum Inundation Risk tool has been updated to provide daily reports, thanks to this partnership as part of CoastWatch at https://cwcgom.aoml.noaa.gov/SIR/. DPNR will continue issuing these monthly updates via press release. For more information, visit dpnr.vi.gov or contact: Division of Fish and Wildlife:  • St. Croix: (340) 773-1082  • St. Thomas: (340) 774-3320 • Email: DFWElectronic@usvi.onmicrosoft.com  

Op-Ed: More Than Batteries and Bottled Water

Source staff
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Op-Ed: More Than Batteries and Bottled Water

As hurricane season approaches, most Virgin Islanders know the routine without needing much reminder. We check the cistern. We buy extra water. We look for the flashlights, batteries, canned goods, medication refills, insurance papers, and all the things we hope we will not need. We look at the shutters, we listen for whether the generator sounds right, and start thinking about who in the family may need help if a storm actually comes.

Sheena M. Walker, Ph.D. (Submitted photo)
Sheena M. Walker, Ph.D. (Submitted photo)

For many of us, hurricane preparation is not just a checklist, but an emotional process. It brings back memories of long lines, hot nights without power, cold showers, damaged roofs, blocked roads, lost workdays, and the deep uncertainty that comes after a major storm. So yes, preparedness begins at home; but, in the Virgin Islands, it cannot and should not end there.

We also have to think about what protects us outside of our homes. Our reefs, mangroves, hillsides, guts, trees, beaches, and coastlines are not simply the beautiful backdrop of our island lives. They are part of the system that helps us survive. They help slow water, hold land in place, reduce flooding, protect shorelines, support fishing and tourism, and make recovery possible after the storm has passed. This means that environmental protection is not an abstract issue for scientists, policymakers, or activists alone; but, it is a daily Virgin Islands issue. It is connected to whether a road floods, whether a home is damaged, whether a beach disappears, even whether a small business can reopen, and whether families can get back to some sense of normalcy.

My most recent research looked at how Caribbean residents think about environmental risk. As a licensed psychologist and faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of the Virgin Islands, I wanted to better understand what shapes people’s concern for the environment and how that knowledge can support better public education and stronger local policy. One of the clearest findings was that people who understand humans and nature as being connected are more likely to take environmental risks seriously. That may sound simple, but is actually quite profound. When we see the land and sea as separate from us, environmental protection can feel like someone else’s issue. But when we understand that our health, safety, homes, culture, economy, and future are tied to the health of this place, the conversation changes.

The research also showed that political beliefs can shape how people view environmental risk. This is relevant because environmental messages in the territory cannot sound distant, partisan, or disconnected from real life. They have to speak to what people already care about, which is family, faith, work, home, culture, safety, and the ability to recover after hardship.

A hurricane reminds us very quickly that we are not in control of everything. We cannot decide where a storm will go. But we can make choices about what we protect, what we neglect, where we build, how we prepare, and what we leave vulnerable.  So as we prepare our homes this hurricane season, we might also ask a wider question: what parts of our environment are helping to protect us, and how are we protecting them in return? In the Virgin Islands, caring for the environment is not separate from caring for people. It is part of caring for our home.

— Dr. Sheena Myong Walker is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of the Virgin Islands and a licensed psychologist with Mind/Body Health & Psychology, LLC. Her scholarship and clinical work center on global mental health, cultural identity, environmental risk perception, and the development of psychological services in underserved communities. Living and working in the Caribbean has shaped her commitment to research that is not only academic, but also useful to the people and places it seeks to understand. The study referenced in this op-ed is available here: ScienceDirect article. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291126004122)

Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.

Open Forum: Reflections on a Different Kind of Election

Source staff
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Open Forum: Reflections on a Different Kind of Election

Thank you for recently reporting on the annual Bahá’í Convention of the Virgin Islands, at which delegates elected the nine-member body that guides the affairs of the Bahá’í community throughout the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Having participated in these elections for 50 years, I continue to be amazed at how this process unfolds.

There are no campaigns, no nominations, no political parties, and no efforts to persuade others to cast his or her ballot for a particular individual or slate. Delegates gather in a spirit of prayer, reflection, and consultation, mindful of the responsibilities entrusted to those elected. Delegates consider without the least trace of passion and prejudice, and irrespective of any material consideration, the names of only those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.

Once elected, the members of the body consult together collectively. No single individual holds authority over the others. The members make decisions through a process of consultation that encourages frank discussion, detachment from personal agendas, and a sincere search for truth and unity.

After five decades of participating in this process, what continues to impress me most is not perfection — human beings remain human — but the atmosphere they create. The absence of campaigning and partisanship changes the spirit of the election itself. The process encourages participants to think less about personalities, ambition, or victory, and more about service, trust, and the well-being of the community.

At a time when so many people feel exhausted by increasingly fractured public life, I sometimes wonder whether broader society might benefit from reflecting more deeply on the role that consultation, humility, and nonpartisanship could play in strengthening civic culture.

Politics is inherent in organized society. Differences of opinion are natural and necessary. But there are ways of engaging in collective decision-making that generate greater trust and unity rather than deepening division.

Here in the Virgin Islands, we know from experience that communities are strongest when people work together across differences, especially during times of challenge. That spirit of cooperation has long been one of our greatest strengths.

As our territory moves toward another election season, I find myself reflecting once again on lessons drawn from a different kind of electoral process. A process that continues to demonstrate that leaders can be elected through a process designed to foster unity rather than ensure victory over opponents.

— Alan D. Smith, St. John

Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.

Expanded Pre-Departure App to Ease V.I. Airport Waits, Feds Say

Source staff
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Expanded Pre-Departure App to Ease V.I. Airport Waits, Feds Say
Passengers wait in line for Customs and Border Protection inspection before leaving St. Thomas. (Source photo by Mat Probasco)
Passengers wait in line for Customs and Border Protection inspection before leaving St. Thomas. (Source photo by Mat Probasco)

Federal authorities expanded to Virgin Islands airports a pre-departure mobile application meant to reduce wait times, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced Tuesday.

The free Mobile Passport Control phone app in use at more than 60 ports on the mainland is now available to passengers at St. Croix’s Henry E. Rohlsen Airport and St. Thomas’ Cyril E. King Airport, as well as the St. Thomas General Aviation, CBP officials said.

Unlike the mainland airports, the U.S. Virgin Islands is outside the U.S. Customs Zone, meaning travelers in and out of the territory need to pass through border inspection points — although a passport is not required for U.S. citizens.

Delays at the airports, especially during peak travel times and during occasional federal government shutdowns, have long been notorious hinderances to stress-free travel from “America’s Paradise.” In March, the Virgin Islands Port Authority called an emergency meeting to address what Tourism Commissioner Jennifer Matarangas-King called an “all hands on deck” situation. Matarangas-King and others consoled passengers stuck in lines that snaked out of the airport and down the street.

While the newly expanded app cannot approve funding of government agencies, it can help speed the Customs process, officials said.

U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian citizens, B1/B2 visitors, and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization can download and use the app, expediting border crossings. Travelers can use their mobile devices to submit passport and travel information in advance.

“The launch of MPC at the three pre-departure locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands is a major advancement in our efforts to modernize and secure the traveler experience,” said Executive Director Matthew S. Davies, Admissibility and Passenger Programs, Office of Field Operations in a written statement. “This initiative will utilize cutting-edge technology to facilitate entry for eligible travelers, enhancing both efficiency and security at these airports. Our focus remains on deploying innovative solutions that ensure a safe, seamless, and exceptional process for travelers entering the United States.”

The MPC app is free to download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Users can create a profile with their passport information at any time prior to arriving at a CBP facility. Up to 12 profiles can be submitted in a single MPC transaction. Upon arrival at participating locations, travelers take a selfie for each member of their group and submit their information to CBP through the app. At the CBP clearance area, travelers should look for designated MPC lanes and present their passports or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident cards to the CBP officer for processing.

More information is available at the MPC website.

Trash in Drying Sargassum Could Cause Fire

Mat Probasco
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The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority is reminding all haulers transporting sargassum to the Bovoni Landfill that no trash or debris should be mixed with sargassum loads.
Magens Bay covered in sargassum seaweed in Dec. 2022. (Photo by Jesse Daley)
Although seaweed itself is generally considered non-flammable due to its high salt, water, and moisture content, sargassum releases hydrogen sulfide gas as it begins to decompose. Hydrogen sulfide gas is highly flammable and may create dangerous conditions when mixed with combustible materials.  When plastic, glass, aluminum cans, and other debris are combined with sargassum, any ignition source involving those materials could result in a fire that may otherwise have been prevented. To ensure the safety of landfill operations and surrounding areas, haulers are asked to comply with the following requirements: • Sargassum delivered to the landfill must be free of trash and other debris. • Open bins containing seaweed should not be stored overnight or left unattended for extended periods where members of the public may place trash into the bins. • Loading of bins should be monitored to ensure they contain only sargassum. • All trash must be removed before transporting sargassum to the landfill. The Division of Environmental Enforcement will be monitoring sargassum loads to ensure compliance with these requirements. VIWMA appreciates the cooperation of all haulers and contractors in helping to maintain safe operations at the Bovoni Landfill and protecting the community from preventable fire hazards. For more information, contact the Division of Education and Communications Management at 340-715-9100 or email communications@viwma.org. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for updates.

VI Delivers Record-Breaking Performances Across Mainland Events

Mat Probasco
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VI Delivers Record-Breaking Performances Across Mainland Events
Virgin Islands Sports Ambassador Michelle Smith delivered another exceptional performance on Saturday, May 16, finishing second in the 400m Hurdles final at the SEC Championships with a blazing time of 54.72 seconds.
Virgin Islands Sports Ambassador Michelle Smith Claims Silver in SEC 400m Hurdles Final. (Submitted photo)
The University of Georgia sophomore continues to elevate her status as one of the top young hurdlers in the sport, and her latest performance marks a major milestone in her 2025 season. Smith’s 54.72 not only secured her the SEC silver medal—it also propelled her to No. 2 in the NCAA and an impressive No. 4 in the world for the event. The Virgin Islands Track & Field Federation proudly congratulates Michelle on this outstanding achievement. Her continued success brings tremendous pride to the Virgin Islands community and serves as an inspiration to young athletes across the territory. Smith will compete next at the NCAA East Regional Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, scheduled for May 28–30, where she will look to secure her place at the NCAA Championships and continue her remarkable 2025 campaign.
Sofia Swindell Sets New U20 Record and Delivers Multiple Podium Finishes at Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. (Submitted photo)
Virgin Islands track and field athlete Sofia Swindell, a Freshman at Penn,  delivered a standout weekend at the Ivy League Heptagonal Track and Field Championships, held May 16–17 in Princeton, New Jersey. Competing across hurdles and relays, Swindell showcased exceptional form, highlighted by a new national age‑group record and multiple top‑three finishes. Swindell opened her campaign in the 100m Hurdles, running 13.58 in the preliminaries to advance comfortably to the final. She returned with an even stronger performance in the championship race, winning the event in 13.39 with a slight headwind of –0.3 m/s. The time not only secured the Heps title but also established a new Virgin Islands Under‑20 record, and a UPenn record. Her success continued in the relays, where she contributed to two podium finishes for her team. In the 4x100m relay, Swindell helped power her squad to a second‑place finish in 44.87, one of the fastest times in the conference this season. She closed the meet with another strong relay performance, anchoring the 4x400m relay to a victory in a new meet record of 3:32.24, securing a championship title to cap an already impressive weekend. The Virgin Islands Track & Field Federation extends heartfelt congratulations to Sofia for her exceptional achievements. Swindell will compete next at the NCAA East Regional Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, scheduled for May 28–30, competing with her UPenn team in the 4x400m relay.
Saraiah Walkes Closes Senior Season with Strong MAC Championship Performances (Submitted photo)
Virgin Islands track and field athlete Saraiah Walkes, a senior at Eastern Michigan University, delivered an impressive slate of performances at the Mid-American Conference Championships, showcasing her versatility and competitive strength across multiple sprint events. Walkes advanced through both sprint preliminaries with confidence, earning her place in two finals. In the 100m, she clocked 11.63 in the prelims to qualify for the championship race, where she finished 6th overall in 11.61. She followed that with another standout effort in the 200m, running 23.76 in the prelims before securing 4th place in the final with a strong 23.64. Her biggest highlight came in the 4x100m relay, where Walkes and her Eastern Michigan teammates surged to victory, winning the MAC title in 45.33. The Virgin Islands Track & Field Federation proudly congratulates Saraiah on her outstanding performances.

Lucinda Rosemary Pemberton Dies at 70

Mat Probasco
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Lucinda Rosemary Pemberton Dies at 70

Lucinda Rosemary Pemberton, aka “Lucy”, of Chevy Chase, MD, passed away on April 30. She was 70 years old.

Lucinda R. Pemberton

She was preceded by her mother, Dorene Charles Pemberton, and father, Hilton T. Pemberton.

She is survived by her daughter, Mela Christian; sons, Craig Daly, Jerome Christian; sisters, Myrna Koyi, Arleen Rice, Patricia Andrews- Pierre, Annette Gonzalez; brother, Carl Andrews, Jr., Clifford Andrews, Ray Pemberton, Craig Pemberton; niece, Emesha James, Adrienne Rice, Christina Rice, Esq., Oyinade Koyi, Carli Andrews, Alicia Andrews, Nadege Pierre, Germaine Pierre; nephew, Rafael Gonzalez, Jr., Ronaldo Gonzalez, Rolando Gonzalez, Carisle Rice, Jr., Olajide Koyi, Clifford Andrews, Jr., Jornas Pierre, Jr.; great nieces, N’Kaiya Rawlings, Aarianna Rivers- Gonzalez, Khloe Koyi, Brooklyn Lloyd-Gonzalez, Gisela Gonzalez, Sade’ Koyi- Holton, Sora Rice- Hinton; great nephews, Jayden Gonzalez, Kennedy Koyi, Dominic Woodson-Gonzalez, Dyson Woodson-Gonzalez, Thelonious Haws- Rice; Shawne Koyi; aunt, Mercedes Samuel, Winifred Encarnacion, Josephine Springer, Vivian Charles; uncle, Raymond Petersen, Claudius Petersen, Sylvan Charles; brothers-in-law, Carlisle Rice, Jornas Pierre, Rafael Gonzalez; sister-in-law, Charlene Andrews; special friends, Janice Chiverton, Michelle Andrews, Hilma Oversen-Booth, cousins and other relatives, Eleanor Mason, Delores Rambahjan, Iris Sebastian, Beatrice Pemberton, Roy A. Pemberton, Sr. Norma Llanos, Marie Darrett Miller, Elizabeth Thurland, Raymond Petersen, Jr., Anna M. Encarnacion, Melissa Lake, Kimberly Samuel, Marvin Samuel, Gregory Samuel, Nicole Samuel, Merissa Encarnacion, Melanesia Encarnacion, Michaelangelo Encarnacion, J’Nelle Easley, Yolanda Fitzpatrick, Troy Springer, Lawrence Petersen, Jr., Reginald Petersen, Allan Petersen, Christian Frorup, Jr., Gloria Gerard, Kathleen Gerard, Adelle Allen, LaVerne Gerard-Mike, Cirgie Bell; precious friends and other relatives too numerous to mention.

Funeral service will be held on June 4 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church. Viewing begins at 9 am, with service at 10 am. Interment will be held at Kingshill Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.

Juanita Elaine Anduze Proctor Benítez Dies at 84

Mat Probasco
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Juanita Elaine Anduze Proctor Benítez Dies at 84
Juanita Elaine Anduze Proctor Benítez passed away on May 12, 2026, at the age of 84, in her home on St. Croix, USVI. She was born on May 18, 1941, the youngest daughter of 8 to the late Edna Bianca Forbes Anduze and Beverly Chauncey Anduze.
Juanita Elaine Anduze Proctor Benítez
She received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She later returned home and obtained the position of Personal Director for the Department of Health. She had over 30 years of service in the V.I. Government. She is survived by her husband, Ramon Benitez; daughters, Phyllis Bianca Proctor and Linda Y. Proctor; grandson, Christopher Chauncey Cardozo; and daughter-in-law, Nancy A. Sullivan. From her passing siblings, she has numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends, too numerous to mention. Her memorial services will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church on 1120 Kings Street, Christiansted, USVI. Viewing begins at 9:00 am with service at 10:00 am. Interment will be at Kingshill Cemetery, Veterans’ new section. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Juanita’s memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s research organization. https://events.alz.org/s/10265/9761 Funeral arrangements are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
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