A 32-year-old man was arrested Tuesday morning on St. Croix after a domestic altercation that left a 14-year-old boy injured, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.
The 911 Emergency Call Center received a report around 9:44 a.m. from a man who said his teenage son had called about a fight between the boy’s mother and her boyfriend, identified as Erron Wallace. Officers were dispatched to Harborview Apartments, where they met the caller, who told police his son said Wallace had strangled him, police said.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Bureau were assigned to the case. The investigation revealed that the 14-year-old attempted to intervene during the fight between his mother and Wallace. Police said Wallace then grabbed the boy and held him down by his neck, leaving visible injuries.
Wallace was taken into custody and transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station, where he provided a statement. He admitted that the teen tried to intervene during the altercation but denied strangling him, according to police.
Wallace was charged with assault in the second degree (domestic violence) and child abuse. No bail was set, and he was transported to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights hearing in Superior Court, police said.
Police arrested a 39-year-old man Tuesday night on St. Thomas following a domestic violence incident that left a woman with facial injuries and a minor child hurt, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.
Officers responded around 10:40 p.m. to a report of an assault. When they arrived, the victim told police she had been sitting in her vehicle outside her home when Mark Turbe drove up and caused a disturbance. She said Turbe tried to pull her out of the vehicle, scratching her face during the struggle. He then damaged her windshield and wipers, and kicked the driver’s side door shut, striking their minor child’s arm, police said.
Officers confirmed the damage to the vehicle and saw the scratches on the victim’s face. An ambulance was called for the child, who complained of pain in the right arm.
Turbe was advised of his constitutional rights and charged with simple assault (domestic violence), destruction of property (domestic violence), and disturbance of the peace (domestic violence), according to the VIPD.
He was booked and processed at the Richard Callwood Command. No bail was set under the Virgin Islands’ domestic violence laws, and Turbe was turned over to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advice of rights hearing.
Police arrested a 37-year-old man Tuesday evening on St. Thomas after a stabbing near the former Fat Man’s Bar left one person injured, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.
Officers were dispatched around 6:26 p.m. to the roadway across from the former bar, where they found a man suffering from a stab wound to the left side of his chest. The victim’s shirt was saturated with blood, police said.
The man was able to identify his attacker before being transported by ambulance to the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital for treatment by Emergency Medical Technicians.
Officers said they later located and arrested Damas Gallant, who was positively identified as the assailant. Gallant was charged with assault in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree, and carrying or using dangerous weapons.
Christian O. Christensen, aka “Oley”, of Christiansted, St. Croix, passed away on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. He was 86 years old.
Christian O. Christensen
He was preceded in death by his father, Christian U. Christensen and his mother, Ina M. Armstrong.
He is survived by his daughters, Lisa & Esther; sons, David & Bryan; grandchildren, Rita, Amanda, Jaye, Sonja, D’aetanagan, Sebastian, David, Miah, Tara, Christian & Immanuel; great-grandchildren, Delaney & Errington; daughters-in-law, Bobbie & Tish; son-in-law, William; brothers, Michael, Peter, Frank, David, and other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Schuster’s Crematorium, LLC, located at 139 Castle Coakley, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI.
A memorial service will be held at the Cane Bay Beach on Nov. 15 from 11 a.m.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Schuster’s Crematorium.
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands announced today the recipient of the 2025 Judith A. Towle Environmental Studies Fund is the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society (NHCS).
Managed by CFVI, the Fund will award $12,000 to support NHCS’s youth-led project aimed at reviving the Nevis coastline’s coconut tree populations, which have been ravaged in recent years by Lethal Yellowing Disease, a fatal disease. The project will also include the planting of red mangroves along the coastline to enhance natural protection against erosion and storm surges.
Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands
“Thirty years ago, Nevis was renowned for its coconut tree-lined beaches that protected the shoreline, enriched biodiversity and formed part of the island’s identity,” said Terysia Herbert, executive director of NHCS. “The spread of Lethal Yellowing Disease destroyed nearly all coconut palms, leaving the coastline vulnerable to erosion, rising sea levels and storm surges. It has also diminished biodiversity and created harsher conditions for residents, fishermen and visitors.”
With this grant from the Judith Towle Fund, NHCS will focus on restoring the ecological and cultural character of Gallows Bay by planting disease-resistant coconut saplings along the beach and reestablishing mangroves in strategic areas of the shoreline, helping to prevent coastal erosion and mitigate the effects of climate change.
In addition to reforestation, the project will also feature a youth-led model of environmental stewardship, as the core workforce will be comprised of participants from NHCS’s Eco-Youth Adventurers program. Working under the supervision of agricultural experts, students will partake in planting the saplings, monitoring their growth and participating in stewardship training to equip them as future environmental leaders.
“This project goes beyond standard environmental rehabilitation,” said Dee Baecher-Brown, president of CFVI. “It blends restoration with community engagement and youth education. This model of youth-led stewardship has the potential to be replicated in ecological programs across the Caribbean to cultivate a sense of responsibility for the environment at a young age, something deep in alignment with CFVI’s mission.”
The Judith A. Towle Environmental Studies Fund awards annual grants for innovative solutions that address shared environmental concerns in the insular Caribbean and have transboundary relevance, with the goal of increasing environmental awareness across the Caribbean. This year marks the 17th grant awarded under CFVI’s stewardship, totaling more than $90,000 granted over 20 years.
“This Fund was created to invest in those working to address our region’s evolving environmental challenges,” said Judith Towle. “I have no doubt that NHCS’s project will empower its youth adventurers as environmental leaders while engaging local Nevisians in a way that celebrates sustainability, ecological restoration and the power of community in action.”
It is with deep sorrow that the family of Alfred John announces his passing on Oct. 25, 2025, at the age of 64. Alfred was a beloved father, grandfather, and friend who touched the lives of many with his kindness, wisdom, and generous spirit.
Alfred John
He was preceded in death by his mother: Ella Davis; father, Victor John; grandparents, John A. Davis and Ida Carmichael; brothers: Vincent John, Glistil John, Elizah John; sisters: Rose John and Unis John.
He is survived by his loving daughters: Estrellita John, Yahmillia John, Karen John, and Ebony Rivera (stepdaughter);Son: Alfred John Jr.; Grandchildren: Kahim Newton Jr., Jahim Newton, Jahlani Gonzalez, Kei’Manuel Heywood, Jaasiel Rivera, and Jaalada Rivera; Brothers: Jose Felix; Sisters: Naomi Brady, Carolyn John, Idona Benjamin, Cecelia John, Celestina Green, Lorna King, , Elidah John, and Iola John; Aunts: Alexandrina, Sarah, Nynah, and Lydia; Uncles: Spark Hubert, Frederick, and Cato Davis; Nieces: Ellamina John, Judy, Vincia, Mary, Beatrice Lawrence, Sonya, Leandria, Karen Green, Annie Henry, Misha King, and Krystal Green, among many others;
Nephews: Elijah Felix, Liche Simmonds, George John, Alphonso John, Jason, Julian Gordon, Hector Melendez, Avery, Michael Hurst, Ervin Garvey, Roger Hector, Marvin Garvey, and Rudolph Henry, as well as many others too numerous to mention;
Cousins: Doreen Gerard, Sandra Simmonds, David Davis, and Diane Bridges, along with many more beloved family members;
in laws: Robin Green and Shakeria Tramel.
He is also lovingly remembered by his special friends: Beatrice Rivera, Nereida Rios, James McNamara and family, Adelle Petersen, Yan and family, Ramzi Dawod, the Domino players at “Lagoon” and “Five Corners,” Hondo’s Crew, St. Croix Bikers MC, Mario and family, and his tow dogs.
Alfred will be remembered for his laughter, compassion, and love for his family and friends. His warmth, wisdom, and generosity will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
A family and friends viewing will be held on Nov. 12 at Divine Chapel, 129 Peter’s Rest 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13, at Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, Viewing starts at 9am, Service will be held at 10 a.m.
Interment follows Kingshill Cemetery.
The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency is advancing its technological capabilities to better serve and protect the community.The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency tested Starlink internet access across all three islands Tuesday. (Photo by VITEMA)
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, VITEMA successfully completed its weekly Emergency Support Function 5 (ESF-5) meet using Starlink satellite internet service, achieving seamless connectivity across all three islands. St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John participated in the coordinated meeting from their respective Emergency Operating Centers (EOCs), with zero connectivity issues reported—demonstrating the transformative power of this cutting-edge technology for territorial emergency preparedness.
The meetings, bring together key territorial agencies and stakeholders including the Department of Public Works, Waste Management Authority, Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Services, the Energy Office, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority WAPA, and numerous other critical response partners. VITEMA maintains year-round readiness while utilizing the proven reliability of its Starlink service with access to VITEMA’s web-based emergency management information system, WebEOC, for real-time common operating picture and resourcemanagement tool. ESF-5, which focuses on emergency management coordination, serves as the backbone for gathering, analyzing, and disseminating critical information to support situational awareness and decision-making during emergencies and disasters.
Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX that provides high-speed, low-latency internet access through a constellation of over 6,000 small satellites orbiting approximately 342 miles above Earth in low Earth orbit (LEO). The system operates independently of ground-based infrastructure, requiring only an unobstructed view of the sky to maintain connectivity. This makes it particularly valuable in disaster scenarios where traditional telecommunications towers and fiber optic cables may be damaged or destroyed.
Unita Alexander, aka “Ms. Poyo” of Estate Golden Rock, passed away Oct. 28. She was 87 years old.
Unita Alexander
She was preceded in death by her spouse, David Alexander aka Poyo; mother, Cecilia Scott; father, Gernald Caton; children, Randolf Alexander and Laurencia Charles.
She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Scott-Tracey and Dalia Alexander Rachpaul; sons, Orson and Urick Alexander; grandchildren, Rodney, Sheldon, Sherwin, Shelly-Ann, Roger, Laverne, Lou Anne, Sally-Ann, Uricka, Ulissa, and Urick Jr.; great-grandchildren, Jamille, Jaydon, Kailey, Angel, Akeem, Tracey, Helen, Lawrence, Rosella, Samantha, Samuel, Aiden and Aaron; siblings, Godwin and Alwin George; daughters-in-law, Alicia and Isabella Alexander; brother-in-law, Michael Williams; sisters-in-law, Virginia Cudjoe, Rockell Clement and Janice George; godchildren, Terrence Victor, Steven Brookes and Pat Ali; special friends, Eleaner Chatman, Diana Kelly, Alexis James, Pamella Coggins, Jenalyn Handley, Janet and Dwight King, the St. Lous, the Pascalls and the Eastman family; other relatives, The Collins, Gleen, Lindor, Plentie, Hamilton, Acco,Parsons and John family; other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be held on Nov. 14 at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. with the service at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Kingshill Cemetery.
Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources announces new dates for the community cleanup event at Mandahl Bay, St.Thomas. The cleanup is now scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. – 5p.m.
This initiative is spearheaded by the Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas, which now oversees Mandahl Bay as part of the Virgin Islands Territorial Parks System.Debris in Mandahl Bay (Photo by DPNR)
The cleanup aims to restore and preserve the natural beauty of this cherished area.
Residents are kindly asked to remove any personal belongings from the site prior to the event. Contractors will be clearing debris from the roadside, beach, and pond surroundings. TPPA staff will be present throughout the weekend to assist and engage with community members.
Let’s come together to protect and revitalize Mandahl Bay for future generations!
For more information, please contact TPPA Director Kristina “Kitty” Edwards at kristina.edwards@dpnr.vi.gov.
The Virgin Islands Department of Education St. Croix District announces that all public high schools on St. Croix; St. Croix Educational Complex High School, St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center, and St. Croix Central High School will resume their regular full-day instructional schedule effective Monday, Nov. 10.
St. Croix Educational Complex. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Following the completion of monitoring and performance testing by the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance and the designated contractor, the newly installed air conditioning units have demonstrated full functionality with no electrical or load-related concerns. As a result, the temporary abbreviated schedule that was previously implemented will end on Friday, Nov. 7.
Faculty, staff, and students at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School, the St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center, and the St. Croix Central High School are advised to prepare for the transition back to full-day instruction beginning Monday, Nov. 10.
The St. Croix District appreciates the patience and cooperation of its school communities. Gratitude is also extended to the BSCM team, contractors, administrators, faculty, and staff for their collaborative efforts throughout this process.
