Partners for Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra presents its 2025 Christmas Concert on Tuesday, Nov. 11 on Veteran’s Day, at 7 p.m. at the Mt. Zion New Testament Church in Tutu. This year’s concert theme, “Musical Conversations at Christmas Time”, will show the dynamics of how music communicates its important messages to everyone. The public is invited, but this year the youth orchestra is selling tickets for the holiday event to raise funds for its after-school program. Tickets are $10.00, and $5.00 for children under 12. Members are currently selling tickets, and attendees can pay at the door. The doors open at 6:30pm.
Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra (Submitted photo)
The youth orchestra is run by Partners for Strings, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 2020 to operate a FREE weekly after-school music program for children, ages 6 to 17, on the island of St. Thomas. The program President, Gloria Gumbs, said the Partners for Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra uses music as a means to impact the lives of children at risk. Twenty-nine youth orchestra members will perform in the concert on violin, cello, flute, trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, steel pan, bass guitar, and drums as part of the Intermediate/Advanced and Primer/Beginner Ensembles. The orchestra is conducted by Urbane Chinnery.
The Christmas concert will feature a variety of songs for the season, including “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music”, “The Winter” (from Dancing Line), which was arranged by Kandis Gumbs, and many classic holiday favorites. The special guests joining the concert include professional master musicians: Jonte Samuel, Aben Marrero, Cliff Finch, Lenard Fleming, James H. Gumbs, Jr., and Kandis Gumbs. A few G-Clef Music Academy students will join these professionals to perform “Silent Night”.
Gloria Gumbs added, “The amazing talents of the young members of the Partners for Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra are attributed to their hard work and dedication to learning how to read music and play well. We also appreciate the talented teaching artists who set a high standard for our young members. Because of their dynamic commitment, the students ‘play with altitude’! In addition, we thank the powerhouses behind the scenes: our board members and parents; along with our national and local partners: Miami Music Project (our Alliance Partner in Miami-Dade County), G-Clef Music Academy, VI Housing Authority, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra Educational Programs, and Mt. Zion New Testament Church. In addition, we recognize our continued supporters: Thriving Charity Advocates; J Benton Construction, LLC; Discover Fund Management, LLLP; Cutlass and Cane Caribbean Seafood Restaurant; MSI Building Supplies; Fabric and Fashion Playroom; Street Level VI; VI Legislature; and VI Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation. We always welcome more community partners to join our mission to transform young lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands through music.”
For more information about the youth orchestra, how to join and support, visit www.partnersforstrings.org or call (340) 228-1126.
The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services is announcing that SNAP Relief Checks are on the way to more than 10,600 SNAP households across the Territory. These locally funded relief payments are being issued to provide financial support to families during the month of November 2025, amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the federal government shutdown.
SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramThe Department of Finance has completed processing and validation of all payments, checks have been mailed to the mailing addresses listed on each household’s SNAP application. Recipients who receive mail through General Delivery are reminded to visit their local Post Office to collect their check. Records have been sorted by ZIP code to ensure organized and timely delivery.
SPEND WISELY AND BUDGET CAREFULLY
DHS is urging all recipients to budget carefully and not spend their entire relief check at once. This one-time assistance—equal to half of the household’s regular monthly SNAP allotment—is designed to help families manage their needs through November, not to be used immediately or under pressure.
The Department reminds residents that EBT benefits remain available and secure—there is no risk of losing funds on your EBT card. Recipients are encouraged to use both their EBT benefits and relief funds strategically to cover food over time. DHS recommends households create simple spending plans and prioritize groceries.
IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR CHECK WITHIN SEVEN DAYS
To assist clients across the Territory, the Department of Human Services has established territory-wide hotline numbers and a dedicated email address for inquiries related to the SNAP Relief Checks. If you have not received your check within seven (7) days of the expected mailing date, please contact DHS using one of the options below:
St. Thomas/St. John District Hotline: (340) 715-6909
St. Croix District Hotline: (340) 772-7110
We are also receiving emails at: usvisnaprelief@dhs.vi.gov
First came the bad luck — sunglasses overboard, raincoat gone, and the GPS lost. That last mishap meant relying on the battery life of three cell phones to navigate the Calypso 40, Gypsy King, along the edge of the Virgin Islands South Drop for the day. Then came the good fortune. One wahoo hit, then another.
Miss Lucy took the Top Boat prize. (Submitted photo)
The third, a hefty 44.4-pounder, proved the charm that earned Gypsy King angler, St. Thomas’ Walt Basnight, the Top Angler title in Sunday’s Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Wahoo Windup, held out of IGY’s American Yacht Harbor Marina. Basnight’s catch was just over 30 pounds shy of winning the $25,000 prize for the tournament angler who caught the largest wahoo over 75 pounds.
“We had a good morning, catching four wahoo in rapid fire by 9 a.m., all while high-speed trolling,” says Basnight. “When I hooked up the third one, I could tell it was a good-sized fish. It pulled a lot more drag.”
Meanwhile, St. Thomas’ KJ Terry, angling off Double Header II, caught the Second Largest wahoo at 37.8 pounds, while St. Thomas’ Matthew Laban, on Double Header I, brought the Third Largest wahoo to the scales, weighing in at 37.6 pounds.
The Best Boat prize, determined by the most wahoo by count, went to Miss Lucy, a 39’ Sea-Vee, with 10 wahoo weighing a total of 190.8 pounds.
“I had my good luck charm with me today,” says Miss Lucy Captain Chris Berry, about having his 12-year-old daughter, Addalynn, on board. “She caught her first four wahoo today, which for me was pretty special in itself.”
Walt Basnight took the Top Angler prize. (Photo by Rian Bareuther)
Fifteen boats from St. Thomas and St. Croix collectively reeled in 46 wahoo, weighing a total of 838.1 pounds.
Trophies and cash prizes were awarded to the winners.
“Despite the forecast, the quantity of boats and the quantity of fish caught brought out great camaraderie and sportsmanship in all participants,” says Kelvin Bailey, Jr., president of the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Board of Directors.
The Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club appreciates the support of DPNR’s Fish & Wildlife staff for conducting the official weigh-in, sponsorship support from IGY’s American Yacht Harbor Marina and Neptune Fishing Supplies, and the Club’s much-appreciated volunteers.
For more information about the Club and its events, call (340) 775-9144, Email: usvigfc@gmail.com, or Visit: www.vigfc.com
It is with deep love and gratitude that we celebrate the life of our beloved Shirley A. Hodge-Lewis who passed away on Oct. 10, 2025, at the age of 85
Shirley A. Hodge-Lewis
Shirley is survived by her loving Daughter: Renee T. Rojas: Sisters: Muriel E. Petersen and Bernice T. Francis; Children: Daughters: Angela Lewis, Arnelle Lewis-Comissiong (Gilbert), Laverne Wyre (Winston), and Annette Lewis Cummings; Sons: Avery Lewis, Antonio “Pumpkin” Lewis, and Angel L Lewis (Lateshia), Special Child of Her Heart: Donna Rojas Thompson, and host of many other relatives and friends whose lives she touched.
She was preceded in death by her beloved Husband, Angel L. Lewis, Sr.; her Parents: Henry McDonald Hodge and Adelle Abednego; Sister: Edris E. Evans; Brothers: Darwin Clark and Kenneth “Kenny” Hodge; Son: Alvin L. Lewis; Grandchild, Jenyl Moody; and Nephews: Dean L. Petersen and Miguel A. Francis.
First viewing will be held on Nov. 7at Turnbull’s funeral home Chapel 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Final Viewing will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Lutheran Church of Reformation, from 9 a.m.–10 a.m. followed by a service at 10 a.m. Interment will be held at Brookman Cemetery
Arrangements entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home & Crematory Services.
The University of the Virgin Islands women’s basketball team found itself on the wrong side of an overtime thriller against Virgin Islands Elite Women on Friday night at Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center. With regulation not being enough, an extra five-minute period was needed to decide the result in a 78-74 loss for the Lady Buccaneers.
UVI lost to VI Elite Women in overtime. (Submitted photo)
UVI got off to a hot start in the first period of the game, shooting 40% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. A three-point shot at the buzzer by junior guard Atalia Thomas gave the Lady Buccaneers a commanding 23-11 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Lady Buccaneers would take their foot off the gas slightly in the second quarter, allowing VI Elite to close the gap, but would keep them at bay, taking a nine-point advantage into half, 38-29.
The third quarter saw defensive struggles for UVI, resulting in a 14-2 run by VI Elite, who would take the lead
48-46 late in the period.
The Lady Buccaneers responded resiliently, battling from behind until junior forward Natalie Williams reclaimed the lead with a jump shot in the fourth quarter, making it 55-54. The teams exchanged baskets for the remainder of the period, with neither side able to assert dominance. With under 30 seconds left and the score tied at 69, both teams made attempts to clinch the game in regulation, but neither succeeded.
In Overtime, the Lady Buccaneers’ Offense would stall, shooting woes would allow VI Elite to cling to a four-point lead and escape with a 78-74 win.
“We took the game into overtime, which is a testament to our defense and offense,” said head coach Stephanie Cooper. “We just have to remember to stay focused for the entire 40 minutes. We had some possessions with crucial turnovers, which ultimately cost us the game, and the numbers worked in their favor late in the game.”
Junior forward Keshara Romain achieved her third consecutive double-double this season, scoring 18 points and adding 12 rebounds. Romain has now recorded a double-double in three of the five contests for the Lady Buccaneers this season. The 5-foot-11 forward also contributed three steals and two assists.
Junior forward Natalie Williams also recorded a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds, marking her second of the season.
The Lady Buccaneers will now travel to Austin, Texas, for their upcoming games. They will face Jarvis Christian University on Friday, November 7, followed by the opening of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) schedule against the Stillman College Lady Tigers on November 8. Both games will be held at a neutral site during the Tiffany Jackson HBCU Classic at Branch Gymnasium, located on the campus of Hutson-Tillotson University.
The Capitol building in Washington, D.C. (Shutterstock image)
Democracy in America — and throughout its territories — stands at a crossroads. The institutions that once embodied public trust now struggle under the weight of cynicism, polarization, and disinformation. Yet this moment of fragility also offers a profound opportunity: to reimagine democracy not as a mere system of governance, but as a shared moral enterprise.
Omar B.U. Henry (Submitted photo)
For too long, civic life has been reduced to elections, party battles, and policy debates. But democracy’s true strength lies not in its procedures, but in its people — in the habits of empathy, honesty, and cooperation that make self-government possible. When those habits erode, no constitution can save us. When they flourish, even imperfect institutions can endure.
Beyond the Machinery of Government
The Founders designed a framework of checks and balances, but they could not legislate civic virtue. Martin Luther King Jr. later gave that framework a conscience, reminding the nation that democracy is a moral covenant, not a mechanical process. Today, we must give it life again — through participation, integrity, and shared purpose.
The Virgin Islands, with its proud tradition of community engagement and resilience, can be a model for this renewal. Our history teaches that democracy is strong when citizens see themselves not as spectators, but as stewards of the common good.
The Case for a New Democratic Institution
To rebuild trust and participation, America needs a new democratic institution — one that restores civic faith and moral purpose. Imagine a National Civic Assembly composed of everyday citizens selected by lot, meeting regularly to deliberate on major national issues. Imagine a Civic Service Corps that engages youth and adults in projects of justice, education, and environmental stewardship.
These are not utopian ideas; they are practical expressions of shared responsibility. Such institutions would not replace Congress or the courts. They would revitalize the moral foundation upon which those institutions depend — the belief that democracy is a living relationship among citizens, not a transaction between voters and politicians.
Restoring Faith Through Shared Purpose
Public faith cannot be legislated. It must be lived. When citizens work side by side — rebuilding communities, debating ideas, serving the common good — they rediscover what unites them. The act of participation itself becomes sacred, a reaffirmation that democracy is not something done for us, but something done by us.
This renewal must also be local. In the Virgin Islands, public forums, youth assemblies, and civic education programs could serve as laboratories of democratic engagement. By empowering citizens to deliberate and act together, we can strengthen both our local governance and our national identity.
A Moral Republic Reborn
The next chapter of American democracy will not be written by one leader or one party. It will be written by millions of citizens who choose to see democracy as a moral vocation. If we can rekindle that faith — in one another and in the promise of shared self-rule — we may yet transform our fractured system into a living testament of civic virtue.
Democracy, after all, is not a machine to be repaired. It is a soul to be renewed.
— Omar B.U. Henry is a writer, civic advocate, and commentator in the U.S. Virgin Islands. His work focuses on democratic renewal, moral leadership, and community engagement across the Caribbean and the broader American experience. He is committed to fostering a culture of integrity, dialogue, and shared responsibility in public life.
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.
The Face of Emmett Till Play
November 7 – 16, 2025 at CCT
A scene from Caribbean Community Theatre’s The Face of Emmitt Till. (Submitted photo)
Caribbean Community Theatre opens its 41st season with THE FACE OF EMMETT TILL – a play by Mamie Till-Mobley and David Barr III. There are six performances over two weekends of this play at CCT: Nov. 7, 8 and 9, and 14, 15 and 16, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 4 p.m.
Lionel C. Downer directs the cast of Michael Baker, Will Cooper, Paul Del Rio, Charles Fox, Sheelene Gumbs, Tom Guthrie, Shakir Guzman, Wanson Harris, Dalmari Holder, Paul Knipler, Krissy McKown, Shanell Petersen Spencer, Sherri Poree, David Pugh, Kelly Pugh, Tydus Queiroz, Robert Reffell, Patricia Scott, and Kelvin L. Vidale.
This play is a true-to-life dramatization of the death of 14-year-old Emmett Till, a Chicago teenager who, while visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi in August 1955, was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by white men who claimed they wanted to teach him a lesson for “allegedly” whistling at a local white woman. The horror and brutality of this crime were magnified even more when his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, made the fateful decision to invite the media to the funeral where she had an open casket. The shocking pictures were published by the American Black Press and later republished around the world. The ramifications of this act are still being felt today. The play chronicles this tragedy, its aftermath, and Mamie Till-Mobley’s heroic crusade for justice. This “hate crime changed America” and sparked the civil rights movement.
General admission tickets may be purchased in advance online at Eventbrite.
–For reservations, discounted tickets, more information, or for handicap assistance, email: eileencct@gmail.com.
–Tickets are $20 for adults; $18 for seniors (age 65+), and $15 for college students and CCT members; and may be purchased (for cash only) at the CCT box office prior to each show, which opens 45 minutes before curtain.
This play has adult content and is NOT recommended for children under age 15.
Performances are held at the Caribbean Community Theatre at #18 Estate Orange Grove in Christiansted, St. Croix.
CCT productions are jointly supported by a grant from the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
This show is also co-sponsored by Susan & Crystal Atkins-Weathers, The Comanche, Marshall + Sterling Insurance/Baker Magras & Associates, The New Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, Team Consultants, The VIVOT Group, Armrey Industries and Crucian Gold.
CCT — bringing live theater to St. Croix for 41 seasons!
Caribbean Community Theatre
PO Box 25793, Christiansted, VI 00824
Website: www.cct.vi
The family of the late Denis Vernon Munrose is deeply saddened to announce his passing on October 4, 2025.
Denis Vernon Munrose
He was preceded in death by his mother, Muriel Etienne; daughter, Uella Dautruche; son, Cletus Munrose; and brothers, Gilbert A. Monrose and Nathan Etienne.
He is lovingly remembered by his children: Denise V. Monrose, Alvin Munrose, and Johnny Charlery Monrose; grandchildren: Chantel Charlery, Nadine Charlery, Emma Charlery, Johnny Paj Modeste, Jordan Charlery, Guy Dautruche Jr., Daniel Dautruche, Alvin Munrose Jr., Alaya Munrose, Shanavia Lattimore, Alyse Munrose, Jestus Munrose, Jamel Munrose, Jamaine Munrose, and Jessica Lloyd;
Great-grandchildren: Azariah Lattimore and Catalina Skyye Charles.
He is also survived by his sisters: Catherine “Hermina” Monrose, Esther James, Naomi Etienne, Rachel Flood, Oliver Roger, and Augusta Peter;
Nieces: Lydia Sprauve, Dyan Pascal, Jessica Monrose, Dr. Janis Monrose-Modeste, Dr. Nadia Mills, Bernella Charlemagne, Shama Etienne, Tessa Charlemagne, Eunice Monrose, Lusca Peter, Janilia Etienne, and Jannia Mangault;
Nephews: Marcus Monrose, Gauis Monrose, Dr. Gifford Monrose, Thadeus Monrose, Gregory Monrose, Rie Etienne, Alphaeus Flood, JohnJohn James, and Eric Etienne.
He will also be fondly remembered by his cousins: members of the Thomas family of St. Lucia, the U.S., and the U.K.; the Raquil family of Martinique; the Callender family of St. Lucia and the U.S.; the Monrose families of Martinique, St. Lucia, and the U.S.; and the Noel family of Martinique.
He is survived by his in-laws: Elizabeth Monrose (sister-in-law), Wilson Peter (brother-in-law), and Shelia Munrose (daughter-in-law).
Special friends who shared in his life and memories include Heather Lewis, Mr. Mike Flavius and family, Mr. John Hunt and family, Mr. Samuel Jonas and family, Cyril George, Celestine Jacobs, Bill Noel, Cynthia Richard, Joscia Thomas, Janis Etienne, Cecil Munrose and family, Seibert Lewis and Family and Mary (Erica) Leon.
Denis will be remembered for his warmth, humor, and the love he shared with all who knew him. His legacy lives on through his family and the many lives he touched.
Family and friends viewing will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Divine Chapel, 129 Peter’s Rest between 3-5pm.
Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, November 6, at Way of the Cross, 23B Work and Rest, viewing 9am, service 10am.
Interment follows Kingshill Cemetery.
The family of the late Phyllis Johnson is deeply saddened to announce her passing on October 17, 2025.
Phyllis Johnson
She was preceded in death by her beloved brothers: Hilvin and Aldan Johnson.
She is survived by her loving daughters: Sylven Glasgow, Yolande Jackson, Rose-Ann Phillip, Carmen, Jonell, and Floreen Johnson; son,: Leari, Lyndon, Anson, and Irnil Johnson, grandchildren: Desron and Moreisa Glasgow; Rosmuldo, Danielle, and Quinn Jackson; Laurette, Joneilia, Danny, Anisha, Atiya, Acori, Shamori, Liam, and Addison Johnson; Petra Johnney; Jenna and Jonathan Honore; Anrol, Anique, and Anson Ryan-Johnson; sister: Irma Mornix; niece: Sharon Young Glasgow; nephews: Neil Young and Dougal Durrant.
She is also remembered with love by her special friends, Pamcita Johnson and the rest of her extended family and friends, who will forever cherish her memory.
Phyllis will be remembered for her kindness, warmth, and the love she shared with all who knew her. Her legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren, and all the lives she touched.
Family and friends viewing will be held on Friday, November 7, 2025, at Divine Chapel, 129 Peter’s Rest between 3-5pm.
Funeral Services is scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at New Testament Church of God in Whim, viewing begins at 9am, service 10 am.
Interment follows Kingshill Cemetery.
SENATE CALENDAR
November 3, 2025 – November 14, 2025
NOVEMBER 04, 2025Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance
10:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will meet on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 10:00 A.M. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas to receive testimony on the following bills:
BLOCK I
Bill No. 36-0092 An act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and St. John Taxi Services Corporation, for Parcel No. D-2 Estate Cruz Bay Town, Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Lisa M. Alejandro, Commissioner, VI Department of Property and Procurement
Mr. Sean L. Claxton, President, St. John Taxi Services Corporation
Ms. Carmen Wesselhoft, Taxi Driver
Bill No. 36-0045 An Act appropriating the sum of $400,000 from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission for the implementation of technological upgrades
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Kevin G. McCurdy, Commissioner, VI Department of Finance
Ms. Melissa Smith, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission
Mr. Rupert O. Ross, Director, VI Bureau of Information Technology
Mr. Julio A. Rhymer, Sr., Director, Office of Management and Budget
Mr. Lawrence Ramdhansingh, President, VI Taxi Association (STT)
Mr. Dhiony Lalanne, President, St. Thomas Taxi Association
Mr. Charles Sealey, President, St. Croix Taxicab Association
Mr. Sean L. Claxton, President, St. John Taxi Association
36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands
BLOCK II
Bill No. 36-0196 An act appropriating excess debt service reserve funds for certain capital projects in the territory
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Derek A. Gabriel, Commissioner, VI Department of Public Works
Mr. Julio A. Rhymer, Sr., Director, Office of Management and Budget
Mr. Carlton Dowe, Executive Director, VI Port Authority
Mr. Nathan Simmonds, Director, Finance & Administration, VI Public Finance Authority
Bill No. 36-0122 An act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 27, section 711 and chapter 28a, section 760, by requiring the Government Employees Retirement System to discontinue making disability retirement annuity payments to a member who resumes any employment
Invited Testifier:
Mr. Angel E. Dawson, Jr., CEO/Administrator, Government Employees Retirement System
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2025
Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture
10:00 A.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture has scheduled a hearing for Monday, November 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands to provide testimony on the following:
BLOCK I 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture will receive testimony from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs on business licensing modernization, consumer protection enforcement, oversight and compliance mechanisms for licensed businesses, small business support, and operational challenges; from the Department of Tourism providing an overview of 2024 tourism performance and its economic impact, including visitor arrivals, key performance indicators, and the status of cruise tourism by district; and from the West Indian Company, Limited (WICO) on port operations, cruise tourism activity, and related economic contributions. The Committee will also conduct oversight on the financial management of the Tourism Revolving Fund, departmental expenditures, staffing levels across the Territory, and essential tourism-related infrastructure such as public restrooms. Additional areas of oversight will include marketing and sponsorship efforts outside the Territory and their measurable outcomes, as well as cultural tourism initiatives featuring calypso, music, and local artists. Further review will cover the 2024 Crucian Christmas Festival, St. John Celebration, and St. Thomas Carnival—highlighting achievements, challenges, and opportunities for improvement—alongside plans for the 2025 festival season.
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable H. Nathalie Hodge, Commissioner, VI Department of Licensing and Consumer Affair
Jeniffer Matarangas-King, Commissioner Nominee, VI Department of Tourism
Charlene Turnbull, Interim CEO, West Indian Company, Limited
BLOCK II 12:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.
The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture will receive testimony from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources on the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s programs and management strategies, including updates on environmental education outreach, territorial fisheries management and enforcement, wildlife conservation, territorial fishery policies, and the Invasive Species Eradication Community Program, and from the Caribbean Fishery Management Council on regional fisheries management and its impacts on the U.S. Virgin Islands, including updates on island-based fishery management plans, collaboration with local fishers and government agencies, sustainable fisheries strategies, impacts of federal regulations, and available funding opportunities
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean Pierre-Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Miguel A. Rolon, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council
BLOCK III 2:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture will receive testimony from the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture on the state of agriculture in the Virgin Islands, including updates on Act 8854 regarding agricultural maintenance and equipment purchases, the USDA’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, the department’s equipment maintenance plan, pricing of goods and services, Act 8306 establishing the Virgin Islands Agricultural Caribbean Conference, and Act 8404 implementing the Territorial Agriculture Plan, and from the University of the Virgin Islands on the Territorial Agricultural Plan and the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference, including status updates, stakeholder engagement, funding sources, expenditures, projected outcomes, challenges, and solutions, as well as conference objectives, planning milestones, participants, goals, and budget details.
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Dr. Louis Petersen, Commissioner, VI Department of Agriculture
Dr. Safiya George, President, University of the Virgin Islands
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025
Committee on Education and Workforce Development
10:00 A.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
The Committee will assess education policies, review compliance with statutory mandates, and consider proposed legislation designed to enhance educational outcomes and strengthen the Territory’s public education system.
BLOCK I
Electronic Device Policy and the impact of cell phones on school campuses
Invited Testifiers:
Kyza A. Callwood, PhD, Chairperson, Virgin Islands Board of Education
Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ed.D, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education
BLOCK II
Promotion and Retention Policy as it pertains to the new Virgin Islands and Caribbean History
Curriculum Implementation mandate
Invited Testifiers:
Kyza A. Callwood, PhD, Chairperson, Virgin Islands Board of Education
Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ph.D., Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education
BLOCK III
Proposed Legislation
Bill No. 36-0188 An act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 23, by adding a subchapter III establishing the Virgin Islands Technical College; amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 7, subchapter I section 99 to increase the membership of the Board for Career and Technical Education; amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code chapter 23, subchapter I, section 262 to clarify the duties of the Board for Career and Technical Education relating to the Virgin Islands Technical College and section 263 relating to the Career-Technical Education Training Fund, and for other related purposes
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ph.D., Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education
Mario Francis, Principal, Raphael O. Wheatley Skills Center, Virgin Islands Department of Education
Christa-Ann Molloy, Ph.D., Principal, St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center, VI Department of Education
Sana Joseph Smith, Policy Advisor (Education, Workforce, Labor), Office of the Governor
Joanne Murphy, Chairperson, Virgin Islands Career & Technical Education Board
Kyza A. Callwood, PhD, Chairperson, Virgin Islands Board of Education
Lora Bailey, PhD., Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, University of the Virgin Islands
Israel Popo, Student, St. Croix Central High School, St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center
Meridith M. Prince, Tradesman
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025
Committee on Rules and Judiciary
10:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
FRIDAY,
NOVEMBER 14, 2025
Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection
9:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
