Rachal Mathilda Malone of Estate Mon Bijou passed away on Sept. 21, 2025, at the age of 102.Rachal Mathilda Malone
She was preceded in death by her siblings: Hester Williams, Beryl Payne, Mavis Brow, Claxton Malone, and Ida Roberts, as well as her great-grandson, Jared Gonzalez.
Rachal is survived by her son, Mario James; daughter-in-law, Debra Thomas-James; and her daughters, Genevieve Browne, Juliet “Judy” Steward; and son-in-law, Marc Steward. Additionally, she is survived by her grandchildren: Sharon Gonzalez (husband: Eddie Gonzalez), Janet Sandiford, Wesley Browne Jr., Dr. Richard Browne (wife: Dr. Lauren Browne), Dinah Browne, Tricia McIntosh (husband: Stuckey McIntosh), Selena James, Latoya Martinez (husband: Isaac Martinez), Daniel “Danny” James, Akira James, Marcus “Jahmai” Steward (wife: Bethany Steward), and Bradley Steward. Her great-grandchildren include Genevieve Whitaker, Justin Gonzalez, Michael Sandiford, Morgan Sandiford, Dr. Ebony Browne, Erica Browne, Amber Browne, Richard “Ricky” Browne Jr., Aidan Stephens, Izani Martinez, Izaylia Martinez, Izangeli Martinez, Inayah Martinez, Izabella Martinez, Beau Steward, Cooper Steward, Faith Ruiz, as well as Nasir Graham. Great-great-grandchildren include Yiore Moorhead and Emmanuel Woods. Rachal is also survived by several friends, nieces, nephews, and cousins, including but not limited to: Pastor Dexter Skepple and family, Genevieve Barber and family, Reginal Joseph and family, and Cynthia Reed and family.
Rachal’s homegoing services will be held on Monday, Oct. 27, at James Memorial Chapel. The Viewing is at 10 a.m. with services at 11 a.m.. Interment will be held at Kingshill Cemetery.
Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
Anthony “Brother Tony” Severin Sr.
June 19, 1931 – September 23, 2025
It is with deep love and gratitude that we celebrate the life of our beloved father, Anthony “Brother Tony” Severin Sr., who passed away on Sept. 23, 2025, at the age of 94.
Anthony Severin Sr.
He was the devoted husband of Joan “Prisca” Severin, and the loving father of Samuel Severin, Anthony Severin Jr., Newton Severin, and Patrick Severin. He was also a proud grandfather to Lajauné Severin, Januwoina Severin, Nehemiah Severin, and Trevon Nathan Severin.
Brother Tony was a gentle, giving man who loved to laugh, loved people, and loved sharing God’s Word with everyone he met. His life was a living testimony of faith, humility, and service. He taught us the importance of hard work, family, and, above all, the love of God. He was a true role model—one we will forever look up to and cherish.
Funeral Service will be held Sunday, Nov. 2. Viewing: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Service: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. followed by a Repass: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
All services will be held at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Cruz Bay, St. John.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Cruz Bay, St. John.
Daddy, you will live on forever in our hearts and minds.
We love you deeply and will always honor your memory.
Arrangements entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home & Crematory Services.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said allowing gender changes on government-issued identification was necessary, in part, because of security concerns. (Photo courtesy Government House)
The Oct. 8 executive order allowing changes to gender markers on Virgin Islands identification was necessary, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said Wednesday, to avoid confusion during ID checks.
Police or other authorities need to quickly ensure a person is who they say they are when checking government-issued ID, Bryan said during a televised press conference.
“You may have someone who has a driver’s license that is presenting as a male, but the person the police officer is stopping is a female. That’s a problem because I don’t know if this person is who they’re saying they are. So you have to create ways for people to legally change their gender,” he said.
Creating a process to change one’s gender was no less important than having a legal process for changing a name, the governor said.
“Sex and gender are two different things. In the Virgin Islands there’s only sex, male and female. Gender, what you present as or what you feel you are is something a little different,” he said. “Many people were surprised by my executive order.”
Some critics had questioned why Bryan would initiate the government’s response to cultural shifts unilaterally, suggesting such changes should go through the legislative process where testimony and debate would be open to public scrutiny.
Bryan, who was out of the territory when the executive order was issued, pushed back, saying he had sent the measure to the Legislature nearly two years ago. In November 2024, the bill stalled in the Senate’s Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Committee.
“There’s a lot of mixed emotional feelings there and they tabled the document in the initial hearing,” Bryan said. “As leaders, as regulators, as policymakers, we cannot simply ignore things that are going on in our community.”
Other critics, especially social media posters, said such a change was out of line with Virgin Islands traditions. The governor said people were entitled to their opinions but he was governor for all Virgin Islanders.
“There are a lot of things in this world that we may not like or that may not support but the fact is, as governor of the Virgin Islands, I have to address all these issues and be able to encourage the Legislature to set up policy and regulation around how do we manage our government and how do we manage our people,” Bryan said.
Although the press was invited to attend the press conference, the remote access links did not connect. Possibly unaware that media were not able to virtually attend, Bryan said he’d hoped reporters would have joined to ask questions. Instead, Source reporters watched the broadcast on Government House’s social media page.
Bryan’s executive order did not address several aspects of gender identity. Questions sent to Bryan’s media relations team about the executive order and other topics were not addressed by the governor in the broadcast.
Left unanswered were details about how the executive order might be applied. It’s less straightforward than some social media commenters surmised.
To change their gender on government identification, a person must be over 18 or have a parent or legal guardian’s permission. They must also have a written statement from their licensed health care provider “stating that the individual has an intersex condition” and that a new gender designation was appropriate. Or, the person must go to court and get a judicial order granting a gender change designation.
Biologically, intersex refers to individuals born with natural variations in sex characteristics— such as chromosomes, hormone levels, or reproductive anatomy. It is distinct from being transgender, which relates to a person’s gender identity rather than their biological sex traits.
The process of getting a judicial order was not clear, however, nor were the requirements a judge might seek. The new policy also didn’t seem to address people who identify as neither male nor female. In such cases, some municipalities have allowed for an X rather than the traditional F or M on an ID card.
Bryan said Wednesday that the Senate ought to give the policy a firm legal footing by codifying a version of it into law.
“I encourage the Legislature to pick up this issue because I think it needs discussion and I think it needs firm policy to establish that you can be born a male but identify as a female. And if that is the case, I think we need to make legal space for that. It helps in terms of tracking people — if they commit a crime or if they’re lost. It helps in terms of being able to identify who you are dealing with, documents you have to fill out for your job. Whether you are defined as a male or female, that’s the most common question on any questionnaire. And you don’t want to put people in a situation where they are … actually forced to lie about what gender they are because their paper, their documentation does not reflect the same,” Bryan said.
According to Bryan’s executive order, at least 30 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. have simple processes for changing gender designations on driver’s licenses.
Adrienne Williams-Octalien, director of the V.I. Disaster Recovery Office, presents to the Public Finance Authority board of directors Wednesday in a meeting held on the video conferencing platform Zoom. (Screenshot from Zoom meeting)
The V.I. Public Finance Authority authorized nearly $269 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency-administered funds to contractors tapped to rebuild St. Thomas public schools Wednesday amid a shutdown of the federal government, which began two weeks ago.
The territory inked the first part of the contract “bundle” in February when it awarded design and early construction services work to a joint venture between Boston-based Suffolk Construction and CBNA for $38 million. Schools in that bundle included the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, the Lockhart K-8 School, and the Jane E. Tuitt, Yvonne E. Milliner Bowsky and Emmanuel Benjamin Oliver elementary schools, as well as an administrative center.
On Wednesday, V.I. Disaster Recovery Office Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien said the contractors had completed 30 percent of the design stage for most of those projects. The administrative center’s demolition is slated for November, and demolition and construction for Lockhart and Bowsky are scheduled for early 2026.
“We had initially anticipated that we would be able to do so in 2025, but the issue with the shutdown has some pending approvals from FEMA for environmental,” she said.
In response to questions from board members, Williams-Octalien said the bundle could be completed by 2030.
“And that’s if everything goes right,” Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., who chairs the PFA board, added. “No crazy federal movements, no economic shutdowns, no global pandemics, hurricanes, earthquakes, anything. That’s everything going right.”
The board on Wednesday also approved the first stages of a full rebuild of the Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged on St. Croix were approved during a meeting of the V.I. Public Finance Authority board of directors Wednesday. The board tapped J. Benton Construction to perform the first phases of the project for nearly $26 million.
Williams-Octalien told the board that the first phase entails a 12-month preconstruction period, followed by an 18-month early construction phase.
“The first and second phase will result in the completion of the constructability reviews, value engineering, all of the preconstruction services,” she said. “And then, at that point, we’ll return to the governing board for a minimal number of amendments to the contract so we can get to the final guaranteed maximum price for this project, while simultaneously seeing construction progress.”
According to a request for proposals ODR issued in June, the rebuild will see the current Herbert Grigg Home transformed into a 65,000 square-foot long-term care facility on an undeveloped piece of land. J. Benton estimated the overall cost of the project at $69.5 million.
Board members had no objections to the proposal but noted that J. Benton has been awarded multiple large-scale disaster recovery projects. Bryan asked Williams-Octalien if there were concerns about project delivery after acknowledging that his question could be deemed “a little controversial.”
“I’m just saying, J. Benton has a lot of contracts right now, and a lot of our eggs are in one basket,” he said. “I mean, because … you’re not evaluating just one project, but the multitude of projects that they have with us — and with other people. Is that being taken into consideration when awarding this?”
Williams-Octalien said the contractor has access to additional support through its joint venture, Consigli-Benton, and noted that the projects are staggered. Further, she said, other respondents to the Herbert Grigg solicitation — Persons Services Corps. and a joint venture between CBNA and Eleven Construction — either had bonding issues or failed to convince the evaluation committee of their experience building health care facilities in the United States.
The board’s legal counsel, Kye Walker, suggested moments later that Williams-Octalien address whether J. Benton is on track to deliver its existing projects.
“I’m gonna say, for everybody: so far, so good,” she said. “Right now, where we are — we are moving at the right pace. But of course, you know, as we go into the projects, and as all of the projects get into construction, then the challenges — for manpower, resources and everything that we’ve outlined — will become evident. But so far, so good.”
On Tuesday, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, St. Thomas-St. John Historic Preservation Committee met to decide on change applications for several projects in the historic preservation district. Changes ranged from aesthetic designs for roofing to the functionality of lamp posts.
Members Enrique Rodriguez, Kurt G. Marsh, William F. Newbold, and Collette Burgess were present and voted unanimously on all items.
Mark Wiechnik of MJB Caribbean Ventures, Inc.’s application HPC-44-2025 for Hotel 1829 involves the repair of two historical-style metal-framed signs at the entrance of the stairway at the front of the property. The application change involves repairing damaged metal signs at the front entrance, where one is missing its top and the other is bent. The signs serve as menu and business boards.
A photo of the entrance to Hotel 1829 showing the metal signs before they were damaged. (Teams Meeting Screenshot)
“The one on the left hand side facing the hotel, the one that needs the entire top replaced is the menu board, and the one on the right hand side is the business board,” said Wiechnik.
“Preservation guidelines allow but so many business signs for a business,” said Sean Krigger, director of the State Historic Preservation. “And I know the building has a building sign and there is a business hanging sign.”
A current photo of the entrance to Hotel 1829 shows the metal signs that need to be repaired. (Teams Meeting Screenshot)
Wiechnik clarified that the sign on the building is only the name and the signs that are intended to be repaired will serve to provide operation details.
The applicant’s project also involves restoring and updating the historic hotel. Ensuring that not only the signage maintains its original purpose and aesthetic, Weichnik also replaced light fixtures with elements obtained from Germany. Doing so aligned with street lighting standards approved by the State Historical Preservation Office.
“This light fixture, which is known as the Anno 1900, is from a company called Dhalhaus Lighting. This is the light fixture that was officially adopted as the official light design, or lamp post design, for lighting the public areas of Charlotte Amalie,” said Krigger.
German Anno 1900 light fixtures at Hotel 1829. (Teams Meeting Screenshot)
He added that the light fixtures are also used on Main Street and at Roosevelt Park.
Wiechnik also proposed changes for second and third-floor guest suites in the rear of the hotel that were damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria. The building will maintain historic rubble walls and structures but a new stairway and additional rooms will be added.
A past photo of Hotel 1829 that Mark Wiechnik intends to mirror in its reconstruction. (Teams Meeting Screenshot)
“The goal of the application here is to get the approvals to go move forward with rebuilding these destroyed guest rooms,” said Wiechnik. “Generally what we’re asking for today is for approvals to build back these rooms as they existed historically,” he added.
Committee members raised concerns about parking and enclosed spaces on the property, and cautioned Wiechnik to take heed for functional purposes.
The committee approved the application. Wiechnik was also approved to place a new hanging business sign in application HPC-43-2025 for At Home in the Tropics at Dronningens Gade 25.
Moreso, the committee approved Springline Architects for Crystal Blue Operations’s application HPC-7-2024 for the Crown House Hip roof covering on the west terrace at Dronningens Gade 26 and 27.
Kevin Qualls, the project’s architect and representative, said, “There were some comments and suggestions on the west roof and how to approach that,” he referenced last month’s meeting regarding the west wall.
As a result, the applicant has reduced and lowered the size and pitch of the roof and pulled it away from the chimney.
Additionally, the St. Thomas Historical Trust, Inc. was approved for application HPC-42-2010 to add a solar-powered lamppost on Bred Gade Step Street. Qualls, also representing the St. Thomas Historical Trust, found solar lamp posts from Amazon that he referenced as effective for the scope of work.
Acting board chair Rodriguez questioned the “lumens” requirement for public light fixtures and asked Krigger to verify. Krigger said the Public Works Department will have to provide the stipulations since the light posts are being placed on step-streets, which are pedestrian walkways. Later in the meeting, after the members voted unanimously to approve the application upon meeting the lumens requirement from the Public Works Department, it was addressed that the fixtures appear to be in line with legal requirements.
Application HPC-40-2025 for Clincy & Nelson LLP to add a five-square-foot flush mount business sign on 12D & 12AA Bjerge Gade was approved by the board, as well as Jackie DeCosta’s application, HPC-41-2025, for a new exterior paint color scheme that includes white trimming, black shutters, and a black door at 52 Dronningens Gade.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor’s application, HPC-45-2025, for Capital Complex Kongens Gade for a 5×8 advertisement to be hung on the legislative fence across from Fort Christian for five months was also approved.
“The Name Your Road Campaign is the most active campaign right now requesting the residents of the territory to assist in generating street names for the respective areas,” said Chris George, street addressing project manager.
Rodriguez questioned whether the new addresses would affect things such as postal deliveries.
“So you’re getting an official street address, nationally standardized, which the post office will use. So your property, your parcel and estate will always remain the same on your deeds, your property tax, your instruments of ownership, we’re linking a street address to it so that’s how it is nationally,” said George. “Most folks nationally don’t know their actual plot address. They know the street address, which is what they use with everything, but what we’re doing is adding that missing piece. So your parcel information always stays the same, you just have a street address that’s now linked to it.”
George added that it will also assist with waste pickup.
Lastly, some applications were tabled. HPC-42-2025 for the review of a new residential building in the Savan neighborhood at Gamle Gade 14B was tabled for the next meeting due to the applicant’s absence by technical difficulties. Applicants for HPC-30-2025 for Garden Bar and Restaurant at 58A Dronningens Gade were also absent.
United States Geological Survey map of tectonic plates in the Caribbean region. Caribbean islands are located where earthquakes frequently strike due to their proximity to tectonic plates and fault systems. (Photo courtesy USGS)
The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency is inviting residents across the USVI to join millions worldwide in practicing earthquake safety during the Great ShakeOut drill on Thursday at 10:16 a.m. AST.
What is the Great ShakeOut?The Great ShakeOut is the world’s largest earthquake drill, with numerous countries and territories participating to raise awareness about what to do in the event of a quake.
“The Great ShakeOut earthquake drills are based on scenario earthquakes that could affect the area if they were to actually take place,” according to information from the United States Geographical Survey. “Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are an annual opportunity for people in homes, schools, and organizations to practice what to do during earthquakes and to improve preparedness. These events are made possible through a collaboration among several agencies including the USGS.”
VITEMA Urges Partaking in Drill
Though hurricanes often dominate preparedness conversations, earthquakes remain a quieter but persistent risk in the territory’s active seismic zone. That’s why VITEMA is emphasizing participation not only in the drill itself but also in wider earthquake preparedness efforts.
“The Great ShakeOut is an annual opportunity for individuals and communities to practice the critical safety steps that can protect lives during an earthquake: Drop, Cover, and Hold On,” according to a press release from VITEMA. “The U.S. Virgin Islands sits in an active seismic zone, making earthquake preparedness essential for every resident and visitor,” VITEMA said.
“Earthquakes can occur without warning, and being prepared can mean the difference between life and death,” said VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen. “The Great ShakeOut gives us all an opportunity to practice our emergency response, and ensure our families, workplaces, and communities are ready when disaster strikes.”
“VITEMA encourages all territory residents to use this opportunity to create or update family emergency plans, assemble or refresh emergency supply kits with water, food, medications, and essential supplies, secure heavy furniture and objects that could fall during shaking, learn how to shut off utilities if needed, and identify safe spots in your home, workplace, and school,” VITEMA explained.
The exercise also includes a systemwide test of the Emergency Alert System, with messages sent automatically to mobile phones.
“As part of the exercise, VITEMA will be conducting a test of the Emergency Alert System through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. Residents should expect a test message to be delivered to their mobile phones on Oct. 16,” VITEMA stated.
A territory-wide test of the tsunami warning siren system will also take place on Thursday, as part of its regularly scheduled checks on the third Thursday of each month. The sirens will sound at 11 a.m. in the St. Croix district, followed by the St. Thomas/St. John district at 11:15 a.m.
Seismic Activity Across the Caribbean
As was previously reported by the Source, the USVI and Puerto Rico sit in an active seismic area, and temblors — which could also generate tsunami waves — can occur at any time.
Islands in the northeast Caribbean are situated where temblors frequently strike due to their location among tectonic plates and fault systems.
“The tectonic plates divide the Earth’s crust into distinct ‘plates’ that are always slowly moving. Earthquakes are concentrated along these plate boundaries,” according to the USGS.
“The seismicity of this region of the Caribbean is dominated by the oblique subduction of the North American Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate,” said Elizabeth Vanacore, Ph.D., a seismologist and a researcher at the Puerto Rico Seismic Network. The PRSN, also known by its Spanish name, Red Sísmica de Puerto Rico, is part of the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Department of Geology.
“The term oblique subduction indicates that the collision between the North American tectonic plate and the Caribbean tectonic plate is not occurring in a direct head-on manner, but instead, at an angle,” according to Vanacore.
“This plate collision is the force that has created the Puerto Rico Trench, as well as the faults to the west of Puerto Rico in the Mona Passage. The collision of the plates has also created faults in the Anegada Passage and the Muertos Trough,” Vanacore explained.
The result of the tectonic plates colliding means that the USVI and Puerto Rico are in an area surrounded by faults, and earthquakes occur in this region on a daily basis.
“This plate collision leads to the very complicated faults systems and interactions with our region,” Vanacore said. “Given this environment, Puerto Rico and the USVI are in a seismically active region where earthquakes are recorded and reported by the PRSN on a daily basis. The PRSN records a few thousand earthquakes a year in our forecast area of responsibility,” she continued.
Participate in USVI Great ShakeOut
To take part in this year’s Great ShakeOut, residents are encouraged to register at the official ShakeOut USVI website. At 10:16 a.m. on Thursday, participants will pause wherever they are to Drop, Cover, and Hold On for about one minute.
Graphic showing simple steps to follow during an earthquake to stay safe. (Photo courtesy Great ShakeOut)
As of 4:05 a.m. Wednesday, a total of 15,674 participants in the U.S. Virgin Islands are registered to take part in the Great ShakeOut, reflecting individual households, schools, businesses, and organizations across the territory.
For free drill materials and preparedness resources — or to add your household, school, or workplace to this year’s participant count – visit the Great ShakeOut U.S. Virgin Islands webpage.
Finally, USVI residents and visitors can also sign up for emergency alerts online, including earthquake notifications, directly from VITEMA.
Over 160 managers, supervisors, and team members participated in the 2025 St. Croix training. (Photo courtesy SCHTA Education Foundation)The St. Croix Hotel & Tourism Association, in partnership with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation and supported by Interval International, hosted its second annual Caribbean Supercharged Service and Leadership Training Workshop on St. Croix — an event that radiated energy and enthusiasm across the hospitality community.
The two-day professional development training culminated with a lively celebration and award ceremony Tuesday evening at the rooftop of the King Christian Hotel, honoring 160 St. Croix hospitality and tourism professionals for their commitment to service excellence.
Louise John, creator of the Caribbean Supercharged Service and Leadership Training Workshop, whose program has been instrumental in elevating hospitality standards across the region, hyped an excited crowd of professionals in their respective fields.
Participating businesses included Divi Carina Bay, The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort, The Company House Hotel, Caravelle Hotel & Casino, Cane Bay Dive Shop, Hotel on the Cay, King Christian Hotel, Neighborhood Establishment, Sandcastle on the Beach, and Tamarind Reef Resort.
Suzanne Rosbach, president of the St. Croix Hotel & Tourism Association, said last year’s training, which involved 90 team members, was so successful that they were inspired to expand it in year two. She noted that members reported tangible uplifts in service, confidence, and consistency.
Also in attendance was Tourism Department Commissioner-Nominee Jennifer Magras-King, who emphasized the importance of collaboration and pride in the territory’s main economic driver. “As a community where more than 70 percent of our economic GDP is tied to tourism and hospitality, there’s one thing that can’t be denied — we all have a vested interest in the Virgin Islands’ success as a tourism destination,” said Magras-King. “Even with the greatest marketing team in the industry, our visitor experience would mean nothing without you the people who bring the spirit of Virgin Islands hospitality to life.”
Tourism Department Commissioner-Nominee Jennifer Magras-King addresses the crowd. (Photo courtesy SCHTA Education Foundation)
Workshop sessions covered a wide range of topics, including “Standards Implementation and Management,” “Happy Housekeepers,” “Find Your Service Vibe,” “Circular Housekeeping,” and “Heartfelt Player Care.”
Karolin Troubetzkoy, chair of the Education Foundation, joined electronically to share remarks and express appreciation to long-standing sponsor Interval International. “Interval International was a key partner in this activity, and managers spoke of their delight to learn about Interval and the opportunities for business partnerships,” Troubetzkoy said.
On behalf of Interval International, Vice President of Client Sales Neil Kolton expressed how pleased the company was to again support the on-island training. “We have long been a partner with the Education Foundation and believe in the dynamic and pertinent courses being offered on various islands annually,” Kolton said.
As a token of appreciation, Interval International presented certified participants with a Dream Vacation Week at a partner property before the end of 2026. Participants can choose from local, regional, and international destinations listed in their personal Dream Vacation Week booklet.
Most units feature full kitchens, washers and dryers, spacious layouts, and full resort amenities and services. Interval encouraged recipients to “uplift and enjoy your service interactions this season” and wished everyone a happy vacation in the year ahead.
Other sponsors of the training included The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort, The Company House Hotel, Caravelle Hotel & Casino, and King Christian Hotel.
Anyone interested in participating in next year’s training can contact trainingeducationfoundation@gmail.com.
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month’s closing, which is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, students at St. Croix Central High School were treated to a lively and reflective discussion on heritage, identity, and the power of Virgin Islands culture. The program, held on Wednesday, was conducted in two sessions for about 100 students.
Special guests included international award-winning filmmaker and native Virgin Islander Johanna Bermudez-Ruiz, former Sen. Samuel Carrion, and Stanley Jacobs, affectionately known as “Stanley,” leader of the iconic quelbe band Ten Sleepless Knights.
Award-winning filmmaker and native Virgin Islander Johanna Bermudez-Ruiz speaks to the students at St. Croix Central High School. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Bermudez-Ruiz screened about 15-20 minutes of her award-nominated documentary film, “Sugar Pathways,” narrated by actress Luna Lauren Vélez, known for her work on the Emmy award-winning show Dexter and Across the Spider-Verse. The film chronicles nearly 100 years of Puerto Rican and Virgin Islands families coming together through love, food, politics, music, and community. Bermudez-Ruiz said the project took her almost 10 years to complete.
“I wanted to make this film because I wanted to have a legacy,” she said.
Bermudez also encouraged students to embrace their heritage.
“Be proud of where you come from,” Bermudez-Ruiz said. “It’s important to have these conversations with young people, especially those exploring their heritage and identity. Knowing who we are allows us to move forward with confidence. Identity gives us grounding; it connects us to our past, our present, and even helps us envision our future. For students, even those as young as middle and high school, understanding where they come from helps them better understand who they are and how they fit into the broader Caribbean story. It’s not just about Latino heritage, it’s about Caribbean identity as a whole. Our histories and cultures are deeply interconnected.”
Carrion, who has long championed cultural and civic education in schools, also encouraged students to explore their family history and take pride in the Virgin Islands’ diverse roots.
“It’s important for young people to explore their family heritage and understand where they come from — that discovery helps shape who they are,” he said.
Former Sen. Samuel Carrion shares his heritage to students of the second group during a discussion at St. Croix Central High School. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Sharing a personal story, he revealed that his own great-grandfather migrated from Vieques to St. Croix in 1876, two years before the historic Fireburn labor revolt in 1878.
“Discovering that part of my family history gave me a new sense of connection to this island. Our community is a melting pot and embracing diversity is powerful. Whether your family roots are in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, or elsewhere, those connections are what make the Virgin Islands unique.”
Carrion also highlighted the guayabera, a traditional Caribbean shirt, as a symbol of heritage.
“The guayabera, like our culture itself, tells a story of history, adaptation, and pride. Wherever it originated, it has become a symbol of elegance and heritage across the Caribbean,” he said.
Following Carrion’s remarks, Jacobs captivated students with stories and performances of Quelbe, the official music of the Virgin Islands.
“I started playing guitar when I was six years old — music has always been a part of me,” Jacobs said. “Quelbe was the first music I ever heard. It’s the sound I grew up with. The drums, squash, steel, and melody all come together to tell our stories. Quelbe came from the fields. Even when people were forbidden to make instruments, they made drums out of barrels and found ways to keep the rhythm alive. Quelbe has always been about real life; it’s the people’s music. We want to see more structured music programs in schools that teach our culture, because quelbe isn’t just music, it’s history.”
Stanley Jacobs, affectionately known as “Stanley,” leader of the iconic Quelbe band Ten Sleepless Knights, plays his iconic flute. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
For decades, Stanley and Ten Sleepless Knights have shared the legacy of Quelbe with younger generations, donating instruments to schools and performing across the territory and around the world.
This event is poised to host over 30 independently published Virgin Islands’ authors. (Photo courtesy Island Booksellers)
On Saturday, Island Booksellers invites the community to their first annual Independently Published VI Author’s Day.
While the bookstore already maintains a robust section of Caribbean fiction and non-fiction featuring V.I. authors, this event will focus specifically on those who have taken the independently published route.
Claire Starkey, co-owner of Island Booksellers, notes that “it can be difficult for the independently published to garner critical attention and readership without the marketing resources of established publishing houses, so one of our responsibilities as a bookstore is to showcase the local authors who are capturing, shaping and reflecting the cultural and literary identity of the Virgin Islands.”
Over 30 authors will be featured, with specialties running the gamut from history and memoir to self-help, cooking, poetry and fantasy. Books will be organized by genre tables, complete with brief author bios and descriptions, making it easy for customers to discover their next favorite read.
“Expanding access and exposure is a collective effort,” says Starkey, citing other bookstores, libraries, schools, and foundations that also promote the works of V.I. writers and poets.
For more information on literary events throughout the territory, check out the bookstore’s monthly calendar on social media or email info@islandbooksellers.com.
Nour Suid (Photo by Digna Blash)
The ceasefire in Gaza has brought a temporary silence, but not peace. While the world celebrates a pause in bombing, Palestinians continue to live under occupation, blockade, and fear. The skies may be quiet, yet the suffering remains loud in every heart still waiting for justice. Still praying for peace in their own homeland.
The ceasefire does not mean the occupation has ended. Gaza remains under an Israeli blockade that restricts movement by land, air, and sea. Families continue to live in destroyed neighborhoods, struggling to access clean water, food, electricity, and medical care.
According to the United Nations, Palestinians in Gaza face severe shortages of food and medicine, and millions remain displaced within the territory. Checkpoints across the West Bank still control every aspect of daily life, and violence from settlers and military forces continues.
Imagine every time you had to go to work, you had to show your ID to an armed solider. How would you feel?
The world may see silence, but Palestinians see a fragile and temporary pause between assaults. Their pain did not end with the ceasefire; it simply became quieter.
Generations of Palestinians have grown up knowing fear and displacement. Children in Gaza still wake up shaking from trauma. Families continue to live without the freedom to travel, rebuild, or even grieve in peace. The blockade, has turned Gaza into what many humanitarian organizations describe as “an open-air prison.”
Imagine living in a place where you and your loved ones, including your children, have limited access to water, food, and medical care, and where your every movement and freedom depend on someone else’s permission. How would that make you feel?
This is not peace; it is survival under pressure. True peace can only exist when the occupation ends, when every border is lifted, and when Palestinians are free to live with dignity in their own land.
The recent exchange of hostages and detainees drew international attention. But behind the headlines lies a painful truth: thousands of Palestinians are detained by Israel each year, often without charge or trial. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented systematic mistreatment, beatings, sleep deprivation, and denial of medical care.
If you are being mindful, you will notice a painful difference. Palestinian hostages return to their families malnourished, frail, and deeply traumatized, a heartbreaking reflection of the harsh conditions and mistreatment they endured. They come back to find their homes destroyed, their communities shattered, and their lives once again displaced.
By contrast, Israeli hostages released from Gaza receive medical care, food, and water. They are not beaten or denied their basic needs; they are treated with care and humanity. This difference does not excuse harm on any side, but it clearly shows the deep imbalance of power and compassion in this conflict. It serves as a reminder that while one side struggles to survive under occupation, the other continues to control the resources and the narrative, uncovering the heartbreaking reality of ongoing injustice
Palestinian detainees are not simply prisoners, they are innocent civilians, many of them children, taken from their own occupied land. Their release is not an act of mercy; it is the restoration of a right that has been unjustly denied for far too long. The Palestinian people deserve dignity, freedom, and the justice they have been fighting for all their lives.
Imagine you or someone you love suddenly disappearing in the middle of the day or night, taken without reason, without explanation, without a trial, and without even a chance to say goodbye. And the world remains silent. How would that make you feel?
The ceasefire does not erase decades of suffering. It does not return homes that have been rebuilt and torn apart multiple times. It does not rebuild schools or bring back the dead. It does not end the blockade or the occupation. It is simply a pause, one that must not be mistaken for justice, freedom or peace in Palestine.
Imagine having to rebuild your home, not for the first or second time, but again, and again, knowing in your heart that it could be destroyed once more. How would that make you feel?
Until the occupation ends, until the blockade is lifted, until every Palestinian can live freely on their own land, Palestine is not free, and the world must not stop talking about Palestine.
Now is not the time to turn away. The silence of bombs cannot become the silence of the world. The people of Palestine still live under oppression, fear, and loss. Their struggle for dignity, freedom, and life continues.
Imagine if it were you, your family, your loved ones, your child, your home, living through that. How would you feel?
The ceasefire may have quieted the bombs, but it cannot quiet the truth:
Palestine is still occupied. Palestine is still suffering. Palestine is not free.
And until every child sleep in safety, and every family walks free on their own land, the fight for justice must continue.
So, let me clarify some misinformation: a ceasefire does not mean Palestine is free. Gaza belongs to the Palestinians, Palestine belongs to the Palestinians, and we must not silence that.—Dr. Nour Z. Suid, PsyD, is a Palestinian Muslim born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dr. Suid is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She graduated with her doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Suid is currently working as a mental health counselor at Serenity Wellness & Counseling.
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.
