Nürish Wellness Cafe is delighted to announce its grand opening on Oct. 6, 2025, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at its location in Yacht Haven Grande. Conveniently nestled between Wilson Healthcare Consultants and Affirm Med Spa, the cafe founded by Dr. Jessica Wilson, a board certified internal medicine physician, pediatrician and entrepreneur, is more than just a place to eat. It’s a lifestyle movement rooted in clinical insight, nutrition science, and Caribbean soul.
Dr. Jessica Wilson (Submitted photo)
Dr. Wilson’s vision for Nürish grew from her clinical experience counseling patients on embracing healthier eating habits. “I kept giving patients advice about what to eat, what to avoid, and how to make nutritious meals genuinely flavorful and enjoyable.” However, she recognized that medical advice about healthy eating can only go but so far without a local space where people can experience those meals in their daily lives. Nürish was created for this purpose where flavor, health education, and wellness meet in every bite. The cafe boasts a thoughtfully curated menu full of vibrant smoothies, wholesome bowls, fresh cold-pressed juices, and nourishing wraps — all low-carb and high-protein items, free from artificial preservatives, dyes and added sugars.
To truly understand the urgency behind Nürish’s mission, let’s consider the health data in the U.S. Virgin Islands.The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and related metabolic diseases are extremely high. These are not just public health challenges, but they also drive substantial medical spending and insurance cost escalation. Local news sources state that half of government plan members suffer from these conditions and they also account for more than half of total medical spending. Consequently, the local government recently implemented a 9% increase in premium rates for its group health plan, alongside increased deductibles and stricter medication coverage rules. Now, more than ever, is a good time to focus on health.
Nürish Wellness Cafe (Submitted photo)
“Nürish is about making wellness accessible and enjoyable for everyone,” says Dr. Wilson. “We wanted to create a space where the food is as vibrant and satisfying, as it is good for you. We truly hope to inspire our community to embrace a healthier lifestyle one delicious meal at a time.”
At Nürish Wellness Cafe, Dr. Wilson wants to not only offer healthy, delicious food and beverage options, with full nutritional transparency (every menu item includes the value of carbohydrates, sugar, fat, calories and fiber), but also to shift behaviors and awareness across our community. The nutritional values empower customers to make informed decisions, whether they are tracking macros, following a specific meal plan, or simply learning what’s in their food. Therefore, in addition to its nourishing menu, Nürish Wellness Cafe will host community events, food prep demonstrations, wellness workshops, and collaborations with local organizations and wellness programs, reinforcing its mission of community wellness and health conscious eating.
For more information, visit us at Yacht Haven Grande, Suite 120, and follow us on social media for the latest updates.
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Vernon A. Isaac, Sr. on Sept. 14, 2025 at the age of 70. Vernon who was born on St. Kitts but made St. Thomas, Virgin Islands his home.Vernon A. Isaac, Sr.
He is survived by his son, Vernon A. Isaac, Jr., daughters Alison Isaac-Long and Vanessa Isaac, grandchildren Quintavious and QuiNia Long, Joshua, Destani, and Jhailin Isaac, Andre Sellers, Aziyah and Samayiah Kately, great granddaughter Mila Sellers, brother Arthurlyn “Big Youth” Isaac, sister Vancelyn Isaac, nephews Vance, Dwight and Dwayne Isaac, niece Kisha Caesar, special family and friends too numerous to mention.
The first viewing will be held on Friday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at Blyden Memorial Chapel. The second viewing will be on Saturday, Oct. 11 at First Wesleyan Holiness Church in Contant at 10 a.m.-11 a.m. with services at 11 a.m.Interment will be at Western Cemetery #3 in Altona. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services.
St. John’s tariff town halls, WMA’s recycling partnership on St. Thomas, and a night of masquerading traditions on St. Croix – host Adisha Penn brings these news highlights and more, while our in-studio team offers a peek at the opening of The Beauty Corner Pro Boutique, located at Buccaneer Mall, which will serve as a central hub for stylists and L’Oréal’s Professional Products Division (PPD) in the territory. There’s always something new on Consider the Source!
The V.I. Police Department provided the Source with its body-worn camera policy Friday. (Shutterstock image)
The body-worn camera policy that the V.I. Police Department shared with the Source Friday outlines procedures for releasing redacted videos to the public, but requested footage from fatal shootings in July and August has not been released.
The V.I. Police Department’s body-worn camera policy states that “Copies of BWC video files for release pursuant to a public records request or as authorized by the Commissioner or designee, shall be redacted, as required by law and Department procedures, prior to release.”
According to another section of the policy titled “Non-Departmental Requests,” public records requests “shall be accepted and processed, in accordance with the provisions of federal and territorial law and forwarded to the Project Administrator.” Further, “Public and Media request [sic] will be forwarded to the Public Information Officer.”
To date, VIPD has not provided the Source with requested body-worn camera footage — redacted or not.
Following police officers’ killings of Alejandro Torres III on July 17 and Tyler Simpson on Aug. 24, the Source reached out to VIPD multiple times seeking information about the department’s investigation into those incidents. Responses from a VIPD spokesperson included assertions that “Any Audio or Video content involved in an ongoing investigation cannot be shared with the public.” During a Sept. 15 Government House press briefing, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. told the Source that “if we have a camera — a police body camera policy — you’ll get it this afternoon.”
The Source did not get it that afternoon.
On Sept. 24, VIPD spokesperson Glen Dratte told the Source that there are two investigations related to Torres’s killing: “1. Criminal 2. Internal/ Administrative.”
“Therefore, the bodycam footage is not available, audio, or visual. We are reviewing the policy and will get back to you as soon possible [sic],” Dratte said.
VIPD leadership and other officials attended a court hearing on Sept. 26 as part of the department’s 16-year-old federal consent decree. Afterward, Police Commissioner Mario Brooks told the Source that the policy would be released, but that there were concerns about officers’ safety, the disclosure of investigative tools and the department’s collective bargaining agreement with union members.
The Virgin Islands government extended its contract with members of the Police Benevolent Association, which expired in 2023. That agreement does not address bodycam footage but states that “The employer shall not publish in any news media or for public consumption the names of employees covered by this Agreement who have been disciplined under internal disciplinary proceedings.”
Virgin Islands officials have also tried to suppress public disclosure of video footage in the name of officers’ safety before. In late 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union published a video depicting a St. Thomas corrections officer assaulting a prisoner. Attorneys for the V.I. Corrections Bureau — which has operated under a federal consent decree for even longer than the V.I. Police Department — argued that disclosing the footage posed security concerns about camera placements and the possibility of repercussions on jail staff.
“In addition to the significant security risk presented, the emotional and social impact of the video is substantial, as it connects sight and sound with a viewer’s emotions which may include rage and sympathy,” attorney Shari D’Andrade, representing the territory, wrote in an effort to suppress the video. “Those who view the video online are able to share the video with others which increases the video’s exposure exponentially. It goes without saying that St. Thomas is a small island and tight knit [sic] community. There are few degrees of separation. While the intent of releasing the video may have been to educate the wider public on the jail conditions, Defendants are seriously concerned with the possible repercussions for the staff involved in the use of force incident and the BOC staff in general in this small community.”
Chief Judge Robert Molloy of the U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands denied the request in 2023 and gave the defendants in that case 10 days to file objections if they believed that “providing access to the video footage in question would compromise the health or safety of Bureau of Corrections employees, officers, or inmates.”
A man accused of firing multiple shots outside the Frontline Night Club on St. Croix in July has been extradited to the Virgin Islands to face several charges, the Virgin Islands Police Department.
The 911 Emergency Call Center received numerous reports of gunfire at the Frontline Night Club around 1:16 a.m. on July 5. A detective from the Criminal Investigation Bureau responded and spoke with several witnesses who identified the shooter as Jose Osorio Jr., according to the police report.
Investigators later determined that Osorio did not have a license to possess a firearm or ammunition in the territory. Despite multiple attempts to locate him, detectives learned that Osorio had fled to the U.S. mainland. A Superior Court judge subsequently issued an arrest warrant, followed by a warrant of extradition to bring him back to St. Croix, the police report stated.
On Friday, the 31-year-old suspect was returned to the territory and taken into custody. He was booked and unable to post bail, set at $50,000. Osorio was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, carrying firearms openly or concealed, discharging or aiming firearms, possession or sale of ammunition, and reckless driving, the report stated.
He has been remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending his advice of rights hearing Monday in Superior Court, it stated.
In her biweekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
If the Legislature is the people’s house, then the executive branch is the hands and feet of government. It is where the decisions made in law are carried out in practice, where policies become programs, and where the promises of governance meet the day-to-day lives of Virgin Islanders.
The authority of the executive branch rests in the Revised Organic Act of 1954, particularly Section 11, which vests the executive power in the governor. Title 3 of the Virgin Islands Code further outlines the organization of executive departments and the duties of commissioners. Together, these documents place the responsibility of execution, administration, and enforcement of laws firmly in the hands of the executive.
The executive branch, as we know it today, has not always existed. For much of Virgin Islands history, governors were appointed by the President of the United States, not chosen by the people. That changed in 1970, when Virgin Islanders gained the right to elect their own governor for the first time. This shift was not merely symbolic. It transformed the office into the central seat of political power in the territory, placing in the hands of the electorate the ability to choose the individual who would guide government administration, negotiate on behalf of the islands, and represent the Virgin Islands to the nation and the world.
Unlike senators, who craft and appropriate, the governor and the executive agencies are tasked with carrying things out. Roads must be paved, schools staffed, permits processed, and programs administered. These are not legislative tasks. They are executive ones. The governor is the chief executive officer of the territory, supported by commissioners who head agencies ranging from Education and Health to Public Works and Licensing and Consumer Affairs.
The executive branch is also the chief negotiator for the territory. When corporations consider doing business in the Virgin Islands, it is the executive who sits at the table. Governors and their teams negotiate tax incentive agreements, economic development packages, and deals to lure investment. The Legislature plays a vital role in ratifying or rejecting such agreements, but it is not senators who court Walmart, Kmart, or major hotel chains. That responsibility rests with the executive.
But the governor’s influence does not stop with agencies. Through appointments, the governor fills dozens of boards and commissions that shape life across the territory. From zoning and planning boards to licensing boards, hospital boards, and university trustees, these appointments give the governor an extended political reach. The web of appointees stretches far and wide, embedding executive influence into almost every corner of public life. The sheer breadth of this appointment power makes the governor of the Virgin Islands one of the most politically powerful figures in both the nation and the Caribbean.
The uniqueness of the Virgin Islands makes this role even more critical. Unlike in most states, where cities and counties carry out significant governmental functions, our territory consolidates nearly all administration into the executive branch. There are no mayors of St. Thomas, St. Croix, or St. John to maintain parks, oversee zoning, or manage waste collection. Those responsibilities fall on executive agencies, answerable to the governor. This concentration of duties means that the governor carries far more weight than a typical state governor, with direct responsibility for services that elsewhere would be spread across local governments.
Yet, like the Legislature, the executive branch is often misunderstood. Many residents approach senators for matters that belong to the governor and his commissioners. When the road is filled with potholes, the school roof leaks, or the garbage has not been collected, the complaint is hurled at the Legislature. In truth, those are executive failures or successes. Commissioners, not senators, direct the public works crews, the educators, and the administrators who deliver daily services. Expecting a senator to fix a pothole is like calling the fire department because your water is not running. They both serve the community, but each has a completely different role. Government is no different.
This is not to say the executive acts without check. The governor may propose budgets, but only the Legislature can appropriate. The governor may sign agreements, but many must come before the Senate for ratification. And the executive is bound by the laws already on the books. But within those bounds, it is the governor and commissioners who determine how services are delivered and how priorities are implemented.
The stakes are high because the executive branch is where the people feel government most directly. It is the branch that fixes the streetlight, opens the clinic, issues the driver’s license, and responds to the storm. When it succeeds, the community thrives. When it fails, frustration builds.
In a system of checks and balances, each branch has its role. The Legislature, under Sections 4 through 7 of the Revised Organic Act and Title 2 of the Virgin Islands Code, makes the laws and appropriates funds. The executive, under Section 11 of the Revised Organic Act and Title 3 of the Virgin Islands Code, executes and enforces those laws and administers government. The judiciary, under Section 21 of the Revised Organic Act, interprets the laws. It is when each branch stays in its lane but works in harmony with the others that democracy functions at its best.
The executive branch is not perfect, no branch is, but it remains the face of government to the public and the branch most responsible for turning words on paper into results in people’s lives. Strong executive leadership, accountable commissioners, and responsive agencies are not luxuries. They are necessities for good governance in the Virgin Islands.
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 developer of a housing complex on St. John has until Oct. 10 to reply to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources about questions regarding what was designed and what is actually being built.
The first of two buildings permitted under a variance of the R-2 zoning on Parcel 9-3 Glucksberg is now two stories tall, and community members are concerned that flaws in the design and construction have not been addressed. They brought their concerns to the Source.
Architect Michael Milne posted notes showing inconsistencies on the 2024 DPNR building permit for the container housing at Gifft Hill Land. (Image courtesy Michael Milne)
When the Source queried DPNR, Jamal Nielsen, media relations coordinator, responded, “Following a rereview of the construction package submitted to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), it was found that the documentation contained a few typographical errors. These errors are limited to certain portions of the submittal materials and do not affect the overall design or its compliance with applicable codes.”
Nielsen also said issues regarding permitting fees are also being reviewed.
But architect Michael Milne, who has continued to challenge the project since it first became public, said, “The statement from Mr. Nielsen is not accurate. For years we’ve pointed out errors and inaccuracies in the application and the drawings way beyond typographical errors, yet DPNR took no action and approved the project anyway.”
Nielsen said DPNR is ready to take action if the design concerns are not addressed. “DPNR has already reached out to both the architect and the owner to ensure the noted corrections are made, and they are actively working to address these items. If the project owner and designer fail to make the necessary corrections, we will be forced to issue a stop-work order on the project. They have been given a three-week timeline to complete the corrective measures.”
The project, now known as Gifft Hill Land, LLC, has faced controversy since it was proposed back in 2023. One concern is its unusual design: It is being constructed out of steel shipping containers stacked two stories high. Steel containers can be used as residences, but Milne said there are strict building code requirements that haven’t been met according to the plans on file.
A recent photo shows the container housing structures on Gifft Hill as of Sept. 15, 2025. (Photo by Cid Hamling)
The project has also generated controversy because of its intended use. Originally pitched as “affordable cohousing” and then as “workforce development housing,” each building is intended to function as a rooming house with 12 single-occupancy individual units. Each 160-square-foot unit contains a bedroom and a bath, and tenants have access to an open-air living space with a full kitchen.
Zoning and Building Requirements Differ for Residences and Rooming Houses
Under the site’s R-2 (Residential low-density) zoning, a property owner can build a residence with 12 bedrooms, but if each bedroom is leased separately, the dwelling is deemed commercial and is not permitted under R-2 zoning. Each unit in this project is metered separately for utilities, further indication of its commercial use.
A rendering shows what the 12-unit structure made of shipping containers would look like. (Image from Senate Committee of the Whole on April 17, 2024)
In 2023, after community members protested the zoning discrepancies, Gifft Hill Land, LLC developer Ari Goldschneider requested a change in zoning to R-4 (Residential High-Density) to allow him to construct a “Lodging/Rooming House.” But at a Senate hearing in April 2024, he changed his request to a zoning variance, which was granted by legislation (Bill No. 35-0317) on June 27, 2024.
Ari Goldschneider, the developer of Gifft Hill Land, testifies at a Senate hearing. (Image from Senate Committee of the Whole on April 17, 2024)
Now that the structure of the first building is nearing completion, community members are looking at what is being built, comparing it to the plans on file with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, and raising many of the same concerns they expressed over the past two years.
A rendering shows the common area within each 12-unit structure at Gifft Hill Land. (Image from Senate Committee of the Whole on April 17, 2024)
By definition, a “Lodging/Rooming house “ is a commercial endeavor, but the permit application on file does not appear to reflect the change from two residential structures to two commercial structures with a total of 24 units.
A rendering shows what a bedroom unit might look like at the container housing at Gifft Hill Land. (Image from Senate Committee of the Whole on April 17, 2024)
The difference is significant: residential structures follow the construction requirements of the International Residential Code, while commercial projects must abide by the much more rigorous set of requirements of the International Building Code. Jamal Nielsen from DPNR confirmed that the project is being built according to the International Building Code.
When the zoning issues emerged in 2023, Milne challenged the legality of the permit by filing a complaint with the Board of Land Use Appeals. (That appeal was made moot when the permit was withdrawn by the developer and the zoning variance was granted by the Senate.) But Milne has been keeping his eye on the project, and he sees numerous code violations under the current plans.
First, according to the International Building Code, shipping containers used for housing must be certified by a structural engineer. Milne could find nothing in the permit file proving that an engineer had reviewed the design of the project on Gifft Hill.
After examining the plans on file, Milne could find no evidence that the truss roof would be attached according to IBC regulations or that the containers themselves would be securely attached to the foundations. As neighbors have watched the construction progress, they have posted their concerns on social media. (Many of them lost their roofs — if not their homes — during Hurricane Irma in 2017.)
In addition, the IBC specifies enhanced measures for fire safety. For example, construction of rated walls, floors and roofs must be designed to provide separation among the units to prevent the spread of fire. According to Milne, no such measures are shown in the plans. The plans also do not include a design for a sprinkler system (with pumps and additional cisterns). Milne noted that the interior balconies (leading to the entrances of the second-story units) will be constructed out of synthetic wood, which can easily burn.
Milne also found several violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A lodging house must provide for wheelchair access to at least 10% of the units, but the current design does not show ramp access to the buildings’ entrances and to at least one unit in each building.
Unlike previous plans, the current plan on file does show parking for 24 vehicles, but the parking is arranged around the perimeter of the site, which is not allowed under the current R-2 code without screening, according to Milne, and none of the spaces are shown to be paved for handicapped accessibility.
Milne found other problems with the plans on file, including no detailed drawings of the plumbing and electrical systems, no plans for cladding the building (as required by DPNR for containers used for residential purposes), and the questionable capacity and placement of septic systems.
The building under construction is also drawing concern because of its placement at the westernmost portion of the property. With R-2 zoning, Goldschneider is only allowed to build two structures unless he subdivides the 1.14-acre site. The fact that he has placed the first building so close to the property boundary leaves open the possibility of additional buildings in the future. (Goldscheider’s plan for R-4 zoning included six buildings with a total of 72 units.)
“Everyone agrees that the Virgin Islands needs good affordable housing,” said Milne, a ”but no one wants DPNR to ignore design and construction deficiencies that put the public’s health and safety at risk to appease the lobbyists and politicians. The community deserves better,” he said.
The NHC is monitoring Invest 95L in the central Atlantic. The system has a medium chance of development within 48 hours and a high chance over the next seven days. (Photo courtesy of NHC)
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring Invest 95L, a disturbance in the central Atlantic. The system has a medium chance of development within 48 hours and a high chance over the next seven days. Forecasters say a tropical depression could form this week as the system moves generally toward the Caribbean.
Tropical Wave Expected to Move Across Atlantic
“A broad area of low pressure associated with a low-latitude tropical wave continues to produce a large area of disorganized cloudiness and showers several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands,” according to an update on Sunday evening from the NHC.
“Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form by midweek as it moves quickly across the central tropical Atlantic, approaching the Leeward Islands by the latter part of this week. Interests there should monitor the progress of Invest 95L,” the NHC explained
An “invest” is an area under investigation by the National Hurricane Center for possible development. If this system intensifies into a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph, it would be named “Jerry,” becoming the tenth named cyclone of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
Where Will Invest 95L Travel?
Several widely used computer forecast models suggest that if Invest 95L organizes, it could ultimately strengthen into a tropical storm or a hurricane.
Infrared satellite imagery obtained at 7:20 p.m. AST on Sunday. Invest 95L is seen moving across the Main Development Region between West Africa and the Caribbean. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
However, the exact track of the tropical wave remains uncertain, and any potential impacts would likely occur during the second half of the week. Atmospheric conditions could steer the system away from the Leeward Islands, or it may continue westward and move across portions of the islands.
In an update Sunday, meteorologists at the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, noted that an increase in moisture is expected by the end of the week as Invest 95L moves closer to the region. However, the NWS said forecast models remain inconsistent regarding the tropical wave’s track and potential impacts on the local islands.
While there is no immediate cyclone threat to the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, residents and visitors are urged to remain prepared and monitor official updates closely.
“At this time, there is high uncertainty in terms of the trajectory and intensity of this tropical wave,” the NWS said. “Residents and visitors are urged to continue monitoring the progress of this system as it moves over the Atlantic Ocean.”
Local Weather Information and Staying Informed
Finally, the NWS in San Juan reminded individuals on Sunday about weather-related threats that will continue to affect the USVI and Puerto Rico over the coming days, including the chance of rainfall and thunderstorms associated with a separate tropical wave moving through the Caribbean, and very warm temperatures, with the potential for heat alerts.
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts until Nov. 30, and residents and visitors across the USVI are encouraged to remain vigilant. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
Additionally, marine conditions will remain hazardous for the next few days due to a powerful swell affecting the local islands. Multiple marine alerts remain in effect for areas of Puerto Rico and the USVI until at least Tuesday.
It is crucial to remember that the forecast can change very quickly. The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30, and USVI residents and visitors are encouraged to continue to remain prepared. Weather information is available from the NWS, the NHC, and NOAA.
The local weather forecast for the U.S. Virgin Islands is regularly updated on the Source Weather Page and VI Source YouTube Channel. A weekly Tropical Outlook article from the Source is also published throughout hurricane season to provide in-depth updates.
Residents and visitors can find additional weather alerts and preparedness information from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.
St. John residents march in Cruz Bay during the No Kings Rally in June 2025. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
Community members are invited to attend a Free Speech Rally in Defense of Democracy taking place on October 18 on St. Thomas and St. John. The rallies will coincide with more than 2,200 other events taking place across the nation and abroad.
On St. Thomas, participants will meet at 10 a.m. on Veterans Drive across from Windward Passage and walk east along the Waterfront to “the People’s Promenade” across from the courthouse. Rally-goers will be joined there for a musical performance by the St. Thomas All Stars Steel Band.
St. Thomas residents assemble for a No Kings rally in June. (Photo by Barbara Young)
On St. John, community members are invited to assemble in Frank Powell Sr. Park across from the ferry dock from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Shikima Jones-Sprauve, St. John administrator, will kick off the event by singing the U.S. and USVI anthems, and there will be music, speakers, and a table for voter registration.
“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action,” said Erin Lieb, one of the organizers of the St. John event. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.”
Participants at both events are invited to make signs expressing their views on issues concerning free speech and threats to democracy. Jane Higgins, the organizer of the St. Thomas event, said, “No signs are required; just show up!” But for those carrying signs, she requested, “Please, no rudeness.”
Rally goers on St. John express themselves with signs, shirts and flags. (Photo by William Stelzer)
Anyone on St. John who is interested in making signs is invited to a gathering at the Great Room at Gifft Hill School’s lower campus on Tuesday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Some materials will be provided; participants are welcome to bring their own.
(Editors’ note: The St. John Social Action Team rents space for its meetings at the Gifft Hill School, but the school is not affiliated with the event, nor does it endorse it.)
“Making a sign makes you think about what you stand for; it helps you focus your thoughts into simple ideas,” said Lieb.
The rallies in the Virgin Islands are part of a national mobilization. “We’re a movement that knows that courage is contagious,” said Ezra Levin, co-executive director of the national organization Indivisible, which is coordinating the events. “We exercise our rights in the open because when we do that, others will do that, too.”
Jane Higgins (left, carrying the flag) and Betsy Sheehan march at the No Kings rally on STT in June. (Photo by Barbara Young)
For further information on the St. Thomas rally, email jhigginswear@gmail.com. For information on the St. John rally, please go to the St. John Social Action Team on Facebook.
From left, women’s basketball standouts Kashay Bass, Aspyn Roberson, Khaelii Robertson-Mack, and Ashlynn Lemos were all smiles ahead of the towel toss that wrapped up a night of excitement at UVI’s Bucs’ Madness. (Source photo by Amara Stokes Gilbert)
The Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center erupted with energy Friday night as the University of the Virgin Islands kicked off its basketball season with Buccaneer Basketball Madness, an event that loaded the bleachers on all sides with athletes, cheerleaders, and fans.
The Friday spectacle delivered everything promised and more: gravity-defying dunks, three-point shootouts, spirited performances, and lots of crowd participation.
The evening’s marquee moment came during the dunk contest, where men’s basketball players launched 360-degree slams and no-look jams that had fans on their feet. Ultimately, Mustafa Mohamed emerged victorious over fellow finalist Devin Binyard, cementing his status as an early fan favorite.
But the night wasn’t just about the college athletes. In perhaps the most endearing moment of the evening, young contestants between ages five and ten raced through the “Suit Up” challenge, frantically pulling on oversized basketball gear before attempting layups. Parents cheered from the stands, creating a family atmosphere that transformed the college event into a community celebration.
“We do our best to make sure there’s something for everybody, and the community shows how much they appreciate it,” organizers noted. Supporters traveled from as far as St. Croix to witness the Buccaneers’ season preview, a testament to the growing buzz surrounding the program.
That buzz is well-earned. Both teams mounted aggressive recruiting campaigns this summer, bringing in talent from across the country. The women’s squad showcased this new depth during their scrimmage, pitting a blue team of transfers against a white team of local players and returners. The competition revealed a program building chemistry at impressive speed, with new and veteran players already learning to complement each other as a cohesive unit.
The women’s team enters the season with championship aspirations, determined to “bring a ring to the rock.” The men’s program is equally focused on elevating UVI basketball’s reputation beyond the territory.
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School cheerleaders, the Rocking Rays, led the excitement, cheering on the Buccaneers during their scrimmages. (Source photo by Amara Stokes Gilbert)
Between the competitive action, the UVI Dazzling Sapphires Dance Team, Cultural Titans, and the Ivanna Eudora Kean Rocking Rays kept the energy high with polished performances. For TiLeah Neal, a sophomore member of the Dazzling Sapphires, the night represented something special.
“I love dancing with this group,” Neal said, her face still flushed from performing. “They’re beautiful dancers with great energy, and we just mesh together perfectly.”
TiLeah Neal, sophomore Dazzling Sapphire, posed following an electric performance at Friday night’s Bucs’ Madness. (Source photo by Amara Stokes Gilbert)
Three-point contests featuring both teams provided additional thrills, with the men’s home team duo of Jace Camacho and Brandon Rasmussen outlasting the away team, while the women’s away team of Aspyn Roberson and Atalia Thomas claimed their bracket. Musical chairs and a limbo contest featuring moko jumbie mascot “Bucky” rounded out an evening designed to engage every corner of the arena.
Lady Buccaneers Khaelii Robertson-Mack and Sydney Taylor took the court during the women’s 3-point contest. (Source photo by Amara Stokes Gilbert)
Both teams will make their season debuts Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. The Lady Buccaneers travel to St. Thomas University, while the men host The Real Basketball Association (RBA) All-Stars from Kingshill, St. Croix, at home. The women’s game will stream live on Urban Edge Network.
In her biweekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
If the Legislature is the people’s house, then the executive branch is the hands and feet of government. It is where the decisions made in law are carried out in practice, where policies become programs, and where the promises of governance meet the day-to-day lives of Virgin Islanders.
The authority of the executive branch rests in the Revised Organic Act of 1954, particularly Section 11, which vests the executive power in the governor. Title 3 of the Virgin Islands Code further outlines the organization of executive departments and the duties of commissioners. Together, these documents place the responsibility of execution, administration, and enforcement of laws firmly in the hands of the executive.
The executive branch, as we know it today, has not always existed. For much of Virgin Islands history, governors were appointed by the President of the United States, not chosen by the people. That changed in 1970, when Virgin Islanders gained the right to elect their own governor for the first time. This shift was not merely symbolic. It transformed the office into the central seat of political power in the territory, placing in the hands of the electorate the ability to choose the individual who would guide government administration, negotiate on behalf of the islands, and represent the Virgin Islands to the nation and the world.
Unlike senators, who craft and appropriate, the governor and the executive agencies are tasked with carrying things out. Roads must be paved, schools staffed, permits processed, and programs administered. These are not legislative tasks. They are executive ones. The governor is the chief executive officer of the territory, supported by commissioners who head agencies ranging from Education and Health to Public Works and Licensing and Consumer Affairs.
The executive branch is also the chief negotiator for the territory. When corporations consider doing business in the Virgin Islands, it is the executive who sits at the table. Governors and their teams negotiate tax incentive agreements, economic development packages, and deals to lure investment. The Legislature plays a vital role in ratifying or rejecting such agreements, but it is not senators who court Walmart, Kmart, or major hotel chains. That responsibility rests with the executive.
But the governor’s influence does not stop with agencies. Through appointments, the governor fills dozens of boards and commissions that shape life across the territory. From zoning and planning boards to licensing boards, hospital boards, and university trustees, these appointments give the governor an extended political reach. The web of appointees stretches far and wide, embedding executive influence into almost every corner of public life. The sheer breadth of this appointment power makes the governor of the Virgin Islands one of the most politically powerful figures in both the nation and the Caribbean.
The uniqueness of the Virgin Islands makes this role even more critical. Unlike in most states, where cities and counties carry out significant governmental functions, our territory consolidates nearly all administration into the executive branch. There are no mayors of St. Thomas, St. Croix, or St. John to maintain parks, oversee zoning, or manage waste collection. Those responsibilities fall on executive agencies, answerable to the governor. This concentration of duties means that the governor carries far more weight than a typical state governor, with direct responsibility for services that elsewhere would be spread across local governments.
Yet, like the Legislature, the executive branch is often misunderstood. Many residents approach senators for matters that belong to the governor and his commissioners. When the road is filled with potholes, the school roof leaks, or the garbage has not been collected, the complaint is hurled at the Legislature. In truth, those are executive failures or successes. Commissioners, not senators, direct the public works crews, the educators, and the administrators who deliver daily services. Expecting a senator to fix a pothole is like calling the fire department because your water is not running. They both serve the community, but each has a completely different role. Government is no different.
This is not to say the executive acts without check. The governor may propose budgets, but only the Legislature can appropriate. The governor may sign agreements, but many must come before the Senate for ratification. And the executive is bound by the laws already on the books. But within those bounds, it is the governor and commissioners who determine how services are delivered and how priorities are implemented.
The stakes are high because the executive branch is where the people feel government most directly. It is the branch that fixes the streetlight, opens the clinic, issues the driver’s license, and responds to the storm. When it succeeds, the community thrives. When it fails, frustration builds.
In a system of checks and balances, each branch has its role. The Legislature, under Sections 4 through 7 of the Revised Organic Act and Title 2 of the Virgin Islands Code, makes the laws and appropriates funds. The executive, under Section 11 of the Revised Organic Act and Title 3 of the Virgin Islands Code, executes and enforces those laws and administers government. The judiciary, under Section 21 of the Revised Organic Act, interprets the laws. It is when each branch stays in its lane but works in harmony with the others that democracy functions at its best.
The executive branch is not perfect, no branch is, but it remains the face of government to the public and the branch most responsible for turning words on paper into results in people’s lives. Strong executive leadership, accountable commissioners, and responsive agencies are not luxuries. They are necessities for good governance in the Virgin Islands.
