Culture bearers gathered at the Dorsch Center in Frederiksted Tuesday for “Masked Memory,” a roundtable discussion hosted by the “Keeping Masquerading Traditions Alive” initiative. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
Crucians had an opportunity to learn more about the territory’s masquerade traditions Tuesday night during “Masked Memory,” a roundtable discussion held at the Dorsch Cultural Activity Center in Frederiksted.
The discussion was hosted by Stephanie Chalana Brown, who runs the “Keeping Masquerade Traditions Alive” initiative with help from a grant from the St. Croix Foundation. Brown told the Source that she’d seen masqueraders in many forms as a young woman — and that she’d seen the practice dwindle over the years.
Stephanie Chalana Brown, steward and coordinator for “Keeping Masquerading Traditions Alive,” offers introductory remarks Tuesday night in Frederiksted. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
“I wasn’t even necessarily at the forefront of practicing those things, but I think it’s so important that — while we’re moving forward and we have contemporary costumes — that our parade and our festival are balanced,” she said. “So I just wanted to make sure that we knew the roots to why we put on costumes in the first place.”
Tuesday night’s discussion brought together a full panel of culture bearers and ambassadors, including Kendell “KC” Henry, Sandra Gerard-Leung, Crucian Heritage and Nature Trail Director Frandelle Gerard, Dembaya Arts Conservatory founding member Shanarae Matthew, Asta Williams and Baba Onifade, a marine scientist and Babalawo.
Sandra Gerard-Leung, left, Frandelle Gerard, center, and Shanarae Matthew, right, participate in a roundtable discussion on the history and practice of masquerade Tuesday in Frederiksted. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
Speaking to the Source Thursday, Brown marvelled at longtime cultural stewards like Williams, who spoke Tuesday night about teaching masquerade at St. Croix schools even as traditions changed over the decades.
“A lot of my people have gone,” Williams said of those she used to troupe with, “and I really, really miss them, because they — if it was three or four — they were there with me.”
Brown said it was sad to hear the community’s elders talk about how they didn’t feel like they were a part of a tradition they helped keep alive.
“And I’m just hoping — people have done this work long before me,” she said. “I’m just hoping to continue. So I just want to give reverence to her, because she’s been doing it since she was quite a young woman.”
Audience members brave the mosquitoes Tuesday night while taking in presentations on masquerade traditions at the Dorsch Center in Frederiksted. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
Tuesday’s event was only one part of “Keeping Masquerade Traditions Alive.” Brown said the initiative holds rehearsals “almost every other Thursday” at 5 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club in Frederiksted. Younger masqueraders rehearse first before adults practice at around 5:45.
“We have a live drummer there, and we’re also providing people with the opportunity to learn the drumming that is synonymous to masquerading,” Brown said. “Because that is another element to keeping masquerading traditions alive — both the music and the actual movement.”
Neat lines of produce are planted at Ridge to Reef Farm on St Croix. (Photo courtesy of Ridge to Reef Farm Director Nate Olive)
Farmers, fishers, and the public are invited to town hall meetings hosted by the Food and Farm Council to learn about the official V.I. Agriculture Plan as well as the group’s achievements and long-term goals.
The 17 members of the Local Food and Farm Council work to promote the mandates of the V.I. Agriculture Plan that was ratified by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and the V.I. Legislature in 2021 – 2023.
According to Lisa Herbst, who works for the council, the presenters include co-chairs Louis Petersen, commissioner of V.I. Agriculture, and Safiya George, president of the University of the Virgin Islands. They and others will provide an overview of the plan and outline its future goals, then ask the audience for feedback.
“We look forward to updating the community on the important progress we’ve made toward the eight mandates of the Agricultural Plan, including resources that will aid the farming and fishing communities to advance productivity and sustainability.” Petersen wrote.
The council has also provided funding for farmers. A dozen farmers received grants in 2024, each for a minimum of $15,000. A total of more than $500,000 was granted funding from the Legislature through the V.I. Economic Development Authority.
“A resilient and equitable food system isn’t built overnight,” George wrote. “It demands sustained collaboration, transparent governance and a shared commitment to putting community needs first.”
The series of town hall meetings, titled “USVI Agriculture Plan in Action: Together for Our Islands, Our Food, Our Future,” will be held on St. Thomas on Oct. 6, St. Croix on Oct. 8, and St. John on Oct. 27.
All three sessions will be held from 6-8 p.m.with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The first two will be held on the University of the Virgin Islands’s campuses, the LaVerne E. Ragster Administration and Conference Center on St. Thomas and the Great Hall on St. Croix. The St. John meeting will take place at the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, St. John Annex Conference Room.
Members of the council include individuals from the University of the Virgin Islands, as well as representatives from the V.I. departments of Agriculture, Education, Health, Planning and Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries, and the Economic Development Authority and several farmers who work with the council.
Those who wish to observe virtually, click here.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., Agriculture Commissioner Louis Petersen, and community partners break ground Friday in Bordeaux on the first of two 100,000-gallon cisterns to provide farmers with reliable water resources. (Photo courtesy Government House)
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and Agriculture Commissioner Louis Petersen on Friday broke ground on the first of two planned 100,000-gallon cisterns in Bordeaux, marking a long-awaited investment to provide reliable water resources for farmers, Government House announced in a press release.
The project, years in the making, is part of the Bryan-Roach administration’s push to strengthen food security and support agriculture as a pillar of economic diversification. Farmers in Bordeaux — often called the heart of St. Thomas’ farming community — have struggled for decades with inadequate water access, according to the press release.
“For too many years, our farmers, especially here in Bordeaux, have carried the burden of doing more with less,” Bryan said. “They have been patient, resilient, and clear about what they need. Today we are not just listening. We are acting. These cisterns are not a promise. They are proof that this administration is committed to turning words into results for our farmers.”
The cisterns are being built by Habibah Bell of Harnel Engineering and Construction. The first structure will capture runoff from an existing 60,000-gallon cistern, expanding the water supply and easing persistent challenges for local farmers, the press release stated.
The groundbreaking also featured the introduction of a new 2,500-gallon water tanker, already in operation to distribute water to farmers across the islands. In addition, the Department of Agriculture recently acquired a backhoe to improve on-site support and responsiveness for farming needs, the release stated.
Commissioner Petersen said the cistern project represents a “turning point” for local agriculture. “For years, farmers have voiced their concerns about water access. This administration heard those concerns, and with the help of our community partners and the leadership of We Grow Food, we are delivering infrastructure that directly addresses the challenges farmers face,” he said.
We Grow Food President Delano Francis praised the project as a major step forward, calling it an example of collaboration between government and community, the release stated.
Bryan added that the administration’s agricultural investments are also about restoring trust. “Building these cisterns, putting new equipment to work, and introducing the water tanker are tangible steps,” he said. “They also symbolize something larger: our commitment to restoring trust between government and the farming community. For too long, farmers in Bordeaux and across our islands have questioned whether government would follow through. Today we are showing that we will.”
The administration emphasized that agriculture remains central to its agenda not only for economic growth, but also for cultural heritage and food security. Officials said the cisterns, tanker, and equipment are part of a broader strategy to build resilience, expand resources, and stabilize the territory’s economy.
The USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy, docks at Crown Bay Friday. (Source photo by Michele L Weichman)
Residents of St. Thomas woke Friday morning to the sight of the USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy, cruising into Crown Bay. According to Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., the purpose of the visit is shore leave for the reported 2,200 sailors and Marines serving on board.
The ship, whose home port is Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, is in the Caribbean in support of the Southern Command mission, “U.S. Department of War-directed operations, and President Donald J. Trump’s priorities,” according to its Facebook page.
The Iwo Jima has a flight deck supporting numerous aircraft and amphibious capabilities to deliver Marines, their vehicles and equipment for assaults and other shore-based operations. It also has “significant” on-board medical facilities.
In late August the United States began a naval buildup in the Caribbean, purportedly to combat drug traffickers in the region.
“What we have declared — and we are declaring — is that, in international waters, we are not going to tolerate narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth told a gathering of Air National Guardsmen at Muniz Air National Guard Base, just outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 9.
Hegseth’s visit came amid the deployment of various U.S. Navy vessels to the region, where they have since destroyed at least three boats alleged to have been operated by members of the Tren de Aragua cartel, which the State Department has designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Human rights groups have said the attacks amount to extra judicial killings, and legal experts have said they run afoul of international human rights laws.
Senate Vice President Kenneth L. Gittens, in collaboration with other members of the 36th Legislature, hosted a well-attended Taxi Industry Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday to begin a conversation about reforming and revitalizing the local transportation industry in light of increased demand from cruise ship passengers and the local community.
Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens (Submitted photo)
“This town hall was an important step in hearing directly from those on the ground, our drivers, about how we can strengthen this vital industry,” said Senate Vice President Gittens.
Common themes raised by taxi operators included:
The need for an organized, central dispatch system
Concerns about safety during evening hours
Poor road conditions on certain routes
The lack of standardized fare schedules
Need for greater enforcement
Delays in certification after customer service training
Aging workforce and lack of new recruits
Inadequate public transportation, including VITRAN’s reliability
One seasoned driver, Mr. Derick Depot, shared his positive experience running a dispatch center on St. Croix for 20 years and strongly advocated returning to a similar model.
The meeting drew nearly three dozen taxi operators from across St. Croix, including members of three established organizations representing the airport, downtown Christiansted, and limousine services. Also present were representatives from the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Licensing & Consumer Affairs (DLCA), and the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA). The Assistant Commissioner of Tourism, who also serves on the Taxi Cab Commission, joined the discussion to hear firsthand the concerns and ideas from the operators.
The goal of the town hall was to assess the taxi industry’s capacity to meet increased cruise ship demands on the island of St. Croix, ensure adequate service for residents, especially during evening and non-peak hours, and identify systemic challenges facing operators. Senators encouraged open-minded discussion and active participation from all in attendance.
Senate Majority Leader Kurt A. Vialet shared insights into legislation he previously introduced requiring businesses to accept at least two forms of payment.
“At first, some businesses resisted the idea,” Senator Vialet recalled. “But now, one of the same business owners who opposed it actually saw me and said, ‘Thank you, Senator – this was one of the best things that could’ve happened for my business.’”
Senator Novelle E. Francis highlighted the $5 million appropriation toward the Frederiksted Revitalization Project, in partnership with Royal Caribbean, and reiterated the importance of industry organization, uniform standards, and a dispatch system.
A notable discussion point included the proposal by Mr. Clyde Daisley, who introduced a conceptual rideshare app tailored to the U.S. Virgin Islands. While not yet a legalized entity, he emphasized the app’s potential to complement the taxi industry, not compete with it, and expressed his commitment to engaging further with operators and government stakeholders.
“I’m not here to take away from this industry,” said Mr. Daisley. “I’m here to explore how we can enhance the experience for both residents and visitors using data and technology that supports what taxi operators already do well.”
Senators Marise James, Franklin Johnson, Clifford Joseph, Hubert Frederick, Senate Secretary Avery Lewis, and Senator-at-Large Angel Bolques Jr. also contributed to the discussion.
Senator Gittens said similar town hall meetings will be held on St. Thomas and St. John, but that the need was most pressing on St. Croix.
“We have an opportunity to really develop our tourism product, and taxi drivers are integral to that,” he said.
The Virgin Islands Police Department wishes to inform motorists that there will be traffic restrictions enforced on Saturday, Oct. 4 during the funeral service for Jeavon Sasso which will be held at the Blyden Memorial Chapel.
(Photo courtesty VIPD Facebook page)
Viewing will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and funeral service from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The following restrictions will be enforced:
• No thru traffic on Judy M. Gomez Highway from the old Jehovah Witness Church to the entrance to Prime Foods. Traffic heading west will be rerouted to Anna’s Fancy Road/ Altona. Traffic heading from west to east, will make the left on to Mahogany Estate Road to Anna’s Fancy to regain access to Judy M. Gomez Highway. Judy M. Gomez Highway will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• The roadway between Cemetery One and Cemetery Two will be closed up to the entrance Bryan’s Electric.
• No thru traffic and no parking will be allowed along Judy M. Gomez Highway from the old Jehovah Witness Church to the entrance to Mahoghany Estate near Sam’s Food.
• Residents in the community near the Blyden Memorial Chapel will be able to traverse heading westward only. Motorist may traverse, however will be rerouted to go around at the rear of the Jewish cemetery.
Commissioner, Mario Brooks and the Virgin Islands Police Department send heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Jeavon Sasso. The VIPD thanks everyone affected by this traffic diversion for their cooperation
After approving the Legislature’s budget bills earlier this week, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. on Thursday officially released his list of actions, confirming which measures from the Sept. 15 session he has signed into law and which he has vetoed. The announcement came two days after the close of fiscal year 2025 on Sept. 30, marking the start of the new budget year.
The governor’s approvals secure a little more than $1 billion in funding — inclusive of General Fund appropriations, along with federal funds, and transfers — for government operations across education, health, public safety, and infrastructure, while his vetoes targeted two judiciary-related measures and certain appropriations for animal welfare programs.
“Budgets are promises, not wish lists,” Bryan said in his statement Tuesday. “I signed what keeps classrooms open, clinics running and communities safe. I vetoed what weakens checks and balances or risks the General Fund.”
What’s Funded
The FY 2026 package — encompassing more than 25 appropriations bills — supports salaries and operating costs across education, health, infrastructure, and public safety. Highlights include:
Education: $341,460 from the Education Initiative Fund for special education evaluations (Bill 36-0120), $1 million into the School Construction and Maintenance Fund (36-0169), and repairs funded through 36-0164.
Health and Safety: Operating funds for the Health Department (36-0154), V.I. Fire and EMS (36-0155), hospitals (36-0171), and the Office of the Inspector General (36-0172).
Infrastructure: Appropriations to Public Works from the District Public Road Fund (36-0158), the Transportation Trust Fund (36-0178), and capital improvement funds for all three islands (36-0160, 36-0176).
Other Agencies: $25.5 million for the Legislature (36-0161), $20 million from the Insurance Guaranty Fund into the General Fund (36-0162), and operating funds for UVI (36-0167), the Board of Education (36-0177), the Career and Technical Education Board (36-0179), the Taxicab Commission (36-0180), and the Waste Management Authority (36-0182).
Employee health coverage was also renewed through agreements with Cigna and UnitedHealthcare (36-0189), while a major coastal zone permit for Lime Out 2 was ratified, supporting small marine business under new regulatory safeguards.
Meanwhile, the governor rejected two measures passed by lawmakers, including Bill 36-0101, which would have allowed the judiciary to fill prolonged judicial vacancies with its own appointees for renewable terms, was vetoed on constitutional grounds. Bryan argued the measure undermined the separation of powers by removing the elected branches from the appointment process, potentially allowing indefinite service without accountability.
Bill 36-0112, which raised Superior Court filing fees and redirected those funds into a new Judicial Branch Capital Improvement Fund, was also vetoed. Bryan said diverting existing General Fund revenues without a replacement risked fiscal imbalance. He further objected to the bill’s changes to post-judgment and prejudgment interest, cautioning that it could incentivize delays in litigation and raise costs for families and small businesses.
The governor also exercised a line-item veto in the General Appropriations Act (36-0174), striking items related to animal care and population control, which he said were inconsistent with Act 8922, the law governing use of those funds.
From left, Haldane Davies, Kennon Jones, Safiya George, and Joseph Cranston discuss the future of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ maritime industry. (Source photo by Finn Sharpless)
Industry leaders, educators, and government officials convened Thursday to address the future of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ maritime sector, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities.
The Governor’s Workforce Summit opened with a call to action for revitalizing the territory’s maritime sector: “The sea has always been part of our identity but today, it can also drive our future.” The session, titled “Charting a Course: Revitalizing the USVI Marine Industry for Jobs and Growth,” was moderated by Haldane Davies, director of the USVI Bureau of Economic Research, who began by underscoring the industry’s economic impact.
“When we did an analysis … spending in that industry from this one particular sector generated about $92 million here in the United States Virgin Islands. It supported about close to 800 jobs and income generation from that was around $35 million or more. There was about a $61 million contribution to the wider economy and about $40 million to the national or territorial GDP,” Davies said.
The panel featured three diverse voices from the maritime sector: industry, education, and government.
Representing the industry perspective was Kennon Jones, executive director of the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association and a former charter captain. He acknowledged that while the charter business is projected to decline this year, the demand for skilled workers remains high, and he emphasized that the technical and soft skills developed in maritime careers are highly transferable, providing value across a range of industries.
Safiya George, president of the University of the Virgin Islands, noted the institution’s focus on research and workforce development. “At the University of the Virgin Islands, of course, what we mostly focus on is marine science research, and we do have a lot of interest from those here in the territory, as well as from across the country, in marine science research,” George said. “But also as we learn more, seeing how we can expand what we offer, to be able to address the workforce gaps that we’re seeing.”
From a government perspective, Joseph Cranston, marine manager at the Virgin Islands Port Authority, said he is optimistic about the future of the territory’s maritime industry, pointing to youth engagement as a key driver. “I think we will be going back, and we’re coming back strong,” Cranston said. “I look at the positives of it, and I think we have a tremendous marine industry here — a lot of potential and a lot of ways to go.”
The panel addressed the challenges posed by increased fees and licensing structures.“ We have a number of boats relocating over to the BVI this year that previously were located in the USVI due to the increased fees and licensing structure that the BVI put in place this year,” Jones said.
Despite these challenges, panelists expressed optimism about the future, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and investment in local talent.
George pointed to the importance of developing skills at all levels, from youth programs to advanced technical training. “We have the Youth Explorers program, it’s a summer program for those in third to sixth grade and seventh grade up to 12th grade to teach water safety skills, swimming, and get youth more interested in marine life,” she said. “We would love to partner with the Virgin Island Technical College or our career technical program here to see how we can expand that to also make that skill based.”
Jones noted that even as the industry faces a potential downturn, the skills developed remain highly relevant and transferable.
“I’d like to just point out, even, despite what … is a potential down year next year, even years before, when I was captaining, the USVI was still at a relative disadvantage, and just the number of mechanics and technicians — for water makers, for air conditioning systems, for boat electronics. All that was still very much a need that we needed to fill, and still do need to fill,” Jones said.
“I don’t want the takeaway to be that now those skills are not relevant, because the industry might be down. It’s still very much needed. And even if you know UVI, for example, is expanding their research capacity, they’re going to need people that are going to maintain those vessels. The Port Authority, when they have vessels in — not just cruise ships, but the pilot vessels need maintaining, anything else that services the facilities that they have, bringing in the large commercial vessels. Everything is touched on maintaining those vessels in the industry,” Jones said.
Panelists also addressed the need to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship. “We sit at the intersection of the blue economy, where we focus on marine science research and restoring and preserving mangroves and coral reefs, but also prepare graduates to enter the hospitality and tourism industry,” George said. “Sustainable tourism is going to be key, and partnership is essential. We can’t do it alone.”
The discussion emphasized that protecting natural resources is not only an ecological imperative but also a cornerstone of the territory’s tourism appeal. “People come down here to see thriving reefs and habitats and mangroves,” said Jones.
Cranston underscored the role of education in fostering environmental responsibility among mariners. “To keep a nice marine industry, we have to sustain the environment, right? And in educating the mariners about the environment and damage you can do, if you don’t properly care for it,” Cranston said. “That’s a part of them being educated and knowing how to treat it and respect it.”
Panelists agreed that data-driven decision-making is essential for sustainable development. George emphasized the importance of understanding visitor preferences to guide future growth: “It’s also important that each of us … collect the data that asks and identifies, what it is that they enjoyed about or what attracted them to the Virgin Islands, that’s different from selecting another island, so we can give them more of that. What it is that they hoped for, that perhaps they didn’t encounter or experience, so that we can do more of that.”
As the panel drew to a close, speakers offered words of encouragement and a call to action for the next generation. Cranston urged young Virgin Islanders to chart a sustainable future. “Every day we wake up and open our eyes, it’s not a dream. We are in paradise, all right, and it’s for us to sustain it and keep it going … for the youth coming up. I just want them to see that the marine industry is a beautiful industry, and there’s so much aspects to it, so endeavor.”
Jones echoed the sentiment about endurance, pointing to a future where Virgin Islanders own and lead more maritime businesses. “We just have to keep marching forward. We have beautiful islands. We have a beautiful place to be and to experience and explore … This is such a great industry to get into, and those skills translate across any industry you end up being in. We just need to keep marching forward — more and more native Virgin Islanders captaining boats, running industries, running maintenance shops, running their own companies. I mean, that’s real long-term positive economic growth, and it’s there, and we need to go get it.”
Hazardous surf and rip currents from a powerful swell will affect Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through early next week, prompting marine alerts. Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring two Atlantic disturbances, one of which could potentially threaten the Caribbean next week if it develops.
Powerful Swell to Affect USVI and Puerto Rico
The National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has warned that a long-period swell will bring hazardous seas across the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico beginning Thursday night and continuing into early next week.
The NWS in San Juan, Puerto Rico, issued marine alerts for portions of Puerto Rico and the USVI on Thursday ahead of a powerful swell. (Photo courtesy NWS)
The swell is being generated by Post-Tropical Cyclone Imelda and the remnants of Hurricane Humberto, both located well to the north of the region. Dangerous waves tied to these systems have already impacted Bermuda and parts of the U.S. East Coast, including North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where multiple homes were destroyed by rough surf conditions.
“A long-period swell will arrive late Thursday night, bringing hazardous beach conditions through at least early next week,” the NWS warned on Thursday. “Life-threatening rip currents are expected along the north-facing beaches of Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra, and the northern U.S. Virgin Islands, spreading over west-facing beaches of Puerto Rico and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands during the weekend. Additionally, the potential of High Surf conditions is increasing due to high chance of breaking waves above 10 feet,” the NWS continued.
Several marine alerts have already been issued for portions of Puerto Rico and the northern U.S. Virgin Islands, including a Small Craft Advisory, a High Rip Current Risk, and a High Surf Advisory. These alerts remain in effect through at least early next week. The NWS added that additional advisories may be issued in the coming days, possibly including St. Croix.
Choppy seas and an elevated risk of rip currents will remain for several days. (Photo courtesy NWS)
“If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help,” the NWS advised. “Remain calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.”
On Thursday morning, the Source spoke with Yidiana Zayas-Rivera, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, about the incoming swell. She confirmed that breaking waves could reach up to 10 to 13 feet along northern Puerto Rico and the northern U.S. Virgin Islands.
Zayas-Rivera added that hot weather will persist across the islands, meaning additional heat alerts may be issued. The NWS also noted that a weak tropical wave is forecast to cross the Caribbean over the weekend, bringing an increased risk of showers and thunderstorms.
Tropical Disturbances Monitored by NHC
The NHC is monitoring several disturbances across the Atlantic basin, including the remnants of Post-Tropical Cyclone Imelda, which passed just south of Bermuda Wednesday night as a Category 2 hurricane.
The NHC is currently monitoring two areas for possible cyclonic development across the Atlantic basin. (Photo courtesy NHC and NWS)
Forecasters are also watching two additional systems: Disturbance #2 in the Eastern Atlantic and Disturbance #1, an area of low pressure near the northwestern Bahamas and southern Florida. As of Thursday afternoon, both carried only a low chance of development over the next seven days.
For residents and visitors in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Disturbance #2 is worth monitoring, as some forecast models suggest a storm could develop in the Main Development Region and move closer to the Caribbean during the second half of next week. Forecast confidence, however, remains low.
The NWS emphasized that while the situation bears monitoring, significant uncertainty remains.
“The NHC is monitoring a tropical wave expected to move off the coast of Africa in the next few days, with a 20% chance of cyclonic formation in the next 7 days,” the NWS reported. “The latest model solutions suggest an increase in moisture content due to this tropical wave approaching the Caribbean Basin by late Thursday night, but the variability between them is high, introducing uncertainty to the forecast. Hence, we will keep monitoring the development of this system.”
Watching the Weather
It is crucial to remember that the forecast can change very quickly. USVI residents and visitors are encouraged to continue to remain prepared. Weather information is available from the NWS, the NHC, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Additionally, 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.
‘Enough!’ Plays is a nationwide project to end gun violence with 10-minute plays written by teens in high school. The St. Croix Educational Complex and the Good Hope Country Day School drama students are writing a total of six plays, which will be performed on Monday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. at the SCEC auditorium.
“ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence” creates space for teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theater that will spark a critical conversation and inspire meaningful action in communities across the country. The Mission of ENOUGH! is to promote playwriting as a tool for self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation’s spirit of activism and providing a platform for America’s playwrights of tomorrow to discover and develop their voices today.
Sayeeda Carter, producer/director (Photo courtesy Sayeeda Carter)
SCEC Drama Club teacher, founder and Executive Director of Act Out Ensemble Theatre of the Oppressed, Virgin Islands, Sayeeda Carter, and GHCDS Associate Director of Advancement, Drama and Musical Theatre Educator/Producer Kiomie Pedrini, have joined theatrical forces in their classrooms. The students will share their work onstage at SCEC as part of a nationwide project to end gun violence.
Kiomie Pedrini, co-director (Photo courtesy Kiomie Pedrini)
“This is a first for St. Croix and our drama students are committed to the inclusion of St. Thomas next year,” Carter said. “It’s the bold voices of high schoolers picking up art to do activism. They write these plays about the travesty of gun violence and how it has shown up in these fictional characters’ lives,” Carter continued.
Carolyn Forno, co-director (Photo courtesy Carolyn Forno)
“This year, one of the writers is a young man who was a part of a school shooting. Many of the kids range in age from 13 to 19 years and submit their plays in January. This coming January, we can get young people on St. Croix and St. Thomas to submit plays. Perhaps one of the six chosen plays will be by a Virgin Islands young playwright,” Carter said.
“We are endeavoring a performance to a staged reading of our six local plays to a packed audience at the Complex on October 6,” Carter mused.
“There is a suggested donation of $5, but there’s no barrier to entry. If one does not have the $5, please walk right in,” Carter said assuredly.
The donations will go to the SCEC Drama Club, the GHCDS Drama Club and the remainder will go to Blue Tarp Productions. “Their organization does films about gun violence. Whatever the percentage is that is earned after expenses, will go to the three groups,” Carter shared.
Carter spoke excitedly about the evening after the performances. ”We are going to use the style of John O’Neill called ‘Story Circle Process.’ Audience members can talk to one another about the effects of gun violence in our community.”
Carter is inviting and calling out all therapists and all mental health professionals to experience these performances. Invites have already gone out to our legislators, she said.
Carter’s main reason for doing this project comes from personal reasons. The daughter of one of Carter’s classmates was killed by gun violence five years ago. “I never knew what I could do about it. I was so sad. When I saw the information about ENOUGH! Plays, I knew this was the way I could give back to my classmate’s suffering. This project is the intersection of theater and this huge concern that we have. We’re such a murderous community for such a small place. I wondered … how many people would deal with ENOUGH! Plays? Would they come out? Would they talk about it? Could it generate conversation? And I realized that this is a program that, I think, should be happening in each and every community in America,” Carter reasoned.
“ENOUGH! Plays are happening in over 70 places on Oct. 6. If there is anyone who is stateside, please Google your county or city and find out where these plays are being performed and do your utmost to attend,” Carter said.
Carter is happy to share the plays with GHCDS. Their kids will be performing two plays and my kids will perform four. My kids are excited to work with GHCDS, Carter shared.
“Directing ENOUGH! has been an incredible journey of learning and growth, not only for our students, but for me, as well. Together, we discovered how powerful theater can be when it is used as a platform for truth-telling and change. Watching our students engage with these difficult themes, support one another and step into their roles with courage has been inspiring. This process reminded me that when young people raise their voices through art, communities listen – and change becomes possible,” Kiomie Pedrini, co-director, GHCDS, said.
Allegra Ferreras, GHCDS, Grade 12, shared, “Being part of ENOUGH! was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve had as a student. We didn’t just perform – we learned, we listened and we had real conversations about an issue that affects us all. The process taught me how theater can be a tool for change, and I’ll carry the lessons we discovered together far beyond the stage.”
George Cannon III, director of Blue Tarp Productions, shared that the company will cover ENOUGH! Plays Oct. 1.
Cannon spoke to the Source about Carter’s involvement in the community and asked that the Source print his observations:
“All the credit goes to Sayeeda Carter. She has always been championing my group [Blue Tarp Productions]. Sayeeda is a leader in art and doing art. Sayeeda has been the leader in social impact in this community and we have been following her. She has done a lot of the groundwork for ENOUGH! She has made this project possible for our community. It’s all Sayeeda. She’s the one! She’s a powerhouse. She makes it happen. I don’t think Sayeeda gets enough credit for what she’s doing.”
Participating Student Performers:SCEC: “The Perfect Victim”
Meshach M. Price, Grade 9
Victoria Crawford, Grade 10
Alaire Davis, Grade 10
Knala Hendrickson, Grade 10
Keemar Crosskey, Grade 12
Jeffrey Fleming, Grade 10
Anabeth Walter, Grade 12
Leah-Joy Slocombe, Grade 11
Katelyn Jones, Grade 10
Soriyah Evans, Grade 11
E’leeya B. Richards, Grade 12
SCEC: “Nobody Cares About Death”
Zuma E. Nisbett, Grade 11
Bilal McFarlande, Grade 11
GHCDS: “We Didn’t Have To Meet Here”
Lena Kammerzelt, Grade 10
Harlen Konapitsky, Grade 9
Avery Adams, Grade 9
Anna Simon, Grade 12
Maya Prasad, Grade 12
GHCDS: “Oh Look, Another School Shooting”
Avery Adams, Grade 9
Anna Simon, Grade 12
Brooklyn Jean-Pierre, Grade 7
Allegra Ferreras, Grade 12
Lena Kammerzelt, Grade 12
Harlen Konapitsky, Grade 9
Maya Prasad, Grade 12
ENOUGH! Performances: Monday, Oct. 6, 6 p.m., Complex Auditorium
Please note: The AC is very cold. Please dress accordingly.
For more information:
SCEC: 340-778-2036
kpedrini@ghcds.orgActoutensembletheatre@gmail.com
GHCDS: 340-778-1974 ext. 2114
