You know the stats on the value of customer retention.
Acquiring a new customer costs between 5 and 25 times the amount to retain an existing one.
The likelihood of selling to an existing customer is 60-70%, compared to only 5-20% when selling to a new customer. (See links at the end of the article for links and more information.)
As Advertising Week put it recently, “For small businesses operating with limited time and resources, nurturing existing customers isn’t just more cost-effective – it’s more sustainable.”
One of the most tried-and-true methods for retaining customers is the loyalty program.
Yet most loyalty programs fail.
They fail because “they reward the transaction,” Advertising Week argues,” not the person.”
Quite simply, “Points, discounts and coupons have become so common that customers treat them as currency, not connection.”
Person-Centered Loyalty Programs
According to InsiderOne, successful loyalty programs recognize the customer as person.
That is, they’re built on “behavior, identity and long-term value” for the customer, with benefits “that feel personal, not templated.”
How do these programs work?
They make the customer feel “seen” and understood.
Benefits can be tailored to customer behavior based on their history with your business.
Every interaction generates information, and a successful loyalty program bases rewards on customer preferences, needs and aspirations.
InsiderOne offers several excellent and vivid examples of a program that might work:
— A customer exploring skincare might be offered a trial-size serum.
— A frequent traveler might get dynamic free shipping perks during trip-planning periods.
–A high-intent shopper may receive early access to curated collections.
Maybe you know that some of your customers are early adopters. Invite them to a launch party, in person or virtual. Or include them in beta-testing.
The common denominator here is the shift from the impersonal to the personal and from the transactional to the behavioral.
More than likely, you and your staff know your customers well. When developing a loyalty program, tap that information and customize – that is, personalize – rewards.
Your customers will love the attention and you’ll benefits from better customer retention.
Articles for further reading:
https://advertisingweek.com/small-business-marketing-predictions-for-2026/https://www.optimove.com/resources/learning-center/customer-acquisition-vs-retention-costs https://www.outboundengine.com/blog/customer-retention-marketing-vs-customer-acquisition-marketing/ https://insiderone.com/best-customer-engagement-strategies/
Sen. Clifford A. Joseph Sr., chair of the Senate Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Committee, presides over a hearing Thursday where lawmakers advanced a traffic enforcement bill and held a measure concerning liability for damage to government property. (Photo courtesy V.I. Legislature)
The Senate Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Committee on Thursday advanced legislation to strengthen enforcement of the Virgin Islands’ traffic violation point system, while holding a separate measure on civil liability for damage to government property.
Senators voted to forward Bill No. 36-0224 to the Rules and Judiciary Committee and to hold Bill No. 36-0139 in committee “until the call of the chair.”
Bill 36-0224 would shift authority to suspend driver’s licenses based on accumulated points from the Superior Court to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, while keeping traffic violations and point assignments under judicial review. Courts would still determine violations and assign points, while the BMV would carry out suspensions once motorists reach established thresholds.
Sponsor Sen. Avery L. Lewis said the bill updates an existing system.
“The Virgin Islands already has a moving violation point system. Drivers already accumulate points for violations. This is not a new program, not a new penalty system, and not a new burden on drivers,” he said. “This legislation promotes accountability, encourages driver education, rewards safe driving habits, reduces unnecessary burdens on the courts and provides the Bureau of Motor Vehicles the tools necessary to act efficiently while preserving the rights of every motorist.”
Under the proposal, the point system would shift to a rolling 12-month period instead of a calendar-year structure. Drivers could also reduce points by completing approved driver-improvement courses in some cases, and a $25 fine would increase to $200.
BMV Director Barbara Jackson-McIntosh said the current process slows enforcement because suspensions must go through the Attorney General and the courts even after violations are established.
“When a driver repeatedly violates the traffic laws and accumulates excessive points, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles cannot efficiently suspend that license,” she said. “That process creates delays, burdens the court system, consumes government resources, and allows dangerous drivers to remain on the road longer than they should.”
She said the courts would still determine violations and assign points.
“The adjudication comes from the court … We are only enforcing what is sent to us from the court,” she said.
Jackson-McIntosh said the bureau would implement a three-step warning system at six, nine and 12 points, with suspension at the final threshold.
Sen. Ray Fonseca raised due process concerns, while Sen. Franklin Johnson said enforcement remains the key issue in traffic safety.
“We could put all the laws that we want and make them and pass them … but if there’s no enforcement to them, then it’s for null,” Johnson said.
After advancing the traffic bill, the committee turned to Bill 36-0139, which would establish civil liability for people who willfully or negligently damage government property, including vehicles, fencing, lighting and other public assets. The measure would require those responsible to pay for repairs or replacement rather than leaving costs to taxpayers.
Sponsor Sen. Avery L. Lewis said it is a question of accountability.
“If you damage public property through negligence and willful misconduct, you should be held accountable,” he said, noting that government property belongs to the public.
Property and Procurement Commissioner Lisa Alejandro said the bill is unnecessary, citing existing law that already allows recovery of damages through wage withholding, civil claims and other enforcement tools.
“From our review of the bill, DPP recognizes its intent,” she said. “Existing statutes and established processes already address these objectives. The department does not believe the additional statutory authority is warranted, given its duplicative nature.”
Patricia Lynn Pryor, of the Department of Justice, agreed, saying existing law already provides remedies for damage to government property and warning that overlapping statutes could create confusion.
“The Virgin Islands Code already allows for causes of action and remedies for both negligent and intentional destruction of government property,” she said. “Duplicative laws should be avoided as they are an inefficient use of resources that can lead to significant problems, including inconsistency in the law, and as a result, arbitrary enforcement.”
David Whitaker, the convicted felon and former owner of cybersecurity contractor Mon Ethos Pro Support, will be sentenced on June 10 at the federal courthouse on St. Thomas. (Screenshot from YouTube)
The government is recommending a 22-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release for David Whitaker, the convicted felon turned cybersecurity contractor who became a cooperating witness against three former high-ranking government officials and a local business owner.
Whitaker pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of bribery in September 2024, three months after former V.I. Commissioner Ray Martinez and former Management and Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal resigned amid a federal investigation into government contracts awarded to Whitaker’s company, Mon Ethos Pro Support. Martinez and O’Neal were indicted in January 2025, accused of approving inflated invoices in exchange for expensive gifts, tuition payments, luxury travel and a down payment on O’Neal’s coffee shop.
Separately, former Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Calvert White and business owner Benjamin Hendricks were indicted at the same time for their own dealings with Whitaker, which included selling a $2.1 million surveillance camera contract in exchange for a $16,000 kickback.
Whitaker testified during both trials. In both, defense attorneys set out to paint Whitaker as an unreliable witness with his own extensive history of fraud and white-collar crime. Attorneys for Martinez and O’Neal repeated those arguments in requests for new trials following their convictions in December. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Kearney denied the requests last week and noted that jurors in the case also reviewed recorded phone conversations, text messages, bank statements and other evidence before deciding to convict the former cabinet members.
“The United States presented ample evidence of the senior public officials violating federal law. But it went further,” Kearney wrote, adding that Martinez and O’Neal knew what they were doing when they sold out the public trust to fund their dreams of restaurant and cafe entrepreneurship while continuing to draw government salaries. “The former public officials presented every argument. The jury, informed by unchallenged jury instructions presented after extensive discussions with counsel, found their arguments unpersuasive.”
U.S. Justice Department trial attorney Alexandre Dempsey noted Whitaker’s criminal past in a sentencing memorandum filed Wednesday. Whitaker was convicted of bank fraud in 1997 and, while on supervised release, his supervision was revoked twice. He was convicted of forging checks in 2000 and again in 2008 for selling millions in electronic equipment that he never delivered to customers.
Whitaker then worked with the FBI in a sting operation that led to a $500 million fine for the search giant Google for its facilitation of online illegal drug sales.
“The public deserves to have federal funds used for the benefit of the citizenry,” Dempsey wrote. “The defendant’s selfishness and greed hurt the very community that was supposed to receive the federal benefit dollars implicated in this case. Whitaker must be held accountable, particularly given his willingness to once again choose the path of crime rather than follow the law.”
Whitaker’s sentencing is scheduled for June 10, the day after Martinez’s sentencing hearing and the day before O’Neal’s. Prosecutors have asked that Martinez be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison and that O’Neal be sentenced to seven.
A VIFEMS ambulance at the Cruz Bay bulkhead after transferring accident victims Jan. 31. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
The driver of a water truck that overturned in January, killing his 6-year-old daughter, was charged with vehicular homicide and child abuse Thursday, according to court records.
On Jan. 31 at roughly 2 p.m., Levi Calvin was allegedly speeding down Centerline Road in an area where trucks were limited to 10 miles per hour, according to court records. Police said their investigation revealed the 19,500-pound truck with a full water load rounded a corner on two wheels and skidded more than 149 feet before flipping on its side and tumbling 300 feet down an embankment. The truck finally came to a halt after crashing into a tree.
Emergency crews extracted Calvin from the heavily damaged truck with the jaws of life.
Less than four feet tall and weighing just 45 pounds, Alevia Calvin was unrestrained in the passenger seat, police said. She was pronounced dead two hours later from her injuries.
While St. John mourned with a candlelight vigil and raised money for the Calvin family, police investigated the crash as a potential homicide.
Calvin operated the water truck occasionally and had been warned by both police and the trucking company owner against transporting his daughter in the vehicle, police said. Unauthorized passengers were not covered by the trucking company’s insurance and she was not in a car seat or wearing a seatbelt, according to court records.
Police said the truck’s tires and brakes had been in good condition that dry, sunny day.
“Based upon my training and experience, I understand that skid mark measurements of this length are consistent with a speed in excess !0 mph, as well as inconsistent with traveling at a rate of speed that was reasonable or prudent given the actual and potential hazards as the water truck passed around the curve, and inconsistent with what was necessary to maintain control and avoid collision,” police told the Superior Court.
Calvin was charged with vehicular homicide, child abuse, aggravated child abuse leading to a child’s death, child neglect, negligent driving, operating a vehicle without a lap and shoulder restraint, and transporting a child under 13 without an appropriate child restraint system.
Calvin’s arraignment is scheduled for June 25.
The cover of “I Am” written by Zenzi Hodge and illustrated by J’Aaron Merchant brings Lawrence Sewer’s beloved poem “The Virgin Island Child” to life for a new generation of readers. (Photo courtesy The Gobi Marketing Group)
The revered poem and anthem of youth empowerment, “The Virgin Island Child,” written by local educator and poet Lawrence Sewer in 1978, is being given new life through a book inspired by the beloved work. Sewer’s daughter, author, poet and storyteller Zenzi Hodge, has transformed her late father’s celebrated poem into a picture book that expands on and celebrates its themes of identity, culture and self-worth.
Written for children ages three to nine, “I Am” follows five children as they journey across St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island, discovering the beauty, culture and hidden treasures that connect them to their home and to themselves. Along the way, according to the project’s press release, they discover an important truth: “that they are valuable, loved, and enough — just as they are.”
The book is illustrated by award-winning St. Croix native J’Aaron Merchant, whose artwork brings the colors, landscapes and spirit of the Virgin Islands to life. Her illustrations reflect the richness of Caribbean culture and the wonder of childhood. Merchant’s work has also appeared in projects for Disney, Sesame Street and PBS Kids.
Zenzi Hodge, author, poet and storyteller, has transformed her father Lawrence Sewer’s beloved poem, “The Virgin Island Child,” into a new picture book celebrating identity, culture and self-worth. (Photo courtesy The Gobi Marketing Group)
Hodge wrote the book while recognizing that her father’s story was nearing its end.
“Knowing that he was able to enjoy and experience this work before he passed is something I will always hold dear,” she said.
She views the “I Am” project as a way to carry forward her father’s legacy and share it with a new generation of children.
“He believed,” she said, “that there is no future without our youth, and each child is a jewel that needs to be polished.”
The book extends the poem’s central metaphor, which likens the youth of the Virgin Islands to a jewel that must be polished through care, love and encouragement in order to sparkle. The story encourages children to build confidence, self-worth and a strong sense of identity. As the characters explore the islands, they discover five jewels that reveal powerful truths every child should know. In I Am, as in her other storytelling projects, Hodge creates a narrative designed to help children see themselves, value their voices and recognize their potential.
In addition to writing children’s books, Hodge is a poet, creative storyteller and executive leader whose work, the I Am press release states, “centers on a powerful belief: words shape identity, and identity shapes destiny. Inspired by her Virgin Islands roots and a passion for helping children see their worth, she creates stories that celebrate culture, confidence, belonging and self-discovery.”
To celebrate the book’s release, Hodge has introduced a limited-edition “I Am Collection” featuring a signed edition of the book, affirmation keepsakes and an exclusive collectible presentation of the “Virgin Island Child” poem. The collection was created to help families extend the book’s message beyond its pages and create meaningful moments of connection, confidence and belonging.
The keepsake presentation of “The Virgin Island Child” marks the first time the original poem has been made available to the community in many years.
Hodge will visit the territory later this month for a series of in-person appearances to share the project, promote its message and help polish the jewel of Virgin Islands youth.
“I Am” and the limited-edition I Am Collection are available for preorder at spbookshop.com.
The Virgin Island Child
By Larry Sewer (1979)
I am a Virgin Island Child!
I am a jewel! However,
I cannot sparkle unless I
Am polished!
God, the maker of all
Solvents,
Created the greatest solvent
Of all…Care.
Care…can move
mountains.
Care…motivates my
Willingness to learn…
Care…expresses Love!
As we continued to hike, we came across a group of young men building trails along Mount Eagle. From left are JP Donohue, Zeb Langeweg and Nils Hempel. The Virgin Islands Trail Alliance board has contracted with a stateside company called Rock Solid Trail Contracting to establish mountain bike and hiking trails in certain parts of the park. (Photo by Olasee Davis)
The Virgin Islands Trail Alliance has completed and opened the first new trail segment within the Maroon Sanctuary Territorial Park on St. Croix, creating a new one-mile pathway that connects Mount Eagle to Scenic Road and forms part of a three-mile loop utilizing existing dirt roads and traditional trails, a press release announced.
The new segment begins at Mount Eagle, the island’s highest peak, and descends to Scenic Road east of the top of the Beast. The trail is designed for hikers and mountain bikers and is intended for human-powered recreation, according to the press release.
The project was completed through a partnership between the Virgin Islands Trail Alliance and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas. Ongoing efforts within the park include the development of additional trails and scenic overlooks, improvements to picnic areas, invasive species removal and the planting of native and fruit trees, the press release stated.
Rock Solid Trail Contracting assisted with trail design and construction, while the CHANT Conservation Corps provided construction support. Parking areas near trailheads on Scenic Road are also being improved, including locations east of the Beast and west of Blue Mountain Tower Road. Roadside cleanup and signage installation remain underway, the release stated.
“We greatly appreciate the local experts, naturalists, culture bearers, contemporary trail planners, partner organizations, and residents who shared their knowledge and thoughtful insights during planning meetings and mapping sessions,” the alliance stated in the release. “Their input helped design low impact routes throughout the Park to create public access that showcases the Park’s grand vistas, natural and cultural heritage and enables new opportunities for enjoying St. Croix’s rich beauty.”
According to the release, much of the project funding came through an Inflation Reduction Act grant awarded to the Virgin Islands Trail Alliance. Additional funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
The alliance also thanked DPNR’s Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas, Rock Solid Trail Contracting, CHANT Conservation Corps, the VI State Historic Preservation Office and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority for their support of the project.
The night before the news broke about Jimmy Kimmel being fired in September 2025, I was in a ballroom in New York City at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Investigative Reporters and Editors organization.
As a small town journalist, it was a thrill beyond my imaginings to be in the same room with the greatest reporters and editors (and Emmy and Oscar- winning actor Michael Keaton) who “plays them on TV” of the last five decades.
During his keynote address in a moment of prescience, Keaton said, “Look to the funny people” as he lamented the monopolization and crumbling wreckage of what was once an honorable and trustworthy media. Little did he know that night what was about to happen and what the body-strewn media landscape would look like a very short nine months later.
Nor did I when, in a chance moment before the official opening of the gala, I spotted Scott Pelley striding past the table I had been assigned, headed toward makeshift backstage where he would shortly deliver his opening remarks.
60 Minutes Correspondent Scott Pelley offers opening remarks at 50th Anniversary of Investigative Reporters and Editors Gala September 15, 2025 (Shaun A. Pennington photo)
The list of heroes I grew up watching every night from the flickering black and white world of the newfangled square box that appeared in our livingroom when I was about five years old starts with Edward R. Murrow in the 50s Walter Cronkite – known as ‘the most trusted man in America’ in the 60s and leads to the living color of “60 Minutes” the year after I graduated from high school.
A good acquaintance of mine from New York was an editor for the first and hands-down most-viewed television news magazine of the last nearly 60 years.
So, when I recognized Pelley, I unabashedly ran after him, not quite yelling, “Scott,” and sticking out my hand as he turned with a broad smile to willingly greet me. I introduced myself as a friend of Elizabeth Sweetnam, whose eulogy Pelley offered at her funeral and asked without any explanation needed, “What are you going to do?”
He grabbed my outstretched hand and met my eyes.
“We are going to launch our season,” he said, as a grim look of determination erased the bright smile he had greeted me with, “and see what happens.”
I will spare the readers the back-and-forth lies and obfuscating offered a mere nine months since I shook hands with Scott Pelley and spewing forth from the money monsters for Pelley’s alleged “firing.” Suffice it to say, the world of unimpeachable truth telling is collapsing before our eyes under the weight of evil and unquenchable greed.
Scott Pelley takes a moment for a photo with Shaun A. Pennington (Blair Pelley photo)
We are left in this moment with the dying embers of a time when we could turn on and to mainstream media and expect trustworthy men and women to keep us informed.
In pretending she had tried to find a workable solution after Pelley raised hell about her firing days earlier of two other outstanding correspondents, Bari Weiss, whose title is editor-in-chief, said Pelley had chosen “a different path.” There is no doubt he took the Integrity Path, where he will no doubt gather around the embers with all of the television notables of the last nine months who either chose or were left to find their own ways on that path, where they will no doubt rekindle the flames with the fuel of the First Amendment and their undying loyalty to the America we once believed might just be possible.
The FIRST ideal of our failed experiment in democracy:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
—Shaun A. Pennington is the founder and publisher emerita of the V.I. Source newspapers of general circulation launched in 1999.
U.S. Marshals arrested the owner of the St. John Ink tattoo parlor for allegedly fleeing assaulting-an-officer charges in Florida, officials said Thursday.
Robert Gary, 50, licensed the Cruz Bay tattoo parlor under an alias, Eric Gary, U.S. Marshals said.
Marshals, with assistance from the Virgin Islands Police Department, spotted Gary near the Cruz Bay post office and took him into custody without incident, according to a press release from the Marshal Service.
Gary was allegedly driving recklessly, spinning the tires of a dark blue Dodge Charger in Jacksonville, Florida, during a 2,500-person block party on July 3, 2022. He allegedly disregarded several orders from police to stop, nearly hit at least one officer, and smashed into a parked car, according to local reports.
He was charged with four counts of aggravated assault on police, two counts of hit and run, and reckless driving before he allegedly fled to the territory.
St. John Ink opened in 2024.
Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach, Esq., who also serves as the territory’s Commissioner of Insurance, reminds Virgin Islands residents to be prepared for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends on Nov. 30.
Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach. (Screenshot from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor Facebook livestream)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service predicts a below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with eight to 14 named storms, three to six are forecasted to become hurricanes and one to three of which will reach Category 3 status or stronger. Tropical storm winds are from 39-73 MPH; Category 1 Hurricane winds 74-95 MPH; Category 2 Hurricane winds 96-110 MPH; Category 3 Hurricane winds 111-130 MPH; Category 4 Hurricane winds 131-155 MPH; Category 5 Hurricane winds 156 MPH and greater.
Lieutenant Governor Roach advises property owners to review their insurance policies annually and contact their agent directly to discuss any need for additional or revision in coverage, or if they have questions. Property owners may contact the Division if additional assistance is required after speaking with an agent. Lieutenant Governor Roach further advises residents of the following as they prepare for the hurricane season:
You cannot buy a homeowners insurance policy once a storm has been declared
Know what is covered and what will not be covered in your homeowner’s insurance policy.
Avoid being underinsured by purchasing at least 80% of the replacement cost value of your residential property. To determine replacement cost value, hire an appraiser and make sure the appraisal includes Replacement Cost Value, which is the cost of replacing your property without a reduction for depreciation.
Avoid being force-placed, which may cover only the mortgage balance. If you have a mortgage, purchase your own homeowner’s insurance policy. You can have the insurance premium escrowed along with your property tax payment, or you can use premium financing.
To lower the cost of your property insurance, take advantage of all available Discounts offered by your insurance company. Remember, once you file a claim you may lose your “No Claim Discount”, meaning that your premium will then increase but only by the amount you saved through the No Claim Discount.
Purchase homeowners’ insurance even if you own your home outright and don’t have a mortgage! Your home is your biggest investment; be sure to protect it by insuring it.
Do NOT exclude windstorm. We live in a hurricane-prone area.
Make sure you have a homeowner’s insurance policy and a separate flood insurance policy. A homeowner’s insurance policy does not provide flood protection.
If you rent, buy renter’s insurance to cover your contents in the building.
Understand that you do not have a separate policy if you own a condominium. The policy belongs to the condominium association as a whole and is subject to the decision by its Board of Directors. You can purchase a separate contents insurance policy as a condominium owner.
Keep your insurance policy and other important documents in safe, dry waterproof and fireproof containers.
Know what is insured: inventory personal property and take photographs of your home.
Visit ltg.gov.vi and download the “Home Inventory Checklist”. Complete the checklist and take photos of your contents BEFORE a storm occurs! Know what is insured.Have disaster supplies on hand and secure important documents (insurance policies, birth certificates, deeds, will and testaments, power of attorneys, Government -issued photo identifications, etc.)
Protect your property by putting up shutters, cutting back tree limbs and clearing debris.
After the disaster, it is important that you have a contingency plan in place:
Take photos and make a list of your damages; file a claim as soon as possible; get an estimate of your damages; be ready to have your claim adjusted to receive a claim settlement.
Secure your property and make temporary repairs if needed. Your homeowner’s policy allows you to make minor temporary repairs to prevent further damage.
Avoid disaster fraud. Avoid scam artists. Request a copy of the business license and identification from anyone who will perform disaster related services on your property. Never pay in full for a disaster related service provided for you before the service is completed. Additionally, do not participate in disaster related fraud by misrepresenting damage amounts and submitting inflated and unreasonable estimates to your insurer. Such activities can drive up the future costs of insurance for all policyholders.
Public adjusters are also licensed by the Commissioner of Insurance. A property owner does not need to hire an attorney to contract services of a public adjuster.
Per Bulletin No. 2017-06 issued by the Commissioner of Insurance on September 29, 2017, a public adjuster may not charge a fee that exceeds 5% of the insurance proceeds recovered on behalf of the homeowner or residential insured.
“Virgin Islands residents are reminded also to pay special attention to national and local weather advisories and VITEMA alerts during the hurricane season to keep informed of impending weather conditions.” stated Lieutenant Governor Roach.
For more information on disaster preparedness and the responsibilities of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, visit ltg.gov.vi., or contact Division of Banking, Insurance & Financial Regulation on St. Thomas at 340-774-2991 and on St. Croix and 340-773-6449.
The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority is strengthening enforcement efforts at bin sites across the territory as part of its ongoing commitment to improving accountability, protecting public resources, and maintaining clean and safe communities.
The Waste Management Authority is upping enforcement efforts at trash bins. (Screenshot from WMA presentation)
This initiative reflects VIWMA’s broader focus on operational integrity and responsible waste management. Through enhanced enforcement strategies, the Authority is improving its ability to identify violations, respond to concerns efficiently, and ensure that public waste disposal areas are used appropriately.
Illegal dumping and misuse of public bin sites remain a serious environmental, operational, and public health concern throughout the Territory. Improper disposal practices contribute to overflowing sites, infrastructure damage, increased cleanup costs, pest activity, and environmental degradation. Individuals caught engaging in illegal dumping or misuse of bin sites may be subject to fines of up to $1,000, penalties, or additional enforcement actions in accordance with Virgin Islands law.
To help maintain safe and accessible bin sites, VIWMA reminds residents and businesses of the following disposal guidelines:
DO:
Dispose of household waste in designated bins only
Break down cardboard boxes and bulky materials before disposal
Secure trash bags properly to reduce litter and pest activity
Follow all posted signage and disposal instructions at each location
Report overflowing bins, illegal dumping, or maintenance concerns promptly
DO NOT:
Dispose of hazardous materials, including chemicals, batteries, paints, oils, or medical waste
Leave trash outside of bins or on the ground
Dump construction debris, appliances, furniture, tires, or bulk waste
Use residential bin sites for commercial disposal purposes
Engage in illegal dumping or vandalism at any VIWMA facility or bin site
To further support proper disposal practices, VIWMA will coordinate the collection of white goods/scrap metal and bulk waste at the Anguilla Landfill and the Cotton Valley bin site on St. Croix, the Nazareth and Cancryn bin sites on St. Thomas, and at the Pine Peace and Coral Bay bin sites on St. John on the second weekend of each month beginning July 2026. The scheduled time is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but it is subject to change due to weather conditions.
As part of its commitment to strengthening community partnerships and enhancing waste management services throughout the Territory, VIWMA has coordinated and will continue to coordinate quarterly bulk waste collections at designated bin sites. Residents are encouraged to follow posted schedules and placement guidelines to ensure safe and efficient collection.
Both convenience centers will accept residential white goods and scrap metal, including refrigerators, stoves, and other household appliances, during the first and third weeks of each month. Bulk waste items, such as mattresses, tables, and couches, will be accepted during the second and fourth weeks of each month. Mandahl Convenience Center will continue operating on its regular schedule, Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Peter’s Rest Convenience Center will operate Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On holidays, the convenience centers are open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Residents are encouraged to follow posted schedules and placement guidelines to ensure safe and efficient collection.
VIWMA would like to take this opportunity to remind the business community that tire dealers are responsible for contracting and arranging the proper removal and off-island disposal of used tires. Tires are not permitted at residential bin sites, and improper disposal will result in enforcement action. Maintaining clean and functional bin sites is a shared community responsibility and a partnership between the Authority, residents, businesses, and waste haulers. By working together, we can improve service delivery, protect the environment, and preserve the natural beauty of the Territory.
The Authority encourages everyone to take an active role in keeping bin sites clean and compliant. Let us work collectively to keep our islands clean, safe, and sustainable.
For more information, contact us at customer_care@viwma.org or communications@viwma.org, or call 340‑715‑9100 for St. Thomas or 340‑712‑4962 for St. Croix. Stay connected with VIWMA on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn for updates.
Acquiring a new customer costs between 5 and 25 times the amount to retain an existing one.
The likelihood of selling to an existing customer is 60-70%, compared to only 5-20% when selling to a new customer. (See links at the end of the article for links and more information.)
As Advertising Week put it recently, “For small businesses operating with limited time and resources, nurturing existing customers isn’t just more cost-effective – it’s more sustainable.”
One of the most tried-and-true methods for retaining customers is the loyalty program.
Yet most loyalty programs fail.
They fail because “they reward the transaction,” Advertising Week argues,” not the person.”
Quite simply, “Points, discounts and coupons have become so common that customers treat them as currency, not connection.”
Person-Centered Loyalty Programs
According to InsiderOne, successful loyalty programs recognize the customer as person.
That is, they’re built on “behavior, identity and long-term value” for the customer, with benefits “that feel personal, not templated.”
How do these programs work?
They make the customer feel “seen” and understood.
Benefits can be tailored to customer behavior based on their history with your business.
Every interaction generates information, and a successful loyalty program bases rewards on customer preferences, needs and aspirations.
InsiderOne offers several excellent and vivid examples of a program that might work:
— A customer exploring skincare might be offered a trial-size serum.
— A frequent traveler might get dynamic free shipping perks during trip-planning periods.
–A high-intent shopper may receive early access to curated collections.
Maybe you know that some of your customers are early adopters. Invite them to a launch party, in person or virtual. Or include them in beta-testing.
The common denominator here is the shift from the impersonal to the personal and from the transactional to the behavioral.
More than likely, you and your staff know your customers well. When developing a loyalty program, tap that information and customize – that is, personalize – rewards.
Your customers will love the attention and you’ll benefits from better customer retention.
Articles for further reading:
https://advertisingweek.com/small-business-marketing-predictions-for-2026/
https://www.optimove.com/resources/learning-center/customer-acquisition-vs-retention-costs https://www.outboundengine.com/blog/customer-retention-marketing-vs-customer-acquisition-marketing/
https://insiderone.com/best-customer-engagement-strategies/ 
