Lieutenant Governor Tregenza A. Roach, Esq. advises the Virgin Islands public that the following notarial instruments were lost or stolen on the dates herein referenced and have been revoked to prevent fraudulent use:
Invalid Notarial Instruments
NP 543-22 – Instruments lost on December 9, 2024
NP 594-23 – Instruments stolen on January 13, 2025
NP 731-24 – Instruments stolen on June 29, 2025
The referenced Notary Public (NP) numbers are found on the notarial ink stamp and in some cases, the Notary’s embossed seal. They been revoked due to the loss or theft of the referenced instruments. Therefore, all documents notarized after the dates above stated are invalid.
“If you are aware of someone using these lost or stolen instruments or if a notary attempts to notarize a document with the above-referenced NP numbers, please report this violation to the Notaries Public Division in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at (340) 774-2991, Ext. 4120 as soon as possible.” stated Lieutenant Governor Roach.
All Notaries Public in the United States Virgin Islands are reminded to keep their notarial instruments in a secured location when not in use.
It is with great sadness that Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett announces the passing of her mother,Magdalene Agatha Hendricks Plaskett. Mrs. Plaskett passed away surrounded by family on August 4, 2025, at the age of 89. Congresswoman Plaskett and her family are grateful for your thoughts and prayers during thisdifficult time.
“My mother was the cornerstone of our family – a woman of unwavering faith and boundless love who opened her home and heart to countless children and young people. She was our family’s anchor and ferocious advocate.
“My mother, Magdalene, was born on July 18, 1936, in Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands to Rosalind Burke and Fred Valdemar Hendricks. She dedicated her life to public service, retiring as a Senior Court Clerk inNew York City. Maggie, as she was affectionately known, shared a beautiful 63- year marriage with her beloved husband LeRoy Plaskett and was deeply committed to her Lutheran faith and community service.
“On behalf of my entire family, thank you for all your prayers and well wishes.”
Funeral and interment arrangements to follow.
The Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority brought the power of STEM to life last week Thursday, July 31, during a special visit to the Paradise Learning Summer Camp on St. Thomas.
Paradise Learning Summer Campers (Submitted photo)
Campers ages 4 to 9 were treated to an interactive, hands-on learning experience led by WAPA’s Communications team. The outreach aimed to spark curiosity about science and sustainability, with a focus on solar energy and how it contributes to a cleaner, more resilient Virgin Islands.
During the session, campers explored the power of the sun and learned how it can be transformed into clean, renewable electricity. They were excited to discover that there are currently four solar farms across the territory—Petronella, Spanish Town, Hogensborg, and Donoe — with a fifth, Fortuna, on the way on St. Thomas. These solar farms are part of WAPA’s broader mission to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and strengthen energy independence.
To make the lesson even more memorable, students rolled up their sleeves and built their very own solar-powered pizza ovens using everyday household items. The activity brought STEM concepts to life and helped campers understand how sunlight can be captured and used in practical ways.
“Our summer outreach initiative with campers across the territory has been a rewarding way to engage with young minds and support their growth,” said Shanell Petersen, WAPA Communications Director. “I’m incredibly grateful to our team for their dedication in visiting camps this summer across the territory. As we conclude this season’s activities, we look forward to continuing our relationships with the Virgin Islands Department of Education,educators and all those who play a role in shaping the future of our children.”
By investing in early STEM exposure, WAPA hopes to empower the next generation of innovators and environmental stewards who will help shape a cleaner, more resilient Virgin Islands.
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Communication’s department is committed to reaching, informing, and connecting with the youngest members of the community to the eldest, through meaningful, transparent and effective communication.
Students at Paradise Learning Summer Camp build their own solar pizza ovens.
The University of the Virgin Islands is proud to announce its selection as one of 35 colleges and universities nationwide to join the Amazon Machine Learning University Educators Consortium, a groundbreaking initiative by Amazon Web Services aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence and machine learning education across higher education.
Launched in February 2025, the Amazon Machine Learning University Educator Enablement Program (MLU-EEP) currently supports 200 faculty members and 25 executive administrators across the country, collectively serving more than 250,000 students. (Submitted photo)
Through this collaboration, UVI faculty and administrators will gain access to world-class training, curriculum development resources, and cutting-edge AWS cloud technology as part of a national effort to build capacity for AI/ML education, particularly at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
“We are honored to be a part of this transformative initiative with Amazon Web Services,” said UVI President Dr. Safiya George. “As we continue to prepare students to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy, it is essential that we equip our faculty with the tools and training needed to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning into their instruction. This collaboration aligns with our strategic priorities to expand innovation, research, and workforce development opportunities in the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
“I am so pleased to support the faculty and staff who embrace innovation and new modalities using AI/ML to improve teaching, learning and research—hats off to these innovators,” said Rick Nader, Vice President for Research and Economic Development.
“This opportunity came to our attention through our strong relationships and network within higher education and philanthropy,” said Michael Morsberger, UVI Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “We are grateful to Amazon Web Services for their inclusive approach to AI/ML education and proud to help connect UVI with initiatives that empower our students and faculty.”
Launched in February 2025, the Amazon Machine Learning University Educator Enablement Program currently supports 200 faculty members and 25 executive administrators across the country, collectively serving more than 250,000 students. The program includes:
Two intensive 4-day summer bootcamps focused on machine learning and generative AI
Ongoing technical training in AWS AI/ML services
Curriculum development resources and support
Access to an industry-academic AI/ML community of practice
Year-round professional development including pedagogy labs, TechTalks, and AI/ML Science Exchange Roundtables
UVI’s participation includes both faculty researchers and executive administrators. Faculty will join the Amazon-MLU Educators Consortium, engaging in monthly activities to enhance AI/ML pedagogy and research. Senior leadership will participate in the Amazon-MLU
Transformation Alliance, a leadership cohort focused on building long-term institutional capacity.
The UVI faculty selected to participate in the Consortium represent a dynamic cross-section of disciplines, including mathematics, computer science, marine science, and institutional research. This year’s cohort includes Dr. Benjamin Walter, Associate Professor of Mathematics; Dr. Kristin Wilson Grimes, Research Assistant Professor of Watershed Ecology; Dr. Lauren Olinger, marine science instructor and researcher; Dr. Matthew McCurdy, Assistant Professor of Mathematics; Ms. Resa Berkeley, Data Specialist in Research and Public Service; Dr. Robert Stolz, Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences; and Dr. Shamar Ward, Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Together, these educators bring deep expertise and a shared commitment to integrating AI and machine learning into instruction and research across STEM fields at UVI.
“We are excited to see the work at University of the Virgin Islands for delivering high-quality hands-on AI experiences for students. This is the kind of productive collaboration that we hoped for when we established Amazon’s Machine Learning University Educator
Enablement Program (MLU-EEP). We look forward to seeing the impact that UVI students will have throughout their careers.” said Scott Wiltamuth, Director of Database & AI Leadership at Amazon Web Services.
This collaboration represents a major step forward in UVI’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation in science and technology education.
Though the initial cohort from UVI has been named, individuals interested in future opportunities are encouraged to contact the Office of the President at uvipresident@uvi.edu.
For more information about UVI’s academic programs and strategic initiatives, visit www.uvi.edu.
St. John Landsharks is hosting “runner’s choice” 5K and 5-Mile fun runs on Sunday, Aug. 31.
This event took place for the first time in 2018, replacing the Love City Triathlon and Aquathlon traditionally scheduled over Labor Day weekend. It was offered again in 2019 and 2024.
(Source file photo by Elisa McKay)
The races will start simultaneously at 8 a.m. Each course begins and ends at Francis Bay and features a variety of terrain, including trails, road and a finish on the beach. The 5-Mile course includes a loop to Maho Bay. Course details can be found at the Francis Bay Fives Road Races event page found on Facebook. New this year is a 500-yard beach dash for kids 8 and under.
Registration is $10 and the event is capped at 100 participants. Youth under 18 are free. Walkers are welcome to sign up for the 5K (3.1 mile) event. Participants are encouraged to carpool.
Participants must register in advance by 4 p.m. Aug. 30. There will be no race-day registration. Sign up at: http://tinyurl.com/FB5-2025.
The 1st place male and female finishers for each course will receive a prize. Water will be offered during and after the race. St. John Rescue and VI National Park Service will be onsite to monitor and provide support.
Roads will remain open to vehicles, but drivers may experience short delays on the North Shore Road one-way sections and near Francis Bay and Annaberg between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31. Contact the race organizers at stjohnlandsharks@gmail.com for more information.
St. John Landsharks is an informal local athletic club, focusing on swimming, biking, running, stand up paddleboarding, and anything else they feel like doing.
Cleopatra Peter speaks in support of the Collective Collaboration Inc. Tuesday in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
The long-running dispute between a St. Croix nonprofit that caters to the territory’s indigent and unhoused population and the historic church it occupies intensified this week when the V.I. Marshal’s Office served an eviction notice and gave the nonprofit until Wednesday to leave.
The Collective Collaboration has operated out of the parish hall of Christiansted’s historic St. John’s Episcopal Church for more than five years, the nonprofit’s founder and president, Karen Dickenson, said during a small protest outside the church Tuesday. Dickenson said they feed approximately 200 people every day. In a video message shared to supporters over social media, she said the nonprofit made a verbal agreement with the church’s former senior warden to use the premises but that the arrangement was never meant to be permanent. Dickenson said the relationship changed when new members came on board.
Representatives from St. John’s Episcopal Church did not respond to multiple requests for comment Tuesday, but court records show the church sued Dickenson and the Collective Collaboration in September 2022 in a bid to reclaim the property. According to a civil complaint penned by the church’s junior warden, Derek Joseph, the original agreement allowed the nonprofit to use the building — located at 33 Company Street — from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and TCCI violated the agreement by “allowing individuals to shelter and reside on the premises.”
Superior Court Judge Ernest Morris Jr. — then a magistrate judge — sided with the church, writing that “any agreement for a term of more than one year must be in writing, and there was no writing between the parties. Furthermore, the Court noted that the Defendant’s own testimony indicated that she moved forward with sheltering persons in the space without any specific approval from the Plaintiff.” Morris gave the nonprofit until January 2023 to vacate and “secure appropriate alternate placements for those being sheltered on the premises.”
Two months ago, Superior Court Judge Denise Francois denied the nonprofit’s request for an emergency motion to stay the 2022 judgment.
The 2022 episode came months after lawmakers in the 34th Legislature appropriated $325,000 from the Community Facilities Trust Fund for the V.I. Property and Procurement Department to buy a nearby property and lease it to Collective Collaboration for one dollar per year. The move was broadly supported by lawmakers as well as testifiers from DPP and the V.I. Human Services Department, whose then-commissioner, Kimberley Causey-Gomez, said the demand for shelter beds, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing “far exceeds the available resources here in the Virgin Islands.” Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. signed the measure into law as Act 8579 in August 2022. According to the text of the bill, the funds remain available until expended.
Karen Dickenson, president and founder of the Collective Collaboration Inc., leads a small protest outside of St. John’s Episcopal Church Tuesday after the nonprofit received a notice to quit the property. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
“We’ve tried. We’ve tried to find places,” Dickenson told the Source Tuesday. “I’ve submitted two lease with the government, then we’re waiting for the government to decide. That was like four years ago, when some building that the government had — we tried to … buy a building down the street, the government indicated that they would go ahead and step in and purchase it. We’ve been waiting for an encroachment issue for the last two years, and it’s just been going on and on and on and on and on.”
Dickenson claimed that the decision to remove the nonprofit was rooted in “either retaliation, jealousy, but I know most of all, it’s money.”
“You can’t control my money,” she said. “I don’t get government assistance. I want to make it clear to the public. And if you have some documents to say that I get government funding — bring it, let me see it, please. Because I don’t. We have been doing the work of a yeoman.”
The loss of any outreach services or shelter beds — even unsanctioned ones — would be deeply felt in the territory.
During a March hearing of the Senate Housing, Telecommunications and Transportation Committee, lawmakers heard that 304 unsheltered people were identified during the territory’s most recent Point-in-Time count, a nationwide assessment of people experiencing homelessness during a single day in January, which is required by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department. That figure included 185 people on St. Thomas, 98 on St. Croix and 21 on St. John, but testifiers noted that it was almost certainly an undercount.
Dan Derima, executive director of the nonprofit Meeting the Needs of Our Community and chair of the V.I. Continuum of Care Council on Homelessness, said that a 2023 inventory of beds identified 16 emergency shelter beds, 53 transitional housing beds and 23 permanent supportive housing beds.
“Interaction and collaboration between government agencies is in crisis mode — not much is in place to address the issues at hand,” he said at the time. Derima also said that the Continuum of Care had trouble securing its HUD funding from the local partnering agency, the V.I. Housing Finance Authority, and that an expected technical assistance grant was terminated by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency.
Jeffrey Epstein’s primary residence, his private estate on Little St. James, and his neighboring property of Great St. James were sold for $60 million in 2023 to financier Stephen Deckoff, who has a home on St. John. (Shutterstock photo)
St. Croix attorney Kevin Rames, acting on behalf of New York Times reporter Matthew Goldstein, has appealed to Magistrate Judge Simone VanHolten-Turnbull to unseal several documents in the ongoing probate proceedings of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate.
In a letter to the judge filed on the V.I. Superior Court docket July 31, Rames noted that the documents Goldstein seeks — the special master’s third, fourth, fifth and sixth reports to the court — have been designated as “confidential” without any justification.
“Despite being sealed, these judicial documents are subject to right of access under Virgin Islands law, the First Amendment, and the common law, and the high bar for overcoming these rights has not been met here,” Rames wrote.
“For the foregoing reasons, The Times respectfully requests that the Reports be made public, or, alternatively, that the parties be required to demonstrate why the records should remain under seal. If they seek to do so, The Times respectfully requests an opportunity to reply and otherwise be heard,” he said.
A registered sex offender who pleaded guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008, Epstein died by apparent suicide in August 2019 at age 66 while in detention in New York on federal trafficking charges. His primary residence was Little St. James, his private island off St. Thomas, where for years he ran a complex web of shell companies registered in the USVI — and was afforded some $300 million in tax breaks through the territory’s Economic Development Commission — that enabled his crimes.
Goldstein, who has covered the Epstein case since 2019 with a focus on his financial affairs and those of his estate, initially requested the records in an email to Clerk of the Superior Court Tamara Charles on June 10, asking that she forward his request to the judge.
“I am making a request to unseal all seven of the special master reports filed by Rosalie Ballentine. Ms. Ballentine was appointed by the court to keep tabs on the estate and its coexecutors but I do not believe it was envisioned that all of her reports would be kept confidential — certainly not in their entirety,” Goldstein wrote.
“I believe these reports should be public because they contain critical information about the finances of the Epstein estate and are one way for the media, the public and Epstein’s nearly 200 victims to make sure that the estate is being properly liquidated and money is going to the appropriate places. It is also another way for the public to best learn where Epstein had invested his money,” he said.
In his letter last week to the judge, Rames wrote that although “Virgin Islands Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 contemplates a specific limited procedure for filing documents under seal, this process does not appear to have been adhered to in this case. … Although almost every document appears to have been withheld from public view, no sealing order has been entered in this action regarding these Reports. Accordingly, the relevant documents seem to have been improperly withheld because of self-sealing practices.”
Rames goes on to note that even if the reports were not public under Virgin Islands law, “they would still be subject to the public’s right of access under the First Amendment,” which imposes a “presumption of openness” to judicial documents that “may be overcome only by an overriding interest based on findings that closure is essential to preserve higher values and is narrowly tailored to serve that interest,” citing the 1984 case, Press-Enterprise Co. v. Supreme Court of California.
“In short, the First Amendment’s requirements for barring public access have not been satisfied,” he wrote.
The right to the records is “also firmly grounded in the common law,” according to Rames. “The Special Master, under the Court’s appointment, authors these Reports to provide the Court with a summary of the ‘assets, liabilities, income, and expenditures of the Estate’ and an assessment of ‘the Estate’s ongoing abilities to meet its known and potential obligations.’”
The request comes as demand grows for the Justice Department to release its files related to Epstein, with the House Oversight Committee issuing a subpoena Tuesday to the DOJ as well as 10 former Democratic and Republican government officials it said it wants to depose in relation to Epstein and his one-time girlfriend and enabler Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking and other crimes related to their scheme.
According to the last quarterly accounting report cover sheet that is publicly available on the docket, submitted April 30 by longtime Epstein legal representatives in the Virgin Islands, Kellerhals Ferguson Kroblin PLLC, his estate had assets of $131,126,422.52 as of March 31, with $50,241,027 cash on hand. The disgraced financier was reportedly worth some $600 million when he died.
The report notes that the “total amount is unknown” as to the victims’ claims outside the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program, which concluded in 2021 and distributed more than $121 million to approximately 150 of his abuse survivors. However, not all of them participated in the program and are pursuing further legal action against his estate or related entities.
Maxwell has filed her own suit against Epstein’s estate, claiming it is responsible for her legal fees and other expenses stemming from her arrest and subsequent conviction following her trial in Manhattan federal court in December 2021. The estate filed a motion to dismiss the case in January 2024. The court has yet to rule on the matter.
An Aug. 12 meeting is set between Education and the Housing Authority to discuss creation of an athletic field for the new JESS reconstruction. (Source file photo)
Members of the St. John Coastal Zone Management Committee on Tuesday granted a permit to build a new public school in Estate Catherineberg. The unanimous vote was reached at the end of a brief decision meeting with representatives from the Virgin Islands Education Department and their chosen contractor.
Tuesday’s vote by CZM commissioners Andrew Penn, Brion Morrisette, Raef Boulon, Elisa Runyon and Kurt Marsh Jr. marks a major step toward a long-awaited relocation for the Julius E. Sprauve School.
Plans to relocate St. John’s only public school from its current location in Cruz Bay have been under discussion for several years; efforts to turn plans into action accelerated after the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. signed a land swap agreement with the National Park Service in 2023 to establish a location for the new Julius Sprauve School.
Just before the vote to approve, commissioners heard from Pam Loeffelman, the principal for DLR Group. The Nebraska-based firm was chosen by Education to design a reconstruction master plan for all public schools damaged during the 2017 storms. They also heard from Chaneel Callwood, the Education Department’s new schools architect.
Callwood addressed the major concerns raised at an April 15 meeting, where design plans were presented in detail. Commissioners and members of the public said the plans did not include an athletic field — something they said should be included.
She mentioned plans to meet with officials at the V.I. Housing Authority Aug. 12 about providing a space near the school in Estate Adrian.
“Are we getting a positive response from the government entity owning the land?” asked Morrisette.
Callwood said yes. “It sounds great. It’s nice to know we have options,” said commission chair Penn. He thanked the DLR executive and Callwood for their work to date and said he was pleased to play a role in moving the new school plan forward.
“The project is truly dear to my heart because I am a true St. Johnian, and I am excited to be a part of it,” he said.
Sargassum seaweed is observed on June 26, on the Northside of St. Croix. More sargassum is possible across the region over the coming months. (Source photo by Jesse Daley)
Efforts to manage the ongoing influx of sargassum seaweed across the U.S. Virgin Islands are gaining traction, with new updates shared during a recent webinar hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and featuring guest speaker Amy Dempsey, a marine biologist and environmental consultant.
The webinar, held on Wednesday, July 30, was one of a five-part series aimed at providing updates on the challenges associated with sargassum.
“NOAA’s Southeast and Caribbean Regional Collaboration Team is launching a five-part webinar series to raise awareness about key issues surrounding sargassum,” according to NOAA. “Each webinar will highlight different aspects of sargassum research, management, and its impacts on coastal communities and ecosystems. The goal of this series is to foster knowledge-sharing and regional collaboration across affected areas as we continue to see impacts from sargassum inundation events.”
An explanation of how sargassum reaches shorelines. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
Dempsey, founder of the environmental consulting firm Bioimpact, Inc., detailed how floating offshore barriers are being deployed at select coastal locations on St. Thomas, including near resort areas, to help intercept and redirect sargassum before it reaches shore. These containment systems are designed to protect beaches, reduce erosion, and minimize disruption to marine habitats.
Dempsey also spoke about Bioimpact’s involvement with the creation of the “Sargassum BluePrint,” a 2023 report produced in collaboration with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. The document outlines coordinated strategies to improve sargassum response, strengthen shoreline resilience, and guide mitigation efforts across the territory.
Information about Bioimpact’s involvement with the creation of the “Sargassum BluePrint,” a 2023 report produced in collaboration with the DPNR. (Photo courtesy NOAA, DPNR, and BioImpact, Inc.)Design, Materials, and Performance
“Sargassum barriers, or aquatic booms, are floating barriers with a submerged curtain that intercept the movement of floating sargassum in water,” according to information contained in the Sargassum BluePrint report. “Barriers can be used to corral sargassum for in-water collection or to direct the sargassum to one location along the shoreline for collection, referred to as ‘diversion, ’” the report stated.
Infographic explaining a brief history of the involvement that BioImpact, Inc. has had in the deployment of sargassum booms. (Photo courtesy NOAA and BioImpact, Inc.)
Dempsey said that in 2021, the areas where booms were tested were the resort locations of the Ritz-Carlton Club and Sapphire Bay Resort and Marina on St. Thomas.
“The purpose of the barriers has been to prevent the sargassum from reaching the beach so that the hotel guests and beachgoers can go in the water and swim and enjoy the beach,” Dempsey told the Source in comments after the webinar. “The intent was to collect the sargassum into a single area to collect without impacting over properties, and we have been able to successfully do that under most conditions,” she said.
Photo and infographic explaining how the placement can guide the seaweed to designated sections of shoreline where it can be more easily collected and removed. (Photo courtesy NOAA and BioImpact, Inc.)
According to Dempsey, the barrier systems use 48-inch helix screw anchors with either 6- or 8-inch plates to minimize damage during installation. These small-diameter screw anchors disturb as little as six to eight inches of the seafloor and are often used in areas with seagrass, limiting the impact to just a few shoots. In hard-bottom areas of the ocean, future systems will rely on rock pins once permitting is approved.
During the virtual presentation, Dempsey also explained how environmental factors such as the nearly constant easterly wind, local marine conditions, and site-specific coastal features influence the design and performance of the barriers. She emphasized the importance of adaptive strategies and careful installation to ensure the systems are both effective and environmentally responsible.
Barriers versus Collection Vessels
Dempsey noted that a key consideration in the placement of the barriers was ensuring they do not divert sargassum onto other nearby beaches. Instead, the goal is to guide the seaweed to designated sections of shoreline where it can be more easily collected and removed.
Photographs demonstrating how sargassum can be trapped behind barriers, preventing the seaweed from reaching areas of the shoreline. (Photo courtesy NOAA and BioImpact, Inc.)
The webinar explained that collection vessels were tested as a way to round up the seaweed outside of the barriers. However, Dempsey stated that the boats are not a practical long-term solution for sargassum control.
“If we had enough vessels to constantly be collecting sargassum and carry it far out to sea, it could be sustainable,” Dempsey acknowledged. “However, with heavy inundations, it becomes cost-prohibitive due to the number of boats required. As vessels drive through, they break the large mats into multiple pieces, and then you’re left chasing scattered floating bits.”
She added that a more efficient method, such as a scoop vessel with a conveyor and a storage area filled with seawater to hold any marine life, might allow sea creatures within the seaweed mats to survive. However, this approach would still require significant investment and coordination.
Concerns with Sargassum Booms
Overall, Dempsey explained that barriers are highly effective in helping to control sargassum inundations, though damage to the booms can occur and seaweed may occasionally get past them. She emphasized that protecting the installation sites, including the seafloor, is a key priority when designing and deploying the systems. Dempsey also noted that the barriers must be removed from the ocean ahead of major storms to prevent damage to the booms and to avoid creating environmental hazards.
An image of a sargassum boom placed at Great Bay, St. Thomas, USVI. (Photo courtesy NOAA and BioImpact, Inc.)
Additionally, Dempsey noted that a growing concern is the ecological impact of collecting large amounts of sargassum, particularly the risk of harming marine species like juvenile fish, crabs, lobsters, and even small sea turtles. While Dempsey has observed birds feeding on sea life in beached sargassum, she emphasized the need for more formal studies.
“We need to do quantitative surveys and see what animals are washing up on shore, and what animals might vacate before it hits the shore, if any,” she said.
Next Deployments and thePath Ahead
Dempsey confirmed that new deployments are being considered, though funding remains a major hurdle. “The barriers are expensive and unfortunately someone has to be willing to put up the cost for the barriers, permitting, installation and monitoring.”
While most barrier deployments have been funded privately, Dempsey stressed the need for public investment and engagement, especially for protecting public beaches and nearshore habitats.
“We need to find funding sources so that public beaches and important resources can be protected,” Dempsey stated. “The public can advocate for financing through private funding to address this issue.”
“It’s important to remember it’s not just an economic impact to resorts; sargassum damages shallow coastal resources,” she added.
More Sargassum Inundations are Expected
Regarding the outlook for sargassum across the area, an update released on July 31 by the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab reported that increased sargassum presence can be expected across the Caribbean.
A map of sargassum in July 2025 indicated a large amount of seaweed. Darker red colors indicate more sargassum. (Photo courtesy USF Optical Oceanography Laboratory)
“Historically, sargassum amount mostly decreased from July to August,” the USF report said. “However, with the continuous transport from the tropical Atlantic to the Caribbean Sea and to the Gulf of America, sargassum amount in these two regions may remain stable or decrease only slightly, meaning continuous beaching events around the Caribbean and Florida. However, whether a beach or small region receives large amount of sargassum depends on local factors that are difficult to predict, including winds and ocean currents,” USF explained.
Individuals can follow the progression of the current mat of seaweed and stay up to date each month on where sargassum may be headed.
Lindquist Beach on St. Thomas to Reopen
Finally, though more sargassum can be anticipated across the region in the near future, Lindquist Beach on St. Thomas is planning to reopen to swimmers on Wednesday, Aug. 6. The beach had been closed for swimming since July 30 due to an inundation of seaweed.
“The Magens Bay Authority is pleased to announce that Lindquist Beach will reopen to swimming on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, following a temporary closure due to heavy sargassum accumulation,” according to a press release from the Magens Bay Authority on Tuesday. “Over the past several days, our team has worked diligently to remove large quantities of sargassum from the shoreline and nearshore waters. While we have made significant progress, we will continue to actively monitor beach and water conditions to ensure the ongoing safety and comfort of our guests,” the press release said.
Eleven students from the U.S. Virgin Islands were awarded the Adams-Mahepath Scholarship. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
On Tuesday morning, 11 students from the U.S. Virgin Islands were awarded $1,500 each through the Adams-Mahepath Scholarship during a ceremony held at Sterling Optical on St. Croix and virtually via Zoom for recipients in the St. Thomas-St. John district.
Family members, representatives, and employees gathered to celebrate the students’ achievements. Sterling Optical has been serving the local community since July 1997.
Now in its 24th year, the Adams-Mahepath Scholarship was established in 2002 and has since awarded 261 scholarships, totaling over $500,000 in value.
“Education is a key motto of our company, since it provides information, helps critical thinking, and fosters upward social mobility,” said Dr. Lisa Adams, a certified therapeutic optometrist at Sterling Optical and speaker at the event. “Today, eleven young high school or incoming college students will receive a scholarship check in the amount of $1,500 addressed to their college or university,” she added.
Adams explained that recipients were selected based on GPA, SAT scores, community involvement, and a biographical essay. This year’s awardees plan to pursue degrees in fields such as nursing, psychology, social work, biochemistry, computer science, business, and aviation.
During the ceremony, two student recipients were highlighted. Amrael Williams, a sophomore at the University of the Virgin Islands, was recognized for her academic excellence and service. Williams volunteers as a junior counselor for the Central Pathfinder Club and transcribes documents for the Smithsonian Transcription Center. She won first place in the Agricultural Fair Poetry Contest in both 2019 and 2024. A former valedictorian, Williams maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school.
Sophomore at the University of the Virgin Islands, Amrael Williams, was one of the outstanding recipients of the Adams-Mahepath Scholarship on Monday. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Jarelle Berkeley, Jr., from the St. Thomas district, was praised for his strong focus on aviation. He took Advanced Placement courses in English, Chemistry, and Physics, graduated with a 3.75 GPA, and ranked 12th out of 216 students at Charlotte Amalie High School. Berkeley also won the engineering category at the school’s science fair and plans to become a pilot.
“When I found out that I received the scholarship, I felt very grateful for being given this honor,” said Williams. “Anything that helps you toward college, you’re always grateful for. It takes some of the pressure off so you can focus on your academics and getting into college life in general.”
Williams said she hopes to one day become a forensic psychologist.
In a statement, Sterling Optical reiterated its commitment to education as a vehicle for upward mobility and human advancement, saying the company remains dedicated to helping students in the U.S. Virgin Islands realize their full potential.
Families came out to support the award-winning students and show support. (Source photo by Diana Dias)St. Croix District Recipients:
J’Neolise Green (St. Croix Educational Complex): Attending Winston-Salem State University, majoring in Social Work
Amrael Williams (St. Croix Seventh-day Adventist School): Attending University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in Psychology
Geia Williams (Free Will Baptist School): Attending University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in Nursing
St. Thomas-St. John District Recipients:
Siara Abbott (Charlotte Amalie High School): Attending University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in Computer Science
Jarelle Berkeley, Jr. (Charlotte Amalie High School): Attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, majoring in Aeronautical Science
Kezia Corbett (Ivanna Eudora Kean High School): Attending University of the Virgin Islands, majoring in Nursing
Sahid Letang (Antilles School): Attending Jacksonville University, majoring in Business Administration
Joel Mahepath, president and CEO of Sterling Optical, congratulated the students and expressed his hopes for their future.
“I want to congratulate each of the 11 recipients today. We’ve done this scholarship for 24 years, and it’s the lasting legacy that we would like to continue. Continue to do great things and be successful human beings in any community you go,” said Mahepath.
Adams also offered thanks to the community for its ongoing support.
“I want to thank the people of the Virgin Islands who make it their business to invest, participate, and purchase their eye exams with Sterling Optical. It is a local business, and we always give back to the community. Without you, we couldn’t do this,” she said.
