Richard (“Dick”) Wolcott Corkhill, 94, of St John and Avalon, NJ passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025 in Cape May Courthouse, NJ.Richard was preceded in death by his older brother Eric and his late wife Nancy.He is survived by his wife, Kathy Hotchkiss Hallamore of Yardley, PA and Avalon and his son Douglas Corkhill of Whittier, NC and St John.A memorial service will be held at Wells Memorial Church in Avalon on July 11.
Richard Wolcott Corkhill
Richard was born August 14, 1930 in Berwyn, PA.He graduated from Tredyffrin/Easttown High School and Princeton University (1953).At Princeton, he was a member of Colonial Club, played clarinet in the band and served as drum major his senior year.
Richard spent the first 63 years of his life in the Berwyn and Wayne areas.He married Nancy Wiseman in 1953, and their marriage lasted 54 years until she passed after a decline with Alzheimer’s in 2007.It was on a family vacation in 1970 that Richard fell in love with St. John.Together he and Nancy bought a lot and built their home Pass Thru where they wintered every year starting 1993.
After college Richard served three years as a First Lieutenant in the Navy.He advanced his career through General Steel, spent 19 years at Sun Shipbuilding in Chester, PA, and another 11 years with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.For the last 25 years of his career he was a human resources manager.
Richard believed strongly in community service and altruism.He donated lifesaving blood throughout the years to the American Red Cross.He was actively involved in his churches; as a deacon and elder at Wayne Presbyterian, and attended services at St. John Methodist faithfully.
As a boy, Richard was an Eagle Scout and later served as Scoutmaster, first in Newtown Square, PA and then from 1964-1975 at Radnor 284 in Wayne.He developed the troop’s high adventure summer camp program that they are still using today, organizing and planning to take forty scouts and leaders for two weeks to Lake George, NY and on a 70 mile canoe trip through the Adirondack lakes.During his 11 years with 284, the troop presented 46 Eagle Scout awards.
Richard loved to travel, was an avid reader and could always be seen with a book in his hand.Hiking was a passion, and one of his greatest joys was “The Explorers Club” that, with Malcolm Preston, he founded on St. John two decades ago that still exists today.From this club he met lifelong friends while exploring the island.
Richard married Kathy in 2010 and they spent several years together both on St. John and Avalon.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 (https://www.alz.org/) in memory of his late wife and other family members that have suffered this disease.
Additional information can be found at Radzieta funeral home website (Cape May Court House).
The NHC is monitoring Tropical Depression Two near the east coast of Mexico. The disturbance is likely to intensify into a tropical storm before making landfall, and tropical storm warnings have been issued for portions of Mexico. (Photo courtesy NHC)
A tropical wave moving through the eastern Caribbean, combined with an upper-level area of low pressure, will bring increased showers and thunderstorms to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through Sunday afternoon. Hazy conditions are expected to follow early next week as a plume of Saharan dust moves into the region.
Local Weather Forecast
According to the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the combination of the approaching tropical wave and the area of low pressure will result in an increased risk of unsettled weather across the local area.
“An upper-level low to the west-northwest of the region will maintain marginal instability over the islands,” according to an update on Saturday afternoon from the NWS. “Meanwhile, a tropical wave crossing the eastern Caribbean tonight will pass just south of the area and, combined with the low, will draw deep tropical moisture into the region,” the NWS said.
Rain approaches the Northside of St. Croix on Saturday, June 28, as a tropical wave moves through the Caribbean. (Source photo by Jesse Daley)
While the bulk of moisture associated with the approaching tropical wave is expected to remain south of the local islands, heavy rain, along with thunderstorms and lightning, may develop, raising the risk of localized flooding.
“This setup will support scattered to locally numerous showers and possible isolated thunderstorms, mainly across eastern Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday night, followed by more widespread afternoon convection over interior and northwestern Puerto Rico on Sunday,” the NWS stated. “This overall pattern will persist through Sunday afternoon,” the NWS added.
The Source contacted the NWS in San Juan for comment about the current weather forecast.
Infrared satellite imagery obtained at 5:40 p.m. on Saturday shows a tropical wave passing through the Caribbean. Rainfall and thunderstorms are expected across the USVI and Puerto Rico. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
“The latest guidance remains on track with showers and thunderstorms associated with the tropical wave increasing from Saturday evening through at least early Sunday morning,” said David Sánchez, a lead meteorologist at the NWS.
“Rainfall totals in general are expected to range between half to an inch of rain across all the territories. However, higher amounts cannot be ruled out, as showers may redevelop over land areas, particularly during the overnight hours on Saturday,” Sanchez explained.
“The main impacts with the thunderstorms are lightning strikes, gusty winds, and ponding of water on roads and in poor drainage areas,” Sanchez added.
After the passage of the tropical wave, residents and visitors across the territory should expect to see a hazy sky through the beginning of the workweek due to the arrival of another round of Saharan dust. Very warm temperatures may also occur; individuals are encouraged to remain hydrated and stay as cool as possible to avoid heat-related illnesses.
“Slightly drier air, accompanied by moderate concentrations of suspended Saharan dust, will follow the tropical wave, leading to hazy skies and degraded air quality through early next week,” the NWS said.
Additionally, the NWS noted that gusty winds will continue across the islands, resulting in wind-driven, choppy seas and an elevated risk of rip currents.
“Breezy winds will sustain choppy seas and maintain a moderate risk of rip currents along exposed beaches over the next few days,” according to the NWS.
National Hurricane Center Watching for Development
The NHC continues to monitor the Eastern Pacific basin, and a disturbance is forecast to develop over the coming days. (Photo courtesy NHC)
As of Saturday afternoon, the NHC explained that a disturbance near the Bay of Campeche near eastern Mexico had developed into “Tropical Depression Two,” and it was packing maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. The system is expected to intensify into a tropical storm before making landfall along the east coast of Mexico early Monday with maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph. If the system intensifies, it will be designated “Barry,” the second named cyclone of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for portions of eastern Mexico.
Regardless of development, the disturbance is forecast to bring heavy rain to portions of Mexico and Guatemala over the next few days. (The first storm of the year in the Atlantic basin was named Andrea, a short-lived tropical storm in the central Atlantic Ocean.)
Meanwhile, the Eastern Pacific basin has been busy with cyclonic development, and the NHC expects an area in the Pacific Ocean near southern Mexico to develop over the coming days.
The NHC does not anticipate cyclonic development near the USVI or Puerto Rico in the immediate future. However, another tropical wave is forecast to pass through the Caribbean next Thursday or Friday.
Stay Informed About Weather Events
The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and will run until November 30, with the climatological peak of the season occurring in mid-September. USVI residents and visitors are encouraged to be prepared.
The 15-year-old charged in the June 5 shooting death of St. Croix comedian Jordan “Dutty Heart” Jones has been identified by authorities as Angelo Javier Carmona after he was bound over to criminal court Wednesday to be treated as an adult.
Angelo Javier Carmona (VIPD photo)
Following the transfer hearing in the Family Court division, Carmona was arrested Friday by the V.I. Police Department’s Major Crime Unit and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, first-degree robbery, unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and possession of ammunition, according to a press release the VIPD issued Friday night.
Carmona’s bail was set at $500,000 and, unable to post the amount, he was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility on St. Croix pending his advice of rights hearing Monday in V.I. Superior Court, according to the VIPD.
While an initiating document/complaint has been filed on the Superior Court docket, presumably detailing the particulars of Carmona’s alleged crime, it remained sealed to public view as of Saturday morning.
According to previous police reports, Jones was on the Christiansted boardwalk around midday June 5 when he was accosted by Carmona in an apparent robbery attempt.
Accounts vary, but an eyewitness to the incident told the Source that Jones and a friend were at a bar on the boardwalk around 12:30 p.m. that day when they noticed a young man standing in the doorway for about 10 minutes, just staring, which prompted the friend to get a knife from the kitchen because he found the behavior to be suspicious.
Jones, who was wearing a gold chain, was suddenly under attack. The friend tried to stab the shooter in defense of Jones but was also shot, according to the eyewitness, who asked not to be named due to safety concerns. The shooter ran away with Jones’s gold chain visible in his hand, he said.
Jones, 38, was shot multiple times and later succumbed to his injuries at Juan F. Luis Hospital, according to the police. His companion suffered a graze wound, they said.
Just hours after the midday shooting, the VIPD announced it had arrested a 15-year-old boy who was remanded to the Youth Rehabilitation Center pending a court hearing.
Jones’s death marked the 14th homicide this year in the territory, and the eighth on St. Croix, according to the Source Homicide List.* There have since been five more fatal shootings, prompting widespread community concern about escalating violence in the territory.
Our Town Frederiksted will honor Jones with a July 4th fireworks display in his memory in the town where he grew up. One minute after the conclusion of the main fireworks show, VI Pyro will launch the largest shell in their inventory, with Jordan’s ashes attached, the group said in a press release.
“As the shell bursts high above the Caribbean Sea, his remains will be spread over the waters that shaped his childhood, serving as a final and fitting goodbye,” it said.
The July 4th celebration is free and open to the public. Community members are welcome to gather with respect and support as Frederiksted says farewell to one of its own.
Ilene Pant passed away on June 8. She was 86 years old.
Ilene Pant
She was preceded in death by her mother, Catherine Jane Skeete and father, Uriel Hanley.
She is survived by her daughters, Lauren Hanley, Donna Alicia Pant, Sandra Eriste; sons, Junie (Kevin) Pant, Yohan Pant, Eardley Pant, Larsen Pant, Javon Pant; grandchildren, Siedah Eriste, Sebastina Eriste, Imani Pant, Hasheem Charles Lure, Zarina Pant, Kasim Pant, Larsen Keithley Pant Jr., Princess Alicia Pant, Alkebulan Rain Pant, Nathan Pant Junior, Malachai Pant, Naomi Pant, Jliyah Pant, Kenijah Pant; great-grandchildren, Kylah, Khamari Sterling, Samaya Caloun, Lyrik Haizen Luke, Iyhan Hasheem Luke, London Harmony Luke; nieces, Idita, Sharon, Paula; nephews, Kirtley; great niece, Erin; son-in-law, Sebastian; cousins and other relatives, Jerome, Eversley, Valaria, Mona, Adlyn, Delroy, Viona, Francisco, Renella, Errol, Ermine, Cordell, Clifford, Cordilia (Adlyn), Angela, Daniele (Champ) Renela, CJ, Rasheena, Mahla; special friends, Ramona, Ms. Hamilton, Ms. Luke, Edna Santiago (Sonia); other precious families and friends too numerous to mention.
The funeral service will be held on July 12, at Sunny Isles Baptist Church. Viewing at 9 am and service begins at 10 am. Interment will follow at Kingshill Cemetery. The family encourages everyone to wear festive colors.
Professional services entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority would like to inform the community of the following hours of operation for Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4 in observance of both Emancipation Day and Fourth of July Holidays:
Administrative offices will reopen on Monday, July 7.
The VIWMA Team wishes everyone a safe and happy Emancipation Day and Fourth of July!
For more information, contact the Division of Education and Communications Management at 340-474-2811 or email communications@viwma.org. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for updates.
Senate President Milton Potter speaks with Senate Minority Leader Dwayne DeGraff during a regular session of the 36th Legislature Friday on St. Thomas. (Photo by Jamal Potter, Legislature of the Virgin Islands)
The 36th Legislature wasted little time Friday before unanimously voting to override two of Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s recent vetoes. Afterward, lawmakers approved a score of bills, resolutions, and leases — including several aimed at enhancing or enforcing public safety in the territory.
“It’s one thing for us to pass laws and have weeks and days and months to acknowledge things, but I think it’s very important that we show criminals that we are actually solving them, in an attempt to deter crime, to help reduce gun violence in the territory,” Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger said.
Sen. Franklin Johnson said the flow of guns into the U.S. Virgin Islands will only get worse unless the territory can “control our shorelines.” At-Large Sen. Angel Bolques Jr. called the week of remembrance and education one part of a “comprehensive framework” for addressing gun violence. Senate Majority Leader Kurt Vialet said the issue is changing the “psyche” of individuals and making them realize that guns aren’t the answer.
“I just don’t know — but I know it starts young,” he said. “It starts with social workers, psychologists, and so forth in the school, and we need to move in that direction.”
Lawmakers later approved a measure declaring that people in police custody are legally incapable of consenting to sexual relations with law enforcement officers. Sen. Ray Fonseca, who sponsored the bill, successfully amended it by adding a requirement that the V.I. Attorney General develop and submit to the Legislature a “comprehensive sexual abuse policy for all law enforcement officers” consistent with federal standards and guidelines. That measure passed unanimously, as did another limiting the liability of emergency operators unless they act in a grossly negligent manner or with willful intent to do harm.
Friday also saw the Legislature pass “Jah’niqua’s Law,” which will require individuals convicted of negligent homicide or accidents while driving under the influence to pay restitution if their actions permanently disable or kill the parent of a minor. The measure was named for Jah’niqua Williams, who was 27 years old when she was killed in a car crash two years ago.
Police arrested and charged another driver with negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were dismissed without prejudice earlier this year.
Lawmakers also passed an act requiring the automatic expungement of arrest records and complaints for people who have been accused of a crime and acquitted.
Other notable approved measures included one meant to streamline the Government Employees’ Retirement System’s disability annuity approval process by allowing applicants to bypass GERS’s medical review committee with a note from a certified medical professional, a measure increasing penalties for violations of sanitation laws, and a measure to facilitate the establishment of savings accounts for people with disabilities. Acts amending the regulation of social work and social workers in the territory and establishing the V.I. Board of Social Work Licensure were also approved.
Lease agreements for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to use a portion of the telecommunications tower in Red Hook and for a helipad on St. John were approved, as were resolutions honoring funeral services director James Sasso and Sonya Hough, creator of the iconic Crucian “hook” bracelet.
The final approved measure came in the form of an update to the territory’s Education Initiative Fund.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr.met with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, where he raised concerns about the unintended impact of the department’s previous policy change. (Submitted photo)
Government House announced today in a news release that the U.S. Department of Education has reinstated the extension on the liquidation period for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Education Stabilization Fund grants, restoring access to more than $34 million in vital federal funding for the Virgin Islands.
The decision comes after Governor Albert Bryan Jr. met with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, where he raised concerns about the unintended impact of the department’s previous policy change and emphasized the importance of fairness and continuity in administering ARPA funds across all jurisdictions, the release stated.
The department’s original policy change had placed the territory at risk of losing tens of millions in ARPA funds needed to complete essential school modernization and safety projects, according to the release.
Bryan expressed, “I’m deeply grateful to Secretary McMahon and her team for their openness and willingness to work with us to find a practical solution. This outcome reflects the power of collaboration and continued dialogue between the federal government and the territories. It also underscores our shared commitment to ensuring every student has access to safe and modern learning environments.”
With the reinstated extension, the Virgin Islands Department of Education can now move forward with high-priority infrastructure projects. These include installing emergency backup generators, upgrading air conditioning systems, and improving school facilities to increase safety, resilience, and functionality, the release said.
Bryan credited the outcome to his administration’s ongoing federal engagement and the strong relationships his team has built with key congressional leaders and officials within the White House.
After an exciting start, the USVISF Women’s Premier League continues to grow, welcoming new teams, new energy, and a clear vision for the future of women’s soccer in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A high-energy opening weekend left fans and players eager for more, and anticipation is building for the next round of matches. Now in its second season, the league is showing encouraging signs of progress for women’s soccer in the territory.
Assistant Technical Director and league organizer Dante Nicholas says that growth is no accident. “We started the women’s 7v7 competition last year to give more women a chance to play. To go from five clubs in 2024 to seven this season is huge,” Nicholas said. “It tells us that the interest is real and growing. The ultimate goal is to get to full-field games and build a fully established Women’s Premier League.”
USVISF Women’s Premier League June matchups on Ivanna Eudora Kean High School field in St. Thomas. (Photo courtesy USVISF Facebook)
Opening weekend brought energy and excitement—and a few growing pains. NV Lioness, the newly formed women’s squad under New Vibes SC, was forced to forfeit its first match against fellow St. Thomas club Rock City SC due to early roster challenges. Still, club president Carol Howell considers the launch of NV Lioness a major milestone. “It’s our first women’s team ever,” she said. “Just getting here took a lot. We’re facing everything—participation, scheduling, visibility, funding—you name it. But it’s worth it.”
For Howell, soccer is not just a game. It’s a tool for transformation. “Soccer is life,” she said. “The discipline and commitment the game requires are the same qualities you need to succeed in anything.”
Though the club is still building its player base, Howell’s mission is crystal clear: “We’re creating a space where women can get fit, make friends, and learn the game. This is about more than sport—it’s about community and confidence.”
Nicholas echoed that sentiment. “It’s not just about wins or losses. It’s about creating a consistent space for women to play, develop, and be seen,” he said. “What makes me most proud is the level of commitment these women are showing. Most are training two to three times a week while balancing full-time jobs and families. That kind of dedication is what builds the game.”
Rock City SC is also new to the league and already helping shift the landscape. Founded by former national team players Anna Scott and Magen Cullinan, the club was created specifically to expand opportunities for women and girls on St. Thomas. “We founded the club because we saw a gap that desperately needed filling—women and girls in our community didn’t have the same access to the game as men and boys did,” said Scott. “On St. Croix, there are five or more clubs with women’s programs. In St. Thomas, there was only one.”
June schedule for St. Croix teams in USVISF Women’s Premier League. Games held at Bethlehem Soccer Complex. (Photo courtesy USVISF Facebook)
Their vision was to build a club where women weren’t an afterthought, but the focus. “All the other soccer clubs on island are men’s clubs that may have a women’s program,” said Scott. “Rock City United is centered on developing women and girls. That’s been missing here.” Cullinan added that the women they serve are juggling demanding schedules—careers, families, and community responsibilities—yet still find time to compete. “No one’s making a living off this,” she said. Women are showing up to carry the vision forward and making a powerful statement by doing so.
Preparation for the season has been fluid. Many Rock City United players stayed sharp during the offseason by participating in the coed Frenchtown 6v6 league or attending national team training camps. With the league’s schedule confirmed only weeks before kickoff, formal team practices have just begun—but morale is high.
Nicholas believes this year’s Women’s Premier League is setting the standard for what’s possible. “They’re creating a blueprint,” he said. “They’re not just trying to win—they’re working to shift the culture around women’s soccer. That kind of leadership is what we need.”
Both Scott and Cullinan say their long-term goal is to make women’s soccer in the Virgin Islands a viable pathway—not only to fitness and community, but to higher education and professional opportunities. “For some girls, this could lead to college scholarships. For others, it’s about health and confidence,” said Scott. “Whatever the outcome, we want them to see that this game can give back in so many ways.”
As the next set of Saturday afternoon showdowns quickly approaches, momentum is building. The energy from the first matches made it clear: the players are ready, the community is watching, and the league is growing into something bigger than a summer competition.
“It’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come in just a year,” said Nicholas. “But this is just the beginning. We want more women playing, more girls watching, and more clubs stepping up. That’s how we build something that lasts.”
Keep up with the Women’s Premier League by following USVISF on Facebook and Instagram.
Maekiaphan Phillips, shown here with members of her family, is the kasike (chief) of the Guainia Taino Tribe of the Virgin Islands. (Screenshot taken from a National Guard video)
A preliminary proposal to construct a small Taino demonstration village in the arboretum at Magens Bay on St. Thomas received a warm reception Friday during a meeting of the authority that governs the park, but much work remains before it could become reality.
Under the proposal, a small village of three different types of huts the Taino traditionally used would be built in the forested part of the park to educate both locals and visitors about the life and culture of the indigenous people who first occupied the land, said Maekiaphan Phillips, kasike of the Guainia Taino Tribe of the Virgin Islands and president of the group Opia Taino International.
“We would be able to teach the community more about our heritage and educate the community about the Taino that is supposed to be extinct. I think it would be a wonderful learning teaching platform for the community,” she said.
Phillips was joined by her son Emmanuel, secretary of Opai Taino International, Roberto Mukaro Borreror, kasike of the Guainia Taino Tribe of Boriken, and Sean Krigger, director of the State Historic Preservation Office under the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
“We worked on this proposal together” after a visit to the oldest functioning Taino village in Cuba, said Emmanual Phillips. “We got to meet with the chief in Cuba. And after we saw how they are living, because they still live in an actual village, we thought that a great place to start would be having a demonstration village here — a smaller version of a full-size village just so that as people go through the path they would be able to understand the culture that was there and they would be able to be educated,” he said.
While acknowledging that details need to be ironed out, Krigger told the board that his office supports the general concept, given that Magens Bay “is a significant Native American site. There are a number of documented village sites there,” so it is in keeping with the history of the area, he said. “I have seen similar village sites in Puerto Rico, so the concept is not foreign to me.”
Borreror noted that there are indigenous interpretive education centers in parks “all over the Americas” and having one at Magens Bay would not only educate people about their history but also let them know “that this is a culture that has perhaps changed over the decades, but it still exists in the Virgin Islands and throughout the Caribbean.”
Barbara Petersen, chairperson of the authority, said they are “open to having a conversation, 100%,” but that the proposal is in the very early stages and details would need to be worked out, including whether they would be selling tours and whether the proposal is permitted under the deed for the park, which was given to the people of the Virgin Islands by philanthropist Arthur Fairchild in 1947.
“There’s several things that would be required because what I envision, based on what you presented, is sort of like an MOU — a memorandum of an understanding between us,” said Petersen. “There’s a whole lot that we have to talk about, and speak with lawyers, obviously.”
Board member Jason Charles, who also sits on the West Indian Company board, was enthusiastic in his support of the project, including as a driver of cultural tourism.
“I think it’s a really, really good idea. I sit on the WICO bord as well, and I speak to the cruise lines and to their partners — we’re always talking about what could we do to enhance the offerings of the Virgin Islands. I think this would be an excellent value add to what we offer. It would give us the opportunity to be able to say, ‘This is a part of our culture. This is who the Virgin Islands is.’ And I think this is something very beautiful,” Charles said.
“It is also important that we take care of not just the colonial side of our history, but also the Caribbean side, the Native American side of our history, and hold it with the same level of reverence and esteem, because that’s a beautiful culture, and we need to be able to showcase not just our colonial DNA, but also our true natives who came here, who were the first people here, to the Virgin Islands,” he said. “So, I support their projects. If it’s designed in the right way, and we get the numbers correct, I think this would be a good value ad,” he said.
Petersen directed General Manager Monique Simon to keep in touch with the Phillips family about the proposal and said the board would aim to have a meeting to further discuss the proposal in August.
Board member Katina Coulianos added that in the meantime, her colleagues should refamiliarize themselves with a 2003 study of the arboretum by Vaccarino Associates that included in-depth historical research, a tree inventory and site analysis, “so we can really have a good understanding of what’s going on on that site. Some of us are not really very familiar with it and we need to educate ourselves,” she said.
In other business:
Board member Robert Moron, who heads the physical plant committee, said 10 companies requested RFP packages for the rebuild of Bathhouse 1, which was heavily damaged in hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. The bid deadline has been extended from June 27 to July 3.
Moron said he has received several estimates and is working with a contractor on drawings for Shed 1, which urgently requires column repairs.
The board voted unanimously to pay for shipping of a 2024 jet ski that was donated to the authority by organizers of the Stars and Stripes Poker Run for use by the park’s lifeguards. While it will cost about $3,900 to ship to St. Thomas from Florida, the jet ski is brand new and has a retail value of about $19,000 and will enhance rescue capabilities.
Voted unanimously to raise the check-signing limit of the general manager without board approval or a second signature to $9,999.
Voted to write off $2.3 million owed by Smith Bay Park, which the authority also manages, to the Magens Bay Authority and classify any future amounts as “intracompany” expenses rather than loans. Member Charles abstained.
Petersen reported that RFPs have been issued for both the taxi and watersports concessions.
Attending Friday’s meeting were members Petersen, Charles, Coulianos, Moron, Cecile de Jongh and Kevin Rodriquez. Dayle Barry had an excused absence.
Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Virgin Islands Department of Planningand Natural Resources is pleased to announce the debut of “Tides of Freedom,” a multidisciplinary visual arts exhibition opening at the historic Fort Frederik Museum.“Tides of Freedom” will be at the Fort Frederik Museum through October. (Submitted photo)
Curated by Monica Marin, Territorial Curator of the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, the exhibition explores the enduring journey of Virgin Islanders’ self-identity — from emancipation to the present-day drafting of a people-centered constitution.
Opening to the public on Friday, at 5:30 p.m. the exhibit will run through October. Admission is $10 per person, and guests will enjoy a cash bar throughout the evening.
Opening Weekend Highlights:
The launch will feature historical reflections by George Tyson, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Historian, offering context on the significance of Fort Frederik and the legacy of General Buddhoe in the 1848 Emancipation Uprising. A keynote address will be delivered by Devin Carrington, Esq., delegate to the U.S. Virgin Islands’ 6th Constitutional Convention, drawing connections between historic and ongoing efforts toward self-governance. Cultural performances will include Olu and the Ay Ay Rhythm Ensemble, Music in Motion, and the We Dah Ya Cultural Dancers.
About the Exhibition:
Tides of Freedom commemorates two pivotal moments in Black liberation history: the July 3, 1848, Emancipation Uprising in St. Croix and Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) in Texas.
Despite the ocean between them, these events are linked through a shared legacy of resistance, migration, and cultural continuity. The exhibition delves into how Virgin Islanders have influenced and been shaped by broader civil rights movements, navigating cycles of forced and voluntary migration while contributing to the Blackexperience in the Americas.
Administrative offices will reopen on Monday, July 7.
The VIWMA Team wishes everyone a safe and happy Emancipation Day and Fourth of July!
For more information, contact the Division of Education and Communications Management at 340-474-2811 or email communications@viwma.org. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for updates. 
