Numerous officials attended the groundbreaking for the new Sunny Isles branch. From left: Sammuel Sanes, Administrator, Office of the Governor, Darren Vanterpool, Manager, BVI Commercial Banking Center, Senator Marise James, of the 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, Oran Roebuck, Senior Vice President & Division Manager, VI Region, Luis Cestero, Executive Vice President & Group Manager, Retail & Business Solutions, Vivien Montañez, Division Manager, Retail & Business Core Channels, Maureen Burke-Ventura, Manager VI Facilities, Herman Hart, Manager, Facilities & Securities Administration. (Photo courtesy Banco Popular)
On Friday, Dec. 6, a celebratory groundbreaking event was held at the construction site of a new branch of Banco Popular at Sunny Isles Shopping Center on St. Croix.
“Popular is excited to announce the groundbreaking of its new Sunny Isles branch,” according to a press release from Banco Popular. “The construction of this new branch is part of the bank’s commitment to enhancing its services and accessibility for customers in the Virgin Islands,” the press release stated.
The event was attended by multiple representatives from Banco Popular and several officials with the government of the Virgin Islands, including Sen. Marise James of the 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands and Sammuel Sanes, administrator of the Governor’s Office.
Officials noted that the new branch—which will be built on a lot located across the street from the current Banco Popular location—is expected to be operational within 18 months or less. The construction project is expected to create jobs on St. Croix and will feature an upgraded facility for customers to conduct their banking needs. (The current Sunny Isles branch will remain open until the new building is completed.)
Banco Popular displays a rendition of its new Sunny Isles branch location on St. Croix during a groundbreaking celebration on Dec. 6. (Source photo by Jesse Daley)
The press release from Banco Popular offered the following details about the new branch:
“The construction site consists of approximately 6,500 sq. ft. that includes a single-story building and an Autobank Canopy for a Drive-thru terminal. With a modern design, the new branch will feature state-of-the-art facilities and enhanced functionality to provide a better user experience, with ample parking space, stations for tellers and Autobank services, additional ATM equipment, conference rooms, lounge areas, and more. Additionally, it will have eco-friendly elements, like solar panels, an emergency generator, and an energy-efficient lighting system. The branch will also offer a full range of banking services, including personal and business banking, loans, and investment services.”
The Source spoke on camera with Oran Roebuck, senior vice president and division manager of Banco Popular’s Virgin Islands Region, to learn more information about the construction of the bank.
Garret Bucklin and Tyler Penberthy stand on the podium as the second-place winners of the Men’s Division at the final stop on the 2024 NORCECA Beach Tour. (Submitted photo)
The United States Virgin Islands (ISV) senior beach volleyball teams finished the 2024 North, Central America, and Caribbean (NORCECA) Beach Tour in San Jose, Costa Rica, with a record-breaking performance.
The ISV Beach Volleyball program has participated in the NORCECA tour for many years. This year, ISV men sent at least one team to all nine NORCECA Beach Tour events, while the women participated in eight. This was the first time all season that one of the ISV teams made the podium.
Garret Bucklin and Tyler Penberthy defeated teams from Barbados, Nicaragua, and Mexico to finish the opening round of the tournament in first place in Pool C. This earned them a spot in the quarterfinals, where they faced a familiar foe, the other men’s team from the Virgin Islands, Williams Shaw Clements and Devin Van Siclen. Clements, a graduate of Antilles School, and his partner Van Siclen earned the second spot in Pool D. Bucklin/Penberthy swept Clements/Van Siclen 22-20; 21-10. Bucklin/Penberthy took care of Americans Silila Tucker and Cody Caldwell in the semifinals, guaranteeing ISV a spot-on the podium. Bucklin/Penberthy lost to Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna of Mexico (21-19; 21-13) for a second-place finish. This was the best any beach team from the United States Virgin Islands has done on the NORCECA level.
Williams Shaw Clements, light blue, hits ball past the block in his match against Bermuda at the ninth stop on the 2024 NORCECA Beach Tour. (Submitted photo)
Clements/Van Siclen rebounded from their quarterfinal loss by defeating De’ Jesus Goris and Rolvin Maldonado Sanchez of the Dominican Republic (21-14; 16-21; 16-14). However, Clements/Van Siclen lost their final match of this season to Stanley Grant Brown and Julian Araya Alas of Costa Rica (21-10; 31-29) to finish in sixth place.
Here are all the men who represented ISV in the nine NORCECA Beach Tour Tournaments in 2024:
Garret Bucklin; William Shaw Clements; Robert Cronshaw; Marc Lomeli; Bryce Mayer; Tyler Penberthy; Kendall Ratter; and Devin Van Siclen
Taylor Buckner and T’ara Austin represented ISV in the women’s tournament. The pair just missed the podium with their fourth-place finish in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in October.
T’ara Austin hits ball in their match against Mexico at the final stop on the 2024 NORCECA Beach Tour. (Submitted photo)
Buckner/Austin were placed in Pool B, where Barbados, El Salvador, and Costa Rica teams were waiting. ISV took care of all three pairs in straight sets, launching them into the quarterfinals. Angelica Gutierrez Guzman and Susana Torres Garcia of Mexico defeated Buckner/Austin (21-19; 21-12). The partners from ISV then faced the Guatemalans Natalia Maria Giron Boesche and Paola Marie Alvarado Franco, beating them (16-21; 21-15; 16-14). ISV women lost the final match of the season to Sophia Hladyniuk and Myriam Robitaille of Canada (22-20; 22-20).
Taylor Buckner and T’ara Austin celebrate after earning point at the ninth stop of the 2024 NORCECA Beach Tour. (Submitted photo)
Here are the women who represented ISV on the 2024 NORCECA Beach Tour:
Cristina Almeida-Anz; T’ara Austin; Amber Bennett; Taylor Buckner; Mannika Charles*; Sarah Penner; Melanie Valenciana
*Mannika Charles – Mannika is a graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School. She passed away during the summer. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Made in the USVI” Pop-Up Shop will reopen for the holiday season. (Photo courtesy EDA)
The Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (VICA) and the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority’s Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC) are excited to announce the reopening of the “Made in the USVI” Pop-Up Shop this holiday season. This popular holiday store will open from Wednesday, Dec. 11, through Saturday, Dec. 21, in downtown Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.
As individuals travel from the eastern side of the island toward the west, the “Made in the USVI” Pop-Up Shop will be located on the right-hand side on the first block of Main Street in the purple building next to the Lucky Jewelers store. The doors to this unique shopping experience will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays, according to the press release.
Store hours will be extended during the Miracle on Main Street event on Friday. Residents and visitors will have another opportunity to purchase a wide variety of unique gifts made in the USVI, including food items, bags, clothing, artwork, spa merchandise, and much more, the press release stated.
“Having a Made in the USVI Pop-Up Shop in our community these last few years is a clear indication that the USVI has local artisans with incredible talent and creativity. This event not only provides a platform for showcasing their unique products but also plays a critical role in promoting economic and small-business growth and pride in what our USVI community has to offer the world,” said Nadine Marchena Kean, managing director of the Enterprise Zone Commission.
“And although the USVI has a small community, it is a vibrant landscape for several talented individuals who express and share what the USVI is all about through culture and art, and in many other industries,” added Marchena Kean.
An event is being planned for Wednesday evening from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and another Santa event will be held on Saturday, the release stated.
Pop-Up Stores are short-term stores temporarily established in an available space to allow customers to experience products of a business firsthand. These stores are excellent opportunities to support local businesses and find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts while celebrating the rich culture and craftsmanship of the U.S. Virgin Islands, it said.
According to statistics from Pop Up Republic, a retail marketing database, the pop-up shop industry has grown to approximately $10 billion in sales. Pop-Up stores allow businesses, including startups and online businesses, to connect and form relationships with potential customers while business owners “test the waters” of having a brick-and-mortar store.
In 2018, the EZC and VICA jointly initiated their first “Made in the USVI” Pop Up Shop and collaborated to assist local, licensed small manufacturers and artisans with increasing their opportunities for business growth in the USVI and outside of the territory, the release stated.
For more information about the “Made in the USVI” Pop Up Shop, contact VICA at 340-774-4458, send an email to vicastt@yahoo.com or visit the VICA office in the white building across from the Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church and Fort Christian in downtown Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.
Hallelujah Chorus (Photo by William Stelzer)
Sing St. John will hold its 7th Annual Community Holiday Celebration in Cruz Bay’s Frank Powell Park on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The concert is free, and members of the audience are encouraged to join in during caroling and the rousing finale featuring Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”
Participating choirs include the St. John Recovery Choir, Ocama Youth Choir, Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church Choir and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church Choir. The program includes songs for Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, and the New Year sung in English, Spanish, Swahili, and Hebrew.
“I always look forward to the Holiday Celebration and collaborating with other organizations on St. John to launch us into the holiday season,” said Kristen Carmichael-Bowers, director of Sing St. John. “The carol sing at the end of the event brings such a feeling of good will and community, a sense of ‘Everything’s right in the world at this moment.’”
Members of Ocama Youth Choir (Submitted photo)
Five nonprofit organizations, in addition to the two senior centers and the Sports Parks and Recreation Department, contribute to this event, according to Carmichael-Bowers. Rotary Club of St. John will also be there to hand out candy, and Chef Maxine and Ras Feba will be selling local food.
Sing St. John’s programming is free for all, thanks to community donors, V.I. Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, V.I. Lottery, and Martha and Dana Robes.
For further information, visit http://singstjohn.org.
Niah Henry, 35, of St. Thomas, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert Molloy to six months incarceration followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Monday.
According to documents filed in court, on Dec. 6, 2023, Henry sold cocaine to an
undercover agent during a joint operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force, and the Virgin Islands Police Department. During the investigation, law enforcement identified Henry as part of a broader network responsible for distributing narcotics in the Red Hook area, which is approximately 800 feet from the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas.
A St. Thomas man was arrested on Dec. 6 after he was positively identified as a suspect in the robbery of a local fast food restaurant, the V.I. Police Department reported.
Marty L. Glover, 63, was apprehended near Home Depot on St. Thomas. The arrest stemmed from an ongoing investigation into a burglary at Wendy’s Mandela Circle on Sept. 26. The Criminal Investigations Bureau had information positively identifying Glover as a potential suspect, the police report stated.
Following his arrest, Glover was transported to the Alexander Farrelly Justice Complex. There, he received notification of his constitutional rights and was subsequently processed. The Superior Court of the Virgin Islands set bail at $25,000. Glover remains in custody at the Bureau of Corrections pending his advice of rights hearing, the report stated.
The investigation remains active, police said.
Individuals with information are urged to contact 911, the Police Chief’s Office or Detective S. Rhymer at 340-774-2211, or Crime Stoppers V.I. at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
On Dec. 4, the 911 emergency call center received a report of child abuse from John H. Woodson Junior High School on St. Croix, the V.I. Police Department reported.
School officials and the victim, who stated he was assaulted by a family member, spoke with officers. A detective from the Domestic Violence Unit contacted the victim, who reported being strangled by a family member, resulting in neck injuries and temporary inability to breathe, according to the police report.
Police contacted Juliana Derima, who agreed to provide a statement at the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station. After receiving Miranda warnings, Derima admitted to placing her hand around the victim’s throat to maintain control. Derima, 31, was arrested for assault, second-degree (a domestic violence offense), and additionally charged with child abuse and simple assault and battery-domestic violence.
No bail was set. Derima was remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility without bail, pending her advice of rights hearing.
Emmanuel Rodriguez-Rodriguez, 33, of Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine before United States Magistrate G. Alan Teague, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Monday.
Rodriguez-Rodriguez, along with Jose Torres-Russi, Ben Carrasquillosanto, Jose Martes-Gonzalez, Wilfredo Vazquez-Lopez, Jonathan Fernandez Montesino, Esteban Borrome Diaz, Smarling Villilo De Los Santo, and Guillermo Morales, were indicted on drug trafficking conspiracy and related charges for the Dec. 11, 2021, cocaine smuggling operation between St. Thomas and Culebra, Puerto Rico, according to the press release.
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, the press release stated.
According to court records, on Dec. 11, 2021, Customs and Border Protection Air
and Marine Operations officers observed four jet skis traveling from Culebra, Puerto Rico,
toward Mermaid’s Chair Beach, located at Botany Bay, St. Thomas, where four individuals were awaiting their arrival. Officers later observed duffel bags being loaded onto the jet skis, after which the jet skis quickly departed Mermaid’s Chair Beach and headed back in the direction of Culebra. The officers also noticed that a red Jeep Wrangler was the only vehicle parked at Mermaid’s Chair Beach while the transaction was ongoing. The officer pursued the four jet skis as they sped toward Culebra. One Jet Ski operator abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot but left behind a duffel bag containing 26 kilograms of cocaine. Officers later apprehended Jet Ski operators Torres-Russi, Carrasquillosanto and Martes-Gonzalez. The remaining six defendants, including Rodriguez-Rodriguez, were apprehended by federal agents as their vehicle attempted to exit the gated community at Botany Bay, St. Thomas. During their arrests, agents recovered two Glock pistols, one with an obliterated serial number, in the defendants’ vehicle.
Irene Fraser, of St. Thomas Virgin Islands, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Abington, Pennsylvania. She was the wife of Austin Fraser.
She was born on April 5, 1941 in Pleasant Valley, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and was the 10th of 12 children born to Eglantine (Matthias) Mactavious and Abraham Mactavious.
Irene immigrated to St. Thomas in the early 1960’s, initially serving as a domestic worker in private residences. She later worked at various hotels, then at two fabric factories, followed by cashier positions at several food stores, including Pueblo Supermarkets. She remained at Pueblo for more than 20 years and served in various other capacities there, including deli manager, eventually working her way up to a store manager. She was a treasured mentor and friend to many employees and customers during her years at Pueblo.
She was a member of Wesley Methodist Church since its founding in 1967 and she served in many capacities there, including class leader, choir member, president of the Women’s League and Synod host. After her retirement, she was a staple hand in the church’s soup kitchen.
Dating back to her time in the deli at Pueblo’s Long Bay, she became known for her cooking skills and she built a loyal clientele. Not only did people flock to the deli for her food, but she also separately filled special requests. Even after her retirement, she cooked and baked for friends, family and clients. Tarts were among her many specialties, and she was often asked to bake tarts for customers to ship far and wide to their loved ones. She enjoyed trying new foods and incorporating new things into her repertoire.
Among other hobbies, she was an avid gardener. Acquiring and nurturing plants was real passion. Her cultivation included local and exotic ornamental plants as well as fruits and vegetables, and she happily shared her bounty with neighbors and others. In a local television news story, she was dubbed “the plants lady.”
Besides her husband, she is survived by four children: Ira Mactavious (Lesa Henry Mactavious) of St. Thomas, Brenda Fraser (Gregory Martino) of Wyndmoor, PA, Austin Andrew Fraser (Alessondra Hawkins-Fraser) of Elkins Park, PA, and Bryan Fraser (Shavern Paul Fraser) of Huntingdon Valley, PA, 15 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild. She was predeceased by her son Lucien and all of her siblings.
Her funeral will be held on Friday, Dec. 20, viewing hours will be from 9:00AM to 10 a.m. Service 10 a.m. at Wesley Methodist Church, Anna’s Retreat, St. Thomas. Burial will be at Eastern Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Wesley Methodist Church or to Wesley Methodist Church with a designation for the Wesley Soup Kitchen. Funeral arrangement by Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Service.
The University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture proudly announces that Janice Brooks has become the first student to receive a certificate in horticulture from its academic program. Launched in 2020, the UVI School of Agriculture offers a diverse range of academic opportunities, including five bachelor’s degrees and four associate degrees, along with six certificates in various agricultural disciplines.
(Left to right) Dr. Annette James Associate Professor of Soil/Plant Sciences, Janice Brooks SOA student, Dr. Usman Adamu Dean and Director, Christine Cruz SOA Administrative Specialist II.
Brooks, a retired registered nurse from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, began her journey in the UVI School of Agriculture in 2021 and successfully earned her horticulture certificate in May 2024. With a keen interest in medicinal plants, she joined the program to deepen her understanding of local Virgin Islands flora, particularly bush tea, which she believes has health benefits. “My favorite class was soil sciences taught by Dr. Annette James, UVI School of Agriculture Associate Professor of Soil/Plant Sciences,” she shared.
Dr. Usman Adamu, dean and director of the UVI School of Agriculture, expressed pride in Brooks’ achievement. “Ms. Brooks was an excellent student. The UVI School of Agriculture is very proud to have her as our first student to receive a certificate from our new Academic Programs. As a non-traditional student who performed very well in her courses, Ms. Brooks was an inspiration to many students, faculty, and staff in the UVI School of Agriculture.”
In addition to her academic pursuits, Brooks has enjoyed creating her own backyard garden, inspired by her great aunt, Edith H. Williams, a prominent principal and women’s rights activist on St. Thomas. Ms. Williams was a pioneer in agricultural education, establishing the first school lunch program in the Virgin Islands in 1928, which taught students and their families how to grow and prepare their own food.
Brooks encourages high school students and retirees to consider joining the School of Agriculture. “Agriculture is a vast industry that leads to different career paths, not just farming. Learning how to grow our food will be beneficial to our health and our environment. You can begin by planting in your own backyard and sharing your experience with your neighbors and the community,” she advised.
The UVI School of Agriculture invites anyone interested in its academic programs to reach out for more information. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Usman Adamu at (340) 692-4091 or via email at usman.adamu@uvi.edu, or Cristine Cruz at (340) 692-4257 or via email at cristine.cruz@uvi.edu.
Irene immigrated to St. Thomas in the early 1960’s, initially serving as a domestic worker in private residences. She later worked at various hotels, then at two fabric factories, followed by cashier positions at several food stores, including Pueblo Supermarkets. She remained at Pueblo for more than 20 years and served in various other capacities there, including deli manager, eventually working her way up to a store manager. She was a treasured mentor and friend to many employees and customers during her years at Pueblo.
