We are saddened to announce the passing of Aubrey Liburd Nov. 15.
He is preceded in death by his son Verne “Yacca” Liburd.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan Liburd; sons, Fitzroy Williams and Adrian Liburd; daughter, Colleen Liburd; grandchildren, Patience Williams, Alex, Liburd, Adrianna Liburd, Emani Liburd, Adalisse Liburd, Kelechi (Kelayshe) Azubuike and Chikere (Shikayray) Azubuike; Aunt, Eunice Merkman (St. Eustatius); uncle, Joseph Mart Prentice (STJ); daughter-in-law, Deborah Williams; sisters-in-law, Verna Liburd Sutton, Naomi Liburd, Emelda Liburd, Eloris Archibald; brother-in-law, Cecil Liburd; godchildren, Dave Brown, Randall Wilkinson, Jamarlia Archibald-Phipps, Nikki Powell; cousins and other relatives, Hesket “Wakey” Prentice, Eugene “Chevy” Chiverton, Ivor Chiverton Clinton “Bashi” Chiverton, Steve “Wayne/Kamba” Chiverton, Elton “Aliba” Chiverton, Elroy Chiverton, Clive Chiverton, Kanji Frere, Garfield Brown, Eriena Merkman, Beulah Merkman, Dennis “Spliff” Lewis, Javanka Markman, Carolyn Sturge, Jean Cruise, St Clair Williams, James “Jet” Williams, Edris Bennett, Meilna, Karen, Jacqueline “Dahl” Chiverton, Beatrice Ingrid, Iona, Carlos, Colin, Ruben, Rignaldo, Oswin, Selwyn, Carden, Winston, Honorable Mark Brantley, Ophelia Torres, Chad Prentice; adopted daughters, Dr. Vincentia Paul Constantin, Itumeleng “Debbie” Mwale, Fiona Stokes; special friends, Carlton Williams, Alford Howell, Hugh “Bap” Walters, Theodore Walters, Jean Coke, Randolph Walters, Nathaniel “Nat” Williams, Weston Huggins, William “Lionel” Daley, Roy Daley, Glenn Daley, Joan Daley, Owen Azubuike, Viola Brookes, Pansy and Clive Morton, Mavis Archibald and family, St. Luke A.M.E Church, Polina Dubois, Gwendolyn Myers, Hendrickson family, Pam Powell family, Melford Tyson & Family, Camelita “Suzette” Lewis, Edread Rolle Stapleton, the Maynard family, Charles Fleming and Family, Calvin Whyte and family, and the staff at Continuum Care. Other special friends too numerous to mention.
Colors: Blue and Black
Home-going services will be Dec. 16, at the St. Luke AME Church in Estate Grove Place. Viewing at 9 a.m. and service at 10 a.m. Arrangements entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home.
Get ready for the final weekend of live tackle football action, the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
Join us for thrilling plays, teamwork, and the spirit of competition. Bring your friends and family to cheer on your favorite teams!
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School vs. Charlotte Amalie High School
Friday, December 6, 2024. 6:00 PM at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School Field
Beatrice Clarentina Gordon Coggins, also known as Girly, Bea, or Sister Coggins, of Estate La Grande Princesse passed Nov. 18. She was 89 years old.
She was preceded in death by her parents, May Lloyd and Ernest Gordon; husband, Alfredo Coggins; aister, Lillamay Gordon-Ferris; atepsons, Glenwood Coggins Sr., Elroy Coggins; atep-granddaughter, Delita Coggins-Malone.
Beatrice Coggins
She is survived by her Daughter, Berita J. Coggins-Saldana; son- in-law, Luis A. Saldana Sr.; grandson, Ajani K. Saldana (FL); adopted sister, Kaeturah Browne (FL); brothers, Horatio Gordon Sr. (FL), Frank Gordon (NY) and Glenmore Gordon (FL); nieces, Cynthia Gordon (MD), Lovonne Gordon (FL), Renae Gordon (TX), Tracelyn Gordon (FL), Jackie Gordon (FL), Diane Gordon (FL), Althea Gordon (AG), Mavrene Gordon (AG), Cornelia Gordon (AG) and Afia Gordon (STX); nephews, Glenmore Gordon (FL), Franklyn Gordon (AG), Horatio Gordon Jr. (MD), Frank Gordon Jr. (AG), Frank Gordon II (STX), Frank Gordon III (AG), Jamal Gordon (CT); Aunt(s), Launa Lloyde-Mills (AG); cousins, Genevieve Junella Richards (STX), Sadie Lloyd (STX), Ann Richards Shaw (STX), Deedee Richards, Paula Richards (STX) Joey Jarvis (STX) and Eldine Lloyde (CAN); step grandchildren, Yvette Coggins (FL), Ruth Coggins, Elisa Coggins-Marsh (FL), and Arlene Coggins-John (STX), Glenwood Coggins Jr. (FL)., Glenroy Coggins (FL), and Kasheem Coggins (TX); step grandson-in-law, Kean John (STX) and Dave Marsh (FL); step-great grandchildren, Kimberly Malone (VA), Shaunte Baptiste (TX), Chenique Decicco-Andrews (Ali Andrews), K’Neliah JN-Marie, K’Taesha Brewster, O’Daisha Coggins (FL), O’Desha Coggins (FL), O’Daine Coggins (FL), O’Delle Coggins (FL), Kianna Coggins (FL), David Baptiste Jr. (VA), Keon John (TX), Takiba Ortiz (Natalia Ortiz) (FL), Nic’korey Philip, Omarl Coggins (FL), Jumaine Coggins (FL), Nasim Coggins (FL), Mekhi Coggins (TX), and Kailyn and Kaylon Coggins (TX); step great-great grandchildren, Omariah Coggins (FL), Tristan Coggins (FL), A’naiya Parrilla, A’naeya Parrilla, Timmoy Sneed, Tisseya Ortiz, Tehara Ortiz, Aden Stephens, Anai Andrews, Asha Andrews, Jayden Coggins and Kae’Lahnii Coggins; other families and special friends, Claudette Edney-King and family, Edney family, Children of Maria Coggins-King, Children of Alma Tuitt-Bushbee, King family, Coggins family, Isacc Family, Ina King-Isacc and family, Corinne Edney-Williams, Wilfred Tuitt, Jarvis Family, Shirley Morris and family, Ebenezer Holiness Congregation, Scotland Family, Frank Jeremiah, Karen Davron, Stevens Family, Gloria Henry, Angela Smith, Saldana family, Grethel Smith & family, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, Straker Family, Saldana Family, Garilyn Bailey, The Turning Point Senior Care, Crystal Carino, Leroy David, Jennifer David, Maria Carmona-Walter, Kendalise Lanquedoc; Other family and friends are too numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 19 at the Ebenezer Holiness Church (Grove). Viewing will begin at 9:00 am with service at 10 a.m. Interment follows at the Kingshill Cemetery.
Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
GivingTuesday, held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, seeks to transform the world through “radical generosity.” (Image courtesy GivingTuesday.org)
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that, since its inception in 2012, takes place on the first Tuesday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving. GivingTuesday sprang from the basic idea of having a day that encourages people to do good in their communities.
“This idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity,” according to the movement’s website. Plenty of local organizations could use help on this global day of giving, including those listed below. To add an organization, send us an email at visource@gmail.com with GivingTuesday in the subject line.
The Animal Care Center of St. John is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the well-being and care of homeless, abandoned and abused animals on St. John. Visit their website to learn more, email info@stjacc.org or call 340-774-1625.
GivingTuesday gifts made to Antilles School support educational access, along with student experiences, programs, and faculty development. Donations can be made here.
Atelier St Thomas Arts Foundation / 81C Arts is a nonprofit organization founded by Zack Zook in 2017 that produces art and education programs in historic Charlotte Amalie, including the DigiLocal after-school digital animation course, the Expression Through the Arts summer youth art program, an Artist Support Program, offering no-cost art studio space to emerging Virgin Islands artists, and the Artist Dialogues Series that hosts educational group gallery visits. For more information and to donate, visit linktr.ee/81cvi, 81CVI.ORG and 81CVI.COM.
The Boys and Girls Club of St. Thomas/St. John helps youths ages seven to 17 to reach their full potential, working with young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances to offer educational and community support that is vital to their success. Visit their website to learn more and to donate.
Cancer Support V.I. raises funds and awareness for all those fighting cancer. To donate, or to join the Leaderboard challenge as an individual or a team, visit the website.
Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, or CMCArts, on St. Croix, serves and promotes the rich cultural and artistic traditions of Caribbean art. The museum encourages artistic expression and learning for all ages. To learn more, visit the website.
Caribbean Volunteer Services, Inc. helps Virgin Islanders in crisis, with a focus on mental health, housing and elder care. To learn more, visit their website.
Among its many services, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands offers emergency shelters on St. Thomas and St. Croix, and soup kitchens on St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John where daily meals are offered to anyone in need. Additionally, shelter staff facilitate referrals to mainstream and other services. To donate, visit the website, call 340-777-8518 or email info@catholiccharitiesvi.org.
The Children’s Museum of St. Croix, a 501(c)(3) organization, provides a multifaceted, interactive, creative space for children and families to discover a variety of learning opportunities inherent in play. To learn more and to donate, visit the website.
Collective Collaboration Inc. on St. Croix is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for adults suffering from mental health issues and those who are unhoused. To learn more, visit the Facebook page, email kdickenson@collectivecollaborationvi.com, or call 340-718-8224.
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands’ Virtual Giving Tree project is back for the fifth year. Donations can be made online at cfvi.co/DonateGivingTree. One hundred percent of all proceeds will directly support the holiday-related needs of USVI nonprofits. Funding is used to provide seniors, low-income families and children, the homeless and others with a variety of needs, including food, personal care products, holiday gift baskets, clothing, toys, and much more. For a detailed list, read the press release from last year.
The Diane Hampton, V.I. Breast Cancer Project’s goal is to reach out to as many women in the USVI as possible in order to improve their health and eliminate health disparities, including through art therapy, research, advocacy and public policy. Learn more here and on the USVI Cancer Coalition website.
The Family Resource Center on St. Thomas offers 24-hour crisis response and support to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes, including emergency shelter, referrals, legal advocacy, intervention programs and community education. Visit the website to learn more.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park will be paying back the support afforded it by the St. John community and beyond this GivingTuesday with a Community Plant Giveaway at the National Park Visitor Center Pavilion in Cruz Bay from 8 to 10 a.m. or until plants are gone. Light refreshments will be served. Additionally, shoppers will receive a 25 percent discount at the visitor center or at the Friends online shop with the discount code THANKYOU. Visit the Friends website for more information or to donate.
Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park Sea Turtle Program aims to protect sea turtle nests, facilitate research projects, and spread awareness of sea turtle conservation in Virgin Islands National Park and its surrounding waters including the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. The program is funded and managed by Friends of Virgin Islands National Park with the invaluable support of 80 volunteers. To learn more and to donate, visit their website.
The Foundation for Development Planning asks the community to support its initiative to increase access to information for learning, individual growth, and community development that is critical for decision-making in all facets of development, especially in small island states with limited capacity and high levels of vulnerability, according to its GivingTuesday campaign. Donations can be made here.
The Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital Foundation’s mission is to “Enhance Healthcare Delivery in St. Croix with long-term sustainability for our community.” Through its board of directors, SCCHF, supported by Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, seeks to increase community awareness, raise funds for programs and services, and provide stewardship of the funds, to advance local health care and improve quality patient care for the residents of our community. Visit the website to learn more.
The Humane Society of St. Thomas has a GivingTuesday goal of $50,000 that will support the efforts of its staff in continuing to help care for the shelter pets in need. Each gift up to $10,000 will be matched by the Randolph Knight Charitable Foundation for double the impact. Donations can be made here. Give at: www.humanesocietystthomas.org
Lion Haven on St. Croix provides a safe place after school for local youth to learn, grow and thrive through activities such as sports, gardening/farming, arts, classwork assistance, and other engaging activities. To learn more, visit lionhaven.org, email donations@lionhaven.org, or visit their Facebook page.
Lutheran Social Services of the V.I. is a multiservice nonprofit organization headquartered in Frederiksted, St. Croix, that has been in operation since 1904. The largest private child and family service agency in the U.S. Virgin Islands, it offers programs for abused, abandoned and neglected children, pregnant women and families, low-income seniors and adults with disabilities. To learn more and to donate, visit the website.
My Brother’s Workshop, which provides faith, hope, and purpose through mentoring, mental health counseling, education, paid job training, and job placement to youth of the U.S. Virgin Islands, will host a thank you reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at its main campus located off the Donoe Bypass, next to Home Depot, on St. Thomas. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided. This year, Dick and Lynnae Kotz have pledged to match all donations up to $40,000 made now through GivingTuesday. To donate, visit the website.
Nana Baby Children’s Home has been a fixture in the St. Thomas community for more than 30 years, offering a 24/7, 365-days-a-year emergency placement group home for children in crisis. Its small team works to create and maintain a warm, safe, loving and happy environment for the children who need them. To learn more, visit their website, email nanababyhome@gmail.com or call (340) 775-0044.
Our Town Frederiksted, Inc., established in 1988 on St. Croix, has been a steadfast advocate for community empowerment and historic preservation, proactively addressing the needs and aspirations of Frederiksted’s Historic District. Its primary objective is to foster sustainable growth and invigorate the local economy through strategic leadership, aiming for a revitalized and thriving Frederiksted. Visit the website to learn more.
Project Promise on St. Croix is dedicated to giving at-risk youth the tools and support they need to live healthier lives. From life coaching and personal wellness to academic tutoring, community service, cultural programs, family services, and more, Project Promise offers an opportunity for positive change in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment by introducing children to our natural resources, history and culture, and the most valuable resource, themselves. Visit the website to learn more.
The Ruby Rutnik Scholarship Fund was created 27 years ago to honor the memory of Ruby Rutnik, who was a senior at American University when she died in a car accident in 1996. Since its inception, the fund has awarded a total of nearly $200,000 to more than 70 recipients. The scholarship is open to any young woman who has resided on St. John for at least five years and is pursuing a degree in higher education. Those wishing to contribute to the scholarship fund are asked to make their checks payable to Gifft Hill School, noting RRSF on the bottom of the check, and mail it to GHS, P.O. Box 1657, St. John, VI 00831.
Ruff Start Rescue STX is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, and its mission is to proactively search out the dogs who can’t search for help themselves. In addition, they offer educational youth programs to encourage animal compassion and advocacy in their everyday lives. To donate, visit https://ruffstartstx.org/donate/.
The St. Croix Animal Welfare Center provides and promotes the humane treatment of animals through education, animal protection, and community service, including a low-cost community veterinary clinic. Its duty is to the orphaned, abused, neglected, and unwanted animals of St. Croix as the only open-admissions shelter, never turning away an animal in need. Visit their website to learn more.
The St. Croix Environmental Association promotes the conservation of environmental resources, provides education and advocates for environmentally responsible actions that benefit St. Croix. Visit the website to learn more and to donate.
The St. Croix Landmarks Society exists to cultivate appreciation of St. Croix’s rich history and enduring legacy through an array of museums and programming. Visit their website to learn more.
The St. George Village Botanical Gardens on St. Croix, featuring 16 acres planted with more than 1,000 Caribbean and pantropical plants growing against a backdrop of ruins and repurposed buildings of an 18thcentury Danish colonial sugar plantation, is dedicated to the conservation and preservation of both the historical and living collections on its grounds. To learn more, visit the website.
The non-profit St. John Historical Society’s mission is to document, preserve and share with the public the history of St. John. This is achieved with the help of numerous professional historians, crafts people, artisans, musicians and educators who have brought this island’s rich history to life. Through its collections, publications, media, educational programs, field trips, special events and more, the Historical Society continues to be a leading resource for discovering the island. Visit the website to learn more and to donate.
The non-profit St. John Rescue is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to saving lives, providing community education and building a better way of life for the people of St. John. To learn more and to donate, visit their Facebook page and stjrescue.networkforgood.com, or call 340-693-7377.
St. John School of the Arts works to empower the island’s youth and their families through its passion for music, dance, theater and visual arts. Its programs seek to instill creativity and a greater sense of collaboration throughout the diverse community of St. John, helping to transform lives and inspire greatness by instilling poise, confidence and character. Visit the website to learn more and to donate.
Deck the halls with gifts that last. From home-cooked dinners to a good night’s sleep, your donation to The Salvation Army can help your neighbors in need all year round. Visit give.salvationarmyusa.org.
Supporting Schneider Regional Medical Center Foundation is “an investment in the well-being of your neighbors, parents, kids, and yourself! Every contribution helps enhance technology, improve treatment options, and create a superior care environment,” according to SRMC’s giving campaign. Visit the website to learn more.
Sing St. John’s mission it to provide universally accessible singing for all ages on St. John, fostering cultural awareness, a meaningful sense of community, and resilience. Its endeavors include the St. John All-Island Children’s Choir, Ocama Youth Choir, St. John Recovery Choir, and the Senior Singalong. It envisions a world that is inclusive, in which every voice counts and believes that healthy diversity brings strength, and that joy heals. To learn more and to donate, visit their website.
The V.I. Children’s Museum’s GivingTuesday donations will go to help with operational expenses and programming. GlobalGiving — a nonprofit that supports other nonprofits by connecting them to donors and companies through their global online platform — will match donations made on Dec. 3 only. Visit the museum’s website to learn more and to donate.
The Virgin Islands Justice Initiative is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization focused on creating opportunities for the poor to succeed through economic justice and poverty law. It provides free legal representation, education, and resources for economic and social mobility and provides essential legal services, programs, and initiatives to the community. To learn more, visit the website. Donations can be made here.
The Women’s Coalition of St. Croix offers advocacy, programs and services for the safety and health of the territory’s people, families, and community. Donations may be made on their secure page. Then, use the unselfie image to share the great news about your investment and peace on your favorite social channels.
Three high-ranking Education officials have reportedly been put on paid leave as the result of an internal department probe. (Source file photo)
Two principals and an assistant principal have reportedly been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of a special investigation into allegations they failed to report the crimes of former Charlotte Amalie High School track coach Bruce Smith, though the Virgin Islands Education Department has not issued an official confirmation.
Instead, a statement sent Monday afternoon said, “The Virgin Islands Department of Education does not have an official statement or comment regarding this matter at this time, as it is part of an ongoing investigation. We recognize and respect the vital role of the media and understanding as we work through the process.”
The investigation, reportedly initiated within the Education Department, is still in the beginning phases and has involved outreach to the victims’ families by officials at both district and territorial levels in recent weeks. This effort has raised questions among community members about the scope of the inquiry and potential systemic changes to prevent similar failures in the future.
In September 2024, the Praed Foundation released a report titled “A Systems Approach to Understanding Child Abuse Reporting within the Virgin Islands Public School System.” Commissioned by the Virgin Islands Human Services Department, the report identified widespread systemic failures in reporting child abuse. It highlighted that the close-knit nature of island communities often created barriers to reporting, with educators expressing concerns about confidentiality and fear of retaliation. Notably, the report referenced a former Charlotte Amalie High School official — Smith — as a central figure in these chronic and largely unreported abuses.
The report gathered input from 65 school personnel through focus groups and anonymous surveys, providing insight into the challenges educators faced. Notably, only 25 individuals completed the anonymous survey, despite the Virgin Islands Education Department employing 857 teachers and serving over 10,000 students during the 2022-2023 school year.
According to the report, 25 percent of respondents reported fears of retaliation, while others felt unqualified to identify abuse or worried about jeopardizing their employment.
Smith, a former hall monitor and track and field coach at Charlotte Amalie High School on St. Thomas, was sentenced in April 2024 to 35 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to a 20-count indictment that included federal and territorial child sexual exploitation offenses. Smith’s tenure at the school, spanning from 2006 to 2021, was marked by the sexual abuse of multiple male students, often occurring on school grounds and during school-sponsored events.
In the wake of Smith’s conviction, public officials and community members have demanded accountability for those who may have enabled his actions through inaction. Sen. Marise James, in a letter to Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea and U.S. Attorney Delia Smith, called for legal action against school administrators who were allegedly aware of the abuse but failed to report it. James stressed that “parents, victims, and the public deserve answers and justice,” warning that the continued employment of these officials undermines public trust.
Rhea acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, noting that federal investigators found insufficient evidence to prosecute school officials under existing child abuse or neglect laws. Despite this, he indicated that he would launch a renewed investigation to explore potential administrative punishments for those involved in failing to report Smith’s actions.
Meanwhile, The Source has spent the past several months interviewing families affected by Smith’s actions and is preparing to release a series next week. These families detailed multiple attempts to report Smith’s assaults, often without success, and emphasized the importance of their experiences being heard to drive reforms aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Please join My Brother’s Workshop on #GivingTuesday, Dec. 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for our annual thank you reception which will be held at The Stephenson Family Welcome Center, located at the new MBW Campus off Donoe Bypass, behind Home Depot. MBW invites all supporters to hear the highlights of 2024, learn of the organization’s future plans, and enjoy a celebratory champagne toast which will be held at 6:30 pm. Light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be provided by MBW Cafe and Bakery.
#GivingTuesday is a Global Day of Giving and this year it falls on December 3rd. Dick and Lynnae Koats have pledged to match all donations up to $40,000 made now through #GivingTuesday. MBW’s #GivingTuesday campaign, “Hopeful Journeys,” has launched and donations can be made HERE. Last year, MBW raised $210,966 for #GivingTuesday.
MBW is pleased to announce a limited edition MBW hook bracelet in partnership with Vibe Jewelry in celebration of their 20th anniversary. The bracelets will be available for $289 each at our #GivingTuesday Thank You Reception. All proceeds from sales of the MBW bracelets will go back to support our organization. From November 14 – December 3, 20% of Vibes proceeds will be donated to VI based organizations and My Brother’s Workshop is a grateful recipient along with Family Resource Center Inc and Friends of Virgin Islands National Park.
My Brother’s Workshop is a non-profit charitable corporation in the Virgin Islands. It has been organized to provide hope, faith, and purpose to at-risk and high-risk USVI youth by offering mentoring, mental health counseling, paid job training, education, and job placement.
Island Booksellers hosts a vast selection of literary genres for all readers. (Photo courtesy Claire Starkey)
Island Booksellers, St. Thomas’ latest bookstore located in Buccaneer Mall, is opening on Dec. 10.
Bibliophiles and literary lovers will be pleased to know that more than 10,000 books are in stock at the new store, along with a wide selection of art supplies, board games, and other related products.
Proprietors Claire Starkey and Tom Klotzbach are committed to creating a community-centered space and, beginning in January, hope to launch collaborative relationships with book clubs, spoken word groups, and others.
“My husband always had dreams of opening a bookstore and finally the timing worked, given our recent retirement and an ideal location. We’ve really had to hustle these last two months. Our first priority has been ensuring that our stock is inclusive of all reading preferences and literacy levels. Genres include classic and contemporary fiction, sci-fi and fantasy, romance, and crime, plus an extensive non-fiction section that features biographies and memoirs and books on business and finance, history, and self-help. We also worked hard to curate a section highlighting Caribbean authors, with additional sections featuring YA, manga and graphic novels. And we have an entire children’s room with over 1,500 picture and chapter books,” Starkey said.
“Next up, we definitely want to work in concert with our fellow small businesses, complementing rather than competing with them, supporting their events whenever possible and directing our customers to them as opportunities permit,” Starkey said. She noted that the store has already established an alliance with the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum, given its adjacent proximity, and that it will underwrite one annual family pass to the museum per month through customer raffles.
Interested community members are encouraged to follow Island Booksellers on Facebook and Instagram for updated information. If anyone, including local self-published authors, has questions, Starkey can be reached at info@islandbooksellers.com.
The store will be open Monday-Sunday between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to a blaze in Savan on Monday morning on St. Thomas. (Photo courtesy VIFEMS)
Firefighters quelled an early morning blaze at an abandoned Savan structure, the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services announced on Monday.
According to a VIFEMS press release, suppression crews from the Hotel, Echo and Tango companies quickly responded to the fire and brought it under control within 30 minutes. No one was inside the burning structure and no injuries were reported. The fire was contained, according to VIFEMS and there was no damage to the surrounding structures.
The cause of Monday’s fire is under investigation by VIFEMS.
“The Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS) reminds the public of the importance of reporting fire hazards and securing abandoned properties to prevent future incidents,” VIFEMS stated in a press release on Monday. “We also express our sincere gratitude to the responding units for their swift and effective actions. VIFEMS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors through dedicated service and rapid response to emergencies.”
Source reporter Jesse Daley interviews Daryl Jaschen, the director of VITEMA capturing the importance of the agency and how it keeps our territory safe.
A family fight on Thanksgiving Day led to charges of assault and possession of a deadly weapon during an act of violence. (Source file photo)
Family gatherings are part of the Thanksgiving Day tradition, but police on St. Croix were called to a home where family and friends gathered to break up a fight between family members.
Aaron Sampson was arrested after the alleged victim — his son — and witnesses said he threw punches and picked up a weapon in the middle of a quarrel.
Documents filed in Superior Court say police responded to a home outside of Frederiksted where they met a man who said his father started a fight with him. The alleged victim gave a statement and produced a video recording of the incident. In the recording, the accused “is observed running up to (the victim) and he then throws a punch and the video cuts off,” the police report said.
The responding officer added that when the accused assailant was approached to get his side of the story, “he started to curse.” The officer said they also observed that he was drinking as the conversation began and had a heavy scent of alcohol on his breath.
Witnesses said the altercation began as Sampson was in the process of throwing the victim’s clothing out of the house. At the time the father was demanding that the son leave the family home.
A witness who helped break up the fight also told authorities that at one point, the father picked up a machete and tried to charge towards the victim; he was quickly stopped and disarmed, the witness said.
Sampson was charged with assault, disturbance of the peace, and possessing a deadly weapon while committing violence. He appeared at an advice of rights hearing before Magistrate Judge Venetia Velazquez on Friday.
He is preceded in death by his son Verne “Yacca” Liburd.
