The Virgin Islands Lottery has completed payments to the Government Employees’ Retirement System of the Virgin Islands, fulfilling its mandate for FY2024 as required by law.
Based on the percentage of revenues generated, the VIL transfers funds to the GERS, Department of Education, Office of Veteran’s Affairs and the Department of Human Services several times per year. This payment will provide retirees with their annual end-of-year cost-of-living bonuses. Approximately $2.2 million was transferred for this purpose.
VI Lottery Executive Director Raymond J. Williams, proud of the accomplished goal, recognizes the acknowledgement made by GERS Administrator Angel Dawson Jr. “It’s always a win when we fulfil our obligations. In this season of Thanksgiving, I thank Administrator Dawson for doing the work to get payments out to our retirees in time for the holiday season. It’s one of the many ways we give back.”
The VI Lottery further extends its gratitude to contractors, Southland Gaming and the Caribbean Lottery, for their commitment to ensuring that the Virgin Islands community receives the legally required payments.
It’s here – the All Saints Cathedral School’s Annual 5K Run with the Vikings Jingle Run, and you are invited to celebrate this special 10th Anniversary Run with us!
On Saturday, Dec. 14 beginning at 6:30 a.m., our Vikings are set to jingle all the way from Yacht Haven Grande to the French Town Post Office and back.
This much-anticipated event which serves as a fun and wellness community activity, is one of three annual signature fundraising events for All Saints School, and in the spirit of fun and celebrating the holidays, there will be musical entertainment, treats for sale, Moko Jumbies, dancers, a kids corner featuring Santa, face painting and more. Our National Honor Society students will also be collecting toiletries for the Nana Baby Home, and we will be making a presentation to the Women’s Resource Center and the Cathedral Church of All Saints.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each category and participation medals will be presented. This year will also feature a one-mile turnaround.
Early registration is now open through Dec. 6
– Children $15, Adults $20
Late and onsite registration
– Children $20, Adults $25
Visit our website at www.allsaintsvi.org to register, and for more information.
Note: T-shirts, Santa hats and Christmas accessories guaranteed for first 100 registrants.
Ask us about special pricing for groups of 10 or more.
Come join us as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary run sponsored in part by Yacht Haven Grande, VI Department of Tourism, Southland Gaming, VI ATM, West Indies Corporation, Gatorade, and Aquafina.
Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources is
pleased to announce that the Fort Frederik Museum will host the fourth annual “I AM DAVID HAMILTON JACKSON” student art exhibition opening on Tuesday, Nov. 26th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Artwork by STX Central student Aliyah Frorup
This annual educational outreach initiative was first launched by the Division of Libraries,
Archives, and Museums in November 2021 honoring the legacies of David Hamilton
Jackson’s activism and his impact in advancing civil rights in the territory.
The annual student exhibit prompts students to be inspired by David Hamilton
Jackson’s advocacy and to choose an issue either local or global that they would like to take a stand on by creating artwork that addresses the topic.Students are taught aboutthe history of labor organizing in the territory and David Hamilton Jackson life’s work. They are then prompted to step into their power as agents of change in their communities by using their artistic voice through creative expression.
This year’s exhibit features a large-scale portrait of David Hamilton Jackson created by a group of students, mixed media works including writing that depict Virgin Islands’ heroes, and social justice collages depicting different social issues from Liz Llanos’ American Lit. students at the St. Croix Central High School and Danica David’s Art students from the St. Croix Educational Complex School.
Artwork by SCECHS student Brandon Springer
The student art show opening on Tuesday, November 26th is free to the public. The exhibit
will remain on display during normal Fort Frederik Museum hours from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday for a $10 admission fee, but it is free for students under 18, with a discounted rate of $5 for Virgin Islands residents. “The Division of Libraries, Archives, and
Museums is excited to showcase the creative works of these talented students, inspired by
the legacy of David Hamilton Jackson. We encourage as many schools as possible to schedule a free student group tour to Fort Frederik, to experience and engage with this
powerful exhibit of young artists’ work,” said DLAM Territorial Director Amy DeSorbo.
We also invite you to visit the Florence Williams Public Library to view the annual David Hamilton Jackson exhibit. Florence Williams Public Library is open Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, contact DLAM Territorial Chief Curator Monica Marin at monica.marin@dpnr.vi.gov or call Fort Frederik Museum at 340-772-2021.
Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. convened a regular meeting of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority’s Board of Directors on November 25, 2024. Department of Finance Commissioner, Kevin McCurdy, Office of Management and Budget Director Designee Julio Rhymer Secretary Keith O’Neale and Attorney Dorothy Isaacs attended the meeting.
The Board of Directors of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority (VIPFA) received an updated quarterly report from Stephan Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Islands Next Generation Network (viNGN) regarding the operations of viNGN. Adams shared that viNGN anticipates an NTIA Digital Equity Capacity grant for $2.1M and has also applied for an NTIA Digital Equity Competitive grant for $2.5M.
The Board also approved a resolution to take whatever action necessary to secure an increase of the current Line of Credit with FirstBank Puerto Rico from $100 million to $150 million. This Line of Credit will continue to be used to fund disaster recovery efforts and to make outstanding payments to vendors of the Government of the Virgin Islands up to a total amount of $50 million. The PFA Board also unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Executive Director or the Director of Finance and Administration to engage Duane Morris, LLP as bond counsel and disclosure counsel to the Authority. the issuance of the VIPFA Grant Anticipation Revenue Bonds (GARVEE). Last week, the Authority received legislative approval to issue Garvee bonds in the aggregate principal amounts of $156 million to be used to fund major infrastructure projects, including
1. St. Croix – St. Thomas Ferry: $20 million to fabricate a high-speed ferry to improve interisland connectivity.
2. Veterans Drive Project – Phase 2A: $48 million to continue improvements and expand the current roadway and pedestrian infrastructure in St. Thomas.
3. Additional Federal-aid Eligible Road Improvement Projects on St. Croix: $28 million for various road projects.
The remainder of the proceeds will be used to re-finance existing GARVEE bonds and for debt service. In its last action for the day, the Board voted to increase the Authority’s budget by $2 million.
Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach announces office closure of its Virgin Islands State Health Insurance Program (VI SHIP)/Medicare division on St. Thomas on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The temporary closure is to allow staff to host an Open Enrollment event on St. John at St. Ursula Senior Center, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Open Enrollment outreach services will include educating Medicare beneficiaries, family members, and caregivers about Medicare and the services available from VI SHIP. There will also be in-person enrollment, and information regarding Medicare Plan D changes for 2025.
During the closure, the St. Croix VI SHIP/Medicare office located on the second floor of the former Caribe Home Center building, in Castle Coakley, remains open for regular services. The office will resume regular hours of operation. The division will reopen to the public at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor apologizes for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause. For assistance during this one-day closure, Medicare beneficiaries may contact the (VI SHIP) St. Croix office at 340-774-2991 extensions 3151 or 3152.
Artwork by St. Croix Educational Complex High School student Darnell John. (Photo courtesy DLAM)
The fourth annual “I Am David Hamilton Jackson” student art exhibition paying tribute to the celebrated civil rights activist will open Tuesday with an event from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Fort Frederik Museum on St. Croix.
This annual educational outreach initiative was first launched by the Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums (DLAM) in November 2021, honoring the legacies of Jackson’s activism and his impact in advancing civil rights in the territory.
The annual DLAM student exhibit prompts students to be inspired by Jackson’s advocacy and to choose an issue either local or global that they would like to take a stand on by creating artwork that addresses the topic, according to a press release announcing the opening.
Students are taught about the history of labor organizing in the territory and Jackson life’s work, which included establishing the first free newspaper, The Herald, and lobbying for U.S. citizenship for the territory’s residents after the transfer of the islands to American control in 1917. They are then prompted to step into their power as agents of change in their communities by using their artistic voice through creative expression.
This year’s exhibit features a large-scale portrait of Jackson created by a group of students, mixed media works, including writing, that depict Virgin Islands’ heroes, and social justice collages depicting different social issues from Liz Llanos’ American Literature students at the St. Croix Central High School and Danica David’s art students from St. Croix Educational Complex.
Artwork by St. Croix Central High School student Aliyah Frorup. (Photo courtesy DLAM)
The student art show opening on Tuesday is free to the public. The exhibit will remain on display during normal Fort Frederik Museum hours from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, for a $10 admission fee, but it is free for students under 18, with a discounted rate of $5 for Virgin Islands residents.
“The Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums is excited to showcase the creative works of these talented students, inspired by the legacy of David Hamilton Jackson. We encourage as many schools as possible to schedule a free student group tour to Fort Frederik, to experience and engage with this powerful exhibit of young artists’ work,” said DLAM Territorial Director Amy DeSorbo.
Artwork by St. Croix Educational Complex High School student Brandon Springer. (Photo courtesy DLAM)
The community is also encouraged to visit the Florence Williams Public Library in Christiansted, St. Croix, to view the annual David Hamilton Jackson exhibit. Florence Williams Public Library is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact DLAM Territorial Chief Curator Monica Marin at monica.marin@dpnr.vi.gov or call Fort Frederik Museum at 340-772-2021.
With a heavy heart the family and friends announce the passing of Clarisa Terry Hall Battiste on Nov. 4 at her home in Atlanta GA.
She is preceded in death by her husband Cyril A. Battiste Sr.(Mezzo). She’s survived by her daughters Carol Battiste (Cookie) and Cassandra Trotman; sons Delano Hall, Gladstone Wallace (Abu), Cyril Battiste Jr (Tony) and Cecil Battiste (Tunkie); daughters in law Lina Sprauve-Battiste ,Helena Battiste and Sophia Hall; sisters in law Kareen Duran and Delta Gumbs; brother-in-law Keith Battiste, Grand-daughters Shamika and Shardnay Gumbs, Shavannah Wade, Tienieque Herbert, Shante Forbes, N’Kaila Battiste, Yanique Hall, Grand-sons Shakeymo Hodge, Shamal Francis, Lionel Gumbs Jr, Malik Battiste, Malique Hall, Ronald Forbes Jr, Great-Granddaughters Shavonte’ Francis, Aliyah McIntosh, Sarijah and Kamaya Kitchen, A’mani Gumb, Nairah and Zara Battiste; Great-grandsons Elijah Francis, Baby Jordan, Grand daughter-in-law Cierra Mack many nieces, nephews and friends.
The first viewing will be on Monday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; celebration of life is on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church with a service between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The family is requesting festive colors be worn. Interment will be at the Eastern Cemetery in Smith Bay.
Arrangements by Turnbull Funeral Home and Crematory Services
UVI Closed for Thanksgiving Day and Fortsberg Day Holidays; November 28 -29
The University of the Virgin Islands will be closed on Nov. 28 and 29 to commemorate Thanksgiving Day and Fortsberg Day.
Administrative offices will resume on Monday, Dec. 2, at its scheduled time.
2025 Afternoon on the Green Theme Sought from the Community
The Afternoon on the Green planning committee is seeking theme ideas that capture the vibrant spirit of our islands, whether through food, music, heritage, or sustainability. To enter the theme contest, ideas must be submitted by Dec. 31, 2024, and the winner will be announced in the new year. The winner will receive two event tickets, UVI branded gifts, and bragging rights!
Afternoon on the Green is scheduled on Sunday, March 16 from Noon to 5 pm at the Orville E. Kean Campus on St. Thomas. With a packed schedule of musical entertainment, cultural activities and family fun, the event promises to have something for everyone in addition to a feast of local delicacies.
Save the date and support UVI’s annual “friend-raiser” that provides scholarship funds for UVI students.
Honorary Degree Nomination Form to be Submitted by December 15, 2024
The University of the Virgin Islands has established a policy regarding the awarding of honorary doctoral degrees to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments. Any member of the UVI administration, faculty, student body, staff, or the Board of Trustees, may nominate a person to be the recipient of an honorary degree.
See this link to the form – Honorary Degree Nomination Form
Nominations are currently being accepted in the Office of the President and should be submitted in writing via e-mail submission to: honorarydegrees@uvi.edu and must include:
A letter of nomination
Completed nomination form
Curriculum Vitae of the nominee
A document that clearly delineates distinguished achievements and the impact of those achievements, including supporting documents (i.e. scholarly documents, magazine articles, newspaper articles, citations for major prizes, etc.)
Other supporting documents may be appropriate.
PLEASE NOTE: Supporting documentation is of critical importance.
A nomination form and the policy approved by the UVI Board of Trustees for awarding honorary doctoral degrees, including a full listing of the criteria, is available from this direct link.
Nominations will be accepted by e-mail until 5:00 p.m. (AST) on Dec. 15, 2024, and for those submitting by hand or by U.S. Postal Service, until the close of business on that day.
UVI to Celebrate its 61st Commencement Ceremonies May 15 and 16
The University of the Virgin Islands will celebrate its 61st commencement ceremonies on Thursday, May 15, on the grounds of the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and Friday, May 16, in the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center on the Orville E. Kean Campus on St. Thomas.
The ceremonies will be at 1 p.m. on both dates.
For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar on the Orville E. Kean Campus at (340) 693-1160 on the Albert A. Sheen Campus at (340) 692-410.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. addressed the public during a weekly press briefing on Monday at Government House on St. Thomas. (Screenshot from V.I. Government House livestream)
In keeping with the upcoming holiday, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. expressed his gratitude toward the 35th Legislature on Monday and said he planned to sign into law a measure authorizing the issuance of $156 million in GARVEE bonds — or Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle bonds.
The Legislature approved the measure, meant to fund infrastructure projects including the revitalization of Veterans Drive and expanded ferry service between St. Croix and St. Thomas, during a session on Wednesday. Bryan said this will be the second issuance of GARVEE bonds, which are loans the government takes out against anticipated grants the government receives for transportation and highway projects, and approximately $56 million will go toward repaying GARVEE bonds the government issued in 2015.
One provision of the bill requires that the incoming funds be distributed equally across the St. Thomas-St. John district and St. Croix, and Bryan highlighted the ferry project, which is being designed to carry approximately 200 people, 12-16 cars and cargo — and take 90 minutes to travel between islands.
“So this is huge for us. I think it brings the economy closer together, and it’s going to be heralded as one of the significant moves to improve not only our quality of life but our economy in the Virgin Islands,” he said.
Acknowledging recent calls to repair territory roads — which a Government House spokesperson addressed during a briefing last week — Bryan said the territory has already issued a billion-dollar procurement package to underground water, sewer and some electric infrastructure on the eastern side of St. Croix.
After all of the necessary digging, Bryan said, “those roads are going to be repaired anyway.”
Bryan later said he will travel to the mainland this week to meet with members of the U.S. Congress as well as officials with both the Biden and incoming Trump administrations, noting that he had fielded calls from Virgin Islanders concerned about the impact of a Republic-controlled Congress, Senate and White House.
“These conversations are critical because they ensure that the federal government remains a strong partner for us,” he said, “and we need them to transform our territory and improve the quality of life for all Virgin Islanders.”
Bryan said the territory will continue to push to re-extend the rum cover-over rate to $13.25 per proof gallon, which is critical for keeping the Government Employees’ Retirement System from future insolvency.
“Something is going to move for us,” he said. “In respect to the traditional standoff we have between the Democrats and the Republicans: having both houses controlled by one party, we’re hoping that it’ll move rather quickly, and we can get this attached as there is no strong opposition.”
Other priorities Bryan stated included disaster recovery funding, lifting a cap on Medicaid and restarting the St. Croix refinery.
With one exception, members of the media were unable to ask questions during the briefing. A Government House spokesperson told The Source afterward there may have been a technical issue because the crew operating the call-in system were on St. Croix, while Bryan spoke Monday from Government House on St. Thomas.
The bifurcation did not affect a reporter calling in from the V.I. Consortium, and Bryan spent the last third of Monday’s briefing comfortably fielding questions on subjects ranging from the incoming federal administration and St. Croix’s Paul E. Joseph Stadium construction to voter turnout on St. Thomas and the status of tax refunds.
Bryan said the contractor behind the stadium project had assessed a $2 million delay against the territory for a work suspension that occurred during the Mapp administration and did not offer a firm timeline for the next issuance of tax refunds.
Asked whether he had a chance to speak with U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Adrianne Todman during a recent visit, Bryan told The Source by phone Monday that he met with Todman but said they “didn’t really get a chance to get into everything.”
“Of course, she expressed her concern with the HUD money and that we should do more with that money — but more than that, not really,” he said, adding that Todman was particularly concerned about the incoming administration.
Bryan also addressed whether the territory was in danger of leaving federal dollars on the table due to inaction.
“I think, like many of our federal partners, they look at it one way. I mean, $2 billion is half of our economy — that’s the first thing,” he said. “And then when you look at, you know, we have a four percent unemployment rate, it’s like OK, you want to spend faster, but who really does the work?”
The territory’s historically low unemployment rate is cited often, but Labor Commissioner Gary Molloy told lawmakers on the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee in November 2023 that the figure only measures Virgin Islanders 16 years old or older who are full- or part-time employed — or who are actively looking for work. When it was recorded in 2022, the territory’s labor participation rate was 49.5 percent.
Bryan said the territory has been using the same method to calculate the unemployment rate for at least the last 20 years.
“So the same calculation that said 12 and 13 percent during COVID is the same calculation that’s saying 3.6 percent, four percent now,” he said.
Bryan said that the current unemployment rate is so low that the government has accumulated around $40 million in its local unemployment insurance fund — and is preparing to use half of that to begin paying down the approximately $78 million in federal loans the territory received for unemployment during the 2008 recession.
Government House also announced the schedule for holiday closures and administrative leave on Monday:
Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve: Executive Branch employees will be granted administrative leave from noon-5 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day: Closed
Thursday, Dec. 26 – Boxing Day: Closed
Wednesday, Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day and St. Croix Festival J’ouvert: Closed
Thursday, Jan. 2 – Crucian Christmas Festival Food, Arts and Crafts Fair: St. Croix employees will be granted administrative leave from noon-5 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 3 – Crucian Christmas Festival Children’s Parade: Executive Branch employees territory-wide will be granted administrative leave from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 4 – Crucian Christmas Festival Adult’s Parade
Monday, Jan. 6 – Three Kings Day: Closed
Monday, Jan. 20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Closed
A rendering of Phase 2 of the Veterans Drive rehabilitation project on St. Thomas. (Photo courtesy Government House)
The Public Finance Authority Monday authorized the issuance of $250 million in Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to finance infrastructure projects. The projects include a St. Croix-to-St. Thomas ferry, upgrades to Veterans Drive on St. Thomas and St. Croix road improvements.
Last week, the 35th Legislature approved the bond issuance. The government plans to use the money from GARVEE bonds to pay for projects and then pay them off when federal grant money is received.
Public Works Commissioner Derek Gabriel told the Senate that the GARVEE bonds would speed up projects, eliminating delays caused by yearly funding allotments.
To facilitate the bond sales, the authority board members also authorized Director of Finance and Administration Nathan Simmonds to engage Duane Morris as legal bond counsel to oversee the issuance of the bonds with an estimated principal amount of $130 million. Duane Morris has more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States. It has been involved in the territory with refinery issues and power purchase agreements for alternative energy developers.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., who chairs the PFA, has said this bond proposal “will probably be this decade’s most significant economic initiative undertaken by the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
In another effort to keep money flowing through the territory’s economy, the board ratified an electronic poll vote taken on Nov. 19 authorizing the authority to negotiate, prepare, and execute a term sheet with FirstBank Puerto Rico in preparation for a line of credit maximized at $150 million. This line of credit provides funding for vendor payments and retroactive wage payments and addresses other critical needs of the territory. It is also to help advance disaster-related recovery projects where federal funding may be slow to arrive in the territory’s coffers.
In the executive session, the board heard from its subsidiary, the Next Generation Network, about a proposed project in the negotiation stage. The board also discussed a health insurance proposal.
Gabriel testified in the Senate that the GARVEE bonds would be used as follows:
$54 million to refinance existing GARVEE bonds
$20 million toward the St. Croix-St. Thomas ferry
$48 million for the next phase of the Veterans Drive project
$28 million for St. Croix road improvement projects
$6 million for deposit in a “Debt Service Reserve Fund” and to cover issuance costs.
She is preceded in death by her husband Cyril A. Battiste Sr.(Mezzo). She’s survived by her daughters Carol Battiste (Cookie) and Cassandra Trotman; sons Delano Hall, Gladstone Wallace (Abu), Cyril Battiste Jr (Tony) and Cecil Battiste (Tunkie); daughters in law Lina Sprauve-Battiste ,Helena Battiste and Sophia Hall; sisters in law Kareen Duran and Delta Gumbs; brother-in-law Keith Battiste, Grand-daughters Shamika and Shardnay Gumbs, Shavannah Wade, Tienieque Herbert, Shante Forbes, N’Kaila Battiste, Yanique Hall, Grand-sons Shakeymo Hodge, Shamal Francis, Lionel Gumbs Jr, Malik Battiste, Malique Hall, Ronald Forbes Jr, Great-Granddaughters Shavonte’ Francis, Aliyah McIntosh, Sarijah and Kamaya Kitchen, A’mani Gumb, Nairah and Zara Battiste; Great-grandsons Elijah Francis, Baby Jordan, Grand daughter-in-law Cierra Mack many nieces, nephews and friends.
