The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority wrapped up its Week of the Young Child outreach with an educational visit to Ulla F. Muller Elementary School on Thursday, April 16, in partnership with the Virgin Islands Department of Education.
Students at Ulla F. Muller Elementary School gear up with their “energy band” wristbands as they prepare to race in an activity simulating how quickly electricity moves on April 16. (Submitted photo)
More than 100 students in Grades 1 through 3 learned how electricity moves from power lines into their homes and schools. Through guided discussion, they explored how electricity travels across a connected system and how electrons carry energy through a continuous flow. The energy-filled activity that followed brought the concept to life, with students acting out the movement of electrons and ending with a fast-paced race that demonstrated how quickly electricity moves.
“It was such a delight to see young students’ curiosity about the energy field come to life,” said Shanell Spencer, WAPA Communications Director. “We are glad to participate in Week of the Young Child and support STEM learning through kinetic experiences that make learning more exciting and engaging for students.”
During Week of the Young Child, WAPA supported youth education through meaningful outreach that inspired curiosity, encouraged exploration, and helped students see themselves as future STEM leaders in the energy field and beyond.
On a warm Saturday night in Frederiksted, St. Croix, Stacey Plaskett formally entered the race for governor, tapping Senate President Milton Potter as her running mate in a joint announcement that leaned heavily on experience, federal access, and a promise to turn long-discussed funding into tangible results on the ground.
The rollout — equal parts personal narrative and policy pitch — centered on a shared theme repeated throughout both speeches: a “people-powered” campaign that is “ready to deliver,” with the candidates positioning themselves as a blend of federal influence and local execution at a moment they described as critical for the territory.
Potter, who will seek the lieutenant governor’s seat, grounded his remarks in a personal story about growing up in the Virgin Islands and watching his mother struggle to access specialized health care — a moment he said shaped both his career and decision to run.
“That kitchen table is still out there,” he said, describing families forced to navigate gaps in local medical services. “Far too many of our families are still sitting by it.”
From there, Potter pivoted to a broader critique of long-standing systemic challenges — particularly the territory’s energy grid and health care system — tying both to everyday impacts on residents.
On the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, Potter framed outages not as technical issues but as daily disruptions to health and economic stability, citing residents unable to refrigerate medication and businesses losing revenue during blackouts. He argued that despite abundant solar potential, Virgin Islanders continue to pay some of the highest electricity rates in the United States — a point supported by federal energy data showing the territory’s costs consistently rank among the highest nationally due to fuel dependency and aging infrastructure.
He also pointed to the territory’s reliance on off-island care, a long-standing issue documented in federal and local health assessments, where limited specialty services often require costly travel. Potter credited Plaskett with securing federal funding to rebuild hospitals, but emphasized that “resources” must translate into accessible care locally — a gap that has been repeatedly flagged in post-hurricane recovery reporting.
Throughout his remarks, Potter cast the ticket as a functional partnership: Plaskett opening doors in Washington, and himself ensuring those resources are implemented effectively at home.
Plaskett’s speech afterward built on that framework, tracing her candidacy through both personal history and her nearly 12 years as the territory’s delegate to Congress. She highlighted her upbringing in a family shaped by migration for economic opportunity — a common experience among Virgin Islanders — and positioned that background as central to her approach to governance.
Her case for governor leaned heavily on federal dollars secured during her tenure, including disaster recovery funding following the 2017 hurricanes, Medicaid expansions, and tax credit provisions that deliver tens of millions annually to residents.
That funding — totaling billions — aligns with congressional appropriations tied to hurricane recovery and infrastructure rebuilding across the territory. But Plaskett acknowledged a key criticism that has surfaced in public discourse and reporting: that large federal allocations have not always translated into visible improvements in daily life.
“Securing billions of dollars is not enough,” she said. “Resources … are not worth anything if people are not seeing it on the ground.”
Her policy outline focused on converting those funds into outcomes, including two accredited hospitals within six years, expanded health care workforce development, improvements in education outcomes, and modernization of government services — including proposals for public-facing dashboards and a centralized 311 system.
On energy, Plaskett referenced billions already allocated for grid improvements, pledging a more transparent and accountable approach to reforming WAPA, which has faced years of scrutiny over outages, procurement practices, and debt obligations.
Plaskett also moved preemptively to address one of the most persistent political flashpoints tied to her tenure: campaign donations linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The issue has resurfaced periodically in Virgin Islands politics, particularly given Epstein’s financial and social ties to the territory prior to his 2019 death. Public records show that Plaskett’s campaign received contributions connected to Epstein, which she later redirected to organizations supporting women and families.
In her remarks, Plaskett characterized the issue as a political distraction, stating she had been “cleared by the victims themselves” and emphasizing that her campaign contribution — approximately $8,000 — had been donated.
She also suggested opponents would attempt to leverage the issue to divert attention from broader governance concerns, urging voters to focus instead on policy outcomes and accountability.
Both candidates repeatedly framed their campaign as a break from what they described as cycles of delay, political favoritism, and unfulfilled promises — language that echoes broader voter frustrations reflected in recent polling and public commentary around infrastructure, health care access, and governance transparency in the territory.
Plaskett, in particular, emphasized urgency, calling the current moment a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to transform the Virgin Islands, while warning against continued delays in deploying already-secured funding.
Potter reinforced that message by positioning the ticket as a practical governing team rather than a symbolic one — a pairing, he said, designed to move from policy to implementation.
The Plaskett-Potter ticket now enters what is expected to be a competitive gubernatorial race, where issues like energy reliability, health care access, and government accountability are likely to dominate.
Both candidates signaled they will begin an island-wide campaign tour in the coming weeks, with a focus on direct engagement — a strategy consistent with their “people-powered” messaging.
From left, USVI Festival Committee Member, Sen. Novelle Francis, Director of Festivals Ian Turnbull, and contestants D’Quana Lewis, Safiah Wharton, Ajenue Willet-Tyson, Jahniya Williams, 2025 St. Thomas Ambassadorial Queen Arliesha Paul, and Alvin Burke Jr. (Source photo by Rick S. S. Grant)
As the sun began to set and anticipation filled the air, supporters, family members, and pageant enthusiasts gathered on Saturday evening at the Eldridge Wilburn Blake Sports and Fitness Center at the University of the Virgin Islands for an evening of pageantry culminating in the crowning of a new St. Thomas Ambassadorial Queen.
At the conclusion of a highly competitive evening, contestant number one, Safiah Wharton, emerged as the new titleholder. A senior at Charlotte Amalie High School, Wharton also earned the titles of Miss Intellect and Best Ambassadorial Presentation, solidifying her standout performance in two key segments of the competition.
Contestant number four, Jahniya Williams, a student at the University of the Virgin Islands, presented and performed consistently throughout the night and was named first runner-up. Williams secured several awards, including Best Swimwear, Best Cultural Historical Dress, Miss Photogenic, and the People’s Choice Award, the latter reflecting strong community support through text-based voting.
Cultural Historical Dress- Jahniya Williams
Contestant number three, Ajenue Willet-Tyson, captured both Best Talent and Best Evening Wear, demonstrating excellence in performance and stage presence.
Completing the slate of contestants was D’Quana Lewis, who also contributed to the evening’s dynamic and competitive showcase.
The show began promptly at 6 p.m. with the traditional formalities that set the stage for the evening’s proceedings. The opening number followed, which began with a cultural tribute that paid homage to the territory’s women cultural bearers of yesteryear, as contestants appeared adorned in traditional Bamboula dancer garments. This was followed by a high-energy routine that ushered in the vibrant spirit of Carnival.
Cultural Historical Dress- D’Quana Lewis (Source photo by Rick S. S. Grant)
In pursuit of the coveted crown, each contestant displayed her individual style, poise, talent, cultural awareness, and intellect across seven judged segments: Introductory Speech, Swimwear, Ambassadorial Presentation, Onstage Interview, Cultural/Historical Dress, Talent, and Evening Wear, with a total possible score of 1,950 points.
The Introductory Speech marked the first formal opportunity for the audience to learn about each contestant and the platforms they represent. This segment was well executed by all contestants and effectively set the tone for the evening.
Building on this momentum, the Swimwear segment followed, highlighting fashion, fitness, and flair as each contestant took to the stage with confidence and poise. Each appearance was crafted to reflect the unique personality and style of the contestants. Williams distinguished herself in this segment, commanding the stage in a blue-themed swimwear design accented with yellow, complemented by touches of Madras fabric and a polished, confident routine.
The competition deepened during the Ambassadorial Presentation. Each contestant spoke to their interests and sense of civic responsibility. Wharton delivered a passionate and eloquent speech on the topic, “Unmasked: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health Among USVI Youth.” Lewis used her platform to emphasize the importance of civic engagement, encouraging greater awareness and active participation. She reminded listeners that the future of the Virgin Islands can be shaped using their voices and exercising their right to vote. Willet-Tyson thoughtfully blended her aspiration of becoming a judge with a cultural perspective, incorporating her involvement with the Rising Stars Steel Orchestra to underscore the role of the arts in community development. Williams drew on her passion for sports to bring awareness to the economic and social benefits of sports tourism, presenting it as a viable avenue for growth within the territory.
Cultural Historical Dress- Safiah Wharton (Source photo by Rick S. S. Grant)
The Onstage Interview immediately followed the Ambassadorial Presentation. During this segment, each contestant was asked three questions. The first served as an icebreaker, while the remaining two assessed the contestants’ ability to thoughtfully respond to current issues. The featured topics for the evening focused on the education of young women in the community and tourism. Wharton distinguished herself as one of the most composed and fluent speakers.
The energy shifted as the evening moved into the staging of the Cultural/Historical Dress segment, one of the most anticipated appearances of the pageant. This segment was a kaleidoscope of creativity and culture, as each contestant thoughtfully and masterfully curated designs that depicted elements of St. Thomas’ rich heritage. Wharton brought to life the beauty and splendor of the St. Peter Greathouse and Botanical Gardens through an elegant and visually captivating portrayal. Lewis embodied the vibrancy of a traditional local market, capturing its history, energy, and cultural flavor. Willet-Tyson paid tribute to what she described as one of the Virgin Islands’ greatest treasures, the art of palm weaving and Virgin Islands basketry, skillfully highlighting its cultural significance. Williams distinguished herself in this segment through her intricate depiction of the historic Zora’s of St. Thomas. Her presentation paid homage to the craft of leatherwork and featured custom leather pieces that evoked a sense of nostalgia and cultural pride among audience members.
The stage came alive during the Talent segment through heartfelt and culturally reflective performances that emphasized the rich talents of the four contestants. This included vocal performances, instrumental displays, and acrobatic pieces, each sharing the contestants’ creativity and versatility. Willet-Tyson’s performance paid tribute to the work and contributions of musical legends who once graced the stage. She delivered a dynamic performance of familiar tunes on the keyboard, steelpan, and drums. Wharton captivated the audience with her vocal ability, delivering a medley of four melodies. Lewis offered a musical tribute through a flute performance, while Williams presented a heartfelt homage to former Carnival queens who have passed, blending vocals with acrobatic elements in a moving and expressive piece.
Cultural Historical Dress- Ajenue Willet-Tyson (Source photo by Rick S. S. Grant)
As the evening drew to a close, the pageant transitioned into the Evening Wear segment. Each contestant embodied elegance and style, gracing the stage with poise, confidence, and sophistication. Wharton stunned in an emerald green gown accented with lime tones. Lewis captivated in a sunset-inspired orange hue, while Williams commanded attention in a striking crimson red evening gown. However, it was Willet-Tyson who earned top honors in this segment, dazzling in a radiant yellow gown that set her apart.
As is customary, the reigning queen, Arliesha Paul, took her final walk, a moment marked by reflection and gratitude as she bid farewell to her reign.
Throughout the evening, the audience was entertained by the Euphoric Band and also enjoyed a dynamic performance from the Energique Dance Group. Hosts Dionne Donadelle and JeRonn Simmonds kept the show running smoothly, guiding the audience through each segment with energy, poise, and engaging commentary. Beyond the pageantry, the event reaffirmed the role of the Ambassadorial Queen as a platform for youth advocacy, cultural preservation, and civic engagement within the Virgin Islands.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku approaches the Mariana Islands on April 13, 2026. (Photo courtesy NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison)Super Typhoon Sinlaku has left areas of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific with major damage and a long recovery. The CNMI’s main islands of Saipan and Tinian took a direct hit from Sinlaku, underscoring the unique disaster-response challenges facing U.S. territories.
Like the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Guam and the CNMI are U.S. territories where geography can complicate disaster response and recovery, putting Sinlaku’s aftermath into a familiar island context for readers here in the Virgin Islands.
Storm Was Slow, Powerful, and Destructive
A typhoon and a hurricane are the same type of weather phenomenon, and the difference in the names is due to the location on the planet where the cyclone occurs.
Coastal flooding and storm surge inundate a shoreline area in Guam as Super Typhoon Sinlaku impacts the island. (Photo courtesy Marcus Landon Aydlett, NWS, Guam)
“Hurricanes and typhoons are the same weather phenomenon: tropical cyclones. A tropical cyclone is a generic term used by meteorologists to describe a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A “super typhoon” is equivalent in strength to a Category 4 or 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
The Source spoke with Marcus Landon Aydlett, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Guam, who said the storm’s aftermath reflects the logistical realities island territories often face after major disasters. The Guam office covers Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, including Saipan and Tinian.
Storm damage is seen in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, after Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck the U.S. territory in the Pacific. (Photo courtesy NPR and Office of the Mayor, municipality of Saipan/AP)In a video interview with the Source, Aydlett, speaking from Guam and still without power as of Sunday, said that Super Typhoon Sinlaku’s slow movement made an already dangerous storm even more destructive.
“It’s bad enough having a super typhoon, but this storm was moving three to five miles per hour,” Aydlett explained. “Most people can outrun that speed, and that’s how slowly the system was moving over the islands of the CNMI, prolonging typhoon force winds for over 24 hours. The islands of the CNMI had tropical storm force conditions for over three days, and that compounded the impacts and extended the duration of those incredible conditions, resulting in catastrophic damage,” he said.
Aydlett said Guam avoided the worst of the structural damage, though it still dealt with widespread disruptions, including outages. In the CNMI, however, Aydlett said the damage was extreme.
Cleanup begins in Guam after Super Typhoon Sinlaku, with heavy equipment clearing storm debris from a roadway. (Photo courtesy Marcus Landon Aydlett, NWS, Guam)
“As far as damage in Saipan in the CNMI, it’s total devastation, and this is a repeat of seven and a half years ago when Super Typhoon Yutu affected the area. There are no leaves on the trees, and many trees are down,” stated Aydlett. “Most structures that were not reinforced concrete don’t exist anymore, so a lot of things were significantly impacted. It’s going to be a long road to recovery.”
“Fortunately, I’ve been told there have been no casualties, no injuries, and no fatalities, which is, to me, a mission accomplished, because at the Weather Service, our top priority is to protect life and property,” he noted.
Debris and mud cover a roadway in Guam in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku. (Photo courtesy Marcus Landon Aydlett, NWS, Guam)
Still, Aydlett confirmed that, sadly, casualties have been reported on other islands affected by the storm, including Micronesia. He said a U.S. Coast Guard flyover showed just how dramatically the landscape had changed after the storm.
“The Coast Guard brought me up onto a C-130 aircraft, and we did a flyover immediately as the thing was starting to pull away,” Aydlett stated. “It was a severely turbulent flight, but we saw a bird’s-eye view of Tinian and Saipan, and there’s no green vegetation; it’s all brown,” he said. “What used to be thick, lush greens over in the villages and the city area – it’s all gone. It’s all brown with only structures remaining. It’s going to be a tremendous loss for the island’s vitality, but also for the tourism, at least in the short term.”
A Familiar Territorial Reality
Aydlett said one of the biggest realities for Guam and the CNMI is that major recovery resources cannot simply be driven in from a neighboring state. For island territories, crews, supplies, and outside help often have to be flown in, which can slow everything down. That is a reality many Virgin Islanders know well.
“The recovery process, much like the Virgin Islands, is going to be very slow and methodical, because you are unable to immediately obtain supplies and hundreds of personnel coming into the weather-torn area. You have to fly everything into the islands, and so we lean very forward in our weather communications and our preparedness and posturing so that FEMA, Red Cross, and other entities can start deploying people and personnel over here.”
He added that emergency and relief personnel were already arriving into the region even before the storm had fully passed.
There are also structural and governmental challenges U.S. territories face before and after disasters, and Aydlett’s message was clear: for island territories, recovery is rarely fast, even when help is already on the way.
A Message for Other U.S. Territories
Asked what people in other territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, should take away from Sinlaku, Aydlett pointed first to disaster preparedness.
“Maximize your preparedness,” he advised. “I can’t stress this enough, because when it comes to disasters here in the islands and the territories, whether it’s in the Pacific or the Atlantic, it takes time to get assets and resources over here. Even though people may be pre-deployed to an island, if a disaster strikes the entire island, their response is going to be needed everywhere, and they can’t get to everybody all at once. Therefore, you have to be able to fend for yourself for at least several days. That includes having water, food, cash, batteries, candles, and anything to survive for at least three to five days before help can start trickling into the villages.”
How People Can Help
Aydlett said the Red Cross is one of the best ways people can support Guam and the CNMI. The American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region includes Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
“The Red Cross is an option for people to donate to, and we have Red Cross all over the islands here from the Hawaiian Islands to the Micronesia area,” Aydlett said. “They have boots on the ground, and they’re always a standard source for help and assistance to the people.”
He also recommended Be Heartfelt, which identifies itself on its website as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity serving kids and youth locally and globally and lists Guam among its mission locations.
“Another opportunity to look into is the Be Heartfelt organization. This is a nonprofit that’s based out of Kansas, and the president is from Guam,” Aydlett explained. “I personally have partnered with that charity for about three years, running the island’s largest food drive, and they just started spinning up disaster operations for Saipan and Tinian specifically. This is all volunteer-led, so all the money, all the donations go straight to the people who need it,” he continued.
Aydlett added that the group is working to get food items and meal packs directly to families in the hardest-hit areas.
Additionally, readers can visit the official website of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands government for more information on ways to help.
A Reminder for the Atlantic Basin
For readers in the U.S. Virgin Islands and across the Caribbean, Sinlaku’s aftermath is also a reminder that island communities can face long recoveries even when forecasts are strong and help is already on the way. With the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially beginning June 1 and running through Nov. 30, the storm is a timely reminder to review emergency plans, check supplies, and be prepared before the next threat develops.
The local weather forecast for the U.S. Virgin Islands is regularly updated on the Source Weather Page. Individuals can also find helpful weather information, emergency preparedness, and alerts from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.
A St. Croix man has been arrested in connection with a December 2025 shooting in Peter’s Rest, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department.
Police identified the suspect as Turrel Thomas, who was taken into custody on Friday following the execution of arrest and search warrants by the Criminal Investigation Bureau, with assistance from the Special Operations Bureau and Intelligence Units, according to the police report.
The case stems from an incident reported around 4 a.m. on Dec. 13, 2025, when the 911 Emergency Call Center received ShotSpotter alerts indicating gunfire in the Peter’s Rest area near Carlos Bar. Responding officers recovered multiple spent cartridges at the scene, according to the VIPD.
An investigation by CIB detectives identified Thomas as the suspected shooter, police said. During the execution of the warrants, officers seized a firearm, the police report stated.
Thomas was booked and unable to post $100,000 bail. He faces charges of attempted murder and possession of firearm. He was transported to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending his advice of hearing, the report stated.
Check out our weekly weather forecast with Jesse Daley, covering Sunday, April 19, through Saturday, April 25.
Please stay safe and follow the Source for more weather updates!
Federal agents raided a St. Thomas strip club Friday night that they alleged was actually a brothel, where dancers brought in from outside the territory were coerced into a commercial sex scheme to repay travel and housing expenses, according to court records released Saturday.
Some alleged victims, as young as 17, stripped when they started working for previous iterations of Red Hook’s Tootsys Gentlemen’s Club, according to court records. Some, smuggled into the territory illegally, had their passports seized until payment was made, according to court records.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrested 56-year-old Hussein Jamil, who also goes by Hussian Jamil Suarez and Tony, 39-year-old Magda Castro Santos, also known as Tatiana, and Julio Hidaldo De Pena, 65. All three were charged with conspiracy to transport for the purpose of prostitution, conspiracy to commit interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises, and conspiracy to harbor aliens for financial gain — punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Alan Teague Saturday and were held without bail ahead of their detention hearings scheduled for Monday afternoon.
The operation involved flying in exotic dancers from the mainland and smuggling in others without proper documentation, prosecutors alleged. Most of the women lived in a Bolongo house rented by Jamil. Undocumented workers smuggled in through the BVI, however, were kept away from American dancers, victims told law enforcement.
The Friday night raid on the Bolongo home caught the attention of multiple social media users who posted alerts of a strangely low-flying helicopter in the Bolongo area, as well as emergency vehicles.
Alleged sex-trafficking victims told law enforcement that Jamil contacted and lured the dancers by phone or social media, offering to pay for flights and provide low-cost lodging. The club’s website remained active Saturday, with an advertisement for dancers that offered housing, transportation to the club, and the potential for paid flights.
Hidaldo De Pena allegedly ran the security camera-laden house and transported women between the Bolongo home and Tootsys, which was managed by Castro Santos, according to court records.
Her duties included ensuring the dancers paid their fees, directing clients to the dancers, and collecting payments for private dances and commercial sex, prosecutors alleged.
Dancers were typically charged $100 to $200 per week to live at the Bolongo house and made to pay a $60 buy-in fee every night in order to work at Tootsys, according to court records. They were required to work six nights a week — Tuesday through Sunday — and were fined $500 for every night’s work they missed. They were also fined $10 for every 15 minutes they were late to work, prosecutors alleged.
“When dancers arrived on St. Thomas for the purpose of working at Tootsys, the alleged conspirators’ coercive fee scheme pushed the dancers to make more money by engaging in commercial sex, both at Tootsys and through customers ‘buying out’ dancers to take them to an offsite premises,” U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper said in a written statement.
A criminal complaint filed with Virgin Islands District Court outlined prosecutors’ summary of the operation: “To pay these fees, the conspirators encouraged the dancers to engage in commercial sex acts at Tootsys to make more money. For instance, private dances typically cost $30 for every 15 minutes. Going into the ‘Chandelier Room,’ a room on the main floor reserved for dancers to have sexual intercourse with customers, typically costs $350 every
fifteen minutes. Additionally, customers can ‘buy out’ a dancer to take her off site, often to a hotel room for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, which typically costs $1,500. The dancers and Tootsys each receive a portion of the payments for these services.”
The Tootsys enterprise may have been ongoing as far back as June 2019, according to court records. Some victims interviewed by authorities allegedly said that when immigration agents and other law enforcement visited the club, undocumented workers would change into street clothes and pretend to be patrons.
One former Tootsys employee told prosecutors several of the undocumented foreign employees had been forced to surrender their passports to club designates. But not all the undocumented Tootsys employees — from Venezuela, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere — felt trapped, according to court records.
A Venezuelan woman was smuggled from Tortola to St. Thomas with the promise of making better money, she told prosecutors. Once working for Tootsys, she was told she needed to repay an $800 smuggling fee. After two months in St. Thomas, she returned to Venezuela — only to return to the U.S. Virgin Islands 20 months later. This time, her fare was paid for by Jamil. She was again smuggled through the BVI to St. John, and then to the Bolongo house in St. Thomas. She again traveled back to Venezuela and then again to St. Thomas for a third round of working at Tootsys. She told prosecutors that she had sex with Jamil to pay off her smuggling debt.
Young honorees recognized Friday on St. Thomas for actions taken in 2024 to save a life at Magens Bay Beach. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
The American Red Cross of the Virgin Islands honored two young heroes at an event held Friday on St. Thomas. Twin brothers, Kruz and Stefon Wilson, were presented with the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action two years after the young kayakers dove into the waters of Magens Bay and saved a drowning man.
Parents and grandparents joined the ceremony at the Red Cross office in Estate Thomas. The brothers — now 9 years old — accepted their certificates and the gift of an all-expenses-paid family excursion to St. Croix.
Heroic acts by the Wilson twins marked the second time since 2023 that St. Thomas’ youth swung into action to save lives. Two students from Charlotte Amalie High School dove into Charlotte Amalie Harbor in March 2023 to rescue the motorist and passenger of a vehicle that veered off Veteran’s Drive and fell over the concrete bulkhead.
“Kruz and Stephan Wilson — two young brothers — demonstrated bravery when they rescued an about-to-be-drowning man two years ago at Magens Bay Beach, and of course St. Thomas rescue came and applied the necessary safety tactics and helped revive this person. And that, of course, was the result of the efforts of these two young men who were 7 years old — that’s a very young age — and helped to save him,” said Sen. Angel Bolques, the lawmaker who helped bring the children’s act to the attention of officials at Red Cross National headquarters.
“They jumped right into action, and they swam, and they went and provided lifesaving assistance to this individual,” said St. Thomas Rescue spokesman Chris Watson shortly after the 2024 incident. “It is genuinely something heroic.”
With help from his staff, the lawmaker sought contributions from local businesses to create a staycation package for the Wilson family. “We got a free flight over for the entire family — mom, dad and the children — three nights at the Buccaneer; jet car in Frederiksted … during the Red Cross ceremony I found out dad and the children had never been to St. Croix … so that was the first time in their entire lives they had ever been to St. Croix,” the senator said.
The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action recognizes lifesaving actions by individuals taken in an emergency to save or sustain lives.
If you own a home, you’ve probably received a solicitation saying, “We want to buy your house.” The offer may sound appealing, but it’s often not in your best interest.
(Submitted photo)
These sell‑your‑home schemes often target older homeowners who are likely to have significant home equity. The bad actors search public records for foreclosure filings, divorces, or recent deaths to identify homeowners who may be under financial or emotional stress.
They frequently rely on high‑pressure sales tactics and misleading claims—including misrepresenting the value of your home, exaggerating market conditions to create a false sense of urgency, or even suggesting you may owe back taxes.
Even promises to buy homes “as is” can be misleading. In some cases, buyers later back out of that pledge and demand repairs before completing the sale, leaving the seller responsible for costly fixes after all.
If you’re thinking about working with a “We Buy Homes” company, know the true value of your home, understand what you’re signing, and get legal advice before moving forward.
Learn how to spot and avoid scams with AARP Fraud Watch Network™. Suspect a scam? Call our free helpline at 877-908-3360 and talk to one of our fraud specialists about what to do next.
Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency speak with residents during a public availability session at the DPNR building in Tutu Mall on April 16 about ongoing cleanup efforts at the Tutu Wellfield Superfund site. (Photo by Finn Sharpless)
Federal and territorial officials outlined a major expansion of groundwater cleanup efforts at the Tutu Wellfield Superfund Site during a public meeting Thursday, detailing a new system designed to more aggressively address long-standing contamination in the Tutu area of St. Thomas.
The site, which spans roughly 108 acres from the Curriculum Center through parts of Anna’s Retreat and Estate Tutu, has been under federal oversight since 1995, when testing found industrial pollutants in both public and private wells. Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said construction on an upgraded groundwater treatment system began in November 2025 and is expected to continue as new wells and equipment are installed.
“Our role is to serve you and to be accountable,” said Arshley ReyTorres, a community involvement coordinator with EPA. “We’re here to explain what we’re doing, listen to concerns and make sure people are not being exposed to contaminated groundwater while we clean it up.”
ReyTorres said the project is entering a new phase, while acknowledging its long history.
“There is more than 30 years of history at this site, but our commitment now is to strengthen relationships with the local government and move this cleanup forward,” she said. “We’re in a new phase of this project, expanding the treatment system so we can target the source of the contamination more aggressively.”
Officials said the expanded effort builds on earlier cleanup systems that were able to contain the spread of contamination.
The earlier remedy, based on two groundwater treatment plants, “would not clean up the groundwater in a reasonable amount of time,” EPA project manager Michael Grossman said. The new plan, adopted in 2021, triples system capacity and expands the extraction well network in an effort to take “a much more aggressive approach at the source of the contamination” at the Curriculum Center.
The contamination traces back to industrial activity on land now occupied by the Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Curriculum Center. In the late 1960s and 1970s, a textile and dry-cleaning operation used tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, a solvent commonly used in dry cleaning. The facility closed by the late 1970s, and the property was sold to the government in 1981.
In 1987, complaints about smells led to testing of nearby wells, which found chlorinated volatile organic compounds, including PCE, along with petroleum products in the groundwater. Officials responded by closing 18 wells, decontaminating affected cisterns, supplying residents with trucked drinking water and launching a long-term groundwater monitoring program. A detailed federal investigation in the early 1990s led to the site’s addition to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1995. It is the only Superfund site in the territory.
Geologist Rachel Griffiths said the site presents challenges typical of Superfund sites, which can lead to prolonged cleanup efforts.
“These are highly toxic, highly contaminated sites, and they’re often situated in complicated geologic areas,” she said. “Here, groundwater moves through small fractures in volcanic rock, so it’s very hard to target and very hard to treat.”
EPA officials said work at the site is now focused on building out the upgraded treatment system around the Curriculum Center.
Officials did not give a specific timeline for when groundwater is expected to meet federal drinking water standards, but said cleanup will continue for many years, even with the expanded system.
EPA’s Community Involvement Plan calls for additional public meetings and availability sessions as work progresses, along with fact sheets, online updates and coordination with local agencies, including the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Education Department.
Residents questioned how long people may have been exposed before the contamination was discovered in the late 1980s, with some describing neighbors and family members who developed cancer or other serious illnesses and asking whether those cases could be linked to past exposure. A parent also cited a recent asthma attack at a nearby school that students said was preceded by a noticeable odor, and called for clearer advance notice of drilling and construction near the campus, along with better coordination with school officials.
Residents said many people in the area still do not fully understand the extent of contamination or the status of cleanup efforts, and urged EPA and territorial agencies to strengthen communication through schools, online updates, and more direct outreach.
ReyTorres said the cleanup began after concerns raised by residents prompted an investigation, highlighting the role of community engagement.
“In terms of this project, it was raised because someone raised their voice and an investigation was done,” she said. “Many of the successes we see in environmental laws, regulations and even Superfund site designations happen because people in the community speak up and say, ‘This is happening, and something needs to be done.’ Our commitment is to strengthen those relationships so your voice continues to be raised and people continue learning about this.”
