The Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission announces that the Quarterly Meeting and Hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at 10 a.m. The Commission will address Reports of Officers; Reports from the Division of Gaming Enforcement and approval of Administrative Resolutions for Licenses Issued to Casino Employees and Gaming and
Non-Gaming Related Entities, approval of the Commission’s FY 2025 Budget, and Status
Updates from Casino Licensees.
The meeting and hearing will be held at the Eileen Ramona Petersen Casino Control Commission Building located at 3005 Orange Grove, Christiansted, St. Croix. Individuals with disabilities who require this information in an alternative format or need any form of auxiliary aid to attend or participate in this meeting/hearing are asked to contact Romesha Smith, Executive Assistant at rsmith@casinocontrolcommission.vi or 340-718-3616.
Celebrate American Education Week: Honor Our Heroes!
“Together for Safe, Just, & Equitable Schools.” #aew2024
Since 1921, American Education Week (AEW) has been a time to honor the tireless dedication of education professionals. This November, the Virgin Islands Board of Education (VIBE) proudly joins the nationwide celebration to honor the essential contributions of our school administrators, teachers, counselors, administrative staff, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, monitors, social workers, crossing guards, custodians, maintenance staff, nurses, and families—all of whom make a difference every day as we work “Together for Safe, Just, & Equitable Schools.”
From Nov. 18 to 22, VIBE Board Members will visit schools to personally thank educators and support professionals for their commitment to achieving academic excellence, promoting our history and culture, and building strong local and global communities. During these visits, we will also share information on curriculum standards, effective teaching strategies, and plans for safer schools. Additionally, we will provide feedback to schools on the first round of curriculum and instruction assessments as mandated by Title 17 V.I.C. §24.
Dr. Callwood, Chairman of VIBE, often reflects on a powerful memory from his own school days. He recalls two dedicated teachers who stayed late to help students struggling with Math and English, a bus driver who knew each child’s name, and a custodian who always made the school feel like home. These individuals made a lasting impact, reminding him that education is built on the efforts of many. Now, as Chairman, he calls upon everyone: “Education is a collective effort, and now is the moment to come together for safe, just, and equitable schools. Let us each play our role in providing the leadership, support, and advocacy that will uplift public education in the Virgin Islands.”
Viya has scheduled maintenance upgrades that will cause service interruptions Saturday, Nov. 16, from midnight to 9 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17.
Services affected during this maintenance window include:
• Viya’s Pay-By-Phone System
• Viya’s Online Web Payment System
• MyViya App Payments
• TV+ Automated Systems
Viya regularly upgrades the software used to support its convenient, interactive billing and operating systems, allowing customers greater flexibility to manage their accounts. These necessary enhancements to the subscriber management software will significantly improve the customer experience.
Viya apologizes for any inconvenience that these interruptions may cause our customers.
Magens Bay Authority, governing organization of Magens Bay Beach and Smith Bay Park, announces its November Board Meeting on Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. at Magens Bay Shed 4
Magens Bay Board Meetings are open to the public for their input. For those that would like to attend, please email info@magensbayauthority.org
Sen. Javan James chairs the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture Wednesday. (Photo courtesy V.I. Legislature)
A proposed marina by Summer’s End Group in Coral Bay, St. John, is facing attention from federal and local agencies due to legal challenges and environmental concerns, according to a Senate hearing Wednesday. Local families have also raised financial issues related to the land involved, legislators heard. The project aims to support St. John’s economy, but it must address these challenges before construction can begin.
At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture, chaired by Sen. Javan E. James Sr., concerns regarding the financial impact on local families, particularly those with land leases to Summer’s End, were highlighted. Due to ongoing delays, families such as the Marsh Sisters Trust and Calvert Marsh Inc. have continued to pay property taxes on land tied up in the project without receiving the expected rental income, according to the testimony.
Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory said the situation is “unconscionable,” as these families face increasing risk of foreclosure due to unpaid property taxes. “These are small families on the island of St. John.We did not know it was gonna take this long. If you wanted to truly partner with them, you would work with them and help to support what’s happening instead of now forcing them to sell their property off. It’s not good.”
Representatives from Summer’s End said they are committed to working with affected families and have been in discussions to resolve these financial issues. “The issues that have been raised about the family are very important to us,” said Chaliese Summers, managing member of Summer’s End. “We have constantly been in communication and working towards a settlement.”
Environmental concerns have also been raised, particularly regarding potential risks to Coral Bay’s seagrass meadows, which are critical habitats for endangered marine life. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has expressed reservations about the project’s mitigation strategies. While not requiring direct approval from the EPA, its recommendations hold significant importance in the ongoing regulatory process. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently awaiting input from the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the environmental assessment.
Despite partial permits and some legal victories for Summer’s End, comprehensive environmental clearance remains pending.
The Army Corps of Engineers has played a crucial role in the project’s trajectory, with delays attributed to changing personnel and procedural issues. Developers had hoped for a permit decision by July, but that deadline has passed. “We’ve had approximately eight different reviewers with the Army Corps of Engineers,” Summers noted. “Each time a reviewer changes, it creates further delays.”
From its inception, the marina project has faced multiple lawsuits. Attorney David Cattie provided insights into the legal developments affecting the project, highlighting a recent settlement with the Marsh family regarding key parcels of land. “On November 4, 2024, the parties jointly filed notice with the Superior Court advising that they have come to a settlement and resolution of all outstanding issues and claims between them,” he reported.
In addition, Cattie detailed two prior lawsuits involving former landowners James Phillips and Genevieve Rodriguez regarding another parcel required for the marina’s expansion. These cases were resolved in favor of Summer’s End, securing its “unquestioned legal authority to utilize the property in the Marina Project.” This resolution allowed Summer’s End to initiate preliminary site preparations, marking a tangible move toward construction.Cattie further described ongoing litigation with environmental groups such as Save Coral Bay, which has opposed the project and has filed multiple suits to revoke project permits. While Cattie acknowledged that some cases are still pending, he noted that several others were successfully dismissed in higher courts, including a recent Supreme Court denial of Save Coral Bay’s petition, which affirmed lower court rulings in favor of Summer’s End.
Despite these challenges, Summer’s End said it aims to position itself as a constructive influence within the St. John community. Rick Barksdale, a representative of the development group, stated, “Summer’s End is not you alone; Summer’s End is all of us,” emphasizing the group’s connections to local families.
Supporters of the marina project, which proposes 115 wet slips, a local market, wastewater facilities, and Customs and Border Protection access, argue it could diversify St. John’s economy, which is heavily dependent on seasonal tourism, by attracting yacht-based tourism and creating jobs. That included the late Sen. Robert O’Connor Jr., who at one time stated that the marina was “about more than tourism — it’s about local jobs and a stable economic foundation.”
The $112 million project could bring in $46.4 million in benefits and create over 80 direct jobs, plus 362 more jobs that will be created indirectly in the territory, according to testimony at Wednesday’s hearing.
James indicated that further input from affected families and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources will be necessary for continued oversight. “This is not the end,” he noted, stressing the need for additional hearings to ensure the project serves the community’s interests.
Sens. Javan E. James Sr., Marvin A. Blyden, Diane T. Capehart, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Novelle E. Francis Jr., Alma Francis Heyliger, and Donna A. Frett-Gregory attended Wednesday’s hearing.
Government property that could become a soccer field in Estate Nazareth on St. Thomas. (Photo courtesy V.I. Legislature)
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance moved four government leases to the Rules and Judiciary Committee with favorable recommendations. One lease, if granted, would allow a soccer stadium with concession built in Estate Nazareth, No. 1 Red Hook Quarter, St. Thomas. A second would allow a firearm training facility and shooting range in Estate Bovoni, Frenchmans Bay Quarter, St. Thomas.
The committee also moved forward a lease that would allow HKT Energy Consulting Group to operate an office and establish a warehouse in Submarine Base, No. 4 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas. The fourth and final lease is an extension of the lease that allows the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration to continue operating a Locator Outer Marker, which helps planes land in foul weather.
Michael Bornn, a council member of the VI Soccer Federation, testified that the federation had a vision that the five-acre site would enable not just a soccer facility but also areas for cricket, the VI Olympic facility, and possibly other sports.
Committee Chair Donna Frett-Gregory commented that the Senate had appropriated funds to help develop the site, and all parties should work together to ensure adequate common areas and parking. She questioned whether an amendment to the lease could include a memorandum of understanding with the Sports, Parks and Recreation Department. She said she did not want to see “history repeat itself” and mentioned the Paul E. Joseph Stadium project on St. Croix, which has been bumping along for almost 20 years.
Bornn testified the soccer facility would include fencing, bleachers, lighting, concession, bathrooms, team facilities, referee facilities, training rooms, parking, and dorms. He added that construction would probably take three to five years.
Deputy Commissioner of Property and Procurement Vincent Richards said the lease would be for 30 years at $3,600 per year. The federation would have two 10-year renewal options.
The lease for the shooting range of 1.7 acres is $48,000 annually.
Levi MacSheen, manager of Star Time Firearms, testified, “Our facility will feature a variety of shooting lanes, training areas, and safety courses to meet the needs of all levels of expertise. As a small business, we are projected to create seven to 10 jobs in the construction phase at approximately $250,000 to $300,000. Our annual operation is projected to create approximately seven to 10 full-time and two to three part-time jobs.”
Hugo Hodge Jr., president and chief executive officer of HKT Energy Group Consulting, represents the firm requesting warehouse and office space. He said his firm already has a temporary lease.
This agreement has a 20-year term and an option for ten more. The annual rent would be $45,000.
Hodge said HKT Energy Group is an energy consulting firm offering professional, technical, and engineering.
Senators present included Frett-Gregory, Novelle Francis Jr., Javan James, Dwayne DeGraff, Marvin Blyden, Ray Fonseca, Samuel Carriόn, and Carla Joseph.
The Economic Development Authority, Economic Development Commission and Enterprise Zone Commission convened in back-to-back meetings on Thursday to discuss new applications for tax benefits and address non-compliance matters. (Shutterstock image)
A historic Frederiksted property will soon be home to an “Agro and Food Innovation Center.”
The Enterprise Zone Commission — an arm of the V.I. Economic Development Authority meant to spur economic growth through tax incentives and other benefits — authorized EDA Chief Executive Officer Wayne Biggs Jr. to negotiate purchasing the property, located at 53A and B King Street in Frederiksted, after taking a poll vote during an emergency meeting on Nov. 4.
The EZC ratified that vote on Thursday after Biggs said the authority successfully purchased the building for $800,000, which was $100,000 below the listed price. Biggs said they expect to close on the purchase by Dec. 20. Biggs said the center will function as a combination food processing facility and kitchen.
Lawmakers appropriated $400,000 for the EDA to develop the center during a session in September and tasked an additional $675,000 toward developing an “Agro and Food Technology Center” at the Evelyn Marcelli Complex on St. Thomas. The funds were appropriated from the combined $137.5 million the territory received through settlement agreements with financier Leon Black and the estate of Jeffrey Epstein.
The ratification came after the Economic Development Authority considered an application from the developers of the five-story, 126-room Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Havensight.
Haven Development principal Shaun Miller and attorney Erika Kellerhals appeared before the board to defend an application for the EDA’s Hotel Redevelopment Program, which provides financial assistance and other incentives for territory hotels. The developers also applied for authorization to impose an Economic Recovery Fee, which assists hotels with development financing by allowing them to add a charge of up to 7.5 percent to guests’ bills.
Government officials and developers broke ground on the hotel in October 2023, celebrating St. Thomas’s first brand-new hotel in decades. Developers applied to the Economic Development Commission for tax incentives the following month. During a December 2023 decision meeting, the commission unanimously approved 100 percent of the incentives authorized by law for a 20-year period.
Following the presentation from Haven Development, the EDC considered new applications from financial services company First Antilles Capital and business management and consulting firm SK Venture Group, respectively.
The EDC later entered into executive session to discuss three noncompliance matters. Afterward, the commission accepted staff findings that financial consultant Greenleaf VI II and International and Capital Management Company were not in compliance with a handful of conditions and requirements.
The University of the Virgin Islands’ Essential Needs Pantry has basic groceries and toiletries that college students may need. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
There is good news for college students who need to stock up on their Ramen noodles stash. The University of the Virgin Islands has relaunched its Essential Needs Pantry to support students facing food insecurity. This initiative will provide essential resources, including food and professional attire, to help students in need.
The pantry’s reopening was marked by discussions held on Wednesday and Thursday at UVI’s Orville E. Kean Campus on St. Thomas and the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. This effort is a collaboration between UVI, The Links, Incorporated, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund representatives were present at the launch. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
According to Anyha Lord, career services coordinator, the Essential Needs Pantry was initially introduced on a smaller scale during the spring semester.
To celebrate the launch on St. Croix, a panel of professionals from The Links, Incorporated offered advice and insight to students in attendance. Moderator Tammye Jones led the discussion with panelists, including Evelyn Davis, executive director of the Suburban Chamber of Commerce; Cheryl Tier, an attorney and mediator; and the Rev. Sandye Wilson, an Episcopal priest and former microeconomist who wrote for Time magazine. All panelists bring extensive professional backgrounds to the table.
The Essential Needs Pantry aims to decrease food insecurity among the student body and also features a professional dress closet, ensuring students have access to appropriate attire. Jeanette Ferdinand, director of the university’s Health Services, stated, “The pantry goes based on the honor system, so we allow the students to use their moral compass to determine if they need something in here. If you don’t really need it, you take it away from someone who does need it.”
Students in the program receive 15 points per week to select items from the pantry, similar to shopping in a store. Certain items, like toiletries, are expected to be requested less frequently as they typically last longer.
The checkout counter is where students cash out once they’ve selected their food items and toiletries. The system is based on points given to each student on a weekly basis. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
The pantry offers various items, including macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, cookies, chips, and, of course, Ramen noodles. Toiletries available include toilet paper, toothpaste, and sanitary napkins.
The clothing closet includes some items still with tags, along with business attire, gowns, shoes, and more from designer brands like COACH.
The professional clothing closet provides a space where students who may not have the funding to afford professional attire to be presentable while job hunting or stepping into the professional world. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Lord mentioned that the team is currently securing a dedicated space for the clothing closet, allowing students to communicate with staff to arrange visits. Privacy considerations are a priority for all interested individuals.
Community members are encouraged to donate clothing to the program. For those interested in making donations, please contact Lord or Ferdinand at alord@uvi.edu or jeanette.ferdinand@uvi.edu.
The “Blackfullness” Exhibit opened in July at Fort Frederik in Freedom City, Frederiksted. Patrons have walked through the doors, some more than once, and witnessed the individualized expressions of this powerful group showing. The exhibition is closing Nov. 20. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Seize the time! Come for the first time or come again. Experience the “Third Annual Emancipation Art Exhibition” curated by Chief Curator Monica Marin of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DPNR-DLAM). The success of this show is due to the support of DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol, DPNR Assistant Commissioner Jozette Waller, DPNR-DLAM Director Amy DeSorbo, DLAM Assistant Archivist Isaac Torres, and DLAM Custodial Staff Janet Smith.
Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums Territorial Director Amy DeSorbo said, “‘Blackfullness,’ DLAM’s annual Emancipation art exhibition, is one of the strongest yet. I’m incredibly proud of our Chief Curator, Monica Marin, who curated this powerful show that highlights themes of freedom and resistance. DLAM’s annual Emancipation Exhibition, alongside other exhibits and cultural programming, serves as an important educational space for lifelong learning. We hope that as many Virgin Islands students and residents as possible can engage with our exhibitions, and we offer a discounted rate of $5 for local residents, with all students under 18 admitted free of charge.”
The works are submitted by artists across the Virgin Islands, the African-Caribbean Diaspora, and those connected to the region. The community is invited to witness the artists’ answers to the word “Blackfullness,” coined by the late Black feminist Audre Lorde. In these works, patrons may discover what Lorde described about her love for her chosen home of St. Croix. It was the sense of great belonging and purpose her beloved Black majority community provided that transcended place.It is here…in the “Blackfullness” exhibition that the featured works of the artists share “the spirit of resistance that is at the core of Virgin Islander’s identity and that is etched into everything that makes Virgin Islands’ cultural production so powerful. It calls attention to how Black protest and art and activism in our region have influenced international Black brilliance and liberation,” Marin stated.Lorde spoke about her experience of coming to St. Croix to heal in an interview entitled “Above the Wind.” It was the threads of her African, Caribbean, and American identity meeting in St. Croix, where her life of purpose as an artist-activist was lived out. Lorde was drawn by the energy of the people of the Virgin Islands who have served as beacons of light and inspiration for her and for so many other creatives from the United States, Marin shared.“There is a large and ever present Blackfullness to the days here that is very refreshing for me…” – Audre Lorde “Above the Wind” 1990Alexis Pauline Gumbs has written a recent Audre Lorde biography entitled “Survival Is A Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde” (2024). Gumbs says Lorde coined the word to describe “what she loved about her chosen community in St. Croix, a place where she went to save her life and transform her longing for Caribbean homeland into accountable action, and in the full knowledge that we have yet to invent the words for the relationships we desire most with the multiple communities that call us, we created a lexicon of words for what we want it to feel like.” “All This Refreshing Blackfullness” 2019.Marin proposed the following questions to the artists in anticipation of their artistic submissions:
With the completion this year of the 175th commemoration of Emancipation in the USVI, what is next? What are the liberation tools for the future? What new structures can we build and what old ones can we reclaim and reconstruct?
How has the history of Black protest and activism in our region influenced Transatlantic Black radicalism and liberation?
What are the histories of colonialism that are etched into the landscape? What remnants remain and what is our new coloniality?
To quote Audre Lorde in Above the Wind, “How can we use our differences to work better together against the exploitation of our children, our land, our resources, our planet? And, as hyphenated people, and members of the African Diaspora, what is our relationship to the Indigenous peoples of those lands we call home?”
How do we promote inside-out growth in our region instead of continuing to overvalue outside thinking and development?
What does “Blackfullness” mean to you? How would you define it through the five senses?
Angela’s Pulse, A’we Study GroupWaldemar Brodhurst is a Crucian artist who works exclusively in found and recycled materials. Cable, rope, barbed wire, glass, wood, screening, fabric, and found objects are all fair game for his extraordinary imagination and ability to turn trash into art-full treasure.Couple in the Cane Field. 3-D SculptureCouple in the Cane Field. 3-D sculpture by Waldemar Brodhurst (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Adrian Michael Edwards is a self-taught digital artist, graphic designer, and sculptor. Edwards experiments with various mediums, including sculptural works in clay, acrylics, and watercolor. Since 2016, his ventures into the digital realm have allowed him to explore the versatility of this medium. Leaving the Fields. Acrylic on canvas (2024), 20” x 50”Leaving the Fields. Acrylic on canvas by Adrian Edwards (Source photo by Elisa McKay)A Question of Erasure, Genocide, or Both? Mixed media on canvas (2024), 30” x 48”A Question of Erasure, Genocide, or Both? Mixed media on canvas by Adrian Edwards (Source photo by Elisa McKay)“This piece challenges viewers to connect local narratives of liberation with global struggles, specifically highlighting the Palestinian fight for justice. The painting, which features a roughly rendered Palestinian flag overlaid with symbols from Yoruba, Nsibidi, Arabic, and personal creations, mirrors the complexities of global oppression. It asks us to question our alignment with marginalized communities and urges a deeper commitment to ongoing liberation worldwide.”Jeffrey Rezende was born on St. Croix in 1981. He attended Good Hope School, where he was encouraged to pursue art at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, MI, during the summer of 1993. He graduated from Central HS in 2000 under the direction of Anselm Richards and the Art Honor Society over which he presided. Rezende earned a BFA in painting from the Columbus College of Art and Design in 2005 and an MFA in painting from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2012. Rezende lives and works in Peabody, MA, where he exhibits his abstract paintings.Anselm’s Eye. Watercolor and Graphite on watercolor paper,18”x18”Anselm’s Eye. Watercolor and graphite on handmade paper by Jeffrey Rezende (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Stuart Rames was raised in Frederiksted and is a predominantly self-taught artist. His well-known signature work has been experimenting with acrylic painting techniques. Rames has exhibited his vibrant and imaginative works on St. Croix and St. Thomas and they can be found in many private collections on St. Croix and abroad. West End Social. Acrylic, oil on canvas, 25” x 36”West End Social Club. Acrylic on canvas by Stuart Rames (Photo by Monica Marin)“Before emails…cell phones and iPads, a group of Frederiksted men get together to run an extension cord and set up a TV outside, on top of a car, to watch a boxing match. “Blackfullness” is a traditional sense of community in our Crucian culture. “Blackfullness” is our traditional rhythm, a sound born and developed from the ebb and flow of slavery. Blackfullness is the historical soundtrack of our lives as Crucians. “Blackfullness” is the hope of our next generation in an uncertain future still surrounded by beauty.”Victoria Rundberg-Rivera, M.D. is an emerging self-taught artist who retired from her New York medical practice to pursue her first love, writing. In the process, she discovered a new passion: painting. A longtime woodworker, she began drawing and painting for the first time, encompassing contemporary portraits and interpretive island scenes. Since 2015, her work has been exhibited on St. Croix and in the traveling exhibit Absolutamente Negro on St. Croix, which traveled to Casa Negro in Puerto Rico beginning in 2024.Infinity. Acrylic-enhanced signed Giclee, 20” x 24” x 1.5” Infinity. Acrylic-enhanced signed Giclee by Victoria Runners-Rivera, M.D. (Photo by Monica Marin)Niarus Walker is a visual artist and curator, and she has served as an art educator for the V.I. Education Department. She has exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally, including the United States and Denmark, with works primarily in private collections. Walker has curated a number of exhibitions and has had several solo and group shows over 30 years. She was part of the inaugural cohort of the BIPOC Leaders of Color Fellowship 2022. She was instrumental in the creation of the Moko Jumbie Sculptures in the Midre Cummings Park in Frederiksted, St. Croix, as part of a community service project.He Loves me when… Self-portrait, Oil on panelHe Loves me when…,(Self-portrait). Oil on panel by Niarus Walker (Source photo by Elisa McKay)“I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.” (SS: 1:5-6)Eric Paxton is a multi-talented artist who delves deep into the fascinating world of archaeology, using his knowledge and experiences to inform and inspire his artistry. His creative energy is his passion for outsider and street art. Three of his recent paintings garnered significant recognition and were highlighted in the prestigious pages of “Artist Talk Magazine.”Ayanfe Olarinde is a self-taught multimedia visual artist. Her journey into art stems from her love of scribbling, a process through which she is able to unpack her emotions in playful and intriguing ways while speaking on broader issues of self-exploration, as well as the stories that are untold. Olarinde’s form of expression is photography and mixed media collages.The underlying theme through her works is the interrogation of society and governance. She has participated in multiple group exhibitions, and her works have been written in publications such as Now This News, CNN, Euro News, Konbini, and RADR Africa. Olarinde aims, through her art, to advocate for the marginalized, raise awareness, and impact society for good.Conjunction (Kuhn-jungk-shuhn). Ink pen, Oil & Acrylic Spray on found canvas, 42” x 42” Conjunction (Kuhn-jungk-shuhn). Ink pen, Oil and Acrylic Spray on found canvas, by Eric Paxton and Ayanfe Olarinde (Source photo by Elisa McKay)
Conjunction is a trans-Atlantic collaboration between Ayanfe Olarinde of Nigeria and Eric Paxton of St. Croix.
Lucien Downes is a Caribbean-born artist and curator whose work demonstrates freedom of thought and expression through mixed media. He utilizes resin, acrylic, fibers, raw pigments, plexiglass, inks, dyes, and, occasionally, found objects to create dimension and depth within culturally themed pieces. Downes’ work is composed of spiritual and worldly elements that function independently at times or merge to encompass a whole. His art has been highlighted in several publications and is often showcased locally as murals and community projects. His works grace the walls of many high-profile homes.Queen of the Dance. Mixed media, 36” x 48”Queen of the Dance. Mixed media, by Lucien Downes (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Elwin Joseph is a Dominican-born visual artist living on St. Croix. His primary medium is watercolor, but his first love is graphite. He also works in charcoal. The late Betsy Campen mentored Joseph and helped him gain exposure as an artist. He has exhibited locally and internationally in Egypt, England, and the United States. He fuels his art with authenticity and integrity, which allows him to create work that resonates with others. He works in various genres, including landscapes, portraiture, and still life. Joseph is an associate member of the National Watercolor Society and a member of the International Watercolor Society USA. Durant Tower. Acrylic, 25 ¼” x 31”Durant Tower. Acrylic by Elwin Joseph (Photo by Monica Marin)Afreekan Southwell is a multi-talented artist who has been working for three decades in the visual and performing arts throughout the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, and the United States. Originally from Antigua, Southwell learned wood carving in primary school. When he moved to St. Croix in 1981, he taught himself to paint. Since then, he has learned the artistic disciplines and developed his skills as a painter, wood carver, sculptor, and turner. As a performing artist, he is an actor, poet, and drummer. He has performed in numerous Caribbean plays. He directed and co-directed theatrical plays for the “Gullah People’s Moja Festival.”Southwell is an organizer and a master educator who shares African-Caribbean cultural history through the arts with young people in schools and communities throughout his travels. He is a member of the St. Thomas-St. John Woodworkers Society and is leading CHANT’s restoration efforts in Free Gut, Frederiksted.Duality. SculptureDuality. Sculpture by Afreekan Southwell (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Alexis Pauline Gumbs is a queer Black feminist love evangelist and an aspirational favorite cousin to all life. She is the author of several books, most recently, “Survival is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde” (August 2024) and “Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mamma” (2020). Gumbs is the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Endowment of the Arts Fellowship in Prose, a Windham-Campbell Prize in Poetry, a Whiting Award in non-fiction, and a National Humanities Center Fellowship.Paloma McGregor is a Crucian choreographer and arts leader based in New York City. As co-founder and executive artistic director of Angela’s Purse, McGregor has spent nearly two decades centering Black voices through collaborative performance projects that she has dubbed “community-specific” …focused on communities of color and public spaces as underpinnings of her work.Sayeeda Carter is a St. Croix-based teacher and theater artist. She has acted and directed with CCT and is the founder of the Act Out Ensemble social justice theater company. Her ultimate goal is to continue using acting and advocacy to contribute to the dismantling of inequitable systems to help us ALL live more freely. She quotes Augusto Boal, “The theater itself is not revolutionary; it is a rehearsal for the revolution.” Nina Angela Mercer is a culture worker. Her plays are numerous: GUTTA BEAUTIFULl; ITAGUA MEJI; A ROAD AND A PRAYER; CHARISMA AT THE CROSSROADS; A COMPULSION FOR BREATHING; and GYPSY AND THE BULLY DOOR. Mercer’s plays are published in the “Killens Review of Arts and Letters,” “Black Renaissance Noire,” “Continuum,” “The Journal of African Diaspora Drama Performance,” and many others. “Blackfullness is” A’we Study Group video is conceived by Paloma McGregor and Monica Marin. Created by Rosa Navarrete and Paloma McGregor. Edited by Rosa Navarrete. Performed and filmed by A’we Study Group members Sayeeda Carter and Nina Angela Mercer, with additional footage by Paloma McGregor. Written by Sayeeda Carter and Nina Angela Mercer. Produced by Angela’s Purse. Created with support from the New England Foundation For the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Mellon Foundation.We would like to thank the following artists for their inspiring work included in this exhibition: Waldemar Brodhurst, Jeffrey Rezende, Victoria Rivera, Lucien Downes, Elisa McKay, Danica David, Niarus Walker, Adrian Edwards, Ray Llanos, LaVaughn Belle, El’Roy Simmonds, Elwin Joseph, Stuart Rames, Quiana Adams, Mike Walsh, Danielle Kearns, Rob Gibson, Tralice Bracy, Therese Trudeau, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Ra Malika Imhotep, Eric Paxton, Ayanfe Olarinde, Paloma McGregor’s A’we Study Group featuring Sayeeda Carter, Nina Mercer, and Rosa Navarette, Afreekan Southwell, and the CHANT artisans: Allem Harry, Ny’Jah Eugene, Patrick Albuja, Daniel St.Jean, and Mathew Ramos.The “Blackfullness” Exhibition was conceived and curated by DPNR-DLAM Chief Curator Monica Marin with exhibition installation help from Waldemar Brodhurst and Ralph Motta. (July 2024)For more information:
Fort Frederik: 340-772-2021
Within a 24-hour period, St. Croix witnessed two separate traffic incidents involving a pedestrian and a vehicle collision that resulted in fatalities. The incidents are currently under investigation, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported.
On Tuesday at approximately 6:04 p.m., the Traffic Investigation Bureau responded to a collision involving a pedestrian on Queen Mary Highway (Route 70) near Target Service Station in Mars Hill, Frederiksted. A preliminary investigation indicated that the pedestrian, identified as 83-year-old Alexander Springer, appeared to have stepped into the roadway when struck by a silver Toyota Yaris that was traveling east, according to the police report.
Visible injuries were noted to Springer’s head and neck. The cause of death remains undetermined, pending an autopsy to ascertain the extent of trauma, the police report stated.
In a separate incident, on Wednesday, at approximately 4:26 p.m., the 911 Emergency Call Center requested a police officer attend a vehicle collision on Southside Road (Route 62) near H & H Tire and Battery. Upon arrival, a blue Chevy Colorado was located on the property of the Bethel Deliverance Center Church, with the driver, identified as 88-year-old Mathew Telesford, slumped over and unresponsive, the report stated.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a black Cadillac Escalade and the blue Chevy Colorado were both traveling north. The blue Chevy Colorado struck the right rear taillight of the Cadillac, then veered to the right, colliding with a utility pole before hitting a concrete slab. The driver and passenger of the Cadillac did not sustain injuries. However, the Emergency Medical Technician on site determined that Telesford succumbed to his injuries, it said.
Both cases remain under investigation by the Virgin Islands Police Department Traffic Investigation Bureau.
