Joyce Amantis Blyden Jones
Family and Friends are advised of the passing of Joyce Amantis Blyden Jones. Joyce transitioned at 83 years of age at her home on October 9, 2024. Joyce was born on September 4, 1941.
Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Jane Albertha Christopher and William Robert Blyden, and sons, Liston W. Bailey Jr. and Ashley Brown.
Joyce retired in 2012 after many years as a sales associate at A.H. Riise Stores.
Joyce is survived by her Spouse, Edric E. Jones; Daughters Laura Velinor, Michele Taylor, and Deborah Jones; Sons Athniel “Chammy” Blyden, Anthony Warner, Geoffrey Jones, and Jumaine Jones; Sisters Una Blyden Rabsatt, RoseMarie Blyden George, and Gracie Blyden; Brother Raphael “Raffie” Blyden; Sons-in-law Trevor Velinor and Louis Taylor, Jr.; Sister-in-law Mayra Blyden; Brothers-in-law Calvin Hanley, Adolph Rabsatt, and Gregorie George; Daughters-in-law Gabrielle Bailey, Angelita Suarez, and Dafnette Jones; Grandchildren Jabari Velinor, Jamila Velinor, Mone’ Taylor, Safiya Taylor, Lionel Bailey, Keith Bailey, William Bailey, Julie Jefferson, Jamal Williams, Kiara Jones, Jah’Faria Jones, Ayomide Jones, Shaddiah Jones, Jaliyah Jones, Anthony Warner, Jr., and Tyler Warner; Great Grandchildren Taylor Price, Vanessa Bailey, Larissa Bailey, Aliyah Bailey, Keith Bailey, Jr., Reign Bailey, and Zayden Alba.
Special Friends Rhoda John-Lewis, Julia John-Lewis (AKA-Mother), Lyantine Belle, and Mavis Thomas.
Additional brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Special thank you to Carmen Vanterpool-Romney, who was instrumental in assisting with finding needed caregivers. Also, Thank you to Tropical Hospice of the Virgin Islands, Tyneisha Jean from the Department of Human Services, Berecia Foster, and LaToya Smith for the exceptional care provided to Joyce.
Those who knew Joyce knew that she had a wonderful and caring spirit. She was giving and always wanted the best for others.
Please join family and friends for Joyce’s homegoing service at Blyden Memorial Chapel on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Viewing will be from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., and the service will begin at 10:00 a.m.
A special viewing will be held for family and friends at Turnbull’s Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Interment will be held at Eastern Cemetery, Smith Bay.
Arrangements Entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home.
The first major school reconstruction in the territory in decades – and you can learn more about it on this episode of Consider the Source, where host Adisha Penn also recaps the biggest headlines of the past week. A partnership with Caricom, benefits for In the Mix Cakery, and an RFP for Caneel Bay Resort – there’s always something new on Consider the Source!
In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
As a Virgin Islander, I have seen firsthand how the struggle for land has shaped our history. But in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, that struggle has intensified. These storms didn’t just devastate homes and infrastructure—they opened the door for outside developers to swoop in and seize prime land, leaving many of us displaced or on the brink of losing our ancestral lands. For us, this isn’t just a fight to rebuild; it’s a fight to preserve our survival, identity, and homeland’s future.
Nowhere is this more evident than on my beloved St. John, where the encroachment of the Virgin Islands National Park has pushed local families to the margins. In 1956, the U.S. Congress limited the park’s holdings on St. John to 9,485 acres. But today, the park’s footprint has grown to 7,259 acres, leaving only 3,015 acres for the people who have lived here for generations. This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about a loss of community, culture, and identity that we may never recover if we don’t act soon.
I remember when we were forced to swap land with the federal government just to build a school for our children. Think about that—a basic necessity, something as fundamental as education, and we had to trade away more of our precious land to get it. This land swap is a painful reminder of our colonial past and how we continue to be at the mercy of outside forces. We are being forced to make impossible trade-offs just to meet basic needs.
But it’s not just St. John. Across the USVI, the devastation from the hurricanes created opportunities for developers to move in and acquire land that locals, often struggling financially, could no longer afford to hold onto. It’s the same story we saw in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Those who could not afford to rebuild were pushed out, and outsiders took over. Now, many of us are witnessing a similar process unfold right here in our islands. Wealthy investors see opportunity in our loss, while Virgin Islanders—who already face economic challenges—are being edged out.
What makes this even worse is the politicization of zoning. In the USVI, all zoning decisions must come before the Senate. Too often, these decisions are not based on what’s best for our communities but on political pressure from developers. This practice, known as spot zoning, allows rapid development in areas that were never meant for such projects, all at the expense of the people who have lived here for generations. Our land is being sold off, and with it, so is our future.
As a Virgin Islander, this cuts deep. We’ve heard it referred to as “climate gentrification.” Natural disasters, worsened by climate change, allow wealthier outsiders to buy up land while locals, many of whom are descendants of those who fought for this land, are left with nothing. The land that holds the stories of our ancestors, that carries the weight of our history, is being sold to the highest bidder.
Land in the Virgin Islands isn’t just an economic asset—it’s part of who we are. It’s sacred. But at the rate things are going, future generations of Virgin Islanders may not have any land left to call their own. What will be left for them? Will they have a place to stand? Or will they only be able to drive by, sail by, or fly over the land that once belonged to their families?
We must take a stand. Virgin Islanders need to protect what little land remains in our hands. This isn’t just about survival—it’s about preserving our way of life. If we don’t act now, our islands could become a playground for the rich, and we’ll be left watching from the sidelines as our culture and identity erode before our eyes.
There are solutions.
1. Creating more community land trusts is one critical way forward. These trusts allow Virgin Islanders to collectively manage and protect land, keeping it in local hands for the benefit of future generations. The St. John Heritage Collective is already doing this, working tirelessly to preserve our identity and culture through land preservation and community-driven development. It’s a model that can—and should—be expanded.
2. We also need to remove zoning decisions from the Senate. Senator Kenneth Gittens has retained ownership of this legislation to do just that for the last three to four Senates. Moving zoning decisions to an independent, professional body would take politics out of the equation and ensure that decisions are made based on what’s best for our communities—not political pressure from developers. It’s time for this legislation to move forward.
3. Additionally, we need affordable housing programs that prioritize locals and strengthen environmental protections that align with our cultural values. By promoting sustainable, low-impact development, we can ensure that our land remains both a natural and cultural treasure for generations to come.
4. Finally, we must create more economic opportunities for local residents, whether through entrepreneurship or cooperative ownership in various industries. We need pathways allowing Virgin Islanders to benefit from our resources instead of watching outsiders reap the rewards.
The time for action is now. If we fail to protect our land today, future generations will inherit nothing. We must rise together, fight for our right to stay, and ensure that the decisions being made benefit all Virgin Islanders—not just the select few. We are the stewards of this land, and it’s our responsibility to protect it—not just for ourselves, but for our children and their children.
This is our home. This is our land. And we must fight to keep it.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
Three St. Croix men, including a “cherished” Government House security officer, died over the weekend in circumstances police were investigating as potential suicides. (Shutterstock image)
Three St. Croix men, including a Government House security officer, died over the weekend in circumstances the Virgin Islands Police Department was investigating Sunday as potential suicides.
The Source does not normally report on suicides but makes exceptions in extraordinary situations, including when the deaths occur in public. Police and medical examiners had not confirmed the causes of death as of Sunday evening.
Shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday, someone called VIPD to report a vehicle in the water at Salt River Marina. The person was able to remove the car’s lone occupant but the man was already dead from a gunshot wound to the head, police said.
VIPD confirmed the man was Janlee Cruz, a police officer assigned to the Executive Security Unit at Government House in St. Croix.
Cruz had been on the job just over a year, having graduated from the Peace Officer Recruit Training program Oct. 23, 2023. He made a strong impression in that short time. Government House released a statement Saturday praising Cruz.
“Government House is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Mr. Janlee Cruz, a cherished team member at Government House in St. Croix. As a member of the Virgin Islands Police Department’s Executive Security Unit, Janlee was a dedicated protector and a valued colleague whose unwavering commitment and vibrant spirit brought a unique energy to our workplace,” the statement read.
It added that Cruz “approached his duties with a noticeable enthusiasm, a bright smile, and a readiness to serve. His dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of those he worked with was evident in everything he did, and his positive attitude was a constant source of encouragement for all of us.”
They said he would be remembered for his professionalism, kindness, and generosity.
Police said an autopsy would determine the cause of death.
Also, on Saturday, police received a call around 12:30 p.m. of a possible suicide at the old St. C Condominiums. Police arrived to find a man on the floor with his wife performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The woman told police she found her husband and immediately called 911.
Police were called to another potential suicide Friday afternoon. Officers said they arrived at a Sweet Lime, Frederiksted home to find emergency medical services performing CPR on a man who was later pronounced dead at Juan F. Luis Hospital.
The man’s wife said they had argued. “She left with their toddler, and upon her return, she discovered her husband. After seeking assistance from her neighbors, CPR was performed until EMS arrived,” police said.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by calling 988 or 800-273-8255. In 2022, Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said the hotline was not just for Virgin Islanders experiencing suicidal thoughts but also for family and friends worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Dial 988 or 800-273-8255.
Alphonso Clarke
Alphonso Clark, also known as “Clarke” or “Uncle,” died on Oct. 10.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Agatha Emanuel Clarke and Jabez Clarke; sisters: Ruth Darling, Lillian Potter and Estelita Ferdinand-Goodridge; nieces: Olivia Potter, Lydia Potter, Jeanette Potter and Estelita Davis; and nephew, Roland Ferdinand.
He is survived by his sons: Christopher Clarke and David Clarke; sisters: Agnes Payne and Laurissa A. Prince; nieces: Priscilla Charles, Debra Aibangbee, Sonia Meyers, Renee Ferdinand, Rita Ferdinand-Dawson, Laverne Prince Francis and Aileene Rivera; nephews: Warren Potter Sr., Knud Knight Jr., and Michael Ferdinand Sr; and other relatives: the Clarke, Sarauw, Bolling, Garcia, Gerard, Emanuel, Watley, Claxton, Schou, Brodhurst, Francis, Petrus, Roberts, Neptune, Gordon and Harris families.
He is also survived by special friends: Class of 1956, Sion Farm Community, the Nico family and the Grigg family, caregivers: Tracey Bradshaw and Natalie Moorehead, Juan F. Luis Hospital, Herbert Grigg Home, Williams Family, VA Administration Office, Plaza Café crew, Gallows Bay Community, Vernice Nilesand, James Meyers and Mariette James; as well as great nieces, great nephews and other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
The viewing will be held at 10 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 31, at James Memorial Funeral Chapel. Interment will be at Kingshill Cemetery.
Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home Inc.
Check out our weekly weather forecast with Jesse Daley, covering Sunday, Oct. 27, through Saturday, Nov. 2. Our YouTube playlist is updated every week, AND check out Jesse’s daily weather updates here.
A group of musicians and actors orchestrated a new way to raise funds for the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center using a vaudeville format. The founders call it “The Greatest Show on Earth Spectacular.” The event is scheduled for the last Friday of each month at Blues Backyard BBQ on Northside Road.
Party-goers, including the entertainers who started the monthly fundraiser for the SCAWC, posed in Halloween costumes Friday. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
On Friday, at the Spooktacular – to celebrate Halloween, Adrian Rogers, Sean Bailey, Will Smith and Laurelle Day Holley played instruments, sang and danced between open mic acts.
Sarah Klink and Michael Yearicks dressed as hotdog vendors to show off Bean the Wean and Charlie. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
The Animal Welfare Center hosted a doggy costume contest. The contest winners, Sarah Klink and Michael Yearicks passed off Bean and Charlie as hotdogs and won name tags donated by Sonja’s Ltd. SCAWC also raised funds by selling plastic cups, masks hand-painted by Nikki Assalone, and other merchandise.
Hand-painted masks for sale at the Animal Welfare Center were created by volunteer, Nikki Assalone. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Walk-on acts included music by Sammy Lopez and Wayne McCallum and fire dancer eighth grader Tallon Page. The featured artist was singer/songwriter Eugenia. A film created by Marjo Aho, “The Final March,” with music by Rogers, captured the audience. It is available on YouTube.
Tallon Page, eighth grade, performed at Blues Backyard BBQ, Friday. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Children and adults sported costumes to stay in the mood, including Leslie Walcott, Holley and Diane Butler – the new co-owner of Blues BBQ (with Nick Goldman).
Leslie Walcott, singer Laurelle Day Holley and new owner of Blues BBQ Diane Butler strike a serious pose for the Halloween Spooktacular. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Alfredo Andrews students at Salt River with Olasee Davis (Photo courtesy of Fireburn Heritage, Inc.)
Fireburn Heritage, Inc., led by Resident Artist Angela Golden Bryan, is proud to announce the success of the “Virgin Islands ABCs Initiative: Cultivating Cultural Literacy in VI Youth,” which is being carried out as part of Angela’s residency at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts (CMCArts) this Fall.
The initiative empowers local third graders to explore, appreciate, and celebrate the Virgin Islands’ unique heritage through cultural immersion, artistic expression, and storytelling, according to the press release.
This educational program will culminate in the creation of an ABC book, which will showcase VI-specific items, locations, and narratives for each letter of the alphabet. The book, co-authored by Angela Golden Bryan and Erin Shae Bryan, will serve as an invaluable educational resource for elementary school students and will be distributed to all public elementary schools in the Virgin Islands, ensuring equitable access to this cultural resource, the press release stated.
Claude O. Markoe students at Sandy Point with Olasee Davis (Photo courtesy of Fireburn Heritage, Inc.)
This is week five of the five-week residency on St. Croix. In addition to cultural discovery hikes with renowned cultural historian Professor Olasee Davis, the children have selected their letter of the alphabet, along with the item, person, or place that the letter represents. Each week, Angela has also been reading to the students from her children’s books, “James and The Fireburn” and the newly published “Anna and the Goat Foot Woman.” Through this storytelling, students are exposed to Virgin Islands folklore and historical figures, a core value of Fireburn Heritage, Inc, the release stated.
The initiative also meets specific standards outlined in “The Kallaloo Framework: The Virgin Islands Cultural Standards,” including:
Key Student Performance Indicators include:
Knowing local Virgin Islands plants.
Being knowledgeable about native land and sea animals of the Virgin Islands.
Knowing cultural and folklore figures of the Virgin Islands.
Identifying the territorial symbols of the Virgin Islands, such as the bird, flower, and food.
Being knowledgeable of the marine ecosystem in the Virgin Islands.
During the final week of the program, students will complete their watercolor paintings and conduct research on the items they painted, which will be included in the ABC book. The students’ accomplishments will be celebrated in January when the finalized book is distributed, and their classes will be honored for their contributions. The schools selected for this year’s project include Claude O. Markoe, Alfredo Andrews, and Ricardo Richards Elementary Schools, according to the release.
Ricardo Richards students at Estate Windsor/ Alliance Hiking Trail with Olasee Davis (Photo courtesy of Fireburn Heritage, Inc.)
Through collaboration between Fireburn Heritage, Inc., CMCArts, and local educators and artists, including CMCArts Education Coordinator Jessica Parker White, Art Director Danica David, and Davis, this initiative aims to preserve and celebrate the cultural heritage of the Virgin Islands while fostering a deep sense of pride and understanding in young students, it said.
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity,” said Angela Golden Bryan. “As the resident artist, I am both humbled and honored to contribute to this meaningful project, which not only fosters cultural appreciation and storytelling skills but also ensures the preservation of our rich cultural tapestry for future generations. It is truly a privilege for Fireburn Heritage, Inc. to work alongside such esteemed individuals as Professor Olasee Davis, Jessica Parker white, and Danica David, who bring their invaluable expertise and dedication to this initiative.”
This project has been made possible by funding from CFVI with support from NEH. Additional funding from the Resist Foundation is also helping to ensure the successful completion of the Virgin Islands ABCs Initiative by covering essential project expenses, the release stated.
About Fireburn Heritage, Inc.:
Fireburn Heritage, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich cultural history of the Virgin Islands through art, education, and community engagement. Its initiatives focus on fostering cultural pride and appreciation while ensuring that the island’s unique heritage is passed down to future generations.
For more information, please contact Angela Golden Bryan at FireburnHeritage@gmail.com.
Storytelling, Storytellers & Information Systems: with Emphasis on the Virgin Islands is an insightful and practical anthology of biographical stories and historical accounts in seven chapters. The title reflects the book’s focus on the role of storytelling in the Virgin Islands and its connection to information systems. It is based on the doctoral dissertation of Cipriani A. Phillip Jr., a native of Frederiksted, and was released in 2021 by BTB Publishing.
Chapter One comprises the historical development of storytelling followed by the preservation of stories and storytelling, Chapter Three introduces information systems, and Chapter Four showcases the Caribbean Geographical settings where Phillip can weave language into a concrete narrative as early as the 1800s, starting with the works and travels of Hans Jonathan who was born into slavery on St. Croix, Danish Virgin Islands in 1784 and took his freedom and escaped to Iceland at Djúpivogur where he worked as a trader, thus becoming Iceland’s first Black settler.
Storytelling, Storytellers & Information Systems: with Emphasis on the Virgin Islands book cover. (Submitted photo)
The book continues with Virgin Islands storytellers and information brokers like Enid Maria Baa, Leona Brady Watson, Gilbert Sprauve, June Alexa Vance Lindqvist, Richard A. Schrader, Sr., Ruth Beagles, Maurice M. Thomas, Karen Thurland, Gene Emmanuel, Ruth Moolenaar, Barbara Christian, Lois Hassell-Habtes, Mario Moorhead, and Gail Watson Chiang all of whom shared their knowledge with the community to increase pertinent historical information for intellectual, social, traditional, and cultural survival.
The author gracefully includes Anguilla and Sint Maarten Storytellers Patricia Juliette Christian and Lasana M. Sekou. Other storytellers from the wider Caribbean region are also featured, including Antigua and Barbuda’s Joanne C. Hillhouse, The Bahamas, Barbados Stories in the Atlantic, Cuba’s Nicolás Cristóbal Guillén, Dominica and Expansive Storytelling with Mary Eugenia Charles, Guyana South American Cousin Ivan Van Sertima, Haïti & Its Storytellers- Jean Price-Mars and Félix Morisseau-Leroy; Puerto Rican Storytelling with Pura Belpré, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, Felipe Luciano, and Julia Constanza Burgos García.
Jamaica Telling It with Louise Bennett and Ralston “Rex” Nettleford, Storytellers of Martinique are Édouard Glissant, René Ménil, Paulette Nardal, and Jeanne Nardal; Saint Kitts and Nevis Storytellers are Simon B. Jones-Hendrickson, Caryl Phillips, and Cyril Valentine Briggs; Saint Lucia Tells it in Thyme like Derek Alton Walcott and John Cherubin, Tortola, and the British Virgin Islands’ April Tia Glasgow, and Trinidad & Tobago’s Paul Keens-Douglas, Pearl Eintou-Springer, and Rita Cox.
Chapter Five is very insightful because it provides a new understanding of the topic. The author introduces a thought-provoking concept about the future role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in storytelling. It includes AI’s potential to assist, predict, and even generate texts for automated books and storytellers, opening up new possibilities for the art of storytelling. The author’s statement that once fully integrated, AI will make it comfortable and intuitive for us to interact with various virtual characters is hugely impressive. This milestone would be critical to the advancement of AI as it would closely mimic human interaction, such as the turn, tilt, and angle of my head when I move, how I make eye contact (sustained, extra blinking, and fleeting), the way I walk with my swagger, style, or my sophisticated professional manner…” (p.231).
It would be derelict of me not to highlight the practicality of the valuable bibliography and appendices. These are not just a collection of information but toolkits for any storytelling enthusiast. They include Studies for Storytelling, Selected Caribbean Proverbs, a Glossary, and Related Literary Periodicals, providing a wealth of additional resources and information and equipping you with everything you need to delve into the world of storytelling.
If Storytelling, Storytellers & Information Systems: with Emphasis on the Virgin Islands is that exciting, then what took this reviewer so long to share it? This book has been a constant companion, never leaving my hands to return this gift to the bookshelf. It is a trusted friend that I am excited to introduce to you.
Pick up a copy of this treasure trove that is super loaded with relevant information. This book is valuable to the Core Collection of the Virgin Islands Public Library System because it provides a comprehensive understanding of storytelling, its cultural significance, and its role in social bonding and compassion. You will understand the actual value of storytelling by Cipriani A. Phillip. It builds social bonding and compassion and invokes emotion!
—O.D. Alexander, PhD, is a retired Saint Croix Central High School music teacher. He has also taught at Julius E. Sprauve School and Guy Benjamin School in Saint John. He can be reached at od.alex1972@gmail.com.
Errol Stephen St. Jean became the territory’s 31st homicide Friday. (Shutterstock image)
Errol Stephen St. Jean, 19, was shot in the head and died Friday evening on St. Croix, the V.I. Police Department reported.
At 6:12 p.m., the St. Croix 911 Emergency Call Center received multiple reports of a male who had been shot in the head. Emergency resources were immediately dispatched. The Virgin Islands Police Department arrived on the scene and found a male lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his head. The victim was transported to Juan F. Luis Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to the police report.
St. Jean is the 31st homicide in the territory and the 13th on St. Croix, according to the Source Homicide List.* St. Thomas has reported 18 homicides and St. John, none.
CIB Detectives are currently investigating this incident and are asking anyone with information about this shooting to contact 911, the Major Crimes Unit at 340-778-2211, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8476(TIPS).
The Source Homicide List is a chronological log of the homicides recorded in 2024 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as reported by the VIPD. Cases are broken down by island. While this listing is based on VIPD reports, the Source does not include suicides or vehicular homicides in its listing, which the police and some other media do. This can lead to a discrepancy in the number of incidents reported.
In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
