
V.I. Democrats Sue Elections System Over Primary Involvement

A New Forum: ’20v1′ Series Reframes Candidate Conversations
“Decision 2026: 20v1” produced in partnership with the Virgin Islands Source and VI Crawl, brings one gubernatorial candidate into conversation with twenty Virgin Islanders, each representing a different perspective from across the territory. The initiative blends production with journalism, helping shape a platform grounded in clear questions, context, and accountability.
The idea took shape, in part, after producer Shani DeWindt watched the final stretch of the Harris–Walz presidential campaign, where a compressed timeline and rapid messaging left little room for deeper civic engagement. She saw a similar challenge locally, where the political window is even shorter — and where voters often have limited opportunities to engage meaningfully with candidates beyond surface-level exchanges.
“This initiative is about strengthening civic engagement in a way that feels accessible, relevant, and rooted in community,” DeWindt said.
The format is intentionally structured: each of the twenty participants — referred to as “questioners” — brings forward a claim or perspective tied to an issue affecting the territory. Those claims shape the conversation, requiring candidates to respond directly and with specificity, rather than relying on broad campaign messaging.
For producer Tricia Homer, the project is also about creating a different kind of space – one that prioritizes listening as much as speaking.
“This is about creating space for real conversation,” Homer said. “Not just people talking at each other, but a place where people feel heard. Our ability to solve difficult problems is directly tied to how well we ask questions, how deeply we listen, and how we show up for each other in that process.”
Gabrielle Querrard, part of the production team, added that the format also responds to a gap many voters have long felt.“One of the gaps we feel as voters is that there are a lot of panel discussions where candidates make broad promises, but there aren’t many spaces for meaningful dialogue or for them to get into the specifics of how those plans would actually work,” she said.
“20v1 creates an opportunity for candidates to be clear about their positions, while giving the community a more meaningful way to engage,” she said.
Organizers say the goal is to give voters a clearer understanding of each candidate’s vision, priorities, and approach to leadership — while also modeling a more intentional way of engaging in public conversation.
Filming is set to take place on St. Thomas over two weekends — May 30–31 and June 6–7, with the series expected to be released ahead of the party primaries.
More than a one-time production, “20v1” is positioned as a civic platform — one designed to encourage Virgin Islanders to move beyond familiarity and engage more deeply with the issues shaping the Territory’s future.
Community members can learn more, nominate questioners, or support the initiative – including through its GoFundMe campaign — at www.20v1usvi.com.
Kidnapping Case Against Harrigan to Proceed After Co-Defendant’s Murder

The kidnapping case against Troy A. Harrigan will proceed after a mistrial was declared last month when his co-defendant was shot and killed just as the jury was to begin deliberations.
In a ruling this week, Superior Court Judge Denise M. Francois ordered that a pretrial conference will be held July 21 on St. Thomas to set dates for jury selection and a new trial.
Harrigan and co-defendant Desie C. Henry Jr. were charged in September 2020 with kidnapping to exact money and multiple assault and weapons charges in connection with the alleged abduction of a man on St. Thomas.
The victim told police he was lured to a secluded location, bound with chains, and beaten and tortured over two days as Harrigan and Henry demanded $800,000 they believed he had stolen, according to court records. He eventually escaped and was rescued by a V.I. Police officer who happened to be patrolling in the area.
After years of delays and one false start last August when jury selection fell short, the pair went to trial Feb. 28. However, Henry, 32, was shot and killed outside the Paul M. Pearson Gardens housing community March 5 as he headed to court that morning in an attack that one Justice Department official termed an execution.
Francois subsequently granted an emergency motion for a mistrial, filed March 6 by Harrigan’s attorney Robert Leycock Jr., who said Henry’s murder “while charges remained pending against him has tainted the empaneled jury’s ability to deliberate fairly and impartially and constitutes manifest necessity for a mistrial. No curative instruction can adequately address the prejudice that flows from this extraordinary and tragic circumstance,” he wrote.
“Having received the motion and under the circumstances (the murder of co-Defendant Desie C. Henry, Jr. at about 8:43 a.m. on March 5, 2026, before the jury was charged and began its deliberations), the Court finds that there is no alternative but to declare a mistrial for reasons of manifest necessity and to dismiss the jury,” Francois said.
Criminal Chief Timothy Perry said at the time that a mistrial would not deter prosecutors from pursuing the case. “We expect this matter will come back up for trial,” he told the Source, adding that “it is not the standard of justice in the Virgin Islands that a trial can be disrupted through extrajudicial acts like the murder of this young man.”DJ Parson Hits the Road with Yo-Yo Ma and Interlochen

For DJ Parson, the past few weeks have meant moving quickly — rehearsals, travel, and performances across multiple cities — culminating in the kind of moment most young musicians don’t often get early on: sharing a stage with Yo-Yo Ma.
The St. Thomas native, now a 16-year-old jazz trumpet major at the Interlochen Arts Academy, recently completed his first national tour, performing in Detroit, Philadelphia, and Boston as part of “Imagine U.S.: Celebrating America at 250,” a multi-disciplinary production bringing together young artists from across the country. Selected through a competitive process as the tour’s only jazz horn player, Parson contributed to both performance and original work, including music scored for a student-produced film.
For Parson, the experience marked a first. It was his first time touring across multiple cities— moving from late-night rehearsals into early travel days and back onto the stage, often with little downtime in between. At the same time, the work extended beyond performance. He contributed to an original piece developed alongside fellow students, later paired with a short film and performed live as part of the program — an example of the kind of cross-disciplinary collaboration that defined the tour.
“The experience was very fun,” he said. “Being with everyone and being able to express the music we created… to so many people—that was the best part.”
The program itself brought together music, film, and other disciplines, with students performing works ranging from a newly commissioned cello concerto by Wynton Marsalis to a reimagined version of Charles Ives’ “Symphony No. 4.” The pace was demanding, but it also offered something harder to replicate in a classroom setting — learning in real time, alongside other artists working at a high level.
Back home, that kind of environment wasn’t unfamiliar — it just looked different. While on St. Thomas, Parson attended Antilles School, where he credits the band program as a key part of building his foundation as a musician. The son of United Jazz Foundation founder Nicole Parson and Emmy award-winning Virgin Islands musician Dion Parson, he also grew up around rehearsals, performances, and working musicians, absorbing the process as much as the sound.
“I’ve always been around jazz,” he said, including figures like Wynton Marsalis, who was involved in shaping parts of the tour and has long worked alongside his father. From there, the learning became more direct, with musicians offering guidance not just on technique, but on how to approach the instrument and the work.
“All the members of my dad’s band have been very supportive,” he said, pointing to players like trumpeter Melvin Jones and others who helped shape his development over time.
Even while studying at Interlochen, Parson has continued to return home and perform locally, building on that foundation while staying connected to the community that helped shape his early growth.
“Surround yourself with people that are better than you,” he said. “You learn more hearing them play … it helps you become better musically and personally.”
Now finishing his second year, Parson is focused on what comes next — more performances, more opportunities, and more time putting in the work.
“I’m just trying to put in as much time as possible,” he said, “and take advantage of every opportunity.”
Three FAPA Dancers Make History With Acceptance to Joffrey School Summer Intensives


New Exhibition Showcases Evolution of Virgin Islands Contemporary Art

Kenneth Rohan Changa Dies
Kenneth Rohan Changa, affectionately known as “Changa,” was born on February 9, 1969, on the island of Trinidad to his loving parents, Sylvia and the late Cecil Changa. He was the first son and a cherished member of his family.

On January 9, 1991, Kenneth married the love of his life and devoted partner, Avian Changa, with whom he shared a beautiful and enduring union. Together, they were blessed with two loving children, Arianne and Kyle Changa, who were the pride and joy of his life.
Beyond his professional life; he had a deep love for cars and speed, reflecting his vibrant and spirited personality. Kenneth’s greatest passions were his family, especially his beloved grandson, Karson Changa, who brought him immense joy. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law Jessica Changa.
He will also be remembered by his special friends; Ludy, Burkle, Rolston, Ms. Franka, Stevie from Trinidad, Bryan “Changa”, Shakeem, and a host of other special friends and relatives too numerous to mention.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 18, at the Apostolic Faith Mission, 487 Strawberry Hill, Kingshill, St. Croix, VI 00850. Viewing will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m.
Following the service, a motorcade will proceed in honor of Kenneth’s life, making stops at Angel Bar, Luddy’s Bar and concluding at Diageo USVI to commemorate his legacy.
Though we have lost a beautiful soul, Kenneth Rohan Changa will always be cherished in our hearts.
May he rest in eternal peace.
10-Day Countdown to $12 Per Hour Minimum Wage Increase

Fort Frederik Museum Seeks Artists






