Ten Rushed to Hospital Following Major Accident at St. Thomas Construction Site

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Ten Rushed to Hospital Following Major Accident at St. Thomas Construction Site
Hospital officials said the injured arrived at the Roy L. Schneider Emergency Room at approximately 10:45 a.m. Friday. (Source file photo)

Ten people described as construction workers were rushed to Schneider Regional Medical Center on Friday after an apparent scaffold collapse in western St. Thomas. A spokesperson for the medical center said preparations were underway for an air evacuation for one of the victims; two more were being scheduled for emergency surgery.

Seven more were awaiting treatment at the time of this report.

Details were not available as to whether any first responders were called to the scene, believed to have been at a construction site near Botany Bay. Officials did not disclose the conditions of any of the 10 people brought to the emergency room at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital.

“Today, at approximately 10:45 a.m., ten male patients arrived at the RLSH Emergency Room by private vehicles following a scaffolding collapse at a construction site. The injuries include spinal compression, fractures, impalements, and abrasions, said Schneider Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Tina Comissiong.

Comissiong said most of those brought in for medical treatment will most likely be released by Friday night. “I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our incredible team here at RLSH. Their swift and efficient response made all the difference today … The coordinated efforts of our medical team ensured that the patients received the highest level of care promptly. Our thoughts are with the injured individuals and their families during this challenging time,” the medical center chief said.

Construction site accidents are uncommon in the Virgin Islands; none involve the number of victims reported in the SRMC statement issued Friday. The most recent one occurred during the reconstruction of the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Resort on July 18, 2021. One construction worker was killed in a forklift accident.

There is no confirmation at press time of any calls being placed to the territory’s 911 emergency call line to report any incidents at or in the vicinity of Botany Bay. Government House Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. said he had no comment at this time.

Team PUR 1 Wins TOTE Team Racing Championship; 104 Junior Sailors Ready for International Optimist Regatta

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Team PUR 1 Wins TOTE Team Racing Championship; 104 Junior Sailors Ready for International Optimist Regatta
Good starts, covering competitors and scoring a first-second-third combo finish proved a successful strategy for PUR 1, representing the Sailing Academy at Puerto Rico’s Club Nautico de San Juan, to win Thursday’s TOTE Team Racing Championship. The Championship is one of a trio of events sailed out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC) this week. The three-day TOTE Clinic preceded it and will be followed by the 31st International Optimist Regatta (IOR), Friday through Sunday. Over a dozen teams of four sailors each participated in the TOTE Team Racing Championship. In the end, winning the first two races, Team PUR 1 beat SPYC (St. Petersburg Yacht Club) in a best-of-three contest. Team PUR 1 sailors were Isabel Rivera Fernandez, Julian Rivera Fernandez, Rafael Vazquez, and Lucas Christiansen.
PUR 1 Team Race Winners, L to R: Lucas Christiansen, Rafael Vazquez, Isabel Rivera Fernandez, Julian Rivera Fernandez. (Credit: Matias Capizzano)
“Making sure it was my team members who finished first, second and third,” says Isabel Rivera Fernandez, 15, about her strategy as team captain to win. “This was important to me because it was my last team race. I will compete in the 420 World Championships in Lake Garda this summer instead of the Optimist North American Championships at home in Puerto Rico.” Rivera Fernandez’s brother, Julian, 13, says his goal in the TOTE Team Race was “good starts and being one of the top 3 finishers.” “Covering the top sailor on the other team and making sure they didn’t have as much wind to be fast” was the tactic Vazquez, 12, employed to add to the team’s success. Christiansen, 9, the youngest member of Team PUR 1, was excited to be selected for the team race. “I was pumped, and when I got on the water, I felt comfortable and could do well.”
The Parade of Nations opening event at the St. Thomas Yacht Club. (Credit Matias Capizzano)
One-hundred-and-four 8- to 15-year-old sailors representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, several U.S. states, Canada and Germany started the week by training in the three-day TOTE Clinic held June 10 to 12. Top local and international coaches ran the clinic. The clinic ended Wednesday with a Volvo Ocean-style race, where sailors completed four legs around the east end of St. Thomas and its offshore islands. Alexander Montagu, representing California’s San Francisco Yacht Club, won the Volvo in the Championship Fleet. “I really enjoyed competing in the Volvo Ocean race yesterday. Conditions were challenging and a little different to what I’m used to, so the clinic was a great way for me to adapt my skills in preparation for a very competitive race,” said Montagu. Christopher Fulton Jr., sailing out of Florida’s Coral Reef Yacht Club, topped the Green Fleet in the Volvo race.
International Optimist Regatta
“I felt confident, had good starts, and liked the heavy wind,” said Fulton, who won two legs of the race and finished second in the other two. “Learning how to read the current and the wind shadow from the island were things I learned in the clinic that helped me win the Volvo.” The 31st IOR gets underway on Friday. The 104 junior sailors are represented by both Championship and Beginner fleets. The Championship fleet is divided into age groups: White (age 10 and under), Blue (ages 11 and 12), and Red (ages 13 to 15). Depending on the weather, the race committee plans to run 10-plus races over the next three days. The Awards Ceremony takes place on Sunday at 3 p.m. on Sunday at STYC. Trophies will be awarded to the top five sailors in each fleet: Red (ages 13-15), Blue (ages 11-12), White (ages 10 and under), Green (beginners), and the top three sailors overall by score. A Perpetual Trophy, introduced in 2017, is inscribed with the overall winner’s name from the past 29 years. Additional trophies include the Peter Ives’ Perpetual Trophy, the Chuck Fuller Sportsmanship Award, and the perpetual Founders Trophy, awarded to the Top Female Sailor. Strong Sponsor Support Winners in the Red (ages 13-15), Blue (ages 11-12), and White (age 10 and under) fleets will receive signature Virgin Islands’-styled Lite Up Watches from Cardow Jewelers, each in coordinated Red, Blue, and White colors. Perfect for junior sailors, the kid-favorite timepieces are water-resistant and feature a silicon band, flashlight, light-up feature, and an outline of all three U.S. Virgin Islands on the face. The IOR is sponsored by TOTE, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, The K3 Company, Cardow, MSI Building Supplies, Lagnappe Interiors, and CC1 Virgin Islands. This year’s event will follow an eco-friendly theme. Sailors will be encouraged to recycle all plastic water bottles, keep all lunch bags and wrapping out of the water, pick up trash on shore, and accept drinks without straws. For more information, Email: internationaloptiregatta@gmail.com or call 775-6320. Or, for the Notice of Regatta (NOR), Registration Form or other information, visit the St. Thomas Yacht Club website at www.stthomasyachtclub.org/sailing/regattas/international-optimist-regatta or Regatta Network: www.regattanetwork.com. Also see the International Optimist Regatta on Facebook and Instagram @internationaloptiregatta. About the Sponsors TOTE. TOTE is a domestic ocean freight carrier headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., which offers freight services for containerized cargo between the U.S., San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. TOTE is the first carrier to operate liquid natural gas (LNG) powered vessels. www.totemaritime.com

V.I. Government Officials Charged in $4M HUD Fraud Scheme

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V.I. Government Officials Charged in $4M HUD Fraud Scheme
The Education Department Director of Maintenance, Davidson Charlemagne, 50, and his wife, Sasha Charlemagne, 44, both of St. Croix, were arrested after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging the pair with government program fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Thursday. The indictment also charges former Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority Chief Operating Officer Darin Richardson, 56, of St. Thomas, with criminal conflict of interest and making materially false statements. “As alleged, these defendants exploited hurricane recovery efforts in order to develop and carry out a $4 million scheme to defraud taxpayers,” said Smith. “The indictment levied against these individuals sends a clear message that the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners followed the money and will continue to hold public officials seeking to profit from natural disasters accountable for their crimes. I commend the diligent work done by Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General who worked tirelessly to uncover this conspiracy to defraud the citizens of our Territory.” According to court documents, the charges stem from a two-year investigation involving a VIHFA contract for storage and management of wood that was shipped to the territory to be used for the reconstruction of commercial and residential buildings following hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. After both hurricanes, Federal Emergency Management Agency mobilized resources, including a large consignment of wood, to rebuild public and private infrastructure in the Virgin Islands. As part of those efforts, VIHFA received funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program to pay for the storage and management of the wood. Initially, VIHFA stored the St. Croix consignment of wood at Sunshine Mall in Frederiksted, St. Croix. However, in 2020, the owner of Sunshine Mall requested that the Government of the Virgin Islands remove the St. Croix woodpile from his commercial property. On May 12, 2020, VIHFA issued a public request for proposals seeking bids for a contract to store and manage the woodpiles on both islands. On June 2, 2020, VIHFA received a proposed bid from ISG and D&S Trucking, a company owned and operated by Davidson Charlemagne, at a cost of $2,993,500 over a three-year period. The proposal included cost estimates for four employees, including a warehouse manager at $120,000 per year, a forklift driver at $100,000 per year, a shipping and receiving clerk at $80,000 per year, and an administrative staffer. These estimates for labor were vastly inflated and above the labor costs estimated by VIHFA. By comparison, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries for forklift drivers, shipping and receiving clerks, and administrative support personnel average approximately $41,000 per year, and a manager of warehouse employees earns on average $64,000 per year, the court documents stated. As required by HUD and VIHFA, Charlemagne certified in the proposal that his company, D&S Trucking, had general and automotive insurance that expired on December 18, 2020. No evidence exists, however, that Charlemagne had insurance he claimed to have at the time he submitted the bid certification. Without insurance, Charlemagne’s company, D&S Trucking, was ineligible to serve as subcontractor on the woodpile storage and management contract. Charlemagne also failed to disclose in his bid that he was employed as Director of Maintenance for the Virgin Islands Department of Education or that he would be obtaining rent-free warehouse space at Henderson Elementary School, a property owned by the Virgin Islands Government. Essentially, ISG’s bid proposed that D&S Trucking would collect vastly inflated annual fees from one government agency to store and manage the St. Croix woodpile rent-free at another government agency where Charlemagne is employed, the documents stated. VIHFA received a second request for proposal from Infrastructure and Disaster Recovery Group (“IDRG”), a company incorporated in the state of Texas, in response to VIHFA woodpile management contract. IDRG, however, was not registered with the federal government’s System for Award Management (“SAM”), a prerequisite for companies seeking government contracts, nor a Dun & Bradstreet (“DUNS”) account number. The absence of a SAM registration and DUNS account number should have raised significant red flags to VIHFA, the absence of which effectively rendered IDRG ineligible to be awarded a federal contract. The investigation later revealed that IDRG’s bid proposal was altered by unknown co-conspirators after it was submitted to VIHFA which resulted in IDRG’s bid being less competitive than ISG and D&S Trucking’s bid, according to the documents. In June 2020, VIHFA COO Darin Richardson convened a Bid Evaluation Committee meeting to review the bids submitted by ISG and IDRG. On July 7, 2020, Richardson, who had total authority over all procurement and contract-related decisions at VIHFA, gave ISG’s bid higher ratings across all technical factors as compared to the bid submitted by IDRG. On Jan. 27, 2021, Richardson formally awarded ISG and D&S Trucking the contract for the storage and management in the amount of $2,993,500, commencing on Feb. 1, 2021, and ending Jan. 31. Pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulations, which govern all contracts utilizing federal funds, it was unlawful for Richardson to formally award the contract to ISG and D&S Trucking after evaluating and rating proposals from companies. Federal regulations contemplate a bifurcation of these two duties, and Richardson violated the regulations by performing both roles, the court documents stated. On Feb. 1, 2021, Charlemagne, through ISG and D&S Trucking, began collecting payments from VIHFA, averaging $83,000 per month. Charlemagne, in his capacity as Director of Maintenance for the Department of Education, arranged for rent-free storage of the St. Croix woodpile at Henderson Elementary School. Despite receiving payments under the contract from February 2021, Charlemagne did not remove the St. Croix woodpile from Sunshine Mall to Henderson Elementary School until August 2021, seven months after he began receiving payments under the contract. Accordingly, Charlemagne received over $582,000.00 in payments from VIHFA before beginning any work that he had contractually agreed to perform. During the period of Feb. 8, 2021, through Nov. 3, 2022, ISG and D&S Trucking billed VIHFA $1,526,743 for labor costs despite paying only $461,379 in payroll costs to employees who were purportedly managing the St. Croix and St. Thomas woodpiles, the documents stated. This sum represents a 331 percent profit to Charlemagne for labor under the contract. Moreover, of the $461,379 in payroll paid by D&S Trucking, $67,037 was paid to Sasha Charlemagne. No record exists with the Virgin Islands Department of Labor that Sasha Charlemagne has ever been employed with or earned a salary from D&S Trucking, as required by Virgin Islands Law. Charlemagne also reported hiring an additional 21 individuals to allegedly work under the terms of the woodpile contract on St. Croix and St. Thomas. However, no record exists with the Department of Labor that Charlemagne employed 21 individuals nor paid employer payroll taxes for those employees, as required by the laws of the Virgin Islands. The investigation further revealed that the Charlemagnes used federal funds to pay for a variety of personal and business expenditures, including over $365,000 in credit card bills, car loans, and bank lines of credit; approximately $100,000 in equipment purchases, over $120,000 in cash transfers to themselves, and over $35,000 on fireworks, according to the court documents. On June 7, 2021, while serving as COO and in that capacity, managing and supervising all procurement-related decisions for VIHFA, Richardson increased the value of ISG’s contract to $4,043,100. The purported justification for the $1,000,000 increase was that the length of the contract term was increased from 2.8 years to 3.0 years. This justification, however, was false as the contract term was originally set for a three-year term, which would not have expired until January 2024, more than two-and-a-half years later. Again, on Aug. 20, 2021, while serving as COO of VIHFA, Richardson increased ISG’s contract to $4,319,816.50, an increase of $276,416.50 in two months. For a third time in eight months, Richardson, in his capacity as COO of VIHFA, again increased the value of ISG’s contract to $4,423,644.50 on Oct. 13, 2021. On Feb. 7, 2022, Richardson, while serving as COO for VIHFA, received a payment in the amount of $107,000.00 from ISG. On Feb. 14, 2023, after resigning as COO from VIHFA, Richardson was interviewed by the HUD Office of Inspector General, during which he falsely stated that he had recused himself from all VIHFA matters related to ISG and that he was pursuing a business relationship with ISG. Richardson’s statement was false as he was, in fact, instrumental in reviewing and awarding ISG and D&S Trucking the woodpile contract. In fact, a review of relevant documents revealed that Richardson never executed any document with HUD or VIHFA to formally recuse himself from matters related to ISG, the court documents stated. “The indictment related to theft of HUD disaster relief program funds meant to benefit low-income families is a signal that we take seriously allegations of illegally obtained taxpayer dollars through fraudulent schemes,” said HUD OIG Southeast Region Acting Special Agent-in-Charge George Richardson. “HUD OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of HUD’s programs and to ensure vulnerable people in our communities are provided critical resources upon which they can rely.” “The indictment and arrests announced today are a clear demonstration of the FBI’s unwavering commitment to justice and the responsible use of government funds. We will not tolerate those who seek to defraud the government and hinder the crucial assistance for those in need. We will continue to vigorously pursue justice for the American people and ensure that disaster relief funds are used as intended,” said Joseph Gonzalez, special agent in charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “We call on the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands to join us in this fight by reporting these crimes to our main line at 787-987-6500. Your tips are invaluable, and we assure you that we will do our utmost to protect your identity and investigate every lead.” “Our office is committed to investigating fraud across all SBA programs,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite. “We leverage our agent’s expertise to uncover complex fraud schemes, including those that arise during pandemic fraud investigations. Our collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners is essential in protecting taxpayer interests in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” In January 2024, VIHFA renewed ISG’s woodpile contract for an additional three-year term, with payments averaging over $120,000 per month to Davidson and Sasha Charlemagne. Since the inception of the contract in February 2021, VIHFA has paid ISG and D&S Trucking over $3,600,000 in federal funds, of which approximately $3,177,000 has been credited to bank accounts owned and controlled by Davidson and Sasha Charlemagne. The woodpiles in St. Croix and St. Thomas, however, remain almost entirely unused and stacked on pallets outdoors and exposed to the elements for more than three years, and homes across the territory remain in need of repairs from damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, the documents stated. This case is being investigated by the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Evan Rikhye.

Waste Management Board Nominees Ponder Waste-To-Energy

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Waste Management Board Nominees Ponder Waste-To-Energy
Conn Davis Jr., of St. Thomas, and Lindel Williams, of St. Croix, were nominated to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority’s Governing Board. (Photo courtesy V.I. Legislature)
Two men nominated to join the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority’s Governing Board said they’d seek to modernize services, engage in environmentally sensitive practices, innovate revenue collection, and create a workplace that would attract eager experts. They told a Senate committee Thursday morning that they also had experience in potential of waste-to-energy programs in the territory. Conn Davis Jr., a St. Thomas-based investment expert and owner of Community Medical Laboratory, and Lindel Williams, a St. Croix construction and engineering expert who was also commissioner of Public Works during the Gov. Roy Lester Schneider administration, both have years of experience in dealing with financing, project management, government bureaucracy, and innovations like waste-to-energy technologies, like a plan recently floated for St. John. They told the Senate’s Committee on Rules and Judiciary that emphasis on responsibility and innovation was needed. Davis said, in 2009, he reviewed a plan to use petroleum coke from the Hovensa oil refinery in order to create a waste-to-energy program. “Upon doing research into the proposed facilities, I found the development plan to be both environmentally unfavorable and not financially viable. At this point, I began seeking out solutions which were more appropriate for the territory,” Davis said. The search for cleaner energy took Davis to Oman, using innovative German technologies and eventually getting partial funding from the U.S. State Pension Fund, he said. Funding for such projects were key to their viability, he said. “I established and funded a development company via a joint venture with Concord Blue Energy to pursue a newly issued RFP for an integrated waste management plan for the USVI,” David said, who completed two request-for-proposal processes before the idea was shelved just before the 2017 hurricanes. “While this project and associated entities have been dissolved, I feel that the experience which I gained from this process will be of value to the VIWMA and the people of the Virgin Islands.” Cost is a major factor in creating a right-sized waste-to-energy program. “When I pursued that project 10-plus years ago, one of the considerations was really that we have three variables financially that work into that model when you build. One is the electricity rates or your power purchase agreement. Two would be your tipping fees, and three would be your credit rating,” he said. “The power purchase, you’re looking at the highest power prices in the world.” Both men talked about the difficulty of forming a public-private partnership to create a waste-to-energy program. There were several steps to be completed first, including solving some of the authority’s systemic difficulties. Williams suggested tipping fees, where people are charged for dumping items at landfills, may inadvertently lead to illegal dumping to avoid such fees. “There are plenty of people who just back up into the bush and dump,” Williams said. A better plan might be to charge disposal fees on the front end when items are brought into the territory. “Then you’re generating a revenue stream of $2 million or $3 million per month or whatever that is to go into a lockbox for use by the authority,” he said. That money could be used for training employees and educating the public on small steps that could greatly improve how the territory uses its garbage. They called for education of people in the territory about recycling, separating metal and plastic from yard waste, and keeping toxins like batteries and oil out of landfills. The more diverse the trash, the more difficult it is to be turned into fuel for power plants. Another example is keeping metal and plastic out of yard waste, which could lead to a robust mulch program, they said. “Most mulch sold in the territory is ground-up untreated pallets,” Davis said. Grinding up limbs and other green waste would reduce the need to burn. “Thirty years ago we had grinders here. After Hugo the contractor brought in some grinders. Those are things we can do at a very cheap rate,” Williams said. Another idea would be turning yachts destroyed by storms or other damage into artificial reefs to protect against future hurricane swells. Yet another idea, Vinasse, the nitrogen-rich waste product of rum production, can be mixed with soil and used as fertilizer, Davis said. Williams urged education, enforcement, and internal studies so the authority has a very clear picture of what was going right and what needed improving. “You can’t address a problem if you don’t know where you at,” he said. Davis named what he thought were the largest points of urgency in the territory: the energy crisis, the Government Employee Retirement System, and the Waste Management Authority. The committee voted to approve Davis’ and Williams’ nominations, moving them on to the full Senate.

Fantasy Commercial Real Estate

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Fantasy Commercial Real Estate
Dare to dream with these wildly different commercial properties for sale in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. (Photo courtesy Sea Glass Properties)
From a long stretch of remote Anegada beachfront to an industrial acre in what could soon be a busy St. Croix shipyard, available Virgin Islands commercial real estate rivals its dream homes. Dreams of owning a historic property on Charlotte Amalie’s Main Street might have some wake-up screaming. But if the idea sparks joy in you, have a look at 26 Dronningens Gade, adjacent to the Royal Dane Mall. The 1963-built, 3,600-square-foot interior features a 1,750-square-foot retail space at street level and opportunity for two apartments upstairs, according to multiple listing agents. Sales on Main Street ebb and flow but are pretty well documented. A venture further south could be a long-term boon for an adventurous industrialist. Research groups have been studying the feasibility of building a large ship repair yard on St. Croix’s south shore for two years. In early June, the first study results came back, suggesting it was possible and a money maker. Although the researchers suggested more studies were needed, they identified the Krause basin as the best spot for the shipyard, having a wide turning basin and existing facilities like a machine shop and smaller cranes. Earlier this month, the Economic Development Authority announced St. Croix Shipyards LLC, a partnership between PetroMar International and Global Engagement Support Services, had started pre-construction of what could be the Caribbean’s largest shipyard. In one of the more unusual real estate listings out there, 1,242 acres of land adjacent to the proposed site — stretching from the airport to the container port — is for sale or lease. Listed at $90 million, the seller was willing to break up the vast expanse into one-acre parcels. A portion of the property includes a two deep berths, one 32 feet and one 20 feet, suitable for bulk products and roll-on roll-off shipping, according to listing agents. The listing also says the site is cleared for dredging material placement, meaning the berths could be deeper adjacent to the 1,100-foot by 1,800-foot turning basin along the 7,000-foot channel, which has a 32-foot working depth. The absolute opposite of industrial ship repair and the bustling Main Street hustle is remote, ghostly Anegada. With little more than trade winds, a passing gull, and the gently lapping waves to distract from a total sense of serenity, whoever buys the Anegada Beach Club will have a truly unusual business to run. Renovated several times since 2018, the club’s 16 thatch-roofed bungalows and nine open-sided palapas sit along 10 acres of Anegada’s trademark white-sand beaches on the northwestern shore. The site includes two beach bars, a restaurant with tables set in the sand, a lobby and gift shop, manager’s cottage, the island’s only pool, and multiple water sports operations. Furnishings were custom designed in Nicaragua, according to listing agents. Anegada is notoriously difficult to get to, so the beach club has a dedicated helipad, as well as a generator and solar system guaranteeing round-the-clock electricity, trucks, and a Digicell tower contract. A 100,000-gallon cistern assures adequate potable water. The hotel suites include cable, Wi-Fi, and telephone. Built in 2013, the current owners are asking $16.5 million.

Photo Focus: DPW Makes Progress on Bridge Project

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Photo Focus: DPW Makes Progress on Bridge Project
East Airport Bridge (Photo courtesy DPW)

The Public Works Department continues to move forward, making more progress on the St. Croix bridge projects, the department announced Thursday.

The project includes five sites: East Airport Road, Altona Lagoon, Queen Mary Highway, Midland Road, and Agriculture Road. Pile installation for the foundation of the East Airport Bridge is complete. Construction of the abutments for the support of the bridge superstructure is ongoing. Meanwhile, at the Altona Lagoon, the precast beams are on-island and will be transported to the site to begin placing them on the abutments. This will begin in the coming weeks. Both bridges are being constructed by Virgin Islands Paving Inc., according to the press release.

Queen Mary Bridge (Photo courtesy DPW)

Custom Builders is constructing the bridges on Queen Mary Highway and Midland Road. Currently, the contractor is completing the bridge approaches on Queen Mary Highway. This is expected to be completed in the next three weeks, and paving will follow, the press release stated.

Construction at the Midland Bridge and Agriculture Bridge will begin once the Queen Mary Highway and East Airport bridges are completed, the release stated.

The scope for the permanent bridge projects includes demolition and the construction of bridge approaches, spans, decks, rails, and new roadways. The ongoing repairs are necessary due to the extremely poor condition of all five bridges. Motorists are asked to utilize alternate routes when possible and proceed with caution while traversing the areas, it said.

VI National Swim Team Leaves for Mexico to Compete in Central American/Caribbean Confederation Championships

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VI National Swim Team Leaves for Mexico to Compete in Central American/Caribbean Confederation Championships
A 25-meter pool (Source Photo by Kyle Murphy)
The U.S. Virgin Islands National Swim Team will travel to Monterrey, Mexico, to compete in the Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) Championships that will be held June 14-16. The confederation oversees competitive swimming and other aquatic sports, such as water polo, open water, artistic swimming and diving in the Central American and Caribbean regions. Swimmers from various Central American and Caribbean countries will compete for top honors, with the championship serving as the final Olympic qualifying event in the region. Approximately 750 swimmers are anticipated to participate in CCCAN. From St. Thomas in the 11-12 girls’ category, the Virgin Islands will be represented by Reagan Uszenski, who brought home three medals from the last international meet at Carifta. In the 13-14 boys’ category, Zion John Baptiste, who also won a medal at Carifta, will be representing the USVI. College swimmers Lindsay Bar and Max Wilson will compete in the 18 and over events. Bar was a finalist in three events at the last international meet, while Wilson just completed an incredible season for FSU, setting a school record and being named All-American in two individual events and two relays. Coming off a successful V.I. Championships in May, the swimmers from St. Croix have been preparing to compete in CCCAN 2024. They have been working hard and are ready to represent the USVI in Mexico. The swimmers from St. Croix representing the USVI are Kaeden Gleason (16), Daryan Maynard (15), Kalonji Von Schilling (15), Gabrielle Evora (17), Sawyer Holley (14), Riley Miller (15), Caroline Tyrrell (16) and Adriel Sanes (Tokyo Olympian). The swimmers from both islands are eager and ready to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands with pride.

Off to the 2024 AAU National Volleyball Championships

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Off to the 2024 AAU National Volleyball Championships
Team picture of Island Mixx 14U Elite at the Cyril E. King Airport before leaving to compete in the 2024 AAU National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida. (Source photo by: Mark Daniel)
The largest volleyball tournament in the world begins Thursday. Over the next 25 days, 5,865 female and male volleyball teams from the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands will take to the court in Orlando, Florida. Approximately 117,000 athletes and coaches will participate in the 51st edition of this event. Island Mixx 14U Elite Team has its first of three scheduled matches today at 4:00 PM when it takes on BBVA 14U Elite, based in Florida. There is no time to rest, as they are back on the court against MVA Rise Academy 42 from Michigan at 5:00 PM. In their final match of the evening, they will be facing a team from Georgia, XP 14 Allegiance, at 7:00 PM. All games will be at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in the North Concourse on court 15. This team is coached by Myriam Rodney, Carissa Braithwaite, who is an original Island Mixx player, and Mya Vigiliant. The team has been working hard since they first started training in December of 2023. Seven of the ten-person roster played in this tournament in 2023.  Alexes Richardson and Taylor Spillane will be providing power from the outside and ball control in serve receive. Chelsea Leonce, Kinsley Taylor, and Rejanae Richardson will be called upon to secure the middle with solid blocking and timely hitting. Danielle Allen and Riley Moskowitz are the anchors of the defense as they serve as the team liberos. Lindsey Allen, Leah Vigilant, and Arielle Shackell are the setters on the team. They will need to make wise choices, serve tough, and be the leaders on the floor. Island Mixx 14U Elite had a tough training regimen in preparation for AAUs. They were the youngest team in the Advance Women’s Division of the 2024 Michael Richardson Winter Power Volleyball League in St Thomas. In March, they traveled to Puerto Rico to compete in the Caribbean Volleyball Championships. The team got one final training opportunity while in Orlando from Coach Isaac Raphael, head coach of the United States Virgin Islands National Program. Raphael is an experienced coach whose teams have won the championship at this event in the past. Island Mixx 14U Elite is the first of five teams from In the Zone Athletic Club, Inc., to participate in this year’s AAU National Championships. The club is also sending 18U and 16U girls’ teams. The Island Mixx boys’ program will compete in the 18U and 15U club divisions. St. Croix also has multiple teams competing in the tournament. Island Mixx 14U Roster Alexes Richardson      1          Calvary Christian Academy Taylor Spillane           3          Antilles School Chelsea Leonce           4          All Saints School Danielle Allen             5          Home School Leah Vigilant              6          Antilles School Kinsley Taylor            8          Home School Arielle Shackell          10        VI Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy Lindsey Allen             11        Home School Rejanae Richardson    12        Seventh Day Adventist School Riley Moskowitz          42        Antilles School Myriam Rodney                      Head Coach Carissa Braithwaite                 Assistant Coach Mya Vigilant                           Assistant Coach

Steve Jack Dies at 55

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Steve Jack Dies at 55
Steve Jack
Steve Jack was born on Jan. 26, 1969, on St. Croix and passed away on May 24, 2024, at the age of 55 in Tampa, Fla. Steve’s early communities were Red Brick, Ralph D. Chabert, and John F. Kennedy. He attended Pearl B. Larsen Elementary, Juanita Gardine Elementary, Elena Christian Junior High and St. Croix Central High School. Steve was known for his love of sports, especially track and field, basketball and cycling. He believed in standing up for what was right and lending his voice to those who needed it most. His unwavering commitment to family and fellowship will forever be remembered as a shining example of the difference one person can make in the world. Steve’s generosity, kindness and infectious laughter left a mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him. Steve is preceded in death by his wife, Tijuana Kelly; mother, Leova Harris; sister, Shermaine Jack; nephew, Thomas Lee Dortch Jr.; and uncle, Ralph Herbert Sr. He is survived by his daughters: Khaliah Gilbert and Ms. Aniyah Kelly; grandson, Jayce Gilbert; brothers: Sherman Jack, Malcolm Hughes, Wanson Harris, Xavier Jack and Anthony Jack; sisters: Diane Jack, Sandra Jack, Wanda Harris, Giselle Ambrose and Erica Miller. Steve is also survived by his son-in-law, James Gilbert Jr.; sisters-in-law: Rayna Harris and Victoria Jack; and an abundance of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Though Steve may no longer walk among us, his spirit lives on in the hearts of those he touched. His legacy of love, resilience and dedication to family will forever inspire us. As we bid farewell to a beloved son, father, husband, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, let us carry forward the lessons he imparted and the memories he cherished. Rest in peace, Steve Jack. Your journey may have ended, but your spirit will forever shine bright in our hearts.

Absentee Ballot Applications for the 2024 Primary Election Now Available

Source Staff
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Absentee Ballot Applications for the 2024 Primary Election Now Available
St. Croix Sample Primary Ballot from 2018. (Submitted photo)
Supervisor of Elections Caroline F. Fawkes advises the public that the first day of receipt of Absentee Ballot applications for the 2024 Primary Election is June 4. The ballot applications are available at the Elections System offices territory-wide or at the Elections System website at www.vivote.gov Elections System office locations are: St. Croix Office Sunny Isle Shopping Center Unit 26 (former Movie Theatre location) St. Thomas Office              9200 Lockhart Gardens (above Banco Popular) St. John Office Market Place, Suite II Completed Absentee Ballot applications can also be emailed to the following: Esviballotstx@vi.gov St. Croix Absentee Ballot Return Esviballotstt@vi.gov  St. Thomas/St. John Absentee Ballot Return The deadline to apply for an Absentee Ballot that must be mailed off island is July 16. This requirement is mandated to coordinate the timely delivery of a ballot application with the United States Postal System. Voters can request an emailed ballot by 5 p.m., Aug. 3.
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