WAPA Board Agrees to Take New Look at Wartsila Settlement Deal

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WAPA Board Agrees to Take New Look at Wartsila Settlement Deal
WAPA board members’ vote to review a 2021 settlement deal for Harley plant generators dominated Tuesday’s talks.  (Source file photo)

Members of the Water and Power Authority Governing Board approved a motion to review its settlement deal with Wartsila, LLC. The vote took place in an executive session held during an emergency board meeting on Tuesday.

The $35 million dollar settlement was reached in late 2021 over the installation of propane-fired generators for the Randolph Harley Power Plant. Board member Juanita Young said the review was intended to find a way to “get them back to work and complete the project.”

“The approval of the Wartsila settlement agreement, once fully executed, ensures meaningful progress will resume on the installation & commissioning of highly efficient generators and the 9MW battery energy storage system (BESS),” according to a statement issued by the utility late Tuesday evening.

Public pressure to complete the generator project became more pronounced recently as power failures and scheduled rotating outages have disrupted service territory-wide. Consternation among government leaders may have factored into the June 2 resignation of WAPA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Smith. Just before they began the closed-door session, board members discussed the day-long outage that struck St. John on May 24.

Problems with an undersea power cable were given as the cause, but preventing it from happening again led the board back to Wartsila. WAPA’s Water Director, Don Gregoire, pointed out that the contractor was given the task of constructing two standby power plants for St. John in a project funded by FEMA.

Without standby capabilities, he said, St. John will face repeated disruptions. “Right now, there is one line on St. John, which is a significant point of failure,” Gregoire said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, board members also approved an extension on a contract for Evertech, a company that provides billing services. WAPA’s Treasury Director, Michael Dow, said the Evertech contract expires on June 10. Because a new contract would require review by WAPA’s chief financial officer, additional time was needed to allow that process to take place, Dow said.

The board agreed to grant an extension on the current contract until Sept. 24.

Senate Committee Chair Awaits Legal Counsel Opinion on Election Law Ruling

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Senate Committee Chair Awaits Legal Counsel Opinion on Election Law Ruling
Lawmakers will soon discuss pending changes to Title 18 of the Virgin Islands Code in a special session set for June 12. (Source photo by Mat Probasco)

The chair of the 35th Legislature Committee on Rules and Judiciary recently wrote a letter urging the Senate body to meet and act at once “to address the status of the Election System.” Now, Sen. Diane Capehart says she is modifying that request in light of actions being taken by her Senate colleagues.

Capehart told the V.I. Source on Tuesday her call for a June 7 special session was no longer necessary since the body has already set June 12 as the date for that proceeding. At that time, lawmakers will consider changes to Title 18, Sec. 232 of the Virgin Islands Code. Their consideration follows a Jan. 10 ruling by Chief District Judge Robert Molloy declaring portions of Sec. 232 unconstitutional.

The judge’s ruling was the product of a legal challenge mounted by the V.I. Republican Party and the Republican National Committee. Party members told the court that sections of V.I. election law infringed on their Constitutional right to freely associate with fellow party members.

Now, five months after Molloy’s ruling, concerns are rising about how eliminating parts of Sec. 232 will affect the administration of the 2024 election cycle. At the time Capehart sent her request for a special session, signs of disruption were starting to appear.

“This matter would fall under my committee of jurisdiction. I asked for a meeting just to have a discussion with the Democratic chair and the Republican chair to find out what the Board of Elections is doing (and) what the parties are doing just for the people of the Virgin Islands to have a fair process,” Capehart said.

In her letter to Senate President Novelle Francis, the committee chairwoman expressed a need to act quickly.

“As you are aware, the Supervisor of Elections has been forced to postpone or cancel the casting of the lots due to concerns over the constitutionality of the current laws,” Capehart wrote on May 30. “According to Rule 501, I have circulated a petition to gain a consensus of the body necessary to take immediate steps to address the status of the Election System …“

But by June 4, elections officials were navigating their way through the permissible rules. The casting of lots, where candidates find out where their names will appear next to which ballot number, was held on a limited basis. Candidates vying for seats on the Boards of Elections and Education would get their assigned ballot numbers at a casting of lots rescheduled from May 30.

And the Legislature’s legal counsel was reviewing Molloy’s ruling on VIC Title 18, Sec 232. “Our legal counsel is preparing an opinion on that,” Capehart said.

The Rules and Judiciary Committee chairwoman said the legal counsel’s opinion is also valuable in light of amendments to the election laws now being proposed by her Senate colleagues.

Legislature Corner: Plaskett Makes Statement on DOJ’s Response to Calls to Condemn Insular Cases

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Legislature Corner: Plaskett Makes Statement on DOJ’s Response to Calls to Condemn Insular Cases
(Photo courtesy Facebook)
Congresswoman Plaskett shared the following statement about the U.S. Department of Justice’s response to calls from members of Congress to condemn the Insular Cases: “I am pleased that the Department of Justice has used this crucial opportunity to denounce the Insular Cases. Last month, I co-led a bipartisan, bicameral letter, signed by 43 members of Congress, urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to condemn and cease reliance on the racist rulings of the Insular Cases that continue to negatively impact U.S. territories, today. “The Department of Justice shared their emphatic agreement that the racist language and logic of the Insular Cases deserve no place in the law of the United States. The Department of Justice, ‘unequivocally condemns the racist rhetoric and reasoning of the Insular Cases,’ and it unambiguously agrees that ‘such reasoning and rhetoric are irreconcilable with foundational American principles of equality, justice and democracy.’ The Department of Justice will ensure that litigators do not rely upon the racist rhetoric and reasoning of the Insular Cases. “For far too long, this series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions have justified a racist and colonial legal framework that has disenfranchised the more than three million residents in the U.S. territories. The Insular Cases have denied residents equal constitutional rights, and any reliance upon these racist cases is indefensible. “This is an important step in advancing equity for the U.S. territories. While the efforts predate my time as a member of Congress, I am proud to see our efforts come to fruition – and have the Department of Justice clarify their position and denounce the Insular Cases. I will continue to advocate for the reversal of the Insular Cases to ensure the fair treatment of the residents of the U.S. territories.” Stacey E. Plaskett is the U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress.

Three Arrested For Forgery, Two For Rape

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Three Arrested For Forgery, Two For Rape
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One man tried to get his mother’s electricity hooked up fraudulently, another tried to hide past, and two others assaulted a visiting woman, police said. (Shutterstock)
A St. Croix man and his mother allegedly forged documents in hopes of restoring her utility service, a man awaiting trial for sexual assault of a teenager allegedly forged police documents for a government job hiding his arrest, and two St. Thomas men were charged with raping a visiting woman, police said Tuesday. Jahmoy Martinez and his mother, Renee Coats, were arrested Monday for allegedly presenting the Water and Power Authority with a forged lease. Coats’ utility service had been terminated sometime earlier because of overdue fees. They were charged with filing forged instruments and fraudulent claims upon the government. They were released on $5,500 bail, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department. Kishsion Thomas, 37, was arrested Monday, charged with forgery, filing or recording forged instruments, and fraudulent claims upon the government, police said. Thomas allegedly presented forged VIPD records and traffic records to the Waste Management Authority in order to obtain employment by avoiding the disclosure of his criminal and traffic records to the Human Resources Department. Thomas had been arrested in May 2023 for allegedly climbing into bed with a 14-year-old and rubbing his genitals against the girl. He was released into the custody of a friend a day after his arrest. Thomas was allowed to leave police custody Tuesday after posting $1,000 of $5,500 bail, according to court records. On St. Thomas Monday, a woman staying at a Charlotte Amalie hotel told police that she had been raped by two men at their home five days earlier. Police interviewed Shaquille Cruz and Roger Luis Perez-Velasquez before arresting both men on rape and unlawful sexual assault charges. Neither man had previous arrest records, according to court documents. They were offered $100,000 bail and jailed until an advice of rights hearing, police said.

FEMA, VITEMA Complete Exercises to Prepare for Hurricane Season

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FEMA, VITEMA Complete Exercises to Prepare for Hurricane Season
Satellite image of Hurricane Maria on September 19, 2017. The massive category five cyclone made landfall over Dominica on September 18, 2017, causing widespread devastation. (Photo from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.)
From May 20 to May 24, the Government of the Virgin Islands and federal partners participated in a series of response and recovery workshops along with a hurricane readiness response exercise to strengthen preparedness efforts before the Atlantic hurricane season. During the May 23 hurricane readiness exercise, participants established a unified command led by the territory and supported with federal resources from Emergency Operations Centers on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John as well as FEMA facilities in the territory. The exercise was driven by a scenario of a Category 3 hurricane, which impacted the U.S. Virgin Islands overnight with conditions allowing for a joint territorial and federal response. On St. Croix, an expedient operations site was set up outside the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency’s (VITEMA) Emergency Operations Center in Christiansted to support the hurricane readiness exercise by logistics from Region 2’s Incident Management Assistance Team and FEMA’s Virgin Islands Recovery Office. On St. Thomas and St. John, FEMA integrated with VITEMA, staff from other territorial governmental agencies as well as community partners at VITEMA’s Emergency Operations Centers in Estate Nisky and Estate Susannaberg for the hurricane readiness exercise. The territory’s Business Emergency Operations Center also integrated virtually with VITEMA’s Emergency Operations Center for the Capstone exercise. “As the U.S. Virgin Islands prepares for this year’s hurricane season, we take great pride in knowing that the Territory’s preparedness professionals and first responders are supported by local and federal professionals who make up the Incident Command,” said Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. “Led by VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen, the CAPSTONE readiness training conducted last week brought government personnel face-to-face with hazardous scenarios that may take place. We stand ready to assist and protect residents and businesses as a result of the CAPSTONE exercise,” said Gov. Bryan.
Palm trees during a hurricane on St Croix. Source file photo)
Palm trees during a hurricane on St Croix. (Source file photo)
“FEMA, VITEMA and the Government of the Virgin Islands continue to lean forward with strengthening the territory’s capacity to respond to and recover from all hazards that could affect the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Aaron VanDoren, acting coordinator of FEMA’s Virgin Islands Caribbean Area Office. “We cannot control the movement of storms in the Caribbean or other hazards that could impact the USVI, though we have the capability to review, practice and bolster response and recovery focus areas through drills and exercises,” said VanDoren. “We also urge individuals to review and update your preparedness plans so your household is ready for this hurricane season.” “While the exercise is designed to stress our staff in making decisions based on limited information, it is also designed to develop relationships and partnerships between our local agencies, private business sector leaders, and federal partners. Our joint mission is to ‘Save Lives and Preserve Property’ and our recurring theme this entire week was ‘Unity of Effort,’” said VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen. “In this year’s exercise we really demonstrated the importance of quickly assessing the need/gap locally, requesting a resource (equipment or people) to fill the gap, communicating the solution back to the requesting local government agency, and tracking the cost incurred as a result,” said Jaschen. “We even conducted an exercise press conference designed for agency leaders to provide information to the community. It is a real challenge to gather accurate information and answer questions, timely.” This month’s workshops and exercise were the CAPSTONE event of the U.S. Virgin Islands Readiness Initiative, a nearly six-month planning effort to prepare for this hurricane season. The CAPSTONE provided opportunities to integrate lessons learned from previous response efforts in the USVI, address gaps with territorial resources and then identify federal resources necessary to respond to all hazards.
Remnants of a hurricane damaged structure in Estate Frydenhoj, St. Thomas. (Photo by Mat Probasco)
Workshops during the CAPSTONE included:
  • Communications drills to strengthen the capability to operate in an environment with degraded communications,
  • Workshops on how the U.S. Virgin Islands and FEMA would collaborate on Individual Assistance and Public Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments to streamline the disaster declaration process and jump-start the recovery process after an event.
  • A focus on patient movement to validate a concept of operations on the movement of hospital patients between islands and out of the territory.
  • Strengthening the coordination between VITEMA and FEMA on the resource request process for the territory to receive the proper resources to support response operations in a timely manner.
  • Temporary power restoration priorities to focus on missions to restore power to critical facilities identified by VITEMA after disasters.
  • Evacuation sheltering to streamline sheltering operations, which included a focus on pet and medical special needs sheltering.
  • A points of distribution workshop to ensure the proper activation of the territory’s feeding and hydration missions during a response.
  • Emergency messaging to ensure the public receives timely and accurate information prior to, during and after a disaster.
  • Access and functional needs to make sure there is an effective communication access for people with disabilities, access and functional needs.
In June and July, territorial and federal partners will concentrate on corrective actions that need to be strengthened for response and initial recovery focus areas. Click below captions to view photos: FEMA’s Region 2 Incident Management Assistance Team with regional leadership, along with elements of Region 2’s Response and Recovery divisions and the New Jersey All-Hazards Incident Management Team collaborate May 23 in a field tent set up by IMAT and Virgin Islands Recovery Office logistics during a hurricane readiness exercise outside the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operations Center on St. Croix. FEMA/Kirk Henderson Leon Lewis, Warehouse Manager and General Supply Specialist; George Hamilton, Logistics Facilities Lead; and Chris Brant, Region 2 Information Technology Specialist, help set up an expedient operations site on May 22 outside the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operations Center on St. Croix in preparation for the following day’s hurricane readiness CAPSTONE exercise. FEMA/Angelique Smythe Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency Director Daryl Jaschen and Federal Coordinating Officer Lai Sun Yee guide territorial and federal partners in a hurricane readiness exercise May 23 inside VITEMA’s Emergency Operations Center on St. Croix. FEMA/Angelique Smythe Shantelle Eddy, of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, and Ozzie Bradshaw, of FEMA’s Virgin Islands Caribbean Area Office, both focus May 23 on the CAPSTONE’s hurricane readiness exercise at VITEMA’s Emergency Operations Center on St. Thomas. FEMA/Eric Adams Federal and territorial partners participate in an air operations blended training May 15 at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas in preparation for an airport assessments and opening reviews workshop that was held May 21 during the CAPSTONE exercise. An air operations blended training was completed at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix as well. FEMA/Eric Adams

WAPA Board, Government House Confirm Smith’s Resignation as CEO

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WAPA Board, Government House Confirm Smith’s Resignation as CEO
CEO Andy Smith has resigned from the Water and Power Authority. (Source file photo)
Government House Communications Director Richard Motta confirmed Monday, alongside a statement from the V.I. Water and Power Authority Board, that the utility’s Chief Executive Officer Andy Smith had resigned but had little details about the transition process over the next 30 days or whether anyone is being eyed as a successor. Smith’s contract with the authority is up on June 30 and according to WAPA officials, he opted not to renew, with the resignation coming prior to last week’s emergency governing board meeting. The WAPA Governing Board statement emphasized this was not performance related, praising Smith’s “changes and improvements” implemented during his tenure. “Under CEO Smith’s leadership and vision, the authority embarked on an industry standard approach to commercial decision-making that is data and analysis driven,” it said. “Director Smith’s efforts have resulted in the acquisition of the propane supply infrastructure from Vitol, nearing receipt of grant funding, and the successful negotiations with Wartsila to remobilize and complete the installation of new generation and battery energy storage at the Randolph Harley Power Plant.” The board, which is responsible for hiring and firing the authority’s top executive, said it is also “ensuring a smooth, sustainable leadership transition” and is expected to share more in the coming days. Meanwhile, at a Government House press briefing and despite reports of Smith’s departure Sunday night, nothing about WAPA was mentioned until members of the media broached the subject during the question-and-answer segment. Along with confirming the resignation, Motta said that the governor has continued to engage with the board under the current state of emergency, which was declared in late April in an effort to pay down a substantial amount of money owed to WAPA by the territory’s hospitals and Waste Management Authority. Along with approximately $11 million tapped from the Budget Stabilization Fund for the bills, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. has said another approximately $3 million was earmarked for the onboarding of a turnaround management agency that can conduct an assessment of WAPA and provide recommendations for its efficient, reliable and cost-effective operation. A bill mandating the hiring of the agency was passed by the Senate, vetoed by Bryan, then overridden in early to late 2021, though Bryan has said no appropriation for it was included. “A request for qualification has been issued so that process is moving forward,” Motta said during Monday’s press briefing. “No company has been identified as yet, but the process is moving forward and once that process plays through, then a company will be selected and then funded and then the process will take its course as prescribed by law.” The Public Finance Authority, in a special meeting called for this Wednesday, is set to approve a resolution selecting a company and authorizing the PFA’s leadership to execute a contract.  

Territory Prepares for Hurricane Season; Residents Encouraged to Attend V.I. Wellness Fair

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Territory Prepares for Hurricane Season; Residents Encouraged to Attend V.I. Wellness Fair
Government House Director of Communications Richard Motta Jr. provides updates during a weekly press briefing on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy Government House Facebook live stream)
During Monday’s weekly Government House press briefing, officials announced progress made to ensure that the territory is prepared for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which began on June 1. Community updates were also shared, including reminding residents about the ongoing V.I. Wellness Fair. “Last week marked a significant milestone in the administration’s ongoing efforts to enhance the readiness of the U.S. Virgin Islands for the Atlantic Hurricane Season,” said Government House Director of Communications Richard Motta Jr. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency conducted workshops and exercises from May 20 to May 24 to prepare for the season. On May 23, a drill simulated a major hurricane’s landfall. “The Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, in collaboration with its federal partners, engaged in vital response and recovery workshops and conducted a comprehensive hurricane readiness exercise,” Motta explained. “This exercise, which took place on May 23, simulated a Category Three hurricane impacting the islands overnight. It enabled participants to establish a unified command, integrating efforts across emergency operation centers on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John, along with FEMA facilities within the territory,” Motta added. With a potentially very active hurricane season this year, Motta explained that the exercise will benefit the preparedness of the USVI to handle a real-world hurricane emergency. “This exercise was not theoretical, but [it was a] practical demonstration of our preparedness to manage and recover from such a significant natural event,” Motta stated. USVI residents are encouraged to prepare now for hurricane season. Weather forecast information, including severe weather alerts, is available from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency website and the National Weather Service.  V.I. Wellness Fair Dr. Tai Hunte-Ceasar, chief medical officer of the V.I. Health Department and U.S. Air Force Maj. Mu Zhang, the officer in charge of the U.S. Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program, joined the press briefing virtually and reminded residents about the “V.I. Be Well” Wellness Fair. The fair is being held through Sunday and the DOH initiative will provide USVI residents with free access to medical treatments and evaluations, including dental and optometry services, pediatric physical exams, mental health assessments, and various health screenings and tests. Appointments are not required to visit a clinic for care, and residents will not be asked for any forms of identification or proof of health insurance. Registration for appointments for older adults and persons with disabilities is encouraged. The Wellness Fair’s official website provides more information about the locations and times of the clinics offering healthcare services. Regarding health-related news, cases of dengue fever have recently been rising across multiple areas, including in the Caribbean. DOH noted that six cases of dengue fever have been identified across the territory so far this year. The DOH notes the following information about common symptoms associated with the illness, and residents are advised to become familiar with indications of the virus. “The most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the following: nausea, vomiting, rash, aches, and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain). Symptoms of dengue typically last two to seven days, and most people will recover after about a week. The mosquito that spreads dengue bites mostly at dawn and dusk.” More information about dengue fever is available from the DOH website.  Judicial News Motta revealed that Gov. Bryan had introduced new legislation to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for crimes, and he noted that the governor has recently chosen to pardon five individuals serving criminal sentences. “Governor Bryan has announced new legislation that aims to change how we sentence people for certain crimes here in the territory,” Motta said. “This change will remove mandatory minimum sentences, which are set penalties that must be given for specific offenses, and instead, [the legislation will] allow judges to use their judgment based on the details of each case. By removing the [mandatory minimums], the law will allow judges to consider all aspects of a case and consider mitigating factors, making our judicial system fair and more flexible.” “This proposal reflects the administration’s commitment to a justice system that focuses on fairness and rehabilitation rather than punishment alone,” Motta added. Motta also shared the news that Bryan has nominated Ernest E. Morris Jr. as Superior Court Judge of the Virgin Islands. “A native of St. Croix and a dedicated servant of the law, Magistrate Morris brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to justice,” Motta stated. “Governor Bryan is confident that Magistrate Morris’ nomination will strengthen our judiciary with integrity and wisdom,” he continued.  Community Updates Several community updates were also provided during Tuesday’s press briefing, including news about the budget for fiscal year 2025. Motta explained that Bryan had submitted the budget to the 35th Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands. More information is available from the V.I. Management and Budget Office website. Finally, information regarding the 16th annual V.I. Governor’s Summer Reading Program was announced. A press release from Government House included the following information. “Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Department of Education and the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, has announced the commencement of the 16th Annual Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. Governor Bryan is challenging the territory’s students in kindergarten through sixth grade to ‘Unlock the Adventure’ to keep their minds sharp and maintain their learning and education during the summer.” The Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge begins June 1 and continues through August 5. Details about where students can find more information about the Summer Reading Challenge, including how to sign up, were also provided. “To sign up for the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge and to access tracking sheets, students can visit https://usvischools.com/. To access books virtually, students can visit www.openlibrary.org, and a copy of the borrowed book will download onto [a] student’s [electronic] device,” according to the Government House press release.      

Hull Bay Ramp Out To Bid Again, Schools Construction Planned

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Hull Bay Ramp Out To Bid Again, Schools Construction Planned
Jean Pierre-Oriol, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, said two bids to replace the Hull Bay Vessel Launch Ramp were “ludicrous.” (Screenshot from V.I. Legislature Facebook live stream)
A project to rebuild the Hull Bay Vessel Launch Ramp is being sent back out to bid after officials dubbed two offers $2 million apart “ludicrous” at a Senate hearing Monday. Jean-Pierre Oriol, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, said the ramp project went out to bid earlier this year and by March had received only two responses. “One came back at $6 million; one came back at $4 million,” Oriol said. “If we were to bring that up into a dollar per square foot for concrete, we’re talking, what, $2,400 or $2,500 per square foot?” At least one of the bids for removal and replacement of the 120-foot, six-inch concrete slab ramp seemed high to Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger. “It sounds a little bit ludicrous what I’m hearing,” Francis Heyliger said. “You are spot on, senator. It is absolutely ludicrous,” Oriol said. How to rebuild the ramp had raised contention among boaters and residents of Hull Bay last year. Previously considered efforts to expand a parking area that included removing large ancient trees had been postponed indefinitely, he said. Requests for bids to rebuild the ramp only would be issued shortly, Oriol told the Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning. Elsewhere, Oriol said repairs to the Enid Baa Library were slated to start June 19 and repairs to the Charles W. Turnbull Library were scheduled for completion in September. The Athalie M. Petersen repairs were stalled, he said, because of change orders not covered by Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. A $229,537 contract for Quetel Fish Market repairs had been signed and work was tentatively scheduled to start July 1, he said. A long awaited draft of the territorial Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan would be released before June 17, he said. “Beginning the week of June 24, DPNR will hold three more town hall meetings, one on each island, to once again obtain public input. Our goal is to have a final Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan by August 2024,” the commissioner said. The threshold for major building permits needs to be increased from $75,000, set in 1978, to a proper, modern amount based on the change in dollar buying power. Why should a 900-square-foot, $100,000 business renovation require a major permit when a $70,000 residential redesign to an 11,000-square-foot home not require a major permit, Oriol asked. The department has been busy collecting and processing $150 million in construction applications since October and collected $160K in violation fines. All that has been hindered by staffing shortages, he said. “A major struggle is the lack of funding to hire additional personnel in the non-federally funded divisions,” Oriol said. “Where we may have the federal resources to hire new individuals, we have struggled to fill those vacancies, which results in us not being able to provide all the services we would like to.” Education Department Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington told the Senate of her long list of repairs, some in preparation for the autumn school year, some long-term construction projects with completion goals before 2034. “Over the summer break, our dedicated maintenance team has been working diligently to address potential issues and implement necessary upgrades. We believe it is crucial to maintain a conducive and safe environment for our students’ growth and development. The department has established a petty cash system where maintenance directors in both districts can have access to funding, $50,000, for emergency repairs at our sites,” Wells-Hedrington said. “The maintenance directors were very elated to see the increase in local funding being given to the division with the establishment of the bureau. Historically maintenance has received $2,000,000 territory-wide, and that has increased now to $5,000,000 territory-wide. In addition, the bureau has received a one-time amount of $7,500,000 and the reprogramming funding from the Public Finance Authority in the amount of $3,417,978.25.” The $3.4 billion in capital improvement projects has the department and Office of Disaster Recovery busy, she said. Phase one of modernization work at the Wheatley Discovery Center at the Charlotte Amalie High School Annex was complete and phase two pending, Wells-Hedrington said. Design work was 90 percent complete for construction of the Arthur A. Richards PreK-8 at the Evelyn Williams Campus. The school’s projected opening date is August 2026, she said. Phase one of modernization work at the Raphael O. Wheatley Skills Center at the Gladys A. Abraham Campus was nearly complete, with plans for phase two — adding a culinary kitchen, additional teaching space upstairs, and additional lobby and administrative spaces — under review. Design work was underway for the new Alexander Henderson PreK-8, Boschulte PreK-8, a new Charlotte Amalie High School and a new St. Croix Central High School, Claude O. Markoe PreK-8, Edith Williams Alternative Education Academy, Julius E. Sprauve PreK-12, Lockhart PreK-8 with 6-8, modernization of the St. Croix Education Complex, the St. Thomas/St. John Education Administration Center and the St. Croix Education Administration Center, she said. “We’re planning the construction of new facilities to accommodate the growing needs of our student body. This includes new classrooms, laboratories, and multipurpose spaces designed to foster collaboration and innovation,” Wells-Hedrington said. Future projects included a new Alfredo Andrews PreK-8, Dunbavin Alternative Education Center, modernization of the E. Benjamin Oliver PreK-8, modernization of the Guy H. Benjamin Cultural and Center and Park, a new Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, a new Jane E. Tuitt PreK-3, modernization of the John H. Woodson Discovery Center, a new Juanita Gardine PreK-8, a new Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8, and a new Ulla F. Muller PreK-8, and modernization of the Yvonne Milliner Bowsky PreK-8 with 6-8. Some of the modernization was spacial, some linguistic, she said. “Our schools, like most schools built more than 40 years ago, rely primarily on the traditional classroom as the main learning space and all classrooms are the same size. The traditional classroom is designed for 30 students to sit and receive a lecture from the teacher and the student remains inside the classroom other than to go to special classes or lunch. Educational practice has changed significantly since we were in school. The lecture is one of many teaching modes and teachers are expected to use other teaching modes most of the time,” Wells-Hedrington said. “The different types of spaces that will be included in every learning community to accommodate differentiated instruction are shown in the diagram below. These spaces are of different sizes and configurations. The term learning studio replaces the term classroom.”

Mental Health Evaluation Clears Salem to Face Charges in Father’s Death

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Mental Health Evaluation Clears Salem to Face Charges in Father’s Death
Accused killer Mohammed Salem is charged with 10 criminal counts for the March 5 domestic violence assault resulting in– among other things — the death of his father, Hakim Salem. (Shutterstock image)

A long list of criminal charges was read off to a St. Thomas man accused of fatally stabbing his father. Defendant Mohammed Salem was arrested on March 5, but his initial court appearance was delayed while authorities assessed his mental health.

Salem is accused of murder, assault and using a deadly weapon to commit violent crimes against 69-year-old Hakim Salem. The elder Salem was pronounced dead by emergency medical technicians summoned to the family home in Estate Lerkenlund.

Mohammed is also accused of attacking his brother Jamil — age unknown — in the same incident. Superior Court Magistrate Simone Van Holten-Turnbull read off 10 different charges as part of the formalities at Monday’s advice of rights hearing.

An earlier attempt to advise the defendant of the charges and his legal rights took place several weeks earlier, witnesses said but was not completed. The magistrate said at the time, Mohammed claimed he did not remember the events of March 5. He was then sent off island for a psychiatric evaluation.

Van Holten informed those present at Monday’s hearing that tests performed showed there was nothing wrong with the defendant’s memory. Once his medical status was determined, she said, the hearing could proceed.

Mohammad Salem took part in the hearing by way of teleconference from the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility on St. Croix.

Charges and penalties included first- and second-degree murder, first- and third-degree assault, use of a knife in the commission of a violent crime, and violation of a domestic violence restraining order. All of those charges pertained to the alleged attack on Hakim Salem.

Additional charges included first- and third-degree assault against Jamil Salem, use of a deadly weapon in commission of a violent crime, and brandishing a deadly weapon.

Both sets of charges included domestic violence enhancements on the assault charges. Mohammed was told the maximum penalty on the most serious charge — first-degree murder — is life in prison without parole.

The magistrate then asked if the defendant understood the charges that were read to him. “I think I do,” he said.

Public Defender Annette Collins said her client had a criminal record which included a three-year prior prison term. She added that the defendant was homeless at the time of the incident and that attempts to find someone willing to serve as a third-party custody for Mohammed’s pretrial release were unsuccessful so far.

But when Collins asked the court to lower the defendant’s $1 million bail, the magistrate said no.

“This is a very serious situation. I am fearful for this community … I am not going to take a chance with Mr. Salem not taking his medication and then being out in the community and having something like this happen again,” Van Holten said.

Assistant Attorney General Brenda Scales asked the court to stipulate conditions for home confinement with electronic monitoring in case the bail conditions were met. The magistrate agreed.

At one point, the defendant interrupted. “I am not of this community,” he said, although he was born on St. Thomas on Oct. 23, 1989.

“Mr. Mohammad, thank you for your opinion, but the court has made its decision,” the magistrate said.

An arraignment hearing was scheduled for June 28 at 10 a.m.

Magens Bay Authority Board Discusses Sunset Parties for Cruise Guests

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Magens Bay Authority Board Discusses Sunset Parties for Cruise Guests

Some cruise lines have expressed an interest in offering sunset beach parties for their guests at the two St. Thomas parks managed by the Magens Bay Authority, according to a meeting of its governing board last week.

The matter came up after board member Dayle Barry sought clarification from board Chairperson Barbara Petersen regarding an email with nine recommendations that she sent to board members after attending the annual Seatrade conference in Miami in April.

While the email has not been shared publicly, among the items discussed at Tuesday’s meeting were sunset parties for cruise guests at Smith Bay Park, known locally as Lindqvist Beach, and a collaboration with Disney Cruise Line to improve the entrance at Magens Bay, namely the backlog of vehicles that often snakes more than a mile up the road on busy cruise ship days.

The annual Seatrade event is hosted by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, or FCCA, a not-for-profit trade organization comprising 23 member lines operating nearly 200 vessels in Florida, the Caribbean and Latin America. It was created in 1972 with a mandate to “provide a forum for discussion on cruise operations, tourism development, ports, tour operations, safety, security and other cruise industry issues,” according to its website.

While V.I. Tourism Department and other government officials regularly attend the conference, the Magens Bay Authority board has only recently begun to do so, with participation left up to the individual board members.

Representatives from the authority attended the conference for the first time in 2022, then again in 2023. Petersen attended this year with Magens Bay Authority Operations Manager MemorieAnne Brown-Callender and afterwards sent a report on their meetings to her fellow board members, including interest by the Azamara and SeaDream cruise lines in the private parties.

Barry questioned what the cost would be to host the after-hours events, how late they would last, and whether the authority is offering both Magens Bay and Smith Bay as venues.

“Princess Cruises has also expressed an interest in evening events at the park. However, there is no mention of directing that entity to the Smith Bay Park. Is this an oversight, or was there a reason that SeaDream was directed to Smith Bay and Princess was not?” Barry asked.

“From what I know about SeaDream, it’s a different clientele and if I remember the conversation we were having — which we do have with a lot of the vendors — when it’s that, quote unquote, ‘upscale more exclusive cruise,’ we’re directing them to Smith Bay because it is more quaint. They’re looking for a different experience. When we describe the two parks, they tend to lean on, ‘We like the idea of Smith Bay more,’” said Petersen, who added that they always include both parks when pitching Magens Bay Authority.

“Azamara was another one that we met with, and they were very enthusiastic about Smith Bay. Again, they are very upscale, and they want that chi-chi, exclusive kind of event. A basket with cheese and wine, a chaise lounge and quietness, and that is what Smith Bay offers,” said Petersen.

“The use of Smith Bay for sunset parties was recommended by MBA personnel for Azamara. It seems that such recommendations and matters should be discussed by the entire board before being recommended to cruise ship partners. Did I miss a meeting where this was discussed?” Barry replied.

“I don’t think we have to discuss with the board what we think, the management, what they envision. The board ultimately has the final decision,” said Petersen. “So, if you go to a vendor, and the vendor may know what we have to offer, and they may suggest something, and we’re like, ‘That will never happen.’ It happens all the time. Vendors will come to us and they’ll go, ‘This is what we want to do,’ and based on the bylaws of the MBA, we know it’s never going to happen; they still insist they are going to ask, and it gets voted up or down,” she said.

“When we go to a conference, we don’t go with a list of what we can and can’t say to a vendor as it relates to what we envision is going to happen. Ultimately, the board makes the final decision. That’s why we encourage all board members to attend the conferences, so you will be able to provide whatever your inputs are,” said Petersen.

With nine recommendations arising from convention, Barry questioned whether there was “any intention to formally submit these to board with a plan of action for those that require multiple steps and stakeholders, and if so, what is the time frame?”

Petersen said formal recommendations will be forthcoming, and now that they have a new general manager — Monique Simon started on the job June 3 — “they will move to a more formal request for some of the ideas they are looking at.”

Board member Katina Coulianos, who is on the Planning, Policy, Rules and Regulations Committee that Barry heads, suggested they should be involved in discussions about new tour proposals going forward.

“I think the Planning Committee should be more involved in these discussions with some of these tours to make sure they actually are in compliance with our development policies,” said Coulianos. “And in cases where there might be suggestions of having evening activities, those might not be things that could go on all year ‘round because there are other natural systems that we have to take into account, such as turtle nesting times. There might be times you wouldn’t want to have those types of activities on the beach. In any case, I think the planning committee should be involved, including issues of lighting and things like that,” she said.

“Understood,” said Petersen.

Regarding the Disney collaboration, Barry said he didn’t “recall recent discussions regarding alteration of the entrance or Disney’s participation in such a project, nor do I recall any mention of such a project in any recent manager’s report.”

Petersen said the discussion was not about changing the entrance, but rather logistics, when the Disney team was recently on St. Thomas and she and other board members met with them to discuss issues of traffic congestion. They also met at Seatrade, and afterwards had a meeting via Zoom.

“The conversation was, ‘How do you move so many people and how can you help us?’ It’s just a matter of them teaching us the logistics of moving mass amounts of people in a short period of time. There was no conversation about Disney coming down or the Magens Bay Authority changing anything as it relates to any construction or anything like that. If it indeed required construction, and it moved on to that, the board would be involved,” said Petersen.

“Again, most of these conferences, most of the meetings you have with these vendors, it’s about how can we support one another to make for a better guest experience for the people who are using our parks. That was it. So, Miss Callender and myself did meet with Disney. They move thousands and thousands of people every day on their ships and at their parks and we wanted to get some insight into ‘How do you do it? Could you look at what we have and tell us what we are doing right and doing wrong?’ That was it,” said Petersen.

Part of the issue is taxi drivers that wait until they arrive at the park’s gate to sort out fares from multiple passengers. The board voted during the meeting to hold a series of town halls to educate the taxi associations about what is expected of them at Magens Bay.

The first meeting will be held on June 15 at 10 a.m. and is open to all taxi drivers and taxi associations. There will be more meetings to come, said Petersen. “We’ve agreed to have a slew of town hall meetings to work with the taxi operators, specifically the associations, and then training their members on what it would look like when you do business with Magens Bay,” she said. “We want to make it as seamless as possible.”

The meeting is currently scheduled to take place at Shed 4 at Magens Bay, though the location could change to a different area of the park if there is a request to rent the venue for a wedding or a party, said Petersen.

Attending the meeting on May 28, which was held in lieu of the usual third Friday of the month date, were board members Barbara Petersen, Cecile de Jongh, Katina Coulianos, Dayle Barry, Robert Maron, and Kevin Rodriguez, who is serving as the governor’s interim representative on the board in place of Avery Lewis, the St. Thomas/Water Island administrator who has taken a leave of absence to run for a Senate seat. Under V.I. law, candidates seeking election to the Virgin Islands Legislature are required to take a leave of absence from their governmental duties.

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