The Virgin Islands Energy Office received a $62.45 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for solar power programs. (Source file photo)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will send $62.45 million to the territory for residential community solar and power storage projects, federal officials announced Monday.
Awarded through the Solar for All grant program, the funding is meant to allow the Virgin Islands Energy Office to develop long-lasting solar programs that enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to benefit from solar power.
With this funding, the Energy Office could build on its former Solar+ Financing Pilot and further expand the accessibility of solar by providing residential and residential-serving community solar for its most underserved residents, according to a statement from the EPA.
In its application for the grant, the Energy Office said the funding has the power to transform the USVI’s residential energy landscape, addressing residents’ high electricity costs while creating new opportunities for energy resilience and reliable, affordable, clean power for communities most in need. The grant was a big step up from a $2.6 million grant in April 2023 for similar purposes.
The grant was part of the President Joe Biden’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which, under the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to lower energy costs, create quality jobs in communities that have been left behind, advance environmental justice, and tackle the climate crisis, according to the EPA.
“This grant will help communities across the U.S. Virgin Islands access solar power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while benefiting from programs that will provide good paying jobs,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today we’re delivering on President Biden’s promise that no community is left behind by investing $7 billion in solar energy projects for over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities.”
Also on Monday, the Puerto Rico Office of Management and Budget was selected to receive $156.1 million from the Solar for All grant program. Given the vulnerability and instability of Puerto Rico’s power grid, solar power is essential to increasing the ability to deliver power during grid outages, EPA officials said.
EPA officials estimated the funds would be allocated in autumn and winter 2024.
The EPA plans informational webinars on the Solar for All program as part of the program’s commitment to public transparency. The half-hour April 29 webinar starts at 4 p.m. Those interested can register for the meeting at this link
Gordon Rhea was nominated by Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. to be the next V.I. attorney general, Monday. (Photo courtesy Government House of the VI Facebook)
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced Monday at the weekly Government House press briefing, his nomination of Gordon Rhea to serve as the next V.I. Attorney General.
“Gordon Rhea’s impressive track record of legal accomplishments and managerial expertise will greatly benefit the Virgin Islands as we continue to strengthen our justice system. His lifelong dedication to public service and legal excellence is exactly what we need in an attorney general,” Bryan said. “His work in the Virgin Islands was transformative.”
Originally from Tennessee, Rhea earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and has written more than a dozen books. He is recognized as an authority on the Civil War era.
Rhea graduated from Stanford University Law School in 1974. He then worked in Washington, D.C as a special assistant to the chief counsel of the U.S. Senate where he participated in national investigations involving the CIA and FBI.
Upon leaving the U.S. Senate, Rhea served as an assistant U.S. attorney and an executive assistant U.S. attorney.
In 1981, Rhea relocated to the Virgin Islands where he prosecuted major criminal cases as an assistant U.S. attorney and later started the law firm, Alkon and Rhea, on St. Croix.
Rhea is a 40-year member of the Virgin Islands Bar, where he was awarded this year’s Winston Hodge award for his contributions to the community.
On Monday, Bryan introduced Rhea, who said a few words. He said he first visited the Virgin Islands in 1967 to train for the Peace Corps.
“I’m almost made for the job,” he said. “I hope to make it (the V.I. Justice Department) a department that the Virgin Islands wants and needs.”
The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park held its annual Earth Day fair in Cruz Bay, St. John Monday.
Students from St. John and St. Thomas converged down in Cruz Bay for the annual Friends of Virgin Islands National Park Earth Day fair. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)
The day’s events included the annual Litter Stomp Parade, presentations by students from different schools, festive music and all things on theme with protecting the planet, especially the Virgin Islands.
Attendees were particularly thankful to Mother Nature for holding off on her torrential rain until the afternoon.
During the Earth Day fair on St. John, one of the many activities available to the community was face painting, pictured here at the St. John School of the Arts booth with Genesis Letang, 13, having her face painted by artist Sherita Flowers. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)A familiar face at the Friends of V.I. National Park Earth Day celebrations is Ital Anthony, who shares with visitors his knowledge about the many local medicinal herbs and plants around the Virgin Islands. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Thatcher Hanson checks out one of the displays at the V.I. Epscor booth on Earth Day. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)There were many opportunities during Earth Day at the fair in Cruz Bay to have body art done, including face paint, henna tattoos and body pen. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)With a crowd of eager kids surrounding its table, the booth of the Grimes Lab at UVI gives the children a chance to learn mangrove restoration. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)GRROE US Virgin Islands Mangroves research team set up an opportunity for students at the Earth Day fair on St. John to plant their own propagule. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Friends of Virgin Islands National Park board member Shikima Jones-Sprauve takes the stage after Tonia Lovejoy, executive director, to welcome everyone to the day’s events in Cruz Bay. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)The Audubon Society booth at the Earth Day celebrations in Cruz Bay was buzzing with activity as students came by to try their hand at coloring some of the local bird life in the Virgin Islands. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Aksel Tarr of St. John takes a turn blowing into the conch shell on Earth Day in Cruz Bay. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)On display at the Earth Day celebration was a case demonstrating sea turtle eggs hatching, a common sight along Virgin Island beaches. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Mason Yanak poses for a photo at one of the booths at the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park Earth Day fair in Cruz Bay. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)As part of a special project for Earth Day, fourth graders from the Lockhart School used recycled materials to make art and other interesting items, on display in Cruz Bay. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Many of the students in attendance at the Earth Day fair in Cruz Bay donned special crowns that they made and decorated in honor of the occasion. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Everyone at the Earth Day fair in Cruz Bay was excited to see the Virgin Islands Waste Management’s Litter Critter in attendance. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)A young student shows off his shark body art at the Earth Day fair in Cruz Bay. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Students from the Lockhart School came over from St. Thomas to participate in the Earth Day fair on St. John. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Anyone who stopped by the CORE booth at the Earth Day fair on St. John could take a turn learning how to kill a Lionfish, which is an invasive species in the Virgin Islands. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)The CORE booth also offered the chance to experience “treating” coral suffering from Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, something the CORE team has done for over 12,000 corals in the last two years, resulting in 70-80 percent of the coral surviving since treatment. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)A highlight of the Earth Day events in Cruz Bay is always the litter stomp parade around downtown. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Isla Prudhomme inspects an imitation crab shell at the EPCOR table in Cruz Bay during Earth Day. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Island Green Living of St. John put together a special Earth Day Jeopardy game at their booth during Earth Day. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Celia Kaousek brought her best octopus look to the Earth Day fair on St. John. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)Students from the St. John Christian Academy learn about water conservation on Earth Day. (Source photo by Nancy Borowick)
A witness told police the accused gunman is the father of the victim’s child. (Shutterstock image)
Police say a heated argument between a toddler’s parents led to the apparent shooting death of the child’s mother. According to court records, the incident was reported to 911 just after dawn on Friday.
The accused gunman was arrested after authorities found him hiding in a bushy area near the shooting scene in Thomasville. Authorities identified the victim as 33-year-old Mardette Ward.
Ward was found unresponsive by first responders behind the wheel of a Nissan sedan. The initial cause of death was a gunshot wound to the upper body, said a report filed by the Virgin Islands Police Department Investigations Bureau.
Accused gunman Simon Rawlins Jr., 37, appeared Monday at an advice of rights hearing in Superior Court Magistrates Division. Magistrate Simone Van Holten-Turnbull recounted details of the fatal encounter given to police by witnesses on the scene.
One of the witnesses said she was the victim’s domestic partner. She identified Rawlins as the gunman, adding that he and the victim had a 2-year-old child together. The first witness said words were exchanged between Ward and Rawlins, and between Rawlins and herself.
The magistrate described a portion of the investigators’ report and the witness statement saying that as she and Ward started to drive away, she heard a “pop.” The victim stopped moving after that, Holten-Turnbull said.
At the hearing the public defender representing Rawlins asked the court to reduce the $1 million bail set at the time of Friday’s arrest. The magistrate refused.
“The fact that they had to go search for him says he’s a flight risk,” Van Holten-Turnbull said. “There were witnesses who said the victim never left the vehicle and never had more than a verbal altercation, and yet she got shot and was killed.”
Rawlins attended Monday’s hearing by way of live stream video from the Criminal Justice Complex. He is scheduled for arraignment on May 10 at 10 a.m.
Carlton Dowe is the executive director of the V.I. Port Authority.
On March 26th, the Virgin Islands Port Authority Board of Governors took a transformational step in the direction of prosperity when they selected VIports Partners, as the preferred proposer of the public-private partnership (P3) to spearhead the modernization of the Cyril E. King and Henry E. Rohlsen Airports in the U.S. Virgin Islands. VIports Partners is a consortium of several international companies with extensive experience in the redevelopment and management of airports and construction. The major consortium partners are Aecon Group, Inc., Tikehau Star Infra, AVPorts, LLC, Corgan Associates, Inc., Consigli Construction, and J. Benton Construction.
This bold and forward-thinking decision has VIports Partners assuming the financial and operational mantle for the redevelopment of the airport’s terminals, as well as the operations, and maintenance of these crucial facilities. The culmination of this selection process signifies a watershed moment in the territory’s pursuit of new and improved airports in St. Thomas and St. Croix. The selection of VIports Partners concluded 18 months of the P3 procurement process, which saw the submission of two strong proposals in February of this year in response to the VIPAs P3 Request for Proposals. Following a meticulous evaluation process by the Authority’s Evaluation Committee, the VIPA Board endorsed my recommendation of VIports Partners.
The twin airport projects could not come at a more critical time in Virgin Islands history. Our residents deserve airports that are safe and attractive with modern amenities. As a premier tourist destination, our guests deserve the same. These new facilities will stimulate economic growth in the Territory while providing all travelers with a safe, comfortable, and pleasant experience. The Caribbean’s tourist industry is highly competitive. We must invest and plan to maintain our status as a premier destination.
With this development, our airports are poised to embrace terminal designs characterized by sustainability, resilience, innovation, and efficiency, catering to the needs of both our residents and the ever-increasing influx of tourists. These enhancements will introduce additional passenger amenities, retail opportunities, enhanced customer service, reduced wait times, and the critically needed passenger jet bridges, all while integrating the cultural essence of the U.S. Virgin Islands into the process, design, and aesthetics of the final product.
Beyond enhancing the passenger experience, these transformations are anticipated to stimulate increased cargo activity, open new airline routes, boost non-aeronautical revenue at both airports and consequently drive economic growth through job creation and commercial opportunities across the territory. Environmentally, the airport redevelopment will adhere to minimum and in some instances exceed LEED Silver standards and building code requirements for resiliency.
VIports’ commitment to the U.S. Virgin Islands extends to its commitment to retaining VIPA airport employees and engaging all stakeholders in constructive dialogues to ensure that the economic benefits are harnessed while preserving the cultural heritage of our people and land. The redevelopment timeline for this complex project is estimated to span approximately four years with the commencement of construction expected by mid-2025. VIPA will continue to be transparent and keep the public aware of all major developments and transactions that we are making throughout the transition process.
I thank the 34th and 35th VI Legislatures for their participation, and the Bryan/Roach Administration for their unwavering support for the project. I also thank the public for their attendance and feedback during the four town hall meetings we hosted throughout the territory.
This is a grand and ambitious endeavor befitting a premier destination. More profoundly, this project represents the collective aspirations of the people of the US Virgin Islands. As we all embark on this transformative journey, let us not shy away from dreaming boldly and committing ourselves wholeheartedly to executing this bold vision with unparalleled dedication and innovation. We deserve no less. We see the steady pace of investment amongst our Caribbean competitors. We must innovate and change to maintain and grow the industry that accounts for more than 70% of our gross territorial product. I will say here what I have said many times – the Caribbean and the rest of the world are not going to wait for us!
Carlton Dowe is the executive director of the V.I. Port Authority.
The Virgin Islands Department of Education St. Croix District announced that Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8, John H. Woodson Jr. High School, and St. Croix Central High School will transition to remote instruction April 22 due to inclement weather.
While recognizing the importance of in-person learning, the VIDE prioritizes the ability of campuses to safely accommodate students, faculty, and staff. Teachers will post and share assignments with students through various platforms, including Schoology, Microsoft Teams, or email. The VIDE will continue to closely monitor the weather and its impact on the campuses, providing updates to the community as necessary, including the resumption of in-person learning, a press release stated.
In light of this shift to remote instruction, all principals, assistant principals, custodians, paraprofessionals, office staff, monitors, and maintenance personnel are to report to the three campuses as scheduled. Your dedication and support are invaluable as we navigate this transition together efficiently, stated the release.
We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of students, parents, and staff during this time. Together, we will ensure that learning continues uninterrupted while prioritizing the well-being of our school communities, according to the release.
From left: second runner-up Iniyah Griffin, St. Thomas Ambassadorial Carnival Queen Majestik Freedom Estrada-Petersen and first runner-up Caricia Caesar. (Photo courtesy of the USVI Division of Festivals)
Majestik Freedom Estrada-Petersen, a student at the University of the Virgin Islands, stole the show at the St. Thomas Ambassadorial Queen Competition held Saturday night at the Eldrige Blake Sports and Fitness Center. Estrada-Petersen was crowned queen, and also took home the awards for Miss Intellect, Best Swimwear, People’s Choice and Queen’s Raffle, sponsored by Viya.
Estrada-Petersen’s platform focused on the power of human testimony, which she said aims to promote ecotourism, and support local businesses and the arts by highlighting Virgin Islands stories. Her ambassadorial presentation showcased the territory’s history, sights, sounds, and the vibrant spirit of its communities.
A self-proclaimed culture bearer, Estrada-Petersen emphasized the importance of “showing up for your community.” She shared her experiences engaging in historical tours, promoting Virgin Islands and African dance at a young age, and spreading the tradition of bamboula dancing.
“You have to know where you come from to know where you are going,” she stated during the question-and-answer segment, highlighting the importance of culturally relevant education in preparing students for the future.
“And even though we were stolen from the motherland, we have come and formed a new culture, incorporating dances, music, dialect and accents that are all part of who we are. We should be teaching this to our children and to our adults, because there were many people who were told that who they are, their dark skin and their thick curly natural hair is not good, not professional, not beautiful, and it is. Our children need to know who they used to be, who they were and who they came from so they can be comfortable going into the world and being themselves,” she said to thunderous applause from the crowd.
Caricia Caesar, a student at Charlotte Amalie High School and the reigning Miss CAHS 2023, secured first runner-up and the awards for Best Evening Wear, Talent and Best Ambassadorial Presentation.
Caesar, an honor roll student and lead drum major of the Mighty Chicken Hawks Marching Band, is passionate about music and centered her platform around advocating for the revitalization of music education within the school system.
During the ambassadorial presentation, all contestants donned V.I. madras in a variety of original designs, replete with pencil skirts, peplum tops and bright bowed belts. Caesar, in her presentation, graced the stage in a sheath dress – madras on top with a blue underlay – and brought her musical passion out by sharing more about top V.I .musicians, including the Grammy Award Winning Theron Thomas, and the ever-popular Pressure Busspipe, who won road march in 2021. Caesar also paid homage to The Ten Sleepless Knights and the territory’s national music, quelbe.
“United by the rhythm of our of hearts, and the melodies of our souls, the joy of music echoes throughout our beloved Virgin Islands,” she said.
Iniyah Griffin, an honor student and member of the Dynamite Rays Marching Band at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, was named second runner-up and took home the awards for Cultural and Historical Dress and Miss Congeniality.
Griffin, an aspiring photographer, captivated the audience with her Cultural and Historical costume, a segment was worth 100 points, including points for cultural and historical connection, costume presentation, creativity and presentation, and overall construction.
Griffin’s was a crowd favorite, with even the evening’s host saying, “it’s going to be worth it, trust me,” when asking the audience to be patient during a slight delay as the contestant put on her costume.
The crowd gasped as she glided on stage, dressed as the St. Thomas Public Library, later renamed in honor of Enid E. Baa. Griffin herself was wearing a glittering yellow dress, and was framed with the library constructed around her, replete with painted books on the inside and shutters on the outside, which she opened and closed with her arms. The library, according to her presentation, boasted the most beautiful balcony on Main Street, while Baa was one of the first four high school graduates in the Virgin Islands, and a trailblazer, appointed as the supervising librarian of the Virgin Islands by former Gov. Paul M. Pearson and the first person to hold a cabinet-level position in the territory.
Editor’s note: Republished as the Zoom link information has changed.
The St. Croix Environmental Association held its 31st Annual Eco-Fair Friday at the St. George Village Botanical Gardens.
Fourth graders Cattalyna Francois, Aviah Martin, Shazeah Rios, and Amina Cooper from the Juanita Gardine Elementary School K-8 and other schools, listen in at a display on solar energy from the V.I. Water and Power Authority. (Photo courtesy Shanell Petersen)
The purpose of the Eco-Fair is to teach basic environmental science concepts through active, hands-on activities. The lessons presented at the Eco-Fair increase student’s environmental awareness and encourage them to discover solutions they can implement themselves.
Nebaeh Suell creates a card at Ceiba Strategies station. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Education Coordinator Olivia Walton who spearheaded the efforts for the second year said, “one of our main things that we want them to take away is one, they are getting to have this experience outside, but they are also learning about their environment and their home and why they should protect it and why they should care about it. Having that experience while being outside, I think really pushes the concept for them.”
Students from the St. Croix Montessori School raise their hands in excitement. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Students from the third through the sixth grade from Alfredo Andrews Elementary School, Claude O. Markoe School, Eulalie R. Rivera K-8, Good Hope Country Day School, Juanita Gardine K-8, Lew Muckle Elementary School, St. Croix Christian Academy, St. Croix Montessori School, as well as homeschoolers, attended the event.
They took part in many activities, from learning about insects, reading environmental books, learning about bats, a garden tour, to learning about tropical plants, water conservation, climate action and sea turtle hatching, just to name a few.
Students get the opportunity to take part in different stations with different hands-on activities like looking at insects under a microscope. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Extension Specialist Amy Dreves, spoke about the “assassin bug,” and how it kills the “bad bugs.” Reves has been educating with the University of the Virgin Islands for eight years but has been fascinated with insects from the age of 8.
Referring to insects and their purpose to the environment, Dreves said, “it’s a story in itself. Everybody fears them and then they find out.”
Students at the Good Hope Country Day School STEAM Club demonstrate a STEAM challenge. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
The Good Hope Country Day School STEAM Club demonstrated a “STEAM challenge.” Participants had to figure out how best to keep an aluminum foil boat afloat while dropping pennies inside.
There will be a virtual option of the event Monday from 9 a.m. to noon. It can be attended through Zoom at this link.
Agencies that participated in the event include the St. Croix Environmental Association, V.I. Good Food Coalition, CHANT, CMCArts, UVI Cooperative Extension Services, Department of Natural Resources East End Marine Park, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge and STX Sea Turtle Project, V.I. Water and Power Authority, UVI School of Agriculture, National Park Service, VIWMA, The Nature Conservancy, V.I. EPSCoR, DPNR Coastal Zone Management, CORE, STEAM Club of Good Hope Country Day School, V.I. Marine Advisory Services, Sister Iria Stiles with Natural Ay Ay, Tropical Behavioral Services, Ceiba Strategies LLC, and St. Croix Seashell Society.
Check out our weekly weather forecast with Jesse Daley, covering Sunday, April 21, through Saturday, April 27. Our YouTube playlist is updated every week, AND check out Jesse’s daily weather updates here.
The graph in a federal report on potential GERS shortfalls. (Image from GAO website)
In February 2022, Gov. Albert Bryan signed a bill permitting the government to refinance the territory’s rum cover-over matching fund bonds and use the interest rate savings to stabilize the Government Employees’ Retirement System.
Residents and government officials breathed a sigh of relief. The system, which affects the income of over 8,000 people now and thousands more in the future, had been predicted to go bankrupt by 2025.
The federal Government Accountability Office report issued last week doesn’t sigh so confidently. Its title, “Retirement Security: The U.S. Virgin Islands’ Pension Plan Faces Risks Paying Government Employee Benefits.” The report compares GERS to the other publicly defined benefit pensions, illustrates the risks GERS faces in paying promised pension benefits, and provides options for the local government and GERS to ensure that GERS provides the promised pension benefits.
According to the GAO report, “The U.S. Virgin Islands’ Government Employees’ Retirement System remains one of the lowest funded public pension plans in the U.S. While most public plans in our review had enough funding to cover 60 to 111 percent of plan liabilities as of 2021, USVI’s plan had enough to cover about 10 percent.”
Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett in 2020 requested a study by the federal agency. Last week, she and the GERS administrator sent press releases concerning the report.
Territory officials have stated that the rescue plan assures stability for 30 years. The GOA indicates that stability is only ensured for 10 years.
A critical factor is the amount of rum taxes returned to the territory. Against Plaskett’s recommendation, calculations were based on a higher return of rum taxes than mandated by law.
Angel Dawson, the GERS administrator, stated it this way in his press release, “while the GERS’ financial position has substantially improved due to receipt of a Funding Note in April 2022 that provides dedicated funding to the GERS with revenue from the cover-over of excise taxes on rum sales on the U.S. mainland, we are not ‘out of the woods’ as yet. This is due to how the Funding Note issued by the V.I.Public Finance Authority is structured and to recent unpredictability in the timing of Congress’ passing tax extenders to increase the rum cover-over rate from $10.50 to $13.25. Perhaps the GAO’s release of this report to Congress will convey the urgency of the cover-over rate being permanently increased to $13.25.”
The delegate’s press release stated that the ongoing risk of insolvency for GERS is a shared responsibility of the USVI executive and legislative branches.
The report further found that “GERS has made changes to its plan since 2005—similar to eight other selected public plans, including in the four U.S. territories. These changes applied to all new hires and included decreasing benefits, increasing the retirement age, and increasing employee contributions.”
It added, “The USVI government secured additional funding for the plan through an excise tax on rum in April 2022. However, GERS continues to face the risk of insolvency. According to GAO’s analysis, GERS may face insolvency within the next ten years if the excise tax rate is lower than expected or if rum sales decline, among other risks. For example, the GERS’ revenue projections for the excise tax used a $13.25 per proof gallon tax rate that expired in 2021 and reverted to a lower statutorily defined rate in 2022 ($10.50). While the USVI government has paid the resulting shortfall in 2023, it is not required and may not be sustainable.”
These concerns are not new. Members of the GERS Board of Trustees have raised questions at meetings about the shortfall and whether the government could continue to bridge it with general fund money.
The press release from Plaskett’s office said, “In 2020, Congresswoman Plaskett, in conjunction with Congressman Grijalva, then Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, requested that GAO conduct this report, considering the crucial role that the GERS pension system plays in the lives of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
Delegate Plaskett added. “I am pleased that this report, requested in 2020, is complete following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic; it is my hope that this will provide a roadmap to a path forward for the GERS pension system and enable the development of a sustainable solution.”
The report recommended, “The USVI government could consider several options to better ensure such benefits. For example, some governments have dedicated additional specific revenue streams, such as a portion of sales taxes, to their plans.”
It said the report was undertaken because the plan affected “19,000 participants and was historically underfunded by the Territory government.”
The GAO is an independent, non-partisan agency that works for Congress.
