The groundbreaking for the Charles “Tappy” Seales Fire Station and Multi-purpose Complex was held Friday. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Officials placed “shovels to dirt” at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Charles “Tappy” Seales Fire Station and Multi-purpose Complex Friday in Grove Place.
The new facility replaces the previous Grove Place fire station which was excavated and demolished in 2023 after it sustained significant damage from Hurricane Maria. The fire station handles about 35 to 40 percent of service calls on St. Croix.
Senate President of the 35th Legislature, Novelle E. Francis, said this will be the first fire station constructed since Act 8545, a law passed in 2022 that consolidated the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency services.
Emergency Services vehicles at the construction site for the Charles “Tappy” Seales Fire Station and Multi-purpose Complex. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
“It intentionally allows for the operational needs for an integrated fire and emergency services as well as the needs of…Grove Place and surrounding communities,” Francis said.
The new facility with its expanded footprint and safe room will provide personnel with a safe space to shelter during storms and protect equipment and vehicles. It will house operations in a stronger physical structure and will enable the staff to better serve the community. In addition, the facility will be shared with the V.I. Police Department in their operations.
Director of the Office of Disaster Recovery, Adrienne Williams Octalien, said “this fire station has a special place. My uncle, my brother worked at this fire station.”
Williams-Octalien also shared that $53 million of funding that has been obligated between the public assistance and the hazard mitigation grant program went toward fire stations alone. Four of those stations on St. Croix, three on St. Thomas and one on St. John.
Seales’ family members, including his daughter Sandra Seales-Russel, attended the ceremony. Seales-Russel, a retired nurse of 13 years gave brief remarks and said her father, who passed away in 2008, was a good father and expressed her excitement for the new building.
Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. who acknowledged the Seales family and their importance in being there said, “it’s about honoring family names and family members. The first thing is to remember where we came from.”
About 60 attendees witnessed the event that was organized by the V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the Office of Disaster Recovery.
To see the groundbreaking ceremony in its entirety, click here.
The sun was shining, waves were glistening, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement at Magens Bay Saturday, as the Rotary Club of St. Thomas Sunrise hosted its 12th annual kids triathlon. This event, which has become a beloved tradition for families and young athletes, brought together children from across the island for a day of fun, fitness, and friendly competition.Full speed ahead! The 9-11 age group races into the water with determination, ready to make a splash in the swim portion of the triathlon. (Source photo by Nyomi Gumbs)
The triathlon, tailored for different age groups, featured a series of challenging but achievable courses. The youngest participants, aged 5 to 8, kicked off the day with a 25-yard swim, followed by a half-mile bike ride, and capped off with a quarter-mile run. The 9 to11 year-olds took on a 100-yard swim, a one-mile bike ride, and a half-mile run. The 12 to 15-year-olds faced the toughest challenge with a 200-yard swim, three-mile bike ride, and a one-mile run.
While some kids chose to tackle the triathlon solo, others opted to join forces and compete as a team, with each team member taking on a specific leg of the race.
Peyton Jennings, 11, races out of the water, completing the swim portion of the triathlon for her team. (Source photo by Nyomi Gumbs)
Peyton Jennings,11, shared her excitement about the team aspect of the event, saying, “my favorite part of today was being able to work together with my friends. Teamwork is so important, and we got to experience that firsthand in the triathlon because we had to rely on each other for success.” Between breaths, she added with a chuckle, “it will be nice to get my heart rate back to normal though.” Jennings’ team included Scarlett Poss and Seava Haynes.
Lehandre Grant, 9, making his way to the finish line. (Source photo by Nyomi Gumbs)
In the run portion of the triathlon, young athletes showcased their endurance and determination. Some sprinted with lightning speed, while others paced themselves, conserving their strength for the final stretch. Despite the physical challenge, their faces lit up with determination and joy as they neared the finish line.
Shannon Zhou, volunteer, hands an award to Matias Mejias, 8, for his successful participation in the day’s activities. (Source photo by Nyomi Gumbs)
“It brings me so much joy to see these kids getting excited about sports,” shared Shannon Zhou, a member of the Left Lane cycling team and one of the event’s volunteers. “It is truly a pleasure to witness a new generation of athletes growing in St. Thomas. We are planting the seed.”
Zavier Stancliffe, 10, finishes docking his bike at the transition station and speeds over to tag his teammate who will begin the next leg of the triathlon. (Source photo by Nyomi Gumbs)
As the morning concluded, tired but happy faces crossed the finish line, cheered on by family, friends, and spectators.
Monetary prizes will be awarded to the athletic departments of the schools with the most participants. Lockhart K-8 had 22 students and Antilles School had 21 students. In addition, donations will be made to several athletic endeavors as chosen by the homeschooled students who numbered 16 participants.
The results from the triathlon are below:
5–8-year-olds
Individual participants
1st – Graidon Blankenhorn – VI Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy
2nd – Sawyer Shanklin – VI Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy
3rd – Matias Mejias – Antilles School
Relay teams
1st – Jasper Euwema, Jaxx Lenten, Rafal Lenten – Antilles School
2nd – Ilsa Edwards, Oliver Stewart, Mira Haddox – Homeschooled and Antilles School
3rd – Perry Pittaluga, Elizabeth Dochterman, Jeana Vasandmalani – Antilles School
Relay teams
1st – Samuel Auchindos Liam Smith, Tucker Edwards – All Saints School and VI Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy
2nd – Seaua Brin, Scarlett Poss, Peyton Jennings – Homeschooled
3rd – Milana Sayan, Stella Butler Like Owens – Antilles School
Honorable Mention – Adalie Blankenhorn, Clair Chapman, Daisy Motylinski VI Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy, All Saints School, Home-schooled
Relay teams
1st – Jacob Kalloo, Max Nicholas, Kendall Warrell – Antilles School and Bertha C. Boschulte
2nd – Patricia Cannon, Bella Lima, Zoe Danet – All Saints School
3rd – Raegan Uszenski, Avery Pearsall, Finn Hodgins – Antilles School and Homeschooled
VITRAN fares are scheduled to increase June 1. (Photo courtesy VITRAN website)
The Virgin Islands Department of Public Works announced a fare increase to the Virgin Islands Transit System fixed-route and paratransit services will take effect in June.
Starting June 1, fixed-route services will be $2 and paratransit services will be $4. Discounts for Medicare cardholders and free rides for seniors will remain in effect, a press release stated.
“Since 2021, we have been analyzing the financial viability of the services provided by VITRAN,” said Commissioner Derek Gabriel. “We have seen services being adversely impacted by global economic factors, such as the pandemic and operating costs have skyrocketed. While we have implemented revenue generating opportunities, the fact is we cannot continue operating under the current fee structure.”
According to the release, as mandated by the Federal Transit Administration, DPW officials conducted a public comment period from Feb. 28 through April. They decided on the new fares following this period. Originally, the changes were scheduled to go into effect April 15, but department officials decided that a summer date would provide more time for residents and visitors to prepare for the change.
The current fare has not changed since the inception of VITRAN services in 1994. An increase is necessary to offset rising fuel and maintenance costs and to provide more reliable services. VITRAN cannot sustain itself, expand, or hire more drivers without an increase, stated the release.
“I fully understand that the global economic factors confronting VITRAN affect our riders as well, which is why this decision is difficult,” Gabriel added. “However, the very survival of the service depends on this increase.”
An additional suspect has been accused of taking part in a scheme to steal COVID-19 relief funds.(File Photo)
Two men facing charges in connection with a 2022 murder in Smith Bay are expected to hear their fate June 18 in Superior Court. A trial for defendants Jeramy Lettsome and Mackadis J. Smith, Jr. was supposed to start April 7, but instead the pair entered guilty pleas at a hearing held March 27.
Lettsome and Smith were arrested on April 20, 2022 in connection with the shooting death of 26-year-old T’Quan Vanholten at Louie’s Market in Smith Bay.
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Authorities executing a warrant detained a man charged with taking part in a scheme to rob the Office of Management and Budget of $500,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Defendant Japheth Eustacio Roberts appeared at an initial hearing in the Superior Court’s Magistrate Division Wednesday. He is charged with multiple offenses under the Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act including grand larceny, obtaining money under false pretense, fraud committed through computer access, and committing fraud on creditors.
Agents from U.S. Customs and Border Security arrested two other individuals — Kenyatta Riddick and Andrew John — on similar charges in February. Investigators from the Economic Crimes Unit accuse Riddick and John of accessing a COVID relief fund managed by the Office of Management and Budget using a computer in order to obtain the money.
The probe leading to the initial arrests began in June 2023.
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Officers from the Virgin Islands Police Department Special Operations Bureau intervened in an apparent quarrel that broke out over a traffic incident Tuesday. Motorist Troy Anthony Raymond told police he was cut off in traffic by a motorist in a rental car in the Sub Base area. Court records say Raymond caught up with and confronted the driver near the entrance of Crown Bay Marina, asking him to wait for police to arrive.
The driver in the rental car said he became afraid and tried to leave the scene after the defendant allegedly punched the door of his car. He then accused Raymond of displaying a handgun and saying, “look at what I have for you.”
Superior Court Magistrate Paula Norkadis upheld charges of brandishing a weapon, false imprisonment and disturbance of the peace at an initial hearing held Wednesday.
An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Patrol units were dispatched to Contant, in the area of the Starz Hotel, at approximately 2:48 a.m. Saturday, in reference to an armed robbery, the V.I. Police Department reported.
The victim stated that two black males jumped out of a vehicle, pushed him to the ground and struck him on the head with a firearm. He said that the suspects grabbed his chain, searched his pockets and removed his wallet. He stated they then fled the scene traveling eastward in an SUV, according to the report.
The victim was transported via ambulance to the Roy Lester Schneider Regional Medical Center for medical treatment. The victim sustained a contusion to the head, bruising to the chest and lacerations to the inner lip and left palm, the report stated.
This case is presently under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Anyone with any information regarding this crime can call 911, Criminal Investigation Bureau Detective D. Greenaway-Thomas at 340-774-2211 ext. 5574 or Crime Stoppers V.I.
Liberty VI announced a six-week fiber installation project at Estate Barren Spot. (Submitted photo)
Liberty VI announced it will start working on a fiber installation project at Estate Barren Spot in St. Croix which will bring fiber connectivity and improve broadband service within that area.
According to a press release, the project is scheduled to begin during the upcoming week, and is planned to take approximately six weeks to complete.
Work will take place along Route 709 encompassing Estate Barren Spot and will take place on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The job will be performed with minimal traffic impact. However, residents and drivers within the area should expect delays due to lane and partial road closures and must exercise caution. Estate Barren Spot residents are encouraged to park their vehicles on their properties and not on the street to avoid obstructions or possible damage, according to the release.
“As we acquire the necessary permits, we are moving forward with our Fiber to the Home construction projects so more locations in the territory can have access to our fiber fast internet,” said Ravindra Maywahlall, general manager of Liberty VI. “We will continue informing V.I. consumers about the next areas where we will schedule Fiber to the Home construction projects, as additional permits are approved.”
Officials held a press conference Friday to announce the commencement of the U.S. Army “Partnership for Your Success” program in the Virgin Islands.
“The PaYS program is a strategic partnership between the U.S. Army and a cross-section of corporations, companies, and public sector agencies,” according to information on the organization’s website. “The program provides America’s soldiers with an opportunity to serve their country while they prepare for their future. This unique program is part of the Army’s effort to partner with America’s business community and reconnect America with its Army,” the PaYS website explained.
The program offers soldiers guaranteed job interviews and possible employment after serving in the Army. With the program’s launch here, eligible participants will be provided with opportunities to interview for positions within the Government of the Virgin Islands. The venture is expected to help fill numerous employment vacancies in the territory with qualified candidates.
Division of Personnel Director Cindy L. Richardson speaks at a press conference on Friday, announcing the start of the U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success program in the V.I. (Photo courtesy Government House of the V.I. Facebook)
“It is with great pride that we announce this collaboration between the Government of the Virgin Islands Division of Personnel and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, specifically with their ‘transition to civilian life’ incentive, [known as] the PaYS program,” USVI Division of Personnel Director Cindy L. Richardson stated.
“Here at the GVI, we recognize the importance of supporting our returning soldiers as they reintegrate into the workforce,” she added. “We are committed to providing them with the necessary resources and opportunities to thrive in their GVI careers. We affirm that qualified PaYS participants who meet the eligibility criteria will be interviewed by the hiring agencies,” she declared.
Richardson described the opportunity as a “win-win” and offered support on behalf of the Bryan-Roach administration.
“This partnership creates a win-win situation for all the parties involved. We hope this new incentive will attract qualified servicemen and women seeking a rewarding career in public service,” Richardson stated. “We are confident that the GVI, as an employer, will benefit from having returning veterans as employees as they bring with them their skills, professional work habits, pride, and personal integrity that their military background provides,” she noted.
Lt. Gen. Maria R. Gervais, deputy commanding general/chief of staff, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and Division of Personnel Director Cindy L. Richardson celebrate the PaYS Program in the V.I. (Photo courtesy Government House of the V.I. Facebook)
Richardson and Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, Lt. Gen. Maria R. Gervais, signed a memorandum of agreement to solidify the PaYS partnership. Gervais also presented the GVI with a certificate of participation and a plaque on behalf of the PaYS program.
A photo of the Carnival Children’s Parade on St. Thomas in 2014. (Source file photo)
Themed “Join Us On A Cultural Tour, Like Never Before, St. Thomas Carnival 2024,” the upcoming carnival season is sure to be an explosive melting pot of both culture and community. This annual celebration on the island of St. Thomas commences Saturday with the Prince and Princess Show.
The festivities continue into the following week with the Queen Show slated for April 20, the Hospital Show April 22, the Toddler’s Derby April 26, and the Calypso Monarch Competition, Boat Race and Panorama, all on April 27.
The highly anticipated opening of the Carnival Village is slated for April 29 and will feature nightly performances over six nights. This is a venue where more than 30 food and drink vendors will gather with thousands of residents and visitors alike to embrace a fusion of food, music, and dance. One of the unique facets of the Carnival Villages in the Virgin Islands is that entry into the events is completely free. This tradition underscores the community belief that Carnival should be accessible and inclusive to everyone.
The Carnival Village line-up includes international performers Sizzla, Machel Montano, Jada Kingdom, Kes the Band, Grandmasters, and Shaggy. There will also be performances by local music sensations Adam O, Rudy Live, Karnage, Spectrum Band, VIO International and Blind Earz, to name a few.
“The anticipation around this year’s St. Thomas Carnival is at an all-time high, and the Village night performers reflect the continued influence and growth of our territory’s three carnivals,” said Tourism Department Commissioner Joseph Boschulte.
“Every year, our goal is to pay homage to the vast Virgin Islands and Caribbean culture that is at the cornerstone of these annual celebrations for natives and visitors alike,” added Division of Festivals Director Ian Turnbull.
The Carnival festivities continue May 1 with the Food and Cultural Fair, where local businesses can showcase arts and crafts, hand-made jewelry, and traditional food and beverages. Additionally, local farmers will be on hand offering an array of herbs, fruits, medicinal tinctures, as well as homemade liquors and hot sauces.
J’ouvert, May 2, attracts revelers into the streets for hours of music, dance, and jubilation. This annual celebration is a sacred practice that began as an act of resistance by enslaved people against colonial powers. Today, it is a practice that pays homage to that bravery and sacrifice, as well as celebrates the spirit of revolution and freedom in our community.
May 3 and May 4 feature the Children’s and Adult’s Parade. Both parades feature colorful costumes and displays of cultural celebration. Spectators line the streets and enjoy performances from Moko Jumbies, steel pan orchestras, majorettes, and more.
The St. Thomas Carnival season ends with the Utopia Unity Concert, May 5, featuring stars like Burna Boy, Rock City, and Spice.
Gregory Camacho, 43, of St. Croix, was sentenced by Judge Wilma A. Lewis to nine months of home detention with electronic monitoring and four years of probation after pleading guilty to converting property of another, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Thursday.
Lewis also imposed a fine of $6,000, a special assessment of $75, and ordered Camacho to pay $29,502.20 restitution to the National Park Service.
According to court documents, Camacho was the deputy park superintendent in St. Croix. In June 2019 through August 2020, Camacho also served as the acting park superintendent. As an employee, Camacho rented two units from the National Park Service housing units but failed to pay rent between June 2019 and June 2020 on both units which resulted in a loss of $14,192.10 to the National Park Service.
The documents stated in July 2019, Camacho relocated from Titusville, Fla., to St. Croix, and falsely claimed that his wife and four children relocated with him. As a result, Camacho received $13,387.50 in relocation expense reimbursement that he was not entitled to.
Court documents also stated that between October 2018 and September 2019, Camacho traveled from his primary duty station and was entitled to reimbursement for various travel-related expenses, including meal and incidental expenditure per diems. However, on four occasions, Camacho submitted overlapping travel vouchers for reimbursement. As a result, Camacho received an additional $1,922.50 in travel reimbursements that he was not entitled to.
In the territory, child restraints are required for children under the age of 8 or less than 4 feet 9 inches tall. (Submitted photo)
The Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety and the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center announced they have partnered to improve crash outcomes for child passengers.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the agencies will conduct several activities to educate, empower and provide safety resources to caregivers who transport young children, a press release stated.
The initiative will engage families receiving services through the hospital’s mother baby, pediatrics, and emergency departments. One activity – the New Life Project – will provide video education and resources to parents of newborns to support safe use and installation of baby’s first car seat – a V.I. law mandate, the release stated.
According to the release, the partnership will also connect caregivers with resources and support caregivers in making safe child passenger safety decisions throughout their child’s development.
“It is critical that roadway safety becomes every new parent’s priority,” noted VIOHS Director Daphne O’Neal. “This program will not just prepare parents to use this first seat safely, but it will teach them the subsequent stages required by law to secure children through booster seat years, and beyond.”
In the territory, child restraints are required for children under the age of 8 or less than 4 feet 9 inches tall. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, car and booster seats are proven to reduce injuries and fatalities for child crash victims. However, local data shows that over 66.9 percent of these children are transported without appropriate restraints, the release stated.
Through a two-hour non-certification training, VIOHS also provided 51 nurses at the hospital with skills and strategies aimed to increase safety for discharged child passengers. Interested nurses also have the option of participating in a four-day certification training course, resulting in a two-year nationally-recognized child passenger safety technician certification, stated the release.
For more information on seat belts, child car safety seat use or other safe driving practices, contact the VIOHS Occupant Protection Planner/Coordinator Denise Gomes at denise.gomes@vipd.vi.gov, O’Neal at daphne.oneal@vipd.vi.gov, or the office via telephone at (340) 772-3025 or (340) 473-7383.
