Six months later, the fate of seven men accused of violence against women in seven days rests with the court. (Shutterstock image)
It was a July week like none in recent memory: seven young men arrested in just seven days, all for alleged acts of violence against women. Six months later, four of the accused remained behind bars, with one awaiting involuntary commitment for psychiatric care. Two have been released on bail, paid for by a grandmother and an aunt.
Police at the time of the arrests said the alleged attacks were not unusual. It was women coming forward to report the assaults, break-ins, and acts of intimidation that were outside the norm. And while the victims carry physical and emotional scars, their alleged attackers have forfeited freedom and reputation for the seemingly senseless outbursts.
Osei Edwards: detained, involuntary commitment pending
About a half hour before dawn, July 17, 2023, a St. Croix woman woke to make breakfast for her boyfriend. After he left, she went back to sleep with her two small children. She woke again to find a man she’d known since childhood, whom she believed to have severe mental illness, in her bedroom attempting to sexually assault her, according to court records.
The woman kicked him in the stomach. She pushed him out onto the balcony where he’d allegedly torn a screen to gain entry. As she pushed him, he allegedly grabbed her wrist and said he’d come to get his bicycle. She called police to say it was 23-year-old Osei Edwards.
Edwards had a long history of arrests without conviction for destruction of property, burglary, and assault, allegedly terrorizing his own mother for years. Prosecutors, as well as defense attorneys, have attempted to have Edwards found to be insane and involuntarily committed to a mental hospital. Bureaucracy and prosecutorial bungling allowed him to go free time and again.
Despite being warned by a judge to stay away from his mother, police found Edwards in her home, where he’d asked her to make him breakfast, according to court records.
Edwards was charged with burglary, unlawful sexual contact, aggravated assault and battery, destruction of property, and forcible unlawful entry.
After a psychiatric evaluation, Edwards’ case was being resolved in Family Court, where records of legal proceedings are difficult to obtain. He was “placed in the custody and case of the Department of Health and the Bureau of Corrections.” As of early January, Edwards was in detention pending the results of an effort to have him involuntarily committed. Burglary charges in Superior Court were dropped in October, according to court records.
Emeka Watson: out on bail, awaiting trial
About 12 hours after Edwards’ arrest, another St. Croix woman called police to report a casual romantic interest, Emeka Watson, had broken into her apartment using a car battery. The woman lived on the mainland and had come back to St. Croix to celebrate her birthday. She had met Watson via social media and the two struck up a non-exclusive relationship. The woman told police she started to distance herself from Watson when the 21-year-old became controlling, ringing her phone repeatedly until she answered.
On July 17, she turned down Watson’s offer of a date and instead prepared to go to a movie with a friend. When Watson allegedly started slamming the car battery against her door, she and the friend locked themselves in a bedroom and called 911. Hearing breaking glass, the two women sneaked out to see what was happening. Watson allegedly briefly left, then returned, threatening to beat the woman. They hid again.
Watson was charged with burglary, domestic violence-related aggravated assault, destruction of property, and disturbance of the peace. Watson’s grandmother posted $1,005 bail July 19 and he was released. His trial is scheduled for April 4. He had pleaded not guilty.
MarcAnthony Hosien: unclear
A St. Croix woman came to the police station the evening of July 18 to report the father of her children had beaten her and trapped her in a cistern for arriving late to his home. She told police her romantic relationship with MarcAnthony Hosien had ended two years earlier but he had continued to terrorize her — to the point she did not report the most recent incident for more than a week for fear of reprisal.
Sobbing, the woman told police 22-year-old Hosien hit her repeatedly late that night, dragged her by the hair, took her phone and keys, and removed the cistern cover in his bedroom. He told her to get in, threatening to kill her if she refused, according to court records.
“The victim stated that she feared for her life and safety because she was well aware of Mr. Hosein’s evil tendencies when he is upset, so she followed his orders and went into the cistern,” the police report reads.
When he allowed her to leave the water catchment, Hosien reportedly warned her not to tell police, saying he would kill her or have his friends shoot up her house. She did not report the crime.
A few days later, on July 15, Hosien asked her to come over again, this time to see their infant child. Hosien was more interested in the woman’s food assistance card, however. When she refused to turn the food stamp card over — saying she needed it to buy milk for their child — Hosien became irate, she told police. He beat her with a rod as she held the child. This time she did go to police.
Hosien was charged with false imprisonment, assault and battery, robbery, and child abuse. Pre-trial conferences were to start in late October, with a likely November trial date, but court records don’t extend beyond late August. It was unclear when a trial might start.
Jordan Clendinen: detained, awaiting trial
Police arrested Jordan Clendinen on St. John July 19, 2023, almost eight months after the 27-year-old allegedly shot at a home where his ex-girlfriend had gone to escape him.
Police said the woman had taken refuge at a co-worker’s house shortly before midnight Nov. 28, 2022, after a domestic violence incident. Clendinen allegedly showed up sometime before 4:30 the next morning, asking to speak to the woman. He dropped off some of her things then entered the Freemans Ground home of the woman’s co-worker without permission. When the co-worker advised Clendinen to leave, he allegedly walked outside and fired eight shots at the building.
Surveillance footage showed Clendinen driving away in a white 2002 Chevy Malibu, according to court records. Police recovered six shell casings from the driveway.
The court had issued a warrant for his arrest Dec. 1, 2022.
Police arrested Clendinen near the St. John ferry dock. He was charged with assault, trespassing, unauthorized possession of a firearm, unlawful entry, possession of a firearm while committing a crime and disturbing the peace.
Clendinen’s attorney asked the court to allow his family to post just 10 percent of his $750,000 bail. He was not granted bail, however, in part because defense attorneys had not listed a proper guardian. Clendinen remained detained during pre-trial motions. He had pleaded not guilty.
Jackoy Mulraine: detained, awaiting trial
Police arrested 25-year-old Jackoy Mulraine on July 20, 2023, for allegedly beating a St. Thomas woman unconscious as she sat with her child outside a deli five days earlier. Police responded to reports of an assault in St. Thomas on the afternoon of July 15 to find the woman beaten badly enough to need medical attention at Roy Schneider Hospital.
Mulraine, also known as Jahkoy Mukraine, had allegedly groped the victim’s friend’s breast. The friend did not speak fluent English so the victim allegedly told Mulraine he was out of line. Mulraine became irate and threatened to get a gun and kill everyone present. He then repeatedly punched the woman, fracturing her eye socket, according to court reports. People nearby pulled Mulraine away as the victim slipped in and out of consciousness, police said.
Mulraine was charged with assault, mayhem, unlawful sexual contact, and disturbing the peace.
That same day, prosecutors amended charges from New Year’s Day, when Mulraine allegedly carried unauthorized ammunition and an unlicensed firearm with an altered identification number near Sts. Peter and Paul School.
Mulraine’s attorneys asked he be released on reduced bail but a Superior Court magistrate denied the request, saying Mulraine was a danger to the public.
Mulraine has pleaded not guilty. A potential trial date was not clear.
Jose Jaheim Perez: out on bail, awaiting trial
On July 24, 2023, police arrested Jose Jaheim Perez. The 19-year-old allegedly raped a woman who had been braiding his hair on July 5 in Bethlehem Village, Frederiksted.
The victim told police she turned down Perez’s offer of sex — slapping his hands away from her buttocks — before he forced himself on her, picking her up and throwing her on a bed.
Perez claimed the sex was consensual and initiated by the victim, according to police. He said his first indication she was not interested in sex was a text days later. He replied: “My bad, ain’t even like dat mehn u just had look so sweet and suh.”
Both the alleged victim and Perez acknowledged he had given her $20 for gas after the encounter, although they disagree on other elements of the evening.
Perez was charged with first-degree rape. He has pleaded not guilty. Court records were unclear but sometime after Aug. 11, 2023, Perez was released into the custody of his aunt, who has been paying his bail in installments.
Heriberto Perez: detained, awaiting trial
Also, on July 24, 2023, police arrested Heriberto Perez on burglary, assault, and destruction of property charges related to domestic violence. The 26-year-old Perez allegedly broke into a St. Croix woman’s home early in the morning July 5. The victim reported Perez was clutching a rifle as they argued about cellphones and a television. Perez was upset that the victim was dating someone else and may have given him a sexually transmitted infection, police said. He allegedly broke a mirror, pushed the woman, and threw a phone near where a child was sleeping.
The victim said Perez eventually left but waited in his car outside with the gun, allegedly daring her to call the new boyfriend.
It was Perez’s second domestic violence arrest this year. In April, he allegedly destroyed the apartment of the mother of his child — stabbing a sofa, breaking the baby’s humidifier, spreading bleach on clothing, and cutting the electric fan’s cord. The victim was breaking up with him because he had been unfaithful, she told police. Later that day, she found herself followed by Perez as she drove down Queen Mary Highway. She turned into her grandmother’s driveway to escape Perez but he blocked her in, according to court records.
Video surveillance allegedly shows Perez running up to the car, slamming the woman’s head into the steering wheel, and punching her repeatedly.
Perez was charged with false imprisonment, simple assault and battery, and destruction of property — all related to domestic violence. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in detention, unable to make a $75,000 bail.
A St. Thomas woman said her ex-boyfriend cut her hair and bit her nose after rape. (Shutterstock)
A St. Thomas man is under arrest for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, violently raping her, cutting off her hair, and biting her nose, police said Monday.
Police said Brian Griffin Mendoza’s girlfriend broke up with him Jan. 5 when she discovered he had been sleeping around. At around 1:45 a.m. Jan. 11, Griffin came to his ex’s door pleading to talk, according to court documents. Letting Griffin inside to avoid waking her roommate, the victim said she wanted nothing further to do with him. When she rebuffed his attempt at a kiss, Griffin allegedly pushed her onto a bed and forcibly raped her. The victim said as she kicked Griffen restrained her wrists with one hand and covered her mouth with the other.
She somehow got a pair of scissors but was unable to bring herself to stab Griffin, she told police, instead cutting his hair in hopes it would stop him. It did not, according to court records.
After the alleged rape, Griffen left but returned at 9 a.m. He had checked in at work in Drake’s Passage but asked permission to leave soon after to “take care of something,” according to court filings.
Griffin allegedly called out to the victim to open her door. When she told him to leave, he began breaking glass and removing louvers to gain entry. He hastened his efforts when he saw her calling 911, eventually wresting the phone away from her and ending the call, according to police.
He pushed her into the bedroom and straddled the victim, pinning her arms back with his knees. Now Griffin began cutting the woman’s hair. Powerless against the much larger assailant, the victim said she bit him. This gave her a chance to run, but she was soon caught and swung by what remained of her hair into a chair. As they fought, Griffin bit her on the nose, causing a laceration that bled heavily. Seeing the blood, Griffin fled, she said.
Police arrived to find broken glass, blood, haphazardly cut hair, and the victim bleeding through a bandage on her nose, according to court records. They also found three of the victim’s automobile tires had been flattened.
At 1:20 p.m., Griffin surrendered to police at his place of employment in the area of Drake’s Passage along Main Street.
Griffin was charged with unlawful sexual contact, rape, false imprisonment, burglary, home invasion, assault, maliciously interfering with emergency communications, and disturbing the peace.
(Source photo by Shaun A. Pennington)When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t thinking about the fact that it was 25 years ago today that we launched St. Thomas Source, the first of three online news publications that make up the V.I. Source.Twenty-five years, one quarter of a century, along with being one-third of my life, is a large chunk of history. It has become apparent to me recently how crucial knowing and telling our history is. When I realized what today was, while toying with the idea of writing something, I stumbled across the following speech that I wrote and delivered throughout a daylong seminarcelebrating our five-year anniversary in 2004. The Internet was still a fledgling factor not only in the Virgin Islands but across the globe, though that may be hard for some of the youngsters who may be reading this to believe.Because it was still such an unknown entity, with the support of donors, investors and many entities willing to do trades, we decided that the best thing we could offer the community was experts on the characteristics and qualities, and possibilities of the Internet in all of its aspects. We invited speakers and sent out invitations and like so many things in the past I have no idea how we pulled it off. But 250 people showed up at Frenchman’s Reef to learn and to celebrate with us. I offer this as my contribution to our shared history today.
Good morning.
I am completely overwhelmed and delighted that all of you have taken time from your very busy lives to come here today and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I am humbled by and grateful for the interest you have shown in what we bring to you today. And I think you will be richly rewarded with interesting and practical information offered by our presenters.
And thank you for being here to celebrate our fifth anniversary with us and to get a picture of the e-volution — where it’s been and where it’s going — of that wonderful and powerful tool known as the Internet.
Five and a half years ago I was approached with the seed of an idea about how I could start a newspaper — with little or no money.
Which, ironically, was exactly the amount that I had to work with — along with an obsolete computer and a lifelong dream to be a reporter.
What was even better from my perspective was this newspaper would be online — meaning people all over the world would be able to read it.
This was important to me personally for a couple of big reasons:
One — when Hurricane Hugo hit, I was on the U.S. mainland while my best friend was living on St. Croix. After a day or so of national news coverage, the Virgin Islands disappeared from the news radar as the storm approached the mainland and then a few days later a major earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay area.
With all of the communications down, I waited anxiously for weeks while news of my islands trickled in. It was agonizing.
With an Internet newspaper it occurred to me this would never have to happen again — no one would have to wait somewhere out there worried about their loved ones, their property, their islands while the fickle finger of the mainstream media decided for them what was important news.
It was clear to me that a grassroots, community Internet newspaper could decide for itself what was important.
During wrong-way Lenny in 1999 we were able to prove that theory by providing around-the-clock coverage of the late-season, unique storm … and our readership went up more than 20 percent the month following the storm — primarily because people who were off-island when the storm hit found the Source — many for the first time.
The second reason the idea of an Internet newspaper appealed to me was that ever-so-important marketing term — PERCEPTION.
In the dark ages, before the World Wide Web, the only news from the V.I. that hit the mainstream media was BAD – looting, murder and mayhem. From the perception of someone who had never been here the only thing that ever happened here was our own little island brand of terrorism.
But that is far from the truth, as we all know. Having called the Virgin Islands my home for most of my adult life I knew the unique quality of these islands. I was familiar with the far greater aspects — a thriving business community with ever-increasing possibilities, a volunteer force like no other I have seen, theater, music, cultural events, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking and the loveliest people in the world.
Where else in the world — I have often asked — can you go scuba diving in the morning and see violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman perform the same evening? I did that a few years ago.
I felt the world should identify the Virgin Islands with beauty and possibility. A tropical paradise under the U.S. flag.
Not that we don’t report our share of corruption and crime, but that is far from the only thing going on in these beautiful islands — and I am proud to say we have spent the last five years letting people know that.
And what’s interesting is that what I have found from the couple hundred thousand emails I have received is — people from all over the world LOVE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS — even those who appear to be its greatest critics. In fact, they love these islands SO much they want to see their great potential realized.
I like to believe the Source has been a catalyst for improved communications, resulting in economic growth. We have been told more than once that the Source has been used as a means for investors to get a realistic view of the community. I hope and trust it has helped build confidence in those investors by showcasing ALL of the aspects of this community.
The third reason we have pushed on against some formidable odds — and maybe the one I feel most passionate about — is the right of the people to have more than one source for news and information.
In a country where one organization often controls most of the media in a given community, and with an FCC that seems to want to allow even more merging and control by these huge media giants, the Internet has provided the vehicle for an alternative voice — many alternative voices in fact.
Prior to the advent of easy access to the World Wide Web it cost millions of dollars to consider starting a paper newspaper. And big bucks often come encumbered with other special interests.
The evolution of the Internet has made room for everyone to have a voice — without the burden of amassing millions to do it.
We have happily been able to take advantage of that. Not that it doesn’t cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to run an Internet newspaper — but it’s just that — not millions.
And so we are here today to talk about where the Internet has come in the past five years — and to hear from you where you’d like to see it go and how we can help. We are on the verge of changes that will bring about enormous possibilities. We will tell you a little bit about that later, but as we go forward what’s most important is to open a dialogue so that we can build this new engine with you — the community — in mind.
Before we talk about the future, I want to give you a quick view of the evolution of the Source in the last five years:
– In January of 1999 — the month we launch St. Thomas Source — we could boast about 1,000 page requests.
– In March 2003 we received a record 1.5-million page requests from about 50,000 unique visitors.
– Two years after our launch we received the blessing of three government agencies to be used for publication of various legal notices and in February 2002, the attorney general wrote an opinion which deemed us a newspaper of general circulation.
– In September 2002, The Source was a finalist in the category of general excellence in the 2002 On Line Journalism Awards, judged by the Columbia School of Journalism — the same people who judge the Pulitzer Prize.
– In October 2003, Territorial Court Judge Rhys Hodge in a memorandum opinion wrote: “The continuous availability of the Source militates in favor of accepting its use for substitute service of process. Once a notice is posted in the Source, it appears continuously. A notice posted for the requisite four-week period thus appears every day for four weeks. This accessibility stands in stark contrast,” Hodge wrote, “to hard copy newspapers where the notice only appears one day a week for four weeks. Furthermore the fact that the Source is free also increases the chances a defendant will be reached.”
There is more to the opinion and it can be found in the legal section of any of the Source publications.
– And in November 2003, the St. Croix Environmental Association presented the Source with its Environmental Awareness in Media Award — a tremendous honor.
And so it is with a grateful heart for all that we have achieved thanks to the love and support streaming from this community that we have pulled together a diverse group of highly qualified individuals to share with you their great knowledge and experience relative to the problems, advantages and possibilities of the Internet and Internet News.
We had a few people call to ask if we were going to teach people how to get on to the Internet and I had to say “no” that was not our intention.
What we are here to do is two-fold — offer you some very practical tips for using the Internet to propel your business, organization or agency into the next realm of communication — both from a PR standpoint and a technical standpoint — and to get your creative juices flowing, to get your mind in sync with the limitless possibilities to improve communications and life in our community through the skillful use of this powerful tool.
I hope each of you will walk away today stimulated and a bit more understanding of the limitless possibilities offered by this new and exciting technology.
Before we start the program and I introduce our first speaker, there are a few people I want to thank — and one I’d like to introduce.
Along the way over the last five years one person has constantly been there for me — day and night — my husband, Wally Bostwick. He has suffered all of the growing pains along with me — and completely without complaint.
From the beginning there have also been others:
Penny Feuerzeig, without whom the seed of this idea would never have materialized. Penny, who has served on our advisory board from the beginning, has for five years given her time and considerable expertise to guide me and the publication to being an award-winning venture in journalism — all on a volunteer basis.
Molly Morris, who early on — knowing she had a background of some sort in journalism — I asked to do a few little fluff feature stories to augment the re-writing of press releases … Molly Morris, who has become the foremost territorial expert on government issues and who has worked tirelessly — often with little reward — always without complaint — to make the Source what it is today.
Along the way reporters and editors have come and gone. Each of those people who left the community made their own unique and valuable contribution. I have learned much from them and thank them. I still hear from many of them, many who wish they were still here in fact — some who don’t.
Those who have stayed have also contributed far more than I can ever tell you. You have seen their by-lines — you know them, many have served this community before in the news business and in a myriad of other ways for many years: Judi Shimel, Lynda Lohr, Bernetia Akin, Michelle Charles, Jean Greaux, Shirley Lincoln, Clarence Cuthbertson and, of course, our first presenter this morning, Jean Etsinger.
If I have forgotten someone — it doesn’t mean you are not valued — it means my mind is going.
I must also thank the other members of my advisory board: Frank Jordan, Irene Silverman, Jose Penn, Henry Wheatley and Frank Barnako and Melvin Claxton who are here.
And the backbone of this venture — the readers — thank you, everyone.
There are some very special advertisers who need to be thanked — all of them, in fact, but especially those who went out on a limb early, before there was any proof that this would work. They put their money down and supported this venture and they have stayed on to receive the rewards of this new medium. I am not going to list them for fear of missing someone, but I ask you to please look at them as you read and move through our sites. They are the real heroes.
There are a lot of people behind the scenes — who wish to and shall remain nameless — who have contributed in very important ways, they know who they are and what they have done — and I thank them.
I also thank the God of my understanding for the grace I personally have received to keep this going against many odds.
It is my belief that I have been freely given many rewards in this life and the last five years have been full of them. And I have been taught it is our responsibility to return those rewards. Today is a small offering from a grateful heart.
And now for the person I want to introduce to you — someone who I am also very grateful for.
Since the day I started the Source the one thing I was lacking was another marketing person. I tried a few people, but as someone once pointed out to me, it’s hard to “out-source” your income.
So, I trudged along doing the best I could — until one day the right person showed up.
It is that person — the right person — the person without whom today’s event would have never been pulled off — a person I have known for 31 years — that I wish to introduce to you today.
Please meet and welcome home to the Virgin Islands, Aaron Reiff, our new marketing director, and my son.
And now for our first presenter.
I can’t tell you how long I have known Jean Etsinger … maybe for the whole 18 years that she lived here, but what I can tell you is that Jean was always there when something needed doing in this community.
I probably first met Jean when she was the president of the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council.
She was also a volunteer for many years with the Family Resource Center, producing a fundraiser — Just Dessert — for the organization every year.
Professionally in the territory Jean served as editor of the weekly V.I. Business Journal for three and a half years, founding editor of the Vacation St.
Thomas-St. John visitor guide for two, editor of the V.I. Council on the Arts quarterly for five, and Scene & Herd arts and entertainment columnist for 13.
When the Source was in its fledgling days, Jean was the full-time journalism program faculty-of-one at the University of the Virgin Islands.
I am not sure exactly when or how she became such an integral part of the Source. It was another of her volunteer roles. She just showed up one day and quietly began to help. She has been doing it ever since — though I am happy to say no longer on a volunteer basis.
What the Source is today is a measure of Jean’s exacting standards, and meticulous editing skills along with her creativity.
I am proud to have someone of Jean’s skill, and commitment as my friend and colleague.
I thank her for coming here today to offer her considerable knowledge.
Steve Parrish
I met our next presenter in person for the first time this morning. Someone had told me he was an expert on the nuts and bolts of the Internet. I called him up and asked him if he would be willing to share that knowledge today — and he didn’t hesitate — and I thank him for that.
Steve Parrish started his career in communications more than 25 years ago and was among the elite ranks of computer system and optical network visionaries who introduced this technology to the world. He has worked for giants in the industry, such as Ameritech, as well as smaller dot-com startups like WorldPort in the Netherlands. Currently, Steve is the vice president of Operations for ATN.
Frank Barnako
One day about three years ago I answered the phone and heard this golden voice say, “Hello, this is Frank Barnako, I’m trying to reach Shaun Pennington.” Many people think I am a man, so assume the woman answering the phone is the receptionist. I am not saying that’s the case with Frank.
Anyway, he said he was interested in meeting me. I was terribly flattered. We made a date and I went to St. John — where Frank owns a home and according to him doesn’t get to spend enough time — and enjoyed a stimulating three or so hours with Frank and his lovely wife, Donna.
We became fast friends.
After offering me valuable business advice along with a certain amount of cheerleading, I timidly asked Frank if he would consider being one of my advisors.
Who better than the man who penned the first column on the business of the Internet — and he has always reminded me this IS a business.
He agreed with little hesitation and I have been the recipient since then of his vast knowledge and acumen, along with his sincere support and wish to see us succeed.
He has been there to push me out of the dream-come-true mode into the reality of the business mode.
I don’t think he knows how grateful I am to him for that. Or how grateful my husband is to him for that.
Frank is the co-founder of three internet ventures, including CBS MarketWatch.com where he manages the company’s Washington division and launched the company’s radio network four years ago. The Network provides newscasts twice an hour, seven days a week to 240 stations, making it the largest business radio network in the U.S. He is also the editor of Internet Daily, which he has written since 1996. A radio version of Internet Daily is also distributed by CBS Radio Network.
When I asked Frank if he would take time away from his work to come here and share his knowledge with us, he readily agreed. I’d like to think it was because of us, and not because he is one of those people I talked about who is in love with the Virgin Islands.
Either way, I am honored to have Frank with us today and ask you to help me welcome him here to his home away from home.
Evan Edwards
Evan Edwards and I have been virtually joined at the brain over and over again during the last five years. We met physically for the first time this morning. Evan, who has provided the genius underneath the template that you all know as the Source, has been Systems Director at OnePaper since the company was founded in 1998, and is the principal author of all OnePaper Content Management Systems. A graduate of Duke University, he has spent his career developing and administering High Access/High Availability Internet-based Systems and has served as senior system administrator for Singer Asset Finance. Mr. Edwards has also managed the business services departments for two internet service providers: Florida Internet, and the California-based CWNet.
But there a lot more to Evan’s story where the Source is concerned. At every twist and turn, he has been there struggling right alongside me from thousands of miles away to make sure we bring to you the most reliable, and useable Internet newspaper available.
When I started this, I had no idea what was involved. Evan has worked so tirelessly and so quietly — I still don’t know what’s involved. But he is here to share a little bit about what the possibilities are with all of us.
Melvin Claxton
Melvin may not remember this, but after reading his 1996 Education series — an issue very close to my heart — I got up the nerve to call him and tell him what a fabulous job he had done … he was a sort of God to me.
I called him and much to my surprise he answered the phone. I muttered on about what a great thing he had done and how important it was.
He was kind and cordial and humble — not the newspaper rockstar prima donna that he certainly has the right to be.
But that is who Melvin is I have since found, kind and humble, along with being a courageous, intelligent and brilliant journalist.
When I have a question about ethics in journalism, a question about the right thing to do, it is often Melvin that I call. I trust him completely — as I trust all of my advisors.
Melvin has been the senior investigative reporter with The Detroit News since November 1998, and has worked as an investigative reporter for The Chicago Tribune.
Claxton has covered everything from drug smuggling in the Caribbean to broken fire equipment in Detroit. His series on the failures of the criminal justice system in the U.S. Virgin Islands won him and the V.I. Daily News the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 1995.
Claxton was also the lead reporter on a Detroit News series covering the failure of Detroit police to apprehend the city’s more than 26,000 criminal fugitives that was a finalist for a Pulitzer in 2003.
It is fitting that Melvin should be here today, after the events in Antigua this week — events that Melvin surely played a part in bringing about with his fearless stories of corruption in the ranks of the powerful Bird family who dominated politics in that nation — Melvin’s home country — for more than 50 years.
Despite his heavy workload and commitment to numerous projects, when I asked him to come down here to celebrate our anniversary and talk about the role of a community newspaper he said, “that would be fun.”
So, please help me welcome and Melvin Claxton back here, back to this island that is so proud of him, back to a community that surely thinks of him as its native son.
And here is what he said that day that was particularly prescient considering the state of journalism today: PULITZER PRIZE WINNER TAKES NEWS OWNER TO TASK
A Cruz Bay puff has put a St. Thomas man in jail facing felony cocaine and cannabis charges, police said Monday.
Umoja Zohar Sofer Greer, 25, and two friends were allegedly enjoying a joint on beach chairs in Cruz Bay around 8:30 Friday evening when police arrived. Marijuana consumption is not yet fully legal in the U.S. Virgin Islands and smoking on beaches has been illegal since 2016.
Police allegedly found a mostly-consumed marijuana cigarette and Greer’s backpack, which contained more than two ounces of cannabis, three ziplock bags of psilocybin mushrooms, and one small ziplock bag containing cocaine. Police also found a digital scale.
He was charged with felony possession of illegal narcotics. Sofer Greer’s mother posted $5,500 bail.
Over the recent holidays, I heard a prominent Virgin Islander lamenting about the gentrification of our historic towns. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “gentrification a process in which a poor area (such as our towns) experiences an influx of middle-class or wealthy people (usually white mainlanders) who renovate and rebuild homes and businesses, and which often results in an increase in property values and the displacement of earlier, usually poorer residents.” This phenomenon is steadily happening in our towns and it’s darn admirable what some people are doing. Overall, it’s good. But it’s not us. We are merely bystanders.
A few days later, I saw a post on social media by the same prominent Virgin Islander urging everyone to push back against the gentrifiers. The thought stayed ruminating in my head for several days wondering how one pushes back against people who come to our historic towns and see gems of opportunity around them going to waste and proceed to buy and develop the decrepit properties into beautiful business buildings and apartments. Oh wow! Great idea! But we (Us, local islanders!) should have done the same thing, long ago, but we didn’t! Those ugly eyesores had been there for decades. What held us back? We all heard about the family members squabbling about the estate. So, what held us back from buying? What were we afraid of? Was it lack of money? Is it a lack of vision? No matter how much I ruminated about these questions I could not come up with any definite answers.
Anyway, in the process of thinking, I thought about another related question that has always frustrated me over the years. It has to do with keeping our wealth and assets in our local hands. In other words, what can be done by native families and long-term residents, who now own thriving businesses and properties, to keep the businesses growing and in the hands of the family and avert business closures and loss of precious assets when the head of the family, becomes disabled or dies? I remember the once thriving popular locally owned businesses such as Brow Soda, Villa Morales, Plantation Club, Saint Croix by the Sea, and others, and then, poof! They are gone!
Commonsense tells us that ensuring the smooth transition of wealth and businesses within our community is necessary for the economic survival of our people. So, before the old man or matriarch of the family passes, the family should engage in careful planning and proactive measures. But that’s easier said than done. I have been told over and over that old habits and cultural hang-ups and deeply incrusted beliefs tend to block our people from being forward-thinking, logical, and doing the right thing. I remember Spike Lee making this point in his 1989 movie Do the Right Thing! Often, we don’t trust ourselves. We even distrust our own family members and children. You at times hear murmured comments from the old pop or mom such as: “I worked too hard to build this business to now turn it over to our lazy children who don’t lift a finger to help and are only anxiously waiting for us to croak. Hell no!” Countless times, we heard owners mutter these misguided sentiments. Of course, time passes and then one day the inevitable mortality angel arrives and there is another repeat sad story. The business quickly folds and there is no succession plan. “The hard-working old man didn’t trust anyone with his business.” Tragically, another locally owned business bites the dust and the business shutters and the divisive court fights begin in the long backed up list of cases at probate court. And there, traditionally it lingers forever.
Our islands have a sad history of prosperous businesses quickly going under when the head of the family passes on. This is true in every town in our territory. Oftentimes, no one was adequately prepared, and the family is suddenly left unprepared to continue business operations and maintaining the long-established businesses, and to even keep the other accumulated assets such as real estate in the hands of the family.
The story is repeated many times throughout our community’s history. The old guy died and left everything and there was no legal transfer or succession plan. Consequently, family disputes and vicious court fights erupted over the assets while properties remained frozen in limbo for years. What were once before grand and respectable properties quickly become vacant, abandoned, and unsightly, bush over-grown, littered properties left for decades to the battering elements of nature, hurricanes, feral animals, and vagrants to illicitly use and destroy.
One only needs to take a walk down the streets and observe the large number of eyesores and derelict properties in our midst that are boarded up or crumbling. We even know the names of these prominent families and former owners. The question is how can our people put a stop to this negative trend and instead ensure the smooth transition of businesses, properties, and wealth to the younger generations? How can we keep the wealth in our families in a manner that assures or enhances the possibilities of future growth and prosperity?
So, what are the answers?
It seems to me that our mentality about property and business succession and property transfers must change. We are not going to live forever! Perhaps a massive multimedia re-education is needed to change the “distrusting mindset” of our people. Such an effort must target our cultural pride and try to erase our negative sentiments that have held us back. The fact is that we can change the thinking pattern and stem the tide and begin to create and build and protect family legacies. We must inculcate our young and old to recognize our history of wealth and property loss and see what is possible in the future. A targeted multi-media community education campaign should be crafted for promoting the ideas of family business ownership and wealth propagation.
We must, where possible, shine the spotlight light and applaud those who have successfully passed on businesses and properties to heirs and averted the typical route of shuttering. MSI on St. Thomas and Bolke and Abramson Enterprises on St. Croix are examples of successful transitions to the younger generation. We must show what is possible with planning and forethought. This is clearly an effort that our university and the small business administration, our banks, our government, the Chambers of Commerce, and our locally owned media should undertake.
Locally owned businesses must hire and work with qualified legal and financial professional advisors with experience in succession planning to create succession plans for their businesses and assets. Succession planning requires clear decisions on who will take over the leadership roles and how ownership will be transferred. Families must also engage in comprehensive estate planning to minimize tax liabilities and facilitate the transfer of assets to the next generation. This may involve creating trusts, wills, and other legal instruments. Competent legal advisors with integrity can provide guidance on legal and financial aspects, ensuring a properly planned and smooth business transition before the inevitable emotional and confusing family moment comes when the loved ones cross over to the afterlife.
To help strengthen existing businesses and secure additional resources, owners must learn to form or create viable partnerships or alliances with other businesses or with reliable individuals within the community. Partnering and forming formal alliances is mostly unheard of among our community and it is most likely because of our same distrusting and stubborn mentality. But it is doable! Learning about building workable partnerships and pooling and leveraging resources to maximize buying and investment power is essential. The same goes for building strong relationships with existing business networks. Thoughtful networking can provide support, mentorship, and potential opportunities for collaboration and business growth.
Financial literacy would also help our families’ businesses and should be a mandatory subject in our schools. According to Google, “Simply put, financial literacy means knowing how to handle your money wisely. Many people struggle with financial literacy, even as adults. This is often due to misconceptions or a lack of understanding about what it entails.” And here is another definition: According to Khan Academy, “Financial literacy is the possession of skills, knowledge, and behaviors that allow an individual to make informed decisions regarding money.” Our young people must be taught about business ownership and about thinking big and far beyond the selling of meat patties and cakes for fundraising for sports trips or queen contests. Pride in business ownership must be driven into our culture. Our young people must recognize that politics is not a sustainable career and that government jobs, though laudable, are not enough for the economic health and growth of our community.
Family reunions should be about a little more than just beach parties, cookouts, and dominoes. At least a segment of the fun-filled weekend should be about building and propagating legacy and growing the family business. Perhaps forming a family leadership council to facilitate open communication and perhaps key decision-making among family members is an innovative thought. There should be disciplined discussions about providing and securing education and training for the young and not so young family members to ensure they have the business skills to take over the family business. This can include short term workshops, formal education, mentorship programs, and on-the-job training. The family business should not entirely depend on one person to prevent a single point of failure. Distributing responsibilities can also help in harnessing a variety of skills and perspectives.
Our communities should learn from other successful communities and families. We have seen years of foreigners come into our territory going house to house selling and building trust and relationships. Years later the same sweaty, tired smiling door to door peddler is the proud owner of the supermarket and gas station. You can’t help but admire their hard work, persistence, and determination to succeed.
At family gatherings time should occasionally be set aside to discuss serious ideas about innovative projects that others are pursuing in other communities. They should keep abreast of economic trends and changes in industry and technology to adapt these to the family’s business.
In today’s fast-moving world of commerce, using communication technology should help family businesses to remain competitive and resilient over time.
Family businesses should explore and test the possibilities of a family business website which is carefully monitored and protected and used to foster intra-family collaboration and teamwork among its members. This medium may be used to encourage open communication and problem-solving to maintain a healthy family and business environment. Why not?
Perhaps a thoughtful family credo or charter should be developed that clearly communicates the values, goals, and rules governing the family business. This family charter can help guide and focus decision-making and prevent disputes. The family website may also help document and preserve important processes and knowledge within the business. Clear and dedicated documentation ensures that critical historic information is not lost and can be passed down effectively.
Finally, fresh, “outside the box” thinking, careful planning, open communication, actionablecommunity pride, and a commitment to long-term sustainability are needed to preserve our communities and to assure successful wealth and business transitions. Ultimately, this may be the only viable way to avoid the wholesale gentrification of our communities by others who capitalize on our self-neglect and lack of vision and lack of planning for our futures.
– Carmelo Rivera, who has deep roots on St. Croix formerly worked at HOVENSA for Turner St. Croix Maintenance, Inc., a major contractor, as head of public affairs, HR, and labor relations. He is a former University of the Virgin Islands HR and Business Instructor, a former USVI Department of Labor commissioner and acting commissioner of DPNR. He served as president of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce and as chairman of the Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation. He currently lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife, Nilsa Belardo, and returns frequently to St. Croix, his childhood home where he was raised by his humble Vieques family.
A friend of Todman Davaughn tows the motorboat he was thrown from Sunday morning back to shore. (Coast Guard photo)
The search for a boater missing since Sunday morning after he was thrown from his vessel near Coki Point Beach was called off on Monday afternoon, St. Thomas Rescue reported.
Todman Davaughn, 51, of St. Thomas, reportedly was ejected from a 30-foot white power boat around 8 a.m. Sunday after the vessel crashed and spun out of control several times in the vicinity of Coki Point Beach and Thatch Cay, according to the Coast Guard.
On Monday afternoon, at the request of the Coast Guard, St. Thomas Rescue Public Information Officer Chris Watson notified Davaughn’s family, also of St. Thomas, that the search was being called off at 2 p.m.
“Suspending a search is among the most difficult decisions a commander has to make,” Capt. José Díaz, Coast Guard Sector San Juan commander, said in a statement on Tuesday morning. “We keep the family and loved ones of Mr. Todman Davaughn in our prayers and hope they find strength and closure during this most difficult time. The Coast Guard will continue to monitor and support local efforts in this case pending further developments.”
The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency and St. Thomas Rescue continue leading ongoing efforts in this case, the Coast Guard said.
St. Thomas Rescue responded to the scene Sunday within six minutes of one of its officers receiving a call at 8 a.m. from a concerned citizen and immediately deployed a search and rescue drone, said Watson.
“This made contact with a 30-foot Fountain motorboat being towed by a dinghy from the shoreline. The 30-foot Fountain motorboat was later identified as the boat involved in this incident,” Watson said. One person was reported onboard, and no other boat was involved in the accident, he said. According to the Coast Guard, it was a friend of Davaughn who towed the vessel back to shore.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew searches for missing boater Todman Davaughn on Sunday. The search was called off at 2 p.m. Monday. (Coast Guard photo)
“A further call to 911 dispatch was made by a witness who advised the operator of the boat had been ejected. Additional resources, to include the U.S. Coast Guard, and our Community Asset Register were then deployed to the scene,” said Watson.
Along with the drone, St. Thomas Rescue deployed a boat and divers, and the Coast Guard sent a helicopter from Air Station Borinquen in Puerto Rico that conducted an aerial search, as well as a 33-foot “Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement” vessel.
Once on scene, the Coast Guard aircrew deployed a self-locating datum marker buoy to receive real-time information on the sea-state and currents in the area. A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft was also launched, the agency reported, and the Cutter Joseph Tezanos conducted a search throughout the night.
Strong currents and wind direction play an important role in the area, which challenged the search area, from a small narrow passage to open ocean, Watson noted.
Anyone who may have information on this case may contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.
The Humane Society of St. Thomas (Submitted art)
The Humane Society of St. Thomas is happy to announce the winners of the 2024 ‘Win it Big Raffle.’ It thanks all the businesses that donated to make this fundraiser a big success. It also thanks all those who bought tickets to support the Humane Society’s ability to continue providing the best possible care for the animals it serves.
Sunset Sail for 12 on the SAIL MEOW Annette Zachman
2) $400 Gift Certificate to FISH BAR Patricia LaCorte
3) Four tires valued at $1800 from TIRE KINGDOM William Loewy
4) $500 Cash (anonymous donor) Randolph Knight
5) A two-night stay at the BUCCANEER BEACH and GOLF RESORT Donald Goldammer
6) A $500 Gift Card for Amazon from an anonymous donor Paul Doumeng
7) A two-night stay at the RITZ-CARLTON ST. THOMAS Kathryn Perry
8) THE OLD STONE FARMHOUSE dinner for six paired with wine Vanessa Gaviola
9) $500 Gift Card to Home Depot (anonymous donor) Scott Martin
10) $500 Gift Cards to SAINT THOMAS RESTAURANT GROUP Randy Steinberg
11) A 43” Samsung TV donated by COST U LESS Maria Parker
12) French Town Dine around gift certificates to OCEANA, FRENCH TOWN BISTRO and TWISTED CORK Irene Maple
13) Gift Cards to PARADISE CHIROPRACTIC evaluation, JANET’S ISLAND SPATIQUE FACIAL, SPA SAN SOUCI MASSAGE Julie Drewes
14) Dinner for 2 at the HIDEAWAY AT HULL BAY, gift Cards for CUTLASS and CANE, and XO BISTRO Dellia Holodenschi
15) Gift cards to THE PINK PALM, our newest boutique hotel on the Island, PRIME RESTAURANT and VIRGILLIOS Billie Hodges
16) A Downtown dining with gift certificates for CAFÉ AMICI, THE STONEHOUSE, BUMPA’S and THE GREENHOUSE Randolph Knight
17) UFLY VI 1 hour flying lesson Vincent Moleski
18) $500 Cash Jane Dinunzio
19) PHOENIX VISIONS SALON gift card, SPA SAN SOUCI WATER, LIFTING and TIGHTENING FACIAL Janelle Beckett
20) ISLAND EDGE GOURMET DROP OFF PLATTER FOR 6-8, kitchen Aid Food Processor donated by EXPO BY APPLIANCES PLUS Deann Wessing
With Christmas celebrations now packed away, fun-loving folks on St. Thomas and St. John headed to western St. Thomas. It was time for the 25th Annual Bordeaux Farmers Rastafari Agriculture and Culture Vegan Food Fair.
Community members browse the wares at Bordeaux Pavilion. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Many showed up with reusable shopping bags in search of goods that don’t come around every day. Sen. Carla Joseph walked through Bordeaux Farms Pavilion searching for sugar cane.
For others, like retiree Golda Hermon, it was freshly fried lentil balls. Visitors queued up to about a half dozen vendor booths and stands waiting to place orders for prepared vegan dishes. At one stand, Diann Love filled a lunch order but also took time to describe her other offerings, like homemade aloe vera oil.
Diann Love and company dishing it out. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
In one pavilion corner, Avril Armstrong-Freeman wrapped a cinnamon pastry at a stand filled with snacks and treats.
Did the stand have a name? “Yes,” she said — “TWBD: Thy Will Be Done.”
Avril Armstong-Freeman wraps up a pastry treat. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
While next door in the Children’s Pavilion, Maria Stiles led young craft makers through the twists and turns of basket weaving. The spacious activity area first opened as part of the Bordeaux Fair in 2022. “We have been working on it since before the hurricane. Last year was our first year we had our activities here,” Stiles said.
Maria Stiles helps Legend Esprit-Lewis, 9, learn basket weaving. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
And as the first day of the weekend fair drew towards sunset, Paget Spell Roacher bottled sugar cane juice. Moments before bottling, he fed hand-peeled sugar cane through a roller press.
A sugar product seldom seen in grocery stores is sugar cane juice. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Once the caps were applied, two couples waiting nearby stepped in, scooped up their fresh juices, and hurried away.
Coast Guard air and surface crews search for a missing boater Sunday. (Photo courtesy USCG)
Coast Guard air and surface crews continue to search for a missing boater in the vicinity of Coki Point Beach and Thatch Cay, the agency announced Sunday.
Missing is Todman Davaughn, 51, who reportedly was ejected from a 30-foot white power boat after the vessel crashed and spun out of control several times, according to the press release.
Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a call from a 911 emergency operator, who relayed the report from a person who witnessed the incident ashore around 8:30 a.m. Coast Guard watchstanders diverted the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen in Puerto Rico and a 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement to search, the press release stated.
Once on scene, the Coast Guard aircrew deployed a self-locating datum marker buoy to receive real-time information on the sea-state and currents in the area. A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft forward deployed to Puerto Rico was also launched, while St. Thomas Rescue teams also responded with a boat, divers, and a drone to help in the search, the release stated.
A friend of Davaughn reportedly towed the vessel back to shore, it said.
As the search continues, the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos will be arriving and searching throughout the night, according to the release.
Anyone with information on this case may contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.
Qualified residents of the Bellevue Village Housing Community on St. John will have the opportunity to buy their units – as they were promised years ago – assuming Jackson Development Company, LLC closes on a deal to purchase the property.
According to a press release sent out Friday evening, “Jackson Development Company (JDC) is collaborating with the Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR) and the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) to secure funding for the transaction. Love City Strong is acting as an advisor to Jackson Development Company and has provided pre‐development funding for the acquisition.”
“We are bound by a non-disclosure agreement and are not authorized to comment further until we close the purchase,” said Robert Jackson, one of the two principal partners in Jackson Development Company. Jackson was the CEO of Reliance Housing, the original developer of Bellevue Village, in 2003.
The other principal partner of JDC is Clifford Graham, who served as the executive director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority when Bellevue was constructed.
In addition to acquiring Bellevue, JDC is negotiating to purchase Lovenlund Apartments on St. Thomas and Calabash Boom Apartments on St. John, both of which were built by Reliance Housing between 2003 and 2009.
Lovenlund Apartments on St. Thomas include 99 affordable homes in Phase 1 and 96 affordable homes in Phase 2. (Photo courtesy Jackson Development Company)
Jackson and Graham’s “collective vision for the properties, at that time, was for affordable rental housing financed by Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and a conversion to affordable homeownership at Bellevue Village at the end of the initial 15-year tax credit period,” Graham said in the press release.
Calabash Boom Apartments, with 48 units, is located past Coral Bay on Route 107 on St. John. (Photo provided by Jackson Development Company)
“Details of the homeownership program will be presented to residents after the properties transfer to JDC ownership,” the press release continued. “JDC has committed to a NO DISPLACEMENT policy that allows residents at the properties the option of acquiring their home at an affordable price or continuing as tenants at affordable rents.”
The transfer of ownership of Bellevue comes after years of activism on the part of a small group of Bellevue tenants who qualified for purchasing their units but were unable to get any confirmation of the agreement from stateside-based owners and managers.
A duplex unit at Bellevue. (Photo by Keryn Bryan)
Tenants who moved into Bellevue Village in 2005 and expected to meet their 15-year requirements for the homeownership conversion program in 2020 appealed to Sen. Marvin Blyden.
After Blyden became involved, the V.I. Office of the Attorney General was able to begin discussions with AIG, the original tax credit investor in Bellevue, Lovenlund and Calabash Boom. (Reliance, the developer of the three housing communities, was no longer involved after Jackson resigned as its CEO in 2013 and formed Jackson Development Company. Reliance closed its doors in approximately 2015 and AIG replaced them with a McCormick Baron entity as general partner, according to Jackson.)
In an Aug. 2, 2018 news release, then Attorney General Claude Walker said he met with AIG President Thomas Musante. “We had a very lively exchange of views on having the tenants become homeowners, as the tenants contend that Bellevue was designed to be a homeowners’ conversion program, and that is correct,” Walker said.
Bellevue tenants listen to officials during a meeting to discuss hurricane repairs in 2018. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
“I remember some years ago that Sen. Celestino White had pushed for this to happen and I spoke to Clifford Graham, who was the head of HFA at the time, and he also agrees,” Walker said. “We ended our meeting with AIG in agreement on this matter and we are committed to establishing a viable plan, which will include HFA to start the process of turning those units over to the tenants after 2020. This would result in an opportunity for the Bellevue tenants in the tight St. John housing market becoming homeowners overnight.”
Tenants were advised to wait until 2020. In 2022, Bellevue Village was sold once again, this time to April Housing, a company providing affordable housing within the portfolio of Blackstone Real Estate. According to its website, Blackstone has 12,500 real estate assets and 230+ portfolio companies.
When tenants were unable to reach anyone at April Housing to answer their questions about the conversion to homeownership, they approached Jackson.
One tenant wrote directly to Jackson, saying, “We realize that Reliance is no longer part of this, but it started with Reliance. Many have stayed thinking that one day [we] would be owning this property to now find out that we have to fight for what was promised.”
She described the situation as “heart-breaking” as tenants lost out on other opportunities 15 years ago to acquire property on St. John when it was more affordable.
According to the tenants’ agreement, 10 percent of Bellevue residents’ rent was put aside to serve as a down payment toward their future purchase.
Tenants questioned what became of these payments. In July 2022, another tenant filed a complaint on behalf of the tenants with the Criminal Division of the V.I. Justice Department. She was advised by the Justice Department in November 2022 to file her suit as a civil complaint rather than a criminal complaint.
Bellevue Village Housing Community, with 72 units, is located on Gifft Hill on St. John. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
The Bellevue Village Housing Community, located on Gifft Hill on St. John, comprises 72 duplex units ranging from one to three bedrooms.
