Saturday’s Veterans Day Parade on St. Croix honored those who have selflessly served our nation with a parade and ceremony that drew hundreds of bystanders.
The ceremony at the Veterans Day Parade on St. Croix. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Participants included the 73rd Army Band, St. Croix Educational Complex JROTC, St. Croix Central High School Carbis Battalion, the Girl Scouts of the U.S. Virgin Islands, members of different branches of the armed forces, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., Senate President Novelle Francis, Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett and other cabinet members and participants.
Members of the V.I. National Guard pose for a picture at the Veterans Day Parade on St. Croix. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Participants marched from the Frederiksted post office and down King Street and then onto Strand Street, where the ceremony was held, right on the waterfront.
Veterans pose for a quick picture on St. Croix. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
The 73rd Army Band performed a few selections, including the national anthem and the Virgin Islands March, along with a brief ceremony with comments from cabinet members and special guests.
Members of the 73rd Army Band perform musical selections for an audience at the Veterans Day ceremony on St. Croix. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Other Veterans Day activities took place on St. Thomas on Saturday and earlier last week, on Nov. 5 on St. John.
SSG Kerrisse Richards-Patient Admin and SFC Ashley Maldonado providing medical support for soldiers participating in the Veterans Day Parade. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
With the official start of winter tourist season a few days away, providers of luxury seagoing stays are staging their annual exposition at Yacht Haven Grande on St. Thomas. Organizers of the USVI Charter Yacht Show say boat owners wishing to fill their booking calendars have shown great interest this year.
Vacation vessel owners and brokers experience a taste of V.I. culture at the 2023 Charter Show. (Photo by Carol Bareuther)
This year’s expo runs from Nov. 11 to Nov. 14. Within those four days lie the opportunities to grab the interest of potential business partners, each hoping to provide a product or service, adding up to an unforgettable vacation at sea.
“The [yacht show] is a trade event where charter yacht brokers from the Virgin Islands, Caribbean, USA, and Europe visit the exhibiting charter yachts. This gives them a chance to personally see the yachts and meet the crews so that when they return home and customers call to book a charter, the brokers can make sound recommendations as to which boats may best fit that customer’s needs,” said spokesperson Carol Bareuther.
Professional Charter Yacht Association Director Oriel Blake said 90 vessels, ranging from monohulls and catamarans to luxury term-charter yachts, are open for viewings throughout the show. “Our charter broker attendance is really high this year as well, and we’re honored to have such sponsorship following,” the director said.
Visiting charter brokers also experienced a real-life taste of being in the U.S. Virgin Islands over the weekend. The annual charter crew culinary contest takes judges and visitors up the ramps and into the dining rooms aboard competing vessels, where chefs serve their best version of contest entries. And the popular mixology competition introduces visitors to charter crew bartenders hoping to dazzle them with cocktail specialties.
St. Thomas celebrity chef Julius Jackson hosted the Sunday event. Saturday’s mini Carnival Parade gave attendees a taste of V.I. culture with glamorous costumes, a rolling steel band cart and other festive entries.
Blake said the expo’s pre-show on Friday leaned more towards the lesser-seen but essential elements that make for smooth sailing at vacation time. Small business owners of many kinds joined the vendors’ exhibit in hopes of making 2023-2024 a profitable tourist season for themselves.
“ … [W]e were very delighted with the pre-show, the marine vendors’ expo with 35 marine vendors, at least 10 of which are local vendors or small businesses supporting the charter yachts with things that can be used on board, with local craft — woodwork, various kinds of homemade local soaps, etcetera — all the way up to marine service providers ranging from those who provide generators and engines to paddleboards and watersports equipment,” Blake said.
By Tuesday, judges inspecting vessels and crews will announce the winners in the best overall competition in different categories. Those who win awards at the charter yacht show may gain an advantage in their bid to book top-dollar clients and secure repeat visitors from previous yachting seasons.
The awards ceremony takes place Tuesday afternoon, starting at 5 p.m.
It was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who opined from the Birmingham Jail that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Israel’s recent bombardment of the Jabalia Refugee Camp resulted in utter devastation, with over 500 innocent lives lost in one attack. Hospitals, densely populated neighborhoods, U.N. schools and aid agencies have all been struck.
As a strong advocate for human rights, diversity and inclusion, I am outraged and sickened by the relentless killing of innocent civilian Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. For anyone to assume that all Palestinians are “terrorists” is prejudiced and ill-informed at best. Further, utilizing such ideologies to commit or condone modern-day genocide against any specific group is unjust and a travesty against humanity.
Defined in international law, “crimes against humanity” are widespread or systemic criminal acts that are committed by or on behalf of a de facto authority, usually by or on behalf of a state that grossly violates human rights.
While many may argue and some will agree that Israel has the right to self-defense, its recent onslaught on Gaza, which to date has led to the disenfranchisement of many, and has left approximately 10,000 innocents, the majority being women, as well as over 3,000 children in a territory of just over 2 million, not excluding the pregnant, and handicapped, dead; is gravely dis-proportioned and unbalanced based on what some would call Israel’s bulletproof sophisticated defense mechanisms.
In its attempt to irrevocably decimate Gaza, it is reported that Israel has cut off the Palestinians’ access to water, food, as well as electricity and fuel.
Zionism in this form is nothing short of genocidal racism.
The inequalities and injustices are many and perpetual. As a result, the imbalance of power and response must be combatted without giving consideration of cause neither presumed nor stated.
No matter on what end of the spectrum of this conflagration one finds themselves, children are dying on both sides of this war. It’s fair to assume that no one would willingly agree or subscribe to the mass killings of innocent civilians, be it women and or children.
The international community’s silence is deafening. How could the world just sit idly by and allow this to happen? Or are we to pretend we do not see?
To those who argue that this is not our business. I remind you of the civil rights era in the United States, the bombing of Dresden in World War II, and apartheid in South Africa.
The atrocities unfolding in Gaza, Jerusalem, and the West Bank demand immediate global attention. While we may not be able to bring resolve to all the world’s geopolitical issues, nor is this an attempt at taking sides, rendering aid to the disenfranchised and civilian population should remain paramount. In the absence of such efforts, we falter.
— Jelani Ritter, St. Croix
During a routine traffic stop Thursday, a man was found with an illegal firearm, the V.I. Police Department reported.
While on patrol in the Sunny Isles area, police officers observed a black Acura TSX being operated without any visible license plates. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle near the old H&H Tire and Battery location. During the traffic stop, Clijon James Hamilton was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm, which was discovered under the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Hamilton was the operator and sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop, according to the police report.
Hamilton, age 27, was arrested for unauthorized possession of an unlicensed firearm, and bail was set at $50,000.
Michelle Smith (Submitted photo)
Virgin Islands Team member Michelle Smith, a senior at Montverde Academy, competed in the Florida Regional Cross-Country Championship in Weeki Wachee, Fla., on November 9, a week after her impressive performance at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile, in the 400-m hurdles.
Smith finished the 5000-meter course in 8th place (out of 99 athletes) with a season-best time of 20 minutes and 17.60 seconds, and she was the first Montverde Eagle to cross the finish line. Smith helped her team to a 3rd place finish in the Team Standing, which qualified the team to move on to the Cross-Country State Championships on Nov. 17, in Tallahassee, Fla.
Montverde Academy finished 3rd with a total of 77 points behind Mount Dora H.S. with 70 points and Bishop Moore H.S. with 76 points.
The Capitol building in Washington, D.C. (Shutterstock image)
This week, Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) joined her House colleague, Congressman Marc Molinaro (R-NY), to introduce the Farm to School Act to get more fresh, locally grown foods in schools across the nation. The bill would expand the Farm to School program for school-aged children by making significant investments, and it notably increases the funding for the program from $5 million to $10 million.
“The increased demand for Farm to School programming tells us that more people are beginning to understand the connection between local foods and healthy young minds. Through the Farm to School Grant Program, participating schools, nonprofit organizations, and local, state and tribal governments can help schools offer locally grown, fresh food to students,” said Congresswoman Plaskett.
“The Farm to School Act is a blueprint for nourishing our children and invigorating our local economies. Since its inception, the program has channeled more than $52 million into projects across all states and territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, benefiting nearly 21 million students in 47,000 schools. This act not only broadens access to nutritious, locally sourced meals for millions of students but also provides a much-needed economic lifeline to our small and socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers and fishermen.
“I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation alongside Congressman Molinaro in support of our nation’s schools and local farmers who help improve classroom diets and local economies; a bill that closely aligns with our collective mission: to build a healthier, more equitable future for all,” said Plaskett.
Sommer Sibilly-Brown, founder and executive director of the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition said, “Farm to School is not a cure-all for the things that plague our communities as it relates to the inequalities in our food system. However, it’s [helpful]. Farm to School increases access to healthy food for our youth, supports the small farmer and the local food economy, increases the opportunity for knowledge transfer to students with new mediums for applied learning and strengthens communities.
“In the Virgin Islands, I personally see Farm to School as a pillar of building a more resilient food system; the money and support infused in our community through the federal dollars committed to farm to school bolsters our food economy and supports reduction of imports., said Sibilly-Brown.
“Farm to school and farm to early childhood activities can address some of the most important issues facing communities—children’s mental and physical health, local jobs and economies and educational engagement, to name a few. The Farm to School Act of 2023 will expand access and increase sustained funding so this critical grant program reaches even more projects across the country,” said Karen Spangler, policy director with the National Farm to School Network (NFSN).”
Hannah Quigley, policy specialist for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), said, “Farm to School programs nationwide are strengthening local food economies, providing nutritious foods, and promoting a culture of health among students. The Farm to School Act of 2023 responds to the growing demand of cafeteria managers and farmers [who] want to provide high-quality, locally produced foods for their students. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition applauds Representatives Plaskett and Molinaro for their commitment to investing in healthy communities.”
Congressman Molinaro (R-NY) also shared, “The Farm to School program is a win-win for farmers and students. It provides more economic opportunities for local farmers and ensures a steady stream of fresh, nutritious food in our schools. I am proud to expand the impact of this program by making additional investments.”
The Farm to School Act of 2023 is supported by the National Farm to School Network and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
Click here to follow the progress of H.R. 6308.
Watch our weekly weather forecast with Jesse Daley, covering Sunday, Nov.12, through Saturday, Nov. 18. Our YouTube playlist is updated every Sunday, AND check out Jesse’s daily weather updates on the Source weather page. There’s always something new to explore with the V.I. Source!
American Legion Post 90 Commander Hillis Benjamin makes a presentation to honoree Master Sgt. Wilburn Hendricks on Saturday. (Photo by Judi Shimel)
Veterans Day celebrations in Charlotte Amalie drew hundreds of participants, who took part in a parade up Veterans Drive, followed by a ceremony in the Fort Christian Parking Lot.
Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach and Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett joined Adjutant Gen. Kodjo Knox-Limbacker standing under a decorated canopy as the parade passed by. Patrick Farrell, head of the Office of Veterans Affairs, and Sen. Marvin Blyden, joined the dignitaries on the reviewing stand.
About an hour later, they crossed the roadway and reassembled at the foot of the fort. Veterans from the American Legion, St. Thomas Post 90 and their supporters made up the audience while others stood nearby.
Master of Ceremonies Leslie Rhymer welcomed them all. “This was one of the largest turnouts in recent years, and we really appreciate you,” Rhymer said.
In his keynote address, the adjutant general offered his thanks to “those … who serve with selflessness and great honor.”
The V.I. National Guard 73rd Army Band regaled Knox-Limbacker with a medley of official tunes representing the U.S. Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Army before he rose to speak. The Space Force was established in December 2019 through the National Defense Authorization Act.
The veteran chosen as the 2023 St. Thomas honoree was retired Master Sgt. Wilburn Hendricks, leader of the Army band for 27 years. A contingent of Hendricks family members came in from Smith Bay to cheer him on.
But not everyone who came to the ceremony came to cheer. One man loudly criticized officials, calling himself a homeless veteran living on the street. Plaskett acknowledged his complaint, saying those who served did not deserve neglect.
Plaskett also spoke of her father, who died recently, and the custom she and her children kept of calling him every Veterans Day to thank him for his service and hear his stories from the Korean War.
The lieutenant governor noted that Virgin Islanders served the nation in the military in greater numbers than many U.S. communities. “Even though we supply this country with so many of our young people, we continue to live in a place where we are treated differently,” Roach said.
Still, he said, he felt inspired by the roster of this year’s veteran honorees: Frank Powell Jr., on St. John; former Adjutant Gen. Reynaldo Rivera on St. Croix, and Hendricks on St. Thomas. “I urge each of you to continue to support veterans,” the lieutenant governor said.
In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.Honoring Sacrifice, Advocating for Voting Rights, and Recognizing the Resilience of Virgin Islanders
As our nation collectively pauses to observe Veterans Day, a profound moment to pay tribute to the selfless contributions of the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces, it is not only a time for gratitude but also an imperative occasion for deep reflection on the multifaceted experiences of our veterans. Within this diverse tapestry, we find the stories of resilient individuals from the Virgin Islands and U.S. territories, who, despite their unwavering dedication to the nation, find themselves denied a fundamental right — the right to vote for their Commander in Chief.
My father, Levron “Pops” Sarauw, a distinguished Virgin Islander and a Vietnam War veteran, emerges as a powerful symbol of the sacrifices made by countless servicemen and women during one of the most tumultuous periods in our nation’s history. Drafted under the provisions of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1940 Selective Service Act, my dad, like many of his contemporaries, willingly set aside their personal aspirations to respond to the call of duty, venturing into an unfamiliar and perilous landscape.
One of the most unpopular wars, the Vietnam War stands as a poignant chapter in the nation’s history, marking the second instance of the draft summoning American men into the armed forces.
Levron “Pops” Sarauw (Submitted photo)
The sacrifices made by my dad and his fellow service members, both then and now, underscore the courage and commitment required to safeguard the freedoms we hold dear. In our contemporary era, where men and women continue to bravely stand as shields for our nation, it remains profoundly disheartening that some Americans, particularly those in the Virgin Islands and U.S. territories, are denied the right to vote for the very leadership they pledged to protect.
As we express heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities afforded to us, it is our collective responsibility to acknowledge the need for change. Virgin Islanders, akin to my dad, persist in believing in the American dream despite the limitations on their rights. This Veterans Day, let us not only honor the ongoing commitment of our servicemen and women but also passionately advocate for the full rights of all who have served.
To those who have valiantly protected us in distant and challenging places, we extend our deepest thanks for your service. May this Veterans Day be a moment of profound reflection, filled with gratitude for the opportunities provided, and may it ignite a renewed commitment to ensuring that every American, regardless of their residence, can fully participate in the democratic process they have so bravely defended.
The V.I. Energy Fair was held on Oct. 28 to raise awareness about renewable energy and identify options for individuals to become more energy-independent. A follow-up with event attendees showed the event was successful, and its impacts have been positively beneficial and far-reaching.
From left: Dr. Gregory Guannel, director of UVI’s CGTC; Jonisha Aubain, UMASS Amherst Ph.D. candidate and Worldwide Universities Network Elevate Fellow; Jeannine Francis-Brown, program manager of UVI’s CGTC; Kyle Fleming, director of the V.I. Energy Office and chairman of the WAPA Board; Chavante Marsh, director of WAPA Project Management; and Michael Jaffurs, deputy director of the V.I. Energy Office. (Photo by Jeannine Francis-Brown.)
The Energy Fair, organized by the Caribbean Green Technology Center of the University of the Virgin Islands, took place at the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center on UVI’s St. Thomas campus. CGTC intends to help achieve meaningful progress in green energy and sustainability.
“The mission of the CGTC of the UVI is to develop, promote, and help implement the use of innovative green technologies to improve the social development of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the well-being of all the Territory’s communities,” according to CGTC’s website. “The CGTC will achieve its goals by promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, understanding and adapting to the impacts of climate change, and creating products, processes, and methods relevant to Caribbean islands.”
As for the V.I. Energy Fair, the objectives were to provide participants and attendees with knowledge on how renewable energy works and how to increase the energy independence of their households or businesses, while also creating the space for the general public to meet with private systems vendors and understand technical and financial options to become energy independent, according to organizers.
Jeannine Francis-Brown, program manager with CGTC at UVI, provided additional information to the Source about the group’s mission and objectives.
“The goal of the V.I. Energy Fair was to connect the V.I. community to energy options, [including] products and companies which would enable an individual’s resilience within their households during power outages or other disruptions to our day-to-day lives,” Francis-Brown said. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority was among the companies in attendance hoping to connect with its customers.
“We brought together innovative products/services, local and regional small businesses, and various programs that would make alternative energy affordable, along with a wide range of ages and socio-economic groups in one place to freely ask questions, interact with [each other], and explore [sustainable energy] options,” Francis-Brown added.
Attendees Reflect on an Effective Energy Fair
Francis-Brown and attendees are proud of the outcome of the fair and shared their thoughts about why this event was a success.
“The most impactful results of the V.I. Energy Fair were the networking opportunities,” Francis-Brown stated. “We had a unique blend of government, private industry, and non-profit vendors who share a love for our community and [strive] for accelerating resilience within the Virgin Islands,” she noted.
Four additional attendees spoke to the Source, all currently working or studying at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The scholars presented their research at the fair and reflected on a common theme of having had an educational experience in which meaningful connections were made.
Attendee Jonisha Aubain, Ph.D. candidate, meets with Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. at the V.I. Energy Fair (Submitted photo)
Jonisha Aubain, a native Virgin Islander and Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at UMASS Amherst, attended the fair and was inspired by the connections among the public energy companies and organizations. Aubain hopes that her research and work will help the future of renewable energy within the territory and greater Caribbean, resulting in reduced electricity costs and more energy independence.
“My favorite aspect of the energy fair was being able to share my research and hear the connections and questions from those in attendance. Every person came with their own understanding and allowed me to see different perspectives that can come into my research,” Aubain added.
Pedro I. Matos Llavona, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences at UMASS Amherst, also found the event educational and inspiring. Matos Llavona, originally hailing from Puerto Rico, hopes that part of his work will aid in an eventual shift from fossil fuel electricity to more sustainable forms across the local islands, including solar power.
“Solar power potential is great for P.R. and USVI, and it will likely become the main source of electricity generation in a carbon-free future,” Matos Llavona predicted.
“As scholars, participating in the V.I. Energy Fair was an exceptional opportunity to connect with real-world experiences from people and the energy sector [in the] Virgin Islands and shape our research to include those overlooked needs in the future energy systems of the islands,” he added.
Local USVI Engagement
Energy fair attendees shared appreciation and insight gained by engaging with the local community. Several participants had the opportunity to meet Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.
Attendee Zoe Getman-Pickering is a program manager at UMASS Amherst for ELEVATE, a program at the school that trains graduate students to solve the social, political, and technical challenges of energy transition. She noted that connections with the local community were valuable.
“[The V.I. Energy Fair] was an incredible opportunity, both to hear from practitioners and organizations at the forefront of the fight against climate change and to hear from local folks about their experience with energy,” Getman-Pickering stated. “We were able to get a much better understanding of the needs of the community compared to what one can learn from reading academic texts.”
Attendee Paola P. Furlanetto, Ph.D. candidate, leads a workshop at the V.I. Energy Fair. (Submitted photo)
Fair attendee Paola P. Furlanetto, a Ph.D. candidate in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at UMASS Amherst, echoed this sentiment.
“In short, the fair recharged my optimism and commitment to energy solutions — solutions that are built for the people with their input. The event was successful, and now more of us are connected to supporting the energy transition on the islands and beyond,” Furlanetto explained.
Getting Involved
Keep up with the work and research being conducted at CGTC’s official website, Caribbean Green Technology Center of UVI, and UVI students are encouraged to become involved.
“We can be reached via our website, www.cgtc-usvi.org, which houses everything from who we are and what we do to what reports we have already generated. You can learn how to interact with us as a research organization at UVI to gather data, develop reports, or partner in proposals,” according to CGTC Program Manager Francis-Brown. “Students can choose to work — for either extra credit or pay — on some of our research projects by going to UVI’s student affairs or career services and asking what is currently available at the CGTC.”
In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
Honoring Sacrifice, Advocating for Voting Rights, and Recognizing the Resilience of Virgin Islanders
As our nation collectively pauses to observe Veterans Day, a profound moment to pay tribute to the selfless contributions of the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces, it is not only a time for gratitude but also an imperative occasion for deep reflection on the multifaceted experiences of our veterans. Within this diverse tapestry, we find the stories of resilient individuals from the Virgin Islands and U.S. territories, who, despite their unwavering dedication to the nation, find themselves denied a fundamental right — the right to vote for their Commander in Chief.
My father, Levron “Pops” Sarauw, a distinguished Virgin Islander and a Vietnam War veteran, emerges as a powerful symbol of the sacrifices made by countless servicemen and women during one of the most tumultuous periods in our nation’s history. Drafted under the provisions of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1940 Selective Service Act, my dad, like many of his contemporaries, willingly set aside their personal aspirations to respond to the call of duty, venturing into an unfamiliar and perilous landscape.
One of the most unpopular wars, the Vietnam War stands as a poignant chapter in the nation’s history, marking the second instance of the draft summoning American men into the armed forces.
