Carnival 2025
Plans are underway to develop a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
(U.S. Virgin Islands)- V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea announced today that the Virgin
Islands Department of Justice (DOJ), through the St. Thomas/ St. John DOJ Criminal Division,
has partnered with Emory University under the Special Assistance Funding (SAFE) Program grant
to establish a network of trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) in the U.S. Virgin
Islands. This initiative will enable nurses to conduct forensic medical exams in sexual assault cases
and support the development of a coordinated community Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
Over the past year, 17 nurses from the U.S. Virgin Islands have completed training in administering
rape kits through the SAFE Program Grant in collaboration with Emory University.
“This partnership represents a significant step forward in how we support survivors of sexual
violence in the Virgin Islands,” said Attorney General Rhea. “By equipping our nurses with
specialized forensic training and building a comprehensive response team, we are strengthening
our commitment to justice, compassion, and healing for victims.”
In March 2025, the Emory/SAFE Program Grant team visited St. Thomas to conduct a community
needs assessment. The information gathered will be used to build a SART team aimed at improving
victim care and forensic evidence collection in sexual assault cases. The Emory team, which
included ten nursing students, met with representatives from the DOJ, the Virgin Islands Police
Department, and the Family Resource Center to present their findings.
| Sanya Richards-Ross Champions Cruise Berthing in the Cayman Islands |
| Four-time American Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross recently expressed strong support for developing new cruise berthing facilities in the Cayman Islands, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure to enhance the travel experience for cruise passengers.
During her first visit to Grand Cayman earlier this month, as part of the 2025 Love and Harmony reggae music cruise, the Jamaica-born track and field athlete shared her experience in a video message.
“I’m so excited to be here for the first time. It’s so beautiful [and I] can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get here,” Richards-Ross said in a video. “There was just one small thing … we stopped here in the Cayman Islands and had to take a ferry.”
Richards-Ross spoke candidly about the frustrations of the current tendering process, which can require passengers to wait in long lines to return to their cruise ship. She described the experience as “nuts,” adding that it created unnecessary anxiety for travelers.
“There has to be a better way,” she said. “I hear you guys have a vote coming up. If I were you, I would vote ‘yes’ [to cruise berthing facilities]. I think it will help improve tourism. Many people are excited to come [to the Cayman Islands], and it would remove some anxiety. Vote ‘yes’ to the pier.”
Richards-Ross echoes many of the sentiments expressed by The Association for Cruise Tourism in the Cayman Islands (ACT). The group has been actively advocating for cruise berthing facilities leading up to the April 30 referendum and general elections.
“Travelers like Sanya Richards-Ross take notice of the Cayman Islands’ lack of cruise infrastructure every day,” said Ellio Solomon, ACT’s Executive Program Manager. “That hinders the destination’s tourism industry and, as a result, economic sustainability. While other Caribbean destinations are experiencing record-breaking cruise arrivals, the Cayman Islands’ numbers are deeply declining. The April 30 vote presents a critical opportunity to reverse that trend.”
ACT encourages the public to learn more about its efforts to strengthen the Cayman Islands cruise industry and its impact on the nation’s economy by visiting actcayman.com. |
| About The Association for Cruise Tourism (ACT) in the Cayman Islands
The Association for Cruise Tourism (ACT) represents a coalition of stakeholders dedicated to the sustainable and responsible growth of the cruise tourism industry in the Cayman Islands. With members across a broad spectrum of the local economy, including tour operators, merchants, restaurants, bars and transportation providers, ACT advocates for the businesses, entrepreneurs and local stakeholders who benefit from cruise tourism, ensuring their voices are heard in decisions impacting this crucial sector. ACT is also dedicated to educating the public, advocating for balanced policies, and supporting initiatives that drive economic growth while benefiting all residents of the Cayman islands. For more information, visit actcayman.com. |
LLC
US VIRGIN ISLANDS — On behalf of Governor Albert Bryan Jr., Government House Communications Director Richard Motta urged Virgin Islanders to express support for a land exchange agreement between the Virgin Islands Government and the National Park Service for the exchange of an uninhabited Cay off the coast of St. John for almost a dozen acres of centrally located land for the construction of a pre-k through 12th-grade public school on St. John.
Motta made the request during the weekly Government House press briefing on Monday.
“We ask that the Virgin Islands community express their support for this measure and their support for the unencumbered and equal education of children living on St. John,” Motta said. He urged the community to testify at a legislative Committee of the Whole hearing on Tuesday, July 11, on St. John.
“Make your voices and your concerns known,” Motta said, reminding the community that the 35thLegislature will vote on the legislation on July 20.
School thefts
Calling recent thefts at schools on St. Croix and St. Thomas “vexing and unfortunate,” Motta pleaded with the perpetrators to return the stolen goods. More than 100 solar panels were stolen from the St. Croix Educational Complex over the weekend and on St. Thomas vandalism incidents on at least oneadditional campus caused damage significant enough to set back the Department of Education’s plans for the successful start of a new school year.
“As a community we have to do better,” Motta said. “I am pleading with you as a citizen. Please come forward so that we will be able to get those resources back.”
Income tax refunds
Motta announced that the Bryan Roach administration has recently issued another round of income tax refund payments as part of the administration’s continued push to pay past obligations to Virgin Islands residents. The latest round of income tax refunds totals about $17 million. It covers individuals who are due an income tax refunds for tax years 2021 and prior who filed that refund before April 11, 2022.
VIFire/EMS
Also in his remarks Monday, Motta thanked firefighters of the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Service for their hard work over the weekend battling and containing the fire at the Bovoni Landfill.
“On behalf of Governor Bryan, Lieutenant Governor Roach and the entire Bryan Roach administration, we thank you for your bravery and are grateful for your continued service in protecting life and property for all Virgin Islanders,” Motta said.
Director Motta said the medical condition of Firefighter Jerrel Brown, who was injured battling the Vester Gade blaze in Savan, is improving. He asked the community to pray for the speedy recovery of Brown and Firefighter Melanesia Hendrickson, who was also injured in the Vester Gade fire.
On a happier note, Motta congratulated Aliyah Boston on being named a starter in the WNBA Finals and congratulated Nicholas D’Amour, who brought home the gold in archery at the CAC games in El Salvador.
The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit www.transparency.vi.gov.
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