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Philanthropist Donald Sussman Donates 50-Acre Mingo Island to Trust for Virgin Islands Lands

by Daniel E. Ottley
written by Daniel E. Ottley

Mingo Cay Island

Hedge fund manager Donald Sussman announced today the donation of Mingo Cay island to the Trust for Virgin Islands Lands (TVIL), according to a release issued Tuesday. Mingo Cay is a nearly 50-acre island situated two miles off the northwest coast of St. John and two miles off the northeast coast of St. Thomas.

Mr. Sussman, a philanthropist, founder and chief investment officer of Paloma Partners, is said to be an avid sailor and longtime champion of Virgin Islands economic development as well as the preservation of open lands. He has owned Mingo Cay since 2003.

“Mingo Cay, like all of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a natural treasure. These islands are a gift for all who have had the privilege of experiencing their breathtaking vistas, spending time in and on the Caribbean Sea, and witnessing local wildlife in their natural and undisturbed habitat,” Mr. Sussman said. “While other Virgin Islands continue to be developed to share that beauty with visitors from around the world, I have preserved Mingo Cay for the past 17 years and am pleased to entrust its future protection and preservation to TVIL.”

According to the release, Trust for Virgin Islands Lands is a nonprofit, community-based conservation organization. Its mission is to protect tracts of agricultural and natural landscapes that provide significant benefits to the citizens of the Virgin Islands.

“I am thrilled at the transfer of Mingo Cay to the Trust for Virgin Islands Lands,” said Eleanor Gibney, TVIL Board member, horticulturist, and former president of the St. John Historical Society. “Mingo has great value to the natural and historic heritage of the Virgin Islands, and its importance as an open space and a refuge will certainly grow over the coming years. I am extremely grateful that Mr. Sussman has made the generous decision to donate the cay to a Virgin Islands-based organization.”

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Travel

21 endemic Jamaican Iguanas released to Hellshire Hills

by Daniel E. Ottley
written by Daniel E. Ottley
The dry limestone forest above the Manatee Bay
Back to the Wild:
A Conservation Success
KINGSTON, JAMAICA:Five years of careful tending went to the wild on Tuesday, October 21, when endemic Jamaican Iguanas from the Jamaica Iguana Recovery Group (JIRG) HeadSstart Programme at the Hope Zoo Kingston were re-released.
The critically endangered reptiles made the trip from Hope Zoo by bus, boat, and backpack back to the Hellshire Hills where they originally hatched in 2015. These reptiles are the first batch to be released in 2020, as the scheduled reintroduction in March was postponed by the COVID-19 reaching Jamaica’s shores. The programme is hailed for being a crucial part of bringing the Jamaican Iguana back from extinction, with 489 iguanas released to date.
A hatchling from 2015 is re-introduced to the Hellshire Hills in October 2020.
Jamaican Iguanas unloading at Manatee Bay
Hope Zoo Kingston Senior Reptile Keeper Jodi-Ann Blissett (second left) and General Curator Joseph ‘Joey’ Brown check the reptiles at the beach camp on Manatee Bay.
The teams from Hope Zoo Kingston and National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) started at 5:00 am packing the Jamaican Iguanas up for transport. They met the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) for a ride from the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM Foundation) starting at the Monymusk Gun Tiller and Rod Club in Salt River, Clarendon.
The 40-minute boat journey to Manatee Bay beach camp was just the start of the journey to take the iguanas back to their natural habitat in the Hellshire Hills.
Treya-Ann Picking, environmental officer at NEPA, and the team of NEPA field rangers led the mile-and-a-half trek through swamp and dense mangroves to the dry limestone forest release sites above Manatee Bay.
From left: National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) field ranger Bobby Andrews; Hope Zoo Senior Reptile Keeper Jodi-Ann Blissett; NEPA environmental officer Treya-Ann Picking; Urban Development Corporation environmental co-ordinator Lori-Ann Harris; and Hope Zoo Kingston General Curator Joseph ‘Joey’ Brown
The Jamaican Iguana conservation area is a part of the Portland Bight Protected Area and is owned by the Corporation according to Lori-Ann Harris, UDC environmental co-ordinator.
“The Hellshire Hills is the single largest remaining contiguous dry limestone forest in the Caribbean. With our ownership we have entered into a stakeholder arrangement with various partners including NEPA, regarding the conservation of the Jamaican Iguana from the Headstart Programme at the Hope Zoo [Kingston] their release in their natural habitat, here in the Hellshire Hills,” Harris explained.
The UDC also has environmental rangers who patrol its lands in the Hellshire Hills and Goat Island.
Harris explained: “The dry limestone forest in Hellshire is the only remaining natural habitat for the Jamaican Iguana; it is the only place in the world that it can be found. We believe that years ago there might have been populations that extended to the Goat Islands and across the Hellshire Hills area.
“However, now we really have a very small population within a confined locale here, so conserving this area is paramount to ensuring the survival of the species within its natural environment,” she said at the beach camp on Manatee Bay.
That bay, along with Coquar Bay and Coleman Bay, are fish and gaming sanctuaries which enjoy collaborative protection from NEPA, UDC and the C-CAM Foundation.
From left: Dr Kimberley Stephenson, biologist and lecturer from University of West Indies, Hope Zoo Kingston General Curator Joey Brown and Senior Reptile Keeper Jodi-Ann Blissett show the reptile to a vet at Fort Worth Zoo who watched the screening over Zoom.
FIT-AND-READY SCREENING
On Friday, October 16, a pre-release health screening was conducted by Hope Zoo’s General Curator Joey Brown, veterinarian Dr Szarianne Khan, Senior Zookeeper Jodi-Ann Blissett, along with Dr Kimberley Stephenson, biologist and lecturer from University of West Indies; Dr Simone Johnally from Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Treya Picking from NEPA.
The screening was also watched over via Zoom by their partnering vet and research team at Fort Worth Zoo, Texas, USA. Fort Worth Zoo, along with San Diego Zoo, have been a part of the conservation programme since its initiation in the early 1990s.
Hope Zoo Kingston, which is operated by the Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation, is the recipient of a grant from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the Headstart Programme for the Jamaican Iguanas.
This is the second such grant awarded to the Hope Zoo by this grantor to support the in-situ conservation of the Jamaican Iguana.
The Hope Zoo Headstart Programme is hailed for being a crucial part of bringing the Jamaican Iguana back from extinction. Declared extinct in 1948, the Jamaican Iguana (Cyclura collei) is found nowhere else in the world. In 1990, however, it was rediscovered when a pig hunter stumbled upon a live specimen in Hellshire, which was later confirmed to be the Jamaican Iguana.
Soon after, the Jamaican Iguana Recovery Group (JIRG) initiated a species recovery plan to house the yearly iguana hatchlings from the wild at Hope Zoo for approximately five years or until they reach a suitable size to be reintroduced. This is because a majority of hatchlings and young iguanas that remain in the wild are eaten by invasive mongoose and feral cats, dogs, and pigs.
The Jamaican Iguana recovery programme is globally recognised as a modern-day conservation success story, of which Jamaica can be very proud.
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Travel

The USVI Travel Screening Portal has processed close to 25,000 travelers since summer launch

by Daniel E. Ottley
written by Daniel E. Ottley
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS EMBRACES INNOVATION AS TOURISM ENGINE RESTARTS
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (October 22, 2020) – The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is confident that its latest strategic partnerships with national media and travel sellers as well as communications to welcome travelers back to the U.S. Virgin Islands are already yielding encouraging returns for the Territory.
Since the reopening of its doors to leisure visitors one month ago, several thousand guests have arrived in the Territory, eager to explore and experience all that the Territory has to offer, and to stimulate much-needed economic activity through their spending at hotels, activities and attractions, restaurants, retail stores and with tour
operators and transportation providers.
Department of Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte attributes much of the success in attracting visitors to the existence of the Travel Screening Portal, a prescreening tool now required to be used by travelers to the USVI (aged 5 and older), regardless of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) positivity rate in the traveler’s state or country of residence, as well as the protocols and guidance established by the Office of the Governor, the Department of Health and other local agencies.
“The Travel Screening Portal has been a game-changer for us as it has given us the technological capability to prescreen and certify travelers before they arrive in the
Territory, enhancing our ability to ensure that visitors and residents are as
protected as possible from COVID-19 infection,” stated Commissioner Boschulte,
adding that the Department of Tourism is actively preparing for the launch of
an updated, upgraded Travel Screening Portal (version 2.0), an extension of its
crisis communications plan to safeguard the public health reputation of the
destination.
The current version of the Travel Screening Portal, which since its late July launch has processed close to 25,000 travelers, offers a user-friendly front-end system to walk travelers through the submission process, and a secure, state-of-the-art back-end system that allows administrators to seamlessly process submissions, and airport and
seaport personnel to efficiently process travelers upon arrival. It also features mobile-optimized functionality.
The technology undergirding the Travel Screening Portal has been designed to be not only innovative, but also responsive to changing travel protocols and the Territory’s health and safety guidelines. As part of this evolutionary process, version 2.0 of the portal will include significant upgrades such as a hybrid mobile application that supports Android and iOS platforms for a faster mobile experience and QR code generation functionality that allows the system to generate automated emails to travelers. With its built-in airport screening functionality that allows for scanning on the ground, the QR code functionality facilitates a seamless experience for travelers once they reach the destination.
The portal email generation system will also provide vital information to the passenger before traveling. The portal will eventually integrate an Artificial Intelligence (AI) engine that will automate and increase the efficiency of the entire back-end process.
“The Department of Tourism is continuously balancing the need to promote safe and healthy travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands, while employing and deploying new and innovative technologies to carry out essential prescreening of all travelers. The health
of everyone in the Territory remains our highest priority,” noted the Commissioner, who lauded the strong communications, marketing and public relations efforts that are continuing to keep the U.S. Virgin Islands “top of mind” with travelers not only from the mainland United States, but around the world.
Citing recent flight capacity reports, occupancy figures, and demand indicators for both traditional and sharing economy properties, the Commissioner noted: “Demand for travel to our islands continues on an upward trend, with inquiries and conversions to bookings encouraging, especially during this typically slow period of travel to the Caribbean. We are also pleased with the increased airlift scheduled for the coming months. We believe we have something very special to offer visitors, especially those who are seeking an escape from the pandemic lockdown that has all but crippled travel to many other destinations.”
In addition to the Department of Tourism’s COVID-19 Communication Center, Call Center and website (www.usviupdate.com), the Travel Screening Portal is just
one of the tools the Department has leveraged to provide the best information
available to travelers as well as residents, and to support and complement the
Territory’s efforts in response to the global public health crisis.
The USVI Travel Screening Portal 2.0 is expected to launch in November, making it even easier for travelers to go through the necessary steps prior to traveling to the
Territory.
The portal is available at www.usviupdate.com/travelportal.
About the U.S. Virgin Islands
For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel – including on-line check-in – making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.
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Travel

AMERICAN AIRLINES BOOSTING FLIGHTS TO THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

by Daniel E. Ottley
written by Daniel E. Ottley
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (October 9, 2020) – The U.S. Virgin Islands is expecting a major increase in American Airlines flights, beginning next month.
Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte announced that the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is responding to strong travel demand from the Northeast, the Midwest and the South Central regions of the mainland United States.
He reported that beginning in November, American will serve St. Thomas with two daily flights from Charlotte; daily flights from Philadelphia; and Saturday service from both Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth during the first half of the month, followed by daily flights from both cities in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. The additional flights will complement the existing thrice daily service between Miami and St. Thomas.
St. Croix will also register an increase in service from American in November with two flights a day from Miami as well as daily Charlotte flights during the second half of November, up from the existing Saturday service.
“We are readily preparing for this robust increase in flights from our longstanding air partner,” said Commissioner Boschulte, who said the service aligns with the rollout of the Territory’s enhanced prescreening travel protocols.
Every traveler aged five and older who enters the U.S. Virgin Islands is required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal and submit a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) test result at www.usviupdate.com/travelportal. The recently updated edition of the secure online portal incorporates QR and color-coding technology to process and confirm passengers’ submissions.
Virgin Islands-bound travelers are required to provide either a COVID-19 antigen (molecular/PCR/rapid) test taken and negative result received (both within five days of commencement of travel to the Territory), or a COVID-19 antibody test taken and positive result received (both within four months of commencement of travel to the Territory).
The Commissioner thanked the Department of Tourism’s sales and marketing teams for keeping the destination top of mind in the marketplace through regular sales training presentations.
Following the destination’s participation in the Land X-Change Global MICE conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica last weekend, the Commissioner expressed optimism in the meetings and incentives market to help ignite the return of group travel to the Territory. While in Jamaica, the tourism team secured more than 35 appointments with top meeting and incentive planners, travel agencies and wedding destination experts, and explored timely leads for upcoming group business to the USVI.
The Commissioner reminded all travelers of the need to comply with the Territory’s stringent protocols and guidelines in order to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the Territory.
About the U.S. Virgin Islands
For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel – including on-line check-in – making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.
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Travel

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TOPS TRAVELZOO POLL OF CARIBBEAN FAVORITES

by Daniel E. Ottley
written by Daniel E. Ottley
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (September 4, 2020) – The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) has been listed by Travelzoo’s U.S. members as the destination they would most like to visit in the Caribbean over the next two years.
Travelzoo, a leading global travel company with 30 million members worldwide, reports the Caribbean should be prepared for a return of North Americans seeking warmth and refuge from the lockdowns and strictures of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a recent survey of its widely traveled membership, Travelzoo found that the key to bringing travelers back to the Caribbean lies in providing visitors timely and accurate travel restriction information, and cleaning and disinfecting guidelines. Other factors include visitor safety, travel deals, a low or declining number of COVID-19 cases, flight availability and fewer restrictions, such as mandatory quarantine and curfews.
Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism, was upbeat about the results of the August 7 to 10, 2020 survey, which were disclosed during a recent webinar entitled “Gauging Consumer Travel Sentiments: Travelzoo’s Caribbean Travel Outlook” hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.
The results, which placed the USVI ahead of The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Aruba and Puerto Rico (in that order), was “a comforting confirmation of the efficacy of intelligent and efficient actions by the people of the USVI, led by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and his special teams assembled to cope with the COVID-19 challenge,” said the Commissioner.
The yearning by pandemic-restricted North Americans for relaxing and recuperative vacations in the warmth of the Caribbean, he added, “was matched by the people of the Territory who eschewed so much of their normal lives and rose valiantly to deal with the drastic challenges of COVID-19 in a way which helps us to carefully reopen our borders: Our residents are taking to heart Governor Bryan’s call for ‘short-term pain for long-term gain’.”
The Tourism Commissioner believes the Travelzoo survey results validate the Territory’s emphasis on clearly enunciated and carefully implemented health and security protocols and industry guidelines, including the importance of wearing a mask in the public. “Our focus on health, hygiene and safety obviously resonated with these well-traveled people whose opinions are heeded by other potential travelers,” he said.
Commissioner Boschulte said it was important to ensure there was ample and accurate communication to assure the health and safety of travelers, which is why the USVI Travel Screening Portal was such a timely innovation. The portal, developed by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Health, in close coordination with the Governor’s office and the Virgin Islands Port Authority, screens travelers prior to arrival. “In addition to controlling any spread of COVID-19, the portal will be continually improved to provide a more efficient arrivals experience and guidelines for seamless stays for our visitors as well as residents returning home,” said Commissioner Boschulte.
Travelzoo’s survey underscored the need in the coming months to continue to present accurate information on COVID-19 containment efforts as well as being adaptable to the rapidly changing visitor demands for competitive prices and responsive upsells.
About the U.S. Virgin Islands
For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel – including on-line check-in – making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.
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