Category: Community Affairs

St. Croix Hospital Names Hall After Tim Duncan’s Mom; NBA Champ Tours JFL

CHRISTIANSTED — The Juan F. Luis Hospital celebrated the life and contributions of former hospital worker Delysia Ione Duncan by naming “The Delysia Ione Duncan Hall” in her honor. The hospital also expressed “deep gratitude to Tim Duncan for his generous donation of a medical-grade oxygen generator.” Through her many years of service leading with […]

USVI Parents To Get $3,000 To $3,600 Per Child Starting In Summer From Rescue Act

WASHINGTON — USVI parents will soon get cash benefits from the USA COVID-19 Rescue Act. The U.S. Virgin Islands is included in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act that includes payments to parents with children under the age of 18. The provisions of that Act will increase the child tax credit to $3,000 per […]

Sarm’s Boyfriend Told Coast Guard British Woman ‘Might Have Fallen Off The Boat’

CRUZ BAY — Divers are searching for a British woman missing in St. John after her boyfriend said she might have fallen overboard from their catamaran.  The U.S. Coast Guard told local media it was alerted to Sarm Joan Lillian Heslop’s disappearance at 11:46 a.m. on Monday when her boyfriend said she was nowhere to […]

Missing St. John Resident Originally Hails From British Port City Of Southampton

CRUZ BAY — The St. John resident who has been missing off of her luxury catamaran for five days is originally from the United Kingdom, the Virgin Islands Free Press has learned. Sarm Joan Lillian Heslop, 41, is originally from Southampton, UK, as first reported by the Southern Daily Echo. Heslop is described by police […]

Homegrown Talent Tapped To Coach U.S. Virgin Islands Women’s National Basketball Team

CHRISTIANSTED — It started off as a phone call out of the blue to Tajama Abraham-Ngongba. But it didn’t take many more to convince the St. Croix native to return as head coach of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ senior women’s national basketball team. Abraham-Ngongba, currently in her eighth season as an assistant coach on George […]

Search For Missing St. John Woman Continues As Divers Plumb Depths Looking For Clues To Her Disappearance

CRUZ BAY — A St. John woman last seen on her charter tour boat four days ago was not found today despite an exhaustive search, authorities said. The search for missing businesswoman Sarm Joan Lillian Heslop, 41, continued in the Caribbean Sea in the waters around Frank Bay, the Virgin Islands Police Department said. Divers […]

Looking To Get Leaner And Meaner, V.I. WAPA Names A New Executive Director

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The financially-strapped Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority is getting new leadership. The WAPA Governing Board has named Noel Hodge, currently chief operating officer of the water system, to serve as WAPA interim executive director. Lawrence Kupfer ended his role as executive director of WAPA on Monday or Tuesday, according to the […]

2 Murders In 15 Hours Rattle Rock City To The Core As Cops Scramble To Find Suspects In St. Thomas

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Two murders in 15 hours have rattled normally jaded St. Thomas residents. Akeem Dore, 35, of St. Thomas was shot and killed near Building 1 of Oswald Harris Court in St. Thomas shortly before 7:58 p.m. Tuesday, the Virgin Islands Police Department said. Police issued a wanted poster for 37-year-old Akimo Smith […]

Police Need To Find ‘Person of Interest’ Akimo Smith In Connection To Last Night’s Murder In St. Thomas: VIPD

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Police are looking for a St. Thomas man as a “person of interest” in a fatal shooting that took place in a Charlotte Amalie East housing project last night, authorities said. Akimo Smith, 37, of Anna’s Fancy, is wanted for questioning in a homicide that took place near Oswald Harris Court on […]

Police Need Your Help To Find Sarm Joan Heslop, Last Seen On Boat In St. John

CRUZ BAY — The Virgin Islands Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in locating 41-year-old Sarm Joan Lillian Heslop of St. John. Heslop was first reported missing on Monday. She is described by police as being “a Caucasian female of unknown height and weight. She has a tattoo on her left shoulder.” “Heslop […]