ST. CROIX — Government House Communications Director Richard Motta delivered a triple-shot of updates Monday, covering a new crackdown on off-duty police conduct, the upcoming Agrifest weekend, and a mea culpa from WAPA following the weekend’s St. John power crisis.
Cams On: New Rules for Off-Duty Cops
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has signed Executive Order No. 544-2026, bringing a new level of accountability to the VIPD. The order mandates that any officer working an authorized off-duty assignment must keep their body-worn camera active while in uniform or performing law enforcement duties.
Motta made it clear: the “old ways” are out. Violations now carry progressive discipline, ranging up to immediate termination for serious misconduct. The order also shields the government from liability, requiring private employers to pony up for insurance and indemnification if they want a police presence at their business.
WAPA’s St. John Apology
WAPA Communications Director Shannel Spencer offered a “sincere apology” to the people of St. John after an island-wide outage left residents and businesses in the dark from Friday night through Saturday evening.
While temporary repairs are holding, Spencer noted that permanent fixes are pending arrival of replacement parts. The silver lining? The St. John microgrid project is moving forward. Phase 1 engineering is complete, with FEMA funding secured to bring battery storage and emergency generation to the island—a move intended to stop these “all-or-nothing” blackouts.
Agrifest 2026: “Ideal Mix” of Tech and Tradition
The 54th Annual Agriculture and Food Fair (Agrifest) kicks off this Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agricultural Complex. This year’s theme, “Agriculture and Technology—an ideal mix in 2026,” highlights how local farmers are evolving.
- When: Feb 14–16, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Entry: $8 Adults, $5 Children, $6 Seniors.
Expect over 100 food vendors and 48 local farmers. It’s the biggest weekend on the St. Croix calendar—don’t miss the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Just John’s Take: It’s interesting to see the Governor pushing for 21st-century body-cam accountability while WAPA is still struggling to keep 19th-century style power cables from snapping. Hopefully, that microgrid arrives before the next Agrifest, or we might be using “technology” to find our way through the dark with flashlights.
And if Elon Musk would finally move his Starlink and battery operations to the USVI like we’ve been suggesting, maybe St. John wouldn’t have to wait on “replacement parts” from across the sea.
