At VIFreep

Police Investigating Carlton Man Who Called 911 Before Dying Of A Gunshot Wound
FREDERIKSTED — A U.S. Army veteran was ambushed by a gunman inside his St. Croix residence late this morning, according to the victim’s own dying account of the fatal event. Ian Benjamin, Sr. 38, of Carlton, was identified by next of kin as the gunshot victim, the Virgin Islands Police

Human Services Ends In-Person Services For SNAP, MAP Offices On St. Croix After COVID-19 Exposure
FREDERIKSTED — The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services announced today that they are immediately closing the SNAP and MAP offices at the Mars Hill location in St. Croix due to a positive COVID-19 exposure of a staff member. The Offices will be closed from Tuesday, March 2, 2021 and

Governor’s Office Invites Employees To Self-Identify As Disabled In New Survey
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Office of the Governor, through the Division of Personnel, has begun its annual GVI Employee Self-Identification of Disability survey to collect quantitative data on existing disabilities throughout the Government of the Virgin Islands (GVI). In January, Governor Bryan signed Executive Order 469-2021, which addresses the importance of hiring more

Work At Post Office Square On Main Street Completed, Vehicular Traffic May Resume: DPW
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Department of Public Works said today that work at the Post Office Square has ended and the westbound lane is now open to vehicular traffic. “The department is reminding the community that parking in front a crosswalk is prohibited,” DPW spokeswoman Renee Exius said. “Any vehicle found

Royal Caribbean Starting ‘Fully-Vaccinated’ Cruises From Israel This Summer
TEL AVIV — Royal Caribbean International is preparing to offer cruises from Israel for the first time. Cruises will begin June 2 and continue through to the Jewish holidays at the end of September. The cruises will adopt Israel’s green passport documentation and guests and crew will only be allowed

Despite Raging Violent Crime Rates, Covert CDC COVID-19 Warnings, Americans Still Flock To The USVI In Droves
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — You still can’t take a luxury cruise line to the U.S. Virgin Islands, but you can fly and tourism is turning around, even with the cruise ship business dead in the water for now. “We are a very safe destination,” Virgin Islands Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte said.

Donoe Tow Truck Driver Arrested After Warrant Says He Was Trafficking In Stolen Merchandise: VIPD
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Donoe tow truck driver who police alleged was dealing in stolen merchandise was arrested this morning on St. Thomas, authorities said. Chandler “Frenchy” Heath, 29, of Grandview Apartments, was arrested at 8:30 a.m. today and charged with grand larceny, obtaining money by false pretenses and embezzlement

9-Year-Old Girl Dies After Being Caned During ‘Exorcism’ In Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Police in Sri Lanka said today they have arrested two people in connection with the death of a 9-year-old girl who was repeatedly beaten during a ritual they believed would drive away an evil spirit. The two suspects — the woman performing the exorcism and the

Rooster Kills Indian Man During Banned Cockfight
HYDERABAD, India — A man was killed by a rooster with a blade tied to its leg during an illegal cockfight in southern India, police said, bringing focus on a practice that continues in some Indian states despite a decades-old ban. The rooster, with a 3-inch knife tied to its

Dominican Republic To Construct Fence Along Border With Haiti
SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) — The Dominican Republic will begin constructing a fence along its 376-kilometer (234 mi) border with Haiti later this year to curb unauthorized migration and illicit trade, President Luis Abinader said. “In a period of two years, we want to put an end to the serious problems