It was 143 years ago on October 1, 1878, when Crucian agricultural laborers set fire to Frederiksted town and western plantations on St. Croix. The objective was to burn all the way east to “Bassin jailhouse,” known today as Fort Christiansvaern. In those days, Christiansted was called Bassin by Crucians.

LONDON — British ships ferried over three million enslaved African people across the Atlantic Ocean. Lloyd’s of London insured many of those vessels, the people chained below deck sometimes categorized as “perishable goods,” alongside cattle, by the market’s underwriters. Lloyd’s involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade is not included in

CHRISTIANSTED — Today is October 1st, the start of the new fiscal year and what has been known as Contract Day in the Virgin Islands. “Today we salute those who came before us,” St. Croix Senator Kenneth “Kenny” Gittens said. “Those who set the example of standing up for fair

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Journalist Netfa “Tafa” Romain, who died Tuesday, is being remembered as a creative powerhouse who used his talents to promote and uplift the territory. “It is with great sadness that I received this news,” Governor. Albert Bryan said Wednesday. “I know Netfa from the early days with

WASHINGTON — TIME Magazine commissioned American artist Andy Warhol to paint a portrait for its March, 1984 cover story on Michael Jackson. That portrait of Michael now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, part of the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C. Jackson visited St. Croix in May 1998 to scout

SAN JUAN — Puerto Ricans who self-identify as having very light skin tones have better health outcomes than counterparts who self-identify as having the darkest skin tones, according to a peer-reviewed scientific study that evaluated the impact of racial discrimination on physical and emotional well-being. The investigation conducted by two

PORT OF SPAIN — “Black Panther” U.S. actor Michael B. Jordan said he would rename his recently launched rum, “J’Ouvert,” after nationals in the Caribbean accused him of cultural appropriation. J’Ouvert — which refers in Creole to the crack of dawn — is the name of the first official day

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan on Thursday declared June 19 a holiday in the U.S. Virgin Islands following the announcement by President Joe Biden establishing the date as a federal holiday. His announcement came after legislation establishing the Juneteenth holiday was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden on Thursday

WASHINGTON — America’s diversity is and always has been the defining strength of our Nation — in every generation, our society, spirit, and shared ambitions have been refreshed by wave after wave of immigrants seeking out their American dream.  Throughout our history, Caribbean Americans have brought vibrant cultures, languages, traditions,

ORANJESTAD — An 18th century burial ground has been discovered at a former sugar plantation on the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Eustatius, officials said Monday, and archaeologists said it likely contains the remains of slaves and could provide a trove of information on the lives as enslaved people. Government