AGP Executive Report

Youth Sports & Community: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship wrapped up in Halifax Harbour, bringing 172 young sailors from across North and South America, the Caribbean, Japan, and Hong Kong; Canada’s William Keilty won overall, while Puerto Rico’s Ines Mendez-Larminaux topped the North American girls. Caribbean Culture in Focus: Caribbean Week in New York’s Rum & Rhythm ended with major island participation, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, as tourism boards and hoteliers turned Lower Manhattan into a high-energy celebration of Caribbean music, food, and fashion. Local Maritime Safety: The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a boater after a charter vessel fire near St. Thomas; the passenger was transferred to Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services and a helicopter plus local units helped locate the person. BVI Governance & Security Talks: BVI Premier/Finance Minister Natalio Wheatley urged transferring security responsibilities from the UK to the BVI government, arguing for democratic accountability ahead of constitutional negotiations later this year. Hurricane Season Watch: The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season opened June 1 with no storms yet, but NOAA still forecasts a below-normal season with 8–14 named storms—enough to still pose serious risk. USVI/Caribbean Spotlight on Travel Demand: A new Caribbean travel trends report flags the U.S. Virgin Islands among the top three for family travel growth, even as Cayman leads the region. Epstein Island Echoes: New DOJ file releases and renewed online interest keep “Epstein Island” in the spotlight, including fresh coverage tied to the island’s 2023 sale and ongoing public curiosity.

Power Outages: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday, the second in days, after a power plant generation loss; VI Water and Power said crews restored service overnight but another outage followed, adding to mounting frustration as the utility struggles with aging equipment and deferred maintenance. Local Justice: A federal judge refused to overturn jury verdicts in the Mon Ethos corruption case, denying new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neal. Infrastructure Delays: In the BVI, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer called the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment delay a major setback after bids came in far above the approved budget, forcing redesigns. Governance & Security (BVI): Premier Wheatley urged transferring security responsibilities from the UK to the BVI government, arguing for democratic accountability; public consultations continue ahead of constitutional talks. Maritime Safety: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a charter vessel caught fire and sank near St. Thomas. Youth Sailing: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship wrapped in Halifax Harbour, with Puerto Rico’s Ines Mendez-Larminaux named Top North American Girl. Caribbean Culture: Caribbean Week in New York’s Rum & Rhythm drew major regional tourism players, including the US Virgin Islands.

Blackout Watch: St. Thomas and St. John saw a total power outage early Sunday, the second in the weekend, after generation was lost at a power plant—leaving thousands without electricity and reigniting public frustration. Courtroom Update: Federal judge Mark Kearney denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case. Local Infrastructure: West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment faces a major delay as bids came in far above budget, forcing redesign after the project was taken over with designs already completed. Public Safety at Sea: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a charter vessel caught fire and sank near St. Thomas, with the passenger transferred to local emergency services. Hurricane Season: The 2026 Atlantic season opened June 1 with no storms yet, but forecasters still warn that even a below-normal year can bring a life-changing hurricane. Governance Debate (BVI): BVI Premier Wheatley urged transferring security control from the UK to the territory for more democratic accountability. Epstein Files Fallout: New DOJ releases and ongoing online obsession keep “Epstein Island” in the spotlight, while reports say Epstein’s cryobank sperm whereabouts remain unknown.

Power Outages: A total blackout struck St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday, the second outage this weekend, after loss of generation at a power plant; crews restored power overnight but it failed again hours later, leaving thousands affected and adding to long-running frustration with VI Water and Power’s aging, storm-damaged infrastructure. Court & Corruption: Federal judge Mark Kearney denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB Director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial record supported the convictions. Hurricane Watch: The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season opened June 1 with no storms yet, but NOAA still forecasts a below-normal season with 8–14 named storms—reminding residents that even fewer storms can still bring major impacts. Local Governance & Security: BVI Premier Wheatley called for transferring security responsibilities from the UK to the BVI government as part of constitutional talks, arguing for democratic accountability. Transportation: Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment are a major setback after bids came in far above the approved budget, forcing redesigns. Epstein Files Fallout: New DOJ releases and renewed online interest keep the Epstein story in the spotlight, including claims about missing cryobank sperm and fresh scrutiny around Epstein-linked connections.

Power & Utilities: A total blackout struck St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday—its second outage this weekend—after a loss of generation at a power plant, leaving thousands without electricity and reigniting frustration over the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s struggling service. Courts & Corruption: A federal judge denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial evidence supported the convictions. Maritime Safety: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a charter vessel caught fire and sank near St. Thomas, with the passenger transferred to local emergency crews. Hurricane Outlook: The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season opened June 1 with no storms yet, but NOAA is still forecasting a below-normal season that could still bring a life-changing hurricane. Local Governance (BVI): BVI Premier Wheatley called for transferring security responsibilities from the UK to the territory, arguing for democratic accountability. Regional Economy (BVI): Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment are a major setback after bids came in far above budget. USVI Legal/Property (Larry Page): Google cofounder Larry Page’s long-running effort to resolve a US Virgin Islands island ownership dispute hit another mediation impasse, setting up further court action.

Power Outages: St. Thomas and St. John saw a total blackout early Sunday—its second this weekend—after loss of generation at a power plant, leaving thousands without electricity and reigniting frustration over the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s reliability. Courts & Corruption: A federal judge denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial record supported the convictions. Local Justice: The USVI Superior Court mediation over Larry Page’s 2014 purchase of Hans Lollik and Little Hans Lollik ended in an impasse, sending the long-running island ownership fight back to court. Hurricane Watch: The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season opened June 1 with no storms, but NOAA still forecasts a below-normal season that can still bring major impacts. Coast Guard Rescue: The Coast Guard rescued a boater south of St. Thomas after a vessel fire and sinking, with the passenger transferred to local emergency crews.

Power Outages: A total blackout struck St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday, the second in days, after loss of generation at a power plant left thousands without electricity; officials cite aging infrastructure and years of deferred maintenance, with Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. pointing to about $100 million in federal support. Court Update: Federal Judge Mark Kearney denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB Director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial record supported the verdicts. Hurricane Watch: The 2026 Atlantic season opened June 1 with no storms, but NOAA still forecasts a below-normal year that can still bring a life-changing hurricane, with 8–14 named storms expected. Local Safety at Sea: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a vessel fire and sinking near St. Thomas, with the passenger transferred to local emergency crews. Governance & Security (BVI): BVI Premier/Finance Minister Natalio Wheatley urged transferring security responsibilities from the UK to local control ahead of constitutional talks. Caribbean Travel: A new report flags the Cayman Islands as the fastest-growing family destination in the Caribbean, with the USVI also seeing modest growth.

Power Outages: A total blackout struck St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday, the second in days, after loss of generation at a power plant left more than 42,000 on St. Thomas and nearly 4,000 on St. John without electricity; officials cite aging equipment, deferred maintenance, and past storm damage. Court Watch: Federal Judge Mark Kearney denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial record supported the convictions. Hurricane Outlook: The 2026 Atlantic season opened June 1 with no storms, but NOAA still forecasts a below-normal season overall—while reminding the region that even one major hit can be devastating. Maritime Safety: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a charter vessel caught fire and sank near St. Thomas, with the survivor transferred to local emergency crews. Local Governance (BVI): Mark Vanterpool is pushing for decentralizing BVI ministries by moving key departments to sister islands to boost local economies and reduce Tortola-only focus.

U.S. Virgin Islands Power Crisis: St. Thomas and St. John saw a total blackout early Sunday, the second outage this weekend, after loss of generation at a power plant; officials cite aging equipment, deferred maintenance, and storm damage, while residents push for faster fixes. Local Justice Update: A federal judge denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial record supported the convictions. BVI Governance & Security Talks: BVI Premier Natalio Wheatley urged transferring security responsibilities from the UK to the BVI government so residents can hold security providers accountable, ahead of constitutional negotiations. BVI Infrastructure Delay: Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer called delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment a major setback after bids far exceeded the approved budget, forcing redesigns. Caribbean Safety at Sea: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a charter vessel caught fire and sank near St. Thomas, with the passenger transferred to local emergency crews. Hurricane Season Watch: The 2026 Atlantic season opened June 1 with no storms yet, but NOAA still projects a below-normal season that can still bring a life-changing hurricane. BVI Decentralization Proposal: Mark Vanterpool says key BVI ministries should be relocated to sister islands to spur local economies and reduce Tortola-centric development.

BVI Governance: Mark Vanterpool is pushing for major decentralisation in the British Virgin Islands, arguing key ministries should be moved to Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke to cut Tortola-only development and boost sister-island economies. USVI Power Reliability: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday for the second time this weekend, with VI Water and Power citing loss of generation and pointing to long-standing capacity and maintenance problems. USVI Courts: Federal judge Mark Kearney denied new trials or acquittals for Ray Martinez and Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial record supported the convictions. BVI Infrastructure: Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer called delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment a major setback after bids came in far above the approved budget, forcing redesigns. Caribbean Safety: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a vessel fire and sinking near St. Thomas.

Power Outages in USVI: St. Thomas and St. John saw a total blackout early Sunday—its second this weekend—after a loss of generation at a power plant, leaving thousands without service as residents vented online and officials point to aging equipment and deferred maintenance. Local Justice Update: A federal judge denied post-trial bids from former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, keeping their convictions in place. BVI Governance & Security Talks: Premier Natalio Wheatley called for transferring Virgin Islands security responsibilities from the UK to the local government, arguing for democratic accountability ahead of constitutional negotiations. Infrastructure Setback (BVI): West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment in the BVI is delayed after bids came in far above the approved budget, forcing redesigns under a CDB-funded loan. Caribbean Tourism (USVI): Premier Wheatley will join Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and other regional tourism leaders for Caribbean Week in New York 2026. Hurricane Season Watch: The 2026 Atlantic season opens with no storms, but forecasts still warn that even a below-normal year can bring a life-changing hurricane.

Power Outages: A total blackout struck St. Thomas and St. John twice this weekend, with VI Water and Power citing loss of generation and pointing to broader reliability problems. Local Justice: A federal judge denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case. Government & Security Talks: Premier Natalio Wheatley urged transferring security responsibilities from the UK to the Virgin Islands government, arguing for democratic accountability as constitutional talks move forward. Infrastructure Delays: Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment is set back after bids came in far above the approved budget, forcing redesigns. Hurricane Season Watch: The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season opened June 1 with no storms yet, but forecasts still warn that even a below-normal year can bring a life-changing hit. Maritime Rescue: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a vessel fire and sinking near St. Thomas. Crime Update: A St. Thomas man, D’Quan Rogers, faces domestic-violence-related charges after police say he punched his partner, leaving her unconscious and bleeding. Health Alert: A study reports dengue cases in the US surged in 2024, with most linked to travel, including Caribbean destinations such as Puerto Rico and the USVI.

Coast Guard Rescue: The U.S. Coast Guard saved a boater after a charter vessel caught fire and sank near St. Thomas, transferring the only passenger to Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Power Outages: St. Thomas and St. John saw a total blackout twice this weekend, with VI Water and Power citing loss of generation and residents frustrated as outages keep recurring. Courts: Federal Judge Mark Kearney denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case. Local Governance: BVI Premier Wheatley backed transferring security power from the UK to the Virgin Islands government, arguing for democratic accountability in security decisions. Infrastructure: Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment are a major setback after bids came in far above budget. Public Safety: A St. Thomas man, D’Quan Rogers, faces domestic-violence-related charges after police say he punched his partner, leaving her unconscious and bleeding. Health Watch: A new report says U.S. dengue cases in 2024 jumped 359%, with most infections tied to travel to the Caribbean, including the USVI.

Power Outages: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John twice this weekend after generation was lost at a power plant, leaving thousands without electricity and sparking fresh frustration as crews worked to restore service. Courts & Corruption: A federal judge denied new trials or acquittals for former USVI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial record supported the convictions. Local Safety: A St. Thomas man, D’Quan Rogers, faces domestic-violence-related charges after police say he punched his partner hard enough to leave her unconscious and bleeding. Governance & Security: BVI Premier Natalio Wheatley called for transferring security responsibilities from the UK to the territory’s government, arguing for democratic accountability. Tourism Leadership: Premier Wheatley is set to join USVI Gov. Albert Bryan Jr and other Caribbean tourism leaders for Caribbean Week in New York. Connectivity: American Airlines plans to install Starlink on more than 500 planes starting in 2027, a boost for Caribbean travelers. Culture: Jazz legend Sonny Rollins, the “Saxophone Colossus,” died at 95.

Mon Ethos Corruption Case: A federal judge denied new trials or acquittals for former US Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil, saying the trial record supported the jury’s fraud, bribery, and money-laundering convictions. Power Outages: St. Thomas and St. John saw a total blackout twice this weekend after generation was lost at a power plant, adding to mounting frustration over frequent outages. Public Safety: A St. Thomas man, D’Quan Rogers, faces domestic-violence-related charges after police say he punched his partner hard enough to leave her unconscious and bleeding. Regional Leadership: Premier Natalio Wheatley will join Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and Caribbean tourism officials for Caribbean Week in New York 2026, starting June 1. Health Watch: A new report finds US dengue cases in 2024 jumped 359%, with most infections tied to travel, including Caribbean destinations such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Travel Tech: American Airlines plans to bring Starlink Wi-Fi to more than 500 planes, a change that could affect its Caribbean routes.

Courts & Corruption: A federal judge denied new trials or acquittals for former US Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, ruling the trial evidence was sufficient to uphold their convictions. Power & Infrastructure: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday for the second time this weekend after loss of generation at a power plant, renewing frustration as officials point to aging equipment, deferred maintenance, and weak generation capacity. Public Safety: In St. Thomas, a man identified as D’Quan Rogers faces domestic-violence-related charges after police say he punched his partner hard enough to leave her unconscious and bleeding. Local Economy: Panelists at a St. Croix Economic Development Summit warned the USVI’s disaster recovery buildout hinges on attracting, housing, training, and retaining enough workers and subcontractors, citing gaps in local support services. Regional Tourism: Premier Natalio Wheatley will join Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and Caribbean tourism leaders in New York for Caribbean Week 2026, focused on “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.” Culture: Jazz legend Sonny Rollins, the “Saxophone Colossus,” died at 95.