Commentary

In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory. This week’s introduces The Lounge.

In the culture of the Virgin Islands, there is an old saying by the older people: “Whenever it rained on New Year’s Day, it would be a dry year.” Old people of yesterday lived by the signs and wonders of nature. They didn’t live by technological devices telling them about the weather. We are so modernized today that we have lost touch with nature. This year, when it comes to the weather, it is unusual. If you have been paying attention, we have been getting rain in months that are normally dry.

Despite the best intentions and efforts of both the administration and the leadership of WAPA, the authority is still unable to provide reliable and affordable power to the community.  All three islands are plagued by systemic blackouts that occur regularly and have for decades. The damage to families and businesses by WAPA’s failures is incalculable.

In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.

The bridges in the Virgin Islands are being repaired and maintained if needed, which is a good thing for motorists. However, what most residents of the Virgin Islands don’t know is that we have historic bridges dating back hundreds of years to the Danish occupation of the islands, and they are protected under the law. I hope the contractor or contractors are working with the V.I. State Historic Preservation Office.

In the past 20 years, humanity has seen huge advancements in just about every industry. This progression can be attributed to varying factors, including broader access to educational opportunities and more collaboration among neighboring countries around the world. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given a grant to the Virgin Islands Energy Office that will enable low-income and disadvantaged households to benefit from solar power.

In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.

Senator Carla Joseph is pleased to announce that two bills she sponsored were signed into law by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. on April 11.

A press release from WAPA with prior notice does not lessen the pain and suffering that blackouts pose to the community. The hardship on families, particularly those unable to afford generators, is heavy. Businesses and families already struggling with the high cost of electricity must also be saddled with frequent power failures. Outages kill store revenues and can cause expensive equipment damage.

I read with interest the other day in the V.I. Source where Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources was explaining to a meeting of the League of Women Voters a possible plan to establish a transient mooring system within the Magens Bay Beach ecosystem. He talked about the charter boat industry and its importance to our islands’ economy.

Welcome to The Lounge, a column for men where we begin to unravel some beliefs, unlock insecurities, unlearn behaviors, and begin the journey of self-discovery. This space is intended to be a place where uncomfortable topics can be uncovered, while leaving room to create constructive conversations around them. Here, we will be uplifted and encouraged, but also challenged to grow and become the best versions of ourselves.

Sen. Samuel Carrion declares victory for legislation to expand free UVI tuition to part-time students.

Senator-At-Large Angel L. Bolques attended SeaTrade24 and expresses the importance of Maritime Scholarship Bill 35-0133: A New Era for Virgin Islanders in the Maritime Industry.

Kindly print my lament to Liberty V.I. and the rest of the Virgin Islands subscribers who are paying monthly bills (three to four months now) and receiving virtually no service.

Senator-At-Large Angel Bolques Jr. is exploring the Eaton Arecibo Micro Grid in Puerto Rico, networking and paving the way for clean energy solutions in the Virgin Islands.

Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff denounces recent homicides and asks the community to join him in taking a stance against gun violence.

Senator Kenneth L. Gittens calls for law enforcement redeployment to address spate of gun violence.

Anna Mae Brown Comment adamantly feels “that yachts have no place in Magens Bay. Choose another bay.”