AGP Executive Report

Air Travel & Tourism: United Airlines announced a new nonstop route from Newark to St. Croix starting Oct. 31, 2026, giving the New York area a direct option to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Regional Connectivity: Winair and Contour Airlines launched an interline partnership that lets travelers book through St. Maarten to reach destinations across the Caribbean, including San Juan and St. Thomas. Workforce Development: The University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center was added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, enabling residents to use WIOA funding for EMT training; cohort 2 completed with 10 graduates on track for national certification. Local Government & Public Service: Acting Gov. Tregenza A. Roach honored public employees at the 36th Annual Employee of the Year ceremony on St. Croix. Public Safety & Preparedness: Coverage highlights 2026 hurricane season planning and the need for residents to review emergency kits and plans. Community/Business Spotlight: Bobby’s Jewelers in Charlotte Amalie promoted its long-running service and jewelry selection for visitors. Health Fraud Alert: A Medicare scam using AI voice cloning is spreading, with officials urging beneficiaries to hang up and verify before sharing information.

Workforce & Health: The UVI Medical Simulation Center has been added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; the center also marked Cohort 2’s completion with 10 residents finishing the program and moving toward NREMT certification. Local Government: Acting Gov. Tregenza A. Roach honored public servants at the 36th Annual Employee of the Year ceremony on St. Croix, spotlighting the people behind day-to-day government services. Aviation & Travel: United Airlines announced a new nonstop weekly route between St. Croix and Newark starting Oct. 31, 2026—ending the need for connections for many travelers heading to the NYC area. Hurricane Readiness: With the Atlantic season underway, Coast Guard and NOAA guidance stresses that even a below-normal forecast means residents and mariners should review plans, supplies, and boat safety now. USVI in the News: A long-running legal dispute involving Google cofounder Larry Page’s USVI island holdings (Hans Lollik and Little Hans Lollik) is headed back to court after mediation stalled. Broader Context: A new push in Congress and online chatter continues to swirl around Epstein-related disclosures, including fresh photos and renewed scrutiny of payments tied to the case.

Epstein Fallout: New online scrutiny is back after newly released 2020 photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s Little St. James surfaced, including images of the “epstein temple” and interior details, reigniting calls for answers. Congress Oversight: Sen. Ron Wyden is pressing the House Oversight Committee to question billionaire Leon Black about paying Epstein $170 million for tax and estate planning, while a House committee also urged the DOJ to examine criminal conduct allegations tied to interviews with a former Epstein assistant. Local Travel & Economy: United Airlines announced a new nonstop St. Croix–Newark route starting Oct. 31, 2026—one weekly flight that could reshape New York-area access to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Hurricane Readiness: With the Atlantic season underway, NOAA and local agencies are urging Virgin Islands residents to prepare anyway, even with a below-normal forecast. Tourism Roundup: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 is underway, bringing regional tourism leaders—including USVI officials—together to push connectivity and growth. Aviation Reliability: Newark Liberty is leading the Northeast for on-time performance in 2026 after FAA and staffing upgrades.

Territory Leadership: Acting Gov. Tregenza A. Roach honored public servants at the 36th Annual Employee of the Year Recognition Ceremony on St. Croix, praising the “patience, discipline and…responsibility” behind daily government service. Air Access for St. Croix: United Airlines announced a new nonstop St. Croix (STX)–Newark/New York (EWR) route starting Oct. 31, 2026—one weekly Saturday flight—giving St. Croix direct access to the NYC market after a decades-long gap. Lottery Buzz: Powerball climbed to $194 million ahead of the Wednesday, June 3 drawing; the game is open to players in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Hurricane Readiness: The Coast Guard and hurricane forecasters are urging preparedness for the 2026 Atlantic season, which begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, even with a below-normal outlook. Safety at Sea: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a vessel fire and sinking near St. Thomas on May 31, with the passenger transferred to local emergency crews.

Air Travel for St. Croix: United Airlines will launch the first nonstop New York-area flight to St. Croix in more than 30 years, starting Oct. 31, 2026, with weekly Saturday service between Newark (EWR) and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX). Hurricane Readiness: The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season opens June 1 with forecasts calling for a quieter year, but the Coast Guard and hurricane center are urging residents and mariners across the U.S. Virgin Islands to prepare for even one potentially damaging storm. Local Governance (BVI): Mark Vanterpool is pushing for decentralizing government services in the British Virgin Islands, arguing ministries should be moved to sister islands to reduce Tortola-centric development. Military Families Benefit: The Lyman Museum in Hilo is again offering free admission to active-duty service members and up to five family members through Sept. 7 as part of the Blue Star Museums program. Rescue Off St. Thomas: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a vessel fire and sinking near St. Thomas, with the passenger transferred to local emergency services.

New Air Link for St. Croix: United Airlines will launch the only nonstop service between St. Croix and the New York area, starting Oct. 31, 2026 with weekly Saturday flights from Newark to St. Croix. Hurricane Season Prep: The Coast Guard and NOAA are urging U.S. Virgin Islands residents to get ready for the 2026 Atlantic season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30, even with forecasts calling for a quieter year. Power and Blackouts: Reports say St. Thomas and St. John saw weekend blackouts tied to power instability. Coast Guard Rescue: Coast Guard crews rescued a boater after a vessel fire and sinking near St. Thomas, with the passenger transferred to local emergency services. Tourism Roundup: Caribbean Week in New York is drawing regional leaders, including U.S. Virgin Islands officials, as the region competes for visitors. Local Military Perk: The Lyman Museum is offering free admission to active-duty service members and their families as part of the Blue Star Museums program. Epstein Files Spotlight: New Mexico’s Epstein “Truth Commission” issued its first subpoenas, while fresh DOJ-related reporting keeps “Epstein Island” in the public eye.

Air Access for St. Croix: United Airlines will launch the only nonstop New York-area service to St. Croix on Oct. 31, 2026, with Saturday flights from Newark (737-700, 126 seats). Caribbean Tourism Push: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 opens June 1 at InterContinental New York Times Square, bringing ministers and tourism leaders together under “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences,” with USVI officials and United’s Caribbean Women in Tourism keynote dinner. Hurricane Season Watch: NOAA says the 2026 Atlantic season has a 55% chance of being below normal, but still forecasts 8–14 named storms and warns against complacency as the season runs June 1–Nov. 30. Local Power Reliability: Reports note weekend blackouts hit St. Thomas and St. John twice amid power instability. Coast Guard Rescue: Coast Guard crews rescued a boater after a vessel fire and sinking near St. Thomas. Business/Infrastructure: USVI-related broadband planning highlights BEAD matching funds, while separate regional coverage flags delays and redesigns to ferry terminal work. Other Notables: Powerball jackpot climbed to about $181M after no Monday winner; a cross-border cocaine tunnel case in San Diego led to four charges.

Energy & Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw total blackouts again over the weekend, with VI Water and Power citing loss of generation at a power plant and warning of outages that can last about two hours. Aviation & Travel: United will add the only nonstop Newark–St. Croix route starting Oct. 31, with weekly Saturday flights, giving another New York-area gateway to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Cruise Industry: Norwegian Cruise Line says Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay opens Sept. 4, 2026, with advance day-pass sales and private cabanas; separately, Norwegian Viva canceled some San Juan departures in 2028 due to port availability. Hurricane Preparedness: NOAA forecasts a below-normal 2026 Atlantic season, with 8–14 named storms and 3–6 hurricanes, and the National Hurricane Center is expanding its inland warning cone to better show inland wind risks. Local Governance: Premier Natalio D. Wheatley (BVI) called for transferring security responsibilities from the UK to the territory with democratic accountability. Maritime Safety: The Coast Guard rescued a boater after a vessel fire and sinking near St. Thomas. Politics & Community: A VI election update shows 107-plus candidates filed so far, raising questions about how well parties are vetting and organizing.

Maritime Security: U.S. Coast Guard crews in San Juan, working with federal partners, intercepted a commercial barge in Puerto Rico’s San Juan Harbor and found eight stowaways—four Chinese nationals and four Dominican Republic nationals—who were transferred to CBP for processing. Power Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw total blackouts twice over the weekend after a loss of generation at a power plant, leaving large portions of St. Thomas without electricity and highlighting ongoing energy instability. Hurricane Outlook: NOAA predicts a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with a 55% chance of fewer storms overall and El Niño expected to play a role. Local Governance (BVI): Premier Natalio Wheatley called for transferring security responsibilities from the UK to the Virgin Islands government, arguing for democratic accountability through public oversight. Tourism & Airlift: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicks off June 1, with U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. set to speak and regional tourism leaders meeting on marketing and air connectivity. Politics (USVI): A review of the November 2026 election filing field raises questions about whether USVI political parties are doing enough to vet candidates and improve governance. Court 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.

Power Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw total blackouts again this weekend, with the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority blaming operational instability and a mechanical fault at a power plant; officials warned customers to expect outages of about two hours and said crews were working to restore service, as frustration grows over frequent power failures. Local Justice: A federal judge denied new trials or acquittals for former U.S. Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial evidence was sufficient to uphold the convictions. Elections & Governance: With the Nov. 2026 filing deadline approaching, unofficial filings show 107 candidates across governor/lieutenant governor, delegate, Legislature, and education/elections boards, raising questions about whether USVI political parties are doing enough to vet candidates and improve governance. Cybersecurity: A NASCIO-Deloitte study found state CISO confidence in protecting public data fell from 48% to 22% over four years, citing third-party breaches and AI-enabled attacks. Caribbean Tourism: Caribbean Week in New York returns Monday, June 1, with USVI Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. set to address the opening as tourism ministers and leaders meet in Manhattan. Sports/Community: A USVI pair is scheduled for a playoff after beach volleyball results in San Salvador. Odds & Ends: Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots climbed after no winners matched all numbers, with next drawings set for Monday (Powerball) and Tuesday (Mega Millions).

Power Outages: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday, the second outage this weekend, after the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority reported a loss of generation at a power plant; crews restored power overnight before another blackout struck hours later, adding to growing frustration as many of the territory’s generating units are decades old and past hurricanes damaged transmission and distribution systems. Courts: A federal judge denied new trials or acquittals for former U.S. Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former OMB director Jenifer O’Neil in the Mon Ethos corruption case, saying the trial record supported the convictions. Territorial Policy: The St. Thomas Senate advanced a green waste disposal measure allowing controlled incineration only when other safer options like shredding, mulching, composting and reuse aren’t available, with added limits aimed at reducing smoke and particulate impacts. Regional Spotlight: Caribbean Week returns to New York starting Monday, June 1, with Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. leading a U.S. Virgin Islands delegation for tourism strategy meetings and events. Lottery: Powerball jackpot climbed after no winner Saturday; next drawing is Monday, June 1, with the prize now at least $180M. Sports: Bermuda’s Kyle Hamilton and Brandon Sousa lost in straight sets to the Dominican Republic in San Salvador, setting up a playoff against U.S. Virgin Islands players for 11th/12th place.

Lottery Buzz: Powerball for Saturday, May 30 is $172M (cash $76.9M) with numbers 1-27-35-44-52 and Powerball 12; no winner was reported, so the jackpot is set to climb again. Lottery Update: Mega Millions also saw no jackpot winner in the Friday, May 29 drawing; the next draw is Tuesday, June 2 at 11 p.m., with the jackpot at $346M (cash $153.8M). Caribbean Spotlight: Caribbean Week returns to New York on Monday, June 1, with U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. leading a regional delegation at InterContinental New York Times Square. Local Governance & Environment: The St. Thomas Senate advanced a measure to manage green waste via controlled incineration, but lawmakers added limits and pushed alternatives like shredding, mulching, composting and reuse first. Public Affairs: A congressional briefing on June 4 will examine what “consent of the governed” means for residents of U.S. territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. Maritime Security: U.S. Coast Guard and partners intercepted eight stowaways in San Juan Harbor, transferring them to CBP for processing. Sports/Youth: Shrey Parikh, 14, won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee after spelling “Bromocriptine” in a spell-off.

Caribbean Week in New York: The Caribbean Tourism Organization says Caribbean Week returns to New York starting Monday, June 1, at InterContinental New York Times Square, running through a week of meetings, workshops and events under “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.” U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and BVI Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley will lead a regional delegation, with CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill also set to speak. Local politics & environment: In St. Thomas, the Senate advanced a bill (Bill No. 36-0232) to amend the green waste disposal law, allowing controlled incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting and reuse aren’t available, with added fire-safety and smoke-reduction requirements. Territorial democracy briefing: Right to Democracy is organizing a June 4 congressional briefing on what “consent of the governed” means for residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Maritime enforcement: U.S. Coast Guard and partners in San Juan Harbor apprehended eight stowaways—four Chinese and four Dominican Republic nationals—after a report of possible stowaways aboard an inbound barge tow. Tourism industry spotlight: Henry H. Harteveldt will keynote the Caribbean Marketing Conference on June 3 during Caribbean Week, focusing on airline trends and how Caribbean destinations can strengthen air connectivity. Lottery: Mega Millions jackpot rose to $346 million for the June 2 drawing after no winner on May 29; Friday’s numbers were 19, 24, 47, 59 and 65 with Mega Ball 7.

Scripps National Spelling Bee: Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old Indian-American student from California, won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee after spelling 32 of 35 words correctly in a 90-second spell-off, beating 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta of Jersey City, New Jersey; Parikh’s winning word was “Bromocriptine.” Mega Millions: No one matched all numbers in the May 26 drawing, and the jackpot climbed to $331 million ahead of the May 29 drawing (numbers: 19, 24, 47, 59, 65; Mega Ball 7). USVI Lawmakers: In St. Thomas, the Senate advanced a bill allowing green waste disposal via controlled incineration, but lawmakers added limits and required alternatives like shredding, mulching, composting and reuse first. Maritime Security: U.S. Coast Guard and partners apprehended eight stowaways in San Juan Harbor—four Chinese and four Dominican nationals—transferring them to CBP for processing. Caribbean Tourism: The U.S. Virgin Islands announced the 2026 St. John Celebration dates, running June 14 through July 4, with events tied to Emancipation and Independence.

Scripps National Spelling Bee: 14-year-old Shrey Parikh of California won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, nailing 32 words in a 90-second spell-off to beat New Jersey’s Ishaan Gupta. NOAA & Hurricanes: NOAA/NHC is rolling out updated “cone of uncertainty” graphics for 2026, including inland-focused watch and warning coverage for places like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local Governance: The St. Thomas Senate advanced a green waste disposal measure, approving controlled incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting and reuse aren’t available, with added fire-safety and smoke-reduction rules. Public Safety (Maritime): U.S. Coast Guard and partners in San Juan Harbor intercepted eight stowaways—four Chinese and four Dominican nationals—transferring them to Customs and Border Protection for processing. Business/Finance: Surety One launched BrokerDealerBond.com, a new online portal aimed at streamlining broker-dealer bond purchasing and management. Community & Culture: The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism announced the 2026 St. John Celebration dates, running June 14 through July 4.

Local Governance: The St. Thomas Senate gave approval to Bill No. 36-0232, amending the law to allow green waste disposal via controlled incineration, but only after lawmakers added guardrails requiring shredding, mulching, composting and reuse first, plus stricter sorting, fire-safety steps, smoke/particulate limits, and startup/shutdown and downtime rules. Public Safety & Crime: A St. Thomas man, D’Quan Rogers (“Kimo”), faces domestic-violence-related charges after police say he punched his partner hard enough to leave her unconscious and bleeding outside a Patriot Manor residence. Territorial Culture: The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism announced the 2026 St. John Celebration dates—June 14 through July 4—featuring steel pan nights, J’ouvert, village events, and fireworks over Cruz Bay. Maritime Enforcement: The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted four Chinese and four Dominican Republic stowaways on a barge tow arriving in San Juan from Jacksonville, Florida. Sports & Community: A San Benito girls’ youth soccer squad reached the championship match at the Disney Memorial Day Cup in Orlando, with the finals broadcast on ESPN+. Lottery Watch: Mega Millions jackpot climbed after no winner on May 26; next drawing is Friday, May 29.