The U.S. Virgin Islands are facing an unprecedented crisis that demands immediate attention and action!
Key Issues:
1. Housing Emergency Funds Stopped — Due to years of mismanagement and unaddressed concerns, federal housing funds from HUD will no longer be available. This puts our community at risk of a housing disaster, affecting many jobs.
2. Nursing Facility Accreditation Denied — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have denied accreditation, jeopardizing millions of dollars in funding essential for our aging population. Immediate action is necessary to prevent further repercussions.
3. University of the Virgin Islands Accreditation at Risk — The University of the Virgin Islands is facing challenges that could threaten millions in grants and thousands of jobs. The university as an institution is at risk. Urgent action is needed to restore its standing and secure our educational future. There is a deadline of Sept. 1, 2026, for submitting a plan to address years of unaudited funding.
4. Ongoing Issues with Education System, WAPA and Healthcare System — The challenges faced by our schools, the Water and Power Authority (WAPA) and our hospitals and healthcare system continue unresolved. We have had these problems for decades. We have lacked a sense of urgency and have ignored and deferred compliance requirements across the board. Other vital areas and services may also be in trouble. This is a very serious situation, and hurricane season is a few days away.
Call to Action
Fellow Virgin Islanders, we are at a crucial turning point. We cannot continue to conduct business as usual. Neglecting our financial management issues is no longer acceptable. Dancing, partying, and turning a blind eye to these issues will not provide solutions. Our islands need new leadership, a fresh mindset, and collective action to navigate out of this turmoil. We need individuals who have traveled and achieved real success. We need leaders with experience both at home and in the federal government. It’s essential that we bring in new leadership across the board to save the U.S. Virgin Islands from disaster.
Let’s unite our efforts, put aside divisive politics and pettiness, and make a difference now before it’s too late!
— Carmelo Rivera is an alumnus of the University of the Virgin Islands and the State University of New York at Albany. He resides in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Nilsa Belardo. Rivera is a Management, Public Affairs, and HR consultant with extensive experience. He previously headed Public Affairs, Human Resources, and Labor Relations at Turner St. Croix Maintenance, Inc., and served as a Business instructor at the University of the Virgin Islands. He also held vital roles in the Virgin Islands government as commissioner of the Department of Labor and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. He served as president of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation. In New York, he was an assistant commissioner of Labor, co-founded two CBOs, and pioneered the first Latino-focused community affairs talk show at WTEN, advocating for Latino empowerment and visibility. Rivera envisions St. Croix as a vibrant mosaic of diverse experiences and identities, rich with untapped potential.
