The Wallace family is saddened to announce the passing of Cynthia Loretta Wallace, affectionately known as “Cynthie” at the age of 88.
Cynthia Loretta Wallace
She passed peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, GA surrounded by her children.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lucien Alberto Wallace, Jr. who passed on Feb. 15, 2025.
She is survived by her children, Nyra Wallace, Lucien Wallace, Jr., Dave Wallace, Dean Wallace, Cherrie Wallace-Cole and Darryl Wallace; as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and special friends too numerous to mention.
Funeral Services are scheduled to be held on Monday, Sept. 29 at 9 a.m. at Memorial Moravian Church in St. Thomas.Internment will follow at Western Cemetery 1.
To share a tribute, special memory, or reflection, submit via email to cynthiawallacetributes@outlook.com.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services, St. Thomas.
After deep reflection, prayer, and many conversations with my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election. This was not an easy decision, because serving you in the Senate has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
Sen. Marise James, who will chair the Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Committee, speaks during the 36th Legislature’s first session Monday on St. Thomas. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
In the time that remains, I will continue working diligently on my legislation, while also supporting the good and necessary bills brought forward by my colleagues. My commitment to improving the lives of the people of the Virgin Islands remains as strong as ever.
I am deeply proud of the James legacy of public service. For almost 80 years, the James family has dedicated itself to this community—beginning with my grandfather, Aloysius A. James, who served on the Sixth St. Croix Municipal Council; my father, Dr. Randall N. James, who served in the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Legislatures; and my brother, Neville A. James, who served in the Twenty-Sixth, Twenty-Seventh, Twenty-Eighth, Twenty-Ninth, Thirty-First and Thirty-Second Legislatures.My uncle Attorney G. Luz A. James and his son, former Lieutenant Governor Gerard Luz A. James II also served in the Legislature.
But it was my mother, Constance Espinosa Roberts, and my grandmother, Margrethe Pedersen Espinosa, who gave me my deepest values. They instilled in me a love of education and the unshakable belief that I could do anything I set my mind to. My grandmother always reminded me that I should “do right by people.” That guiding principle has shaped every decision I have made in public service.
I also want to thank you—from the bottom of my heart—for trusting me to serve. Being a senator, while also campaigning, has been demanding in ways that are not always visible. My family has sacrificed alongside me, especially enduring the invasion of their privacy and the hurtful lies from those who could not accept a senator who is truly independent in judgment—one who votes her conscience in the public’s interest, rather than out of obligation to campaign donors.
With my law degree, my experience, and my deep love for the Virgin Islands, I know that there is still so much more I can do for my community outside of elected office. So, this is not the end—it is simply the beginning of another chapter in my life.
I close with words I have cherished and modified from a beautiful poem by Brazilian poet Mário de Andrade, “The Valuable Time of Maturity.”
A loss of power on St. Thomas threatened to break up the Committee on Rules and Judiciary’s quorum Monday, legislative staff confirmed, prompting Sen. Clifford Joseph to motion around 5 p.m. that the entire final block of bills — including his controversial assault weapons measure — be held until the committee’s next meeting. The motion passed without objection.
Joseph’s sweeping gun control measure seeks to ban assault rifles, silencers, and large-capacity magazines while requiring safety training and imposing a $1,000 annual registration fee for grandfathered ownership.
Also held was Bill No. 36-0105, another Joseph-sponsored bill aimed at prohibiting the possession, sale, or manufacture of THC derivatives such as delta-6, delta-8, and delta-10. Supporters argue the measure is needed to close loopholes in cannabis regulation, while critics contend it could undermine the legal cannabis market by targeting products widely available on the mainland. Rounding out the block were Bill No. 36-0123, by Sen. Ray Fonseca, lowering the legal blood alcohol content for commercial drivers and creating a zero-tolerance standard for underage motorists, and Bill No. 36-0136, by Sen. Avery Lewis, requiring mandatory lethal weapon training for private security guards and investigators.
While those measures were postponed, the committee advanced other business earlier in the day. Senators approved nominees to several boards, including Roy Moorehead to the Board of Parole, L. Damian Cartwright to the Board of Land Use Appeals, Xavier Acevedo to the WAPA Governing Board, and Safiya George to the Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation.
Lawmakers also vetted two measures related to the courts. Bill No. 36-0101, proposed by Sen. Novelle Francis, would allow the Superior Court to temporarily recall former judges and appoint part-time magistrates to ease crippling case backlogs. Testimony from court officials revealed that more than 12,700 cases are currently pending, with three judges nearing retirement.
Another measure, Bill No. 36-0112 by Committee Chair Sen. Carla Joseph, would raise civil filing fees from $75 to $150 and increase prejudgment interest from 4 to 9 percent, with funds directed to a Judicial Branch Improvement Fund. The Virgin Islands Bar Association endorsed the proposal, saying it aligns with national standards and provides resources for badly needed court facility upgrades.
The Committee on Rules and Judiciary will reschedule the held bills for its next meeting, where testimony is expected from stakeholders including Crown Bay Marina co-owner Kosei Ohno on the firearms legislation.
Senators also moved forward on several gubernatorial appointments. The committee unanimously approved Moorehead to the Board of Parole, L. Damian Cartwright to the Board of Land Use Appeals, Xavier Acevedo to the Water and Power Authority Governing Board, and Dr. Safiya George to the Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation. Each nominee received favorable testimony, and the votes send their names to the full Senate for final confirmation
The Water and Power Authority issued another advertisement for a propane provider Monday. (Photo courtesy WAPA)
The Water and Power Authority issued a request for proposals Monday, seeking a new propane provider for the second time this year.
At nearly half the price of diesel, liquefied propane gas is a vital petroleum fuel, representatives of the perpetually cash-strapped utility have said. Getting the LPG has proved difficult, however.
An extension to WAPA’s contract with Geneva-based Vitol, much maligned by Virgin Islands legislators, ran out Aug. 31. A contract with Puerto Rico-based Empire Gas Company, signed in July, was supposed to replace Vitol, supplying 180,000 barrels of LPG a month. But that contract was scuttled in mid-August after concerns about the process to select Empire Gas.
An April request for proposals garnered four on-time respondents, none of whom met WAPA’s requirements, WAPA officials said. Empire Gas had sent in a bid but after the RFP deadline. With the Vitol fuel contract soon to end, WAPA’s board voted to allow Executive Director Karl Knight to negotiate with Empire Gas directly, bypassing RFP protocols. When the resulting contract with Empire Gas was rescinded, WAPA’s board voted to enter a stop-gap temporary contract with Empire Gas set to begin Sept. 15 and last through March 14, 2026, according to WAPA documents.
The new request for proposal, issued Monday, asks potential LPG suppliers to ship roughly 2,000,000 barrels of propane to the territory annually. The contract would last two years, with an option for WAPA to extend for another year. Deadline for responses, printed bold in the RFP text, is Oct. 24 at 11:59 p.m., Atlantic Standard Time.
Utility officials plan to evaluate bids based on price, payment terms, qualifications and experience, financial stability, compliance, corporate social responsibility, emergency and hurricane planning, and technical and operational planning.
WAPA urged would-be bidders to join site tours on St. Croix and St. Thomas to see the operational environment, logistical constraints, and infrastructure at the delivery points — some of which can be tricky.
St. Thomas’ Randolph Harley Power Station is fairly easily accessed at its deep-water Krum Bay jetty. Industry insiders have described the Estate Richmond Power Plant in Christiansted as a much more difficult delivery point.
The St. Thomas power plant can accommodate a 128-meter-long, 20.4-meter-wide vessel with a maximum draft of 8.71 meters and a maximum deadweight of 13,104 tons. The St. Croix power plant’s load-in point can accommodate a 95-meter-long, 15.98-meter-wide vessel with a maximum draft of just 5.5 meters and a maximum weight of 3,190 tons.
Suppliers have an option to ship fuel to St. Thomas, then to St. Croix aboard a smaller vessel. Preference would be given to suppliers that could ship directly to each island, however, WAPA said in its RFP.
Based on storage capacity and average demand, WAPA’s St. Thomas operations can hold a little more than 18 days’ worth of fuel. St. Croix has capacity to hold slightly more than 19 days, according to the RFP.
The new RFP comes as the St. Thomas-St. John district ends a week of electrical interruptions — including a district-wide outage Sept. 3. Shanell Petersen, WAPA’s director of communications, said the outages were due to equipment failures and unrelated to fuel supply.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation finds itself at a crossroads following the departure of Technical Director Vin Blaine on Aug. 27. Blaine’s abrupt exit is marked by disputed circumstances and several unrealized youth development programs, raising questions about the future of organized soccer in the territory.
The federation announced Blaine’s conclusion of service after 18 months as director of Football, thanking him for his dedication while appointing Anthony Suarez as interim technical director. However, the conditions surrounding the split reveal a more complex situation involving undelivered programs and conflicting accounts of responsibility.
This departure follows Blaine’s 2022 resignation from his role as head coach of Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz national women’s team, where 20 of 24 players requested his removal. The Jamaica Football Federation investigated player concerns, found insufficient evidence for termination, and retained Blaine with close monitoring before he ultimately chose to resign.
Several ambitious initiatives championed during Blaine’s USVISF tenure never materialized, including the Mini-Eagles community development program, a U13 summer festival, and interscholastic futsal on St. Croix. These programs represented significant opportunities to expand soccer participation within the territory’s youth population.
In a detailed response statement, Blaine refuted claims of incompetence and attributed program failures to systemic issues within the federation. He cited interference from council members in technical matters, inadequate staffing, and contradictory leadership decisions as primary obstacles. According to Blaine, programs like Mini-Eagles were undermined when leadership redirected resources toward alternative initiatives proposed by existing clubs and academies.
Blaine’s account suggests a federation struggling with governance clarity, particularly regarding the division between technical development responsibilities and administrative oversight – guidance he claims FIFA and CONCACAF had specifically provided to leadership.
Blaine cited instances of handling multiple job responsibilities beyond his contract, inconsistent communication protocols, and competing interests between the Federation and grassroots development initiatives.
USVISF General Secretary Firas Idheileh declined to comment on Blaine’s departure but affirmed, “The future of USVI soccer is bright and will prove so over time.”
The federation has announced its commitment to expedite recruitment for a permanent Technical Director while maintaining focus on player development and coaching education. Suarez continues to serve as interim technical director while the recruitment process proceeds.
USVISF is accepting applications from qualified candidates and reviewing internal candidates for the permanent position.
The V.I. Water and Power Authority announced Monday evening that generation was restored in the St. Thomas and St. John district and that a power rotation will not be implemented.
The V.I. Water and Power Authority’s online outage map showed thousands of St. Thomas customers had no power on Monday afternoon. (Photo courtesy WAPA)
Sept. 8 | 5:28 p.m.
Thousands of residents and businesses across St. Thomas were left without power Monday after V.I. Water and Power Authority personnel found a leak from a liquid petroleum gas line at the Randolph Harley Power Plant.
Restoration efforts were delayed after a second leak was found hours later, and WAPA Chief Executive Karl Knight said a “minor rotation schedule” will be implemented.
This story will be updated when that schedule is announced.
WAPA spokesperson Shanell Petersen said the first leak — found at approximately 9 a.m. — was contained quickly. Personnel found the second leak hours later, and the plant was evacuated a second time according to the utility’s safety protocols.
“I think it’s important to note that the emergency shutdown system activated as it’s intended to so that the equipment is safe, the plant is safe and the people are safe,” she added.
Separately, more than a thousand WAPA customers on Feeder 7A lost power Monday after a utility pole caught fire. Petersen said Monday’s incidents were unrelated to a failure at the plant’s LPG terminal last week.
“Last week was probably a more troubling event, but this is more of a freak incident. It’s a gas leak — we just had to do things out of an abundance of caution,” Knight told the Source, adding that plant personnel had to wait for fuel lines to thaw in order to energize generator units.
The repeated outages come as the utility works to make four Wartsila generators commissioned in January able to run on propane. Those units experienced problems almost immediately, but the utility has been able to operate them with diesel fuel. Knight told the Source that personnel were working on switching a unit to propane operation before Monday’s interference.
“So far so good, but the disruption today kind of set us back,” he said.
A woman was arrested early Friday on St. Croix after a physical altercation with her minor daughter that left the girl with visible injuries, the Virgin Islands Police Department announced.
At about 1:30 a.m., officers responded to a disturbance involving 39-year-old Christin Willie, who claimed her daughter had attacked her. The daughter, however, told officers that Willie initiated the altercation, police said.
When police arrived, Willie appeared to be in distress and officers detected the odor of alcohol on her breath and person, according to the police report. Willie reported that her daughter attacked her, but the minor gave a different account.
The girl told officers she was asleep in her bedroom when Willie entered, flipped over the mattress she was lying on, and told her, “If you want some, come get some.” The daughter said her mother became louder and struck her multiple times in the face. She said she attempted to walk away, but Willie followed her, grabbed her leg, and prevented her from leaving, the police report stated.
The girl further reported that Willie placed her in a headlock on the bed, forcing her to push herself off to escape. Officers noted the minor had visible injuries and a torn shirt, but she declined medical treatment, the report stated.
Willie was arrested for simple assault and battery and booked, police said. Under the Virgin Islands’ domestic violence law, no bail was set. She was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending her advice of rights hearing.
A man was arrested Saturday night on St. Croix after a first responder who was on duty at the scene of a structural fire at the Penthouse Rooftop Inn in Castle Coakley was assaulted, the Virgin Islands Police Department announced.
At about 8:30 p.m., the VITEMA 911 Emergency Call Center dispatched firefighters and police officers to investigate reports of the fire, police said in a news release.
While responders were on scene, an unknown man — later identified as 30-year-old Miguel Sanchez — was told he could not re-enter the area because of safety concerns. Sanchez, who appeared intoxicated, returned and confronted a first responder while holding a bottle of cologne, police said.
He sprayed the chemical into the responder’s face, hitting his eyes and nose multiple times, they said. The first responder immediately experienced burning and irritation, but was able to restrain Sanchez until officers stepped in to assist with the arrest, according to police.
Sanchez was read his Miranda rights but refused to provide a statement, police said. He was charged with aggravated assault and battery, with bail set at $1,000.
Unable to post bail, Sanchez was booked and transported to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility, where he remains pending his Advice of Rights hearing, police said.
The Virgin Islands Department of Education, St. Thomas–St. John District, is notifying parents and guardians that both Joseph A. Gomez Elementary School and Yvonne Milliner-Bowsky Elementary School will be dismissed immediately due to a loss of electrical service.
Virgin Islands Department of Education
School operations at both campuses cannot continue without electricity. Lunch has been provided to all students. Parents and guardians are asked to pick up their children as soon as possible.
For students who utilize school bus transportation, services will be provided to ensure they arrive home safely.
This decision has been made to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all students, faculty, and staff, as essential school functions cannot operate without power. The VIDE appreciates the cooperation and understanding of all families during this necessary adjustment.
The Estrill family is deeply saddened to announce the death of their beloved brother Cyril A. Estrill Jr. affectionately known as “Frisky” who passed from this earthly life at the age of 84 on Aug. 16, 2025, after a lengthy illness.
Cyril A. Estrill Jr.
Cyril Jr. was born on the island of St. Thomas on Oct. 17, 1940 to parents Cyril and Isolita Estrill. Frisky spent the majority of his adult life residing on the U.S. mainland. He returned home in May of 2017 to enjoy the warm tropical climate.
He is survived by his son JD Estrill, siblings: Marjorie Niles, Edith, Alphonse, and Pedrito Estrill. Sisters-in Law: Violette and Eartha Estrill, and special cousin June DeGraff Phillips.He will be missed by eight nieces, four nephews, one great-great-niece, one great-great-nephew and one great-great-great nephew.
A farewell service will be held at Turnbull’s Funeral Home on Sept. 19. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. and service will start at 10 a.m. Interment private
