AGP Executive Report

Hurricane Watch: NOAA is forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season (55% chance), with 8–14 named storms and 3–6 hurricanes—still a reminder that one storm can hit hard. Local Preparedness: VI officials say teams are clearing drains and ghuts, managing vegetation, inspecting roads, and boosting emergency communications so alerts reach people fast. Road Safety Tragedy: A St. John commercial driver faces vehicular homicide and aggravated child abuse charges after a water truck plunge killed his 6-year-old daughter. Food Safety: A VI Environmental Health Officer flags cleaning and sanitation as the biggest daily problem in food establishments, urging residents to check for handwashing, pests, and overall cleanliness. Waste Enforcement: Waste Management Authority is stepping up enforcement at bin sites, warning illegal dumping can bring fines up to $1,000 and more cleanup and environmental harm. Sustainable Tourism Win: VI students won CTO’s Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase with a “Green & Blue Economy Tourism Hub” pitch linking marine restoration and land-based sustainability. Utilities Merger: Gov. assents to the BVIEC–WSD merger law, paving the way for a new Virgin Islands Energy and Water Corporation (VIEWCo). Coastal Tech Note: A corrosion design framework aims to extend the life of coastal solar-plus-storage equipment by accounting for salt, humidity, and UV stress.

Food Safety & Public Health: Environmental Health Officer Susan Sealey says cleaning and sanitation are the biggest day-to-day problems in many food establishments, urging residents to check where they buy food, whether hands are being washed, and whether pests or dirty conditions are present. Waste & Illegal Dumping Crackdown: The V.I. Waste Management Authority is stepping up enforcement at public bin sites, warning that illegal dumping and misuse drive overflowing areas, damage infrastructure, raise cleanup costs, and increase pests; fines can reach $1,000. Hurricane Season Readiness: As the 2026 Atlantic season begins, Hon. Kye M. Rymer urges proactive steps—clearing drains and ghuts, managing vegetation, inspecting roads and strengthening emergency communications—while NOAA forecasts a below-normal season. Utility Restructuring: Gov. Daniel Pruce has assented to a law merging BVIEC and the Water and Sewerage Department, paving the way for VIEWCo to unify electricity, water, and sewerage services. Coastal Energy Durability: A corrosion-focused design framework aims to extend the life of coastal PV and BESS systems by accounting for salt, humidity, wind-driven rain, and UV exposure. Sustainable Tourism Showcase: The VI won the CTO Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase with a “Caribbean Green & Blue Economy Tourism Hub” concept linking marine restoration funding to land-based sustainability.

Workforce & Health: UVI’s Medical Simulation Center was added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; ten residents completed Cohort 2 and are set up for NREMT certification. Hurricane Readiness: NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are flagging a below-normal 2026 Atlantic season (55% chance), but officials stress preparedness anyway, including updates to the hurricane forecast cone to better show inland watches and warnings for places like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local Power & Resilience: Another total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John, with VIWAPA citing loss of generation and renewed calls for faster fixes as outages keep recurring. Green Waste Policy: The VI Senate advanced a bill to allow green waste disposal via controlled incineration, but lawmakers added guardrails—incineration only when safer options (mulching, composting, reuse) aren’t available, plus limits to smoke and particulate impacts.

Hurricane Readiness: NOAA is forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic season (55% chance), but U.S. Virgin Islands residents are still being urged to prep now—because even one storm can upend communities. Local Resilience & Power Reliability: Another blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John, with VI Water and Power citing generation loss; the outages add pressure to long-running grid and maintenance problems. Storm Forecasting Tools: The National Hurricane Center is expanding its “cone” warnings to better show inland tropical storm and hurricane risks, including for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Green Waste Policy: The VI Senate advanced a measure to manage green waste via controlled incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available—aiming to cut smoke and particulates. Wildlife & Climate Research: NOAA and partners deployed uncrewed ocean robots off the U.S. Virgin Islands to study hurricanes from extreme conditions, feeding real-time data to forecasters. Sustainable Sunscreen Tip: A column argues for sun-protective clothing over some chemical sunscreens to reduce impacts on waterways. Tourism Week in NYC: Caribbean Week in New York begins with VI Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. among featured leaders, spotlighting sustainable tourism growth.

Power Reliability Crisis: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday, the second outage in the weekend, after loss of generation at a power plant; officials cite weak capacity, equipment shortages, breakdowns, and years of deferred maintenance, with many generating units over 25 years old and major damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria still shaping the grid. Hurricane Readiness: Even with NOAA forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic season (8–14 named storms; 3–6 hurricanes), the Coast Guard and NOAA/NHC are urging preparation now, and NHC is expanding the hurricane “cone” warnings to better show inland wind risks. Green Waste Policy: The VI Senate advanced a bill to authorize controlled incineration for green waste only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available, adding limits to reduce smoke and particulate impacts. Local Environment & Learning: The VI Board of Career and Technical Education voted to create a nonprofit to fund trade classrooms—aimed at keeping instructors supplied so students can build skills that support local jobs, including in hands-on sectors.

Hurricane Readiness: NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are flagging a 2026 Atlantic season that’s likely quieter overall, but still dangerous—forecasts call for 8–14 named storms and 3–6 hurricanes, with inland impacts included as the NHC expands its “cone” warnings farther from the coast. Local Resilience: The U.S. Virgin Islands is also dealing with real-world strain as total blackouts hit St. Thomas and St. John twice in a weekend, tied to generation loss and long-running grid and maintenance issues. Green Waste Policy: The VI Senate advanced a bill to allow controlled incineration for green waste, but only after other safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse are considered—plus added rules to cut smoke and protect nearby communities. Sustainable Sun Protection: A new sustainability-focused sunscreen guide argues clothing and shade can be better for both skin and waterways, while still using lotion when exposure can’t be avoided. Mosquito Control Debate: A proposal seeks federal approval to release 32 million mosquitoes in California and Florida to reduce virus-spreading species, reigniting ethical and ecosystem concerns.

Hurricane Readiness: NOAA and the National Hurricane Center kick off the 2026 Atlantic season with a below-normal outlook (55% chance), but officials stress that even quieter years can still bring damaging storms—plus the NHC is expanding the hurricane “cone” to include inland watches and warnings for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Local Environment Policy: St. Thomas lawmakers advanced a bill on green waste disposal that allows controlled incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available, with added rules to cut smoke and protect nearby communities. Power Reliability: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John again, tied to generation loss, highlighting ongoing grid strain and the long list of causes including aging equipment and deferred maintenance. Sustainable Tourism & Community: Caribbean Week in New York opens with Virgin Islands leadership and a push for “sustainable tourism growth,” while VI youth tourism delegates gear up for the Junior Ambassador of Tourism competition. Education & Skills: The VI Board of Career and Technical Education moves to create a nonprofit foundation to fund trade students’ classroom supplies and competition travel.

Hurricane Readiness Update: NOAA says the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is more likely to be below normal, with a 55% chance of fewer storms and a key forecast change that expands the “cone” to include inland watches and warnings for the U.S. Virgin Islands and beyond. Power Reliability Crisis: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday for the second time over the weekend, with VI Water and Power citing generation loss and highlighting how aging infrastructure and storm damage keep outages frequent. Green Waste Policy: The VI Senate advanced a measure to allow controlled incineration for green waste only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available, adding rules aimed at reducing smoke and particulate impacts. Local Conservation Win: The Virgin Islands Trail Alliance completed restoration work around the historic Estate Grove Baobab Tree on St. Croix, including a health assessment, termite nest removal, and new interpretive signage. Education & Skills Funding: The V.I. Board of Career and Technical Education voted to create an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit to fund trade students and classroom supplies, aiming to cut through budget bottlenecks. Tourism & Community: Caribbean Week in New York kicks off today, with VI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. set to join regional tourism leaders and push “sustainable tourism growth.”

Hurricane Readiness: NOAA is forecasting a “below normal” 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with a 55% chance of fewer storms overall—but the National Hurricane Center is also updating its cone graphics to warn inland communities farther from the coast, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. Power Reliability: A total blackout struck St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday for the second time in the weekend, with VI Water and Power citing loss of generation; officials point to aging equipment, deferred maintenance, and storm damage as outages become more frequent. Local Waste Policy: The VI Senate advanced a measure to allow green waste disposal via controlled incineration, but only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available—plus added rules aimed at reducing smoke and particulate impacts. Green Infrastructure & Nature: A community stewardship project at the historic Estate Grove Baobab on St. Croix is complete, including tree health work, termite nest removal, new interpretive signage, and benches built by local youth. Tourism & Youth: Caribbean Week in New York kicks off with U.S. Virgin Islands leadership at the opening ceremony, while BVI’s Junior Ambassador of Tourism competition spotlights young people pitching solutions for tourism challenges.

Power Reliability: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday for the second time in the weekend, with the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority citing loss of generation and pointing to storms, equipment shortages, weak capacity, and years of deferred maintenance. Waste & Air Quality: The VI Senate advanced a measure on green waste disposal using controlled incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available, with added rules aimed at limiting smoke and particulates in nearby communities. Hurricane Readiness: NOAA says the 2026 Atlantic season has a 55% chance of being below normal, and the National Hurricane Center is rolling out a revamped “cone of uncertainty” that better includes inland watches and warnings for places like the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mosquitoes & Disease Risk: A proposal backed by Google’s parent company seeks federal approval to release 32 million mosquitoes in California and Florida to curb viruses, reigniting debate about impacts on ecosystems and pollinators. Community Stewardship: The Estate Grove Baobab Tree site on St. Croix was restored through community work, including termite nest removal, new interpretive signage, and added seating. Tourism Innovation: The VI was named a finalist for CTO’s Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase, pitching sustainable projects tied to the Caribbean Green & Blue Economy Tourism Hub. Wildlife Health: New reporting highlights a sharp rise in U.S. dengue cases in 2024, with many linked to travel to the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Power Reliability: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John early Sunday, the second outage in days, after the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority reported a loss of generation at a power plant; officials point to aging equipment, deferred maintenance, and storm damage that followed Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Waste & Air Quality: The VI Senate advanced a measure to allow green waste disposal via controlled incineration, but only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available—plus added rules aimed at limiting smoke and particulate matter. Hurricane Preparedness: NOAA is rolling out a revamped hurricane “cone of uncertainty” for 2026, expanding inland alerts for places including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and using clearer shading to reduce public confusion about where hazards can strike. Tourism & Conservation: The VI was named a finalist for the CTO Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase, tied to the Caribbean Green & Blue Economy Tourism Hub that links marine restoration with land-based sustainability. Health & Mosquito Risk: A new report shows U.S. dengue cases surged in 2024, with most infections linked to travel to the Caribbean—including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands—raising the stakes for mosquito control and public awareness. Nature Stewardship: A community project restored the historic Estate Grove Baobab Tree on St. Croix, including termite nest removal, updated signage, and new seating built with local youth.

Power Reliability Crisis: 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, but service failed again hours later, adding to growing frustration as many generating units are over 25 years old and past storms damaged much of the territory’s transmission and distribution system. Green Waste Policy: The VI Senate advanced a measure to authorize disposal of green waste via controlled incineration, but only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available, with added rules aimed at reducing smoke and particulate impacts. Hurricane Readiness Info: NOAA’s National Hurricane Center is rolling out a revamped “cone of uncertainty” for 2026 that better includes inland watches and warnings for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, aiming to reduce misunderstandings about where hazards can strike. Tourism Youth & Sustainability: The VI is set to send students to the CTO Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase focused on the Caribbean Green & Blue Economy, linking marine restoration with land-based sustainability.

Green Waste Policy: The VI Senate advanced Bill No. 36-0232 to manage green waste via controlled incineration, but lawmakers added guardrails: incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available, plus sorting rules, fire-safety steps, and limits to reduce smoke and particulates near homes. Hurricane Readiness: NOAA’s National Hurricane Center is updating its “cone of uncertainty” for 2026—adding inland tropical storm and hurricane alerts for places like the U.S. Virgin Islands and using clearer shading to push earlier preparation beyond the coastal track. Tourism Youth & Sustainability: The VI is sending three students to the CTO Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase tied to the Caribbean Green & Blue Economy Tourism Hub, pitching sustainable projects that link marine restoration with land-based sustainability. Local Conservation: On St. Croix, the Estate Grove Baobab Tree Site was restored through community stewardship, including termite-nest removal, a new interpretive sign, and added seating for visitors. Regional Health Watch: Dengue risk is rising across the U.S. and travel-linked cases heavily involve the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands—another reason to stay mosquito-aware. Infrastructure Timing: In the BVI, the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment was paused to redesign and bring costs back in line after bids exceeded the budget.

Hurricane Preparedness: NOAA/NHC is rolling out a revamped “cone of uncertainty” for 2026, expanding it to include inland tropical storm and hurricane watches/warnings for the U.S. Virgin Islands and other areas—aimed at fixing the common mistake of thinking impacts only happen inside the cone. Local Environment Policy: The St. Thomas/St. John Senate advanced a green waste disposal measure allowing controlled incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting and reuse aren’t available, with added rules to cut smoke/particulates and strengthen fire safety. Education & Skills: The V.I. Board of Career and Technical Education voted to create an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit to fund trade students’ classroom supplies and competition travel. Public Health: A new report says U.S. dengue cases in 2024 jumped 359%, with most infections tied to travel—including a large share linked to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands—raising the stakes for mosquito control and traveler awareness. Nature Stewardship: A community project restored the historic Estate Grove Baobab Tree site on St. Croix, adding interpretive signage and benches while addressing termite threats. Tourism Innovation: The Virgin Islands was named a finalist for the CTO Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase, with students pitching sustainable “green & blue economy” ideas in New York.

Green Waste Policy: The St. Thomas/St. John Senate approved Bill No. 36-0232 to allow green waste disposal via controlled incineration, but lawmakers added guardrails: incineration can only be used when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting and reuse aren’t available, with added sorting rules, reduced smoke/particulates, stronger fire safety, and limits on smoke impacts in nearby homes. Trade Education Funding: The V.I. Board of Career and Technical Education voted to create an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit to fund trade students’ classroom supplies and competition travel, aiming to cut through budget bottlenecks that leave instructors short on resources. Hurricane Preparedness Info: NOAA’s updated hurricane cone will now include inland watches and warnings on the map (not just coastal alerts), using clearer shading to push earlier preparation for storm hazards that can extend far inland. Tourism & the Green/Blue Economy: The Virgin Islands was named a finalist for the CTO Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase, with three student innovators pitching sustainable projects tied to the Caribbean Green & Blue Economy Tourism Hub. Biodiversity on St. Croix: A community stewardship project restored the historic Estate Grove Baobab Tree site, adding interpretive signage, benches, and termite nest removal to protect the landmark. Public Health Watch: New reporting shows U.S. dengue cases in 2024 jumped sharply, with most linked to travel to the Caribbean (including the U.S. Virgin Islands), underscoring the need for mosquito-bite prevention. Infrastructure Update (BVI): On Tortola, the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment was paused for a redesign after bids came in over budget, with a revised plan aimed at keeping essential amenities within limits.

Hurricane Preparedness Update: NOAA says the National Hurricane Center’s 2026 “cone” will be revamped to include inland watches and warnings for the U.S. Virgin Islands and other areas, aiming to reduce the common misunderstanding that hazards only happen inside the cone. Local Infrastructure: The BVI Airports Authority has moved ahead with the tender process for the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport west runway extension on Beef Island, despite earlier UK pushback and local frustration over delays. Marine & Health: A new report finds U.S. dengue cases jumped 359% in 2024, with most infections tied to international travel—Caribbean destinations including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands feature prominently. Conservation on St. Croix: The Virgin Islands Trail Alliance completed a community stewardship project restoring the historic Estate Grove Baobab Tree site, including tree health work, interpretive signage, and new benches. Sustainable Tourism Spotlight: The Virgin Islands was named a finalist for the CTO Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase, with student pitches tied to the Caribbean Green & Blue Economy Tourism Hub. Workforce for Recovery: A VI Economic Development Summit warned disaster recovery buildout depends on attracting, housing, training, and retaining enough workers and strengthening local subcontractor capacity.