News Articles

M.A. Dworkin The Caribbean - Amid cries by neighboring countries that there is a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Cuba caused by Washington’s oil blockade, the Trump Administration has said it will allow the resale of some Venezuelan oil to Cuba in a move that could ease the island’s acute fuel shortage. The U.S. blockade has worsened an energy crisis in Cuba that is hitting power generation and fuel for vehicles, houses and aviation. Venezuela has been the mai

M.A. Dworkin North Coast Cuba - Four people who entered Cuban waters on a U.S. Florida registered speedboat were shot dead by Cuban border guards off Cuba’s north coast. Cuba’s interior ministry claims the speedboat’s passengers, who were coming from Florida, opened fire on a coast guard vessel carrying five members of the ministry’s border guard.       In a statement posted on X, the ministry said the Florida-registered vessel - with the registration number FL772SH - was det

John F. McKeon  For three decades, Section 936 of the US Internal Revenue Code served as the linchpin of Puerto Rico’s industrial strategy, reportedly transforming the island into a manufacturing hub by allowing US corporations to repatriate profits nearly tax-free. Section 936 (also known as the Possession Tax Credit) was a provision in our tax code enacted in 1976 ostensibly to encourage business investment in Puerto Rico and other US territories. The provision successfully

A.J. Pike  St. Thomas - Despite a great deal of public sympathy and outpouring of cries of  innocence and judicial misconduct, well-known restaurateur, owner of St. Thomas Social in Yacht Haven Grande, Brett “Mac” McClafferty sits in a jail cell after being arrested on multiple charges linking him to a sprawling fraud investigation that involves nearly $900,000 in fictitious financial instruments.       The probe was sparked by a complaint in June 2024 by Banco Popular de Pue

M.A. Dworkin St. Croix - The list of invitees to Violette’s Boutique on Strand Street in Frederiksted, included the Governor, several Senators, a few Senatorial candidates, the Queen Bee of the West Side Claire Roker, and Jenna Monet, who is a candidate for Miss Universe from the Virgin Islands. The A-List crowd showed up in force to celebrate Christine Hilty’s return to the ranks of top retailers on St. Croix. It was nothing less than a loving tribute to a great family and t

M.A. Dworkin Mexico - Americans have been warned to Shelter in Place as deadly violence spread to at least 20 of Mexico’s 31 states in the wake of the death of the country’s most wanted man, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, 59, head of one of the most powerful and feared criminal organizations in Mexico, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho” died in custody Sunday, February 22, 2026, shortly after special forces captured him in Tapalpa, J

M.A. Dworkin USVI - President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs forced mid-sized U.S. companies to pass on the costs of food and goods to American consumers causing a spiraling of prices that has greatly damaged the pocketbooks of many U.S. and USVI families.       The report issued by the JPMorganChase Institute revealed the reason for staggering cost rises in food products and goods was directly attributable to the amount of tariffs paid by mid-sized businesses which has more

M.A. Dworkin Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 to strike down most of President Trump’s tariffs in a major blow to the President’s economic plans. Although the decision does not affect all of Trump’s tariffs, it does invalidate those implemented using an emergency law.        Although the Supreme Court decision ruled that the President does not have the authority without Congressional approval to levy sweeping tariffs, Trump immediately stated he will pursue

M.A. Dworkin St. Croix - Although some residents seemed frustrated by restrictions that continue to curtail access to fishing and swimming at the Frederiksted Pier, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) along with several Senators felt it necessary, at the recent VIPA work session and Open House held at St. Croix's Rohlsen Airport, to emphasize the $5 million seed money provided by the Legislature was intended to eventually jumpstart waterfront improvements.        “We rea

M.A. Dworkin USVI - Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced that the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission (LEPC) has been removed from High-Risk designation by the U.S. Department of Justice, ending more than a decade of heightened federal oversight and marking an important milestone for the Territory.        First imposed in 2012, the designation placed additional federal scrutiny on the management of public safety grants in the Virgin Islands. Its removal signals

M.A. Dworkin St. Croix - Senate Vice President Kenneth L. Gittens announced that he is proud to partner with the “I Am Hope Foundation,” in celebrating the achievements of St. Croix’s youth at the inaugural St. Croix Youth Hope Awards, which are scheduled to take place at Teddy’s in Christiansted on February 28, 2026.       This marks the first time the Hope Awards will be held on St. Croix. The Youth Hope Awards celebrate children and young people whose extraordinary efforts

A.J. Pike  St. Croix - On Friday, February 13, 2026, just after midnight, the 911 Emergency Call Center received a call in reference to multiple shots fired in the vicinity of Divi Carina Bay Casino, on the far east side of the island. Moments later, 911 received another call reporting a gunshot victim.        When Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) officers arrived on the scene, they observed a vehicle riddled with multiple bullet holes that had crashed into a palm tree