USVI Local Clips - March 3, 2026

M.A. Dworkin 

VIPD Ends Home Inspections on Licensed Firearms

• In coming into compliance with federal standards and Second Amendment issues, VIPD Commissioner Mario Brooks confirmed that the Department has put an end to their long-standing practice of conducting home inspections for licensed firearm holders. Nevertheless, the VIPD will continue to prosecute individuals who possess unlicensed firearms. "There are more unlicensed than licensed firearms," said Gov. Bryan. "But the Commissioner is working to make it a lot less difficult in order for you to license a firearm."

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• Sen, Blyden Asks USVI Gas Stations

  Sen. Marvin Blyden issued a polite warning to USVI gas station owners to not use the current war in the Mideast to raise gas prices. But the Senator admitted that there is little to be done in the way of enforcement due to the fact DLCA (the licensing authority of the gas stations) is not able to effect price controls unless the Territory is under a state of emergency.

• Carambola Resort to Close for Redevelopment

• Carambola Beach Resort will close this summer for redevelopment by an investor who plans to put $50 million investment into the glorious aging STX North Shore property while Senators work on tax incentives for hotels on STX.

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• WAPA Metering Roll-Out

• WAPA Board gives go-ahead to an increase of $2.8M on the existing $23M contract which will accelerate advanced metering installation by 6 months. Crews will now operate on STT & STX simultaneously to roll-out the new metering system project. Meter deployment is set to start in September 2026.

• VIPD in Compliance

• VIPD has established compliance with the federal consent decree that has governed core policing reforms since the US DOJ filed suit in 2008. The court supervised agreement required VIPD to strengthen the foundation of constitutional policing, with sustained standards for use of force, supervision, investigations, public complaint intake and resolution, risk management, and accountability. Compliance reflects verified performance in these areas over time and confirms that policies are being implemented through daily operations, documentation, supervisory review, and internal accountability. "This is a monumental achievement and the people of the Virgin Islands should understand what it represents," stated Gov. Bryan. "We stayed the course to make sure VIPD's systems are strengthened and sustained, so our community can have confidence in the work of the men and women in blue."

• Homegrown Bar & Grill

• District Court of the Virgin Islands Chief Judge Robert Molloy issued a Temporary Restraining Order granting emergency relief to Homegrown Bar & Grill LLC of STT, blocking the USVI Government from enforcing a provision of Act No. 9072 that requires licensed hemp retailers to surrender their inventory without compensation. Chief Judge Molloy found that Homegrown satisfied four elements required for temporary injunctive relief. Attorney Robert A. Leycock, counsel for Homegrown, said, "This is a significant victory , not just for our client, but for every licensed business in the Virgin Islands that has invested in compliance with Territorial law....The Government cannot seize a business's lawful inventory without paying for it. The Constitution is clear: the government must pay for what it takes." Homegrown's lawsuit stated the government seized $18,000 of their inventory.

• EPA Oversight on HazMat at Refinery

• In the final phase of a 2024 legal agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency has completed oversight of hazardous material removal operations at the Port Hamilton refinery on STX. Port Hamilton removed 16,493 gallons of liquified petroleum gas from two refinery units, destroyed residual vapors using a thermal oxidizer, and transferred hazardous material to ISO containers for shipment off STX by late February 2026.

  
  

• PENFED Opens on STT

  The Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PENFED) opened its first location in the USVI at TuTu Park Mall on STT marking a major milestone for the Territory's service members, Veterans and military families. The new location represents progress in financial readiness, convenience, and overall support for those who have served our nation. Efforts will now focus on encouraging additional access points across the Territory. For additional info contact the VI Office of Veterans Affairs STX 340-773-8387.

  
  

• STT-STX Ferry

• Gov. Bryan announced design work on the long-anticipated STX-STT passenger & vehicle ferry is now 30% complete following technical site evaluations by international ferry design firm Incat Crowther.

  
  

• Ex-Sen. Payne Sentenced in FL

  Former USVI Sen. Steven Payne Sr. was sentenced to 25 yrs in a Florida prison for sexual battery of a Florida minor in which he was acting as the victim’s guardian. Payne was expelled from the USVI Legislature in 2022 after several women accused him of sexual STJ Senator.

  
  

• Homegrown Bar & Grill

  Homegrown Bar and Grill, an STT business that sold hemp products, filed a lawsuit against law enforcement and regulatory agencies accusing them of violating USVI and Federal laws when they seized over $18,000 of his hemp inventory in an April 2025 illegal raid.   

  
  

• Micro-Breweries on Farmland Bill Shelved

  After a heated debate on both sides of the issue, Senators voted to shelve a bill that would allow small scale distilleries/micro-breweries to be zoned on agricultural land. Despite presenting a case for the economic benefits of such a new approach to using farmland, Senators found that environmental and land-use concerns seemed to dominate the issue causing it to not advance. Senators voted 7-0 to hold Bill No. 36-0211 in committee. 

  
  

• Ray Martinez Going to Jail

  U.S. District Judge Mark Kearney denied former VIPD Commissioner Ray Martinez bid to postpone being taken to prison. Convicted in a wide-ranging public corruption scheme along with OMB former Director Jenifer O’Neal, Martinez was ordered to surrender his freedom by Feb 20, 2026.

  
  

• Flags at Half-Mast for Jesse Jackson

  Acting Governor Tregenza A. Roach has directed all flags to fly half-mast across USVI in memory of the life of civil rights icon and Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson Sr. Reverend Jackson died on February 17, 2026.

  
  

• GVI Owes WAPA $10M

  GVI owes WAPA $10 million for streetlights. “The check is in the mail.” No payments since 2024. 

  
  

• Bryan in Washington

• Gov. Bryan is in Washington to advance Medicaid equity, H-2B construction visas, de minimis exemption on small packages, and marine industry concerns involving excessive BVI charter yacht rate hikes.