The catch and release of a blue marlin early Saturday morning earned the team aboard the USVI-based charter boat, Double Header, the top prize of $5000 in the inaugural and first annual Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s USVI Billfish Shootout on Sept. 6.

Local teams from St. Thomas and St. John competed in this small boat tournament focused on one of the most prized sportfishing species – billfish. Double Header reeled in and released their blue marlin on the South Drop. Later, the team aboard Cutting Edge released a sailfish on the North Drop. Results of this U.S. Virgin Islands waters-only tournament prove the fertility of the territory’s fishing grounds.

“We wanted to compete in this tournament since there hasn’t been a billfish tournament for a while. Plus, the last few weeks we’ve seen marlin on every charter trip we’ve taken out,” says Capt. Glen Charlett, who helmed the 37’ Calypso, Double Header. “It was around 8 a.m. when we hooked up a doubleheader. One of our anglers, Eli James, was able to get one of them in. We were hoping for another.”

It was mid-afternoon when the 42’ Freeman, Cutting Edge, released their sailfish.

“We headed north and spent most of the morning and early afternoon trolling in and out of the deep water and along the edge,” says Kevin Haddox, who shared captaining duties with Colin Butler. “The sailfish came up at 2:25 p.m. and angler, Ben Stewart, released it six minutes later. If we caught a second one, we would have won on total billfish by count.”

Talk among teams back at the docks centered on the number of billfish seen in U.S. Virgin Islands waters. Case in point, Captain Joshua Bourg, on his chartered 42’ Liberty, Just Fish, recalled an annual total of 33 blue marlin caught and released on the South Drop so far for the year.

The Inaugural USVI Billfish Shootout marked the first time the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club held a multi-species tournament, a growing trend, where prize-eligible fish were billfish and gamefish: mahi-mahi, yellow-fin tuna, and wahoo.

“The Club asked participants to target billfish specifically,” says Kelvin Bailey, Jr., president of the Club’s Board of Directors. “We put this tournament together to particularly bring attention to the number of billfish in U.S. Virgin Islands waters.”

An Awards Ceremony at IGY’s American Yacht Harbor Marina with pizza, beverages, and lots of camaraderie created the perfect end to this first annual event. The Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club, founded in 1963, boasts a long and strong history of billfishing achievements.

The Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club appreciates support from IGY’s American Yacht Harbor Marina, Lattes in Paradise, Cape Fear Distillery, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Next up, the Club will host its Kids’ Fishing Tournament on October 4 and its Wahoo Windup on November 2, 2025.

 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2025

Committee on Rules and Judiciary

10:00 A.M.

Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room

The 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Committee on Rules and Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for 10 A.M. on Monday, September 08, 2025, in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix. The purpose of the meeting is to receive testimony and consider the following legislative measures: 

BLOCK I 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.

Mr. Roy Moorehead, Governor’s Nominee, Board of Parole 

Mr. Damian M. Cartwright, Governor’s Nominee, Virgin Islands Board of Land Use Appeals

BLOCK II 11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Mr. Xavier A. Acevedo, Governor’s Nominee, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Governing Board 

Dr. Safiya George, Governor’s Nominee, Virgin Islands Government Hospitals and Health 

Facilities Corporation Board of Directors

LUNCH 1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.

BLOCK III 2:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. 

Bill No. 36-0101 An act to provide for continuity of operations in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands in the event of prolonged judicial vacancies. 

Invited Testifiers:

Ms. Regina deChabert Petersen, Administrator of the Courts, Judicial Branch of the Virgin Islands 

Mr. J. Russel B. Pate, Esq., President, Virgin Islands Bar Association 

Honorable Gordon C. Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, Department of Justice 

Ms. Julie S. Todman, Esq., Chief Territorial Public Defender, V.I. Office of the Territorial Public Defender

BLOCK IV 3:30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Bill No. 36-0112 An act amending title 4 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 31, section 516 increasing the filing fee for general civil complaints in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands and title 5 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 41, section 426 allowing for the collection of nine percent prejudgment interest when an offer of judgment is filed with the court. 

Invited Testifiers:

Ms. Regina deChabert Petersen, Administrator of the Courts, Judicial Branch of the Virgin Islands 

Mr. J. Russel B. Pate, Esq., President, Virgin Islands Bar Association 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 

Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications

10:00 A.M.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

The Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas.

VIHA Operations, Challenges, and Opportunities 

The Committee will receive testimony on the Virgin Islands Housing Authority’s operations, challenges, and opportunities. Areas of focus include agency updates on operations and maintenance issues, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, and progress in community rehabilitation. Testimony will also address the Williams Delight sale and related funding assistance, as well as the impact of federal-level policy changes on VIHA’s funding and overall operations. 

Invited Testifier:

Dwayne Alexander, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Authority 

BLOCK II 12:30 P.M. 

Homeownership and Housing Development Programs

The Committee will also hear testimony on the status of homeownership and housing development programs. This includes updates on funding and progress of current initiatives, the availability and utilization of funds for affordable housing, and the effects of federal policy changes on funding streams, operations, and programs.

Invited Testifiers:

Eugene Jones, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority 

Adrienne Williams-Octalien, Executive Director, Office of Disaster Recovery 

Wayne L. Biggs, Chief Executive Officer, VI Economic Development Authority

 

 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025

Committee on Rules and Judiciary 

10:00 A.M.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2025 

Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning

10:00 A.M.

Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room 

The Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications has scheduled a meeting for Friday, September 12, 2025, in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room. 

Bill No. 36-0070 An Act amending title 28 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 19 by adding section 423 relating to failure to use property acquired through the exercise of the power of eminent domain. 

Bill No. 36-0110 An Act amending title 20 Virgin Islands Code, part I, chapter 1 to require a permit from the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works before the excavation of any public roadway. 

Invited Testifiers: 

Honorable Derek Gabriel, Commissioner, Department of Public Works 

Julio Rhymer, Sr., Director, Office of Management and Budget 

Chris George, Administrator, GIS Division, Office of the Lieutenant Governor 

BLOCK II 

The Committee will receive testimony from the Office of Disaster Recovery regarding key disaster recovery efforts currently underway across the Territory. The discussion will focus on contractor performance, newly awarded projects, and the implementation and oversight of major recovery programs, with special attention to public concerns, transparency, and accountability. 

1. Contractor Performance Review (Territory) 

• Receive updates on the performance of contractors engaged in disaster recovery projects and whether construction projects are progressing on schedule and within budget. 

• Discuss project oversight mechanisms, and local workforce participation. 

2. Testimony on $961M in New Disaster Recovery Awards (St. Croix) 

• Receive testimony regarding the recent announcement of over $961 million in disaster recovery project awards. 

• Discuss major initiatives including: 

• Rebuild USVI Education Bundle 

• North Central St. Croix Horizontal Infrastructure Bundle 

• Selection process, contractor qualifications, and design-build approaches. 

3. Oversight of the EnVision Tomorrow Program 

• Receive updates on progress of homes and address public concerns and media reports highlighting substandard or unsafe repairs under the EnVision Tomorrow Program. 

• Review issues raised by program participants and current oversight mechanisms for contractors. 

• Discuss actions to improve accountability, protect homeowners, and restore public trust. 

Invited Testifier: 

 Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien, Director, Office of Disaster Recovery 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 

Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance

10:00 A.M.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025

Committee of the Whole/Regular Session

10:00 A.M.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025

Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports and Parks

10:00 A.M.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

The Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks will convene a legislative hearing to examine the operational oversight, progress, and challenges of recreational facilities and capital improvement projects of the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation across the Virgin Islands. The hearing will also include a legislative review of Bill No. 36-0099 addressing elder abuse response systems and a special policy discussion regarding CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) certification for the Virgin Islands’ aging and senior care facilities 

BLOCK I 10:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation – Territorial Operations Review

Invited Testifier: 

Vincent Roberts, Commissioner Designee, Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation

LUNCH 12:30 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. 

BLOCK II 1:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. 

Bill No. 36-0099 An act amending title 34 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 15 expanding the Elder and Dependent 

Invited Testifiers:

Honorable Averil George, Commissioner, Department of Human Services 

Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General of the Virgin Islands, Department of Justice

Troy deChabert-Schuster, State Director, AARP Virgin Islands 

Angus Drigo, Executive Director, Disability Rights Center Virgin Islands 

BLOCK III 2:30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. 

Policy Discussion – CMS Certification for Senior Living Facilities

The Committee will engage in a policy discussion on Aging focused on the current status and pathway toward achieving CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) certification for senior living and long-term care facilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands. CMS certification is essential for facilities seeking to provide care reimbursable under Medicare and Medicaid, and ensures compliance with federal standards for quality, safety, and patient rights. 

The Committee will examine:

1. Where are we now? – Assessing the current certification status of senior living facilities. 

2. What’s required? – Understanding CMS’s Conditions of Participation, operational manuals, and compliance criteria. 

3. What’s next? – Outlining a strategic path forward for certification, facility upgrades, and access to CMS federal funding. 

Invited Testifiers: 

Honorable Averil George, Commissioner, Department of Human Services 

Troy deChabert-Schuster, State Director, AARP Virgin Islands

Honorable Justa Encarnacion, Commissioner, Department of Health 

Junia John-Straker, CEO, Lutheran Social Services of Virgin Islands