Senator Carla Joseph expressed thanks to Governor Albert Bryan, Jr., for signing into law Bill No. 36-0061, now Act 9049, a measure aimed at strengthening the University of the Virgin Islands’ ability to augment the recruitment of experienced faculty and technical personnel.

Senator Carla Joseph commented, “Today is a great day for the University of the Virgin Islands and its history of providing excellent service in higher education in the USVI and the wider Caribbean Region.” She added, “The University is now able to expand its reach in tapping a wealth of knowledge, experience, and specialized skills from retired government workers in developing students and strengthening operations at the university.”

The incentive provided through the enacted law allows retirees who are receiving an annuity from the Government Employees Retirement System (GERS) to continue receiving their pension and now enroll in a separate, alternative UVI pension system to supplement their retirement.

Dr. Safiya George, President of UVI, spoke in favor of the law and stressed how important it is for employee well-being and institutional growth.

Senator Joseph said, “This is a win for the University because it can hire experienced faculty and other technical professionals who are needed to provide important services. It is also a win for experienced professionals to benefit as they help build our workforce,” she concluded.

The University of the Virgin Islands Women’s basketball student-athlete Keshara Romain takes a hiatus from the team to compete as a member of the United States Virgin Islands Senior Women’s National Team in the International Basketball Federation 2025 Caribbean Basketball Championships.

The championships will be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown, Guyana, from November 12 to 16, featuring teams from Suriname, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the host nation, Guyana.

A native of St. Croix, Romain will be competing for the USVI Senior National Team for the second time. Her debut came at the 2024 FIBA Centrobasket Women’s Championship, where she played in five games, averaging 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Currently in her first year at UVI, Romain has started in four of the team’s five games this season, averaging 11.4 points, 14 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game for the Lady Buccaneers. In just the second official week of the National Athletic Intercollegiate Association season, the junior forward’s outstanding play earned her the titles of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week.

The first matchup for Romain and the USVI national team will come on Thursday, November 13, as they face off with the host team, followed by matchups with Suriname, Jamaica, and the Bahamas on November 14, 15, and 16, respectively, in the group phase before a champion is decided.