AGP Executive Report

St. John Celebration Music: The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and the Division of Festivals just dropped a major Village lineup for St. John Celebration (June 28–July 4), headlined by Grammy winner Ashanti, soca stars Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, with Tarrus Riley, Baby Cham, Pumpa, Pressure, and more—plus a strong roster of local VI talent. Caribbean Tourism Media: CTO and TEMPO Networks announced a renewed 20-year partnership to boost Caribbean tourism through expanded digital, social, and broadcast storytelling, including coverage tied to CTO events. Local Arts/Community: Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. approved new measures covering mental health education, paid leave for parents of children with disabilities, and hotel-related bond proceeds—moves that can shape community life and visitor experiences. Sports Pop Culture: Google marked the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2026 kickoff with a cricket-themed Doodle visible in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Entertainment Odds & Ends: Mega Millions is climbing again (now $413M for June 12), while Powerball continues to roll with big prizes across the week.

St. John Celebration: The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and Division of Festivals just dropped a major Village lineup for June 28–July 4 in Knightsville, led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, with Tarrus Riley, Baby Cham, Pressure, and more—plus a strong roster of local VI talent. Caribbean Media & Tourism: TEMPO Networks and the Caribbean Tourism Organization teamed up for a 20-year partnership to boost Caribbean tourism, culture, events, and storytelling through expanded digital and broadcast coverage. Local Governance: Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. signed a slate of bills covering mental health education, paid leave for parents of children with disabilities, controlled incineration for green waste, and updates tied to hotel development bond proceeds. Sports & Culture Online: Google’s new doodle marks the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2026 kickoff, visible in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Community Spotlight: A Holt High School JROTC team earned its Cadet Leadership Challenge tab after a leadership camp packed with fitness, STEM, and team events. Legal/Local News: Former OMB director Jenifer O’Neal was sentenced to 7 years in the Mon Ethos corruption case. Entertainment Buzz: Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas is being promoted as the island’s only true all-inclusive option, with rates highlighted starting around $364/night.

Local Politics & Policy: Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. signed a slate of USVI bills into law, including measures on mental health education, paid leave for parents of children with diagnosed disabilities, controlled incineration for green waste, and election operations—plus line-item vetoes and calls for clarifying parts of key legislation. USVI Courts: Former OMB director Jenifer O’Neal was sentenced to 7 years in the Mon Ethos corruption case, with restitution ordered, following her conviction tied to bribery and money-laundering allegations. Music & Festivals: The St. John Celebration Village lineup is set for June 28–July 4, led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, with Tarrus Riley, Baby Cham, and more—plus a strong roster of Virgin Islands talent. Sports & Pop Culture: Google’s Doodle marks the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2026 opening day, and it’s visible in the US Virgin Islands. Community & Travel: A study says last-minute hotel bookings (especially Sunday starts) can cut costs by up to nearly 40%, and St. Thomas’ Bolongo Bay Beach Resort is highlighted as a rare true all-inclusive option with rates starting around $364/night. Reader Buzz: Readers shared shark encounter stories, from dorsal-fin sightings to “it was a shark” moments while wading. Public Safety: CBP found hundreds of rounds of ammunition in checked bags arriving in St. Thomas, leading to federal charges.

St. John Celebration Buzz: TEMPO Networks is teaming up with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and Division of Festivals for expanded 2026 St. John Celebration coverage, including a dedicated TEMPO Night in the Carnival Village during the June 14–July 4 run. Festival Lineup: The St. John Celebration Village stage is set for June 28–July 4 in Knight’s Ville, led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, with Tarrus Riley, Baby Cham, and more, plus Virgin Islands talent. Local Justice: Former USVI OMB director Jenifer O’Neal was sentenced to seven years in federal prison in the Mon Ethos corruption case. Sports Pop Culture: Google marked the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2026 kickoff with a cricket-themed Doodle visible in the USVI and other Caribbean markets. Travel Deals: Hotels.com says last-minute hotel bookings—especially stays starting on Sunday—can cut costs by up to nearly 40%, with St. Croix hotel prices down about 15% vs. last summer. Legal Access: A new free website, Territorial Review, is making Guam laws and court opinions easier to search for the public.

St. John Celebration Buzz: TEMPO Networks is teaming up with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and the Division of Festivals for expanded 2026 St. John Celebration coverage (June 14–July 4), including a dedicated TEMPO Night in the Carnival Village—an extra boost for Caribbean music, food, and community stories. Festival Lineup: The St. John Celebration Village stage is set with a major lineup led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, plus Tarrus Riley, Baby Cham, Pressure, and more VI talent. Local Community & Culture: Florida and Virgin Islands legal professionals gathered in St. Croix for training, collaboration, and a clothing drive benefiting UVI students. Travel Deal Watch: Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas is promoting all-inclusive beachfront stays with rates starting around $364/night. News Beyond the Islands: Bill Gates testified to Congress about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, while lottery updates keep Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots climbing.

St. John Celebration Music: The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and the Division of Festivals just unveiled the St. John Celebration Village lineup (June 28–July 4) under “History and Collaboration with a Musical Mix,” led by Grammy-winning Ashanti, soca powerhouse Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons for the Independence Day finale, with more big names like Tarrus Riley, Baby Cham, Pressure, Pumpa, Mr. Killa, Lyrikal, Erphaan Alves, WCK, plus VI talent including Spectrum featuring Lorna Freeman, Temisha, Th3rd, Wire to Wire, and Quelbe Resurrection. Lottery Buzz: Powerball climbed to a $238M jackpot (cash value $106.1M) ahead of the June 10 drawing—plus Mega Millions is at $392M (cash value $173.3M) ahead of June 9. Local Culture & Heritage: A Caribbean-wide heritage dialogue highlighted preserving Caribbean identity through historic structures and oral traditions, with VI-linked participation. VI News: Charlotte Amalie officials say a man faces federal charges after CBP found hundreds of rounds of ammunition in checked suitcases arriving from Miami. Sports/Youth: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship wrapped in Halifax Harbour with 172 young sailors competing, including top finishers from Canada and Puerto Rico.

VI Culture & Identity: A Caribbean-wide heritage dialogue is spotlighting how the region can better safeguard cultural memory, historic structures, and oral traditions, with projects like Saba and Dominica’s Resilient Houses using digital storytelling and restoration to keep identity alive. Local Governance: The U.S. Virgin Islands is urging the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation to push real steps toward self-government for remaining non-self-governing territories, including support for visiting missions. VI Community News: UVI’s Medical Simulation Center has been added to the Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training, as ten residents complete Cohort 2 and move toward national certification. Arts & Entertainment: Stilt-walking “moko jumbie” performers from Grand Avenue’s Goombay Festival in Coconut Grove are bringing Bahamian Junkanoo traditions to a new generation. Sports & Youth: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship wrapped in Halifax Harbour, bringing together youth sailors from across the Caribbean and beyond. Entertainment/Travel Buzz: Caribbean Week in New York’s Rum & Rhythm is drawing tourism leaders and fans with destination showcases, music, and culture—USVI included. News You Can Use: Mega Millions is at $392M (cash $173.3M) ahead of the June 9 drawing, while Powerball climbed to $225M (cash $100.3M) ahead of June 8.

Caribbean Culture Spotlight: A Miami family is helping keep Bahamian Junkanoo alive for the next generation, with young stilt walkers (moko jumbies) turning school-day kids into festival performers during Goombay-style street celebrations. Arts & Heritage: A Caribbean-wide heritage dialogue launched a digital preservation push, bringing together practitioners from Jamaica, Dominica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Saba to protect historic sites, oral histories, and traditional building knowledge. Local Community & Safety: In St. Thomas, federal charges are pending after Customs and Border Protection found hundreds of rounds of ammunition in two checked suitcases arriving from Miami. VI Governance: The Virgin Islands is urging the UN to step up decolonisation efforts, including more visiting missions to assess progress on the ground. Travel/Entertainment Buzz: Caribbean Week in New York wrapped with major tourism and culture energy, including a Rum & Rhythm party featuring multiple Caribbean destinations and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Lottery Fun: Mega Millions climbed to $392M and Powerball to $225M—check your tickets.

Local Arts & Culture: Caribbean Week in New York keeps the party going with Rum & Rhythm in Lower Manhattan, bringing together tourism boards and hoteliers from the Bahamas, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, St Kitts, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica and more—plus live music, fashion energy and celebrity sightings. Community & Sports: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship wrapped in Halifax Harbour after a week of youth sailing and international friendship, with Puerto Rico’s Ines Mendez-Larminaux earning Top North American Girl honors. VI News: A man is facing federal charges after U.S. Customs and Border Protection found hundreds of rounds of ammunition in two checked suitcases arriving in St. Thomas from Miami. Public Safety: The National Weather Service in Miami dismissed any tsunami threat after a 6.1 quake west of Cuba, though tremors were felt across much of Florida. Powerball Buzz: The Powerball jackpot climbed to $225M ahead of the Monday, June 8 drawing, with tickets available across the U.S., including the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Lottery Buzz: Powerball climbs to a $225M jackpot (cash value $100.3M) ahead of the Monday, June 8 drawing—tickets are available in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and you don’t need to be a U.S. citizen to play. Local Diplomacy: The VI is urging the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation to push harder on decolonisation for the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, including support for visiting missions. Safety Update: After a 6.1 quake near Cuba, the U.S. says there’s no tsunami threat expected for Florida and the wider region. Community & Culture: UVI’s Medical Simulation Center is now an Eligible Training Provider, enabling WIOA funding for EMT training, with 10 graduates completing Cohort 2. Travel/Entertainment Tie-In: Caribbean Week in New York wraps with major tourism and culture energy, including a Rum & Rhythm party featuring USVI among the destinations. Sports: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship concludes in Halifax Harbour with 172 youth sailors competing.

Local Law & Order: A man in St. Thomas is facing federal charges after Customs and Border Protection found hundreds of rounds of ammunition in two checked suitcases arriving from Miami. Arts & Education: The University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center has been added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; ten residents completed Cohort 2 and are now eligible for NREMT certification. Community & Culture: Caribbean Week in New York continues to spotlight the region’s tourism energy, with the USVI among destinations bringing events like Rum & Rhythm to Lower Manhattan. Sports & Youth: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship wrapped in Halifax Harbour, featuring 172 young sailors from across the Americas and the Caribbean. Entertainment Buzz (USVI-linked): Online attention keeps circling “Epstein temple” imagery on Little St. James as newly released photos and permit-versus-construction details fuel fresh debate. Quick Hits: Powerball climbed to $212M for Saturday’s drawing; Mega Millions sits at $368M ahead of Friday.

Local Culture & Tourism: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 wrapped with big energy at Rum & Rhythm, bringing destinations including the US Virgin Islands into the spotlight and keeping the region’s music-and-food scene front and center. USVI Community & Training: The University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center was added to the Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training, as 10 graduates complete Cohort 2 and move toward national certification. Arts & Family Fun: Island SPACE Mango Festival returns June 21 in South Florida with Caribbean food, music, and mango-themed experiences—an easy way for fans to catch the vibe ahead of the World Cup. Sports & Youth: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship concluded in Halifax Harbour, featuring 172 young sailors from across the Americas and the Caribbean. Aviation & Travel: United says it’s adding nonstop Caribbean service fast, including a St. Croix route one flight from New York. Public Safety: Coast Guard and local partners are urging USVI residents to prep for the 2026 hurricane season, even if forecasts lean below-normal. Lottery Buzz: Powerball climbed to $212M for June 6, with a $94.5M cash option.

Local Headlines (USVI): A man is facing federal charges after Customs and Border Protection found hundreds of rounds of ammunition in two checked suitcases arriving in St. Thomas from Miami. Arts & Community: UVI’s Medical Simulation Center was added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; meanwhile, the Island SPACE Mango Festival is set for June 21 in South Florida, bringing Caribbean food, culture, music, and family fun. Sports & Youth: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship wrapped up in Halifax Harbour, highlighting youth sailing and international friendship with competitors from across the Caribbean and beyond. Culture & Travel Buzz: Caribbean Week in New York continues to draw tourism leaders and fans, including a Rum & Rhythm party that spotlighted destinations such as the USVI. Public Safety: The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins with forecasters calling for a quieter year, but the Coast Guard is urging USVI residents and mariners to prepare now. Lottery Watch: Powerball climbed to $212M ahead of the June 6 drawing.

Lottery Buzz: Powerball is up to a $212M jackpot (with a $94.5M cash option) ahead of Saturday, June 6, and tickets are sold in 45 states plus DC, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local News: A man is facing federal charges after Customs and Border Protection found hundreds of rounds of ammunition in two checked suitcases arriving in St. Thomas from Miami. Arts & Community: The UVI Medical Simulation Center has been added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training, as its EMT Cohort 2 completes with a strong path to national certification. Sports & Youth: The 2026 Optimist North American Championship wrapped in Halifax Harbour, featuring 172 youth sailors from across the Americas and beyond, with Puerto Rico’s Ines Mendez-Larminaux earning Top North American Girl honors. Culture & Travel: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 is underway, bringing tourism leaders—including USVI officials—together under “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.”

USVI Public Safety: A man is facing federal charges after U.S. Customs and Border Protection found hundreds of rounds of ammunition in two checked suitcases arriving in St. Thomas from Miami, with the bags linked to the same record locator and seized during routine X-ray screening. Arts & Education: The University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center has been added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; the center also announced Cohort 2 completion with 10 graduates now eligible for NREMT certification. Tourism & Culture: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 is underway, bringing together tourism ministers and officials—including the U.S. Virgin Islands—for talks on boosting connectivity and resilience as travel preferences shift toward authentic cultural experiences. Community & Family Fun: Island SPACE Mango Festival returns Sunday, June 21, with Caribbean food, music, and mango-themed activities ahead of Father’s Day. Sports/Travel Buzz: United Airlines plans the only nonstop New York–St. Croix route starting Oct. 31, adding another direct gateway to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

U.S. Virgin Islands & Caribbean Travel: United Airlines is adding the only nonstop New York–St. Croix service this fall, launching Oct. 31 with weekly Saturday flights from Newark—another sign airlines are moving fast to meet Caribbean demand. Arts & Education: The University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center has been added to the territory’s Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; meanwhile, the Lyman Museum is again a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active-duty military families. Local Workforce & Community: Ten EMT graduates completed UVI MSC’s Cohort 2 program and are now positioned for national certification. Culture & Tourism Spotlight: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 brings tourism ministers and officials together under “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences,” with USVI among the participating destinations. Public Safety Reminder: The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season opens June 1 with forecasts leaning below-normal, but officials stress preparedness still matters. Entertainment/Pop Culture: “Love Island USA” season 8 includes three contestants with Colorado ties, adding a fresh local angle for viewers.