Archive for October 2017

U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp announced Oct. 26 that his administration is working to address the severe bottleneck of sending and receiving mail through the United States Postal Service. Mapp said his team is seeking to address the postal delays by having mail routed directly from the mainland instead of through Puerto Rico,…

Puerto Rico will host the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event in San Juan from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, 2018 as officials work rapidly to prepare hotels and meeting facilities impacted by the recent hurricanes. “In rolling out a reenergized Caribbean Travel Marketplace, we look forward to showing the world how the courage, determination and…

About a third of the power on the island of St. Thomas has been restored, Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp said Oct. 23. Speaking to reporters, Mapp shared that the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority reports St. Thomas had 32 percent of its power restored while 15 percent of electricity has been restored in St.…

The U.S. Virgin Islands continues to register progress with its recovery efforts as normal activities resume across the territory. Speaking to reporters at his Friday press conference last week, Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp confirmed the territory will see an uptick in cruise ship calls this season, numerous beaches have been declared safe for swimming and…

Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp is publicly applauding United States President Donald J. Trump for signing into law the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017. On Oct. 26, The White House announced that the president signed Act (H.R. 2266), which provides additional fiscal year 2018 emergency supplemental funding for hurricane and wildfire relief…

Virgin Islands Port Authority Executive Director David Mapp wishes to quell public concern about airport closures in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The port authority will not close the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas or the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix, said Mapp. Mapp said that VIPA employees have received several phone…

Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp announced on Oct. 16 the creation of an expert advisory committee to help guide reconstruction and resiliency efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The VI Hurricane and Resiliency Advisory Group, under the Office of the Governor, includes local officials and community members, as…

The Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands is “pushing hard” to have Cruz Bay, St. John energized next week, Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp assured the public. Speaking to reporters at Government House, St. Croix, during a press conference on Oct. 18, Mapp said off-island linemen will join workers from the Virgin Islands Water and Power…

Speaking to reporters at Government House, St. Croix on Oct. 13, Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp announced that 60 linemen began orientation on St. Thomas to assist the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority with repairing and installing power lines. An additional 100 restoration professionals arrived on St. Croix on Oct. 14, and 50 more were…

The Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands is welcoming the return of Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas to the territory on Nov. 10. U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp and Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty reported that the cruise company will be the first to return to St. Thomas following back-to-back Category 5…