AGP Executive Report

Caribbean Heritage & Resilience: A Caribbean Culture Fund launch for “Artefacts of Jamaica” brought together cultural practitioners from Jamaica, Dominica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Saba to push better protection of historic sites, oral histories, and traditional building knowledge, spotlighting the Resilient Houses Project and its research, restoration, and digital storytelling approach. Military & Local Operations: USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned to Norfolk after a historic 10-month deployment in the U.S. Fourth Fleet area, including Caribbean support tied to embassy reinforcement, humanitarian assistance, and enhanced counter-narcotics operations. Tourism Connectivity: United Airlines announced a new nonstop route from St. Croix to Newark/New York starting Oct. 31, 2026—one weekly Saturday flight—aimed at boosting business and tourism access to the New York market. Business & Privacy: The FTC finalized a modified order against Illuminate Education over alleged failures to protect sensitive student data, underscoring the gap between privacy promises and security practices. Aviation Reliability: Newark Liberty led major Northeast airports for on-time performance in 2026 so far, citing FAA staffing, technology upgrades, and schedule adjustments after spring 2025 disruptions. Local Land-Use Watch: A long-running dispute involving Larry Page’s Virgin Islands island holdings (Hans Lollik/Little Hans Lollik) heads back to court after mediation stalled.

Air Travel & Tourism: United Airlines announced a new nonstop between St. Croix (STX) and Newark/New York (EWR) starting Oct. 31, 2026, with weekly Saturday service—an upgrade for direct access to the NYC market and a boost for St. Croix businesses and visitors. Aviation Reliability: Newark Liberty is leading major Northeast airports for on-time performance in 2026, citing FAA staffing, tech upgrades, and schedule adjustments after last spring’s radar/radio and runway disruption. Caribbean Industry Networking: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 opened in Manhattan with ministers and tourism leaders (including the U.S. Virgin Islands) pushing “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences” to strengthen connectivity and resilience. Local Business/Finance: Nathan’s Famous reported fiscal 2026 and Q4 results and declared a $0.50 quarterly dividend payable June 30, 2026. Consumer Protection & Privacy: A 3rd Circuit update on session replay code highlights steps businesses can take after rulings tied to data privacy and “digital wiretapping” claims.

Privacy & Business Risk: The 3rd Circuit is pushing back on website tracking lawsuits tied to session replay code, saying plaintiffs must show real injury and standing—not just that data was collected. Medicare Fraud Alert: Medicare Fraud Prevention Week spotlights a fast-growing phone scam using AI voice cloning that can sound exactly like a loved one. Tourism & Air Access: United Airlines announced a new nonstop St. Croix–Newark/New York route starting Oct. 31, 2026—one of the biggest connectivity boosts for the U.S. Virgin Islands. Caribbean Tourism Push: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 brings regional ministers and industry leaders together, including USVI officials, to strengthen tourism resilience and marketing. Coastal Energy Durability: A design-focused piece argues corrosion planning should be treated as a core variable for coastal PV and battery storage projects. Local Business/Travel Ops: Newark Liberty’s on-time performance rebound is credited to FAA staffing, tech upgrades, and schedule changes. Hurricane Readiness: The Coast Guard urges mariners and residents across the region, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, to prepare now for the 2026 Atlantic season. Claims Handling: A business brief warns that rushed or incomplete property/casualty inspections can ripple into longer, costlier claims outcomes.

Air Connectivity: United Airlines announced a new nonstop route between St. Croix (STX) and Newark/New York (EWR), starting Oct. 31, 2026, with weekly Saturday service—an upgrade for residents and a boost for St. Croix tourism and business travel. Aviation Reliability: Newark Liberty is leading major Northeast airports for on-time performance in 2026, after FAA staffing, technology, and schedule changes helped stabilize operations following spring 2025 disruptions. Energy & Resilience: St. Thomas and St. John saw weekend blackouts tied to mechanical issues at a power plant, with V.I. Water and Power Authority warning of outages and noting ongoing energy insecurity challenges. Coastal Power Design: A corrosion-focused design framework for coastal PV and BESS projects highlights how salt air and humidity can shorten equipment life if electrical protection isn’t planned for the environment. Tourism Industry: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 is underway, bringing CTO ministers and commissioners—including USVI leaders—together to strengthen regional tourism strategy and connectivity. Consumer Protection: The FTC finalized a modified order against Illuminate Education over alleged failures to secure sensitive student data, underscoring stricter federal expectations for privacy and security. Local Governance & Services: A USVI election-season snapshot shows a crowded field of candidates, raising questions about how parties shape platforms and governance.

Air Connectivity for St. Croix: United Airlines announced a new nonstop route from St. Croix (STX) to Newark/New York (EWR), starting Oct. 31, 2026, running weekly on Saturdays—an upgrade for residents and a boost for tourism and local business travel. Energy Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw weekend blackouts tied to mechanical issues at a power plant, with the utility warning of outages lasting about two hours for affected customers. Tourism Industry Push: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicked off with ministers and tourism leaders, including USVI officials, aiming to strengthen regional marketing and resilience as traveler preferences shift toward cultural and regenerative experiences. Coastal Power Project Durability: A new corrosion-focused design approach highlights how salt air and humidity can shorten life of coastal PV and BESS equipment—calling for better upfront electrical design for island conditions. Consumer Protection: The FTC finalized an enforcement action against Illuminate Education over a major student-data breach, underscoring that privacy promises must match real security practices. Medicare Scam Alert: Medicare Fraud Prevention Week spotlights a fast-growing phone scam using AI voice cloning to impersonate family members and push victims for Medicare info. Local Infrastructure (BVI): In the British Virgin Islands, delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment are blamed on bids coming in far above budget, forcing redesigns. Governance & Services (BVI): Mark Vanterpool argues for decentralizing BVI ministries to sister islands to spread jobs and economic activity. Aviation Reliability (Regional): Newark Liberty hit best-ever on-time performance in 2026 after FAA staffing and technology upgrades and schedule changes. Hurricane Readiness: The Coast Guard reminded USVI residents and mariners to prepare for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.

Energy Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw total blackouts over the weekend, with VI Water and Power citing mechanical fault and warning of two-hour outages while crews worked to restore service. Aviation & Tourism: United Airlines announced a new nonstop St. Croix (STX)–Newark/New York (EWR) route starting Oct. 31, 2026, a major boost for visitor access and local business connectivity. Regional Tourism Push: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 opened with ministers and industry leaders, including USVI officials, aiming to strengthen air connectivity, market share, and “One Caribbean” tourism branding. Infrastructure (BVI): In the British Virgin Islands, delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment were blamed on bids coming far above budget, forcing redesign after a CDB-funded tender. Cyber & Public Data: A NASCIO-Deloitte study reports U.S. Virgin Islands and other jurisdictions face a sharp drop in CISO confidence, with third-party breaches and AI-enabled attacks topping concerns. Agriculture Education: National FFA named 88 teacher ambassadors, including educators supporting programs across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Air Connectivity: United Airlines announced a new nonstop route between St. Croix (STX) and Newark/New York (EWR), starting Oct. 31, 2026—weekly on Saturdays—giving St. Croix direct access to the NYC market for the first time since 1994. Tourism & Regional Business: Caribbean tourism leaders and ministers gathered in New York for Caribbean Week 2026, including USVI officials, as the region pushes “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences” and works on stronger air connectivity and market resilience. Energy Reliability: The U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority reported weekend blackouts affecting St. Thomas and St. John, tied to mechanical issues at a power plant, with customers warned to expect outages. Governance & Infrastructure: In the BVI, officials said delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment are a major setback after bids came in far above budget, prompting redesigns funded by a Caribbean Development Bank loan. Cybersecurity: A new NASCIO-Deloitte study shows confidence among CISOs dropped sharply, including in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as third-party breaches and AI-enabled attacks remain top concerns. Privacy & Consumer Protection: The FTC finalized an order against Illuminate Education over alleged failures to secure sensitive student data, a reminder for any VI businesses handling personal information.

Energy Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw back-to-back total blackouts over the weekend, with Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority citing generation loss and mechanical faults as crews worked to restore service. Cybersecurity: A new NASCIO-Deloitte study reports U.S. Virgin Islands and state leaders’ confidence in protecting public data has fallen sharply, with third-party breaches and AI-enabled attacks flagged as top threats. Aviation & Tourism: United Airlines announced a new nonstop route linking St. Croix (STX) to Newark/New York (EWR) starting Oct. 31, 2026—an air-access boost for the territory’s tourism and local business travel. Regional Tourism Push: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 is underway, bringing CTO leaders and ministers—including USVI officials—together to strengthen connectivity and market resilience. Coastal Power Engineering: A corrosion-focused design framework for coastal PV and BESS highlights how salt air and humidity can shorten equipment life if not built into electrical design. Local Courts/Real Estate: Larry Page’s USVI island ownership fight continues after mediation stalled, keeping the Hans Lollik dispute tied up in Superior Court. Consumer Protection: Medicare Fraud Prevention Week spotlights a fast-growing phone scam using AI voice cloning to impersonate family members and push victims for Medicare info.

Energy Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw total blackouts again over the weekend, with VI Water and Power citing generation loss and warning customers to expect outages of about two hours—another reminder of the territory’s ongoing power instability and aging infrastructure. Airlift & Tourism: United Airlines announced a new nonstop between St. Croix (STX) and Newark/New York (EWR) starting Oct. 31, 2026, giving the island direct access to the NYC market and a boost for local tourism and business travel. Coastal Power Tech: A corrosion-focused design framework aims to extend the life of coastal PV and BESS systems, addressing salt air, humidity, wind-driven rain, and UV stress that standard screening can miss. Cybersecurity: A NASCIO-Deloitte study reports U.S. Virgin Islands and state CISOs’ confidence in protecting public data has fallen sharply, with third-party breaches and AI-enabled attacks flagged as top threats. Caribbean Business Buzz: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicked off with tourism leaders, including USVI officials, pushing “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences” and stronger air connectivity and marketing partnerships. Local Infrastructure (BVI): In the British Virgin Islands, West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment hit delays after bids came in far above budget, forcing redesigns. Fraud Watch: Medicare Fraud Prevention Week highlights a surge in Medicare scams, with phone-based schemes now driving the highest median losses.

Energy Resilience: U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority reported total blackouts hitting St. Thomas and St. John twice over the weekend, tied to loss of generation and mechanical faults, with crews working to restore service and warnings of short outages. Renewables Durability: A new corrosion design framework targets longer life for coastal PV and BESS by going beyond basic code and cost screens to account for salt air, humidity, wind-driven rain, and UV exposure. Air Connectivity: United Airlines announced a new St. Croix–Newark nonstop starting Oct. 31, 2026 (weekly Saturdays), a major boost for residents and tourism access to the NYC market. Tourism Industry: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicked off with CTO-led meetings of tourism ministers and officials, including USVI participation, focused on strengthening resilience and airlift development. Cybersecurity Watch: A NASCIO-Deloitte study found state CISO confidence dropped sharply, with U.S. Virgin Islands included in the survey, highlighting strain from third-party breaches and shrinking support. Local Business/Finance: Onity Group said it received regulatory approval for a reverse mortgage servicing portfolio sale and launched a share repurchase program.

Air Connectivity Boost: United Airlines announced a new nonstop route between St. Croix (STX) and Newark/New York (EWR), starting Oct. 31, 2026, with weekly Saturday service—an overdue upgrade for St. Croix’s tourism and business links to the NYC market. Tourism Strategy in New York: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicked off June 1 with ministers and industry leaders, including USVI officials, pushing “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences” and focusing on airlift, marketing, sustainability, and resilience. Power Reliability Worry: St. Thomas and St. John saw total blackouts again over the weekend, tied to generation and operational instability at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, underscoring ongoing energy insecurity. Local Infrastructure Setback (BVI): BVI’s West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment is delayed after bids came in far above budget, forcing redesigns under a CDB-funded project. Energy/Weather Context: Coast Guard urged mariners and residents across the region, including the USVI, to prepare for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Governance & Services (BVI): Mark Vanterpool renewed calls to decentralize government ministries to sister islands to reduce Tortola-centric development.

Air Connectivity: United Airlines will launch a new nonstop route between St. Croix (STX) and Newark/New York (EWR) starting Oct. 31, 2026—one weekly Saturday flight on a 737-700—an air-access milestone for St. Croix residents and tourism businesses. Tourism Industry: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicks off June 1 at InterContinental New York Times Square, bringing CTO ministers and commissioners (including the USVI) to focus on marketing, airlift, sustainability, and next-gen tourism leadership. Power & Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw back-to-back total blackouts over the weekend, tied to generation loss and operational instability at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, renewing pressure for faster, steadier grid fixes. Local Infrastructure: In the BVI, delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment are being blamed on bids coming in far above budget, forcing redesign after a CDB-funded tender. Waste Management Policy: The USVI Senate advanced a bill allowing controlled incineration for green waste only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available, with added limits to reduce smoke impacts. Cybersecurity (USVI included): A NASCIO-Deloitte study reports major drops in confidence among CISOs protecting public data, with third-party breaches and AI-enabled attacks flagged as top threats.

Air Access & Tourism: United Airlines will launch the first nonstop St. Croix–Newark/New York route in over 30 years, starting Oct. 31, 2026, with weekly Saturday service—an airlift boost for local businesses and visitors. Caribbean Tourism Push: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicked off June 1, bringing USVI and regional tourism leaders together on connectivity, marketing, sustainability, and next-gen tourism. Energy Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw back-to-back total blackouts over the weekend, tied to generation loss and ongoing power instability at VI Water and Power. Local Environment & Waste: The USVI Senate advanced a green waste disposal measure that allows controlled incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available. Cyber Readiness: A new NASCIO-Deloitte study finds state CISO confidence in protecting public data has fallen sharply, with third-party breaches and AI-enabled attacks flagged as major threats—relevant as USVI agencies plan for stronger digital defenses. Maritime & Security: Coast Guard and partners in San Juan apprehended eight stowaways aboard an inbound barge, underscoring continued regional port security needs.

Air Connectivity: United Airlines will launch a new nonstop route between St. Croix (STX) and Newark/New York (EWR) on Oct. 31, 2026, operating Saturdays with a 737-700—an airlift boost for residents, visitors, and the St. Croix tourism economy. Tourism Industry: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicks off June 1 at InterContinental New York Times Square, bringing regional tourism ministers and leaders together under “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences,” with U.S. Virgin Islands participation and a keynote from United’s Christine Valls. Local Infrastructure: In the British Virgin Islands, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer says delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment are a major setback after bids came in far above budget, with redesign work underway. Energy Reliability: U.S. Virgin Islands residents on St. Thomas and St. John faced total blackouts twice over the weekend, tied to generation loss at a power plant, highlighting ongoing power instability. Policy & Compliance: A new NASCIO-Deloitte study reports U.S. Virgin Islands and state cybersecurity confidence has fallen sharply, with third-party breaches and AI-enabled attacks flagged as major threats.

Air Connectivity: United Airlines says it hit its best-ever on-time rate at Newark (EWR) in April and May, after earlier spring disruptions tied to FAA outages, staffing shortages, and runway work. New Route for the VI: United also announced a new nonstop from St. Croix (STX) to Newark/New York starting Oct. 31, 2026, a Saturday service aimed at boosting tourism and business access. Tourism Industry Push: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicked off June 1 with CTO meetings in Manhattan, featuring U.S. Virgin Islands participation and airline leadership, as regional leaders focus on airlift, marketing, sustainability, and resilience. Energy Reliability: St. Thomas and St. John saw total blackouts over the weekend, with VI Water and Power citing generation loss and warning of outages while crews work to restore service. Local Infrastructure: BVI officials say delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment are a major setback after bids came in far above budget, forcing redesigns. Agriculture Funding Fight: A Grist report highlights USDA grant cancellations totaling $300 million, with farmers and nonprofits alleging the agency acted on questionable grounds. Green Waste Policy (VI): The VI Senate advanced a bill allowing controlled incineration for green waste only when safer options like composting and mulching aren’t available.

Cruise & Tourism: Norwegian Cruise Line says its Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay will open Sept. 4, 2026, with day passes and private cabanas starting May 28 for guests on or after that date. Energy Reliability: The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority reported total blackouts hitting St. Thomas and St. John twice over the weekend, tied to power-plant generation loss and mechanical faults, leaving a large share of customers without service. Cybersecurity & Public Data: A NASCIO-Deloitte study finds U.S. Virgin Islands and state CISOs’ confidence in protecting public data has fallen sharply, with third-party breaches and AI-enabled attacks flagged as top threats. Local Infrastructure: Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer called delays to the West End Ferry Terminal redevelopment a major setback after bids came in far above budget, prompting redesigns under a CDB-funded loan. Local Governance & Waste: The St. Thomas Senate advanced a green waste disposal measure allowing controlled incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available. Maritime Business: American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook sought an extension of Economic Development Commission tax benefits tied to upgrades, but the request was paused pending clarification.