USVI ACTIVE CASES CLIMB TO 2,493; INFANT HOSPITALIZED AT SRMC FOR OVER A WEEK; D.O.H. ENCOURAGING PARENTS TO VACCINATE CHILDREN 5 AND UP; BUSINESSES WARNED AGAINST FORCING SICK EMPLOYEES TO WORK

VI CONSORTIUM As Covid-19 active cases continue to surge in this wave of infection, V.I. health officials are reporting that there is a significant number of children under five who are becoming infected with the virus and are requiring hospitalization. “We are seeing higher rates of Covid-19 among pediatric ages including newborn, infant and toddlers … Continued

USVI WOMAN WHO WAS SHOT INSIDE JEWELRY STORE AT HAVENSIGHT MALL DURING BOTCHED ROBBERY HAS DIED

VI CONSORTIUM ST. THOMAS — A woman who was shot in the chest during the Dec. 4 robbery and shooting at the Glitter’s Jewelry Store at the Havensight Mall died Sunday, Police Commissioner Ray Martinez has confirmed to the Consortium. The victim, identified as 56-year-old Gregorianna Julien, was an innocent patron shopping for items when … Continued

USVI OMICRON-LED COVID-19 CASES CLIMB TO 2,150, SENDING TERRITORY’S POSITIVITY RATE TO 23.40 PERCENT

VI CONSORTIUM The Omicron variant, which as of Friday was accounting for 90 percent of all Covid-19 cases in the USVI and pushing out the deadlier Delta strain, is leading a surge of cases to daily records, with the V.I. Dept. of Health reporting 2,150 active infections Saturday, up 341 cases from Friday’s 1,809. According … Continued

BILL ALLOWING WOMEN IN USVI TO KEEP WHICHEVER SURNAME THEY CHOOSE UPON MARRIAGE APPROVED IN SENATE

VI CONSORTIUM Members of the 34 Legislature have approved a piece of legislation that will allow for married women in the U.S. Virgin Islands to not mandatory carry the surname of their husband but to choose whichever surname they prefer as part of their identification. Senator Alma Francis-Heyliger recently introduced Bill No. 34-0035 to the … Continued

BARBADIANS TO TAKE TO THE POLLS NEXT MONTH AS BARBADOS’ PM MOTTLEY CALLS SNAP ELECTION FOR JANUARY 19, 2022

Barbadians will be taking to the polls on January 19, 2022 to vote for their government of choice after Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced a snap election, some 18 months earlier than expected. Mottley made the announcement late Monday night during a 37-minute radio and television broadcast where she urged Barbadians to go and … Continued

COVID-19 CASES CLIMB TO 365 IN USVI; SCHNEIDER HOSPITAL RESTRICTS VISITATION TO VIRTUAL ONLY; OMICRON MOST LIKELY THE CAUSE OF SURGE

St. Thomas accounts for 171 active cases, St. Croix 189, and St. John 5. The surge is causing businesses and health facilities to rethink their strategies. The Schneider Regional Medical Center on Friday announced that it would restrict visits to virtual only, citing the rapid growth in cases. “Based on the rapid increase in Covid-19 … Continued

VIRGIN ISLANDERS DR. PATRICIA TURNBULL AND DR. DOMNICK FRAZER AWARDED BVI UWI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PELICAN AWARDS

Veteran Educator, Writer and Cultural Activist, Dr. Patricia Turnbull and Medical Director of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Dr. Domnick Frazer have been awarded The University of the West Indies Alumni Association (UWIAA) BVI Pelican Award for 2021. The Awards were presented to the two outstanding UWI Alumni on December 16, 2021, at a special … Continued

BARBADOS PM SIGNS NEW UN FRAMEWORK

Caribbean News Online Barbados has signed the new United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, which will cover the period 2022-2026. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, signed the document on Friday, during a brief hybrid ceremony at Ilaro Court. And, PM Mottley … Continued

USVI TOPS MOST RESILIENT CARIBBEAN DESTINATION LIST; BOSCHULTE SAYS TOURISM SECTOR PERFORMING BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

VI Consortium V.I. Department of Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte has disclosed that the tourism sector in the U.S. Virgin Islands is performing beyond expectations and the completion of phase one of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport Terminal Expansion and Modernization Project will continue to build on that outstanding performance. “We are doing extremely well, this … Continued