AGP Executive Report

Travel Spotlight: TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2026 is turning heads with 21 Asian picks, led by Thailand (five spots) plus standout Singapore venues like a restored Teochew mansion and a new rainforest-style wildlife attraction. Local Politics: USVI Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach told UVI graduates on St. Croix that the territory’s U.S. relationship isn’t set in stone and floated the idea of deeper ties with the British Virgin Islands. Health Watch: The CDC reports dengue is surging—average annual cases in the U.S. jumped 359% in 2024 vs. 2010–2023, with most cases tied to travel, including from the Caribbean and US territories like Puerto Rico and the USVI. USVI/Caribbean Buzz: A new report says Curaçao is emerging as one of the region’s most stable tourism markets, with the lowest seasonality score across the Caribbean. Community & Culture: Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Kappa Tau chapter marks 50 years of service, scholarship, leadership, and sisterhood this May 22–23.

Territory’s Future Talk: Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach told UVI graduates on St. Croix that the U.S. Virgin Islands’ political relationship with the U.S. “should not be viewed as permanent,” stressing that the Constitution doesn’t fully apply and that Congress holds “plenary” authority—then floated the idea of deeper ties with the British Virgin Islands. Health Watch: The CDC reports dengue is surging, with a 359% jump in average annual U.S. cases in 2024 vs. 2010–2023, and travel-linked cases tied to the Caribbean—including Puerto Rico and the USVI—driving much of the rise. Local Spotlight: A bill would rename the Bolongo Bay Head Start facility for Dilsa Capdeville, honoring decades of child protection and domestic violence advocacy in the territory. Tourism Angle: Curaçao is being singled out for steadier, more year-round tourism demand across the Caribbean. Ongoing Buzz: New claims tied to Epstein’s Little St. James continue to draw attention, including allegations of trespassers being confronted by staff.

Territory’s Political Future: Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach told UVI graduates on St. Croix that the U.S. Virgin Islands’ status as an unincorporated territory isn’t “permanent,” stressing that Congress holds “plenary” authority and warning the next generation will help decide what the territory becomes—while he also floated deeper ties with the British Virgin Islands. Public Health Watch: A CDC report shows dengue cases in the U.S. jumped 359% in 2024, with most cases travel-linked, including from Caribbean destinations such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands—prompting renewed travel precautions. Local Travel Buzz: A new “no passport needed” travel roundup highlights easy Caribbean-style escapes for Americans, keeping the focus on nearby U.S. territories. Ongoing Story: Fresh claims tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s Little St. James continue to draw attention as visitors and trespassers clash with the new owner’s staff.

USVI Political Future Talk: Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach told UVI graduates on St. Croix that the territory’s U.S. relationship “should not be viewed as permanent,” stressing Congress holds broad authority over the islands and hinting at possible deeper ties with the British Virgin Islands. Caribbean Travel Buzz: A new report says Curaçao is standing out for steadier, more year-round tourism demand across the region. Local Culture & Community: Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Kappa Tau chapter is set to mark 50 years of service, scholarship, leadership, and sisterhood this May 22–23. Tourism Without a Passport: A travel roundup highlights “exotic” spots Americans can reach without a U.S. passport, including Puerto Rico’s Old San Juan and Hawaii. Military Family Perk: Blue Star Museums continues offering free summer admission to active-duty service members and families, with participating sites that include the U.S. Virgin Islands. Off-Island Headlines: The week also carried fresh Epstein-related updates tied to Little St. James and new House oversight transcript details.

Culture & Community: A new Cahoon Museum of American Art exhibit, “From Borough to Bay: A Legacy Illuminated,” is spotlighting seven Black Brooklyn families and their summer lives in Osterville during the 1960s and 1970s, using backlit “archiscapes” and months of family interviews—on view through June 14. Service & Leadership: Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Kappa Tau chapter at the University of West Georgia is set to mark 50 years of service, scholarship, leadership, and sisterhood during a May 22–23 anniversary weekend. Caribbean Travel Watch: Curaçao is being singled out for steadier, more year-round tourism growth, with a report noting it has the lowest seasonality score across the Caribbean. Local Angle (USVI): Meanwhile, fresh claims tied to “Little St Jeff’s” on Little Saint James describe alleged trespasser incidents and staff responses, as the island’s new owner faces ongoing scrutiny.

Caribbean Tourism Stability: Curaçao is being singled out as the region’s most year-round steady tourism market, with a 2026 report showing it has the lowest seasonality score in the Caribbean (21), far below Aruba (24) and even more so winter-heavy destinations like Barbados (228). USVI Epstein Update: On “Little St Jeff’s” in the U.S. Virgin Islands, new claims describe trespassers being chased off and at least one alleged assault involving visitors—while House investigators continue pressing the Epstein network, including fresh detail from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s testimony about a 2005 visit. Military Family Perks: Blue Star Museums kicks off May 16, offering free summer admission for active-duty service members and families across the U.S., including the U.S. Virgin Islands. Health Access: A new at-home STI testing program is launching via a partnership with RAINN, aiming to reach survivors who face stigma or limited healthcare access. Local Community Spotlight: A VI naming effort is advancing for the Bolongo Bay Head Start facility, honoring Dilsa Capdeville after decades of child and domestic violence advocacy.

Epstein Island Drama: Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands is seeing fresh chaos tied to its new owner, Stephen Deckoff—reports say trespassers have been chased off by staff, while police-linked accounts allege at least one visitor was hog-tied naked and another was bound with duct tape and assaulted. Local Safety & Enforcement: Deckoff’s camp says “lawful citizens arrests” will continue if trespassing persists, as drones and jet-skis keep showing up. Health Access: A new at-home STI testing push is launching in the U.S., including the U.S. Virgin Islands, aiming to remove barriers for survivors and people in areas with limited care. Community Spotlight: The territory is also in the news for a long-awaited naming step—Bolongo Bay Head Start could soon be renamed for Dilsa Capdeville, after decades of child and domestic violence advocacy. Caribbean Attention: Puerto Rico and Jamaica are leading the region’s official destination social media race, with creators and livestreamers increasingly driving the next wave of tourism buzz.

Epstein Fallout: House Oversight just released more of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s closed-door testimony, including his claim that a 2005 comment about “the right kind of massage” struck him as “sexual in nature,” and that he cut short a visit after seeing a massage table—while lawmakers keep digging into Epstein’s network. Local Impact: The U.S. Virgin Islands is also showing up in the wider story as Lutnick testified he visited Epstein’s Little Saint James for lunch with family. Science & Seas: Woods Hole researchers unveiled an autonomous underwater robot that can map coral reef “hotspots” by combining cameras and sound in real time. Military Community: Deering Estate is joining Blue Star Museums for free summer admission for active-duty service members and families. Food Security: USPS’s Stamp Out Hunger drive returns Saturday, with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands included in the nationwide collections.

Epstein Probe: House Oversight just released more closed-door testimony tied to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, including his claim that during a 2005 visit he heard Epstein’s “massage” comment and believed it was “sexual in nature,” and a separate transcript detail that Lutnick’s family visited Epstein’s Little Saint James island for lunch in 2012—while Epstein’s staff allegedly knew they were in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Science & Environment: A new autonomous underwater robot is mapping coral reef “hotspots” by combining sound and visuals in real time, aiming to help pinpoint where marine life concentrates. Local Culture & Community: Deering Estate is joining the Blue Star Museums program for free summer admission for active-duty military and families, running May 16 through Sept. 7. Territory Spotlight: A bill is advancing to rename the Bolongo Bay Head Start Facility for Dilsa Capdeville, honoring decades of child and domestic violence advocacy in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Blue Star Museums Kickoff: Deering Estate is joining the 2026 Blue Star Museums program, offering free summer admission to active-duty U.S. military and families starting Armed Forces Day, Saturday May 16, through Labor Day, Monday Sept. 7. Military Return Home: Carrier Air Wing 8 has come back to its home naval air stations after an 11-month, record-setting deployment, including operations tied to the Caribbean and beyond. Health Access: A new Safe Access Program is launching free at-home STI testing for sexual assault survivors, with initial test distribution starting today in the U.S. and even the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local Honor: In the Virgin Islands, a push is advancing to name the Bolongo Bay Head Start Facility for Dilsa Capdeville, after decades of child protection and advocacy. Food Drive Reminder: Stamp Out Hunger hits Saturday May 9—leave non-perishable food by your mailbox for local pantries. Caribbean Spotlight: Puerto Rico and Jamaica are leading the region’s official destination social media race, but the next growth may hinge on creators and livestreamers turning island culture into global attention.

Safe Access for Survivors: Visby and RAINN just launched the Safe Access Program, sending 1,000 free at-home STI test kits to RAINN partners, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, to help sexual assault survivors get timely chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis testing without added barriers. Caribbean Tourism Buzz: Puerto Rico and Jamaica are leading the Caribbean’s official destination social media race, but the next growth push may hinge on creators and diaspora storytellers—not just tourism boards. Local Spotlight: A Bolongo Bay Head Start facility in the U.S. Virgin Islands could soon be renamed for Dilsa Capdeville, credited with decades of child protection and domestic violence advocacy. Food Security Push: The 34th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive hits Saturday, May 9, with letter carriers collecting non-perishable donations nationwide, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. USVI in the Mix: Multiple stories this week keep pointing back to the territory—health access, community services, and the same national support network.

Caribbean Travel Buzz: Puerto Rico and Jamaica are leading the Caribbean’s official destination social media race, but the next growth leap may hinge on creators, diaspora storytellers, and global livestream voices—not just tourism board posts. USVI Community Spotlight: A Bolongo Bay Head Start facility could soon be renamed for Dilsa Capdeville, honoring 60 years of work protecting women and children, building child abuse prevention efforts, and launching Kidscope. Food Security Push: The 34th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive hits Saturday, May 9—leave non-perishable items by your mailbox and letter carriers will deliver to local pantries, including across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local-Regional Connectivity: ProSat Networks says it’s expanding professional Starlink installation and managed Wi‑Fi/IT services nationwide, including US territories like Puerto Rico and USVI. Politics Watch: In Washington, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced intense questioning over his past contact with Jeffrey Epstein, with Democrats accusing him of shifting accounts.

USVI Community Recognition: The Bolongo Bay Head Start Facility may soon be renamed for Dilsa Capdeville, honoring a woman credited with 60 years of protecting women and children in the territory through social services, child abuse prevention, and domestic violence advocacy. A packed Committee on Government Operations meeting heard Bill No. 36-0114, sponsored by Sen. Carla Joseph, as supporters praised Capdeville for building institutions that changed lives. Starlink Expansion: ProSat Networks says it’s ramping up professional Starlink installation and managed wireless/IT network services in Georgia, targeting homes, businesses, and even maritime customers. Broader Headlines: A new look at Jeffrey Epstein’s American Express “Black card” operations highlights secret trip handling, while another story spotlights how first responders can be survivors too. Local Note: No other USVI-specific updates stood out in the rest of the week’s coverage beyond the Capdeville naming push.

Youth Sports Spotlight: Cape Coral Rowing Club’s Women’s Pair—Brooke Bunch and Sofia Mayus—won silver at USRowing’s Southeast Regionals in Sarasota and just earned a bid to the USRowing Youth National Championship Regatta. Election & Labor: AFGE is backing four Democrats in Alabama’s midterms, including U.S. House candidate Andrew Sneed and Agriculture Commissioner hopeful Ron Sparks. Caribbean Travel Watch: Breeze Airways is adding a new nonstop route to St. Thomas—starting Dec. 16—from Atlantic City, with twice-weekly service. Community Help (May 9): The 34th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is Saturday, with residents asked to leave non-perishable donations by their mailbox for letter carriers to deliver to local pantries. Big National Politics: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s Epstein island visit remains a flashpoint as House Oversight questions continue behind closed doors.

In the past 12 hours, the dominant thread in coverage is the ongoing House Oversight probe into Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Multiple reports describe Lutnick’s closed-door, transcribed testimony and the sharp partisan fallout afterward. Democrats accused him of being evasive and “changing his story,” with Rep. Yassamin Ansari calling him a “pathological liar,” while Republicans—including Oversight Chair James Comer—argued Lutnick was “forthcoming” and that Democrats were repeating questions because there were limited angles to pursue. The reporting also emphasizes that Lutnick’s account has evolved: he told lawmakers he saw a massage table and said he avoided a personal/professional relationship after spotting it, but other details from the broader Epstein record set off renewed scrutiny.

Several of the most recent articles also frame what Lutnick said about the nature and timing of his interactions. Coverage states that Lutnick told investigators he met Epstein three times, including a 2005 coffee/tour when they were neighbors, and later acknowledged additional encounters after earlier public claims that he had cut ties in 2005. One report says Lutnick told lawmakers he was “unsettled” by how Epstein’s assistant knew he was in the U.S. Virgin Islands when he received a lunch invitation—referring to a 2012 lunch on Epstein’s island. Another report notes that Democrats criticized the closed-door format itself, pointing out the interview was not videotaped and that Lutnick was not under oath in the way a public proceeding might be.

Alongside the Epstein-related political coverage, the other major “last 12 hours” item is the lead-up to the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger food drive on Saturday, May 9. Multiple USPS-linked and local announcements reiterate how the drive works—residents leave non-perishable donations in a bag by their mailbox and letter carriers collect them for local pantries—and stress the scale and timing rationale, including that food banks often see shortages by spring and summer. The coverage also highlights the program’s long-running footprint, including that the Postal Service network reaches Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In the broader 7-day window, the same themes continue with additional supporting context. The Epstein coverage expands beyond Lutnick to include other allegations and investigations referenced in the articles (including claims about grooming and additional Epstein-linked legal scrutiny), while the food-drive theme remains consistent across multiple outlets and locations. There is also continuity in Virgin Islands-related reporting through travel and local-interest items—such as Breeze Airways adding nonstop service to St. Thomas from Atlantic City—though the most recent evidence in this dataset is sparse on Virgin Islands-specific policy or community developments beyond the food-drive logistics and the travel announcement.

In the past 12 hours, the dominant thread in the coverage is the ongoing U.S. congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and associates—centered on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Multiple reports describe Lutnick’s Wednesday testimony to the House Oversight Committee, including Democrats’ criticism that he “changed his story” as new details emerge from the “Epstein files.” The most specific new allegation in the reporting is that Lutnick told lawmakers he avoided Epstein after spotting a massage table in Epstein’s home in 2005, while also acknowledging additional encounters later; other coverage adds that Lutnick was “unsettled” by a lunch invitation tied to Epstein’s Little St. James island and that a photo of Lutnick and Epstein from that visit became controversial after being removed and later restored in the Justice Department’s online tranche.

Alongside Lutnick-focused reporting, the last 12 hours also include broader Epstein-related legal and personnel developments. One article says lawyers for Leon Black—accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a teenage girl in Epstein’s orbit—reached out to a federal judge in 2024 to challenge the alleged victim’s claims, leading to court proceedings conducted outside public view. Another report says a professor at NYU/SPS sent Epstein “hundreds of emails” after Epstein’s conviction, including messages referencing Little St. James. Together, these items reinforce that the investigation and related litigation are still producing new documentary details, though the evidence in this set is largely about testimony, emails, and court filings rather than new criminal charges.

Outside the Epstein probe, the most prominent “service” item in the last 12 hours is the lead-up to the May 9 Stamp Out Hunger food drive. USPS and other coverage emphasize the 34th annual National Association of Letter Carriers event: residents can leave non-perishable donations by their mailbox for letter carriers to deliver to local pantries, with the drive described as having collected more than 1.94 billion pounds over 30+ years and aimed at addressing food insecurity affecting tens of millions of Americans.

There are also a few notable non-Epstein developments that connect to the U.S. Virgin Islands and regional life. Breeze Airways is adding nonstop flights to St. Thomas from Atlantic City (beginning Dec. 16, twice weekly), and separate local coverage highlights Carnival Village programming in St. Thomas featuring Hypasounds and Alison Hinds. Background items from earlier in the week add continuity on VI-related themes—such as additional Epstein-linked institutional scrutiny (e.g., Bard College president Leon Botstein stepping down after an investigation into visits to Epstein’s townhouse) and other community/event coverage—but the most recent evidence is strongest on Lutnick/Epstein and the Stamp Out Hunger push.