Press Releases
CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT RESPONDS TO REPORT OF MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS IN FREDERIKSTED
St. Croix, USVI,
May 9, 2026
For Immediate Release Contact: Tionee Scotland PRESS RELEASE CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT RESPONDS TO REPORT OF MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS IN FREDERIKSTED St. Croix, USVI — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) today released the following statement in response to a report of over 100 gunshots fired in Frederiksted, St. Croix: "The ongoing violence in our territory weighs heavily on me. Every incident is a painful reminder of how much work remains for us. "Frederiksted holds a very special place in my heart and in the work of my office. We have seen this town endure years of neglect and deterioration — and we have also seen the resilience of the people who refuse to give up on it. I am continually inspired by the residents, business owners, advocates, and community members who show up every single day committed to making the town of Frederiksted better. My team and I stand with you, as we always have. “Throughout my time in Congress, my team and I have consistently advocated for public safety, community investment, and regional security across the territory. Public safety begins long before a crime is committed, and I worked to ensure that USVI youth-serving organizations like the Caribbean Centers for Boys & Girls received $1 million in community project funding in 2024 to support effective youth programming. Organizations like these provide safe spaces, mentorship, and wraparound services for at-risk youth and are an integral part of violence prevention. I will continue to champion federal funding for community-based organizations on the front lines of violence prevention in the Virgin Islands. “I have also fought to restore and protect federal behavioral health grants, including SAMHSA funding and secured $141,000 for Project Cultiv8te's after-school gun violence intervention programming for at-risk youth, $857,000 for St. Clair Institute, and $788,000 for Bush Tea and Therapy Foundation. I understand that trauma, untreated mental illness, and lack of behavioral health infrastructure are significant drivers of community violence. “Additionally, I have long advocated for equipping the Virgin Islands Police Department with the resources necessary to address the unique security challenges of a Caribbean territory. This includes securing $3.9 million in federal funding to purchase three marine enforcement vessels to assist with drug-trafficking interdiction and safety patrols in the territory's waters. "Frederiksted and our entire territory deserves safety, investment, and the full attention of every level of government. I will continue to fight for nothing less." ### |