Virgin Islanders have one week left to tell government officials what they think of a glowing 30-foot-long billboard proposed for the Weymouth Rhymer Highway in St. Thomas. In addition, local politicians needs to make sure their campaign ads are not posted in the territory’s historic districts, officials warned Tuesday.
A private company asked the Department of Public Works for permission to build a 10-foot by 30-foot LED-lit billboard between the turnouts for Cost U Less and PriceSmart in central St. Thomas. Public Works Commissioner Derrick Gabriel said he, personally, didn’t like the idea but wanted to hear what other Virgin Islanders thought.
The Department of Public Works issued the public comment period May 7, giving people until May 26 to register their cheers or jeers at the idea.
Commenters to the Source social media posts were overwhelming against the idea for a new LED-lit sign, and complained about other, smaller glowing signage changing the character of the island to “trashy.” A small but vocal minority said they didn’t see the big deal: Ugly signs crowd plenty of roadways so what’s one more?
To clear up any misconception or rumors online about the proposed billboard, it is not funded or backed by the Virgin Islands government or public funds in any way, officials said.
Gabriel encouraged St. Thomians to write to contactdpw@dpw.vi.gov or call 340-776-4844 to comment on the proposed billboard. The public comment period is scheduled to close Tuesday, May 26.
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources was concerned with vastly smaller signs Tuesday that could be no less divisive.
Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol reminded public-office aspirants that political advertising was strictly prohibited within the Virgin Islands’ historic districts in St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
The law, Title 29, Chapter 3, Section 281 of the Rules and Regulations of the Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission, has been part of the VI Code since at least 2019.
“Off-premise signage — including sandwich boards and other freestanding signs — is not permitted within historic districts except as part of approved uniform directories,” Oriol said in a written statement. “All event posters, flyers, banners, and political advertisements currently displayed within these historic districts must be removed immediately. Failure to comply will result in fines as authorized by Virgin Islands law.”
DPNR provided maps outlining in teal the areas where political signage is not permitted. The historic districts may extend further than most residents realize.
