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Clear blue water at Turtle Beach in the US Virgin Islands (photo Courtesy of USVI)

Turtle Beach, St. Croix

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Honeymoon Beach, St. John

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Best beaches of US Virgin Islands-Jacqueline Peeters

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Best beaches of US Virgin Islands-Jacqueline Peeters

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Honeymoon Beach, St. John

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Kelsey Grammer- famous actor, who has done many movies and voice overs for movies like Toy Story.

Doug E Fresh- famous Rapper and producer

Tim Duncan- 5 time champion basketball player who before playing basketball was a swimmer in the US virgin Island.

Willette Smith

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Us  virgin island is a group of  caribean island and islets.

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Us  virgin island is a group of  caribean island and islets.

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Gail Thomas

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https://stmaartenehas.com/travel-requirements/

Carrie Palmer

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TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS (Effective April 1, 2022)

ANNOUNCEMENT

1. As of April 1, 2022, non-fully vaccinated travelers can also enter with a negative 24 hr. Ag test.

2. Transit passengers with final destination Saba, must complete an EHAS application for Sint Maarten.

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic Sint Maarten has established a mandatory health pre-authorization application through an Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) for every visitor arriving by air including transits, Sint Maarten and Saint Martin residents. Without the health pre-authorization boarding will not be possible. Be advised that processing time can take up to 12 hours. For visitors arriving by ferry boat from St.Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, St. Barth’s, Saba and St, Eustatius and cruisers without an agent health pre-authorization application through the Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) is mandatory as well. Other maritime vessels please read the latest requirements here.

2. The test requirements vary depending on the vaccination and covid-19 infection status. Please scroll down.

3. All fully vaccinated travelers:  The EHAS application must be completed. The date of completion of vaccination must be submitted as well as valid proof of vaccination (official country vaccination card or QR code, full name and name, dates administered and batch number(s) of vaccine) from the country where the vaccine was administered. A received booster shot must be indicated in the appropriate field and proof thereof (official country vaccination card or QR code) must be uploaded as well. A booster shot has to be administered at least 14 days before departure.

4. You are considered fully vaccinated with an accepted vaccine :

2 weeks after the second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac/Coronavac and Covishield vaccines, or

2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, or

2 weeks after the second dose in a 2-dose series combination of a single dose Pfizer or Moderna with a single dose Astra Zeneca, or

2 weeks after a single-dose of vaccine after a confirmed COVID-19 infection within 6 months before the vaccination (to be stated on proof of vaccination in absence of a digital COVID-19 infection certificate).

the accepted Covid-19 vaccines are: Comirnaty (Pfizer), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (Astrazeneca), Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, Covishield (Astrazeneca), Sinopharm and Sinovac/CoronaVac.

5. Travelers who have recovered from a Covid-19 infection within 9 months before departure must upload one of the below acceptable proof of recovery:

A government / public health authority issued proof of recovery (Digital Covid Recovery Certificate or letter)

A lab issued positive covid-19 PCR test result also indicating a Ct value of 35 or higher.

A signed and stamped Covid-19 recovery letter from a physician accompanied by the positive Covid-19 PCR test result.

6. All non- fully vaccinated and those with a past Covid-19 infection older than 9 months, are required to have a negative Covid-19 test in accordance with the required type of test. For the age category of 5 up to 10 years, an oropharyngeal swab will also be accepted.

7. The government of Sint Maarten has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 insurance for all travelers with destination Sint Maarten with the exception of Sint Maarten residents, transit passengers departing the same day (checkbox), flight crews (checkbox), transiting cruise ship crews (checkbox), French nationals residing in France or a French territory, BES-ZVK insured (checkbox) and AUC faculty and students (special procedure). The insurance purchasing process is an integrated step in the EHAS application. Travelers requiring the COVID-19 insurance must complete this process upon application. For more information on and all questions related to the COVID-19 insurance please visit www.sxmprotectionplan.com or contact customer support at info@sxmprotectionplan.com

8. The application must be completed in order to be processed. This includes proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, information on the vaccination status (including official proof of completed vaccination in case fully vaccinated), recovery information on a Covid-19 infection and the purchase of the mandatory COVID-19 insurance in case required. Children must have the online health form filled out by their parents. Provide a working personal email address on which you are reachable.

9. All incoming passengers are subjected to temperature checks and other screening protocols and may be subjected to mandatory testing at their own expense. Failure to comply with the screening at the Health Check Point upon arrival will result in you not being cleared to enter St. Maarten and sent back to your originating country. If re-tested upon arrival you will be required to self-quarantine at your place of lodging/residence until the test results are known.

10. Applicants will receive confirmation of their accepted application. Non-completed applications will be automatically deleted within a day after the provided travel date.

11. If health authorization is pre-approved, you will receive a (printable) pre-authorization PDF via e-mail, which must be presented at check in and to the health and immigration authorities upon arrival. This PDF will also contain a QR code which will show the vaccination status and COVID test result when scanned. Keep the original rt-PCR or antigen test result and proof of vaccination always with you. Please check your spam/junk mail folder as well in case you haven’t received a response. If health authorization is not pre-approved, you will receive an e-mail informing you that health pre-authorization has been denied.

12. Adherence to all other safety and hygiene protocols like social distancing, mandatory face mask wearing and hand sanitizing where required.

COVID-19 TEST REQUIREMENTS

Traveling t o Sint Maarten from:

EHAS application required

Fully vaccinated only or combined with booster shot >14 days

Covid-19 recovered < 9 months before departure

Children 0 to 5 yrs.

All others  5 yrs. and older

Any Country

yes

no test required

no test required

acceptable proof of recovery(*)

no test required

rt-PCR test within 48 hrs. or Ag test within 24 hrs. before departure

(*)  see above

The rt-PCR/Ag test sample for the SARS-COV-2 virus must be obtained from naso-pharyngeal swab in adolescents and adults. An oro-pharygeal swab is accepted in case of children.

Results from covid-19 collection home test kits will not be accepted. Airlines might require you to show a negative lab test result.

The original test result to be uploaded as part of EHAS application procedure must clearly specify the name of the laboratory or clinic, full name of test subject, type of test administered, name of antigen test, sample date, source of the swab, result date and a negative result. Non-compliant test results, hand written or e-mail statements from doctors will not be accepted.

Applicants with a recent COVID-19 infection and still a positive COVID-19 test will only be granted entry with a pos rt-PCR test result when the Ct v alue is 35 or higher. The Ct value must be clearly indicated on the test result.

AIRLINE, PRIVATE FLIGHT, AND AIR AMBULANCE CREW

1. All airline, private flight and air ambulance crew must be able to demonstrate proof of full vaccination or in case not fully vaccinated, either an acceptable proof of recovery or a valid negative COVID-19 test result according to the vaccination and covid-19 infection status.

2. Crew members with stopovers of more than one(1) night must submit an application through EHAS. The same travel requirements as for passengers apply in these cases.

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS ARRIVING BY AIR AND DEPARTING BY CRUISESHIP FROM SINT MAARTEN

1. All passengers must complete the application procedure through EHAS before departing to Sint Maarten.

2. Within 48 hours, before disembarking again in Sint Maarten at the end of the cruise, all passengers older 5 years and older must have an antigen test performed by the cruise line.

3. Applying through EHAS is not necessary when returning to Sint Maarten at the end of the cruise.

4. The purchase of COVID-19 insurance (see below) is mandatory when staying more than one (1) day in Sint Maarten either before or after the cruise. The insurance is only valid during the days of stay in Sint Maarten between the arrival date and return date to the country of origin.

TESTING POSITIVE WHILE ON ISLAND

1. Notify your hotel/accommodation

2. Inform everyone you had contact with from the day of a positive test until now (asymptomatic) or 2 days before you first had symptoms (symptomatic).

3. Review your EHAS travel insurance policy

4. Maintain general measures; wash your hands; wear a mask properly; keep a 2 m distance; ensure adequate ventilation.

5. Do not travel if: You are sick, you tested positive for COVID-19 or are awaiting your results of the COVID-19 test.

6. If you reside or are vacationing on the Dutch side, you are eligible to receive a digital COVID certificate of recovery. 7 days after your positive test date, you can retrieve your digital COVID certificate through the following portal. https://services.sintmaartengov.org/form.aspx?fid=f632f130-ed29-481b-af6a-2936f137e648&v=7qfalqNyfP.

OUTBOUND TRAVELERS

1. For information on testing locations please visit https://stmaartenupdates.com/testing-on-island/  Thank you for choosing St. Maarten as your preferred vacation destination.

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TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS (Effective April 1, 2022)

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Additional Fun Facts About the US Virgin Islands-Jacqueline Peeters

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Additional Fun Facts About the US Virgin Islands-Jacqueline Peeters

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Fun Facts
Baobabs tree with fruit

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-Gabrielle Reece- American professional volleyball player, sports announcer, fashion model, actress and producer
-Tim Duncan- He is an actor and writer, known for The 1st Fifteen, Spider-Man: Homecoming, NBA Finals: Watch the Game (2017) and 9 - Un chiffre, un homme (2008).
-Kelsey Grammer- A six-time Emmy Award winner, Kelsey Grammer was born in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, to Sally (Cranmer), a singer, and Frank Allen Grammer, Jr., a musician and restaurateur. He was raised in New Jersey and Florida.
-Doug E. Fresh- New York-raised Doug E. Fresh, born Douglas Davis, got his initial notoriety for being the original human beat-box, inventing a method to imitate a drum machine using breath control through the teeth, lips, and gums.

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Gabrielle Reece was born on January 6, 1970 in La Jolla, California, and raised in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands as Gabrielle Allyse Reece. American professional volleyball player, sports announcer, fashion model, actress and producer, known for Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003), Gattaca (1997), and ...

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People from the US Virgin Islands. My People. My People. - IMDb

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Gabrielle Reece was born on January 6, 1970 in La Jolla, California, and raised in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands as Gabrielle Allyse Reece. American professional volleyball player, sports announcer, fashion model, actress and producer, known for Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003), Gattaca (1997), and ...

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 Quelbe, a style of folk music that originated in the Virgin Islands, developed as a way for islanders to preserve their rich storytelling traditions. 

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 Quelbe, a style of folk music that originated in the Virgin Islands, developed as a way for islanders to preserve their rich storytelling traditions. 

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Nancy Holden

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CLYDE TALKS KNICKS FROM ST. CROIX

Walt "Clyde" Frazier talks to Bill Pidto and Alan Hahn from his island paradise in St. Croix, as the Knicks' living legend discusses his first NBA title and the Knicks' chances in the NBA Draft Lottery.

(Andrea Whittaker)

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Walt "Clyde" Frazier talks to Bill Pidto and Alan Hahn from his island paradise in St. Croix, as the Knicks' living legend discusses his first NBA title and the Knicks' chances in the NBA Draft Lottery.

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Walt "Clyde" Frazier talks to Bill Pidto and Alan Hahn from his island paradise in St. Croix, as the Knicks' living legend discusses his first NBA title and the Knicks' chances in the NBA Draft Lottery.

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Virgin Islanders are religious people. Popular religions include Baptist and Catholic. Superstitions and storytelling are very common. There are often stories about jumbies (spirits) that walk around in homes, on the street and anywhere the person telling the story wants them to be.

Kimberly Paul

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https://www.usvifestivals.vi/

Carrie Palmer

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St. Thomas

April 27, 2022 - May 1, 2022

Like all of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas has plenty of opportunities to lounge on the beach, splash in the sea, or amp it up with water sports. It also boasts a bountiful duty-free shopping scene just be prepared to brave the cruise ship crowds. Charlotte Amalie swells with Danish colonial architecture and pirate legend. Shiver ye timbers at Blackbeard's Castle, then work up an appetite by climbing the historic 99 Steps, constructed from the ballast bricks of 18th century Danish ships.

St. Croix

December 4, 2021 - January 8, 2022

Isn't it romantic? The Caribbean island of St. Croix is practically the backdrop of a Hollywood love story. White sand beaches and lush rain forests set the scene for tropical bliss. Take in the historic small town charm of Christiansted and Frederiksted, sip your way through a spirited tour of the Cruzan Rum Distillery or explore the ruins of a sugar plantation. And the diving! oh, the diving. Think shipwrecks, think vibrant ocean life, think endless underwater possibilities.

St. John

June 26, 2022 - July 4, 2022

Ecotourism is alive and kicking on St. John. There's more than enough to do on land, from watching for wildlife in the national park to hiking miles of trails or strolling sandy white beaches. Hit the water for amazing snorkeling, swimming, even underwater photography of course. This is the Caribbean, after all.

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Colorfully costumed dancers on stilts, called mocko jumbies, are prominently featured in many US Virgin Islands festivals. Although each of the US Virgin Islands has its own vibrant Carnival celebrations, St John's best combines the Caribbean's most famous festival with the United States own Independence Day.

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Nancy Holden

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Are you interested in visiting the Virgin Islands? Some people say we have beautiful beaches, great water sports, fun culture, cool people and other neat things that make it a great place to visit. We agree with all of that, and we're glad you want to check it out for yourself.

If you're looking for where to stay, how to get around, boat trips, island hopping and all that good stuff. Look no further, click on a Island below and start planning your trip.

Select a Island to Explore

Things To Do

General Virgin Islands Information

Order Today: $13.95

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Are you interested in visiting the Virgin Islands? Some people say we have beautiful beaches, great water sports, fun culture, cool people and other neat things that make it a great place to visit. We agree with all of that, and we're glad you want to check it out for yourself.

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Politeness is considered important. Children are told to address adults as "sir" or "ma'am." Visitors are encouraged to smile, use greetings, and maintain a courteous attitude.
Kimberly Paul

Read more: https://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/United-States-Virgin-Islands.html#ixzz7VTWQMUNX

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Popular dishes:

Red Grout

Pot Fish

Rotis

Pates

Conch Fritters

Callaloo

Cow Heel Soup

Johnny Cake

Fish & Fungi

(Andrea Whittaker)

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IMMERSE YOURSELF IN CENTURIES OF EXPERIENCES

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IMMERSE YOURSELF IN CENTURIES OF EXPERIENCES

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https://www.visitusvi.com/culture-history/

Carrie Palmer

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Visitors to our islands are encouraged to get to know the people of the islands, explore their heritage and celebrate their way of life.

Go back in time hiking or horseback riding down the Heritage Trail on St. Croix. Remember the somber past of enslavement as you tour plantation homes or visit the Estate Whim Museum, the oldest sugar plantation museum on the islands.

Explore Fort Christiansvaern, one of the five remaining Danish forts in the Virgin Islands, the Apothecary Museum, the St. George Village Botanical Garden and the Cruzan Rum Distillery.

Be moved by history when you visit Fort Frederik, the site of the emancipation of the slaves in 1848 in St. Croix. Feel the soul of St. Croix in the sugar mills that dot the island's hills.

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Visitors to our islands are encouraged to get to know the people of the islands, explore their heritage and celebrate their way of life. Go back in time hiking or horseback riding down the Heritage Trail on St. Croix.

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The U.S. Virgin Islands are known for their white sand beaches, including Magens Bay and Trunk Bay, and deepwater harbors.

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The U.S. Virgin Islands are known for their white sand beaches, including Magens Bay and Trunk Bay, and deepwater harbors.

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Nancy Holden

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All three of our islands have historic houses of worship to explore – some with congregations dating back to the 1600s and one of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere.

Delve into the local food and experience the spirited celebrations of the three islands’ carnivals: St. Thomas in April, St. John from June-July, and St. Croix from December-January.

With 7 flags having flown over our islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands has drawn the eyes of many across the globe.

Come see the Real Nice adventure that waits in the tapestry of our experiences.
Kimberly Paul

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How does the US benefit from the Virgin Islands? Monetarily.

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How does the US benefit from the Virgin Islands? Monetarily.

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USVI uses U.S. Currency and has the protection of the U.S. flag and U.S. courts.

Manufacturers have duty-free, quota-free access to the U.S. mainland with "Made in the USA" labels on many types of products.

Its Economic Development Commission benefits help qualifying companies reduce their taxes and increase their profits and rivals any benefits package across the globe. Up to 90% reduction in corporate income tax, 90% reduction in personal income tax, and 100% exemption on business property tax.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is unique among offshore tax planning jurisdictions: it is the only jurisdiction which can offer a tax-free entity under the U.S. flag.

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Religious Beliefs. The predominant religious affiliations are Baptist (42 percent), Catholic (34 percent), and Episcopalian (17 percent). Remnants of African culture are found in the belief in spirits.

Religious Practitioners. Under Danish rule, the Lutheran church was the state church; to practice any other religion, an official permit had to be granted. Permits were granted fairly easily, and sermons were not censored. With the coming of the Americans in 1917, the Catholic Redemptorists became the predominant religious order, and Catholicism was a major force through the 1940s, in terms of the influence which priests wielded over parishioners.

Rituals and Holy Places. Saint Thomas has the second oldest synagogue in the New World. Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church and the Friedensthal Moravian Church on Saint Croix are the oldest congregations of their kind in the United States. To commemorate their freedom in 1848,

The colonial style architecture of Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas. European and African cultures have influenced local architecture.

former slaves built the All Saints Cathedral. The Arawak Indian carvings on Saint John may have religious significance.
Kimberly Paul
Read more: https://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/United-States-Virgin-Islands.html#ixzz7VTVOCrvU

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Fun Facts

The US Virgin Islands is not a state, but is an 'insular area' of the United States. An insular area is like a territory that is an island.

In Denmark, the US Virgin Islands are referred to as The Former Danish West Indian Islands.

The National Anthem is the Virgin Islands March.

Nicknames for the islands are 'Rock City' for St. Thomas, 'Love City' for St. John, and 'Twin City' for St. Croix.

Road traffic on the Virgin Islands is on the left hand side of the road.

Columbus visited the islands in 1493. Over the next 50 years the entire native population had died out.

Sugar cane was an important crop for many years.

The USA purchased the islands from Denmark for $25 million.

The official language is English.

Tourism is the main industry on the islands. Over 2 million people visit them each year.

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Andrea Guerrero

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The U.S. Virgin Islands are composed of three large islands—St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas—and about 50 small islets and cays. The capital is Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas.

-Andrea Whittaker

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Desreta Jackson

Actor

Desreta Jackson is an actress, producer and entrepreneur. She is best known for her role as Young Celie in the movie The Color Purple.
Richard Humphreys

Organization founder

Richard Humphreys was the founder of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the oldest historically black university in the United States. Humphreys was a Quaker philanthropist who bequeathed $10,000.00, one tenth of his estate, to establish a school for "the descendants of the African race". This Institute for Colored Youth, later renamed Cheyney University, was founded in 1837 to provide educational opportunities for African Americans. Humphreys changed his will to include this bequest in 1829 after race riots occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Humphreys was born on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and was one of a number of highly successful individuals who came from the Quaker congregation in that Territory.

Tarnisha Bevins

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The United States Virgin Islands, officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States.

Nancy Holden

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Andrea Guerrero