Government House News

Gov. Bryan optimistic on USVI Relations with Trump 

Governor Albert Bryan Jr., expressed optimism and confidence, at a recent Government House news conference, in the U.S. Virgin Island’s future relations with an all Republican takeover of the three federal branches of the U.S. Government. 

Despite President-elect Trump’s penchant for retaliation against his enemies the hope in the inner circles of USVI government is that the incoming Republican President along with his Republican House and Senate will have short memories of the day Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett lead the Democratic charge to impeach Trump during his last stay in the White House.

Governor Bryan announced that he would soon travel to the mainland to engage in a series of critical meetings to try and ensure the federal government remains a strong partner to the USVI. 

“We need them to transform our Territory and improve the quality of life for our Virgin Islanders,” Gov. Bryan stated. 

The Governor will be lobbying for the longstanding issue of a permanent extension of rum cover over tax remittances at the higher rate. He is also looking to touch base with government officials on the matter of the Territory’s cap on Medicaid payments to be lifted. 

“I’ve been fielding a lot of calls and texts lately about many of you worrying about the results of the election and how the Virgin Islands is going to fare with a Republican House, Senate and a Republican President,” he explained the purpose of his trip up to Capitol Hill. 

“I think the Virgin Islands is going to be okay,” he replied, trying to assure the populace. “Mainly because we really follow what Puerto Rico gets. And I think the President is going to be very nice to Puerto Rico…partly because of the insult that was leveraged by a comedian on Trump’s team…Puerto Rico’s Governor Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon, is a Trumper, who actually came out in defense of the President on the issue of the comments made.”

“We’ve reached out with her to have conversations about what Puerto Rico is going to be asking for, and hoping that we can get in on the coattails of that,” he stated. 

Puerto Rico is also lobbying for the extension of the enhanced rum cover over remittances, and is also seeking the removal of the cap on Medicaid funding.      

The other ultra-important USVI issue that is sure to be bandied about the corridors of power by the Governor would be the restart of the refinery. It would seem that under the Trump administration there is almost a certainty that gasoline production will once again be the main industrial, economic engine that drives the St. Croix and USVI economy. Even before the election, the St. Croix Times was privy to several Senators and influential businesspeople who were all but certain a restart was in the works. Now, with Trump in power and his spoken support of  pumped-up U.S. gas production on his hit list along with his past record of green-lighting the last restart effort, it is an even money bet he replaces the current Biden chosen head of the EPA for the region with someone more amenable to allowing such a restart to come about. The EPA has already started issuing friendly overtones in the latest court battles between PHRT and the EPA. The refinery start-up may also be the biggest bargaining chip the USVI has in its bargaining arsenal against the incoming Republican President.

Bryan’s STT to STX Ferry Gets Green Light

Dreams do come true. Governor Albert Bryan Jr’s. eloquent vision, equivalent to walking (ferrying) across the water from St Croix to St. Thomas and back again, has been unanimously approved by the VI Legislature. 

Fueled by the GARVEE bond mechanism Department of Public Works (DPW) Commissioner Derek Gabriel declared about the Veteran’s Drive Phase 2 and the STT to STX Ferry, “They both have been identified as foundational pieces of our shift toward a truly multimodal transportation system…The St. Croix - St.Thomas ferry will positively change the Territory for the foreseeable future…Speaking plainly, our actions today will spark the change we have all discussed that we want to see for the future.”      

The summary of the plan for the new GARVEE bond issuance includes $54 million to refinance the existing GARVEE bonds, “to realize present value savings,” $20 million for the ferry, $48 million for the second phase work on Veterans Drive, $28 million for road projects on St. Croix that are eligible for federal aid, and $6 million as a debt service reserve fund and to cover insurance costs. 

The ferry that is being commissioned will be capable of carrying over 200 passengers along with 12 to 16 vehicles. It is expected to complete the journey from island to island within 90 minutes. 

“Once the bonds have been issued, delivery of the ferry should take fourteen to eighteen months,” concluded Commissioner Gabriel, as he noted that these projects have been discussed for over five decades.  

State of the Roads Examined

Government House Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. recently talked about the state of the roads in the Territory at a Government House news briefing. 

“We understand the frustration of navigating roads that seem long overdue for repair,” Mr. Motta said. “It’s an issue that affects all of us, whether you’re commuting to work, taking your kids to school, or simply trying to get from one part of the island to the next.”

Mr. Motta explained there are currently  more than a dozen active road projects and underground infrastructure projects Territory-wide. “Those projects were stalled in recent weeks by day after day of heavy rainfall, which compounded the problem…The increased frequency and intensity of rainfall events are having a real and tangible impact on our infrastructure, stretching the resources we’ve budgeted for those purposes to their limit… Our teams are on the ground, working tirelessly, but the weather has created conditions that make certain work unsafe or impractical,” he went on. “At the same time this record rainfall is washing out roadways and testing the structural integrity of retaining walls, bridges and drainage systems…The rain has also brought grass and brush growth to unprecedented levels, further straining government resources.”

However, Mr. Motta stressed that fixing the roads in the Territory continues to be a priority for the Bryan-Roach administration.   

“Since taking office, we’ve made significant progress on repairing and upgrading infrastructure that had been neglected for years, even decades,” the Communications Director pointed out. “However, despite the work that has been accomplished, some roads and infrastructure remain in poor condition. We are not blind to the reality that many of our residents still encounter those challenges daily.”  

Mr. Motta acknowledged the frustration that many may be feeling despite the ongoing work.

“We recognize the skepticism that often accompanies government decisions. It’s easy to feel promises are made but never kept,” he admitted. “But every time a resident reaches out about a pothole, every time a community advocates for better infrastructure, you’re helping us do better, and together, we can ensure that the Virgin Islands becomes a place where our roads and utilities and our public spaces meet the high standards we all deserve.”