Territorial Affairs
Bryan Asks For $21 Million In Federal Funding Available Through Omnibus Bill
CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan issued the following statement regarding $21 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) requests he forwarded to Delegate Stacey Plaskett to submit to Congress for consideration under the $1.5 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which President Biden signed into law in March: “Congressional earmarks for federally

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Puerto Rico’s Exclusion From Welfare Program
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court this week rejected a bid to extend a federal program offering benefits to low-income elderly, blind and disabled people to residents of Puerto Rico, finding that Congress had the authority to prevent those living in the American territory from receiving the assistance. The justices

Virgin Islands Assistant U.S. Attorney Receives Prestigious Justice Department Award
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper has been awarded an Attorney General’s Award by the United States Department of Justice for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee. “The Annual Attorney General’s Awards recognize Department of Justice employees for theirextraordinary contributions to the rule of law and

RNC Threatens John Canegata With Criminal and Civil Legal Action
A six-page cease and desist letter from the top lawyer for the national Republican Party threatened John Canegata with legal action. The letter, sent by Republican National Committee chief counsel Justin Riemer, comes after the national party recognized Gordon Ackley as chairman of its V.I. affiliate following Ackley’s win in

Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett Shares More Details About Her VISA Waiver Act
WASHINGTON U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett released the following statement of clarification regarding her Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act’s (H.R. 5460) approval by the House Judiciary Committee: “The Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act was passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, which is one step

U.S. Virgin Islands Greenlights Caribbean Nationals’ Visits By Waiving Visa Requirement
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The territory will no longer require a visa for visitors from neighboring Caribbean islands. The House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee approved The Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act, making it possible for visitors from the Caribbean to receive a non-immigrant visitor visa exemption to enter St. Thomas, St. Croix and

Governor Bryan Congratulates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson On Her Ascension To The U.S. Supreme Court
CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan issued the following statement congratulating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on her confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States: “I join the chorus of Americans in the Virgin Islands and across the nation in congratulating Judge Brown Jackson on becoming the first African American woman

Governor Bryan Issues Statement About Transfer Day
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan issued the following statement in commemoration of Transfer Day on Thursday, March 31, 2022: “As we go through this transformative time of rebuilding the U.S. Virgin Islands and head into a brighter future for all Virgin Islanders, I want to remind everyone of our history

Ackley Wins Republican Caucus; Gumbs-Hecht Gets The Most Votes
Political newcomer Antoinette Gumbs-Hecht was the top vote-getter in the caucus to reconstitute the V.I. Republican Party. The St. Thomas real estate agent and mother of two bested April Newland — ironically her boss at Newland Real Estate — with 90 percent of the vote. “It is humbling and a

BREAKING: National Republicans To Seat Caucus Winners; Lawyers Threaten John Canegata With Legal Action
The Republican National Committee threatened legal action against John Canegata on the eve of a territorial caucus to reconstitute the territorial Republican Party. The warning was delivered in an email message from RNC Chief Counsel Justin Riemer after Canegata announced he wouldn’t recognize the results. “The RNC hereby puts you