Territorial Affairs

Governor Bryan Talks Trade And Turkey With Indonesian Delegation From Houston
CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan welcomed a six-person delegation from Indonesia to Government House on St. Croix recently. Dr. Nana Yuliana, consul general of the Republic of Indonesia, and her five-person delegation made their inaugural trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands from their home base in Texas. Dr. Yuliana was

Bryan Begs Congress For $800 Million In Loan Forgiveness, FEMA Matching Funds Payouts … And More $Millions In COVID-19 Relief
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan has written to the leadership of the U.S. Congress asking for additional federal COVID-19 relief for the territory as the USVI struggles with the dormant tourism industry and the continuing financial drain on the economy and local business community. In his letter to U.S. House

Hindu Statesman Asks Governor Bryan To Make Diwali A Holiday In 2022
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Hindus are seeking a public holiday in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Diwali, the most popular of their festivals; starting 2022. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that it was not fair with USVI Hindu community as they had to be

Democrat Donna Frett-Gregory Finishes In First Place In St. Thomas District After All Votes Are Counted
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The 2020 election was certified on Monday, the Virgin Islands Elections System said. After the absentee and provisional ballots were counted, Senator Vialet maintained his election night top position on St. Croix, while Senator Frett-Gregory pulled ahead to become the top vote getter in the St. Thomas/St.

RAND STUDY: It Will Take USVI $11.25 Billion To Fully Recover From Hurricanes Irma And Maria In 2017
ARLINGTON, Virginia — A new study by the Rand Corporation tells us what we already know —because we are living it here — the territory has been slow to recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Non-profit Rand says the U.S. Virgin Islands is still trying to turn the

Largest Drug Bust In BVI History Finds $250 Million Worth of Cocaine On A Royal Policeman’s Property
ROAD TOWN, Tortola — A record 2.35 tonnes haul of cocaine worth more than $250 million has been discovered in the British Virgin Islands after a covert operation that led to the arrest of one local police officer, the BVI’s police force said. When police arrived at the property, several

ARMY OF 2: St. Thomas Twins Serve In U.S. Army Reserve In Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan — Having your twin sister as a battle buddy is hard to beat. And when two joined-at-the-hip U.S. Virgin Islanders team up — you know the advantage goes to the side they’re on. Sgt. Khalia and Spc. Khadia Baptiste, Army Reserve twins from St. Thomas, are currently serving

BRYAN: Virgin Islanders Will Not Be Used As Guinea Pigs For Trump’s New Vaccine
CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has issued a statement debunking a number of rumors and innuendo that are circulating on social media platforms regarding the U.S. Virgin Islands and potential COVID-19 vaccines that are being developed. The rumors apparently were started after a report by “60 Minutes” about the logistics

Reconstruction Work At Princess Juliana International Airport To Bring 60 New Jobs
PHILIPSBURG — Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE), the main airport on Saint Martin-Sint Maarten, has announced the hiring of an engineering firm to begin reconstruction on the terminal building project. Construction work is scheduled to begin in 2021. PJIAE announced that the site preparation work will begin within a few

Joe Biden Wins Presidency, Calls For Healing In An Appeal To Trump Voters
WILMINGTON, Delaware — President-elect Joe Biden declared it was “time to heal” a deeply divided America in his first speech after winning in a bitter election, even as President Donald Trump refused to concede and pressed ahead with legal fights against the outcome. Biden’s victory on Saturday in Pennsylvania put