CHRISTIANSTED — During the Government House weekly COVID-19 press briefing, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said the reopening of the territory’s bars and nightclubs — which becomes effective on Monday, November 9 — is the next step in relaxing existing restrictions and finding ways to move forward during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Education Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin and Sports, […]
Tag: Governor Albert Bryan Jr.
Health Department Releases News of 23rd COVID-19 Death 1 Day After 22nd Victim
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Health Department announced Tuesday night that a 58-year-old woman from St. Thomas became the 23rd COVID-related death in the territory. The announcement comes one day after Health officials issued a release that a 65-year-old man from St. Croix became the 22nd COVID-related death. Tuesday’s press release, issued after 8 […]
Colorado Town Found Out The Hard Way: When You Go All Out For Marijuana, You End Up ‘All In’
PUEBLO, Colorado — Responsible scientific reviews in the United States and abroad conclude that marijuana smoke contains known carcinogens. Prolonged marijuana use is causally associated with pulmonary problems, dependence, and some mental health problems. Marijuana use is correlated in troubling ways with a wide variety of other debilitating behavioral, mental, and physical health outcomes. But […]
Police Commissioner Addresses The USVI’s 40th Shooting Death, Questions About His Leadership
FREDERIKSTED — Police Commissioner Trevor Velinor said his department needs the community’s help to solve the latest rash of shootings that left one person dead and several injured over the weekend — and fielded questions about whether officers are dissatisfied with his leadership. A letter purportedly signed by three police union leaders is circulating in […]
Bryan Extends State of Emergency, Authorizes La Grange Land Purchase
CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has signed two pieces of legislation, one extending the current State of Emergency and the other authorizing the Government of the Virgin Islands (GVI) to purchase property on St. Croix. The 33rd Legislature passed Bill No. 33-0424 on October 6 authorizing an extension until December 8 to the State of Emergency […]
Finance Commissioner Fired For Issuing $109,500 In Unauthorized Bonuses To Department Employees
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Virgin Islands Finance Commissioner Kirk Callwood, Sr. was abruptly fired this week after issuing more than $100,000 in unauthorized stipends to employees in his department. Government House spokesman Richard Motta, Jr. said the governor asked for Callwood’s resignation on Monday after learning that the Finance commissioner used $109,500 within his allotted budget […]
St. Thomas Man The Crown Bay Cruise Ship Terminal Is Named After Dies At 94
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan today issued the following statement on the death of long-time Rotarian and retired Port Authority Marine Director Austin “Babe” Monsanto. He was 94. “It is with great sadness that Yolanda and I learned of the passing of Austin “Babe” Monsanto. “As a veteran, an educator, a long-serving marine manager of the Virgin […]
St. Thomas Is A Ghost Town Thanks To COVID-19 And The Leadership Of Governor Albert Bryan
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Twenty-five years after Hurricane Marilyn, St. Thomas is experiencing what St. Croix went through after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Hurricane Marilyn struck St. Thomas in 1995, but it only took 10 months of the coronavirus to bring Rock City down to its knees … as these photos clearly show. What was once […]
Governor Bryan Signs Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Bills Friday
CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. on Friday signed the bills comprising the Fiscal Year 2021 Executive Budget, which includes $632,390,556 for the General Fund. In his transmittal letter to Senate President Novelle Francis Jr., Governor Bryan said he used his line-item veto to correct a duplication of the appropriation for WTJX. The governor also noted […]
Governor Bryan Breaks Ground With VIHFA At Wild Pineapple In Estate Fortuna
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. joined Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) officials on Thursday, to break ground on VIHFA’s newest homeownership subdivision at Estate Fortuna in St. Thomas. The subdivision called “Wild Pineapple” will be constructed in several phases, with Phase I focusing on the building of solid infrastructure — concrete roads, […]