Governor calls action a failure of leadership that wastes public and private resources and denies residents a decision after months of negotiations
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS– Governor Albert Bryan Jr. on Tuesday expressed disappointment with the 36th Legislature’s decision to again delay action on the revised horse racing agreement, calling it a failure of leadership that wasted public and private resources and denied Virgin Islanders the up-or-down vote they deserved.
“Today was the day to hear the agreement, debate its merits and make a decision,” Governor Bryan said. “Instead, after months of work by the government, the investor, the horsemen and other stakeholders, the Legislature chose another delay.”
The revised agreement has not received a substantive hearing or vote despite months of meetings, negotiations, written comments and revisions involving the Government of the Virgin Islands, Southland Gaming Virgin Islands, the territory’s horsemen associations, the Virgin Islands Horse Racing Commission and members of the Legislature.
Governor Bryan said Senate President Milton E. Potter’s decision not to invite administration or stakeholder testifiers prevented the Legislature from fully examining the agreement during Tuesday’s special session.
“Senators had the opportunity to recess, convene as the Committee of the Whole, receive testimony and require every member to publicly vote yes or no,” Governor Bryan said. “That did not happen. The people were once again denied a decision.”
Governor Bryan also acknowledged the senators who attended the session prepared to consider the agreement.
“I recognize those senators who came to work prepared to act on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan said. “They were ready to vet the agreement, debate it openly and take an up-or-down vote. They understood that the public deserved to know where its elected representatives stood.”
The proposed agreement is intended to support the rebuilding of the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack on St. Croix, install a permanent promoter to operate both the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack and the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack, and establish a unified and sustainable framework for horse racing throughout the territory.
The administration transmitted the proposed agreement to the Legislature in April. It subsequently met with lawmakers, the territory’s horsemen associations, the Virgin Islands Horse Racing Commission, Southland Gaming Virgin Islands and other stakeholders to address concerns and revise the agreement.
Governor Bryan called Tuesday’s special session only after repeated requests for the Legislature to schedule the measure for consideration did not result in a hearing or vote.
“My administration listened. The investor listened. The horsemen participated, and the agreement was revised,” Governor Bryan said. “Government employees devoted countless hours to this process, and the private investor committed significant time and resources. The Legislature’s refusal to act has now placed that work, the proposed investment and the future of horse racing in the territory at risk.”
Governor Bryan said he is particularly disappointed in Senate President Potter’s leadership and heartbroken for the horsemen, stakeholders and residents who have waited years for the return of horse racing to St. Croix and a stable future for the sport across the Virgin Islands.
“Leadership is not avoiding difficult decisions,” Governor Bryan said. “Leadership requires placing the issue before the people’s elected representatives, allowing the arguments to be heard and giving every senator a fair opportunity to vote in public.”
Governor Bryan also rejected the suggestion that the Legislature could not consider the agreement because other important matters require its attention.
“That is a false choice,” Governor Bryan said. “The Government of the Virgin Islands must be capable of confronting more than one challenge at a time. We can address health care, energy, waste management, education, public safety and infrastructure while also making a decision about horse racing. Today, the Legislature did neither.”
Governor Bryan said Tuesday’s action also sends a damaging message to private investors considering projects in the Virgin Islands.
“We cannot expect private investors to spend money, negotiate in good faith, revise agreements and wait indefinitely while the government refuses to make a decision,” Governor Bryan said. “Whether senators supported or opposed this agreement, they had an obligation to vote. Avoiding that vote damages the territory’s credibility and makes the next investor think twice before committing resources here.”
Governor Bryan said Virgin Islanders should demand accountability from every senator regarding Tuesday’s decision.
“The horsemen deserved a hearing. The investor deserved an answer. The administration deserved a decision after committing substantial public resources to this process,” Governor Bryan said. “Most importantly, the people of the Virgin Islands deserved action from the Legislature elected to represent them.”
Governor Bryan said his administration remains committed to advancing economic development, rebuilding critical public assets, and pursuing sustainable solutions for the territory.
“The Senate president did not simply delay an agreement,” Governor Bryan said. “This delay jeopardizes the rebuilding of the Randall ‘Doc’ James Racetrack, the establishment of stable horse racing operations across the territory and the private investment needed to make that work possible.”
“Today was an opportunity to lead,” Governor Bryan concluded. “The Legislature chose not to.”
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