{"id":1251,"date":"2021-05-24T22:08:48","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T22:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/?p=1251"},"modified":"2021-05-26T19:48:28","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T19:48:28","slug":"governor-bryan-praises-class-of-2021-graduates-and-investigation-into-cause-of-odor-affecting-st-croix-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/news-post\/governor-bryan-praises-class-of-2021-graduates-and-investigation-into-cause-of-odor-affecting-st-croix-residents\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Bryan Praises Class of 2021 Graduates And Investigation Into Cause of Odor Affecting St. Croix Residents"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Percentage of Vaccinated Virgin Islanders Crosses 50 Percent Threshold<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS \u2014 During the Government House weekly press briefing on Monday, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. praised the Class of 2021 and praised the principals, administrators and the high school, UVI and Adult Education graduation committees for providing a memorable and safe experience for students even as the Territory continues to fight the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cQuite frankly, from what I have heard from several parents and some students, they appreciated not having to sit through a four-hours graduation ceremony with countless lectures from politicians,\u201d Governor Bryan said. \u201cWhat we had instead was truly a celebration that focused on the most important thing: the graduates and their achievement. If nothing else, this year\u2019s graduations were short, upbeat, memorable, and, most importantly, safe.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Governor also thanked the Environmental Protection Agency for working with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and other Government of the Virgin Islands agencies for pinpointing an open manhole cover at the Anguilla Landfill as the source of the odors plaguing St. Croix.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWe were having a difficult time matching up some of the readings of the gaseous odors detected in the community with events occurring within the refinery,\u201d Governor Bryan said. \u201cAs it turns out, there was an additional source that was unaccounted for at the time. This is why we were very cautious in not jumping to early conclusions in this or any matter.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Governor said the investigation into the odor will continue to find complete proof of the cause of the odors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Stimulus payments<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On Thursday, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Department of Finance issued a fourth batch of 10,000 stimulus checks totaling $23,420,288.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

BIR\u2019s office in Red Hook has been closed due to a COVID-19 related matter and is scheduled to reopen Wednesday. Residents with questions about their stimulus payments or income tax refund checks can contact the bureau at 340-714-9325.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Vaccinations administered<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n