As Carnival ramps up, Governor asks residents and visitors to enjoy the festivities peacefully and safely and urges community to encourage promise and potential of young Virgin Islanders
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Following a tragic weekend with a number of violent incidents, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. delivered a somber message to Virgin Islanders during the weekly briefing on Monday, April 17, at Government House on St. Thomas.
Juxtaposing last week’s triumphant news of young Virgin Islanders excelling in athletics, with the news of separate homicide incidents this past weekend, Governor Bryan offered his condolences and prayers to the victims and their families.
“This is a small community, and we are all affected by these disturbances, and we grieve together as we are so intimately connected,” he said.
The Governor noted that many people are dealing with stress and other issues, which he said can be consuming for many people in the community.
“This is why we have invested in programs like ‘Our Best Life’ to get people out and active post-pandemic and why our Administration is making a serious effort to return to the glory days of youth and adult recreation in the territory by investing in our parks,” Governor Bryan said. “It is also why we continue to modernize and improve behavioral health services in the Territory and continue our efforts through the VIPD, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and comprehensive collaboration with our federal partners to encourage positive youth engagement, deter the use of illegal firearms, remove violent offenders from our streets and curb the proliferation of guns pouring in to our territory.”
The Governor also praised the potential and promise that Virgin Islanders embody and urged the community to come together to watch over our neighbors.
“Like I mentioned last week, the promise and potential of our people are boundless, and I genuinely believe that together, there is no feat we can’t achieve,” Governor Bryan said. “Surely just looking out for one another and taking a moment to think before we act or taking the time to consider someone else’s circumstances is something we as a Virgin Islands community can return to. So, I am asking that we get back to that.
“Carnival is upon us, so I want you all to please go out and enjoy the festivities safely and responsibly and with full consideration for everything I just addressed. That is all I ask,” the Governor said.
The Governor was joined for the weekly briefing by Assistant Police Commissioner Mario Brooks and the Department of Tourism’s Division of Festivals Director Ian Turnbull.
Assistant Commissioner Brooks gave an update of the V.I. Police Department’s investigations into the shootings that took place over the weekend.
Director Turnbull gave a detailed run-down of the upcoming event schedule for the 2023 St. Thomas Carnival.
Legislature’s approval of nominees, line of credit
Governor Bryan also thanked the members of the 35th Legislature for theiractions last week in approving his nominees and the $100 million line of credit, part of which will be used to address critical issues facing the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.
The Governor thanked the senators for doing their due diligence and taking the actions necessary to work with the Bryan-Roach Administration toward a better Virgin Islands for everyone.
“When we send a piece of legislation down to the legislature it is for deliberation by that body. We never expect them to rubber stamp it. The process was created so that our senators can have their input and value add infused in the policy,” Governor Bryan said. “Bravo! To those that understand and took action, they recognize that we all have to do things that we don’t like or are 100 percent in support of. It is about accepting our responsibility as leaders and actually doing instead of just complaining.
“We have made significant progress over the past four years, but there is still work to do and I believe, wholeheartedly, that as Virgin Islanders, there is no issue too difficult or no problem too complicated to solve once we come together,” Governor Bryan said. “And so, I thank the members of the Thirty Fifth Legislature for their due diligence and trust in working with our Administration toward resolving those issues.”
The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov