Children’s Christmas Parties, administrative leave schedule, Carlton Bridge reopening and military R&R visits among key updates
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — During his weekly Government House press briefing on Monday, December 8, 2025, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. outlined significant progress on energy, tourism and economic development, recapped his recent official journey to Ghana, announced the start of the Governor’s Children’s Christmas Parties, detailed the holiday administrative leave schedule for government employees and provided important infrastructure and public safety updates across the Territory.
The governor opened by wishing Virgin Islanders at home and abroad a happy holiday season and noting the vibrant calendar of cultural events already under way, including the 2025 National Lieutenant Governor’s Association Winter Meeting hosted on St. Thomas, the Crucian Cultural Group’s Sunday Market Square Tree Lighting and Nighttime Vendor Fair, the Ninth Annual Coconut Festival, the Virgin Islands Port Authority’s 2025 Holiday Fests on St. Thomas and St. Croix and Montessori School’s Las Vegas Night on St. Thomas.
Governor Bryan highlighted recent Government House support for upgraded lighting at Sunday Market Square in Christiansted and said his administration plans to expand those efforts as part of a broader initiative to improve lighting throughout the town.
“There is no doubt that the season is officially in full swing here in the Territory,” Governor Bryan said. “Our people are coming together in all three districts to celebrate culture, community and the progress we are making.”
Governor Praises 36th Legislature for Advancing Key Energy and Economic Bills
Governor Bryan publicly thanked the 36th Legislature for acting on three critical measures related to energy transformation and economic development while he was leading an official delegation to Ghana.
First, lawmakers approved major Coastal Zone Management permits for utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects at Estate Bovoni and Estate Fortuna on St. Thomas. The projects will form part of a microgrid for the St. Thomas–St. John district, adding renewable megawatts to the system, stabilizing the grid, reducing dependence on imported fuel and positioning the Territory to capture available federal incentives.
The governor acknowledged concerns raised by residents in the Bovoni and Fortuna communities about potential storm impacts from the solar arrays.
“To the residents of Estate Fortuna and Bovoni who expressed concerns, I want you to know that all efforts will be taken to mitigate those risks and address those concerns,” the governor said. “We are committed to building a cleaner grid while protecting our neighborhoods.”
Second, the Legislature approved a lease that will unlock an estimated $200 million public–private investment to transform the upland areas of the Crown Bay marine facility on St. Thomas into a modern cruise and leisure district, including a new cruise berth capable of handling the industry’s newest vessels and an enhanced waterfront experience that will benefit local vendors, taxi operators and small businesses.
Third, senators passed amendments to the Hotel Development Act that establish a modern financing structure through a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Finance Authority. At a public hearing earlier today, the administration detailed how this framework will allow the Territory to support key hotel projects, including Frenchman’s Reef, through tax-exempt bond financing that lowers borrowing costs for developers without placing debt on the backs of taxpayers. Once the bonds are repaid, title to Frenchman’s Reef and its related properties will ultimately transfer to the people of the Virgin Islands.
“These three measures move us toward an energy system that is more reliable and affordable, amplify our tourism product and create a business environment that is more competitive and inclusive,” Governor Bryan said. “They are part of a single, thoughtful strategy to make the Virgin Islands more resilient, more modern and more equitable.”
The governor thanked Senate President Milton E. Potter and all members of the 36th Legislature who engaged the bills, asked hard questions and voted in favor.
Governor Recaps Official Journey to Ghana
Governor Bryan also provided a public recap of his recent official journey to the Republic of Ghana, which focused on trade, technology, economic development and cultural reconnection.
“When I traveled to Accra, I did not go as a tourist,” Governor Bryan said. “I went as your governor, carrying the hopes of a small Territory that has always punched above its weight and carrying the memory of ancestors whose journeys began on the shores of West Africa and crossed the Atlantic to these Virgin Islands.”
The governor described the visit as an economic, technology, tourism and trade journey that was also “a spiritual journey of reconnection,” taking place at a critical moment when the United States is signaling changes to its African Growth and Opportunity Act trade policy.
During the weeklong visit, Governor Bryan and the Virgin Islands delegation met with His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama; senior officials in finance, tourism and technology; executives at the Port of Tema, Ghana’s busiest and most important seaport; and investors and bankers involved in logistics, free trade zones and digital infrastructure.
At each meeting, Governor Bryan said he asked one simple question: “How can this help the people of the Virgin Islands?”
The delegation:
- Advanced discussions on partnerships to support St. Croix’s emerging Free Trade Zone, positioning the island as a bridge between West Africa and the Americas.
- Continued work on the proposed Diaspora Link subsea cable, which would connect Ghana and the Virgin Islands and strengthen digital connectivity for residents and businesses.
- Explored opportunities for heritage and cruise tourism, educational exchanges, increased airlift and workforce links to help address local needs for nurses, artisans and tradespeople.
“There are no magic wands in economic development,” the governor said. “Serious work takes time. This journey opened doors that were closed, strengthened relationships that were distant and put the Virgin Islands on the map with leaders who are shaping the future of trade and technology in West Africa.”
Governor Bryan noted the historic and emotional dimension of the visit.
“Standing in Ghana as a Black governor of a small Caribbean Territory was humbling,” he said. “I follow a path first cleared by Virgin Islanders like Edward Wilmot Blyden, who reached toward the African continent long before this administration. It is important for us to remember that we did not come from Denmark and we did not arrive wearing madras or listening to quelbe. We come from a rich, proud and resourceful land and people. Reestablishing those historical and ancestral links helps us understand who we truly are.”
Governor’s Children’s Christmas Parties Begin December 9
The governor announced the schedule for this year’s Governor’s Children’s Christmas Parties, a cherished tradition that brings families together across the Territory.
Parties will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on the following dates:
- Tuesday, December 9 – Havensight Mall, St. Thomas
- Thursday, December 11 – Franklin A. Powell Sr. Park, St. John
- Monday, December 15 – Government House, Christiansted, St. Croix
Each event will feature music, games, local entertainment and a visit from Santa. Gifts and giveaways will be available for children from newborn to 12 years of age. All giveaways will be on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, and children must be present to receive a present.
“In a world that can feel heavy, these few hours of joy and community matter,” Governor Bryan said. “They remind our children that they are seen, that they are loved and that their governor, their government and their community care about them.”
Holiday Administrative Leave Schedule for Government Employees
Governor Bryan announced the holiday administrative leave schedule for government employees as the Territory prepares for Crucian Christmas Festival and other year-end celebrations.
For St. Croix only:
- Wednesday, December 31, 2025: Administrative leave from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to participate in J’Ouvert, the St. Croix Crucian Festival Food Fair and New Year’s Eve activities.
For St. Thomas–St. John only:
- Wednesday, December 31, 2025: Administrative leave from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. to observe New Year’s Eve and engage in festive activities.
Territory-wide:
- Wednesday, December 24, 2025: Administrative leave from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. to observe and honor Christmas Eve.
- Friday, January 2, 2026: Administrative leave from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to participate in the St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival Children’s Parade.
The governor reminded the public that the administrative leave does not apply to essential employees, those on regular or rotating shifts or employees already on annual or sick leave. Agency heads will ensure critical services remain staffed.
Infrastructure and Public Safety Updates Across the Territory
Governor Bryan emphasized that, even during the holidays, the administration remains focused on core infrastructure and public safety projects.
Next week, the administration will break ground at the former Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital site on St. Croix to make way for the new Donna M. Christian-Christensen Health Center, a major investment in modern health care for the island.
On St. Croix, the governor announced that the segment of Queen Mary Highway that was closed in late October for work on the historic box culvert at the Carlton Bridge is scheduled to reopen on December 19, in time for Crucian Christmas Festival.
Work will continue into early next year to install guardrails, riprap and other drainage features to strengthen the roadway and improve safety.
On St. John, work is scheduled to begin this week on Fish Fry Road, and camera installations are under way as part of the phased rollout of the Territory-wide camera system, including locations on St. John.
“So while you see the lights go up, the parades roll out and the concerts fill the nights, your government is still in the trenches, managing projects, pushing contractors, signing documents and staying on top of the details,” Governor Bryan said. “I did not run for governor to watch things happen. I ran to make things happen.”
Community Thanks for Supporting Visiting U.S. Military Personnel
Governor Bryan closed by thanking the community for its ongoing support of U.S. military personnel visiting the Virgin Islands for rest and recuperation over the holidays.
“To our small business owners, our hoteliers, our restaurateurs, our shopkeepers and our taxi drivers, I want to say thank you,” the governor said. “Your hospitality is good for our economy, but it is also a reflection of who we are as Virgin Islanders.”
He noted that when a young service member steps off a plane or ship in the Territory, they find more than a vacation destination.
“They find a home in America’s Caribbean,” Governor Bryan said. “They find a community that treats them like family and honors the sacrifices they and their loved ones make.”
The governor encouraged residents to keep meeting the increased demand with the same Crucian, St. Thomian and St. Johnian kindness that has long defined the Territory.
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