U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Governor Albert Bryan Jr. Will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for reopening of the newly refurbished La Reine Fish Market on St. Croix, which had been closed for 14 years because of infrastructure issues that raised health and safety concerns.
Governor Bryan, Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol, representatives from Delegate Stacey Plaskett’s office and representatives of the local fishing industry will officially reopen the new facility at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 24.
Because of social distancing requirements, only 50 guests will be allowed to attend the ceremony; however, it will be livestreamed for others unable to attend at Facebook.com/GovernmentHouseUSVI.
The new facility will offer 18 individual stalls and 12 state-of-the-art cleaning stations that are available for monthly rent to licensed commercial fishermen.
The new market also will have an ice machine, ADA-compliant restrooms, plentiful parking for customer access and a 20,000-gallon holding tank for fish waste, replacing the previous 5,000-gallon tank.
The rent for individual stalls at the new La Reine Fish Market facility are $150 per month and cleaning stations are $75 per month. Persons interested in becoming a tenant can contact DPNR’s Division of Environmental Enforcement at 340-773-5774.
“The department’s reopening of this vital community resource is an example of the Bryan-Roach Administration’s commitment to the local fishing industry, as well as to promoting entrepreneurship by providing a healthy and safe environment for local fishers and residents to buy and sell their catch,” Commissioner Oriol said. “DPNR is committed to continued and long-term maintenance of this fantastic facility to support the local fishing community and their customers.”
In addition to the reopening of the La Reine Fish Market, Governor Bryan has a number of other projects he has implemented that will benefit the fishing community, as well as the charter and leisure boating industries, marine leisure businesses and support his overarching Marine Industry initiatives in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Those projects include:
- $2 million for the revitalization of the boat ramp at Hull Bay on St. Thomas and a new parking lot for boat trailers and storage.
- Legislation to appropriate funding for the repair of the Kings Alley pier, the Gallows Bay Fisherman’s Dock and the repair of the boat ramp in Krause Lagoon.
- Repairs at Altona Lagoon.
- $1.75 million for the Ann Abramson Pier – South Tender landing to assist our scuba shops and dive enthusiasts and to provide access to our economy for charter vessels that are visiting Frederiksted with increased frequency.
- $24 million cargo terminal and dock improvements at St. Croix’s Gordon A. Finch Molasses Pier to relocate all cargo operations from Gallows Bay, which then will realize its full potential as a premium passenger facility catering to mini-cruise ships and luxury yachts.
The Bryan-Roach Administration is committed to transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring the disaster recovery is completed as quickly as possible.