In recognition of Older Americans Month, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. is hosting a series of events throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands to honor the territory’s senior citizens and highlight the administration’s ongoing commitment to their well-being, Government House announced in a press release Tuesday.
The celebrations began Tuesday with a barbecue at Estate Catherineberg on St. Thomas, where Bryan and members of his Cabinet served healthy meals to seniors from the Human Services Department senior centers. The afternoon was filled with storytelling, laughter, and recognition of the pivotal role older adults have played in shaping the Virgin Islands, according to the press release.
“Our seniors are the bookends of our society,” Bryan said. “They have held our families, our institutions, and our values together. Their contributions deserve more than recognition. They deserve our respect, our attention, and our care.”
Tuesday’s event followed a similar gathering in March at the Adrian Senior Center on St. John, where the governor also cooked and shared a meal with the island’s elders. Two additional events are planned to close out the month, including a Seniors Ball at Government House on St. Croix scheduled for Wednesday, May 22. The ball will feature music, dancing, food, and fellowship, the press release stated.
While festive in nature, the events also reflect the governor’s awareness of the challenges facing the territory’s seniors, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise. “We know our seniors are feeling the pressure,” Bryan said. “Prices are rising. Incomes are not. These events are a small gesture, but they matter. It is one way we can show them that they are appreciated and not forgotten.”
Bryan also reiterated his administration’s efforts to support seniors through policy and financial action, including the delivery of retroactive wage payments to government retirees, many of whom are seniors who served in public roles for decades, the release stated.
“For years, efforts to address retroactive wages were postponed, often because of limited resources and competing priorities,” he said. “When we came into office, Lieutenant Governor Roach and I made it clear that resolving this issue would be a priority.”
He emphasized that honoring seniors must be more than ceremonial.
“Our seniors deserve more than kind words and special events,” Bryan said. “They deserve action. They deserve results. And they deserve to know that we will continue to stand with them.”
Older Americans Month serves as a reminder of the legacy and resilience of the Virgin Islands’ elder population. Through both celebration and continued advocacy, Bryan said, his administration is committed to keeping seniors at the forefront of its agenda.
