Governor Albert Bryan Jr. sent a formal letter from the U.S. Virgin Islands congratulating President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory in the presidential election.
Governor Bryan publicly congratulated the president-elect and the vice president-elect on the Saturday following the Nov. 3rd election after enough votes had been tabulated and they were declared the winners.
The letters will be kept in the National Archives and are part of the United States’ official historical record.
“I look forward to working closely with you and your administration to resume the progress we made during the Obama-Biden administration to restore economic growth, to create needed jobs by investing in our infrastructure and in our people,” Bryan wrote. “And, not least, to eliminate the discriminatory treatment of our fellow Americans living in the insular areas of the United States.”
Bryan also praised and celebrated Harris’ historic achievement of becoming the first black woman and Asian American to attain the vice presidency, and the highest-ranking woman ever elected in U.S. history.
“What a momentous and historic achievement! On behalf of the U.S. citizens and residents of the United States Virgin Islands, I offer my warmest congratulations on your election as vice president of the United States,” Gov. Bryan wrote. “It was a stunning victory, and I truly believe a portent of future progress in perfecting the American union during the next four years.”
In his letter to Biden, the governor also gave a nod to the president-elect’s longstanding and close ties to the USVI.
“Yolanda and I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you and the first lady to come visit and relax in America’s Caribbean Paradise as soon as you are able,” he wrote.
Bryan also extended his invitation to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband.
“Yolanda and I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you and Douglas to come visit and relax in America’s Caribbean Paradise as soon as you are able. The president-elect’s familiarity with the territory can be your guide,” Bryan wrote.