Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. officially acted on a series of bills passed during the most recent legislative session, with a mix of approvals and vetoes that, in his transmittal letter to Senate President Novelle Francis, emphasize his support for measures that promote public welfare and fiscal responsibility while vetoing those he deemed “inappropriate” or lacking due process.
Among the notable actions, Bryan vetoed Bill No. 35-0229, which sought to honor former Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp by renaming Route 75 as the “Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp Highway” and appropriating $45,000 from the General Fund for this purpose. While acknowledging Mapp’s contributions, Bryan expressed concerns over the expenditure, particularly in light of the territory’s ongoing budget deficit and declining revenue collections. He suggested that the Legislature should focus on developing revenue-generating measures to address financial challenges rather than allocating substantial funds for non-critical purposes.
“As a governor, I recognize Gov. Mapp and his contribution to the Virgin Islands, however by contrast, the Legislature recently chastised the administration for attempting to assist over 100,000 people in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, and l am confident in your support for denying the expenditure of $45,000 for the commemoration of a single person,” Bryan wrote. “As was expressed by the sentiment of the body, allocating this large sum for such a non-critical purpose is not appropriate at a time when we are facing a large budget deficit and declining revenue collections.”
The decision comes as the V.I. government continues to grapple with a significant $91 million budget shortfall. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has requested that all government agencies and departments reduce operational spending by five percent in the last three months of the fiscal year to help address the shortfall, which acting OMB Director Kimika Woods recently told senators resulted from several factors, including pay raises initiated by Mapp and continued by Bryan, as well as the impact of nationwide inflation.
Despite these financial challenges, Bryan approved several bills aimed at improving the territory’s infrastructure and services. This includes Bill No. 35-0240, which transfers the administration of the Government Insurance Fund from the Department of Finance to the Department of Labor, and Bill No. 35-0262, which appropriates $1.43 million for pre-construction costs associated with dredging the Charlotte Amalie harbor.
Bryan also approved Bill No. 35-0313, appropriating $100,000 the V.I. Department of Human Services to provide meals to those waitlisted for the Meals on Wheels program.
“Unfortunately, this amount is sorely insufficient to clear the 97-person waitlist, thereby rendering the goal unachievable and not sustainable,” Bryan wrote in his letter. “Additionally, the deadline of August 5, 2024 listed in the bill has already expired. To successfully achieve this goal, a sustained funding source must be identified to address this worthy initiative. It would be fiscally irresponsible and cruel to begin food service for persons waitlisted only to remove them from the service once the appropriation of $100,000 is exhausted, which would be within a matter of weeks.”
Additionally, Bryan signed Bill No. 35-0301 into law, which mandates that the Government of the Virgin Islands cover the costs of forensic medical exams for victims of rape or unlawful sexual contact, regardless of the victim’s cooperation with law enforcement or insurance status. He also approved Bill No. 35-0310, which allocates $250,000 for the emergency restoration of electrical services in specific areas of St. Croix, Bill No. 35-0312, which provides funding for the repair and maintenance of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School track and field facilities, and Bill No. 35-0314, which reprograms $100,000 previously appropriated to the Elmo Plaskett Little League West on St. Croix and the Alvin McBean Little League on St. Thomas to the Girls Softball Little League program in both districts.
Bill No. 35-0311, mandating the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA”) to seek technical assistance from the United States Department of Energy, the United States Army Corps of Engineers and relevant federal government agencies to modernize its electrical grid and water systems, improve reliability, enhance efficiency and incorporate advanced technologies was also approved.
“I note that WAPA has been and will continue to be closely engaged with federal agencies such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (“NREL”), the Department of Energy, Sandia Labs, the Naval Postgraduate School, the EPA and its EPIC program and the Army Corps of Engineers,” Bryan wrote. “WAPA also receives federal support through FEMA and HUD grants which facilitates collaboration with project management firms like Sargent & Lundy and Westpeak Energy, LLC. An ongoing collaboration with NREL focuses on interconnection methods and advancing renewables in the Territory. I am confident that this continued partnership will yield positive results.”
In his letter to Francis, Bryan also vetoed Bill No. 35-0269, which proposed penalties for perjury in proceedings before the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. Although he supported the intent to hold individuals accountable for misleading the Legislature, Bryan cited concerns about the lack of due process protections in the bill and encouraged the Legislature to revise the bill to ensure that perjury charges are handled appropriately through the judicial system.
