Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s 2025 State of the Territory Address projected an image of transformation, emphasizing strides in economic recovery, infrastructure, and public accountability. However, senators on Monday night underscored what they described as gaps between the governor’s optimism and the daily struggles faced by Virgin Islanders. Issues like the soaring cost of living, failing health care systems, delayed infrastructure projects, and persistent corruption dominated their responses, reflecting a unified call for concrete action.
Housing Initiatives: Progress Amid Concerns
Bryan highlighted the administration’s efforts to accelerate housing projects, including the transformation of the EnVision program under the Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR). This shift, he claimed, resulted in a nearly 400 percent increase in construction activity, with 100 homes currently in progress and 150 more expected to break ground this year. “We are rebuilding lives and restoring hope,” Bryan stated, citing families in Bellevue, Calabash Boom, and Lovenlund who have transitioned from renters to homeowners.
Sen. Marvin Blyden praised these milestones, calling them “steps in the right direction,” but stressed the urgency of workforce housing to support the influx of federal projects. “We can’t afford to lose federal funds due to delays,” he said. Similarly, Sen. Carla Joseph lauded the administration’s efforts but demanded clearer timelines and greater accountability. “We need swift action to ensure these programs truly benefit our people,” Joseph emphasized.
Health care and Infrastructure: Immediate Needs
Health care remained a critical point for all. Sen. Ray Fonseca, chair of the Health, Hospitals and Human Services Committee, detailed recent accounts from constituents, including prolonged emergency room wait times and critical equipment shortages at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix. “A hospital state of emergency is long overdue,” Fonseca urged. “We need immediate action to jump-start procurement and address these significant issues.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Kurt Vialet, now in his fifth term, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of constructing 10 new schools by 2025 while addressing fundamental operational deficiencies. “Education and health care must be at the forefront,” he asserted, highlighting recent infrastructure failures, including a lack of air conditioning in St. Croix classrooms that disrupted learning.
Corruption and Public Accountability
Bryan’s acknowledgment of corruption within his administration and the introduction of a comprehensive Code of Ethics drew mixed reactions. Sen. Novelle Francis Jr. commended the initiative but stressed the importance of transparency in managing $22.5 billion in federal funds. “The stakes are too high for anything less than complete accountability,” Francis said. He also championed economic opportunities tied to the South Shore Trade Zone and Port Hamilton Refinery, which Bryan said in his speech could generate over $400 million annually and create 400 jobs.
Freshman Sen. Hubert Frederick remained unconvinced. “For seven years, the efforts have not trickled down to the people,” he said. “We need policies that impact lives directly, not just on paper.”
Sen. Clifford Joseph shared similar thoughts.
“It was my first time attending a State of the Territory Address as a senator, and the governor came out with some energy. He touched on the big topics everyone wants to hear about, but while we keep hearing about large amounts of money being allocated, the reality is that in the past seven years, we haven’t seen much action. Our infrastructure needs serious attention. When it comes to tourism, for example, we don’t have enough construction happening, and tourists leave with negative impressions, discouraging others from visiting,” Joseph said.
“We need to start building because, frankly, nothing substantial has been done. We hear about $22 billion in federal funding, but we must ensure we actually access and utilize that money effectively. A major issue is the lack of manpower to carry out these projects, though I appreciate efforts to get certified individuals involved and to prioritize local contractors.”
As chair of the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security, Joseph also highlighted gaps in prosecution efforts to address crime, especially during 2024, with 40 homicides. “The Justice Department needs to be equipped with the personnel and resources to prosecute cases effectively. With proper prosecution in place, it could serve as a deterrent and help curb this violence,” he added, saying that introducing a bill to tackle the issue is a top priority.
Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens also spoke about the need for quick action.
“The governor’s State of the Territory Address was both insightful and moving, and I appreciate the clearer timelines he provided,” Gittens said. “We have the resources to meet our obligations, but it must be done prudently. I applaud this approach, but it needs to be put into action.”
Gittens welcomed the administration’s stance on public corruption. “I’m happy to hear the governor isn’t tolerating corruption. Signing an administrative document relating to a Code of Ethics is a good step, and I look forward to bringing forth a measure to establish a Conflict of Interest Commission,” he said. He also praised gains in tourism, particularly on St. Croix, but highlighted opportunities yet to be seized, such as completing the Paul E. Joseph Stadium.
Regarding the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, Gittens applauded its new leadership and the direction it’s taking but urged accountability for past mismanagement. “I’m looking forward to the completion of the Inspector General’s audit and those findings. It’s important we clean up what’s been done before and move forward responsibly.”
While Gittens isn’t chairing a committee this year, he emphasized his commitment to attending hearings and remaining actively involved. “We know it is very early, but I would like to hear that discussions are underway and that every agency head has begun reaching out to their federal counterparts to gather information on what we can expect in the days ahead,” he said. “These are very uncertain times, and there is a lot of anxiety about the future of federal programs the Virgin Islands relies upon. We must prepare proactively to ensure the territory’s needs are met and our concerns addressed.”
Legislative Scrutiny and Collaboration
Senate President Milton Potter, reflecting on constituents’ concerns, called for a stronger focus on food security and inflation mitigation.
“The cost of living is a huge issue for me, as it is for every Virgin Islander,” Potter said. “When I go door to door, the concerns are always the same — food, housing, and WAPA. We need to find realistic measures at the local level to address these challenges. Agencies like Licensing and Consumer Affairs need to play a bigger role in monitoring pricing and addressing the impact of rising transportation costs on imported goods.”
Potter emphasized the need for a more collaborative discussion with the executive branch about economic inflationary pressures. “The Legislature must prioritize these issues and work closely with the administration to find solutions,” he said.
He acknowledged the governor’s point about the slow recovery process, citing delays in construction and FEMA-related projects. “Be that as it may, we should be seeing the completion of some major projects soon, and we need to start witnessing improvements in these areas,” Potter added.
Reflecting on the governor’s address, Potter noted Bryan’s skill as a speaker. “The governor has been giving these types of speeches for the last seven years, and he’s good at it. It was an eloquent speech, but whether it aligns with the average Virgin Islander’s experience on the street is another story,” he said. “Things are progressing nicely in some areas, as he mentioned, but there’s a noticeable level of incongruence.”
Potter also expressed disappointment that agriculture and food security were not addressed more prominently. “With the Agriculture Fair on St. Croix coming up, as a territory, we need to have a serious discussion about reducing the 98 percent of food we import. It’s a high risk not to be able to guarantee food security if we lose access to some of the trailers we rely on,” he said.
Meanwhile, freshman Sen. Avery Lewis emphasized the Legislature’s role in ensuring accountability through regular hearings and site visits. “To hold the governor accountable for achieving his timelines, we’ll be relying on our committees of jurisdiction,” Lewis said. “We plan to call the administration into hearings regularly, provide updates, and conduct site visits to ensure progress is being made.”
Lewis expressed concerns about the lack of discussion on attracting new investors. “The governor spoke a lot about the $22 billion in projects, but I didn’t hear much about opening the doors for new investors to create additional revenue streams,” he noted.
Mental health services were another area Lewis hoped to hear more about. “I was hoping for more specifics on addressing mental illness and what’s happening across the territory,” he said.
On infrastructure investments, Lewis stressed the importance of securing funding and adhering to timelines and praised ongoing collaborations with the Delegate to Congress and lobbyists. “They’ve been doing a great job, and we need to continue working as a team to achieve our goals,” he said.
He commended Bryan’s pledge to uproot corruption but stressed the need for accountability. “It’s good to hear the governor speak about tackling corruption. However, funding projects isn’t enough — people need to work honestly and efficiently,” he added.
A Pivotal Moment
As Bryan finishes out his final two years, senators agree that the territory stands at a critical juncture. Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger noted the need for tangible progress on tourism and infrastructure and clear explanations to the public about when projects will be completed.
“Expanding hotels and accommodations, like he spoke about, is a positive step forward — it’s been over 40 years since a new hotel was built in the territory. With increased inventory, we can encourage visitors to stay overnight, and those tourism dollars are what really infuse the general fund,” Heyliger said.
However, she noted a disconnect in the governor’s address when it came to elaborating on specific plans. “He mentioned fixing issues like sewage on the streets, but what does that really mean for the average person? We need clear information — something tangible to hold onto. Instead, it felt like a list of promises without enough detail,” she explained.
“I don’t expect every little detail in an hour-and-a-half speech, but after seven years on the job, I do expect more clarity and a stronger focus. Issues like corruption have been a distraction, and we need to return to the real work of helping the people of this territory,” Heyliger added.
Bryan’s ambitious vision hinges on executing projects efficiently, spending federal dollars wisely and addressing the pressing concerns of Virgin Islanders, they added.
“The governor needed to address some of the realities we’re facing here, particularly concerning FEMA funding. I heard President Trump mention he’s considering eliminating FEMA, and that’s alarming to me. What does this mean for these funds and for regular people?” Sen. Dwayne DeGraff expressed.
In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has raised concerns about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s effectiveness and suggested dismantling the agency, proposing that disaster management responsibilities be shifted directly to state governments.
If more shifts like that happen, DeGraff encouraged the Legislature and executive branch to work collectively: “Everyone has to be a part of the decision-making — not just because you’re not a member of the same party, you can’t be involved. We are part of this community and must face the reality of what’s happening. For seven years, we didn’t spend the billions of dollars, and now we’re talking about spending $22 billion in two years.”
He acknowledged the governor’s accomplishments but cautioned against misleading the public: “He has great achievements to be proud of, but we also don’t want to be fooling the people.”
