Bryan asked Virgin Islanders to pray for residents of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. asked Virgin Islanders on April 12, 2021, to keep the residents of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in their thoughts and prayers as the islands dealt with eruptions from La Soufriere volcano.

During the Government House weekly press briefing, Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. said Bryan had sent a letter on April 9 to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves offering prayers, support and assistance through any effort led by the White House or the U.S. State Department.

Government House also said the second annual Territorial Day of Prayer was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on April 13, 2021.

At the same briefing, officials said Bryan had submitted legislation on April 8 proposing about $20 million for paving, resurfacing and drainage work on more than two dozen roads across the territory. The proposal included $9.6 million for 13 projects on St. Croix and $8.35 million for 14 projects in the St. Thomas-St. John district.

Officials also said the Emergency Rental Assistance Program remained open to residents who had fallen behind on rent or utility payments because of the pandemic.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Finance said on April 12 that the territory had received U.S. Treasury funding for $1,400 stimulus payments under the American Rescue Plan. Officials said the government was finishing distribution of remaining $600 CARES Act 2 payments before beginning processing of the $1,400 payments.

The Department of Health said that as of April 12 it had administered 31,305 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine and that 20,004 people were fully vaccinated. The department said Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen vaccines were available in the territory.

Health officials said that as of April 12, 92,289 people had been tested for COVID-19 and 2,998 had tested positive. The territory had 63 active cases, 2,909 recovered cases and 26 fatalities. Officials said four COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Medical Center on St. Croix, including one on a ventilator, and one patient was hospitalized on a ventilator at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-asks-virgin-islanders-to-pray-for-residents-of-st-vincent-and-the-grenadines/