Bryan planned meeting with Beam Suntory on rum cover-over revenue, Government House said

Government House said on April 3, 2023, that Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. planned to meet with Beam Suntory officials to discuss a coordinated approach to securing a permanent solution on rum cover-over payments to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. said during the weekly briefing that Bryan had also held similar discussions with Diageo representatives on the congressional rum cover-over process, which provides annual revenue to the territory based on rum sales in the U.S. mainland.

Motta also said Bryan, while in Taiwan, marked the opening of an Invest USVI Trade & Investments office there. Government House said Bryan was due to return to the territory during the weekend of April 8-9, 2023.

Separately, Motta said Bryan had called the 35th Legislature into special session to consider legislation that would allow the Virgin Islands government to open a $150 million line of credit backed by existing government funds. Government House said the line of credit would be used to supplement federal contributions for recovery projects, help meet negotiated settlement obligations on behalf of WAPA, and fund authorized government operations.

According to Government House, Bryan asked Senate President Novelle Francis Jr. to convene the special session on April 5, 2023.

Motta also said Easter camping bonfires would require permits from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Virgin Islands Fire Service and Emergency Management Services unit. He said the permits cost $20.

Government House reported 20 active COVID-19 cases in the territory as of April 3, 2023, including 13 on St. Croix and seven on St. Thomas. It said one COVID-19 patient was hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix and two were hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas. Government House said the territory had recorded 130 COVID-related deaths.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-meeting-with-beam-suntory-reps-to-work-toward-permanent-solution-on-rum-cover-over-revenue/