🏛️ Government · U.S. Virgin Islands
Bryan briefing covered energy and tourism measures, Ghana trip, holiday leave and Carlton Bridge reopening
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. used a Government House briefing on Dec. 8, 2025, to discuss legislative action on energy and tourism measures, recap an official trip to Ghana, announce holiday events and administrative leave, and provide infrastructure updates.
Bryan said the 36th Legislature approved Coastal Zone Management permits for utility-scale solar and battery storage projects at Estate Bovoni and Estate Fortuna on St. Thomas, a lease tied to redevelopment of the upland areas of the Crown Bay marine facility on St. Thomas, and amendments to the Hotel Development Act establishing a financing structure through a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Finance Authority.
He said the Ghana trip included meetings with President John Dramani Mahama, government officials, port executives, investors and bankers. According to Bryan, the delegation discussed St. Croix's proposed Free Trade Zone, a proposed subsea cable linking Ghana and the Virgin Islands, and possible opportunities in tourism, education, air service and workforce development.
Bryan also announced the Governor's Children's Christmas Parties for Dec. 9 at Havensight Mall on St. Thomas, Dec. 11 at Franklin A. Powell Sr. Park on St. John, and Dec. 15 at Government House in Christiansted on St. Croix. The events were scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For government employees, Bryan announced administrative leave from noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2025, territory-wide; from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025, on St. Croix; from noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025, on St. Thomas and St. John; and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2026, territory-wide. He said the leave would not apply to essential employees, workers on regular or rotating shifts, or employees already on annual or sick leave.
Bryan said the Queen Mary Highway segment closed in late October for work at Carlton Bridge on St. Croix was scheduled to reopen on Dec. 19, 2025. He said additional work, including guardrails, riprap and drainage features, would continue into early 2026.
He also said work on Fish Fry Road on St. John was scheduled to begin during the week of Dec. 8, 2025, and that camera installations were under way as part of a territorywide system. Bryan said the administration also planned to break ground the following week at the former Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital site on St. Croix for the Donna M. Christian-Christensen Health Center.
At the close of the briefing, Bryan thanked residents and businesses for supporting visiting U.S. military personnel in the territory during the holiday season.