Government House outlines proposed land swap for St. John K-12 school

Government House said on June 12, 2023, that Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. had submitted legislation to the 35th Legislature to authorize a land exchange with the National Park Service for construction of a K-12 public school on St. John.

According to details presented during the weekly Government House briefing by Communications Director Richard Motta Jr., the proposal called for the Virgin Islands government to transfer Tract No. 02-101 Whistling Island, also known as Whistling Cay, St. John, to the U.S. Department of the Interior. In exchange, the National Park Service would convey a portion of Tract No. 01-137A Catherineberg, also known as Hammer’s Fann, St. John, to the territorial government for the school site.

Under the proposal, the Virgin Islands government would retain water rights to Whistling Cay, and a $210,000 equalizing payment from the National Park Service would be appropriated to the St. John Capital Improvements Fund.

Government House said the agreement could move forward by July 1, 2023, if approved by the Legislature. It also said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would fund construction of the school as part of hurricane recovery efforts following Irma and Maria.

At the same briefing, Human Services Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez said hurricane shelters across the territory had been inspected and were ready for operation for the 2023 season. She urged residents to prepare shelter plans, assemble emergency bags and make arrangements for pets.

Causey-Gomez said each shelter would have a nurse's station and that people entering shelters would complete a COVID-19 health screening form.

Motta also said Bryan and cabinet members met on June 9, 2023, with Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia to discuss refinery cleanup efforts and environmental issues in the territory. He said the EPA had been conducting air-quality monitoring during the cleanup process, which was scheduled to be completed at the end of June.

Government House also announced that the Office of Health Information Technology would host its second annual Digital Health Summit from June 14 through June 16, 2023, at The Antilles School on St. Thomas.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/government-house-briefing-details-governor-bryans-proposed-land-swap-legislation-with-nps-to-build-k-12-school-on-st-john/