Bryan said first cruise ship in 15 months docked on St. Thomas as he nominated Ray Martinez for police commissioner

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said at a Government House briefing on July 6, 2021, that the Celebrity Edge had docked at the Austin "Babe" Monsanto Marine Terminal on St. Thomas, marking the first cruise-ship visit to the U.S. Virgin Islands since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the U.S. cruise industry.

The ship arrived at 11 a.m. on July 6 with 1,500 passengers and 700 crew members, according to Government House. Bryan said additional cruise calls were expected during the summer on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Government House said the ship had a 97% vaccination rate.

Bryan also announced the nomination of Law Enforcement Planning Commission Director Ray Martinez to succeed Police Commissioner Trevor Velinor, who was set to retire on July 13, 2021. Government House said Martinez previously worked for the Virgin Islands Police Department as director of internal affairs, labor relations manager and director of intelligence.

At the same briefing, Bryan said the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Finance were mailing a second batch of income-tax refund checks totaling $10 million after $15 million in refunds had been mailed the previous week.

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said the Department of Health's digital vaccination records system was operational for people vaccinated in the territory. Government House also reported 44,705 first doses and 36,956 fully vaccinated people, and said the first Vax-to-Win lottery drawings in each district were scheduled for July 9, 2021.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-welcomes-first-cruise-ship-to-usvi-in-15-months/