Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr announces re-election bid

USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr announces re-election bid

With an estimated 600 people or more gathered at the Bryan-Roach campaign headquarters on St. Croix filled with enthusiasm, Governor Albert A. Bryan and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza A. Roach announced their bid for reelection Tuesday night, May 10, 2022, highlighting some of what the campaign says are 100 achievements, including one of the most important successes in USVI history: staving off collapse of Government Employees' Retirement System.

The announcement also had momentum online, with live viewership on the Consortium's Facebook page almost doubling that of Sens. Kurt A. Vialet and running mate Janelle K. Sarauw, who announced their bid last Thursday. At time of publishing, the Bryan-Roach event had nearly 11,000 views on the Consortium's FB platform, and several radio stations carried the event live as well, which broadened the audience.

The well-orchestrated presentation included several endorsements — from former Senator Roosevelt David to former Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen. "I supported Albert Bryan and Tregenza Roach in 2018, and I did it because if this territory that we love was going to progress, we knew we needed to change course. That's what they said they would do, that's what they did, and I am here to say I am not going back, we will not go back," Ms Christensen said.

Throughout the event and leading up to the governor's and lieutenant governor's speeches, supporters spoke of the accomplishments of the administration and cast aside talk that not much was done to improve the USVI during Mr Bryan's tenure. Mr Vialet and Ms Sarauw have criticised the administration for ongoing health care issues in the territory, the slow pace of disaster recovery projects, and what they contend is a failing education system. The administration has countered by stating that change takes time, while pointing to the successes of the governor.

Governor Bryan was introduced by Ashley Scotland, who currently serves as vice chair of the St Croix District of the Democratic Party. Making an impassioned case for the governor's reelection, Mr Scotland meticulously conveyed the administration's achievements — from shoring up the territory's finances with belt-tightening, which Mr. Scotland said resulted in annual surpluses not seen in the last 15 years, to the repayment of tax refunds. Mr. Scotland and other speakers also highlighted the administration's handling of Covid-19 — which even Mr Vialet has praised — with administration officials placing Mr. Bryan's execution on par with the best in the US and ahead of many states.

'We did it together'- Gov Bryan


Taking the stage, Governor Bryan appeared confident and ready for the race. "Are you excited as I am?" he asked forcefully to the crowd, already on their feet and cheering. "I just want to say we've gotten a lot done in the last three years and we didn't do it alone, we did it together because the grace of God has shined upon the Virgin Islands and blessed us to eternity."

Mr. Bryan recalled his years of preparation to be governor and said that while some may say he is a lucky man, luck itself is described as when preparation meets opportunity. "Throughout my life I have tried to be prepared for the opportunities that come before us, and the opportunities to serve, because some people think that because they're elected that they're good. No, they're just popular. I wanted to be good so I could get elected," he said. "And in doing that I prepared to serve the people, and there were so many people in front of me that I thought would be governor. At that time, I said, 'listen, if I have to serve to help them, that was my role."

While Mr Bryan has said he loves being governor, on Tuesday night he admitted that the pressure gets heavy sometimes, including what he appeared to suggest were baseless rumors that circulate the community and radio talk shows. "It's not easy. It's a lot of heavy burdens; my family's under pressure, my friends are under pressure... Sometimes it gets heavy. It gets heavy watching my people bear it," he said.

He recalled after his election in November 2018 being told that the government would run out of money in three months. "It's been not three months, but three years after and we ain't miss a payroll yet," he said. "Not only that, but we made good on all the election promises and the raises that they gave in the last administration — we paid those people too.

"We used to be in the Department of Finance counting pennies on how we're going to pay the rent this month. Now we got money for days — 60 days cash-on-hand every single day of the week, ladies and gentlemen.

"But we didn't waste that money, we made good on the commitment to pay teachers, policemen and public servants a fair wage.

"When we took this government we had the mess of the hurricanes to straighten up. People forget, over $600 million in unpaid bills, FEMA cut us off, we only had $500 million obligated. All the billions of the election suddenly vanished and we realized we were broke. But that didn't stop us; we kept going and last year we paid over $700 million in checks out to people," the governor said.

Mr Bryan also spoke about roads being paved across the territory, and said such efforts would continue throughout the year.

Lieutenant Governor Tregenza A. Roach, who spoke before the governor, weaved biblical themes into his speech, painting the administration as the right team for this moment to lift the USVI to prosperity.

Bryan Administration 'is for such a time as this'- Roach


Using the story that tells of Esther's heroism in saving the Jews of Persia by leveraging her relationship with King Xerxes, Mr Roach said that through the last three and a half years, the Bryan-Roach administration "had come to the kingdom for such a time as this." Backing up his claim, the lieutenant governor hailed the administration's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic among other wins. "By all indicators we performed in a manner superior to many mainland jurisdictions, which sometimes think that because we are a territory of the United States we cannot lead ourselves," he said.

He added, "We conducted our vaccine program so effectively and so efficiently that people were leaving their home states, booking Airbnbs and other accommodations here, and staying in some cases as long as they could and working virtually in order to get both doses of the vaccine here in the Virgin Islands."

The lieutenant governor acknowledged that there remains a lot of work to be done, but defended the administration by stating that some things take time. "Even the staunchest cynic would have to admit that the Bryan-Roach team has proven time and time again that we have come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And I'm sorry, but you're going to have to manufacture any evidence to the contrary," he said.

Supporters of the Bryan-Roach team, including many cabinet members, cheered during the reelection bid announcement on Tues. May 10, 2022.


Lt. Gov. Roach spoke during his speech about the successes of the Bryan-Roach administration.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×