Gov. Albert Bryan spoke of a new type of tourism – recovery tourism – Thursday when he addressed the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce and previewed the territory’s challenges over the next few years.
Bryan said “inflation is killing us,” partly due to the 1,200 new residents who are reopening the refinery and helping to rebuild after two Category 5 hurricanes in 2017. The police department is overworked and undermanned and the roads and drainage systems are a problem.
Rental properties are scarce and prices have increased for home buyers. Merchants are having a very hard time finding workers and money is being sent to the mainland instead of being spent in the territory.
“We need to shake every single dime out of their pockets,” he said as he talked about recovery tourism. “We’ll make sure your bellies are full first,” he added.
Bryan pointed out that even though the territory has $1.8 billion in recovery funds, and as much as $20 billion promised over the next few years, financial problems linger and a 20-year plan is necessary to maximize the effects of the federal funding.
Bryan assured the group that the St. Croix hospital will be torn down and rebuilt within the next few years, and $50 million will be invested in sports complexes, including Paul E. Joseph stadium and at the University of the Virgin Islands.
The territory desperately needs new hotels, and building at least one is his first priority, the governor said. A lot of infrastructure needs to be repaired or rebuilt and St. Croix needs more cruise ship calls, he added.
The new governor envisions more marine development, including extra slips and shipyards and the dredging of the Christiansted harbor for small cruise ships. The port of the former St. Croix Alumina should be used as well as part of the refinery for shipping, he said.
Some of the governor’s other goals include repairing schools and infrastructure and training and educating the populace.
The governor answered a few questions from the audience and listened to a Christiansted merchant who described citizens’ fear due to the recent increase in violence. Ingrid White, owner of Cueros Leather Goods and a friend of a recent murder victim, the owner of Panache Jewelers, presented the governor with a petition signed by 100 people. She passionately spoke about the fear of closing shops after dark and homeless individuals, with nowhere to go, who deface merchants’ property.
“Something needs to be done now,” she said, at least a police patrol in town. The governor agreed and responded that patrols have already been ordered. He said there is a new class of cadets ready to graduate and more federal agents will be called in to deal with gangs and drug problems.
At the beginning of the meeting, Ryan Nelthropp, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce chairman, said the membership will “focus on strengthening their relationship with the government,” as he introduced Bryan to address the group at Gertrude’s Restaurant.
In return, Bryan said he plans to work “hand in hand with the Chamber.”
“The role of government is to provide the highest quality of life for our citizens and to facilitate every business making money so we can collect taxes,” Bryan said.
The “broken window” theory holds that an unfixed broken window in a building gives a city block the appearance of decay and disrepair, and thus encourages the congregation of lawless individuals, who see the physical deterioration as a sign that their shady activities will go unnoticed. Once the criminal element is established on a block or in a neighborhood, law-abiding citizens start avoiding the area, leaving it to the miscreants and loiterers, and eventually the pestilence spreads outward into otherwise “healthy” blocks. In our territory we have many broken windows and buildings, owned by parties who are NEVER held responsible for upkeep of their property. We have broken roads and road signage. We have overgrown vegetation which blocks roadways and sidewalks. We have broken down vehicles which litter roads and roadsides. We have unsightly and overflowing trash bins in full view of citizens and tourists. These are things that can and must be addressed before you get too excited about tourists flooding to the territory. My theory is that if you spend funds to maintain a clean and inviting environment, THEN tourists will be eager to visit, and more willing to be shaken down for “every last dime in their pockets.” They may even decide that this is a great place to invest private funds. The grand and expensive gamble of public funds for soccer stadiums and hotels and ball fields are no guarantee of tourist dollars, but they ARE a guarantee of falling further into the abyss of government debt. NOBODY wants to visit a place that is unsafe, dirty, and neglected in even the most basic ways. Clean up the islands, FIRST for the citizens, and then the tourists and private investors will follow. Make people responsible to keep their properties maintained and attractive. Train the citizens from youth up to value the wonderful place they live, and pride in it will lend to a gracious and welcoming attitude. None of the things mentioned above requires billions of dollars.
“By the way Chamber of Commerce and small businesses, under the “20 year plan” you will be footing most of the VI government’s contribution (maximizing the effects of the federal funding, don’t you know), in the form of much higher business taxes. In case you couldn’t read between the lines.” Thanks, Gov Bryan