Medicaid funds run out, major road repairs planned: Bryan provides comprehensive update

During Monday’s press conference, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. updates on various matters regarding the infrastructure and community well-being of the Virgin Islands. In addition to focusing on the ongoing instability plaguing the area’s power plants, the briefing touched on a wide range of topics, including road improvements, housing projects and community support measures.

In addressing road conditions, especially on St. Croix, Governor Bryan noted the challenges presented by the current wet weather. “The rain, we are grateful for it, but it is causing major damage to the roads,” he said. In addition, the weather has provided ideal conditions for vegetation growth – a boon for local farmers, but a bane for officials who strive to keep roadsides clear of brush. ‘It’s not just the rain that makes the bush grow. But you can’t cut bushes in the rain,” the governor said, explaining the dilemma. He also noted that some road renovation projects have been put on hold as authorities await the completion of underground works in those areas.

Mr Bryan listed the entire North Shore Road as among the roads that would be excavated to facilitate the underground construction of electricity and water supplies. He also emphasized that Mahogany Road was overdue for extensive renovation work. “We should start doing that in about 90 days,” he estimated, warning residents that the project would be extensive. “There’s a lot of work there, diverting the dain and creating culverts and what not.” The main roads in Frederiksted – Queen Street and King Street – would also receive attention, Governor Bryan promised.

In addition to road work, Governor Bryan discussed legislation on abandoned and dilapidated buildings is currently before the Senate. He emphasized the need for affordable housing and improved aesthetics in the downtown area. “We need to get this moving and increase our affordable housing in our downtown,” he said, noting that despite several improvements, the presence of dilapidated buildings detracts from the overall appearance of the community.

Other bills currently pending, the governor noted, include efforts to reform criminal laws. “If we can be honest, mandatory life sentences haven’t really changed anything,” he argued, advocating giving judges more leeway in imposing sentences based on the severity of the crime. “We want to make sure we get the right punishment for the crimes,” he explained. “We want to make sure we can repatriate people back to our community.”

Bills to address a formal procedure for a person to change gender, as stated in official documents, as well as legislation to streamline procurement requirements and to combine workers’ compensation with unemployment insurance, are also up for consideration by the legislature, Governor Bryan noted.

Healthcare financing was another important topic. Governor Bryan mentioned a recent bill requesting $3 million for Medicaid matching funds to ensure continued access to medical care for residents. “We ran out of Medicaid match money,” he revealed, calling the scenario “a good thing, and it’s a bad thing.” During the Covid-19 pandemic, Governor Bryan noted that services covered by Medicaid expanded to include dental treatments and other specialty care. As a result, there was an increase in the number of people seeking services, resulting in a depletion of appropriated funds for Medicaid match by the local government “No good deed goes unpunished,” the governor joked. He emphasized the importance of maintaining access to affordable healthcare services, noting that more than 2,400 people have been served by the local government. territorial health fair which closed last weekend.

In response to a question from the Consortium, Governor Bryan also addressed the area’s chronic labor shortage. He noted that the political impasse over immigration raises the question promoting visa waiver legislation a non-starter at the current moment. “Immigration is a sensitive subject,” he said. Referring to the current battle on Capitol Hill over what to do at the southern border. However, efforts are still underway on this front.

“I’m trying to get them to establish connections that will allow people on work visas from the Dominican Republic to come to the Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan said. He also referred to an existing agreement between the United States and Trinidad & Tobago, which allows Trinidadian investors to locate in Miami. “I think such ways are much faster,” the governor said, in terms of addressing the area’s immediate needs for workers. However, he noted that the first two megabundles of projects under the Rebuild USVI heading have submitted requests for proposals. The four qualified bidders expected to respond to the RFPs “are already looking for rooms, man camps and the like to get people to work,” noted Governor Bryan, who expressed his belief that the area will be able to meet the adequately tackle the labor crisis.