Bryan Slams Outdated Permit Process After $130M Summer’s End Extension Blocked, Calls for Legislative Action to Match Pace of Global Economy

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. is calling on the V.I. Legislature to update decades-old laws that he says are hindering private investment, delaying job creation, and preventing the territory from competing effectively in today’s global economy.

In a release issued by Government House on Thursday, Mr. Bryan pointed to the Legislature’s recent refusal to grant a two-year permit extension for the $130 million Summer’s End marina project on St. John as a clear example of how outdated procedures are obstructing economic progress. He stressed that the request was not for a new project or application, but simply for an extension.

Mr. Bryan’s position on the Summer’s End matter stands in sharp contrast to that of the Legislature, with Senate President Milton Potter maintaining that the body’s stance is firmly grounded in law. “The law is unambiguous,” he said last week, citing Chapter 12 of the Virgin Islands Code, section 910. The statute requires that “any development or construction approved by a coastal zone permit shall be commenced within twelve months from the date such permit is issued. Failure to commence development or construction within such period shall cause the permit to lapse and render it null and void unless an extension is granted by the appropriate Committee of the Commission or the Commissioner.”

Mr. Bryan, however, remains critical of the Senate's decision to vote down his request to approve Bill 36-0145, an act ratifying the governor's approval of the Modification and Extension of Consolidated Major Coastal Zone Management Permit Nos. CZJ-04-14 (W) and CZJ-03-14 (L).