Senators Unanimously Override Bryan Vetoes, Allocate Funds for Firefighters and Nonprofits

Lawmakers voted unanimously to override several vetoes, preserving $25 million for the Crime Prevention Fund, $250,000 for veterans’ travel, and hazardous pay for firefighters.

Lawmakers have unanimously voted to override several recent vetos from Governor Albert Bryan Jr., including that of Bill 35-0379, which makes various amendments to titles 3, 33 and 20 of the Virgin Islands Code and other previously passed bills. Having described the bill as a “staggering overreach,” Governor Bryan suggested that it attempted to terminate a legally binding agreement – an action that he deemed inappropriate for the Legislature to undertake.

However, during the Senate's Legislative Session on Wednesday, Senator Donna Frett-Gregory moved a motion to override the bill and won the support of all fourteen members present. By overriding the veto, “we are able to ensure that the Fire Prevention Unit receives the hazardous pay,” explained Senator Frett-Gregroy. Section 6 of the bill “included in the land for the Nazareth Sports Complex. We agreed that we will include that portion of the property to support that sports complex,” she added.