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The State of the Territory 2024 as Heard — or Not — by Lawmakers
In the well of the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, some lawmakers mentioned to each other the length of Gov. Albert Bryan’s 2024 State of the Territory Address — close to 90 minutes long. But before the seats that held lawmakers, cabinet members, judges, and guests had cooled off on Monday night, members of the 35th Legislature were also ready to express their views on what they did or did not hear.
Several went straight to topic number one, the financial state of the Virgin Islands. The governor described it as a robust economy, buffered by inflation and cost-of-living pressures. Senate President Novelle Francis was among those who saw things differently.
“He was pretty optimistic in his speech,” Francis said, adding that, in a way, expressing optimism is the governor’s job.
The Senate president then pointed to $89 million in outstanding vendor payments, something he said the administration had to get a handle on. “We have a responsibility to pay our bills … I don’t know if he indicated how we can backfill that gap,” Francis said.
