Aerial shot of Frederiksted showing the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility. Photo Credit: VI CONSORTIUM
Government House announced Thursday that Governor Albert Bryan has resubmitted proposed legislation asking the Senate to appropriate $1.75 million to repair the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility and construct a new service pier at the site in Frederiksted.
According to the release, Mr. Bryan had submitted the proposed legislation to the 33rd Legislature in November 2020, but it was not acted upon. He is asking the 34th Legislature to approve his request for $1,750,000 to be appropriated from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund, which was established to fund capital improvement projects in the St. Croix District.
“Due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic and the No-Sail Order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all cruise ship activities in the world and in the U.S. Virgin Islands ceased in March 2020," Mr. Bryan wrote in his submittal letter to Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory.
He added, "This inactivity in the cruise ship industry has severely affected the Virgin Islands Port Authority and diminished its ability to finance the necessary repairs to the severely deteriorated tender landing at the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility."
