WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration, through the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs and Assistant Secretary of Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech, this week has transmitted $2,780,000 in Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds to Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. for the benefit of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Dept. of Interior announced Friday.
“The funding will be used to improve the centerline road on St. John, the wastewater treatment plant on St. Croix, and to purchase emergency vehicles for all three islands in the territory,” said Mr. Domenech. “We are pleased to provide this support that benefits the residents of the Virgin Islands.”
The fiscal year 2021 CIP funding totaling $2,780,000 was provided for the following projects:
- $1,842,023 - Rehabilitation of the Centerline Road on Route 10 at Cruz and Coral Bays on St. John.
- $705,977 - Maintenance and repair of the Harold G. Thompson Wastewater Treatment Plant on St. Croix.
- $232,000 – Acquisition of four quick-response vehicles for the Virgin Islands Fire Services to be used on St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix.
Other support that the Office of Insular Affairs has provided for the territory includes $300,000 which was provided to fund the pre-requisite environmental compliance process associated with the exchange of lands between the National Park Service and the USVI Government as announced on October 22. The environmental compliance process will evaluate the impacts of the intended use on cultural and natural resources as well as give the public ample opportunities to make their voice heard. The land exchange agreement opened the door for local officials to finally achieve their long-standing effort to construct the first K-12 public school on St. John.
Public education on St. John is currently only available through the eighth grade. In order to complete a high school education, students must commute by boat to St. Thomas each day during the school year.
For more information on the Office of Insular Affairs, visit www.doi.gov/oia or follow Assistant Secretary Domenech on Twitter at @ASIIADomenech.
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