Government

Bryan Signs Water Island Hotel-Marina Lease, Temporary Police Manpower and UVI Funding Measures Into Law

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. has signed three bills establishing a temporary law-enforcement integration initiative to increase police manpower, moving the Water Island Hotel and Marina development forward and providing nearly $3 million to the University of the Virgin Islands for general operating expenses. Bryan approved Bills 36-0332, 36-0340 and 36-0343, all passed by the 36th Legislature during its Aug. 4 session. The measures address public safety, economic development and higher education. Bill 36-0332 establishes a temporary law-enforcement integration initiative designed to increase police manpower, strengthen public-safety operations and reduce violent crime across the territory. The legislation follows action Bryan took in June through Executive Order 547-2026, which temporarily placed designated peace officers from several executive-branch agencies under the command of the V.I. Police Department commissioner. The executive order was intended to quickly increase the number of t...