St. Thomas – Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced at the weekly Press Briefing at Government House on St. Thomas, the nomination of Vincent Roberts as the next Commissioner of the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation (DSPR).
Mr. Roberts brings to the job over 18 years of service and an established record of leadership within the department. He is being highly praised for his commitment to youth programs, recreational improvement, and broad community engagement.
Governor Bryan highlighted Mr. Robert’s recent accomplishments, including the reopening of the Jackson Reinholdt Complex in Estate Whim, on St. Croix, and his overseeing of the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas, which included significant enhancements to horse racing and the track facilities. The Governor urged the Legislature to act swiftly to confirm Mr. Roberts nomination.
In accepting the nomination, Mr. Roberts stated:
“The Department has made great strides in the past six years under the Bryan-Roach Administration, and it’s my duty and my privilege to continue leading and building on those successes. I look forward to working with our private and public partners and making great strides, and like the Governor said, getting those health and fitness programs going so we can get a healthy community.”
Governor Bryan also underscored ongoing efforts to revitalize public recreation facilities across the Territory. He invited the St, Croix community to attend the reopening of the Vincent Mason Coral Resort in Frederiksted on Friday, May 9, 2025, The Governor extended heartfelt thanks to James Benton and Benton Construction for their exceptional work restoring the facility – an effort central to the Healthier Horizons initiative, which aims to expand access to safe and welcoming spaces that promote wellness for all residents.
In reflecting on recent events, Governor Bryan expressed appreciation for the community’s participation in the St. Thomas Carnival, emphasizing both its role in showcasing local culture and unity.
“It’s just with tremendous pride and reflection that we wrapped up another incredible Virgin Islands Carnival in St. Thomas, a celebration that showcased and showcases our culture, talent and community spirit every single year,” he stated. “But even as we celebrated, we were reminded of the challenges we continue to face as a community.”
He related the sadness felt as the Territory mourns the loss of two young men in separate shooting incidents over Carnival weekend. He extended condolences to their families.
“We’ve got great officers, and they are going to track them down,” the Governor stated. He urged anyone with information to assist the Virgin Islands Police Department in their investigation.
The governor spoke about the necessity of helping young Virgin Islanders develop better conflict resolution skills.
“We need to talk to our young men about resolving matters because all the amount of cameras, all the amount of police are not going to be a deterrent to people who are determined to take other people’s lives…Cameras are not a deterrent for people who are on a mission. They are able to deter a lot of crime from happening, but not all.” the Governor stated. “We can’t put cameras in the bathroom. From what I understand, that’s where one of the shooting incidents took place.” He was referring to the Fort Christian restroom which claimed the life of one of the victims.
As the Territory observes National Hurricane Preparedness Week, Governor Bryan encouraged all residents to remain vigilant, especially in light of the recent earthquake and record-breaking rainfall during Carnival. He also recognized the community’s resilience in facing these challenges together.
Governor Bryan concluded the Press Briefing by announcing he will be out of the Territory this week to serve on an Artificial Intelligence panel in New York. During his absence, Lieutenant Governor Roach will serve as Acting Governor.
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