Albert Bryan Jr. recently took the oath of office as the ninth elected governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, capping off a momentous journey that was years in the making. The event took place at the Emancipation Garden in St. Thomas before the 12 noon deadline set by Virgin Islands law, and came with the traditional exchange of power program.

“To those who may be hesitant, I invite you to rest down your cynicism and dismiss your pessimism, and to give not only our administration, but our legislators, our teachers, our healthcare providers, our neighbors, friends and family a chance to earn your trust,” Mr. Bryan said. “And at the end of the day we must realize that we, each and everyone of us, we are the government.”

He added, “I am excited about 2019, and sleep well but not often. I know that we are assembling a team that will at long last begin to bring to a close some of our more vexing issues and take advantage of opportunities to build the Virgin Islands that is prepared for another 100 years of progress under the American flag.”