Gov. Bryan: LEPC Milestone, Jesse Jackson Passing

M.A. Dworkin

USVI - Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced that the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission (LEPC) has been removed from High-Risk designation by the U.S. Department of Justice, ending more than a decade of heightened federal oversight and marking an important milestone for the Territory. 

First imposed in 2012, the designation placed additional federal scrutiny on the management of public safety grants in the Virgin Islands. Its removal signals restored federal confidence in the Territory’s financial controls and grant management practices that support law enforcement and community safety initiatives across the Territory. 

Governor Bryan said the achievement reflects years of focused work to strengthen internal controls and elevate accountability across government.

“Getting LEPC off High-Risk status sends a clear message about who we are as a government and who we are as a people,” the Governor stated. “We set standards, we meet them, and we sustain them. This administration has worked deliberately to improve oversight, strengthen financial systems, and protect the public’s trust. This milestone demonstrates that our institutions can meet the highest standards of accountability.”

The Governor noted that LEPC’s removal aligns with broader progress across the Executive Branch, including the Department of Labor’s recent removal from High-Risk designation and continued compliance advancements by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Bureau of Corrections under longstanding federal oversight agreements.

“These gains reflect steady leadership and disciplined management,” Governor Bryan added. “They show that we are confronting longstanding challenges and resolving them the right way.”

Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission Executive Director Moleto A. Smith Jr. credited the milestone to the dedication of LEPC’s staff and the Administration’s commitment to reform.

“This milestone belongs to the dedicated professionals at the Law Enforcement Planning Commission,” Mr. Smith said. “Over the past two years, our team strengthened internal controls, enhanced compliance monitoring, and improved our grant management systems…I thank each member of our staff for their professionalism, discipline, and commitment to serving the people of the Virgin Islands. The leadership and expectations set by Governor Bryan and Lieutenant Governor Roach created the structure necessary to implement and sustain these reforms.” 

Federal investigators identified concerns tied to events in 2010 that led to the High-Risk designation. In response, LEPC modernized its financial management practices and reinforced day-to-day oversight of federal grants, leading to the Department of Justice’s decision to remove the designation.

For LEPC, the milestone strengthens the Territory’s ability to effectively manage and compete for federal public safety funding that supports training, equipment, crime prevention initiatives, and community safety programs.

Governor Bryan thanked the LEPC team for raising the standard of performance and reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to transparent governance and measurable results for the people of the Virgin Islands.

 Reverend Jesse Jackson’s Passing

Today, the Virgin Islands mourns the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., and we honor a life that stirred the conscience of a nation. He was not only a civil rights leader. He was a moral voice who refused to accept injustice as normal and demanded that America treat people as it says it believes.

I did not have the privilege of meeting Reverend Jackson, but I felt the power of his example. I watched him run for President and understood what that kind of courage costs. Even without meeting him, that moment showed me, and it showed many of us, that we can make a difference. His willingness to step forward gave many of us the desire and the fortitude to step up in our own communities.

In the Virgin Islands, we know what it means to be overlooked and still stand tall. We know what it means to build opportunity with our own hands, and to love our people enough to insist on better. Reverend Jackson reminded communities like ours that where you live does not limit your impact, and our voices still carry weight.

We grieve today, but we do not lose direction. We honor him by serving our neighbors, guiding our young people, and protecting the dignity of every Virgin Islander. 

May God comfort his family and all those who loved him.

• Governor Albert Bryan Jr.