STX Senate Candidate Raymond T. James Esq. Supports Governor Bryan’s Call for a Federal Pathway for St. Croix Refinery Restart
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St. Croix - Raymond T. James, Esq. Republican candidate for the Senate in the District of St. Croix, today expressed support for Governor Albert Bryan Jr. September 24, 2026, Washington Examiner opinion article calling for a coordinated federal pathway to evaluate, permit and finance a qualified restart of the St. Croix Refinery.
Separately, Mr. Janes proposed that the Virgin Islands Legislature explore whether the Territory could participate as an equity investor in a qualified project. The equity proposal is Mr. James’ own recommendation for legislative consideration, not a proposal attributed to the Governor or the refinery owners.
“Governor Bryan is thinking like an industrialist, and I applaud his leadership on this issue,” Mr. James said. “The existing Refinery and related industrial infrastructure are important assets. A safe restart could put Virgin islanders to work, help St. Croix recover economically, and allow our islands to contribute to America’s energy needs.”
Mr. James said the Legislature should work with the Governor to identify possible funding sources and evaluate a carefully structured Territorial investment. Any proposal should undergo an independent valuation and financial review, establish a clear potential return for the public, and
“Virgin Islanders should have an opportunity to share in the returns if public resources help bring this asset back into production,” said Mr. James. “The Legislature must do the work now to determine whether an equity stake is financially sound and how it could be funded responsibly.”
Mr. James pledged to seek support in Washington. “If elected, I will immediately call on federal officials in Washington to help bring the relevant agencies and potential investment partners to the table. We need a coordinated path to financing, experienced operation, reliable markets, and full compliance with environmental and public health requirements.”
Mr. James, candidate for the Senate, went on to conclude:
“The Governor has proposed a practical solution for moving this effort forward. Now the Legislature must do its part by examining whether a responsibly structured Virgin Islands equity investment could help turn a qualified restart into lasting economic recovery.”
Raymond T. James, Esq.
Republican Candidate for the Senate
St. Croix District
U.S. Virgin Islands
Vote for Republican Raymond T. James for Senate St. Croix District
Ballot #20 * Donate: PayPal rJames_esq@yahoo.com
About Raymond T. James
Raymond T. James, Esq. is the Republican candidate for the Senate in the District of St. Croix. He is a graduate of Howard University School of Law. Mr. James is a former assistant Attorney General and former Chairman of the Government Employees’ Retirement System (GERS) Board. He also earned a certificate in negotiation from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. James is a farmer and small-business owner. He is Ballot No. 20 in the November 3, 2026 general election.
