School Rebuilds and Postal Relief: Motta Outlines ‘Stable’ Path Amid WAPA Woes
Government House Director of Communications Richard Motta Jr. provides a fiscal and infrastructure update during Monday’s weekly press briefing.
By St. Croix Sun Staff
CHRISTIANSTED — Government House Director of Communications Richard Motta Jr. painted a picture of a Territory in transition during Monday’s weekly briefing, balancing a "stable" $870.7 million revenue forecast with the gritty reality of rotational power outages and rising postal costs.
Coming off Friday’s Revenue Estimating Conference, the Bryan-Roach Administration is doubling down on optimism, even as they keep a "close eye" on a projected decline in gross receipts taxes. Motta attributed the dip to shifts among a small number of top taxpayers—an exodus that has some locals wondering if the "bright future" includes everyone.
The ‘New’ St. Croix: Bricks, Mortar, and Groundbreakings
For residents tired of hearing about "plans," Motta offered specific milestones for the island’s long-awaited school modernizations:
Arthur A. Richards PreK-8: The campus is nearing completion and is expected to welcome students this August.
St. Croix Central High: A groundbreaking for the phased demolition and reconstruction is set for April 21.
Bertha C. Boschulte (St. Thomas): Construction and modernization activities officially kick off this Thursday, March 26.
“That is what progress looks like, and it is what the community deserves to see,” Motta said, highlighting a spring calendar packed with school milestones.
WAPA and the 5-Megawatt Gap
While the long-term outlook for schools is "bright," the short-term outlook for the power grid remains dim—at least in the St. Thomas district. WAPA CEO Karl Knight reported that an auxiliary equipment failure on Unit 15 has forced rotational outages that are expected to last through Wednesday.
Even with six Wärtsilä engines running and a boost from the Donoe solar facility, demand is exceeding generation by about 5 megawatts during peak hours. Crews from St. Croix have been dispatched to St. Thomas to assist with the emergency repairs.
The Fight for Fair Postage
Finally, the Administration is asking for the public's help in a fight against the federal government. Since the suspension of the de minimis exemption in August 2025, Virgin Islanders have been hit with "unexpected costs" for basic mail and shipping services.
Motta urged residents to submit receipts and photos of their increased postal fees—like the rising cost of mailbox renewals—to postalfees@go.vi.gov by Friday, March 27.
“Facts, receipts, and documented examples strengthen the territory’s case,” Motta said. One can only hope that case is strong enough to convince federal officials that a 78-cent stamp is a steep price for "connectivity"—unless, of course, Elon Musk decides to launch a cheaper "X-Post" service from a new headquarters in Christiansted.
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📮 ACTION ALERT: Don’t Let Rising Postal Fees Go Unchecked!
The Bryan-Roach Administration is building a case to fight the federal government for relief from the "unexpected costs" crushing Virgin Islands households and businesses. Since the de minimis exemption was suspended in August 2025, everything from your PO Box renewal to basic shipping has become a major financial hurdle.
Governor Bryan needs your "real-world facts" to take to Washington.
What to send: Receipts, photos of high-fee invoices, and a brief description of how these costs have impacted your family or business.
Where to send it: Email your documentation to postalfees@go.vi.gov.
The Deadline: Submissions must be received by Friday, March 27, 2026.
