EDITORIAL: Tarts, Crab Races, and the ‘Almost’ Economy
Power Players in Miami: Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (center) is flanked by his top cruise and tourism leadership at Seatrade Cruise Global 2026. To the Governor’s right (pink blazer) is newly sworn-in Tourism Commissioner Jennifer Matarangas-King, the former One Communications executive now at the helm of the territory’s marketing machine. To the far right is Joseph Boschulte, who recently transitioned from Tourism Commissioner to President and CEO of The West Indian Company Limited (WICO). The delegation spent the week in Miami pitching the "USVI Experience" to global cruise executives, even as baseline growth figures for St. Croix remain a point of local contention. (Photo courtesy of Government House)
By JOHN McCARTHY / St. Croix Sun Investigative Reporter
FREDERIKSTED — From the glittering floor of Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 in Miami, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. took to Facebook this week to "report" on the state of Virgin Islands tourism. Shaking hands against a backdrop of mega-ships, the Governor’s message was one of unbridled positivity. But as any investigative reporter knows, the devil—and the true state of our economy—is hidden in the modifiers.
The Governor’s dispatch was peppered with linguistic safety nets. He claimed he grew St. Croix’s cruise business by "almost" 400 percent. He projected we would surpass two million passengers "this year," before quickly hedging with an "if not this year, next year." It’s a forecast that feels remarkably "Musk-ian"—ambitious, high-tech in its delivery, yet perpetually "just around the corner."
The Pivot to the Boardwalk
When the conversation turned toward the actual substance of these successes, the Governor made a masterful pivot. He didn’t talk about pier reinforcements or dredging schedules; instead, he talked about us. He credited the "visitor experience" to coconut tarts, pineapple tarts, crab races, and trips to the lagoon.
By focusing on the "Tart Wars" and the Christiansted Boardwalk, the Governor is effectively shifting the goalposts. He is placing the weight of the territory's economic future on the shoulders of the local baker and the crab race organizer. It is a heartwarming sentiment, but it’s one that conveniently ignores the fact that a world-class "experience" requires world-class infrastructure—something that coconut tarts alone cannot fix.
Visions of Grandeur: An artist’s rendering of the proposed multi-million dollar expansion at Crown Bay, St. Thomas, featuring new "Icon-class" berths and a land-based water park. While Governor Albert Bryan Jr. touted the project at Seatrade 2026 in Miami as a "USVI success," critics note the development’s heavy tilt toward St. Thomas, leaving St. Croix residents to wonder when the "positivity" will finally dock in Frederiksted. (Photo Courtesy of Government House)
The Crown Bay Divide
While the Governor touts our "fantastic people" as the engine of tourism, the actual "reporting" from Seatrade centered on a massive St. Thomas win: the Royal Caribbean/CTI project at Crown Bay.
While the "news is all positive" in Sub Base, St. Croix residents are left wondering when "almost" 400 percent growth will translate into a consistent, year-round cruise schedule that doesn't leave Frederiksted a ghost town for weeks at a time. A water park in St. Thomas is a win for Royal Caribbean’s bottom line, but it does little to lower WAPA rates or repair the roads leading to those "experiences" the Governor is so excited about.
Reporting vs. Marketing
There is a fundamental difference between a Governor acting as a Chief Marketing Officer and a Governor reporting to his constituents. To say "everyone" is talking about our successes is a fine soundbite for a Miami ballroom, but it rings hollow when the "positivity" isn't matched by the reality of our utility grid or our hospital.
If the USVI is to truly "go over" the two-million-passenger mark, it will require more than optimistic projections and anecdotes about local delicacies. It will require a baseline of honesty about where the investment is going—and the realization that the "people" can only carry the weight of the territory’s infrastructure for so long.
The Governor tells us the news is "all positive." In the Virgin Islands, we’ve learned that when the news is that perfect, it’s usually because the hard questions were left at the pier.
Here is the breakdown of the Governor’s "Reporting" from Miami versus the reality on the ground:
The Two Million Passenger ‘Goal’
The Governor’s claim that the USVI will "go over" two million cruise passengers this year (2026) is on thin ice:
The Official Forecast: The USVI Department of Tourism's own data from January 2026 projected 1.96 million cruise passengers for the year.
The "If Not This Year" Clause: By adding that qualifier, Bryan is essentially acknowledging that they are currently trending just below that symbolic 2-million mark. It’s a classic "moving the goalposts" maneuver mid-sentence.
The Context: In 2025, the territory saw 1.83 million passengers. Growing that to over 2 million requires a massive jump that current schedules don't fully support—especially with the Crown Bay expansion still in the "dirt-moving" phase.
The Crown Bay ‘Water Park’ & Berths
The details the Governor’s "reporting" from Seatrade are actually parts of a long-standing agreement that is only now starting to see physical activity:
The Project: The $250 million partnership with Royal Caribbean and Cruise Terminals International (CTI).
The Berths: The plan is to add a third berth (to allow two "Icon-class" ships to dock simultaneously) and modernize the existing two. He likely said "two new berths" because the project involves a total overhaul of the current docking footprint.
The Water Park: This is the "St. Thomas-centric" part of the deal. Royal Caribbean is essentially looking to replicate their "Perfect Day at CocoCay" model by building a massive land-based attraction in the Sub Base area.
The St. Croix Omission: Noticeably absent from his "positivity" is any mention of a similar water park or major berth expansion for Frederiksted.
