SIX VIRGIN ISLANDERS HONORED: Streets renamed for ex-senator, MLB player, community icons

ST. CROIX. Lawmakers moved forward Monday with legislation to recognize six notable Virgin Islanders through street dedications and official honours.

The Senate Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection, led by Sen. Avery Lewis, backed the measures following testimony from family members, associates and supporters of each person being honoured. The bills will advance to the Rules and Judiciary Committee.

Three proposals target St. Croix streets. Bill 36-0229 would designate Queen Street in Frederiksted as "Adelbert 'Bert' Bryan Drive," recognizing the former legislator and retired police captain who represented the territory for five terms between 1983 and 2002. Bryan, who attended the hearing, played a leading role in advancing Act 4844, legislation mandating that Virgin Islands and Caribbean history be taught throughout public schools at all grade levels.

A second street measure, Bill 36-0218, seeks to honour Jerome "Jerry" Browne by renaming Prince Street in Christiansted. Browne spent a decade in Major League Baseball with the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics and Florida Marlins before returning to establish youth baseball programmes across St. Croix, St. Thomas, the British Virgin Islands and St. Martin.

Bill 36-0323 would rename Prince Street in Frederiksted for Maude "Maudie" Dowdy Roberts, a long-time community member who passed away in 2022 on her 100th birthday.

Two additional bills would confer the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor. Bill 36-0281 recognizes Hans Lawaetz, a rancher and former head of the V.I. Olympic Committee credited with developing young athletes, supporting baseball locally and establishing the St. Croix Dolphins swimming programme. Bill 36-0319 honours Rena Brodhurst, a former publisher of the St. Croix Avis, for her journalism work and efforts to document the territory's heritage.

Bill 36-0320, a separate resolution, would recognize Kevre Hendricks, a musician and educator whose work with the Virgin Islands Army National Guard Band has expanded music instruction in St. Croix public schools.

Separately, Sen. Hubert Frederick announced introduction of Bill 36-0350, which would honour the Virgin Islands Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church's 16th Episcopal District on the occasion of its 106th anniversary.