Why would anyone vote for Adelbert Bryan?

What is positive about Sen. Terrence Nelson? He wants to legalize marijuana, but voted against the Diaggeo and Cruzan rum deal. He expresses hatred for outsiders and white people, but remains silent on a constitutional draft that would make him ineligible to run for governor if it was to be approved. He is promoting propaganda about the governor by accusing the governor of misusing public funds. He behaves as if he is high on weed or mentally disturbed. He has called testifiers liars during Senate session. How would this half-starved looking moron represent the USVI in Washington? Someone needs to smack that monkey grin off his face. He looks as stupid as he sounds. I hope he does not change his mind about running for governor, but I heard he has trouble finding a running mate. Who would be so foolish to associate with such an unintelligent low-life? It should be hilarious to see how he campaigns against the governor during the gubernatorial race.

That`s just what we need, another Bert Bryan wanna be!
Ah, ya gotta love this guy!!

VI Senator Arrested for Killing Son

Last Wednesday, Virgin Islands Senator Adelbert "Bert" Bryan from St. Croix was arrested for fatally shooting his son, Adelbert "Pel" Bryan, 25, eight months ago.

Charged with involuntary manslaughter, the St. Croix Senator was advised of his rights by Court Judge Alfonso Andrews and released on his own recognizance. The judge, however, ordered the Legislator not to commit any criminal act while on bail or to leave the Virgin Islands without the permission of the Court.

The affidavit which outlined the police case against the senator, spoke of his unlawful and excessive use of force against his son Adelbert "Pel" Bryan, when he shot him on March 30 at the farm owned by the family on St. Croix.

According to what Bryan told the police, he was chased around a truck by his son who was armed with a machete after the two had gotten into an argument. The Senator said he subsequently pulled out a 38 caliber handgun and fired six shots at his son. The gun in question was licensed. Bryan, a retired police captain also has a license for three additional handguns.

Six shots fired at son

The charge brought against the St. Croix Legislator claims that he fired six shots in rapid succession at his son. Three of the shots hit the young man; one in the chest, another in the neck and the third in the rear of his right shoulder.

The complaint filed in the court alleges that after the first two shots, the defendant made no attempt to break off the assault on his son to determine if he had subdued or incapacitated" the young man. Moreover, as to the effect of the three shots upon the victim, the affidavit filed in the courts throws important light on the issue. "It is possible that the first wound turned the victim leftward, which allowed gunshot wound number two to enter through the right side of the neck and exit near the left ear" stated the complaint.

The entry of the third shot was reportedly through the side rear shoulder, exiting toward the front of the body.

Charge of excessive force

It may be noted that as a police captain , Bryan was a self-defense instructor, a martial arts instructor as well as an expert marksman. The affidavit presented to the court claims that the shot may have been sufficient to incapacitate the victim. "The evidence indicates that the deceased was first shot in the chest and this wound probably incapacitated the victim" Consequently the two other wounds were unnecessary and "further evidence of unlawful, excessive force by Bryan" said the document.

According to what was placed before the court for consideration, Bryan could have taken a number of steps to aviod killing his son. The senator could have left the scene to avoid the confrontation or warned his son that he had a gun concealed on his person which could have deterred his son from further confrontation moreover, he could have used self-defense measures to disarm his son before going for the gun.

Re-elected while awaiting arrest

Significantly, despite the pending charge of voluntary manslaughter for which he was finally arrested on Wednesday, Bryan was re-elected to serve in the 22nd Legislature as one of the 15 senator of the lawmaking body.

Despite his wrong-doing Bryan remains popular among certain segments of the Virgin Island population. For example, the day before, he was charged with the involuntary manslaughter of his son, Bryan returned from the U.S. mainland only to be greeted at the airport by a crowd of about 300.

As the jet carrying Bryan touched down, his t-shirt clad fans began to sing: "Welcome back, to our leader, friend and man with the vision."

Some of the welcoming crowd shouted "we love you" while others stated "solidarity forever." One fan managed to turn the affair into a black and white issues. "We want you to stick with him," he shouted. "Black people must stick together".

Suspended by the 21st Legislature

On November 5, 1996 despite the fact that charges were pending against him for the voluntary manslaughter of his son, the voters of St. Croix elected Bryan to serve in the 22nd Legislature of the Virgin Islands. That term is due to begin the second week of January, 1997.

However, on November 7, 1996 while he was still serving out his term as a senator of the 21st Legislature, Bryan went into the public gallery of the deliberative body, yanked a camera from the neck of a newspaper reporter and smashed it on the floor.

By eight o'clock that night the Legislature was all ready to vote on a motion to censure the Senator. The bill in question read". "Senator Adelbert M. Byran left the floor of the Legislature and proceeded to the public gallery thereof and forcibly wrestled the camera of Steve Rockstein, a photographer of the Virgin Island Daily News, while he was taking pictures of the Legislative Session and intentionally threw the camera to the floor thereby damaging it.

"Senator Bryan's actions were witnessed by those present on the floor and in the public gallery of the Legislature".

The document went on to say that the action of Bryan was a "clear breach of decorum" and claimed that his conduct has brought disgrace upon the good name of the lawmaking body.

The debate on the censure motion was not without rancor. At one point, Bryan shouted to his colleagues "you all dont know wha' you doing"

"This man needs a psychiatrist" responded Senator Belando, another St. Croix Senator.

And who knows, maybe Sen. Terrence Nelson can follow in Berts foot steps, shoot his son in the back with a unlicensed firearm & be re-elected!

I remember many years ago, watching a PBS Face to Face with Bryan.
"Dee trobble in da birgin Islands da white mon on da boat, dat how all da gun & drug ting end up hera!"

My wife hated the west indian politics show...I LOVED it!
Ya gotta read between the lines!

I love VI Politics! The people who would vote for Sen. Nelson must be under the influence of the disgruntled killer. The killer's new mantra is that everything done by Gov. deJongh is abominable and unconscionable. He is applauding the Puerto Rican Government for trying to derail the rum rebate program. Sen. Nelson apparently thinks that it is great idea not to promote the rum industry. Smoking weed is better than drinking alcohol, according to these lunatics. Imagine a weed rebate from the U.S. Congress.

Every politician in the Virgin Islands is a joke, that includes everyone from the Govenor, his appointees, Inspector Generals and anyone else affiliated with the Government. I don't like to use blanket statements like that, but honestly take a look at the local politicans and the lack of any progress on the Island in terms of Education, environment, employment, race relations or any other problem on the islands. Not to mention the Salaries these people are getting, lookup the attachment see comparable state legislature salaries.. Vote these people out of office, if not continue to be a third class citizen in a first class country

http://www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?TabId=14785

Our SENATE salaries may be at the top 10%, but the rest of the labor force here struggles in the lowest brackets!

While I believe most (not all) of the island workers here only should get the lower end due to incompetency,
I would like to INCLUDE our government as well for the same reasons!!

I don`t believe our senate could get good jobs in the private sector.
And if they did, they would be paid 10% of what they get in wages/bennies/pension yada yada if they were LUCKY!