Governor Bryan, Agriculture Commissioner Petersen Break Ground on Two 100,000-Gallon Cisterns as Part of Administration’s Push to Advance Critical Support for Virgin Islands Farmers

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. joined Agriculture Commissioner Louis Petersen, members of the 36th Legislature, community leaders and students on Friday to break ground on the first of two planned 100,000-gallon cisterns that will provide vital water resources to farmers in Bordeaux.

The groundbreaking represents more than the start of construction. It is a long-awaited response to the calls of farmers who have struggled for decades with inadequate access to reliable water. The Bryan-Roach administration emphasized that the project is a direct investment in the future of agriculture and in the Bordeaux farming community, which has long stood at the heart of the territory’s food security and cultural heritage on the island of St. Thomas.

“For too many years, our farmers, especially here in Bordeaux, have carried the burden of doing more with less,” Bryan said. “They have been patient, resilient, and clear about what they need. Today we are not just listening. We are acting. These cisterns are not a promise. They are proof that this administration is committed to turning words into results for our farmers.”

The first cistern will reclaim water that would otherwise be lost by capturing runoff from an existing 60,000-gallon cistern. The facilities, constructed by Habibah Bell of Harnel Engineering and Construction, are designed to expand the agricultural water supply and ease the long-standing challenges faced by farmers in Bordeaux.

Friday’s groundbreaking also came with the introduction of a new 2,500-gallon water tanker, which is already in operation and will support the distribution of water to farmers across the islands.

In addition to the cisterns and the tanker, the Department of Agriculture has acquired a new backhoe to provide farmers with more reliable and responsive support. Commissioner Petersen noted that these resources are part of a broader effort to modernize the department’s services and strengthen confidence among farmers.

“This project represents a turning point,” Petersen said. “For years, farmers have voiced their concerns about water access. This administration heard those concerns, and with the help of our community partners and the leadership of We Grow Food, we are delivering infrastructure that directly addresses the challenges farmers face.”