Bryan ’90 Percent’ Certain He Will Reside At Gov’t House On St. Croix. ‘If Not, I’ll Be In My House.’

ST. CROIX — Governor-elect Albert Bryan said during a Virgin Islands Political Consortium (V.I.P.C.) interview on Wednesday that he was 90 percent sure his place of residence when on St. Croix will be Government House, attempting to clarify previous comments that suggested he would move out of his home for somewhere Mr. Bryan said would be more secure.

The governor-elect said during a November 28 press conference that he would “probably” be residing at Government House on St. Croix, but said he had not gotten an opportunity to inspect the property. That response left open the possibility for the governor-elect to choose a private property not his own to reside in when on St. Croix, whose cost would be covered by taxpayers.

“Just because of the fact we have police cars all over our neighborhood now, my family is really looking forward to being some place where they can have a little bit more privacy, and we have the ability to move in and out and feel secure,” Mr. Bryan said during the press conference, which was held to announce the leadership of his transition team.

On Wednesday, however, the governor-elect said while he still hadn’t gotten a chance to examine the Government House on St. Croix, he would most likely live there. If not, he would reside at his home, Mr. Bryan ascertained, a change in stance based on his previous comments.

“I haven’t actually seen the site yet. Anyway, if I’m not in Government House St. Croix, I’ll be in my house. I think it saves the taxpayer money for me to live there,” the governor-elect said. “We don’t have to have guards at my house and guards at Government House. We could just have one single security. It’s easier in terms of being able to move from the office to the house. It’s just more manageable.”

The Consortium article on Mr. Bryan’s possible abode while on St. Croix had caused a stir in the community, and many had already labeled the incoming governor as more of the same. Mr. Bryan saw the question on Wednesday night as the apposite moment to address the matter, while being abundantly clear of his intentions.

“It’s easy to have learned the lessons,” Mr. Bryan said, referring to Governor Kenneth Mapp’s early housing scandal and the political capital it cost him. “It was only three years ago.”

As for St. Thomas, the governor-elect said he would seek out “modest” housing accommodations until the Government House there is repaired.

“My wife cusses me all the time. Just like I am with my money, I’m going to be with yours, and I don’t like spending mine,” Mr. Bryan said.