While St. Johnians Debate Land Swap, Letter is Written to Feds Asking for Takeover of Round Bay

Amidst heated discussions around a proposed land swap deal between the Virgin Islands government and the federal government, another controversy has been quietly accumulating attention.

The Consortium has learned that Governor Albert Bryan has been inundated with letters urging the federal government to assume control of Round Bay. A primary voice behind this plea is Mary Pergolizzi, associated with East End Seascape, a vacation rental accommodations business known for its picturesque ocean views. Pergolizzi on July 13 wrote to Dept. of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, asking for Round Bay to be placed under federal protective custody, according to the letter, which was seen by the Consortium.

Pergolizzi’s letter paints a grim picture of what she contends was Round Bay’s once vibrant ecosystem being ravaged due to a lack of enforcement by the local V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources. She condemned what she described as constant attacks on the coral reefs, seagrass beds, the historic HMS Santa Monica wreck, and the ecosystem as a whole. Pergolizzi also decried what she says is the destructive impact of boat anchors and anchor chains.

She said recreational activities such as jet skiing, tubing, and water skiing are said to disrupt sea turtle habitats and threaten coral reefs. Pergolizzi also accused the local government of being preoccupied with promoting a "blue marine economy", prioritizing revenue over ecological preservation, and thereby enabling charter party vessels to put profits above protection.