Virgin Islands Daily News reporter barred from governor’s briefings

Suzanne Carlson, a reporter for The Virgin Islands Daily News, was barred from briefings, events and activities held at Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s official residence in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, beginning Nov. 14, 2024, after questioning the governor of the U.S. territory about the alleged personal use of taxpayer funds.

The paper was informed that Carlson was barred from Government House by Bryan’s communications director, Richard Motta, in a letter to Executive Editor Eunice Bedminster. Motta said that Carlson would no longer be welcome “as a result of numerous improprieties,” adding that other reporters from the paper would still have access.

Motta highlighted questions Carlson asked at a Nov. 12 press briefing. He alleged that she asked “invasive” questions about Bryan’s personal life, including his relationship status, in what “appeared to be a deliberate attempt to patronize the Governor and tarnish his character.”

At the press briefing, Carlson had asked the recently divorced Bryan about his personal relationship with a government official and whether taxpayer funds had been spent on her security.

In addition to banning Carlson, the governor had levied verbal attacks on the Daily News for its critical reporting on his administration, the outlet reported in April 2025. Those attacks included alleging that its coverage was “almost racist” and saying the community should let the paper “die an evil and wicked death” and go out of business, rather than become a nonprofit.

The Daily News responded to Carlson’s ban in an Aug. 1 editorial. The paper noted that Bryan’s stated commitment to transparency was at odds with the exclusion of a reporter, arguing that “‘government transparency’ requires not hiding information when questioned about government operations, decision-making, contracts, staffing — and use of taxpayers’ money.”

“How can Bryan be ‘transparent’ if he bars a reporter from asking about those same topics he says he is committed to disclosing?” the editorial continued.

“As long as reporters are not doing anything illegal, inciting disorder or behaving inappropriately, they should be allowed to be present and ask questions relative to the activities of the government and its representatives,” it added.

In an Aug. 4 press briefing, Motta said it was his decision to exclude Carlson, not the governor’s, the Daily News reported. He added that the ban was not a result of Carlson’s reporting, and actually stemmed from an incident in June 2024, when Motta alleged that the reporter was “observed filming folks in Government House who were not a part of the press conference without their permission, and when asked not to do so, also resorted to choice words.”

The Daily News noted, however, that Motta’s letter cited the questions Carlson asked at the Nov. 12 press conference as a primary reason for the ban.

Carlson, Bedminster and Motta did not respond to emailed requests for comment.