(Washington, DC, January 30, 2006) — Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen said today that she is disappointed that the final regulations issued today by the U.S. Treasury Department to govern the Virgin Islands Economic Development Commission (EDC) tax program, did not provide more of the relief that the territory had requested.

Christensen said that she will press Congress, even more vigorously than she has been, to provide relief for beneficiaries of the tax program now that final residency regulations have been issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

“Our task is to go back to our friends in the House and the Senate, many of whom have been advising us to wait until Treasury’s rules are completed so we can get a resolution to this issue that is important to our economy,” Christensen said. “While the final regulations provide some transitional relief and certain liberalization of the off-island medical travel exception, we are particularly disappointed that they didn’t allow for the 122-day average over a three-year period test which we all argued strenuously for at the hearing last July.”

The delegate said that on her initial review of the regulations, there are some areas where there is flexibility and other areas where there are more restrictions. “I still sense that there is an unclear understanding of our situation with regards to absence due to medical matters and disasters,” she added. The delegate said that she will be discussing the new regulations further with EDC Director Frank Schulterbrandt, the EDC beneficiaries and their attorneys and will seek clarifying memos, amendments and legislation to further the Virgin Islands objectives.