SENATOR NOVELLE E. FRANCIS, JR. 
36TH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS  
Chairman, Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance 
 
Memorandum No. 26-040 
 
To: 
 
Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Members 
 
 
The Honorable Marvin A. Blyden, Vice-Chairman 
 
 
The Honorable Dwayne M. DeGraff 
 
 
The Honorable Ray Fonseca 
 
 
The Honorable Hubert L. Frederick 
 
 
The Honorable Marise C. James 
 
 
The Honorable Kurt A. Vialet 
From:  
The Honorable Novelle E. Francis, Jr. 
 
 
 
Chairman, Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance 
 
Date:  
July 30, 2026 
 
Re: 
August 7, 2026 Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Meeting  
 
 
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will meet on Friday, August 7, 2026, 
12:00 P.M. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix to receive 
testimony on the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. 
 
BLOCK I 
12:00 P.M. 
 
VI Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs 
Invited Testifier: 
Honorable H. Natalie Hodge, Commissioner 
 
Office of Cannabis Regulation 
Invited Testifier: 
Ms. Joanne Moorehead, Executive Director 
 
BLOCK II 
2:30 P.M. 
VI Department of Agriculture 
Invited Testifier: 
Honorable Louis E. Petersen, Jr., PhD, Commissioner 
 
Virgin Islands Food and Farm Council 
Invited Testifier: 
Dr. Safiya George, President, University of the Virgin Islands 
 
BLOCK III 
4:00 P.M. 
Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority 
 
Invited Testifier: 
Ms. Valdez Shelford, Interim Executive Director