COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOSPITALS & HUMAN SERVICES 
The Honorable Ray Fonseca 
CHAIRMAN 
 
36th Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands 
Capitol Building, P.O. Box 1690 
Charlotte Amalie, V.I. 00804 
(340) 693-3577 
Email: senatorrayfonseca@legvi.org 
 
 
TO: 
Honorable Hubert L. Frederick, Vice-Chair 
 
Honorable Marvin A. Blyden  
 
Honorable Alma Francis-Heyliger 
 
Honorable Kenneth L. Gittens 
 
Honorable Milton E. Potter 
 
 
Honorable Kurt A. Vialet 
  
FROM: 
Honorable Ray Fonseca _
 
 
Chairman, Committee on Health, Hospitals & Human Services 
 
DATE:  February 10, 2025 
RE: 
AGENDA -Committee Hearing 
 
Please be advised that the Committee on Health, Hospitals & Human Services will be conducting 
a hearing on Tuesday, February 25 ,2025, at 10:00 a.m., in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative 
Conference Room, on St. Croix. 
 
BLOCK I____________________________________________________10:00AM-1:00PM 
The Committee will receive testimony regarding the strategic plan to address staffing shortages 
and the reduction of emergency room wait-times at both hospital facilities. Also, the members 
will be presented with an overview on the territory’s MAP program and the boarder crisis in the 
Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Regional Medical Center and the Schneider Regional Medical 
Center. 
 
INVITED TESTIFIER(S): 
The Honorable Averil E. George 
Commissioner, Department of Human Services 
 
Ms. Tina M. Commissiong, Esq., MPA 
Chief Executive Officer,  
Schneider Regional Medical Center 
 
                                                                Ms. Hazel Philbert 
                                                           Chief Operating Officer,                  
                                 Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Regional Medical Center 
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOSPITALS & HUMAN SERVICES 
The Honorable Ray Fonseca 
CHAIRMAN 
 
36th Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands 
Capitol Building, P.O. Box 1690 
Charlotte Amalie, V.I. 00804 
(340) 693-3577 
Email: senatorrayfonseca@legvi.org 
 
 
 
                                                  Mrs. Darlene Carty-Baptiste 
                                                     Chief Executive Officer,   
                              Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Regional Medical Center 
 
                                                      Mr. Christopher Finch 
                                                         Former-Chairman, 
                    Virgin Islands Government Health and Hospital Corporation 
 
                                                        Mr. Edgar Phillips 
                                                                Resident 
                                                        St. Thomas, USVI 
 
BLOCK II_____________________________________________________1:30PM-4:30PM 
 
The members will receive an overview on the designs including final completion target dates of 
the Herbert Grigg Nursing Home, Queen Louise Home for the Aged, Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital 
& Medical Center, Schneider Regional Medical Center, Myrah Keating Smith Community Health 
Center, and the Department of Human Services Complex, on St. Thomas.  
 
INVITED TESTIFIER(S): 
                                                         The Honorable Averil E. George 
                                                                      Commissioner,  
                                                         Department of Human Services 
 
                                                            Mr. Christopher Finch 
                                                                   Former- Chairman, 
                            Virgin Islands Government Health and Hospital Corporation 
                                                    
                                                                Mr. Darryl Smalls 
                                                                Executive Director, 
                Facilities and Capital Development, Territorial Hospitals Redevelopment Team  
                                                                
                                                               Mr. Jerry Smith  
                                                                    Chairman, 
                           Virgin Islands Government Health and Hospital Corporation