SENATOR NOVELLE E. FRANCIS, JR. 
36TH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS  
Chairman, Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance 
 
 
REVISED 
 
Memorandum No. 25-0044 
 
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:  
August 1, 2025 
 
Re: 
August 15, 2025 Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Meeting  
 
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will meet on Friday, August 15, 2025, 
9:00 A.M. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix to receive testimony 
on the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. 
 
Block I 
9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. 
 
Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center 
Invited Testifier: 
Darlene Baptiste, Chief Executive Officer 
 
Block II 
1:00-3:00 P.M. 
 
Department of Agriculture 
Invited Testifier: 
Honorable Louis E. Petersen, Jr., PhD, Commissioner 
 
Block III 
3:00-5:00 P.M. 
 
Public Employees Relations Board 
Invited Testifier: 
Pierina Jacobs-Feldman, Chairperson 
 
Virgin Islands Labor Management Committee 
Invited Testifier: 
Yirah Tutein, Executive Director 
 
 
 
 
Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Budget Hearing 
Friday, August 15, 2025 
Page 2 
 
Block VI 
5:00 P.M. 
 
Legal Services of the Virgin Islands 
Invited Testifier: 
Shelby King Gaddy, Esq., Executive Director