SENATOR NOVELLE E. FRANCIS, JR. 
36TH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS  
Chairman, Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance 
 
REVISED II 
 
Memorandum No. 26-008 
 
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:  
April 14, 2026 
 
Re: 
April 21, 2026 Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Meeting  
 
 
Block I 
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will meet on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 
12:00 P.M. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix to receive 
testimony on the following bills: 
 
Bill No. 36-0122 An act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 27, section 711 and 
chapter 27, section 711 and chapter 28a, section 760, by requiring the Government Employees 
Retirement System to discontinue making disability retirement annuity payments to a member 
who resumes any employment Sponsored by Senator Alma Francis Heyliger 
 
Invited Testifier: 
Mr. Angel E. Dawson, Jr., Administrator/CEO, Government Employees Retirement System 
 
Bill No. 36-0238 An act amending title 29, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 23 to redirect hotel 
development net bond proceeds to the Government Employees’ Retirement System of the 
Virgin Islands Sponsored by Senator Avery L. Lewis 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
Mr. Angel E. Dawson, Jr., Administrator/CEO 
Denise Rhymer, Esq., Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority 
 
Block II 
Bill No. 36-0257 An act transferring the eastern portion of Parcel No. 2C Estate Ross, 8 New 
Quarter, St. Thomas, from the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority to the Virgin Islands 
Department of Education for use by the Charlotte Amalie High School Sponsored by  
Senator Avery L. Lewis 
 
 
Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance 
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 
Page 2 
 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, EdD, Commissioner, VI Department of Education 
Honorable Lisa Alejandro, Commissioner, VI Department of Property and Procurement 
Mrs. Adrienne Williams-Octalien, Director, Office of Disaster Recovery 
Mr. Eugene Jones, Executive Director, VI Housing Finance Authority 
 
Bill No. 36-0275 An act approving the amended lease agreement between the Government of 
the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and 
Procurement, and Hearts In Service Association, Inc., for the leasing of Parcel No. 175C Estate 
Anna’s Retreat No. 1 New Quarter, St. Thomas for the purpose of providing eligible programs 
and services to homeless families, individuals, veterans, and at-risk youth and the operation of 
a soup kitchen and other related purposes Sponsored by Senator Milton E. Milton E. Potter by 
Request of the Governor 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
Honorable Lisa Alejandro, Commissioner, VI Department of Property and Procurement 
Rev. Dr. Joseph McDonald Henry, President, Hearts In Service Association, Inc. 
Ms. Beverly Stephens-Samuel, Executive Director, Hearts In Service Association, Inc.