SENATOR NOVELLE E. FRANCIS, JR. 
36TH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS  
Chairman, Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance 
 
 
REVISED 
 
Memorandum No. 25-0024 
 
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:  
June 4, 2025 
 
Re: 
June 12, 2025 Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Meeting  
 
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will meet on Thursday, June 12, 2025, 
10:00 A.M. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix to receive 
testimony on the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. 
 
Invited Testifier: 
Mrs. Joann A. Murphy, Chairperson, VI Career & Technical Board 
 
Block II 
The Committee will also receive testimony on the following bills: 
 
Bill No. 36-0025 An Act appropriating $90,000 from the General Fund of the Treasury of the 
Government of the Virgin Islands to the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services to 
purchase all-in-one mobile health, wellness, and personal safety devices for Virgin Islands 
senior citizens and other vulnerable residents, and pay the annual service associated with 
maintenance of the devices Sponsored by Senator Ray Fonseca 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
Honorable Averil E. George, Commissioner, VI Department of Human Services 
Mr. Barry Broome, President, ADT 
Mrs. Esther Merla Phillips, Resident 
 
Bill No. 36-0042 An Act amending title 33 Virgin Islands Code subtitle 3, chapter 118, section 
3411 to increase the maximum judgement amount for the award of damages against the 
Government of the Virgin Islands Sponsored by Senator Alma Francis Heyliger 
 
Invited Testifier: 
Honorable Gordon C. Rhea, Esq. Attorney General, VI Department of Justice 
 
 
Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance 
Thursday, June 12, 2025 
Page 2 
 
Bill No. 36-0076 An Act repealing title 25 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 17, section 501 and 
amending title 32 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 21 by adding an article XVII relating to cruise  
ship gaming in the territorial waters of the Virgin Islands Sponsored by Senator Marise C. 
James 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
Honorable Joseph B. Boschulte, Commissioner, VI Department of Tourism 
Marvin L. Pickering, Chairman, VI Casino Control Commission 
Mr. Carlton Dowe, Director, VI Port Authority 
Akeel St. Jean, Esq., President, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce  
John Woods, President, St. Thomas/St. John Chamber of Commerce