VI UPDATE
U.S. Virgin Islands Public Records
TRANSCRIPT OF PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS
| Committee on Government Operations,Veterans Affairs, and Consumer
Protection
Legislature USVI
September 26, 2023 · 3.5 hours · gov
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We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. Thank you. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be
right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. Thank you. We'll be right
back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right
back. Thank you. We'll be right back. Thank you. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be
right back. We'll be right back. Good afternoon, colleagues, senatorial and central staff testifiers, and our listening and
viewing audience. The Committee on Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection Meeting for
0:00:00
for Tuesday, September 26, 2023, is hereby called to order. As we gather for today's meeting, and before we proceed to
roll call, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the VI Department of Justice and the Family Resource Center
for working together to host this year's observance of the National Day of Remembrance for more murder victims. This
observance which was held yesterday afternoon began at the waterfront across from Vendors Plaza with family members
calling out the names of murder victims while roses were laid in the waters. A formal ceremony was then held in the
Emancipation Garden and of special note is remarks provided by our Commissioner of Department of Police Honorable
Ray Martinez where he is hoping that one day he would be able to say to legislators and others in our community that
there are zero murders so we have zero arrests. I made sure to carve out time from my hectic schedule to participate in
this observance as over the years my family, loved ones, neighbors, students, and our people here in the Virgin Islands
and throughout our nation have been hurt by senseless violence. I remember my nephew, Ezekiah Joseph, who was
murdered on January 26, 2015 at the age of 21. My student, Denard Lawrence, murdered on September 3rd, 2015, at the
age of 25. My cousin and student, Jabari Joseph, murdered on December 27th, 2017, at the age of 22. My student, Curtis
Fedricks, murdered on May 18th, 2019, at the age of 30. this year, two of my family members were murdered on the
same day, February 20th, Jaquan George and Tashi Monsanto, both at a young age of 21. These are the few names of the
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murder victims.
None of the murder victims were perfect human beings and none of us here or even those listening to my voice are.
However, we must practice self-discipline and talk to people who know and love and care about you to help give you the
level of self-control not to harm others and listen and take heed to their word. So my heart goes out to all those whose
loved ones are victims of murder. Now on to more joyous news. Last week, September 19, the Federation of St.
Christopher, St. Kitts and Nevis celebrated its 40th year of independence from 1983 to 2023. Happy Independence Day to
all the conditions and divisions. We salute our Caribbean neighbor under the leadership of Prime Minister the Honorable
Dr. Terence Michael Drew and their family and friends celebrating under the theme growing sustainably, developing
maturely, building resiliency, Independence 40. So I So I really want to say a really happy Independence Day to former
Senator, the Honorable Roosevelt St. Clair David, as well as my good friend, Callie Gibson, and my adopted mother,
she's an evasion, Gertrude Keynes. They are from the great islands of St. Kitts and Nevis. this committee will host a town
hall meeting for the St. Thomas taxi operators on Friday, September 29, 2023. The town hall meeting is an opportunity
for taxicab men and women to share their concerns
0:16:36
and ask questions about the taxi industry and the services the taxicab commission provides. our taxicab operators are one
of the first the first to welcome our visitors we must work together to deliver excellent experiences i'm going to say that
again and repeat it excellent experiences from our visitors to when they depart the Virgin Islands. We also need to
address the operator's concern about the services they receive and how we can assist them in improving our overall
tourism product.
0:18:48
In the St. Thomas Town Hall meeting, actually, the St. Thomas Town Hall meeting is the second in a series of meetings
to hear from taxicab operators in the territory about their needs. The first was held in St. John on Friday, June 23rd, and
the final town hall meeting will be held in St. Croix at another date. Again, to our taxicab men and women, let your voice
be heard this coming Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Legislative Hall, the Earl B. Otley Legislative Hall in St. Thomas.
0:19:38
All are welcome. Madam Clerk, kindly proceed to roll call. Senator Samuel Carrion. Senator Carrion, present. Senator
Ray Fonseca? Present. Senator Fonseca, present. Senator Francis Heiliger? Alma Francis Heiliger? Present. Senator
Francis Heiliger, present. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins? Senator Gittins, absent. Senator Javon E. James Sr.? Senator James
Sr. absent. Senator Carla J. Joseph? Present. Senator Joseph? Present. Senator Milton E. Potter? Here. Senator Potter?
Present. Madam Chair, you have five present and two absent.
0:20:21
Thank you so kindly, Madam Clerk. Madam Clerk, kindly recognize the presence of Majority Leader Senator Kenneth L.
Gittins. Madam Chair you have six present one absent. Thank you so much Madam Chair. We do have a quorum. Madam
Chair do we have any correspondences to be read into the record? We do. Kindly proceed Madam Clerk. A letter dated
September 26, 2023 to the Honorable Carla J. Joseph, Chairwoman of of the Government Operations, Veterans Affairs,
and Consumer Protection, 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, 3022 Estate, Golden Rock, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin
Islands. Dear Madam Chair, please excuse my tardiness for today's scheduled hearing for the Committee on Government
Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection. I'll be there as soon as possible, and I apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your kind consideration in this matter.
0:21:20
Respectfully, Javon E. James, Sr., Senator, 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands. Madam Chair, this ends the reading of
the correspondence. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Kindly note that Senator Javon E. James is acknowledged that he will be
tardy. It is acknowledged. Madam Clerk, kindly proceed with reading today's agenda into the record. The Committee on
Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection has scheduled a meeting for 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday,
September 26, 2023, in the FitzHelowitz Legislative Conference Room in St. Croix. The purpose of the meeting is to
receive testimony and consider the following legislative measures. In Block 1, the committee will receive testimony
concerning Bill Number 35-0102, an act honoring and commending Ralph A. DeSherberth, M.D., for outstanding
contributions in the medical field to the people of the Virgin Islands and his many civic contributions to the community,
especially to the island of St. Croix, and to name the Labor and Delivery slash Postpartum Unit Maternity Services at the
Juan F. Louis Hospital and Medical Center North, in his honor. This bill is sponsored by Senator Marie C. James. The
invited testifiers are Ms. Cora Christian, MD, Ms. Ivy Ashwood, RN, Ms. Vivian Epstein Flood, MSRN, and Mr. Angelo
K. Galliber, MD.
0:22:28
Madam Chair, this ends the reading of Block 1 of today's agenda. Thank you kindly, Madam Clerk. At this time, I would
like to recognize the chairperson of the Committee on Education and Workforce, the Honorable Marie C. James, as well
as the President of the 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Honorable Novel E. Francis Jr. Welcome and thank you
for joining us today. Madam Clerk, well actually, who speaks on behalf of Bill number 35-0102?
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Good afternoon, Madam Chair, I do. Senator Maurice C. James, you may proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to
first start by saying that I am also joined in sponsorship of this bill to honor Dr. Ralph D. Schubert by the Majority
Leader, Senator Kenneth Gittins and Senator Novelle Francis, I almost forgot your name, sir, sorry.
0:25:06
So I'm joined by both of them in sponsoring this particular piece of legislation that I'm very happy and honored and
privileged to sponsor. I know that the testifiers are going to speak about Dr. Shabert. I didn't know him except knowing
him from a distance, really, as a doctor in the community and as someone, of course, because my father was a doctor,
knowing of their relationship. But he always appeared to me whenever I saw him as, you know, sometimes we have to
realize in our community that young people see us as, now that I'm an elder too, right? And they look at us and they learn
from us. And he always, to me, was a reserved, elegant, classy man, you know?
0:25:38
Every time I saw him move throughout the community. I know they're going to speak about him. He's definitely
deserving of this honor. And I just wanted to say two quotes that I found because I think they reflect on who who he is as
a doctor. And it says, in order to be a good doctor, a man must have a good character. Whatever weaknesses and foibles
he may have, he must overcome his fellow human beings in, he must overcome his fellow human beings in the concrete
and deserve his good, their good before his own.
0:26:40
I was writing it a little too fast. But basically it says really, And I know that it's true. A doctor has to put himself aside
when he's treating patients. For the most part, they're good, and their health comes before his own, sometimes to his
detriment, quite frankly, or her. I shouldn't, but in this case, since it's Dr. Schabert, I'll say his, right, the pronoun. But
sometimes doctors put their own health aside to take care of others. Nurses do the same thing.
0:27:22
they're so dedicated to serving others and only a doctor is blessed with the magical powers to treat a life to bring health
into our lives and to be there with us when we have lost all the hope I want to add something to from my own experience
I remember when I told my father that I was going to go to law school he said that's good that's good it's better to be a
lawyer than and then a doctor anyway you know it's a it's an easier life and I was like I don't know about that so when I
came back home and I was practicing I went up to him one day and I said no it's actually better to be a doctor because
when a doctor comes into the room and tells you whatever he tells you about your diagnosis you accept it you actually sit
there and you go okay doctor thank you when a lawyer tells you you have a problem or whatever it is on how to solve it
your client becomes a lawyer they tell you no this and that the law so everybody's a lawyer but everybody's not a doctor
so the doctor gets the difference and simply because you're taking care of bodies and minds and more than anything else
that's really most of us want if we have a healthy body we're able to help to live a good life and so on behalf of a grateful
community I want to say to the family of dr. Sherbert I know his his daughter from she was small come into my aunt's
beauty shop and I just want to say to you that you know your father is loved I've heard people in the community talk
highly about him when he treated them as a doctor and he's done well he's done well and so thank you madam chair
0:27:56
and if I didn't say before good afternoon Virgin Islands and good afternoon everyone I just went right into it because I am
honored to be offering this along with my colleagues thank you madam chair I thank you so much senator James we have
several testifiers here with us a couple of testifiers here with us in the legislative conference room we also have a testifier
joining us virtually so I would like to invite the first testifier who was here early and on time Miss Ivy Ashford but before
you begin Miss Ashford let me assure that we get everyone who is online and just do a quality check. Do we have a
testifier? I believe we should be having. Do we have any testifiers online? Dr. Christian. Dr. Christian. Okay, your mic is
operating very well. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. And welcome to the committee meeting. So we have Dr.
Christian, we have Miss Ashwood here present. We have Dr. Gala Beard and we also have Miss Vivian Ebsen-Flood.
What we're going to do is work in the order that we have it placed on our agenda. Dr. Christian, Miss Ashwood, hold one
moment. Dr. Christian, we're going to start with you and then we will then move Move to Ms. Ashwood, and then Dr.
Gallabier, and finally Ms. Ebsen-Flood.
0:30:02
Before you talk and in corresponding and having a dialogue, just a housekeeping matter, be sure to state your name
before you speak because this proceeding is being recorded. Our stenographer is in the St. Thomas district. god for
technology so dr christian kindly proceed with reading your testimony into the record good afternoon this is dr core
christian i am the executive secretary treasurer of the virgin islands medical society and i come to speak on their behalf so
good afternoon senator carla joseph Chair of the Operations, Veteran Affairs, and Consumer Protection. Senator Javon
James, the Vice Chair of Operations, Veteran Affairs, and Consumer Protection. Committee members, Senator Francis,
Senator Fonseca, Senator Gittins, Senator Carrion, Senator Potter, Senator Heiliger, and the non-committee members,
Senator Blyden, Senator Capehart, Senator Fred Gregory, Senator James, Senator Johnson, Senator Borges, and Senator
DeGraff. Invite the testifiers and the viewing and listening audience. And point of personal privilege since Senator Joseph
started with announcing about the independence of St. Kitts and Nevis. One of the reasons I could not be present is
because my husband, who was a former ambassador of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and he sends your his
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greetings on both to dr dishabird's family and also on the independence the 40th anniversary of the independence but
because of his uh disability i had to be here to be his caregiver so now i begin my testimony it is easy to sustain our
concern for someone who is before our very eyes but it is quite a different thing when that person is far away even though
in our hearts we have not forgotten them. This is an additional reason why we must congratulate Senator Gittins and
Senator James
for the resolution that details the wonderful journey of Dr. Ralph Desherberg. Dr. Desherberg's journey has been
chronicled in the resolution today. Although it is worth being repeated, I thought it would be good to spend my time
giving testimony about my personal relationship with this quiet, reserved, and powerful physician who made me
understand that it's not the loud bark that is the most effective, but the one who quietly rules. In 1975, I made preparations
to come home to work. I'd applied to the Virgin island's department of health which at that time controlled all health care
including both hospitals except for of course physician private practices i had received confirmation that my nopa had
been processed but when i arrived in saint choy i was told that my position had been given to dr donna christian green it
was an error at that time dr dishabert was assistant commissioner and medical director of the charles howard hospital the
only thing he knew about me was through his mom for my mom and his mom were big anglicans my mom being the
secretary of the all saints cathedral church in saint thomas and his mom miss annie as she was called and was as revered
as any priest in st croix worked together on separate islands on behalf of the anglican church Ms. Annie's only failure was
that she was a woman, but had more authority than most priests.
0:34:25
And despite that relationship and my dad being born and raised in Frederickstead, I was seen as a St. Tomian. However,
my spirit of never give up allowed me to assign myself to the Ingeborg Nesbitt Clinic, INC, working for six months free
of charge. INC was a small 19-bed facility that provided inpatient services ob-gyn services for babies born in
frederickstead an emergency room and an outpatient clinic dr tomas evangelista and dr al sabato manned the inc inpatient
and an african physician and i initially manned the er and i helped with all three little Little did I know that Dr. Discibert
had been responsible for many of the Filipino physicians coming to St. Croix, but I was allowed to work for free for six
months as long as I wanted to. I grew in Dr. Discibert's favor for our small OBJN deliveries at INC, as well as other
services, which was soon turned over to me as a responsibility, help Charles Howard Memorial Hospital, where Dr.
Deshibert was also medical director, get accredited. Still, our interaction was limited.
0:36:07
I doubt Dr. Deshibert knew who I was other than I was willing to work. Governor King, who had won the election in
1974, changed everything in 1976. At that time, Dr. Deshibert and I were very active members of the Virgin Islands
Medical Society, VIMS. Dr. Andrew Sr. Gallabere was president of VIMS. His son, Dr. Angelo Gallabere will be
speaking today as well. And I was secretary. VIMS inserted itself in the process when Dr. King, I mean, I'm sorry,
Governor King, attempted to recruit a commissioner of health.
0:37:28
VIMS recruited Dr. Roy Lester Schneider as one of the candidates for commissioner of health. Dr. King chose Dr.
Schneider, but with the same stroke, removed Dr. Descherbert from both his responsibilities as medical director and
assistant commissioner. We were blindsided. Dr. Alfred Heath, who was commissioner at the time, resigned, and Dr.
John Moorhead became acting commissioner of health until Dr. Rory Lesher Schneider was confirmed in 1977. eager
beaver eye for her did not know what she was in for dr desherbert never said anything to me about my responsibilities
when i took over his position of assistant commissioner for st cloy i never received a single file or note from dr
desherbert i found it odd for i knew he had to have had files haven't been in the position for a good period of time but i
quickly learned this very quiet man was the silent boss he was sending his message to the new administration silently but
effectively fortunately he wrote alike my attitude and my work and i was found to be worthy in every endeavor he and dr
andrew gallivere senior champion but another significant story must be told for all who understand that Dr. Disherbert's
love was first for St. Croix, second for St. Croix, and always for St. Croix. Medicine was a vehicle through which he
would make sure St. Croix was reckoned with. I have many stories that illustrate his love for St. Croix, but I will tell you
one more. This final story binds together his love for St. Croix and his passion for medicine, which is evident from the
resolution for all the many healthcare
0:38:10
providers, doctors and nurses he convinced to give services in St. Croix and make it their home. The story is about
establishing VA EquiCare LLC, our only preferred provider organization, PPO. at that time we continued to both be very
active in the virgin islands medical society i continued as the secretary of the society dr george rosenberg was trying to
establish the ppo but cigna the health insurer then would not budge unless it was all virgin islands physicians i had
previously founded the virgin islands medical institute vami to improve the health care system by focusing on improving
the quality of care delivered by physicians especially in the hospital which would reduce the cost the insurance
companies desperately wanted it was well established that when you improve quality you reduce costs i saw the purpose i
saw the need Dr. Rosenberg needed St. Croix for Cigna to start the discussion but could not make any headway in
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convincing the St. Croix physicians. He had spoken to Dr. Disherberg and Dr. Andrew Gallabere Sr. many times but
could not get any headway. So George Rosenberg came to me. I understood the PPO could benefit all of us but to get St.
Croix I had to convince Dr. Disherberg of how this would help st croix of course you know the end result because we
have a ppo we have va equity care and although there were other crucial decision points and the ability to establish the
ppo the first step was to convince that the dishwasher for without his blessing st croix would have been a no and that
would end it all both for st thomas and st cloy I end where I begin. He never barked. He never made noise. He
contributed in every way he could to the growth and development of health care, especially on the island of St. Croix. We
honor and pay tribute to this silent man whose contributions are now articulated in this
resolution and in the testimonies we will all share. His contributions will live on forever in our hearts, and our history
books. On behalf of all physicians, the Virgin Islands Medical Society, thank you for this resolution, honoring Dr. Ralph
Andrea Dishaber. Thank you. And that concludes my testimony. Thank you so kindly, Dr. Christian. At this time we will
ask Ms. Ivy Ashwood, registered nurse to read into the record your testimony you may present you may proceed miss
Ashward afternoon chairwoman Senator Carla Joseph members of the committee of government operations veteran
affairs consumer protection other senator present legislative staff fellow testifiers guests and the viewing and listening
audience. My name is Ivy Ashwood. I'm a retired clinical care supervisor on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is an honor
for me to give testimony in support of Bill 350102, an act honoring and commending Ralph A. De Chabert for his
outstanding contribution in the medical field and to the people of the Virgin and his many civic contributions to the
community, especially to the island of St. Croix, and to name the Labor and Delivery Postpartum Unit Maternity Services
at the 1F Louis Hospital and Medical Center North in his honor.
0:42:31
I met Dr. Ralph A. Deshviers in 1966 when I joined the obstetric staff of the Charles Howard Memorial Hospital as an
RN and certified nurse midwife. I have worked with him for 33 years from Charles Arwood Hospital to the present 1F
Louie Hospital. Dr. DeShabier loves St. Croix and the people. I have seen his dedication and selfless giving of his time
and expertise to the people, not only in the health field, but in the wider community. He was the only trained obstetrician
working at the hospital at the time, which means he was uncalled 24-7 beside his regular working hours.
0:44:14
He was instrumental in having the sickle cell clinic in St. Croix through the March of Dimes. He also started a treatment
clinic for erring addiction in the early 1970s through the 1980s. This was not a government entity. It was his love and
compassion to have those people overcome their habits. To say this clinic was successful would be an understatement.
Under his administration Charles Howard Hospital was accredited and that accreditation extended to Juan F. Louis
Hospital when he moved there. When we moved there, Dr. Deeshbier loved and dedication to patients and staff knew no
bounds. In 1989, when Hurricane Hugo struck St. Croix, he came to the hospital that Sunday evening at 4 p.m.
0:45:00
When the hurricane started and during the onslaught, Dr. D. Shabir worked through it all, making sure that patients, staff
and the people who were sheltered in the hospital from the trailer park was safe. Dr. D. Shabir was still on duty when I
left on Tuesday morning. Lastly, I would like to thank the bill's sponsor, Senator Mary James Esquire, for taking the lead
and recommending the honor for Ralph A. D. Shabir, MD. I can think of no other person that deserves such hard work,
that is so hard and deserve this honor. and who elevated the care of child-bearing and non-child-bearing women of St.
Croix and beyond.
0:45:55
I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage other senators to sign on to the bill. This includes my testimony
and thank you again for the opportunity and I stand ready to answer any question you have. Thank you so kindly, Ms.
Ashwood. Madam Clerk, kindly note on the record, the presence of Vice Chair of the committee, Senator Javon E. James
Sr., and indicate our voting strength. Madam Chair, you have seven members present.
0:46:40
Thank you kindly, that's a full house. Thank you so kindly, Madam Clerk. Dr. Gallibert, you are recognized, Dr. Angelo,
Angelo, Angelo, Angelo, Angelo K. Gallibert, you are recognized to read into the record your testimony, and I do forgive
me for messing up the pronunciation of your first name. Kindly proceed.
0:47:18
But anyway, Honorable Senate President Novel Francis, Honorable Senators Maurice James and Kenneth Gittins and
Novel Francis, again, who sponsored this bill, 350102, Honorable Other Senators, Honorable Other Senators of the VI
35th Legislature, De Chabert Family, fellow distinguished testifiers and any other Virgin Islanders in the room, it is our
pleasure to be at this legislative recognition of Dr. Ralph A. De Chabert.
0:47:54
I am Dr. Angelo Gallibert, a radiologist from Christian Stead St. Croix. The Virgin Islands Medical Society authorized
Dr. Cora Christian and I to write the proposed resolution that is in the bill. It records Dr. G. Shabir's accomplishments and
contributions of his family. Many people interacted with Dr. G. Shabir, the doctor, the business person, farmer, horse
racing enthusiast, family man, and or patient. His tender heartednesses at each encounter motivated us. His advice always
calm, brief, and effective.
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He typically did what he said he would do. He mentored many people and he strongly encouraged some of us to be back
in St. Croix. Although we stand on the shoulders of giants like Lincoln, Faraday, Madame Curie, King, Jobs, and Gates,
Dr. DeShabir nurtured our shoulders to be giant. The United States of America knows more about its easternmost
possession because of what he did here. De Chabert transactions and Krusian queen and company quarter estates
generated opportunities for thousands of Virgin Islanders who grew up here or who came here to live. The De Chabert
family and favorable U.S. legislation enabled our economy to harness the octane of what was once the world's largest oil
refinery. If you know Dr. Dichbert well, you know that he dislikes flying. He always wanted to be well grounded on St.
Croix. He was on duty each time a descendant of climate change hit our hospital. His VI contributions and our collective
efforts will build a new hospital to serve visitors and cruisants for the next 50 years. During the last 50 years, the birth
rate in the United States and many countries has dropped below the rates that nations need to replace their populations.
Some reasons for this are that many women have limited access to affordable health care, some women put off
childbearing to get a higher education, many people find child rearing to be too expensive, many children lack
after-school programs, and most women cannot work from home
0:49:22
when their children or parents are sick. As a result, no post-1965 generation of Americans is large enough to sustain
anyone's retirement expectations. Just ask yourself, why should I have to work when I am retired. These situations will
compel us to depend more on obstetrics, gynecology, and reforms that will support all families. Dr. de Chabert induced
tremendous Virgin Islands family growth. We are the beneficiaries of his generosity, inclusiveness, and hard work. In
recognition of his accomplishments, our elected officials should put his name on the Governor Juan F. Louis Hospital's
OBGYN unit. Thank you.
0:51:15
And thank you so kindly Dr. Gallibert for your testimony. We will now recognize Miss Vivian Ebsen Flood for your
testimony and welcome. Kindly proceed nurse Ebsen Flood and by reading your testimony into the record. Good
afternoon, my name is Vivian I. Ebsen Flood. Good afternoon, Honorable Senator Carla J. Joseph, Chairperson of the
Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection.
0:52:09
The Honorable Senate President Norville Francis, Vice Chairperson Honorable Jevin E. James Sr., Committee members,
Honorable Senators Kenneth L. Gittins, Samuel Carriong, Alma Frances Heiliger, Ray Fonseca, and Milton E. Potter,
Honorable non-committee members who may be present, testifiers, staff, the listening and viewing audience. I am Vivian
I. Ederson Flood, former executive director of Frederickstead Healthcare, Inc., Frederickstead Health Center, Ingeborg
Nesbitt Clinic, the founding executive director of Frederick Stead Health Care Inc., former Commissioner of the Virgin
Islands Department of Health, former Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services, and now a
private citizen involved in civic and health care activities locally and on the mainland. I am humbled to be invited and
pleased to be present to provide testimony in support of the Honorable Senator Maurice C. James' Bill No. 35-0102, an
act honoring and commending Ralph D. Schubert, M.D., for outstanding contributions in the medical field to the people
of the Virgin Islands and his many civic contributions to the community, especially the island of St. Croix, and to name
the labor and delivery postpartum unit maternity services at Wong F. Louis Hospital and Medical Center North in his
honor. As I reviewed bill number 35-0102 and read the noted whereas clauses, I must emphatically indicate that I will
briefly emphasize many of them in my testimony, based on personal knowledge and experience, as I render my support
of the proposed legislation. In support of the measure, I also wish to suggest that consideration be given for a provision in
the legislation that would allow the same honor and commendation being considered today to be transferable to the new
labor and delivery postpartum unit maternity services in the pending new hospital facility on St. Croix.
0:52:47
Inclusion of this provision, if not previously considered, and if protocol so allows, will facilitate the effort that the legacy,
honor, and significance will not be lost once the Governor Wong F. Louis Hospital and Medical Center North labor and
delivery postpartum unit location is no longer utilized for the indicated patient services. On many occasions, it has
become practice that when an area is repurposed, the honor previously bestowed is lost. When it is not re-designated,
relocated, or transferred, and therefore the honorees' recognition of their significant contribution and historical
perspectives are lost. In speaking to Bill 350102, I must frankly disclose that Dr.
0:54:52
Ralph A. DeShibert, his offsprings and siblings, are relatives. As they are cousins of my late father, George A. Ebbison,
and he has also been a longtime colleague in developing, sustaining, and improving the health care system of the U.S.
Virgin Islands with my late mother, Enid M. Ebbison, for over 50 years. But ironically enough, I can safely state that
sitting before you today is one of those noted more than 15,000 obstetrical deliveries on the island of St. Croix. Yes, I am
one of those Cushan babies. that he continued to maintain contact with throughout my professional and personal
endeavors. I have had the pleasure of having numerous conversations with and received genuine encouragement as well
as follow-up interest from Dr. Ralph A.D. Schubert as I considered, embarked, and advanced in my career in the
healthcare field. He never missed the opportunity and remained consistent in his focus to plant the seed while always
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doing his best to recruit young Virgin Islanders to return home to build and serve their community. I was privileged to
have worked with Dr. Deesha Burt, or the chief, as he was affectionately called in his role as chief of obstetrics and
gynecology, as a fledgling nursing summer student, graduate nurse, and then full-fledged registered nurse on the labor
and delivery and post-quartum units and the obstetrical community health clinics at the then St. Croix Hospital and
Community Health Center. When the chief spoke everyone respectfully listened. He never failed to set expect and
maintain his established high standards of care of experienced or novice health care staff in the combined health and
hospital system of care. A combined model of care that works seamlessly together for the best healthcare outcomes of the
patient, their family and the community, long before it became a standard of care on the US mainland.
In addition, like others, I can also attest to having also been on the receiving end of his expertise, care, and concern as a
patient in need of emergency services while remaining and keeping me calm in a life-threatening situation with a
favorable outcome. Dr. Ralph A.D. Schubert was and remains soft-spoken by nature, but I have had the opportunity to
witness on numerous occasions his demonstration of his lack of fear to be hands-on, while expressing his expectations
softly but forcefully when it came to health care services, patient care and expected health care outcomes. I was a
member of the staff on hand and witnessed his work, leadership and endurance together with other staff members at the
then St. Croix Hospital and Community Health Center during the 27 hours of rage and devastation caused by the
Category 4 Hurricane Hugo on September 17, 1989. As we weathered the storm and faced the one certainty of residents,
patients, mothers, babies and a community needing our care, he was ever present and doing his part.
0:57:44
No task was too menial. He was hands-on and boots on the ground as we worked together to return and initiate hospital
services at Charles Howard Memorial Hospital, making accommodations as needed, transferring patients to Puerto Rico
for care via helicopters and on Coast Guard cutters. And then transitioned hospital services to the US military deployed
medical units. Yes, the famous death meds that were originally made for men in the field and had never been used in
civilian life to now be used and accommodated for obstetrical and gynecological patients in the midst of the devastation
and the vast unknowns. Dr. Ralph A. D. Schibert and the seasoned healthcare leadership team never wavered.
0:58:57
We would always share a light moment during it all and that now where we used to park is now where we work. As we
made the accommodations daily to provide quality care and make the patients as well as staff comfortable despite the
situation. Although he was retired, I could count on receiving a call, scheduling a meeting, receiving a message or getting
a visit from Dr. Ralph A.D. Schubert in all of my former roles of executive director of Frederick Stead Health Center and
Ingeborg Nesbitt Clinic, founding executive director of Frederick Stead Health Care Inc., the Commission of the Virgin
Islands Department of Health and the Commission of the Virgin Islands Department. Always providing words of
wisdom, matters of concern, ideas for improvement and encouragement for the continued provision of services in the best
interest of the patients and the residents of St. Croix and these beautiful United States Virgin Islands.
0:59:47
In closing, I could go on and on, but in the interest of time allotted for testimony, and based upon my side-by-side
experiences with the observations of Dr. Ralph A. D. Schubert, I can safely state without unwavering fear of
contradiction, Dr. Ralph A. D. Schubert, a humble stalwart in our healthcare arena specifically and our community in
general, not forgetting his love for people, horse racing, and farming, is most deserving of this honor. Dr. Ralph A.D.
Schibert has spent his career and lifetime contributing to and shaping the health care services, as well as a community in
the United States Virgin Islands and St. Croix in particular, and for that he should be duly recognized with this honor. I
remain in support of this measure, again ask for consideration of the suggested provisions if protocol so allows. Thank
you for the invitation and remain humbled by the opportunity to provide testimony and input on bill number 35-0102.
1:00:46
I remain present and available for any questions this committee may have. Thank you. And thank you so kindly, Ms.
Vivian I. Epson Flood. Thank you so much testifiers for your testimony before this committee. Colleagues, we will begin
our round of questioning with one round of three minutes. Senator Ray Fronseca in the Legislative Chambers in St.
Thomas, you are recognized for your three minutes. Yes, thank you very much, Madam Chair, and a special welcome to
all the distinguished panel of testifiers and greetings to the listening audience.
1:01:49
uh i am definitely in in support of giving this honor and recognition to um mario shabot um i while i have never met him i
know his i mean i'm sorry ralph de shabot i'm sorry while i've never met ralph i know his son uh mario de shabot uh very
well um i've been to the place um where you have his animals, et cetera, et cetera. As a matter of fact, him and I have
traveled many times back and forth in different islands in the Caribbeans, you know, with his animals and thing, had
couple fowl and dog and thing, you know, so I know him very well, very respectable Man, Ralph D. Chabot, particularly
the testimony of Dr. Cora Christian, Vivian Epson Flood, you know, two ladies that I know and respect very well. But
I'm very interested to go back to that time, Cora, where when you said that Dr. Heath was the assistant commissioner at
the time and um dr roy snyder came in and um the governor had appointed him it seems like politics going way back in
that time was kind of similar to how it is now you know some some of the governors make decisions i guess in the best
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interest of the people you know it was very interesting but i'd like to ask you um cora i know you have a lot of stories of
how him being the silent master can you give us uh some more of those nice stories of dr shabot silently letting you know
he ran things okay first um good afternoon thank you senator panseka i'd like to clarify that dr heat was commissioner not
assistant commissioner english commissioner and because of governor king's um removal of dr disherbert in protest
i'm going to add a little more color in protest dr heat resigned now dr john i'm sorry should i oh i should have identified
myself dr core christian executive secretary treasurer of the virgin alice medical institute i mean of the medical society
should i begin again i can go forward yes okay so so i was just making a correction that dr heat was commissioner of
health he was commissioner of health under the previous administration when governor king won and he decided out of
protest because and i'll tell you how that happened we were all gathered together at the cafeteria turn of the charles
harwood hospital and you know one of my um uncles uncle joe who had been an accountant or something they raised a
question because this was the governor's first opportunity to be able to give information and dr disherbert was sitting
there quietly in his room he didn't come down to the session and people were just fussing and going on and on about this
so at the end of the conversation the governor made a decision that he was going to go up to dr dishabur and talk to him
about what had happened and i was fortunately able to be in a situation where i could accompany the individuals and he
just sat there and he listened quietly but my correction is that dr heat was commissioner and out of that he protested and
he resigned as subsequently you said to give a lot of more colorful stories i think what is interesting is that the virgin
islands medical society and i'll be brief in in this particular situation is the recognized organization for physicians in the
territory but we don't have the same resources
1:04:58
because we're not money based and therefore everybody that contributed contributed so now i want to give you the story
when we were looking at the development of where the wang wii hospital is now which as you know was a contribution
from the dishabird family there was a lot of conversation because dr schneider and dr dishabird were very became very
close and initially the place was going to be at estate slob i don't know how many of the individuals there but i'm sure
miss ashwood and and vivian thought we all know where slob was that's where the heart of the maternal and child health
programs were in the community health section that's where the hospital was supposed to be but dr dishapur came up
with this wonderful opportunity to say look you need adjacent services if you're going to have a hospital you need to have
places where people can go and eat and congregate and buy things and so forth this is the inner conversation now this
isn't what's going on in the public and he's saying i'm going to get my family mario was his brother i'm going to get my
family and i think the dishabirds had a board that would made up mostly of the siblings to gave a grant of the land where
the hospital presently is so not only was he a physician he was also really very philanthropic about giving the hospital and
i failed in my recognition because i didn't know danielle was in the audience to recognize his daughter who's sitting in the
audience i saw her earlier you know she's a pharmacist she too works very ardently for the hospital so that's another
vignette but there are many stories and i'm sure vivian and angela have some that they can contribute but the hospital is
there because again of the dish thank you very much and madam chair at the appropriate time i will cast my vote proudly
in support of bill number 35-0102 blessings blessings thank you thank you so much senator
1:06:46
fonseca senator samuel carrion you are recognized for your three minutes thank you um good afternoon to you madam
chair good afternoon to my colleagues that are here present to testifiers and good afternoon to the people of the u.s virgin
islands I first would like to start by commending and thanking the sponsor of this measure this resolution Senator
Maurice James because clearly this is long overdue and it's so crucial when we recognize our own and are able to honor
honor them so it's very fitting thank you for bringing this forward and of course I will be in full support of this resolution
now let me ask the testifiers and i thank you for sharing your experiences um and what you've received um during that
relationship and that time uh serving uh with uh dr uh disha bird but if there's anything that comes to your mind that you
remember um of an encounter with him that still stays very fresh in your mind if you could share an experience i know in
your testimony everyone shared how he was a quiet a gentle giant but nevertheless a man of action who would not say
much but do much is there anything any particular story you would like to share with us that you still hold dear to your
heart or something that made you laugh and when you think about it you know, brings you joy about Dr. Deshaber that
any of you would like to share?
1:08:52
Well, I can say that as a child, I used to get together with the Deshaber family, and I know we had some beach days. I
remember one beach day that we had. It was out by Longford, I think, and he gave me the best bottle of guava berry I've
ever had, and it was great. It was from his farm, so I really appreciated the mangoes that they had, all the farming that
they did and everything. And I think he loved St. Croix so much that you could tell that he was of this place. And he
worked the farms, the people, and he did so much. And I know that I started working with Dr. de Chabir when I was
eight years old. Call it forced child labor. But I was working in the three-story building that the de Chabir family had in
town. and I got to meet Ms. Annie, his mom, and I knew her nearly.
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30 seconds. And I think that the most significant thing is that Dr. de Spier realized that we needed more space because
more doctors were coming to the island. So as the Sunny Isle District developed, he set aside some land to build the
medical center that's now there, the Island Medical Center. So he was instrumental in creating more space to keep more
doctors on St. Croix. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that very personal story and how I'm pretty sure he influenced
and shaped your life for you to get into the medical field that you're in. So I really, once again, will stand in support of
this measure. So thank you very much, Madam Chair. Thank you so kindly, Senator Carrion. At this time, the Chair will
recognize the next Senator to ask questions. Senator Milton Potter, you're recognized for your three minutes. Good
afternoon and thank you very much Madam Chair for the recognition.
1:11:31
Madam Chair, I definitely rise in support of this initiative and I want to commend the bill's sponsor for having the
wisdom and the foresight foresight to identify Dr. Ralph A. Deshaber for special recognition here before us today. I
always say and I firmly believe that progressive societies honor and commend their own when they achieve excellence.
That is what we do. And absolutely, Dr. Deshaber is well deserving of this honor given his history and his contributions
to this community, particularly the island of St. Croix, you know, for his service in the field of medicine, particularly
obstetrics and gynecology. So it is only fitting to have the maternity ward, the labor and delivery ward on St. Croix to
receive his name.
1:12:36
And so he will live on, you know, in perpetuity given the existence of this facility and his name will be there above that
door. but i wanted to ask the testifiers today if they could share with us the best piece of advice that they have received
from dr deshaber over the years so if anything stands out among the testifiers here before us today um that they can share
you know any piece of advice or the best piece of advice that you received from Dr. de Chabelle over the years.
1:13:45
Vivian, Ederson Flood. Senator Potter, to speak to that, I think the one thing that stands out in mind with all the
experiences has been the advice that you don't have to be the lauded voice in the room, you just have to be firm in your
conviction if you know it is correct. And that was always his basis. He would listen, he would smile, and he still, in his
smile, he would know that he had his plan. He would listen to what you had to say, but he was firm in what direction he
wanted to go in, what direction he was going in. And those were the things on those phone calls that I would hear from
him. So be firm in your conviction, and I think that is sound advice in anything that you face. that's definitely sound
advice any anyone else this is dr christian i would do it in in three words never give up he challenged me so much to give
up no no we don't want you here go someplace else never give up never give up yes definitely some powerful pieces of
advice and it speaks to the character of the man um you know perseverance persistence never giving up uh that is advice
that will take you around the world and uh as you mentioned commissioner flood um you know it doesn't require loud
rah-rah and dramatics to be effective and he was effective while being uh a quiet understated individual so definitely his
contributions will be absolutely remembered and at the appropriate time i will absolutely vote in the affirmative uh for dr
deshaber to
1:14:34
receive this well-deserved honor thank you very much madam chair for the time and thank you so kindly senator potter
we are hearing a lot of good things about dr deshabert as to be expected I also have a family member who was a head
nurse of the maternity ward at one time at the Wang F. Louis Hospital. Her name is Nurse Wallin, Esther Lynn Wallin.
1:16:35
And she spoke volumes. See what a small world it is. And she spoke volumes. I used to fly over here to St. Croix to
babysit her. children so she could have that time to actually put in the work there and she spoke highly about the type of
individual, the type of caliber of a man that Dr. Disha Burt was. At this time I would like to recognize Senator Francis
Heiliger. Senator Francis Heiliger is joining us remotely as well. Senator Frances Heiliger, are you there? Yes, I'm here.
You are recognized. Thank you. You are recognized for your three minutes.
1:17:09
Thank you. Good afternoon to my colleagues, to the testifiers, to the people of the territory. It is very heartwarming as I
sit here and listen to all the wonderful stories of Dr. D. Chabrer and all the things that he has done on behalf of the people
of the territory. But to the testifiers, the questions I would like to ask specifically, I think it was the first young lady, one
of the young ladies that spoke when I was listening to the testimony, spoke about the doctor working through the
hurricanes. Do you believe that during the hurricanes, all the additional work and safety, things that he did on behalf of
the people, do you think that it helped? How do you think significantly things might have been different if he had not
done what he did? I think in speaking, Vivian Eberson-Flood, I think in having the opportunity to work and weather the
storm with him. His presence at the facility during the storm gave a level of confidence to all of us that were there that
didn't know what the unknown held. We know that we were called into work.
1:17:58
I know that I was on vacation and Ms. Ivy Ashwood nicely cancelled my vacation. and was called into work and when he
was there with us there was really a team and there was a level you had administrators as well as mr lawrence baston and
miss norma glenn they weathered the storm with us and so the staff who didn't know what they were facing who was
caused to leave their family um were given that reassurance that we would make this through okay i'm very happy to hear
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that. What are, and this is also to the testifiers, what are three words that would come to mind to describe Dr. DeShabir?
Compassionate, Ivy Ashford. I would say the three words is compassionate, compassion, love, and integrity. this is done
30 seconds i was this is for a person i would say effective silent but definitely clear of mind well one of the things i'm
noticing it almost seems like each of you who just shared three different types of words from your interaction you express
what you took from your interaction from him. And that's a good thing when somebody could mean so many different
things to so many different people. When it came to when I was listening to the testifiers and they spoke about my time is
up. Madam Chair, could I just finish up this last question? You may proceed with wrap up Senator Frances Heiliger.
Thank you so much. A lot of times we know people specifically for their work and that's a beautiful thing is we're trying
to name the ward after him in regards to our beautiful babies born here in the territory but can anyone also share to the
type of impact you believe that he had on the community as a whole for what he did outside of work this is dr christian
again i think that the resolution i i didn't realize it wouldn't be read uh for the public to hear but i think the resolution
really details in in volumes all of the work that he did outside and i know there's not enough time but we were also
interested in developing what is called a continued care of residential community which would help to take care of all the
people we didn't get it done but that was always there was always another movement another thing that we as a
community dr dishabird dr and um andrea gallivari senior all of us helping these younger ones like angela and myself
coming up even though i'm older than angelo to really aspire to do things for the community so i think it i think in
reading the resolution
1:20:06
you're going to get a clear sense of his contributions across the board not just in medicine well well i think i i personally
read through it but as testifiers a lot of times we ask these questions so the public can hear from the very people that
interacted with him so they also could better understand the type of impact that he had not only as a doctor but also as a
person that resided and was a part of this very community but i appreciate all the testifiers today i will be voting in the
affirmative and thank you madam chair for the additional time AND THANK YOU SO MUCH SENATOR FRANCIS
HIGHLIGER FOR YOUR LINE OF QUESTIONING SENATOR NOVEL E FRANCIS JUNIOR SENATOR
PRESIDENT YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR THREE MINUTES THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM
CHAIR GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU MY COLLEAGUES GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE TESTIFIERS AND
GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ILLANDS I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE
BUT I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE with a great sense of pride and you know I'm very much in support of this
resolution moving forward and I'll encourage you know those individuals that may be watching and viewing that is it'll be
good if you could get a copy of the resolution because there's a lot of detailed information in the resolution that really just
just do justice to dr. Ralph a shabert MD so my three words would be distinguishable, unassuming, and certainly a
gentleman. You know when you when you look at Dr. Sherbert and I have had the opportunity being the son of a nurse
you know to see him over the years and and you know he delivered me as well. And certainly midwife Ashwood it's good
to see you. I'm here today you got some
1:22:22
you got some history under your belt as well 15,000 infants were delivered by dr. Schubert over the years that is profound
that is profound in this small community when you look at this one little island that was able to produce so many and
under him you know so I felt I felt a sense of pride because of course you know being a young individual that been
around the hospital for a number of years and being able to see individuals that that look like you over the years I'm
talking about certainly Dr. Schibert you know I'm talking about Dr. Glenn Dr. Angelo Gallabe Sr. I'm talking about
Randall Dr. James you know certainly Cora Christian Dr. Claudius Henry Dr. Lloyd Henry you know Dr. Melvin Evans
you know these people you know Dr. Snyder you know these are individuals that that you were able to see you know and
of course we had the filipino doctors the pableti um they are the batanga kamois um dr sue and all those individuals that
came as well dr sebedo evangelista um but it was so critical that when you're able to see individual that looked like you
felt a sense of comfort dr green as well um you know dr christians and donna christians and you know so those are people
that come to my mind every time we have these conversation of these individuals a lot of time people um scuff at us
because we do move resolutions but if we don't recognize those individuals that pay and contributed to this community
who will who will you know a lot of times you serve and you're gone and forgotten these individuals contributed
immensely to this territory to this island and it's
1:24:15
definitely the responsibility rests with us to be able to make sure that they're recognized for their work. So Dr. Sherbert,
Dr. Shabir, I totally agree with with the assertion by Miss Flood, Vivian Flood, that in respect to we just don't want to not
to name after you but we want to make sure that we put language in and there may be some some language that allow for
it to transition into the new hospital new facilities as well but we want to make sure that those specific language is in in
the bill so that that could happen I often wonder why these gentlemen dr. James and dr. Shabert took on the OBGYN
position role God knows why right but you know that I'll often cross my mind but nonetheless you know they have done
it and they have done well I wish we had more time that I could ask some questions because I'll certainly like to pick your
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brain, especially Ms. Ashwood, in terms of, you know, what is your most pleasurable moment, most rememberable
moment with Dr. Shabert while you served under him.
Maybe if you could answer that on the Chair's time, I'd appreciate it, as well as Dr. Cora Christian. Thank you very much,
Madam Chair, for the time. Thank you so much, Mr. President. Ms. Ashwood, you would like to proceed with answering
the question? I'm Ivy Ashford. My most memorable moment. Just pull the mic closer to you and speak directly into it
because we have been recorded. My most memorable moment was not only in the labor and delivery, but in the
community, especially with the erring addicts that was here in the 70s. And the compassion and love, the time that he
spent with them.
1:27:14
They could come in and call him if they were in crisis, and he would stop, talk to them, help them over, whatever it is,
make sure they were all right. And then afterwards, when they were able to overcome their habits, he went in the
community to the employees and got jobs for them. And I looked at that as, you know, he was a father to them. And
many of them, by the late 80s, we had none, because he had worked and he was doing it on his own and spending his
own money for medication. But he was there for them any time of the day, any time of the night that they were in crisis,
he would be there for them. Thank you so much for that testimony, Nurse Ashwood. Dr. Christian, would you like to
add?
1:27:57
This may seem a little contradictory, but it's not. When they were developing the Medical Arts Center in Sunny Isle, I
came home to go to Frederickstead, where my father was born, and I'm a strong personality in certain ways like Vivian
and all the people who are there. And Dr. Desherberg, you know, I was getting his confidence and I was right there with
him and Dr. Andre Gallibert. They were really trying to get me to come to Sunny Isle. And I kept saying, no, no, no, no,
no. I want to go to Frederick said. So we kind of like, you know, these are like father figures to us, you know, when we're
coming in, even though we may be 20 years apart, we really, you know, I never called him anything but Dr. Desherberg,
like Dr. Smith in St. Thomas. So I am now rebuffing what he's telling me, I'm going to Frederick Stead. But he ended up
telling me, this is a memorable, Cora, you were right. You were right to go to Frederick Stead, go where the need is,
because he always did that. He always did that. So my point is that sometimes when you, I know with younger folks, we
have kids and so forth, they buck up against us and we don't understand their motivation. It made me realize what he said
to me about never giving up. If you really are determined about doing something your community don't let anybody stand
in your way and that's the way he lived his life and he appreciated that when others did the same so that's a very
memorable i have many but that's one of the memorable ones i came to mind thank you and thank you so much dr
christian for sharing that memory the chair will now recognize majority leader kenneth gittens for his three minutes thank
you madam thank you madam chair and good afternoon to all i truly appreciate the three minutes but we know that three
minutes is not sufficient to speak on the great doctor that
1:28:54
we're here to honor today uh you know i am so pleased to be one of the sponsors alongside uh Senator Maurice James
and the Senate President Noveli Francis Jr. and this honoring and commendation of Dr. Ralph A. Tell me the correct
pronunciation there. All right, thank you.
1:30:57
There's so much pronunciation to this. But I want the public to know, too, that, you know, great minds think alike, and we
as a legislature could come together as well to work with each other. Senator Maurice James actually had preempted me
in this measure, but again, three of us put our heads together and said we will work this and see this through. So I am
really happy that we're here today for this. And as the Senate President championed about more than 15,000 babies over
the years, wow.
1:31:28
Wow. I'm not sure when we're going to hear that again from another individual here in the territory. But I want to thank
each of you for your testimony, Dr. Christian, Nurse Ashwood, Nurse Flood, my sister, Dr. Gallabier, all of you for your
testimony today. But Dr. Christian, I must tell you that when you started to talk and you started to name people and
whatnot, Dr. Severo, Dr. Evangelista, Dr. Christian and whatnot, man, you really threw me back to the Department of
Health days and remembered my mom always talking about these individuals.
1:32:15
you all were like superheroes that she worked with in the Department of Health and I just want to say thank you so much
I feel like I know Department of Health better than I know the Virgin Islands Police Department just because I've run
through all the halls of the Department of Health wherever you guys were at even at Slava you know so I want to thank
each of you truthfully Miss Nurse Ashwood, do you remember Nurse Corrine Mesa? Speak into the mic. Yes, I did.
1:33:09
Okay, she sends her regards. She's trying to log on. That's my aunt. I think she joined you all in 1967, long before I was
born, with your indulgence, Madam Chair. long before i was born but you all did great work thank you and uh i hope that
you all are still talking with the new nurses as well so that they could know some of the you know the little tricks that you
all used to do i'm gonna tell you one thing that i really admired about you nurses back in the day was wearing your whites
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and having on your your your hat and whatnot today everybody wearing scrub you can't tell the doctor from the
groundskeeper you know so at some point we need to be able to define this thing again so that we could know you know
but i i want to say thank you all and thank the dish of our family again for uh all that you have done uh for the virgin
islands and in particular saint croix with the development of uh sunny else shopping center and the donation of the
property for where our hospital is built today. You know, again, because of big hearts like the Dishabir family, we are
where we're at today. We should be a lot further ahead. We have a lot of work to do. And by the grace of God, we will
get there. Thank you all so much for your testimony here today and looking forward to putting a final stamp on this to get
his name up in that hospital. Thank you so much. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Senator Maurice James and
Senator President Francis on this matter as well.
Thank you kindly, Mr. Majority Leader, for those remarks. Mr. Vice Chair, Senator Javon E. James Sr., you are
recognized for your three minutes. Greetings to the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thank you, Madam Chair. For the
time, I stand in full support of Bill Number 35-0102. I don't have those memories of running through the halls and all
those good stories of my colleagues, but probably my mom knows about him. However, as an individual who haven't
really been around back in those days, one thing I know how to do is read. And this resolution speaks to a Virgin Islander
who has done great things. And I really hope and pray that moving forward, that we can have more young Virgin Islands
to really understand our history. I know right now they're going through the changes with the history books. These things
need to be in the history books. To inspire young Virgin Islanders to do the same.
1:35:33
And not just for him, but for many others. our Virgin Islands history is outdated and history is being made every single
day but everybody who understands education a curriculum must be updated every so often so I say a lot to say to the
family thank you and the reason why to say thank you to the family because many times we see individuals in a
profession but they don't see the many times where they are away from their family we as lawmakers we go through the
same and sometimes it's a thankless job because sometimes you can save a baby and sometimes you can't save a baby
sometimes individuals might say well oh it's the doctor's fault but listen to me no profession is easy and the fact that this
gentleman brought forward 15 000 crucians because once you buy his accrucian right 15 000 crucians you know what i
mean we had Middle Easterners being born or delivered by him we had Caucasian people Hispanic people any race
ethnic group you can think of and it speaks a very diverse culture in the Virgin Islands and that's something we have to
embrace so I hope with the resolution we have here today that it can be staple in original history and when we do have
that ceremony but for the doctor I really hope and pray is not just one of those things where the news come there and we
do one thing one BAPA and then go home it has to be major because when last have we done something of this nature in
the legislature so to the
1:36:44
sponsor of this measure kudos to you thank you for having that foresight and vision and like i said i hope and pray with
the temporary structure that we have it doesn't become permanent at jfl not so i really look forward to seeing this come
into fruition and thank you once again to the testifiers for being here today thank you madam chair for the time thank you
so kindly mr chairman vice chairman rather uh Madam Clerk, kindly place three minutes on the clock for me. I would
like to take this opportunity to first of all commend the bill's sponsors of this legislation, Senator James, Maurice James,
Senator Novel Francis Jr. for putting this measure together and I believe Senator Gittins as well. Okay so this is a it is
really fitting and that's one of the joys I derive as being a chairperson of this committee because a lot of the resolutions
come through and so you get to see insight into the workings of persons who have given back to our community and hear
really core values from persons who have worked with them as well as their family members. So at this time I wanted to
recognize his daughter who is here with us. I know you haven't supplied any testimony but I do have a question for you
Ms. Danielle de Chabert. How is it because you are working and you're living with somebody who's doing such great
things they seem almost like godlike or just like a major superhero I like cartoons okay that's one of my favorite things to
watch and just wind down but you are there in the home with someone who is just flying and doesn't have necessarily
1:38:28
a cape how is it living with your father Dr. de Chabert good afternoon I'm sorry protocol being established I don't know
everybody's name because it's you know he doesn't bring that stuff home so until you hear it from other people you don't
really know and there's a whole lot that you don't know on a personal level he has helped people on a personal level
individually along with all of the things that have been discussed here and in the resolution there there are a lot of people
that he's helped personally for example the the heroin addict program i mean imagine being a little girl sitting in the back
of a convertible and being babysat by lalo one of these uh heroin addicts recovering you know that was the kind of thing
like you said you talk about family and that kind of stuff but that's a history from when you're younger that you hear
about it you don't don't see it so until people speak about it but one thing I would like to add at this point I've been
thinking lately I ever since my mom passed away last year I've had a lot of my plate, but being the family that's
supporting my father, there were many days I'm heading out to school and he's coming through the door.
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I haven't seen him that evening, so it would be an honor to me if the committee could consider adding my mom to that
resolution, that recognition, because without the great woman behind the great man, he wouldn't have been able to go out
and do all the things he did. He was at home keeping everything going and his support there. So I would like the
committee to consider that. You may or may not. It's noted.
1:42:14
Yeah. He didn't know it because, like you said, he was quiet. He didn't come in and remark that he's done this and he's
done that. You know about the shopping center, you know about he worked here, he worked hard. So quite unspoken.
Thank you so much, Ms. De Chavere. And I always tend to ask that question because some of us only see what is
happening outside of the home, but it's truly the person at home and what the family, family is very important. That's the
nucleus of any community nation is experiencing. So I really wanted to thank you for making time to be here. And it is
noted your recommendation.
1:42:47
We'll now ask the... Senator Joseph? Yes, yes, Dr. Christian. You wanted to note something? Yes, I'm so glad that
Danielle brought it up because, as you know, when I came into the society here, many women were not physicians. You
know, we were nurses and companions. But Millie, we know her as Millie Dishavar. She was so attentive. She and Edith
Gallabere, who was Andrew Gallabere Sr., they took me under their wing because we started a situation where we would
actually honor the men, the physicians. But it was the women, the spouses of the doctors that really carried the medical
society through in our conferences and so forth. And Millie and Edith and Dr. Sue's wife and so forth, there were many of
them. But I'm so glad Danielle talked about her mom because Millie was always so supportive. So really, I think it would
be appropriate to really add her to the resolution if the sponsors would consider that. I certainly, as one of the kind of
behind-the-scenes writers, would really recommend that. I think that's really necessary. Thank you.
1:43:36
Thank you so much, Dr. Christian, for those words, adding further emphasis on adding Ms. Millie Deshiver to the
resolution. We'll now recognize the bill's sponsor, Senator Marie C. James Esquire, for her three minutes. Thank you,
Madam Chair, and good afternoon to everyone again. I wanted to ask if you know, because I agree with you, we learn
more about our parents from others, right? And I wanted to ask, do you know why you wanted to become a doctor? did
he ever talk about what motivated him to become a doctor I can't say we ever discussed why he wanted to go into
medicine but I do know obstetrics was not what he wanted to do really he always told me that was the thing that he hated
the most and for some reason at the end of it all after he did all his residencies that's what he actually went into I think he
wanted to do more surgery or something like that but who knows but for us i guess that was a godsend because he never
considered staying in the states where he was and let me tell you he had offers because my father is one of those who got
100 percent on all his exams that kind of thing so he had offers but he as soon as he finished his residency straight home
he said they come back home. I actually know midwife Ashwood because she was there when I had my first baby and I
was very happy to hear Dr. Christian say that we really don't it's
1:44:43
sometimes we forget the woman behind the man you know the nurses behind the doctors you know these people who
really make everything work out everything work I wanted to also say that I don't really have any I only had that question
I was wondering what motivated him to become a doctor you know that was the one question that I had but I do want to
say that in a conversation I had yesterday with a friend of mine she was saying how the legislature provides the
community with data because if we don't ask people questions especially agencies and departments questions sometimes
people don't know and other than the legislature getting that information out we won't we wouldn't know as a community
because they don't do the data collection that they should but on another on another note we don't have these resolutions
where people tell us these stories like dr christian was telling us today especially and you you know all of you sitting here
we wouldn't know these things and it's really good that the legislature serves as in a sense a depository of information of
stories of our people that should eventually as as the young senator said end up in in history books um and so it's
wonderful when we do these types of hearings where we hear about our own people and um people also who came here
to um the territory i when lutheran services were here
1:46:35
and I learned about sister Emma coming from St. Kitts and coming here and serving and and doing what she did and you
know you recognize earlier the chairperson recognized the um the independence celebration of St. Kitts and and what
they're doing there it just makes me feel proud as a Caribbean person that people migrated here contributed I clearly
remember when the doctors came from the Philippines I remember they were just as part of my life growing up you know
and when I went to the States I realized that a lot of my friends didn't see doctors of color nurses of color and how
inspirational you just coming back to the territory like your father did like dr. Gallabere did you know like the nurses did
coming back and working here coming here to the territory how important so I really didn't have any a question except
that but I wanted to to put on a record how important the legislature really when you we have these hearings how we're
contributing to three being recorded thank you madam chair thank you so kindly as senator James do I hear a motion.
Senator Kenneth Gittins, you are recognized for your motion. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair and colleagues, I
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move that Bill number 35-0102, an act honoring and commending Ralph A. D. Schibert, M.D., for outstanding
contributions in the medical field to the people of the Virgin Islands and his many civic contributions to the community,
especially to the island of St. Croix, and
to name the Labor and Delivery Postpartum Unit Maternity Services at the Governor Juan Francisco Luis Hospital and
Medical Center North in his honor. I move that it be voted upon favorably here in this committee and be forwarded to the
Rules and judiciary committee for further consideration i so move second bill number 35-0102 has been properly moved
by senator kenneth l gittin seconded by senator javon james senior as well as alma francis heiliger roll call on bill number
35-0102 Senator Samuel Carrion, yes.
1:50:24
Senator Carrion, yay. Senator Ray Fonseca, yay. Senator Fonseca, yay. Senator Alma Francis Heiliger, yes. Senator
Francis Heiliger, yay. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins, yes. Senator Gittins, yay. Senator Javon E. James, senior, yes. Senator
James Senior, yea. Senator Carla J. Joseph? Yes.
1:51:19
Senator Joseph, yea. Senator Milton E. Potter? Yes. Senator Potter, yea. Yes. Madam Chair, you have seven yeas. Thank
you, Madam Clerk. Bill number 35-0102, an act honoring and commending Ralph A. Desherbert, MD, for outstanding
contributions in the medical field to the people of the Virgin Islands and his many civic contributions to the community,
especially to the island of St. Croix, and to name the labor and delivery postpartum unit maternity services at the Wong F.
Louis Hospital and Medical Center North in his honor has been favorably voted upon in this committee and will be
forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration and action.
1:51:49
I would like to recognize the majority leader, Kenneth L. Gittins, for your point of personal privilege. Thank you, Madam
Chair. I just wanted to thank everyone for their support and all the good information that came out here and Dr. DeShabir
here today. But I wanted to ask Daniel to just at least let us know that that is doing okay. and that you left the TV on for
him to look at these proceedings and that I believe he's about 93 years old now, right? Yes. So all the discussion we spoke
about, we didn't even talk about his age at this time.
1:52:56
At 93. Okay, thank you. Give him our regards, please. I will, thank you. But just give us a little update, not personal, but
just a little update for us to know that he's doing well. Thank you. Well, you know, good days, bad days. Ever since my
mom passed, of course, that makes a big difference in how the good days are and the bad days. So it's hard going through
all the first birthdays without, the first Christmas, the first Thanksgiving, all of that. We've successfully gone through
that. We just celebrated the one-year anniversary of her passing in August. It went really fast.
1:53:41
so a lot of emotions there but he's hanging in you know I stay with him he's holding on yeah he's definitely holding on
thank you as senator Marie C James you are recognized for your point of personal privilege thank you madam chair I just
want to thank the committee for voting it's going to go to the rules where I am a member and I'm pretty sure it's going to
go through smoothly. My sponsors, the sponsors will be both Senator Novel Francis and Senator Kevin Gittins I'm sure
agree with me that the recommendations will be made. Both recommendations will be made and I just want to thank the
testifiers for coming out and supporting this and advocating for this because it really came out of your desire to make this
happen. So thank you very much. Thank you so much, Senator James.
1:54:22
At this time the Chair will allow the testifiers to place on the record a 30 seconds wrap up. We'll start with you, Nurse
Ashwood, Ms. Ashwood. Maybe you can wrap up with a 30 seconds comment regarding the resolution. I am very happy,
having lived on this island for so long, and seeing what Dr. Dishabir has done for this resolution, and I really want to
thank the legislature for voting on it. Thank you so kindly, Dr. Angelo, Angelo, Angelo Gallabere. You are recognized
for your 30 seconds. Thank you. I've been working in the government for about 40 years and I'm concerned about my
retirement. So it's the efforts of Dr. DeChibert in bringing 15,000 baby cruisants on to St. Croix that that are going to
maybe allow us to retire with some decent income so that we don't have to look for a second and third job. I appreciate
that.
1:55:30
Thank you so much for that commentary. I believe that's all of our hope, I do. Nurse Eberson Flood, you are recognized
for your 30 seconds wrap-up comments. Good afternoon and thank you. I just want to say thank you to the bill sponsors,
Senator James, Senator Gittins, and President Francis. But I also want to commend you for a resolution that as we speak
about history, the resolution has the historical facts. When a student is asked to research on Dr. Ralph D. Shabir, that
resolution in the number of whereas has the history and information and not just a resolution honoring but telling you
about the information, and so you've played your role and done your part and generated that data in this resolution, and I
want to commend you on a well-written resolution with facts that puts and safeguards and ensures that it is written in the
annals of our history in the legislative record. So thank you for that.
1:56:45
And thank you, Nurse Ebeson Flood, because that's something that I'm keenly aware of to assure that we have that level
of accuracy in the records that we provide, because the future generations, even current people, are coming to research.
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Dr. Cora Christian, you are recognized for your 30 seconds wrap-up. Dr. Cora Christian, I would like to say that I believe
that all the hard times that Dr. Dishabrath went through with his mission in life, giving others hope to become the kinds
of people that they should be, that his purpose was not only to survive and thrive, but to be a positive example and
encourage all of us to be inspired to never give up.
Wonderful, wonderful. And thank you. And last but not least, Ms. DeShivert, Danielle, the daughter of the great man
who we are honoring with this resolution today. Ms. Nurse Ashford, I'm gonna take your word. You ask that others sign
on. My Aunt Estalyn Walwyn, who knows you as well, she said yes, he's a good, he was an exceptional doctor and I
should definitely listen to what Nurse Ashford Ashford asks that we all sign on. but Ms. Disha Burt, you are recognized
for your 30-second closing remarks.
1:58:41
I too am grateful that this resolution has been brought forward. Senator James, and Francis, Senator Giddens, I appreciate
it. And it's nice that's being done while he's still alive. A lot of times when we do the honoring, it's after they're gone, but
it does our heart good to know that people appreciate and respect and honor and remember what you have done for the
community before you go up top. I thank you for that, appreciate that. Thank you. I am a firm believer in giving people
their flowers while they can see and their family can appreciate them and know all the good things that was said about
them. So you five individuals are released from your testimony virtually and in person before the Committee on
Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection for today. The committee will stand in recess for two
minutes Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We'll be right back. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We'll be
right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We'll be right back.
We'll be right back. Thank you. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back.
1:59:28
And we are back on the record. Madam Clerk, kindly read into the record our last item today on the agenda. The
committee will receive testimony concerning bill number 35-0125, an act honoring and commending the late Police
Lieutenant Melburn Clark posthumously for his dedication, service, and contributions to the virgin islands community in
law enforcement by adding the name police lieutenant melbourne clark drive at route 669 on the island of st croix this bill
is sponsored by senator kenneth l gittins the invited testifiers are mr houston cornelius department deputy police Chief at
the Virgin Islands Police Department, and Mr. Ray Clark. Madam Chair, this ends Mr. Ray Clark.
2:12:12
Madam Chair, this ends the reading of today's agenda. Thank you kindly, Madam Clerk, who speaks on behalf of bill
number 35-0125? Thank you, I do, Madam Chair. thank you so kylie mr majority leader you are recognized thank you
and good afternoon to all once again special good afternoon to deputy chief euston cornelius and mr ray clark with us
today i am proud to introduce bill number 35 that's 0125 which seeks to honor and commend the late police lieutenant
melbourne clark posthumously for his dedication service and contributions to the virgin islands community in line
enforcement particularly in the island district of st croix and naming route 669 and if i'm not correct the good deputy
chief will definitely correct me from uh this is Again, naming Route 669 from Queen Mary Highway intersection through
Golden Grove to the Melvin-Evans Highway on St. Croix.
2:13:34
Naming this the Police Lieutenant Melbourne Clark Memorial Drive, not just drive. Melbourne Clark was born on the
island of St. Croix in 1939 to Anna Maria James and Anthony Augustine Clark. Many of our elders will also remember
him as a stellar baseball player playing on teams in St. Croix, Puerto Rico, and even in New York. In 1960, Melbourne
Clark enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Korea, where he continued to play baseball and received
commendations for achieving top marks as an infantryman, paratrooper, and a medic. In 1972, just a year after I was
born, he returned to St. Croix, where he later joined the Virgin Islands Police, where he actually joined the then
Department of Public Safety, today known as the Virgin Islands Police Department. It was said that Lieutenant
Melbourne Clark excelled in all his promotional exams and in his training classes. In about 1980, Lieutenant Clark
graduated top of his K-9 Corps training class in Washington, D.C. He was amongst the first set of Virgin Islands police
officers to become a certified K-9 Corps officer for the Virgin Islands. He was also responsible and instrumental for the
selection and training of officers for the St. Thomas St. John District.
2:14:56
Clark was recognized by then Delegate to Congress Melvin H. Evans in a special ceremony for his achievements. Melvin
Clark, according to his records, was promoted to lieutenant in 1985. And as you look at the screen, you'll even see
Lieutenant Clark there amongst some other stellar police officers when they graduated from the K-9 Corpse Academy.
Melbourne Clark, according to his records, was promoted to police lieutenant in 1985 and assigned as commander of the
Traffic Investigation Bureau in the Island District of St. Croix.
2:16:45
He was known to many for his no-nonsense approach on our highways and could be seen and heard on local television
and radio shows, always giving traffic updates and information. Lieutenant Clark retired from the Virgin Islands Police
Department as commander of the Traffic Division, the Traffic Investigation Bureau, in December 1999. In addition to his
police service, Lieutenant Clark also served as a medic in the VA National Guard and was a member of the American
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Legion, another community organization. He passed away on July 8, 2012, leaving behind his three children, Ray Clark,
Anna Maria, and Lynette Maria, as well as three grandchildren.
His son, Ray Clark, is here today with us to provide testimony in support of this measure, along with Deputy Chief
Euston Cornelius, who also served under the tutelage of Melbourne Clark. As a young line enforcement officer coming
into the department, Lieutenant Melbourne Clark was one of those supervisors or commanders that everyone looked up
to, well-dressed, well-mannered, knowledgeable, and paid attention to details. I was assigned to the Traffic Investigation
Bureau at one point and learned a great deal from him. He took joy in sharing his knowledge and treated all officers with
respect. he taught us how to do things not by telling us what to do but also showing us what to do and there wasn't
nobody that could have done that uh tell you how fast you were driving after an accident like he could have with what
you call a drag sled uh back in the day i guess the good deputy chief could tell us today what they use because we got so
much technology now but long ago they used to just cut a build tire put some concrete in it and have some kind of pulley
thing with a measure well I don't know how they did it but they did it but when it came to traffic initiative in closing you
know again he paid attention to details he was always upfront and giving updates as I said in the media and we missed
these kinds of updates and community communication from the Traffic Division at this time, and we certainly miss
Lieutenant Clark. Also signing on as sponsors to this bill today is our esteemed Senate President, Nova Lee Francis Jr.,
and Senator Maurice James, and I encourage anyone else to sign on to this
2:18:15
as well. Thank you all, and I'm looking forward to a good discussion. Thank you. Thank you so much, Senator Gittins.
With us today we have two individuals who will be testifying on this bill. The first is Mr. Houston Cornelius, the Deputy
Police Chief, and also Mr. Ray Clark. So we just, housekeeping matters, before you speak, kindly put on the record your
name and then you may proceed with your answering any questions and the like. Mr. Cornelius, we're going to ask you to
read your testimony into the record at this time.
2:20:08
Thank you, Honorable Karla J. Joseph. Chairwoman of the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and
Consumer Protection. Committee members, members of the 25th Legislature, legislative staff, fellow testifiers, and to the
listening and viewing audience. I am Houston Cornelius, your Deputy Chief of Police for the Virgin Islands Police
Department, St. Croix District. Honorable Carla J. Joseph, I would like to thank you for inviting me to say a few words
on behalf of the good lieutenant, Lieutenant Mel Bourne Clark. Mel, as he was affectionately known.
2:21:02
The community might not be aware that he was also a canine handler prior to becoming the traffic guru that he was. In
1979, then Police Commissioner Milton C. Branch and Police Chief George Washington, better known as Speedy
George, authorized and designated Sergeant Peter W. Anderson to research the use of dogs in police work in the U.S.
Virgin Islands. In December of 1979, the first nucleus of the K-9 Corp was formed. And it consisted of five members.
And Lieutenant Melbourne Clark was one of those proud members. Lieutenant Melbourne Clark was fortunate to travel
with his K-9 partner, Bay, where he assisted in solving crimes on the nearby islands. Eventually, Lieutenant Melbourne
Clark was inspired by police officer Jay Graham, known to most as Drummer Boy, and he took an interest in traffic and
became the traffic commander, and that's where he was known to most of us. When I joined the Virgin Islands Police
Department in the 1990s, he was the traffic commander and he was feared by all because of his no-nonsense style, which
most officers avoided.
2:21:50
Lieutenant Melbourne Clark's training in traffic investigation was very extensive, and it ranged from at-scene traffic
investigation, advanced traffic investigation, radar operation and detection, speed and crush depth analysis to include
accident reconstruction. Lieutenant Melbourne Clark was referred to as the route man. There was no road on the island of
St. Croix that Lieutenant Melbourne Clark did not know the route number for. In an effort to educate, Lieutenant
Melbourne Clark would be seen often on Channel 8 giving safety tips. To make sure the education did not miss anyone,
he would also be heard on Saturdays in the afternoon on AM 970 with Gerard Luz James. This is where he answered
questions pertaining to Title 20, rules and regulations, and it ranged from DUI, passing on yellow lines, seat belt usage
speeding unregistered vehicle etc in the 1990s the virgin islands of the united states hosted its first 70.3 half ironman
triathlon and lieutenant melbourne clark was tagged as the go-to person to lead this event hot corner was the area that the
onlookers would flock to to see the lead car with the number one biker on the tail of the bumper as lieutenant clark made
that tough maneuver i am proud to say i was fortunate to be his sidekick as he showed me how experienced people did it i
appreciated his appreciated his leadership loved the way he carried himself
2:23:25
His hat was always on his head, shoes was shine, clothes was always neat, and tucked tight. When it came to eating,
Lieutenant Melbourne Clark loved his seafood. However, he also loved sauce. When he came to the office with his sauce,
he had a habit of carefully tucking his napkin around his neck in case of any splatter. splatter. I would always harass him
and ask him, Luke, what are you dealing with, man? Rastaman, don't eat them thing. And he would just chuckle, if you
only know, boy. And he would continue his lunch. Lieutenant Melbourne Clark retired in December of 1999, serving 25
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years to this community and whenever we ran into each other we would always reminisce about the old days. Even after
Lieutenant Melbourne Clark retired he could not keep still and had to find something to do so he became a legionnaire
and was district commander for post 85 until his untimely demise.
When we laid Lieutenant Melbourne Clark to rest in the Kings Hill Cemetery, even though sad, I couldn't help but smile.
Why, you might ask. It was because his resting place was close to the Queen Mary Highway, Route 70, and I saw it
ironic that he was right next to where traffic passes to continue monitoring peak-hour traffic. I want to thank the members
of the 35th legislature for seeing it fitting to bestow this honor upon a deserving servant at this community. Many of us,
and I want you to bear with me, because these are the last set of people he supervised prior to his retirement. Civilian
employee Louise Arnold, Sergeant Charles Orange, Corporal Loritz Moorhead, Corporal Enrique Santos, Police Officer
Carlton Wakefield, Police Officer Jermaine Payne, Police Officer Keith Williams, Police Officer Leslie Hatchet, Police
Officer Freddie Ortiz, Police Officer Gloria Singho, Police Officer Naomi Joseph, and myself. We are honored to see
Route 669, a road he traveled on during his career from the Patrick Sweeney headquarters daily until his retirement be
named in his honor. I know his children, Anna M. Clark, Lynette M. Clark and his son, Ray Anthony Clark, are proud
and happy to see that their father was
2:26:50
appreciated and now his name would live on. Thank you for this consideration for Lieutenant Mel Bourne Clark. Mel is
truly deserving of this honor. Thank you. Thank you so much. Acting Police Chief Cornelius, Deputy Police Chief. Well
I'm gonna just speak it into existence hopefully. Right. At this time I'd like to recognize Mr. Ray Anthony Clark. You are
recognized to read into the record your testimony for today thank you my name is ray anthony clark son of melbourne
clark good afternoon honorable caller j joseph chair of the committee on government operations veteran affairs and
consumer protection vice chair the honorable giovanni james senior honorable committee members honorable senators
kenneth l gittins samuel carryon alma francis heiliger Ray Fonseca, and Milton E. Potter, non-committee members,
central and legislative staff, federal testifier, voters present, and members of the viewing and listening public. I am Ray
Anthony Clark, the eldest child and only son of the late Lieutenant Melbaugh Clark. First, on behalf of my wife Leanne,
son Ray II, and the entire Clark family, let me take this opportunity to thank the honorable Kenneth L. Gittins for
honoring Daddy in this fashion.
2:28:43
It is certainly a befitting way to honor one of the finest police officers to solve the publicity in Croix. Daddy began and
ended his career at the old Patrick Sweeney headquarters. Renaming Route 669 the Police Lieutenant Melbourne Clark
Memorial Drive warms our hearts and for this we thank you Senator Gittins. I will have a big smile on my face every
time I traverse this road from now on, but get rid of the speed bumps like Daddy I like to speed too. Some of the key
takeaways from Daddy's 25-year career with the Virgin Islands Police Department are graduating at the top of his class as
member of the First Canine Corps of the Virgin Islands, which was honored by Delegate to Congress then Melvin Evans,
beginning and training the first canine core class on St. Thomas, achieving perfect scores on all exams for rank within
VIPD. Among the first set of honorees for tomorrow's people, the founder is Abdul Ali. Establishing the first weekly
special traffic report segment on Channel 8 News with Eustace Brown as part of the weekly news cast, and numerous
awards for merit and valor. However, as a singer musician, the biggest honor to me is Mighty Pat's song about daddy,
fitly named Officer Clark. You know this song. They say, my name is Officer Clark, I'm bad like Pitbull and I don't eat
Duba. That's how this song went. Daddy's sovereign distinction left a legacy that has lived on through the passage of
time. Friends and people from all walks of life constantly remind me of daddy's exploits.
2:30:31
As an officer, of course, a plethora of traffic tickets he issued. Truth be told, our mother of the late Janet Joyce Amara
Clark was a victim of daddy's no-nonsense work ethic. One morning on her way to work, yes, she was speeding, heard
the siren, and pulled over. Lo and behold, it was none other than her husband, Melbourne Clark. Daddy, in a very
professional manner, exited the patrol car, requested necessary items, and served mommy with a speeding ticket. And
when asked why he gave his wife a ticket, daddy replied, if it were my mother speeding, I would give her a ticket. There's
not a day that goes by I don't miss daddy.
2:32:15
Sorry, Kenny. I miss his daily cause, his advice, his chastisement, which I must add was well dissolved, and his overall
aura. St. Croix just don't feel the same without him. Yet every time I speak, look in the mirror, or just call out to my son, I
can see and feel him in me. I'd also like to thank a few officers who made daddy's career with the VIPD a fruitful and
meaningful one. Adele Bort Brian, who actually trained daddy when he first came into the police department. Deputy
Chief Ustankoneela Su, I call my brother, even though we don't have the same mother and father, but daddy treated him
like he was his son. Every time we used to get him problem, that he would send he for me.
2:33:01
Anita Christian, Betty Wilson, Joseph Drummer Boy Graham, Horman Hendricks, Magnus Lovegren, Roosevelt
Wakefield, Larry Oliver, James Reimer, Sr., Libertad Velazquez, Anton Christian, James Juggies Paris, Franz Buffy
Christian, and many more too numerous to mention. Thank you. Thank God for blessing me with my father, Melbourne
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Clark, a man I continue to emulate, but whose shoes I could never fill. Thank you and have a blessed afternoon. And
thank you so kindly, Mr. Clark, for those moving words and a really great picture you painted of your father. Colleagues,
we are going to go to one round of three minutes. I will now recognize Senator Ray Fonseca Fonseca in the Legislative
Chambers in St. Thomas for your three minutes. Senator Fonseca, kindly proceed. Kindly recognize Senator Fonseca's
mic. We are not hearing him in the Legislative Conference Room here in St. Croix. Try again, Senator Fonseca.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am definitely in support of Bill No. 35-0125. You know, it's particularly fitting that we honor
this great police officer reviewing the testimony received here today from Deputy Chief of Police, Osun Cornelius, and
also from his son, Ray Clark. It's very clear that the deputy, the ticket cop, was a very professional policeman.
2:35:32
In fact, I have to commend him for the 25 years of service to the community as a police officer. And then, of course, he
went on to become the district chair for the Legionnaire. So that is very fitting. I would like to point out, though, that I
don't know if I could have won the ticket with the wife. But, you know, I don't have no wife, so I guess it wouldn't apply
to me. But that's very, very, very commendable. The deputy chief said that he was a no-nonsense police officer. But, you
know, even though I haven't met him, I bet he still had a good, good relation with the public. So I would like to ask you,
Deputy Chief of Police, Mr. Cornelius, can you give us some examples of how Mr. Clark dealt with the public? I know
that he did a lot of tickets, so he must have been very popular or unpopular.
2:36:18
Yes, Senator. Lieutenant Clark, when it came to him doing enforcement and keeping this community safe, the community
knew it was for their, even though they might have to spend some money, they knew eventually it was for the betterment
of the community. That's what they knew. They knew he was a man that would do enforcement. He was out there to do
the people's business.
2:37:27
He did it, and the people respected him for that, even though they might have to spend some money. Thank you. You
know, and Ray, I can understand your emotions because, you know, every time I look in the mirror, too, I see my father.
So I think we both, you know, copy something off of POPs. But tell me, how was your father at home? How was him
when he took that uniform off and he now became Mr. Clark around the family? Yeah, well, Danny, having served in the
military, home was no nonsense. I'll just give you a quick example. When my father used to come home from work for
K-9, my father would my job was to don't have the kennel clean and done ready to feed the dog when you reach I taken a
dog out of the van wash the dog dry the dog put a dog in the kennel and put it food by time I come in there his boots on
the porch waiting on me to shine while I did shine in the boots my sister Anna Clark she didn't point in all the different
thing them are for the one shot onto the next shot and then he actually checking to see if he ain't looking at a homelock to
read and see if you add one plus one but he just checking to see if you do it and um and that was it that that was just an
example of how he how he was uh trick and no nonsense and i i feel proud i actually i got a lot of beating growing up too
for he for not following rules and regulation and um i guess that's why i am how i am today you know thank you very
much uh madam chair and at the appropriate time i'm definitely supporting this bill blessings and thank you so kindly
senator fonseca as senator maurice james you were here real early and so you are recognized for your three minutes
Thank you, Madam Chair, and good afternoon, Virgin Islands, good afternoon to the testifiers
2:38:02
and my colleagues, and you know what's interesting is I remember when I got my driver's license I was always on my
mind, I do not want to be stopped by that Lieutenant Clark, it's like make sure but you know what's interesting about that
in a small community he was still able to enforce the law with people understanding that it was his duty to do so and you
don't see that often you see people shine away from enforcing the law because they don't want to upset their friendship so
to give the the example of giving your wife a ticket shows that this person is like the the rule of law is important law and
order is important um i know ray from from way back when when he he came to me when i was running the first time um
and of course you know when i see you i agree with you i see your father that's that's a definite you know um and i and i
also see who he made in you and just the example you give now tells me you know that he was a man who followed rules
who understood how important I wanted to ask that and the deputy chief I want to say to you too that so you definitely
you definitely take after your daughter in because your speech is just almost as good as hers your testimony she no no he
took he took after her I don't mind you don't mind I know you wouldn't I know I know you wouldn't do you think that
who he is is you know we're honoring him today but I'm just wondering if in the
2:40:16
police department the young ones coming up understand the role models that came before because you know today this
community for me anyway I'm remembering a community of men who were examples in what they did I'm just
wondering now as as the young police officers come up? Do they see people like him as role models for them to emulate?
Senator, I would say yes. What we are trying to do right now is trying to relay the history of the department.
2:42:15
That's what we are trying to do right now. So we have a showcase within the Virgin Islands Police Department where you
could go and see certain pictures of people that was here serving so you could look and you could see okay this why this
was lieutenant clerk why this was officer so and so so you start to get that respect for that person that was there prior to
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you and learn to respect what they have done yeah but that's what we're trying to do show the history so that that respect
could now be given to that person and you now could want to strive to be like that person yeah well said well said madam
sure i know my time is up but i i want to just tell ray that you you may wrap up yeah i just wanted to tell you that you
have you you should be proud and i and i understand your emotions i totally understand it and that's a good thing and um
it's good when a son can sit and talk about how he misses his dad and um not too many we don't see that often and so So I
hope people out there see and feel how you feel, if nothing else, that how important a father is in a son's life. Thank you,
Madam Chair.
Thank you so kindly, Senator James. The Chair will now recognize Senator Samuel Carrion for your three minutes.
Thank you, Madam Chair, and I want to say good afternoon to the testifiers. You know, I always enjoy resolutions. I
know that sometimes there is a, in the community, there tends to be a negative connotation to resolutions. But I think it's
important that we recognize our own. If we don't do it, who will do it?
2:44:16
And something that the Bible says that I think it's very important, give honor to who honor deserves. and and here before
us we have a resolution that speaks of a man who deserve honor man who served this community for 25 years I don't
know if I had the opportunity to have met him I might try to obey the traffic glass so maybe not but but clearly is a
testament of his dedication his integrity and dedication to our community but also to the police department and I thank
you Mr. Ray Clark for sharing your testimony and the way that you did speaking about your father and what he meant to
you but what also he meant to this community and as children or sons and daughters or individuals who are in the public
service sometimes we don't acknowledge a sacrifice of the family makes, especially if that individual's in the police force,
because they walk out and you don't know if they'll be back. So I want to extend it to you and your family gratitude for,
you know, lending your father up to the community in his service. And I'm glad and I commend the sponsor of this bill
that his work will not be in vain and his memory will continue to live on. we drive that route we will remember who he
was and the service he provided to this community is it assistant deputy deputy chief I'm sorry deputy chief can you share
with us a memorable moment something that you remember that brings you joy about um who he was to you apart from
the south a memorable moment ah i remember one time we
2:44:52
stopped a vehicle and you wouldn't you wouldn't watch lieutenant clark and believe he was fluent in spanish so he
stopped the vehicle and when he stopped the vehicle here it is you you have two individuals in the car that was stopped.
And I guess he was trying to tell the man, the individual, we're going to just say, we don't talk Spanish, and this will
happen. And Lieutenant Clark listened to him, or the individuals. And when Lieutenant Clark started to say, dame tu
licencia, tu papelito para tu carro, and he went on and on with the Spanish, the guy just like.
2:46:52
That was something that I remember that made me smile. The fact that he knew Spanish, he listened to them, let them
play their game, and he was able to respond to them in Spanish. That was a memorable moment to me. As simple as you,
he spoke Spanish, and he was very fluent in it. Beautiful. Beautiful, that's a good one. Thank you for sharing that with us.
And the benefit of knowing two languages, okay? So that's a good point now, Hispanic Heritage Month to encourage
everyone to develop and learn another language. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you so much, Senator Carrion, for that
very appropriate question. I'll now like to recognize Senator Francis, I'm sorry, Senator Potter in the legislative chambers
for his three minutes. Senator Potter, you're recognized. Hold Senator Potter's time, Madam Clerk. We can't hear Senator
Potter in the legislative chamber. Can you hear me now? Yes, I can hear you now and see you clearly as well. Kindly
proceed. Awesome. Thank you very much Madam Chair. I definitely rise in support of Bill No. 35-0125, honoring and
commending the late Police Lieutenant Melbourne Clark posthumously. I really enjoy the testimony of both testifiers
here today, the Deputy Chief Cornelius, as well as Lieutenant Clark's son,
2:47:34
Mr. Ray Clark, I gained some great insight into the character of Lieutenant Melbourne Clark, who I have never met
before. But I have always stressed the importance of us honoring and commending those among us who achieve
excellence in their respective field. And without question, Lieutenant Melbourne Clark achieved greatness in his role as a
member of the police department with a particular focus on traffic, in the traffic area. He was a commander of the traffic
division for some time, and by all accounts, he was a very hardworking and industrious individual. Assistant or Deputy
Chief Cornelius mentioned that, clearly there are two things that he has in common with the bill's sponsor. Both were
career police officers, and both were lovers of South, for sure. So that is something tremendous.
2:49:22
I wanted to ask his son, Mr. Ray Clark, as well as the Deputy Chief, if you can share with us the greatest piece of advice
that you've received from Lieutenant Melbourne Clark. good afternoon Ray Clark unlike my father I tend to talk too
much and I don't wear my emotions on my sleeve way more than that he did you know why he coming right off the bat to
my father he usually got like this expressionless look on his face and then he don't come forward so I would say the best
advice he told me is Ray think about what you want to say before say that's that best advice i go to you always told me
that re-think about what you're going to say before sight um i i used to really do but more do now i get older that's great
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advice it saves you a lot of headache down the line for sure for sure uh chief cornelius yes sir use them cornelius Yes,
Sincroi District Deputy Chief. When it came to handling the people's business, one thing you always said is make sure
you do your best to represent this community. That was one advice he gave to me, and I try my best up to this day to do
that. Excellent. Time. Excellent.
Madam Chair, I am very much appreciative of this initiative. You may wrap up, Senator Potter. You may wrap up if you
have one lingering question. No, I'm just wrapping it up. At the appropriate time, I will vote in the affirmative for both
measures. Thank you very much. Thank you so kindly, Senator Potter. Senator Francis Heiliger, you are recognized for
your three minutes. Thank you so much.
2:52:03
Good afternoon to my colleagues, to the people of the territory, once again, to the testifiers. I listened here with a very
warm heart to the testifiers sharing their stories, Officer Clark. The first thing I want to talk to is Officer Cornelius. You
spoke a little bit about being his sidekick. Was there anything about his personality or his characteristics that rubbed off
on you in a positive way? seriousness i try to take things serious okay i also when you spoke a little bit about him um
people have to be fearful of him according to your testimony you said he was feared by all because of his no-nonsense
style but you know to hear you testify but then you're hearing you know his son spoke about how he was as a dad but
then also had another side to him explain to us a little bit what you took from that when you spoke about he was feared by
all because of his no-nonsense style for me when i said when it came to okay in police work when you come to handle
your cases get them in no excuses you have to go out there to deal with peak hour traffic it was constantly on the go so it
had some it have individuals that would come here and they're not really about that but when you come and you have to
deal with Lieutenant Clark, that's what it is. It's about handling your reports, dealing with your tickets, being out there in
peak hour traffic. It has no time for excuses, get it done. And for me, that was the no-nonsense way about him. And that's
what caused people to be fearful of him, his style, business, no excuse.
2:52:32
I agree. And I think, you know, even with that type of personality, if we had a lot more of that, or we continue to see a lot
more of that, even in our government, we probably might be a lot more progressive and further along. So, you know, I
think as a people, you know, we might have had a little bit fear because of the no-nonsense, but the effectiveness of that
type of personality at times did wonders so i think it was a good thing um to ray clark how are you i'm fine how are you
senator good good you know you almost had me in tears here because when you started to talk about your dad i started to
think about mine so i fully understand that bond what it is because i'm first born and i'm a daddy's girl i always happen so
it got so bad like my mom would be like i know you love your father like okay i wouldn't even get an argument with her
it just was what it was but i understand how you're feeling and what i want to ask you is if you had an opportunity to just
talk to your dad right now with all the things that he taught you all the things that he showed you the emotions that you
are feeling because of him being a part of your life what exactly would you like to say or would you say to your dad if
you had an opportunity to do so right now time did you want to come in i think he just wants a little bit of time um every
clock uh that i love him that's basically it you know um i was there two time here with him when he got sick up until he
died was able to find out so much about my father i didn't even know um personally with him growing up and stuff like
that and uh my woman is one of them all-time and i'm sure uh senator gittins and president francis could attest to that
they're all-time fathers and things you know love true what they do ain't all the thing they're going to tell you they love
you like that you know
2:54:48
but while he was still lucid before you really get sick and went to the hospice you had a time you just watch me tell me
say you know i really love you i couldn't even answer oh i couldn't even answer so um really that's what i would tell you
you know yeah okay thank you so much for you know just letting us in and sharing that with us today madam chair i i
definitely appreciate the additional time but i definitely will be voting in the affirmative for this piece of legislation it's a
beautiful thing that when we as a people do our best to recognize the people that help build these islands into what it is
today and every time we pass a resolution we are literally crafting a page in our history books you know as the individual
working with my other colleague to make sure that history is an integral part of our children's education it is so important
when people turn to us and say things like we don't have enough history we don't have enough documentation listen you
could take all the resolutions written and put out by the legislature and you could make books upon books about the
people of this territory so don't let anybody ever say we don't have a history we have to make sure our children are
educated and know about all of these wonderful people that are virgin islanders true and true thank you so much madam
chair for the time thank you so kindly a senator francis heiliger now recognize mr president novel e francis jr
2:57:24
for your three minutes uh thank you very much madam chair and good afternoon to all deputy chief connellius and
certainly mr ray clark and today i think both of these resolutions evoke all of the emotions out of me because these are
individuals that i've certainly had the opportunity to watch and and grow over a number of years as you know i spent 25
years in the virgin islands police department and i spent my entire high school years going to career to from school to
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career um with the virgin islands police department so i had the opportunity certainly to engage and watch and and um
you know lieutenant melbourne clark for a long long time so i'm definitely in support of the police lieutenant melbourne
clark memorial drive and but speed bumps was put on that road because of people like melbourne clark was it was he
used to speed through there and that's the reason why we have speed bumps on the golden grove road when you talk
about individual that i really paid his dues and was serious minded you know um certainly with the canine back there
with beer um he he did his part but to move from there to traffic and when deputy chief can leaders talk about that he was
feared by everyone this guy will hang out with you under the treetop in christian said town and then on the way home
boss your ticket
so he's not only giving his wife a ticket he'll give his friends his drinking buddies a ticket um but even more so if he
investigate a traffic accident that involved a police officer and they were found to be wrong they will issue a citation he
was really serious-minded about his role uh so you know i was i had the opportunity certainly to grow within him to the
point where I became the deputy chief of police and a lot of time relied on him to put together traffic operation plans for a
number of events. He was known as Mr. Triathlon. And when you talk about leaving a level of succession and planning
his departure from the Virgin Islands Police Department, he did that through Cornelius. Unit 4-0, passed on that
information to unit 4-5 so when he transitioned and retired we knew that we had somebody that could have assumed that
responsibility to handle those triathlons because you take it for granted but you had to move in lockstep with those bikers
you have to move you have helicopter that follow over over in the ear and you on the ground and Melbourne Clark was
responsible for moving um you know that that speed to get that individual in um in a timely fashion so really uh quickly
before i i conclude i i want to say that i you know he was a traffic reconstructionist and i heard my colleague made
mention about the tire which is the drug sled but really what that did was the coefficient of friction you know they were
able to mathematically gauge the rubber with the concrete and a skill to determine the point of impact and the amount of
speed that you are traveling
3:01:03
at a traffic accident. And that was old school. You know, I'm sure we have moved from that. But whenever you heard
about 1144 accident major, you know that Lieutenant Clark was coming in that scene along with, and he didn't keep all of
this information himself he passed it on he passed it on to those individuals that that worked with him you know conelius
you heard about singho you heard about um kike santos and all these individuals that could have done it um equally as
well because he passed on that expertise to them um but but just to wrap up you know when you talk about the route
route numbers he knew the route numbers throughout this entire territory and was able to train Cornelius in that as well
but he knew the route numbers of all of the intersections and the roads and gave that information to central dispatch a lot
of time and they have to go on the board on a map to actually decide determine exactly where he he may have been at
that given time but he knew exactly all of the route numbers throughout his territory and was called by public works a lot
of time to regurgitate what those route numbers elsewhere. So again, I want to commend the bill sponsor for this piece of
legislation and I definitely stand in support of it. But don't drink with Lutheran Clark. You will get a ticket afterwards.
Thank you very much.
3:03:04
Thank you, Senate President Francis, for your comments. And you can start my time. I stand support of bill number
35-0125 and to my colleague in a minority she made a great point about history yeah the history is there is on the books
but it's about taking actions and that is why I'm calling upon the Board of Education at the Department of Education to
put the bright minds together and to put that history into something where our students can be able to read it and if not a
book right now at least dream virgin alas history month you know nowadays somebody will come here governor's day
but trust me to be a good governor's you have a good governor you have to have a good society a good community you
need doctors lawyers judges senators plumbers electricians and the list goes on a governor is nobody without these
people in the community so No governor's there until we recognize our own. However, you said that your father gave you
advice, Mr. Ray Clark. What was the advice? Think before we speak. So I wanted to think before you answer this
question. Who has the best sauce?
3:04:32
Gittins, or? Gittins. Or your dad? jokingly jokingly uh but i would answer the question i know um not bragging but my
aunt adina on my mother's side had the best sauce on the island for years adina vanta pool adina's baron christian said on
queen cross street but when he can't get south there he used to go by paquitos they get sauce that i know for sure oh for
that lady down in um campo rico i forget her name so so he never got any phone response of the measure but in our
seriousness because i saw you in you know feeling a little a little lower a while ago but i'm happy that i was able to get
you to laugh and to reminisce on your and your pops but now i understand why your father was so structured he was in
the military And we can't ignore the fact that he was in the military and not taken away from any other police officer who
never saw.
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But one thing I know, once you go to boot camp and you went through those rigorous training and what have you, it
instills certain principles and values in you. Thirty seconds. To be somebody, you have to walk the same route as them.
So that's how it's hard to replace certain individuals in this community. but as far as your dad of course i don't know him i
was still a child but just from reading the testimony and hearing the remarks from my colleagues i can only imagine how
he was because growing up i don't know if i can compare your dad to who i know but at the time we were feared by
patchoula growing up when i was a child when you see patchoula coming you're running for the hills you know patrolling
never used to play with us but i can only imagine us listening to the stories how your father was and i saw something here
i saw he was a traveling man so that's a great thing so to your family um once again i hope within renaming or the naming
of this road, that at least a part of VI history, will now be with your family forever. And to the people driving on that
road, please don't speed. I don't even like traveling on that road, and I'm happy to know that Public Works is fixing that
section right there. So that's a great thing. So by the time we name the road, it's going to be in great condition.
3:07:01
So great timing to the sponsor of the measure. we are going to go to the sponsor of the measure, who will now place his
remarks on the record. Senator Giddings, you're recognized. Senator Giddings, you're now recognized. Thank you, Mr.
Chair. Let me start from back, go forward.
3:08:29
So just to let you know, Mr. Chair, the first boot camp is in your mother's house, your parents. The second boot camp will
be the military. So I am pretty sure that Lieutenant Melbourne Clark was structured from his parents who are mentioned
in the resolution. And our colleague from St. Thomas also made another good point regarding utilizing this type of
information in the resolution to be used for Virgin Island's history. And I say to my colleagues that's why it's key for us to
make sure that we review these resolutions and make sure that accurate information is in there if we're going to use it for
these historical purposes. now you know I want to thank you both for your testimony and on the onset let me apologize to
your sister Anna Clark that I didn't notify her before of the hearing I thought that was being communicated to the chair
but nevertheless I will take the fall for that but I was looking through my messages and a nice communication with her
and I when I reached out to both you and her to let you all know that the resolution is on blue and we're looking to move
forward and both of you were so excited and she asked me what was the um what's the route number again uh that you're
going to be naming this road and i said oh boy don't do me that i i i really can't recall although i was just inside the
department of public works yesterday and having this discussion and her response to me was lol you're not lieutenant
clark so i don't expect you to know lol and you know it just made me uh smile
3:09:00
uh when she said that because only two people in the department for real use are here using route number lieutenant
melbourne clark and this young rookie whippersnapper when he came on euston cornelius you know and i'm like you
know what one of these days i couldn't tell this to lieutenant clark because what he was doing was actually and i beg your
indulgence ahead of time what lieutenant clark was doing uh was actually training individuals to know what their route
numbers were and it used to kind of peeve me a little bit because i didn't know all the route numbers cornelius came after
me came into traffic and whatnot but every time he again already like central um traveling to that i don't want to call the
the the code name but and uh route so and so junction so and so and every time i would meet with him face to face i said
officer you're gonna continue to keep saying on the radio going to route this and junction this and that until you're getting
your behind kick one day and somebody need to come and back you up and wing or nowhere to come i bet you at that
time you're gonna say that melvin evans highway vicinity of paradise you know so at least if you're gonna say the road
number the junction number say what vicinity as well with the name of the estate so we always had that um that that back
and forth but i wanted to also let you all know that man mr clark when you spoke about the Sun officer Clark I'm like you
like throw me in a backseat I'm like wow this song for real if I had only know I would have probably tried to get it right
so when you see me walked off the floor what I did was I went to try to get some information and I did get to the speak
with mr. Samuel Ford and and you know that is aka mighty Pat so I said my department tell me what was it um
3:11:18
the words for this song again I ain't gonna sing it but I'm gonna tell you he said that the words was miss a my name is
officer Clark me a one officer me door skyline then the next thing was miss repeated again miss a my name is officer
Clark battle like Pitbull eat you're like a white shark then he said the last part was miss a my name is officer Clark miss
Park in the dark may have eyes like a hawk so and he said that this song actually came out in the 70s i thought it was the
90s but he said no it was in the 70s because he left here in 1980 before he returned to st croix so he know that he did the
song in the 70s and he could not get me a copy of the song why not because back then it was just cassettes so it's not on
cd so we can't get it so i'm asking him he gonna have to sing this song again so uh daddy jones in the in the boot back
there please get with him so we could um get this done and in closing uh deputy chief cornelius you know you you you
said a lot about lieutenant clark and that's my passion to see the virgin allen's police department in that line lockstep like
the former commissioner used lockstep because we know what that blue book called for and every officer that goes to the
police academy has one of those and if we lock step we will be able to have a lot more lieutenant clerks out there that not
only love his job love his community but love the service that they provide to this community in and in the way he
3:13:16
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dresses and carried himself he his dress attire commanded and demanded that
respect and that's the same thing that we're looking uh for so the uh will you talk about the I'm closing up right now. Yes,
and Senator Gittins with all due respect, I did give you an additional three minutes. So if we could close up. Thank you so
much. I really want to be sure that we all are respectful, as I'm sure Lieutenant Clark was at the time.
3:15:21
And also, I didn't have an opportunity to speak on it. I had Senator Javon E. James Sr. in my seat as a chair. But I wanted
to note that I had an occasion to run into Lieutenant Clark when, yeah, man, When I was, it would have been 1989, I was
on the Melvin H. Evans Highway, and I was shotting, meaning I was driving fast, heading into Frederick Stead. And he
pulled me over. And when he pulled me over, I had a whole bunch of young people in the back of my car.
3:15:56
We were going to this seven-day Adventist church, and I was shotting because we were almost late and they were like oh
auntie you he pulled you over because you look too young to be driving and he did pull me over and I was like wow this
is so great and because I had just gotten my driver's license from in St. Thomas and he pulled me over and he said license
and registration please and i pulled out my brand new driver's license to show him with pride and he said okay why are
you driving so fast i told him you know i'm heading to church we are a little late i don't want to be too late and he said
okay go ahead but drive carefully i remember that day vividly and you know one of the things that you mentioned Mr.
Clark is that your father was a disciplinarian and yesterday was the murder victims observation we observed it how can
you say especially you also deputy police chief the level of discipline now some persons think about disciplines as a a
corporal punishment and but there is another discipline in there where you are putting a structure in your home what
structure in your home mr clark did your father impart to assure that you and your siblings walk that straight road but I
feel that structure was co-parented between him and my mother they they were the law they were the jury they were the
executioner so you you ain't um none of us we know if we didn't and I I'm not gonna sit down like I got in a lot a lot of
trouble growing up a lot too much and but
3:16:46
But there were all those consequences, and I am not one of those people to the wifey should spare the rat and this
corporate punishment nonsense, and I don't agree with that. I feel if you got power beaten, then you got power beaten,
because to me, thank you, spare the rat's boy, the chair, the licks will definitely put him in line, and keep that order. you
you I couldn't listen just in shock my father and mother had to know everywhere I went every place so when I were going
to the 11th grade prep my date I picked my date up and everything my date didn't know my mother and father were in the
car behind me it scooped me to the house to pick she up it scooped me from her house to the venue then when the time
coming for the done i tell she this thing i use the restroom i say my guy use a phone to call him and say well by me daddy
the problem was done i could come now and they they follow me up that that's just how he was you know i mean he he
mean that i ain't speeding i ain't doing no nonsense i ain't going anywhere else but the pram and all that's just how he was
so i i feel it's more that structure more that that serious thing i got a lot of parents who don't do it today yes i got a lot but
it still have some that just don't do it and it needs to be done and you are a parent yourself have utilized those good
disciplinary and parenting skills i trust and hope with your children oh boy with my son yeah of course um and on that
note i just want to say something i know the bill already passed but um it hasn't yet we didn't vote no not not this bill i'm
going to build for uh dr ralph dishabi yes if it wasn't of him i wouldn't have a son i just want to put it on the record uh he's
the one that brought my son into the wall if it wasn't him the problems my wife i wouldn't even be discovered you know
so um kudos to him for that i wish i had no that bill was before this i could have tell i want to testify briefly you
3:19:00
know because if it wasn't him i wouldn't have a son so i i really got put up but yeah i the same way my father brought me
up is the same way he brought up my son so that's why people want to go away any place even though my son has a
slight disability um my son when he walk in hi good afternoon you know he has manners he everything you know i mean
very good demeanor everything he don't ain't unruly i'm gonna carry on upset that no he ain't like that okay thank you so
much Thank you very much, Mr. Clark, for that testimony. Colleagues, we have exhausted all of our time on this bill. I
will give the opportunity for the testifiers to present a 30-second closeout on the matter, beginning with you, Deputy
Police Officer Cornelius.
3:21:02
You are recognized for your 30 seconds closing remarks. Honorable Carla J. Joseph, I would just like to say thank you to
yourself and the committee for considering, again, the Honorable Lieutenant Melbourne Clark for this resolution. I really
appreciate it, along, I know, with the members of the Borgian Islands Police Department. It is something deserving to this
servant for 25 years. Thank you. You're welcome, Mr. Ray Clark.
3:21:59
You are recognized for your 30 seconds wrap-up. Thank you. First, I'd like to thank Senator Kenneth Gittens for bringing
forward the measure. It's something that he told me about a while ago, and he told me when the time is ready gonna bring
it forward so I know the time is right we would like to thank you for bringing it forward today I like to thank all of you
for actually supporting it that he wasn't a man big on accolades you know he wasn't a man like to be you know totally oh
he did a good job and all that he just know he did a good job but he go once he know he did his did his work and he did
3:22:40
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everything to 150% he was satisfied so um but i know he'll be smiling today oh yes and i know he is smiling well you
know we there and um i just thank you all so much thank you all so much you know thank you thank you so much uh mr
clark do i hear a motion senator kenneth l gittins you are recognized for your motion. Madam Chair and colleagues, I
move that Bill number 35-0125 enact honoring and commending the late Police Lieutenant Melbourne Clark
posthumously for his dedication, service, and contributions to the Virgin Islands community and law enforcement by
adding the name Police Lieutenant Melbourne Clark Memorial Drive at Route 669 on the island of St. Croix. I request
respectfully that this measure be voted upon favorably here in this committee and be forwarded to the Rules and Judiciary
Committee for further vetting. I so move.
Okay. Bill number 35-0125 has been properly moved by Senator Kenneth L. Gittins and seconded by Senators Javon
James Sr. and Alma Francis Heidegger. call on bill number 35-0125. Senator Samuel Carrione. Senator Carrione, yay.
Senator Ray Fonseca. Yay. Senator Fonseca, yay. Senator Alma Francis Heiliger. Yes. Senator Francis Heiliger, Senator
Kenneth L. Gittins? Yes. Senator Gittins? Yes. Senator Gittins? Yes. Senator Javon E. James Senior? Senator James
Senior? Yes. Senator Carla J. Joseph? Yes. Senator Joseph? Yes. Senator Milton E. Potter?
3:24:23
Yes. Senator Potter? Yes. Madam Chair, you have seven yays. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Bill number 35-025, an act
honoring and commending the late Police Lieutenant Melbourne Clark posthumously for his dedication, service, and
contributions to the Virgin Islands community in law enforcement by adding the name Police Lieutenant Melbourne
Clark Drive at Route 669 on the island of St. Croix has been favorably voted upon in this committee and will be
forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further action and consideration. I want to take this opportunity as
we bring this proceeding to a close to all of my members of the Committee on Government Operations. I also want to
thank the testifiers who are here with us and to release you from your testimony before the Committee on Government
Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection. I would also like to thank the non-members of this committee for
carving out time today to be here and to ask questions as well as to testify themselves on their interactions with the
resolutions of the persons who were vetted today. I want to give my staff a big kudos for being here with me and getting
everything set up. I also want to thank the central staff, especially our media, for all they have done.
3:25:24
We initially wanted to have this meeting beginning at 10 o'clock, but due to circumstances surrounding the bill that we
had initially on the agenda and some of the testifiers not being available to testify, the proponent of the measure requested
respectfully that we withdraw the bill from the agenda today, and so that's why we had a later start. But we wanted to
definitely not delay further these two resolutions honoring some of the Krugian grown and very own persons here today.
So with that saying, the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection meeting for
today september 26 2023 is hereby adjourned We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. Thank you.
3:27:18
People named in this transcript
SUSPECTED, and a finding aid only. Names were matched by machine against the spellings used across all 426 of our transcripts, and the
title is the one used in the room. Being named here is NOT evidence that a person attended or spoke · only that the name was said. Speech
recognition mishears names, so a spelling may be wrong even where no alternative is offered.
21x
Senator Kenneth L. Gittens
heard in this transcript as: Giddens, Gittins, Kenneth Gittens, Kenneth Gittins, Kenneth L. Gittins
19x
Dr. Cora Christian
heard in this transcript as: Christian
16x
Senator Marise C. James
the surname alone also matches: Javan James; Giovanni James Sr
heard in this transcript as: James, James Sr, Marie C. James, Maurice C. James, Maurice James
15x
Senator Milton E. Potter
heard in this transcript as: Milton Potter, Potter
13x
Senator Alma Francis-Heyliger
the surname alone also matches: Alma Francis Heiliger
heard in this transcript as: Alma Francis Heiliger, Frances Heiliger, Francis Heiliger, Heiliger
13x
Senator Ray Fonseca
heard in this transcript as: Fonseca, Fonseca's, Ray Fonseca Fonseca, Ray Fronseca
11x
Senator Carla Joseph
the surname alone also matches: Clifford Joseph; Karla J. Joseph
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heard in this transcript as: Carla J. Joseph, Joseph
11x
Senator Samuel Carrion
heard in this transcript as: Carrion, Carrione, Samuel Carrione
8x
Senator Javan James
heard in this transcript as: Javon E. James, Javon E. James Sr, Javon James
7x
Dr. Ralph D. Schubert
heard in this transcript as: Ralph A. D. Schibert, Ralph A. D. Schubert, Schabert, Schibert
6x
Senator Novelle Francis
heard in this transcript as: Francis, Novel Francis, Novel Francis Jr
3x
Senator James Senior
2x
Senator Angel L. Borges Jr
heard in this transcript as: Borges
2x
Senator Diane T. Capeheart
heard in this transcript as: Capehart
2x
Senator Dwayne DeGraff
heard in this transcript as: DeGraff
2x
Senator Franklin D. Johnson
heard in this transcript as: Johnson
2x
Senator Fred Gregory
the surname alone also matches: Donna A. Frett-Gregory; Donna Frett-Gregory
2x
Senator Javon E. James Senior
2x
Governor Juan F. Louis Hospital
heard in this transcript as: Juan Francisco Luis Hospital
2x
Senator Marvin Blyden
heard in this transcript as: Blyden
2x
Dr. Randall James
the surname alone also matches: Javan James; Marise C. James; Neville James
heard in this transcript as: James
2x
Governor Wang F. Louis Hospital
heard in this transcript as: Wong F. Louis Hospital
Bills and acts referred to
Matched by number against our own acts corpus. The number is what the recognition heard, so it may be wrong; where it resolved, the title is the one
the Legislature gave the act.
Bill 35-0102
Act 8810 · An Act honoring and commending Ralph A. deChabert, M.D. for outstanding contributions in the medical field to
the people of the Virgin Islands and his many civic contributions to the community, especially to the island of St. Croix
and to name the Labor and Delivery/Post Partum Unit ·Maternity Services· at the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center
North ·The Dr. Ralph A. deChabert and Mildred C. deChabert Mother Baby Unit·
Bill 35-0025
Act 8713 · An Act approving the Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands Department of Property
and Procurement and Anthony Isaac d/b/a Ace Trucking and Trash Removal |
Act 8810
Act 8810 · An Act honoring and commending Ralph A. deChabert, M.D. for outstanding contributions in the medical field to
the people of the Virgin Islands and his many civic contributions to the community, especially to the island of St. Croix
and to name the Labor and Delivery/Post Partum Unit ·Maternity Services· at the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center
North ·The Dr. Ralph A. deChabert and Mildred C. deChabert Mother Baby Unit·
Act 8713
Act 8713 · An Act approving the Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands Department of Property
and Procurement and Anthony Isaac d/b/a Ace Trucking and Trash Removal |
Referred to but not found in our acts corpus: Bill 35-0125
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