MONDAY, 
MARCH 03, 2025 
10:00 A.M. 
Earle B. Ottley 
Legislative Hall 
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 
  
 
THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - REVISED 
Time: 
 
 
10:00 A.M. 
Call to Order: 
 
Honorable Milton E. Potter 
 
 
 
 
Senate President, 36th Legislature 
 
Roll Call:  
 
Shenika Dowe-Serrano 
 
 
 
 
Chief Journal Clerk 
 
CONSIDERATION OF FLOOR AGENDA: 
 
The 36th Legislature will convene in a Committee of the Whole to receive testimony on the 
following zoning requests: 
 
BLOCK I 
Bill No. 36-0033 
An Act amending official Zoning Map STZ-9, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to 
rezone Remainder Parcel No. 19-1-2, Parcel No. 19-1-2-7 (Eastern portion), 
and Parcel No. 19-1-2-7 (Western portion), Estate Smith Bay, Nos. 1, 2, and 
3 East End Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands from A-2 (Agricultural Zone) 
to B-3 (Business Scattered) 
Invited Testifiers: 
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources 
Leia LaPlace-Matthew, Territorial Planner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources 
Candice Lindqvist-Wallace, Applicant 
  
Bill No. 36-0034 
An Act amending official Zoning Map STZ-9, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to 
rezone Parcel No. 19-1-2-4 Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 
from R-1 (Residential-Low Density) to B-3 (Business Scattered) 
Invited Testifiers: 
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources 
Leia LaPlace-Matthew, Territorial Planner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources 
Najocki Boyd, Applicant 
 
 
 
 
Page 2 of 2 
 
 
 
 
BLOCK II 
 
The Committee of the Whole will receive testimony on the economic pressures impacting the cost 
of living in the U.S. Virgin Islands 
 
COST OF LIVING IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 
 
Part 1: 
CONSUMER GOODS 
• 
Pricing structures of consumer goods 
• 
Impact of freight and shipping costs 
• 
Role of price controls and regulations by DLCA 
• 
Perspectives from local businesses on economic challenge 
• 
Recommendations to stabilize or reduce consumer goods prices 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
Honorable H. Nathalie Hodge, Commissioner, Department of Licensing & Consumer Affairs 
Wayne Biggs, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development Authority 
Dr. Mark Wenner, Economist 
 
David Goldberg, Manager, The Fruit Bowl 
Willie Hamed, Vice President, The Market 
Ahed Daas, President, Food Center 
Michael Espinosa, General Manager, Cost-U-Less 
Roy Infante, General Manager, PriceSmart 
Jennifer Nugent-Hill, Senior Director, Tropical Shipping 
John Woods, President, STT/STJ Chamber of Commerce 
 
Part 2: 
HOUSING & UTILITIES 
• 
Rising costs of utilities 
• 
Availability and affordability of housing 
• 
Renewable energy initiatives and long-term savings  
 
Invited Testifiers: 
Eugene Jones, Jr., Executive Director, VI Housing Finance Authority 
Kyle Fleming, Director, VI Energy Office 
Karl Knight, Chief Executive Officer, VI Water & Power Authority 
Geraldine Pitt, Chief Executive Office, VIYA 
Daryl Griffith, Interim Executive Director, VI Waste Management Authority 
 
The Committee of the Whole will reconvene on Tuesday, March 04, 2025 in the Frits E. Lawaetz 
Legislative Conference Room.