VI UPDATE
U.S. Virgin Islands Public Records
TRANSCRIPT OF PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS
| Regular Session2
Legislature USVI
April 14, 2023 · 2.4 hours · gov
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piece of legislation i am also in support of 35.0042 that was something that we discussed at the beginning of the
legislature where we're asking for the rules of the legislature to be changed to re-enable the minority caucus to be formed
as you know at the beginning of the term the legislature voted to use the old rules from the 34th and we were able to form
under that and when we came back two weeks later we changed the rules and that caused this minority caucus to
basically disappear so by amending the rules we would be able to formulate once again but But I wanted to just quickly
say something in regards to Bill 35.0009.
0:00:00
I love the idea of the bill celebrating Juneteenth because if you know the history of Juneteenth, as I spoke to the sponsor,
my only concern is I kind of wish that we had swapped it out with another holiday because my concern with it is the cost.
by adding another holiday that is 30 seconds that we have to worry about paying individuals to be home and i'm worried
about the dollar amount that we keep adding holidays in this territory so i love juneteenth i think it should be a part of our
community because of what it's for when it comes to the freeing of slaves but i really really think when we are going to
make decisions like this we also have to look at the financial aspect of it so thank you very much mr chair for the time
and i will vote accordingly mr president thank you thank you very much senator francis halliga who will now recognize
senator johnson for his two minutes thank you good afternoon thank you very much mr president for this time i am I'm
raising support of most of these measures, and I do have great concern with Bill No. 35009, Juneteenth. I don't have an
issue with Juneteenth. My issue is the costs. Have anyone did analysis costs to find out what a holiday in the Virgin
Islands costs? Especially with the essential employees. When you talk about policemen, correction officers, marshal,
every holiday is double time. double time and we're talking about increasing the budget the analysis wasn't done at least i
haven't seen proof of the analysis and that's my issue with this particular holiday not the holiday itself the absorbent costs
with over time and not over time but holiday pay double time for police
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correction five one minute that's double time so we need to really consider looking at their costs and make sure we do a
real good analysis today reach what to the finance chair and access she had that cost analysis and she said she was
reaching out trying to get some numbers and didn't get it but at the appropriate time i would be voting for all the
remaining measures and i'm glad that the majority have come on board with bill number 350042 where the minority will
be able to caucus i thank you guys for that thank you very much mr president thank you thank you very much uh senator
johnson just just be mindful that um your first responders even on juneteenth when everyone else is actually home and
placed on administrative leave that they still have to work and without compensation so that's kind of the trade-off there
on that matter but senator the graph you recognize for your two minutes all right thank you mr president uh good evening
to everyone um so you say on a federal holiday you don't get paid first responders don't get paid on a federal holiday
double time they don't get paid double time they get time and a half yes okay and juneteenth is a federal holiday the the
main issue i have with juneteenth really wasn't about the the pay the issue i had was um it should be recognized i support
that but i always talk about march 31st 2017 when we became u.s citizens but weren't recognized until 10 years later and
you know we always jump to everybody else's aid and think but nobody don't recognize us so that was my problem with
juneteenth i said it then i said no but i stand in support of um all the other bills and i'll vote accordingly at the time one
minute time mr
0:02:58
president thank you thank you very much senator de graff senator carrion you recognize for your two minutes thank you
mr president and uh good evening to my colleagues yes it's evening time already it's been a long day and we still have
another block to go but i rise in support of all the measures in block four bill 35.0009 i'm establishing and enacting the
national holiday of juneteen what the colleagues is basically doing is a federal holiday and making sure that our local
code is aligned to that and is reflected within our holidays established so it's not a new holiday it's a federal holiday has
been established and in regards to other bills bill 350026 I commend the sponsor of the bill we heard testimony and the
committee of jurisdiction in regards to the Federal Home Loan Bank and how it would create another layer of protection
for our insurance industry in the territory in regards to Bill 35-0049, establishing the Local Food and Farm Council in
accordance with the mandate. I also commend Bill's sponsor. We created an agricultural plan, and now we have to ensure
that and we made sure this body made sure that it's funded now we have to ensure that there is an advisory council to
oversee the work and as they move forward with it 30 seconds 350068 we understand this is needed
0:04:53
we have some vacancies in many of our boards so the board of medical examiner will serve as temporary as the facto of
board members bill 350042 uh is amending the rules of provision the rules of legislature to allow the minority to be able
to caucus and do business accordingly so thank you uh mr president i will vote in affirmative on these measures thank
you very much senator carrion senator javon e james senior you recognize for your two minutes good evening greetings
to everyone i stand in full support of every single one of these measures measures that we have in this block and i really
look forward to seeing bill number 35.0049 which speaks to establishing a local food and farm council to be in
accordance with the mandates of the virgin islands terry virgin islands agricultural plan that was recently heard in the
committee on economic development and agriculture and found its way to rules and judiciary I have a lot of faith in this
bill because it speaks to individuals from the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, UVI School of
Agriculture, the Dean of the UVI School of Agriculture, and the list goes on to be able to assist the Department of
Agriculture, like I said before, to carry out the Territorial Agricultural Plan.
0:06:42
as far as bill number 35 that's 0026 it is a no brainer recently we had a discussion in the committee of jurisdiction
regarding insurers becoming members of a federal home loan bank so I will be supporting that as far as Juneteenth I
support that bill in the committee of jurisdiction so I'm not going to contradict myself here today and lastly when it comes
to bill number 35.0068, I support that as well, which speaks to authorizing the members of the board of medical
examiners to serve temporarily as de facto board members. That way we can continue to do the business of the people.
And as far as the minority being able to caucus and establish themselves, I don't see anything with that. Let's just make
things happen for the Virgin Islands.
0:08:13
Thank you, Mr. President, for the time. Thank you very much, Senator Javon E. James, Sr. Next, we'll recognize Senator
Angel Bolquez, Jr., for his two minutes. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, colleagues, I rise in support of all the
measures in this block, starting off with Juneteenth. All 50 states and Washington, D.C., recognize Juneteenth as a
holiday. 21 states and D.C. have designated it as a permanently paid legal holiday through legislation or executive action
and i hope that the virgin islands too will join those states and dc i i rise in support of bill number three five zero zero two
six concerning and relating to insurers becoming members of the federal home loan bank for matters relating there too
three five dash zero zero four nine another step in food security for the people of the virgin islands as we try to fulfill the
mandates of the agricultural plan and move forward in more security security in our food as a nation bill number three
five zero zero six eight concerning the board of medical examiners one minute excellent amendment in order to have de
facto board members in order for operations to continue in that sector of our operations as as a government, and, of
0:09:09
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course, 35-0042 making changes so that the minority can caulk us. Mr. President, thank you for the time.
Thank you very much, Senator Bulquez, Jr. Next, we'll hear from Senator Donafright Gregory. You're recognized for
your two minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I, too, rise in support of these measures in this particular block. And I
would first start with Bill number 35.0042, which allows the minority Senators to establish a caucus. Bill number
35.0049, of course, is no stranger to myself and the Senators of this particular institution. We know that we've been
working on the Farm Bill for quite some time. and the agriculture plan for quite some time.
0:10:43
And this helps to move forward mandate five of the Virgin Islands agriculture plan. So we are truly, in fact, doing what
we said we were going to do as it relates to agriculture in the Virgin Islands. Bill number 35.0026. I'm also the sponsor of
that measure, the Federal Home Loan Bank. This allows the Virgin Islands insurers, Domiciled insurance companies in
the Virgin Islands to participate in the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Which also allows the Virgin Islands
insured to see possible reductions in their insurance Bills in addition to ensuring that there is security if they're in the
event of a storm and The issue that my other colleagues discuss as it relates to Juneteenth is also of concern concern to
me, but I believe that the amount that we are concerned about is, in fact, negligible.
0:11:28
So I am, in fact, in support of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. Thank you, Mr. President, for the time.
Thank you very much, Senator Fred Gregory. Senator Milton E. Potter, you're recognized for your two minutes. Thank
you so much, Mr. President. I rise in support of all of the initiatives in this block, beginning with the Juneteenth holiday
bill, bill number 35.0009. This bill allows us to be aligned with the federal laws commemorating the emancipation of
enslaved Africans in the United States. We've always been at the forefront in the Virgin Islands of these types of
progressive measures. And I fully support this measure as an opportunity for us to be in full solidarity with our brothers
and sisters the mainland and with regards to the next item bill number 35-0026 i support the opportunities for local
insurance companies to be a part of the federal home loan bank it provides us and the companies with additional financial
resources particularly during periods of significant disasters one minute so you know that is a good opportunity for the
companies and it will also positively impact uh citizens in the virgin islands bill number 35.0049 is an initiative that
furthers our territorial agricultural plan so you know we import 98 of our foods and this bill allows us to develop the local
food and farm council just in furtherance of the implementation of our territorial agricultural plans and finally bill
number thirty five zero zero six eight and not authorizing the members of the board of medical examiners to serve
temporarily as de facto members of the boards you know it makes sense it makes sense for us to do so the bill number
35.0042 an act amending the rules of 35th legislature allowing minorities to caucus and recognizing this group some of
my favorite people are members of the minority so i fully support their ability to caucus and function as a body i'm Mr.
President, thank you very much for the time.
0:12:32
Thank you very much, Senator Potter. Senator Maurice D. James, you're recognized for your two minutes. Thank you,
Mr. President. I support all the measures in this block. When it comes to 35.0009, we observe all the other national
holidays, so this just adds one more to the Virgin Islands. I supported 35.0026 in the Committee of Jurisdiction, or the
Rules Committee, and of course, it deals with adding our insurers and banks to membership, which would result in a gain
and benefit to our community the act bill number 35 that's zero zero four nine simply implements the mandates of the
agricultural plan and so it's important if we create plans that we in fact put them into action and that will begin um in a
sense activating the agricultural plan one minute when it comes to the board of medical examiners that that is a easy one
in a sense that we want business to continue and we want these boards to continue functioning so it's important that when
there are not enough members that we have de facto and of course with respect to bill number 35 that's 0042 we are in a
democracy and in a democracy the minority We should always have a voice.
0:15:05
So therefore, I support that. Thank you. Thank you very much, Senator James. Senator Ray Fonseca, you recognize for
your two minutes. Yes, blessings and pleasant good evening to all the listening audience. You know, I rise in full support
of bill number 35-009. our history as black people beginning with the African slave trade must be fully supported taught
and celebrated black American history has been suppressed and oppressed America was built on the backs of our
ancestors look around here in this 35th legislature today all are we in here is african american access to ancestors all are
we juneteenth is a federal holiday in the united states commemorating the emancipation one minute slave african
americans deriving its name from combining june and 19th It is celebrated on the anniversary of the General Order No. 3
issued by Major General Gordon Gringa on June 19, 1965, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Galvinston, Texas.
0:16:42
It is observed annually in the United States. 30 seconds. This particular Juneteenth Day is extremely important in the
Virgin Islands and must be celebrated. I support all of the other four items, four bills in Block No. 4. And at the
appropriate time, I will be cast in my vote. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, Mr. President, for the time. Thank you very
much, Senator Fonseca.
0:18:14
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Next, we'll hear from Senator Diane T. Capehart, you're recognized for your two minutes. Thank you, Mr. President, and
good night, colleagues. They said we don't walk. Here we are. It's minutes to seven and we walk in still. Mr. President, I
am in support of all these measures before us today. I understand the significance of the Juneteenth National
Independence Day Act that we locally We must be able to act on making this law here in the VI. So I am in full support
of it. Bill number 35-0026 and 35-0049 are two measures that I support fully that I have also co-sponsored on. So I am in
support of that.
0:18:46
For parity purposes, I just want to say Bill 35-0042, colleagues, I believe for fairness, I believe that you also should be
able to form a minority caucus. So I am in full support of all these measures before us today. Thank you. Thank you very
much, Senator Capehart. Senator Joseph, Carla Joseph, you recognize for your two minutes.
0:19:40
Thank you so much, Mr. President, and a pleasant good evening to everyone. I, like my fellow colleagues, stand in
support of all the bills being considered this evening in Block 4. I do have one concern with one bill and that's 35.0042
and I will I will vote on that based on my conscience at the appropriate time but I just want to really talk about our
Juneteenth day how we as a people have come so far and we should celebrate these occasions when it is demonstrated in
history that we are resilient people who can overcome one minute so I am definitely in support of that another item and
this goes towards our ability to be self-sufficient and to be able to have a level of self sustainability with food security is
bill number 35.049 so i want to really say that these are some really critical measures that we are working on to move our
territory forward as well as to celebrate our history and our connection with the united states um finally i would like to
say that the bill number 35.0068 the medical examiners we in the 34th legislature had extended it a number of times and
so now because we have a limited amount of persons who are available to sit on this board and we want assure that the
movement keeps going as far as getting persons uh certified that that is in place mr president i thank you for the time and
i will vote accordingly and most of these bills thank you kindly thank you thank you very much senator joseph uh at this
time we'll recognize senator
0:20:14
kenneth gittins kenneth l gittins for his two minutes thank you uh mr chair and good evening to all mr chair and
colleagues arise in support of all the measures in this block to include bill number 35 that's zero zero four two where they
accusing us of saying that they can't cock us with each other nothing tal go so let's not mislead people but we're going to
support it anyway we got bigger fish to fry and i'm going to tell you all this We are celebrating 175th emancipation
celebration, yet still people want to keep us in bandage. And I'm going straight to the next block already, this vital
contract.
0:22:30
But as the words spoken by Marcus Garvey and later sung by the great Bob Marley, emancipate yourselves from mental
slavery. One minute. All right? None but ourselves can free our minds. Remember that. Think for yourself. Now,
colleagues, ask yourself why. Why didn't Vital take WAPA to court on their own? Obviously, they don't want certain
items to be revealed. That's discovery. Anytime they were to take this matter to court. why they want us to write a blank
check and why they want it now without any documentation remember this company that we're talking about is known
for paying bribes to government officials i didn't say so the reports the investigations tell you that california trucking
company sues vital for inflating fuel prices vital paid 135 million dollars to resolve south american bribery cases
including fuel oil pricing vital pays 164 million to resolve u.s allegations of oil bribes in latin america and vital to pay 97
95.7 million to settle fraud market manipulation charges I didn't make it up. I am not co-signing to this. Thank you, Mr.
President.
0:23:21
Thank you very much, Senator Gittins. And if the Madame timekeeper could put two minutes on the clock for me. I stand
in support of most, if not all, well, actually all of the measures in this Block No. 4. four and I'll quickly just like to go
down each of them real quickly and of course the Juneteenth recognition here in the Virgin Islands as a local legal
holiday makes sense it's federally recognized already and in all fairness it brings equity and parity because our first
responders you know do have to work while all of the non-essential employees get the day off it's only fair that those
individuals are compensated for their work during that time of course the federal home loan program is long overdue it is
something that i look forward to us putting in place and again what it does is build a level of a line of credit we saw what
happened during the recent bank crisis one minute with um silicon valley and the fact that the government was able to
step in and be able to make sure that individuals were compensated there for that the agriculture plan that continued to
exist and i must commend the work that have been done by the commissioner of agriculture as well as the president of
the university of virgin islands as they continue to move the agriculture plan forward and now that we'll be able to make
sure that there is a council um that's put in place is rightfully the board of examiners i um again that's a measure that i am
moving forward in respect to making sure that they serve as the de facto board in the absence of other board members
and of course i fully support the um 35.0042 in order for the majority to be effective we have to have a strong minority
and i certainly
0:25:00
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support um the check and balance within the legislative body and i look forward to continue to work with my minority
members as we move on the work and the people of the virgin ailes madam clerk at this time in the nick of time please
call up the measures in this block for a vote consideration of bill number 35 that's zero zero zero nine an act amending
title one virgin islands code chapter 11 section 171a relating to the observance of national holidays and enacting the the
juneteenth national independence day act to declare june 19 illegal holiday in the virgin Islands. This concludes the
reading of the bill, Mr. President. Thank you. Roll call on Bill 35-0009, Madam Clerk. Senator Marvin Blyden. Yeah.
0:27:00
Senator Blyden, yeah. Senator Angel Bocas, Jr. Yeah. Senator Bocas, Jr., yeah. Senator Diane T. Capehart. Yeah. Senator
Capehart, yeah. Senator Samuel Carrion. Yeah. Senator Carrion, yeah. Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff. Senator DeGraff,
yay. Senator Ray Fonseca, yes. Senator Fonseca, yay.
0:28:03
Senator Novell Francis, Jr. Yeah. Senator Francis, Jr., yay. Senator Alma Francis-Hyliger, yes. Senator Alma
Francis-Hyliger, yay. Senator Donna Fred Gregory, yes. Senator Donna Fred Gregory, yay. senator kenneth l giddens yes
senator kenneth l giddens yes senator maurice james senator maurice james yes senator giovanni james senior senator
james senior yes senator franklin d johnson Senator Johnson, Senator Johnson, yes, Senator Carla Joseph, Senator Carla
Joseph, yes, Senator Milton Potter, Senator Potter, yes, Mr. President, 15 years, thank you very much. Bill number
35-0009, an act amended Title I, Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 11, Section 171A, relating to the observance of the
national holidays and enacting the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to declare June 19th a legal holiday in the
Virgin Islands, have been approved by this body, and will be sent to the Governor for further consideration and action.
Sight them on the agenda, Madam Clerk.
0:28:41
Bill number 35-0026, an act amending Title 22, Virgin Islands Code, relating to insurers becoming members of a federal
home loan bank and matters relating thereto. Roll call on Bill 35-0026. Senator Marvin A. Blyden. Senator Blyden, yay.
Senator Angel L. Bulkes, Jr. Senator Bulkes, Jr., yay. Senator Diane TK part Senator Capehart ye Senator Samuel carry
on Senator carry on ye Senator Dwayne M de Graff Senator de Graff ye Senator Ray Fonseca Senator Fonseca ye
Senator Novell E Francis jr. yeah Senator Francis jr. ye Senator Alma Francis Heiliger Senator Francis Heiliger ye
Senator Donna A. Fred Gregory. Senator Fred Gregory, yay. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins. Senator Gittins, yay.
0:30:16
Senator Maurice C. James. Senator James, yay. Senator Javan E. James Sr. Senator James Sr., yay. Senator Franklin D.
Johnson. Senator Johnson, yay. Senator Carla J. Joseph. Senator Joseph, yay. Senator Milton Potter Senator Potter, yay
Mr. President, we have 15 yays Thank you very much Madam Clerk, Bill number 35-0026 and Act Amending Title 24 as
an ounce code relating to the insurers becoming members of a federal home loan bank and matters relating there to have
been approved by this body and will be sent to the Governor for further consideration and action Next item, Madam
Clerk Bill number 35 00049 and act amending title 7 chapter 1 of the virgin islands code by adding sub chapter 8
establishing a local food and farm council in accordance with mandate 5 of the virgin islands agricultural plan roll call
and bill number 35.0049 senator marvin a blyden senator blyden ye senator angel l balkish jr. senator balkish jr. ye
senator diane t capehart senator capehart ye senator samuel carrion senator carrion ye senator duane m de graf senator de
graf ye senator ray fonseca senator fonseca ye senator novelle e francis jr. ye senator francis jr. ye senator alma francis
heiliger senator francis heiliger ye senator donna a fred gregory senator fred gregory ye senator kenneth l gittins senator
gittins ye senator maurice c james senator james ye senator jevan e james senior senator james senior ye senator franklin
d johnson senator johnson ye senator caller j joseph senator joseph ye senator milton potter
0:31:18
senator potter ye mr president 15 years thank you very much madam clerk bill number 35-0049 and act amending title 7
chapter 1 of the virgin house code by adding sub chapter 8 establishing a local food and farm council in accordance with
mandate five of the virgin agriculture plan have been approved by this body will be sent to the governor for further
consideration and action madam clerk please call up the next item bill number 35.0068 an act authorizing the members of
the board of medical examiners to serve temporarily as de facto board members of boards established on the title three
virgin allen school section 415 if a board does not have enough members to establish a quorum we will call on bill
number 35-0068 senator marvin a blyden senator blyden ye senator angel l bolquez jr senator bolquez jr ye senator Diane
T. Capehart. Senator Capehart, yay. Senator Samuel Carrion. Senator Carrion, yay. Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff. Senator
DeGraff, yay. Senator Ray Fonseca. Senator Fonseca, yay. Senator Novell E. Francis Jr. Senator Francis Jr., yay. Senator
Alma Francis Heiliger senator Francis Heiliger ye senator Donna a Fred Gregory senator Fred Gregory ye senator
Kenneth L Gittins senator Gittins ye senator Maurice C James senator James ye senator Javan E James senior senator
James senior ye senator Franklin D Johnson senator Johnson ye senator Carla J joseph senator joseph ye senator milton
potter yes senator potter ye mr president 15 years
0:33:37
thank you very much madam clerk bill number 35.0068 and act authorizing the members of the board of medical
examiners to serve temporarily as de facto board members of board established under title three virgin alice code section
415 if a board does not have enough members to establish a court have been approved by this body and will be sent to the
0:35:45
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governor for further consideration and action. Madam Clerk please call up the next item. Bill number 35.0042 an act
amending the rules of the 35th legislature of the Virgin Islands rule 205A by removing the provisions that a minority
caucus must consist of not less than five senators. We'll call Bill 35-0042. Senator Marvin A. Blyden. Senator Blyden,
yay. Senator Angel L.
Bolquez, Jr. Senator Bolquez, Jr., yay. Senator Diane T. Capehart. Senator Capehart, yay. Senator Samuel Carrion.
Senator Carrion, yay. Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff. Senator DeGraff, yay. Senator Ray Fonseca. Yes. Senator Fonseca,
yay. Senator Novell E. Francis Jr. Yay.
0:36:38
Senator Francis Jr., yay. Senator Alma Francis Heiliger. Yes. Senator Francis Heiliger, yay. Senator Donna A. Fred
Gregory. Yes. Senator Fred Gregory, yay. Yes. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins. Yes. Senator Gittins, yay. Senator Maurice C.
James. Senator James, yay. Senator Jevan E. James, Sr. Senator James, Sr., yay. Senator Franklin D. Johnson. Senator
Johnson, yay. Senator Carla Joseph.
0:37:06
Senator Joseph. Senator Joseph, yay. Senator Milton Potter. Senator Potter, yay. Mr. President, we have 15 yays. Mr.
President, we have 15 yays. Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Bill number 35-0042, an act amending the rules of the
35th legislature of the Virgin Islands, rule 205A, by removing the provisions that a minority caucus must consist of not
less than five senators.
0:37:43
has been approved by this body and will be sent to the governor for further consideration and action thank you very much
madam clerk madam clerks please call up the items in block number five the final block block number five block five
consideration of bills bill Bill number 35.0050, an act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title III, Chapter VII, by
designating the existing provisions as Sub-Chapter I and adding Sub-Chapter II, establishing the Bureau of School
Construction and Maintenance within the Virgin Islands Department of Education for budgetary purposes, amending
Title III, Chapter XI, Section 3092A, changing the Education maintenance fund to the school construction maintenance
and capital fund and making an appropriation for two million dollars and an appropriation for five million five hundred
thousand dollars from the virgin island education initiative fund to the school construction maintenance and capital fund
and an appropriation and for other related purposes bill number 35-0054 an act amending title one virgin islands code
chapter seven section 103 b relating to the centennial treasures award to provide for a single lump sum award payment
bill number 35 bill number 35-0055 an act amending title 17 of the virgin islands code pertaining to school curriculum in
elementary and secondary schools bill number 35-0061 an act directing an act directing the virgin islands inspector
general to conduct an audit of the virgin islands water and power authority and making a 250 000 appropriation to
conduct the audit and for other related purposes bill number 35-0070 an act authorizing the governor to utilize monies
from the public funds of the virgin islands to create working capital to provide funds for any purpose for which the
government is authorized to use and expend monies including but not limited to current expenses capital expenditures
and discharge of any obligations of the government for the next three fiscal years beginning with 2023 and to issue a line
of credit in the maximum amount of 150 million dollars and to an issue tax anticipation notes to provide funding for
authorized governmental operations this concludes the reading of block five mr president uh thank you very much
madam clerk uh senator gittins you recognize for your
0:38:19
point of motion you recognize one two please recognize the mic of the majority leader Thank you, Mr. President. Two
motions. The first one, I move Mr. President and colleagues to reassign the bill for non-germain amendments from bill
number 35-0050 to bill number 35-0054. I so move. Motion properly made by Senator Gittins, objected to by Senator
DeGraff. Roll call.
0:41:08
Seconded, I'm sorry, seconded by Senator Blyden, as well as Senator Joseph. Objected to by Senator DeGraff, roll call.
Senator Marvin A. Blyden. Senator Blyden, yay. Senator Angel L. Bolquez, Jr. Senator Bolquez, Jr., yay. Senator Diane
T. Capehart. Senator Capehart, yay. Senator Samuel Carrion. Senator Carrion, nay. senator Dwayne M de Graff senator
de Graff knee senator Ray Fonseca senator Fonseca ye senator Novell E Francis jr. yeah senator Francis jr. ye senator
Alma Francis Heilegger senator Francis Heilegger knee senator Donna a Fred Gregory Yes.
0:41:47
Senator Donna A. Fred Gregory? Yes. Senator Fred Gregory? Yes. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins? Yes. Senator Gittins?
Yes. Senator Maurice C. James? Yes. Senator James? Yes. Senator Jovan E. James Sr.? Yes. Senator James Sr.? Yes.
Senator Franklin D. Johnson? No. Senator Johnson? Nay. Senator Carla J. Joseph? Yes. Senator Joseph, yay. Senator
Milton Potter, yes. Senator Potter, yay. Mr. President, we have 11 yays, four nays.
0:42:40
Thank you very much. Madam Clerk, the motion carries. Motion, Senator Gittens. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr.
President and colleagues, I move that bill number 35, that's 0050, the bill for the non-jermain amendments. 5-4. five four
sorry uh be uh placed at the end of the agenda and all debate time for all the bills in this block be reduced to two minutes
i so move motion properly made by senator gittins seconded by senator marvin blyden senator donaford gregory senator
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carla joseph objected to by senator the graph roll call senator marvin a blyton senator blyton ye senator angel l bolquez jr
senator bolquez jr ye senator diane tk part senator capehart ye senior senator samuel carillon Senator Carrion, yay.
Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff, no. Senator DeGraff, nay. Senator Ray Fonseca, yes. Senator Fonseca, yay. Senator Novell
E. Francis Jr., yay. Senator Francis Jr., yay. Senator Alma Francis Heiliger, yes. Senator Francis Heiliger, yay. Senator
Donna A. Fred Gregory. Senator Fred Gregory. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins. Senator Gittins. Senator Marie C. James.
Senator James. Senator Javan E. James Sr. Senator James Sr. Senator Franklin D. Johnson. Senator Johnson. Senator
Carla J. Joseph. Senator Joseph. Yes. Senator Potter. Yes. Senator Potter. Yes. Senator Potter.
0:44:24
Yes. Mr. President, we have 13 yays, 2 nays. Thank you very much, Madam. Clerk, the motion carries. Senator Bulkas,
you recognize for your point of inquiry? Your point of inquiry? Personal privilege. Personal privilege. You recognize.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President and colleagues, I would like to ask for a moment of silence for the mr milton
gordon who happens to be the homeless man that got shot down three days before his birthday on april 5th on april 2nd
but his birthday is april 5th and coincidentally this evening on saint croix on company street they're holding a candlelight
vigil for this homeless man i would like to ask for a moment of silence on his behalf please rise Thank you, rest easy
Bobo, condolences as well goes out to his family during the difficult time of bereavement. At this time, Senator Francis,
how do you get you recognized for your point of nothing?
0:45:19
You're good. All right. You're recognized for your two minutes at this time, Senator. Good afternoon. Good evening. I
rise in support of several of these pieces of legislation in this block, 35-0050, 35-0054. Well, I have to hold my vote on
that because this is the non-Germaine bill, and depending on what all is tacked on to it, I'll decide then. 35.0061.
0:46:46
As it relates to 35.0070, before us, we have a bill that, as it stands right now, as I do not have any official changes as yet,
I myself had submitted several amendments to make some changes and protections, which I was notified that had been
incorporated into a document that is in the nature of a substitute. um so as it relates to my amendment 35-270 amendment
35267 amendment 35268 and several others a lot of these amendments to that bill had to do with protections of the
people of this territory as of this moment i have not offered any of these amendments as yet because i personally would
like to see what some of my other colleagues will be doing in regards to this bill i personally will tell you directly i will
be voting no for this piece of legislation we have gotten we have to get to a point where this institution starts acting like
the first branch of government we have to move away from living in this territory and allowing other individuals to
dictate the course of the territory through phone calls through party affiliation and through a slew of things that has
nothing to do with the 15 of us in here that are elected yes the governor is requesting a line of credit but this document
also without amendments would give him basically carte blanche rule over our budget time and that is something i cannot
accept
0:47:21
um mr chair could i wrap up thank you i also had some concerns in regards to how the line of credit and turning over
some funding to wapa it's one thing when you ask this institution to co-sign to be able to give you authority to get money
but it's one thing when this institution consistently asks you for documentation so we could make responsible decisions
on behalf of the people and that information is hardly or never forthcoming so in that respect i cannot vote for this or vote
for this in the affirmative so thank you very much mr chair i will um vote at the appropriate time thank you very much
senator francis heiliger and next we'll recognize senator johnson you recognize for your two minutes thank you very
much mr president i rise in support in most of the measures in this block and i'll be straight and blunt i have not skipped a
beat bill number 350070 you can't support this measure and i've made it very clear there was a lot of questions that was
acts that mr smith could not have answered and anytime somebody can tell me that we actually will owe 300 million with
interest and somebody who is owed 300 million said to you well give me 145 that raises a lot of eyebrow people don't
walk away for money not that kind of money so somebody can't tell me the original car is going to reach out to up to 300
million but you know what give me 145 one minute where does that happen seriously question this people don't just walk
away from 155 million dollars doesn't happen something is wrong with this picture they say
0:49:17
could paint a pig in all colors is still gonna be a pig i cannot support this measure when you understand when we ask the
question do you guys have receipts proven that this amount of work have been done and the answer is no they say all they
going by is a contract that's how they going I'm going to spend my money how I want I'm going to give away the people
money like that Not me You're going to prove to me That you earned the people money For me to support giving you the
people money Minds that I work for I'm going to do whatever I choose to do with it But I won't sit in this building And
give away the people money Just like that I would like to see a forensic addict So we could know exactly what vital did
and then you could ask me for my support thank you very much mr president thank you very much senator johnson
senator the graph you recognize for your two minutes uh thank you mr chair uh just like everybody you know objected to
my bill being used as the non-germain bill so for the centenarians so remember when the people make a hundred years
old and we wanted to get them into five thousand dollars if anything happened to that then hey it's on you but again um
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february 13th 2023 and february 13th 1983 february 13 1983 was when my father pass away so when i see in february 13
2023 vital and wapa sign an agreement obligating us who is us not in here the senate obligating us the people of the
territory
to pay out support wapa don't have a cent to scratch the you know what but we're going to make an adjustment and
arrangements and thing to give them 45 million dollars or however much i guess and to me when you do a run a regular
anticipation note for more than a year you supersede the authority of the legislature that's what i believe i believe a rand
should be for a year year and a half the most car we have done runs before for a year a year so the government could stay
afloat like i said we have frozen the budget 30 seconds so it could function half of the previous year budget so again
iceland is support of most of the bills in this block but again um 70 i ain't gonna do because like data say if it look like a
duck walk like a duck it ain't from savannah so thank you for the time mr president thank you very much senator de graff
senator carrion you recognize for your two minutes thank you mr president i rise this evening once again in support for
most measures in Block 5, with exception to Bill 35.0070. I have to express my concern, and if I'm honest, I am
somewhat divided. And I'm somewhat divided because I know that our recovery process needs some funding to start
moving some of the projects that we have in place and that the line of credit would provide that opportunity to expedite
some of the projects that we have that have been already obligated through FEMA and the various federal agencies. We
would like to see some of those projects moving. But on the other hand, I have my reservations in regards to the $45
million given to Vaitolo on behalf of WAPA and also to the process by which this has come forth. We weren't part of the
process at the beginning that the executive branch or even WAPA was part of and I must say remain open and willing to
work with this administration
0:53:23
and the other administration but I think it's important to understand that this institution must be respected and we cannot
be expected last minute to be making decisions when we don't really have any hard evidence we've been asking for
documentations and report from WAPA and up to now we haven't been able to receive any of those so are we called to
make decisions on the blind we've been asking for appraisal we've been asking for reports we've been asking for
confirmation we have no hard evidence and um and we've been going back and forth with this with WAPA so that's
where I'm divided I know we have an issue we have to deal with regard to WAPA and Waito but you got to prove to me
that this contract that WAPA entered in the first place Mr. President if I may I'm just conclude you may conclude that we
entered the first place was a valid legal contract, that the mount is correct, and that this agreement that the government or
WAPA is entering vital is right, given all the history that this company has nationally and in other countries. So I have
my reservations, and I will vote accordingly at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. President.
0:56:05
Thank you very much, Senator Carriong, Senator Jevon E. James Sr., you are recognized for your two minutes. Thank
you, Mr. President. I stand in support of Bill 35-0055, which speaks to the school curriculum in elementary and
secondary schools, specifically for Virgin Islands history. Bill 35-0054, relating to the Centennial Treasures Award. I
stand in support of that. That's a no-brainer bill. Bill number 35-0050, which speaks to creating a Bureau of School
Construction and Maintenance with the Virgin Islands Department of Education. I think I will support it. I want to hear
what the response of that measure has to say.
0:57:21
As far as Bill number 35-0070, I stand in full support of that measure so I'm just waiting to see things happen but with the
remaining of my time I just want to speak about my level of disappointment of how long things take to happen in the
Virgin Islands everything just seems to be so long and I understand we have a procurement process we have hurricane
season and the list goes on but sometimes it seems as if we are not motivated as virgin islanders to really push and go up
and beyond and i'm hoping and praying in the next two years in this body and within the next four years of this
administration being in power that we really put our minds together to make these projects happen whether it is the
hurricane recovery project dealing with the behavioral health facility on st croix the cricket field they're hard-struck. It
sometimes just seems very depressing. And I really hope and pray that for the next two years in this Senate and the next
four years for this administration, we can really work together regardless of the disagreements we may have on issues. So
in closing, Mr. President, I will vote in affirmative for all measures when the time comes. Thank you. Thank you very
much, Senator James. Senator Borges Jr., you recognize for your two minutes.
0:58:15
Senator Borges Jr.: Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, colleagues, I rise in support of two measures as is.
However, there are three other measures that require amendments in order for me to fully support them as is bill number
three five zero zero five zero pertinent to school maintenance i fully support bill number three five dash zero zero six one
concerning the inspector general and an audit i support fully concerning the non-germain bill once the amendments are
received on that then i'll know where i stand and concerning concerning bill number 35055 there are amendments for that
bill as well concerning vi history and caribbean history in the virgin islands curriculum and i'm looking forward to those
amendments to fully support that bill as well and of course bill number 35-0070 as is i cannot support it however once the
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amendments move forward in the nature of a substitute i will be voting yes in the affirmative for that bill. Mr. President,
thank you for the time. Thank you very much, Senator Bulquez Jr., Senator Milton E. Potter Jr. No, Jr., right? Milton E.
Potter, you recognize. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I rise in support of most of the items in this black beginning
with bill number 35 0070 in its current form i would have some challenges approving that however um i'm clear that
there are some amendments that will be coming that will address some of the issues and concerns that i have and
hopefully it'll be much more palatable for us to consider you know i see this bill sort of like a domestic violence situation
and not this bill but the issue of vital i'm gonna explain to you why it's like you're stuck in a domestic violence
relationship and you're acknowledging the pain and suffering that you've experienced and at some point you have to be
able to get beyond the pain and the suffering and the anger and Virgin Islanders are angry about this vital relationship that
we've been into for quite a while for number of years this bill with the amendments that we've discussed in caucus I think
will allow us will provide impetus for us to move beyond anger to action to once and for all put the issue of vital to rest
so that the water and power authority can own the the infrastructure with regards to the petroleum and we can move
forward with digging ourselves out of a a very difficult, a very painful arrangement with Vitao. So it is my hope that with
the amendments that are forthcoming, that we can finally put ourselves in a position to move beyond this. The
amendments should ask for, should hold. Thank you very much. If I may just wrap up, Mr. President. It will provide the
necessary safeguards to ensure the prudent use of public dollars. So at the appropriate time, Mr. President and colleagues,
I will vote accordingly on these initiatives. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Senator Potter. Senator Marie
C. James, you recognize for your two minutes. Thank you, Mr. President. I will support these measures based on
amendments, as my colleagues have been saying. It's clear that, well, I definitely, of course, support the school
maintenance, the establishment of the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance. I am one of the sponsors on that
bill.
1:03:39
I also was one of the senators who supported the amend in Title 17 with respect to the curriculum. When it comes to the
Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, we must realize that it is not a private utility. It is a public utility. And
anything that is public is owned by us. So we need to, whether we like it or not, we need to fix whatever is going on with
the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. One minute. And really, again, release the people of the Virgin Islands
from being held hostage by VTAL.
1:04:21
So at the appropriate time, I will vote on these measures. Thank you. Thank you very much, Senator Marie C. James.
Next, we'll hear from Senator Ray Fonseca. You're recognized for your two minutes. Yes, and thank you very much, Mr.
President, for your time, and a pleasant good evening to the listening audience. You know, I got a whole lot of problems
with this bill number 35-0070, the WAPA vital issue. All of the other bills in Block 5, I fully support. But let me tell you,
right, transparency and accountability is important. I don't believe there's transparency, no accountability with WAPA
and I'll tell you why WAPA still owes money to Trafigura T-R-A-F-I-G-U-R-A I don't know if they owe to Glencore I
know they owe outstanding balances to GERS I'm not sure about the fuel taxes if they're using it appropriately I haven't
seen a current audit. I know the audits ain't up to date. I haven't seen, I don't know whether or not they're going to the
Public Service Commission to raise rates. I have not seen a copy of the vital contract.
1:05:10
I understand it was $87 million. It's now the same $284 million. There's no transparency, no accountability. now i know
that a gun is being head held to my head um because there's the threat of the rolling blackouts and all of this and of course
we don't want our constituents to be without power but there's a lot a lot a lot of issues here that i question with this issue
you know we need to to put our foot down you know this is the first branch of government i feel like i'm being pushed
into this i fully support the rest of the money for the the hurricane projects the those projects i fully support it the problem
is is they lump this vital issues into it and there's no transparency and accountability thank you very much mr president
for your time thank you very much Senator Fonseca. At this time, we'll recognize Senator Fred Gregory.
1:06:53
Recognize for your two minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, listening to this conversation this afternoon or this
evening, I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. These are saying people are sitting in a room with us and amend the bill. I
feel like I'm in the twilight zone and I'm going to leave that right there. Our colleagues sat in that room and we amended
that bill to ensure that we protect the people's money and the people of the Virgin Islands so I feel like I'm in the twilight
zone and what we did with regards to this line of credit is we recognize that all of what was said earlier that's in the
original bill but we also know that we have a bill in the nature of a substitute the bill that came down is not the bill i was
not gonna vote for it they were their colleagues that i had talking different about this measure this evening one minute
who convinced me that was the right thing to do i feel like i'm in the twilight zone this is amazing anyway for the purpose
of the people i got one minute um we we put guard rails in this measure the guard whales are to require wapa to hire a ton
around management company that we 30 seconds in the 34th legislature we did that we also are requiring wapa not to
hire any additional employees until they enter into this contractual agreement so we didn't just say yes we are not just
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saying yes to this i would never do that we also are requiring them to provide
reports to this institution and we are putting the onus on the central government the executive branch time to manage this
man this this to get and to manage this turnaround company our vipd is in turnaround our department of education is turn
in turnaround it's time for wapa to be in turnaround because we see what has happened mr chair can i finish we see what
has happened right here before us when we asked the um the executive director the ceo of wapa about his security officer
he said to us yes we brought her wife in as his wife in as the an hr specialist part-time so until we could get a turnaround
company in here to take care of the business we're stopping them from hiring so let's not get up here this evening and up
here and act as if we did not put in the necessary guardrails as leaders within this institution we can't play politics with
everything we can't we cannot play politics with everything i have measures in this block but they've been heard this
would be the third time that they've been heard so i'm not going to address them this evening i just ask my colleagues to
support the measures and let's do the right thing for the people of the virgin islands we have to get rid of this issue this
this alcatraz that we have around our neck the issue that we have this is the emotional issue and my colleague that sits
next to me senator putter he shared with me his concerns about it being an emotional issue and i'm gonna wrap up mr
chair but for me it's not emotional because if it was emotional my vote would be no but it's about how do we make the
way forward if we have
1:09:55
some solutions outside of where we are this evening feel free to let me know thank you for the time mr chair thank you
very much senator fred gregory senator um k part you recognize for your two minutes. Good night colleagues and thank
you Mr. President. You know we have few bills here in our last block and we've had controversial one earlier and now
bill 35-0070 which when it was brought to us I had already said I was not voting for it because it didn't offer any
accountability transparency it was too vague it was too broad and we we not only the majority the minority senators we
all huddled and we dissected it you could see a bunch of exo cross out that's not the document that we are voting on today
one minute we are voting on an amendment in the nature of a substitute I got preempted by two of my colleagues I said I
wanted to reduce the amount I wanted more transparency I wanted safeguards and that's what we worked on today that
I'm comfortable to get this monkey off our back so it's a beginning we have to start somewhere guys wapa is the only
thing we have my mom retired from wapa 20 years i've seen that depart that energy place come from what it was to what
it is now anyway bill 35-0050 I'm in support of it you know there's a 135-0061 I just signed on to this bill
1:11:49
which is an act directing the Virgin Islands inspector general to conduct an audit of the Virgin Islands water and power
authority making two hundred and fifty thousand dollars appropriation time conduct an audit this is what we we're doing
this evening. Mr. President, I'm ready to vote. Thank you. Thank you very much, Senator Capehart. Senator Gettins, you
recognize for your two minutes. Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I vex, I reduce the time, but we are already
here. I don't sit on nobody fence.
1:14:02
And the other question I was to ask is who does sign a deal without foreseeing what the deal is all about even two boards
sitting on a fence trying to make a dollar out of 50 cents ain't gonna sign that not just so we gotta separate the two issues
and those of you that did your work and you you you separated the issues or you did the amendments thank you i ain't
doing a thing for them they raped the people of the virgin islands for far too long we see that other jurisdictions have
taken them to court and have won look at the kind of millions of dollars that we're talking about like my good colleague
say you gone from 300 and something plus million dollars to come settle for 145 yeah right one minute tell that to
somebody else all right i want to keep it simple but i want to remind you 87 million dollar contract gone double or triple
the cars in cast overrun fool me once fool me twice our responsibility is oversight so here it is we carefully and diligently
look into these bills scrutinizing the actions that's our job but then what the administration getting upset with you with a
little pettiness and all kind of thing because we're working in the best interest of the people that sent us here to work on
their behalf 30 seconds really you're going to tell me i mean it's really nonsense you're saying that we don't have no s
solutions or me you call me by name but it's okay but you know you're gone acts 8471 which speaks to the turnaround
management was vetoed at 8472 which speaks to the special investigation uh for wapa vetoed we're bringing it back now
thank you to uh the other senators that have signed down so far ball kids johnson uh carry on fonseca capa the rest of you
join us time because we really say we want to get this done act 8297 the back billing by the by the senate president also
signed into law vetoed what are we doing we're saying that we don't have solutions and you're telling people that only
money goes uh solve this uh may i conclude mr president because ain't only money uh gonna solve this problem okay the
management there has to change the culture has to change yes you're saying that they are ready they don't have the old
management team there but we see still that who's there sitting still allowing the same foolishness to happen still allowing
it and it happening with our people either but until there's a fundamental change in WAPA there will be no change at all
we don't even help our hospitals who to help us well we don't have to run to the hospital we don't even help them the way
that we help in WAPA every minute millions millions millions of dollars to to to this failing authority you know it's
about changing the entire structure and culture like we say whatever happened to change course now but I forgot some of
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them at the top don't even have a monthly obligation to WAPA but the rest of us feeling it i so sorry that i really reduced
this time to two minutes you know but at the appropriate time i gonna cast my vote and zero zero seven zero can't fly i
don't care how you amend it how you bring it it needs to go back we need to bring them people back here and make sure
that we get the answers for the people of this territory who we working on behalf of we working on behalf of two people
or three people on the side we working on behalf of the people of these
Virgin Islands. I am sick of this crap. Thank you very much, Senator Gittins. Calm down, calm down, eh? People
dropping down around here. Calm down. Senator Joseph, you're recognized for your two minutes wow I gotta follow that
passionate diatribe that just that we just had and I really and I really want to say you know everybody's entitled to their
passions but ain't everybody entitled to their own facts and what we need to do here is make history similar to what we
did with GRS and that's what we were been doing in the past. I want to just talk for the very limited time I have on the
bills. I am in support of the majority of these bills here. I do have one bill that I know an amendment is coming uh
35.0055 and as well as 35.0070 which an amendment is coming i want to say the amendment to the nature of a substitute
they have labeled it as and we have labeled it because i'm support of it um as a change uh company but a a turnaround
company thank you mr president a turnaround but let's let's be real let me tell you what it is it's replacing the virgin
islands
1:18:22
water and power authority under a receivership and this is nothing that is abnormal 30 seconds for power authorities to
have that level of scrutiny to turn around it was done here with the virgin islands housing authority okay but a what a
power authority in the united states washington state that was a public what public power authority they did it there and
guess what that power plant and that power authority is the better off today even as an ex-official member of the psc
that's what they said time they're better off today and so we are taking strides and making solutions and bringing forward
items that could help our people i can't put people at risk of of blackouts of not being able to have electricity and our
elders i i can't do it with anything in my body i can't do it okay and if this is a way forward for us to get rid of vital let's
let's get rid of them and move forward thank you so much mr president for the leeway uh thank you very much senator
joseph for your comments at this time we recognize the senate vice president senator blyton you recognize for your two
minutes thank you so much mr president i do write in support of all of the bills in this block several of them once
amended i will be voting in affirmative but i want to speak to bill number three five that's zero zero seven zero when the
government officials and the officials came in front of us i stated clearly that i could not support the bill in its current
form and i will not be supporting a bill in this current form that is why we got together majority and minority and spent
several days is working on the bill, like we did with the GRS bill. And we are bringing a new bill in the nature of a
substitute. That's the bill I will be voting on. So I need to make it clear. We are not voting on this bill that came down
before.
1:20:15
We are voting on a completely different bill. So that needs to be clear for the record. Now, my colleague, the last vice
president of the 34 legislature made several points in respect to guardrails and protection for the government. she also
mentioned the turnaround company she mentioned the safeguard of the employees the report to this body and and she did
not mention which i will at this time to try and assure that we get a loan from a local bank so the money can stay here in
our community so there's a lot of things we put in the bill to assure that we look out number one for our people our
constituents because of course they are going to be rolling blackouts of course if we don't do anything it's going to get
worse and who is going to affect our people and guess what at the end of the day they're going to come to us and we are
going to have to do something for them so this is an opportunity for us to make right what was done wrong and assure
that there's accountability there is transparency moving forward with the with the guard ways we have put in place and
other protections for our people but that is our job that is our responsibility as public servant to work on behalf of our
people the same one that sent us here so at the end of the day i've been involved in many many many controversial
decisions since i've been here at the center you know what i've not been wrong once not once so guess what not once so
guess what i i support i support what we are doing as a body, and I look forward to continue working with all of you
guys. Thank you so much, Mr. President, for the time. Thank you very much.
1:22:27
Thank you very much, Senator Blyden, and if the Madam Timekeeper could put two minutes on the clock for me, I'll also
weigh in on this matter real quickly. Let me say that I am one that's very concerned about the VTOL issue, and obviously,
you know, the high costs of the VTEL project and the fact that it has escalated beyond the $87 million. But today's
discussion is not about that. Today's discussion, again, is about how do we remedy the situation that we're up against. I'll
tell you that over the years since VTEL has come on board, we have paid VTEL in fuel costs over $400 million. dollars.
Come June, we would have given them 97 million dollars. We gave them six million dollars. You know, but we're asked
to at least allow for a parachute to be able to get out of this deal.
1:24:13
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Legislature USVI · | Regular Session2
My colleagues talk about the domestic violence. The best way to move forward on this particular issue is to sever this
relationship. It's a bad marriage. We can't stay in it for the children and them. We need to sever the relationship at this
point. We have reduced the amount that the governor had requested from the $150 million. My other colleagues talk
about how and what we have done as well as to amend this bill. This discussion about for the have and the have not.
1:25:17
We have individuals within this community that have the worth all and have the capacity to be able to go solar, to be able
to jump off the whopper grid. But then we have our seniors. Those seniors that don't even, and some of them that don't
even have a roof over their head or the roof is compromised they have to put buckets and pills and every time when it
pours out there time and now we ask them to go without lighter that's unfair to them our best effort again despite our
emotions and our feelings and that we believe that a lot of people should have gone to jail regarding this whole vital issue
is that we have to sever our relationship get out of it tomorrow we wake up we don't want to hear nothing about the vital
because it no longer exists that is the answer as we move forward let's get out of this bad marriage at this time madam
clerk please call of the items for vote bill number 35.0050 an act amending the virgin islands code title 3 chapter 7 by
designating the existing provisions as sub chapter 1 and adding a sub chapter 2 establishing the bureau of school
construction and maintenance within the virgin islands department of education for budgetary purposes amending title 33
chapter 11 section 309 to a changing the education maintenance fund to the school construction maintenance and capital
fund and making an appropriation of two million dollars and an appropriation of five million five hundred thousand from
the virgin islands education initiative fund to the school construction on maintenance and capital fund, and an
appropriation for other related purposes.
1:25:56
Roll call on Bill 35-0050. Senator Marvin A. Blyton? Yeah. Senator Blyton? Yeah. Senator Angel L. Boulkes, Jr. Yeah.
Senator Boulkes, Jr. Yeah. Senator Dianne T. K. Park? Yes. Senator K. Park? Yes. Senator Samuel Carrion? Senator
Samuel Carrion? Yes. Senator Dwayne DeGraff? Yes. Senator Dwayne DeGraff? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
1:28:04
Yes. Senator Fonseca? Yes. Senator Nova Lee Francis Junior? Yes. Senator Francis Junior? Yes. Senator Alma Frances
Heliger, Senator Frances Heliger, yeah, senator Danaee Fred Gregory, senator Danaee Fred Gregory, yes senator
Connecticut Gittens, senator Gittens, yes senator Morici James, senator James, Morici James, yes senator Givani James
senior, senator James senior, yes Senator Franklin D. Johnson? Yay.
1:28:43
Senator Franklin D. Johnson? Yay. Senator Karla J. Josephs? Yes. Senator Joseph? Yes. Senator Milton Potter? Yes.
Senator Potter? Yes. Mr. President, 15 years? No, they wipe out all of those. Mr. President, 15 years.
1:29:24
Thank you very much. Madam Clerk, Bill number 35.0050, an act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 3, Chapter 7,
by designating the existing provisions of Subchapter 1 and adding a Subchapter 2, establishing the Bureau of School
Construction and Maintenance within the Virgin Islands Department of Education for budgetary purposes, amending
Title 33, Chapter 11, Section 3092A, Changing the Education Maintenance Fund to the School Construction Maintenance
and Capital Fund and making an appropriation of $2 million and an appropriation of $5.5 million from the Virgin Islands
Education Initiative Fund to the School Construction Maintenance and Capital Fund and an appropriation and for other
related purposes have been approved by this body and will be sent to the Governor for further consideration and action.
1:29:53
next item madam clerk bill number 35.0055 an act amending title 17 of the virgin islands code pertaining to school
curriculum in elementary and secondary schools roll call on bill 35-0055 senator mobbin amendments who have an
amendment senator francis heidegger you recognize for an amendment i rise and offer amendment number 35-259 to
amend bill number 35-0055 offered by senator alma francis heiliger Franklin D. Johnson, Carla J. Joseph, Angela Angel
Bolquez Jr. and Dwayne M. Degraff. Bill number 35.0055 section 1 internal section a paragraph 1 is amended by striking
all the language after courses and inserting new language to read shall be part of the curriculum in grades in grades
kindergarten to eighth grade from grade nine through 12 the history of the virgin islands and basic caribbean history shall
be offered as specific courses i so move motion properly made by senator francis heiliger seconded by senator de graf
senator johnson Senator Joseph and Senator Bulquez, hearing no objection. So ordered. Any other amendments? Madam
Clerk, roll call on Bill 35-0055 as amended.
1:30:47
Senator Marvellini, Abe Lydon. Senator Lydon, yay. Senator Angelo Bocas, Jr. Senator Bocas, Jr., yay Senator Dianne T.
Capard, yes Senator Capard, yay Senator Samuel Carrion, yes Senator DeWine M. DeGraff, yes Senator DeGraff, yay
Senator Ray Fonseca, yes Senator Fonseca, yay Senator Novel Francis Jr. Senator Novel Francis Jr. Senator Alma
Francis Heilegger Senator Alma Francis Heilegger Senator Donna Fred Gregory Senator Fred Gregory Senator Kenneth
L. Gittins Senator Gittins Senator Maurice C. James Senator Maurice C. James yay senator javon javon james senior
senator james senior yes senator franklin d johnson senator franklin senator franklin johnson yeah senator college joseph
senator joseph yes senator milton potter yes senator potter yes mr president 15 years i don't I don't even know which bill
it belonged to.
1:32:40
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Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. What was that tally, Madam Clerk? Mr. President, 15 years. Very well, thank you
very much. Bill Number 35-0055, an act amended Title 17 of the Virgin Islands Code pertaining to school, curriculum in
elementary and secondary school as amended have been approved by this body will be sent to the governor for further
consideration and action next item madam clerk bill number 35 which one i am bill number 35.0061 and act directing the
virgin islands inspector general to conduct an audit of the virgin islands water and power authority making a 250
thousand dollars appropriation to conduct the audit and for other related purposes roll call on bill number 35 dash so it's a
good thing you recognize for amendment thank you mr president mr president and colleagues arise to offer amendment
number 35 278, which was circulated to Bill number 35-0061. Bill number 35-0061, section 1, subsection E, is amended
in the following instances. E, in paragraph 1, after contract, insert open quote, including the construction, operation, and
maintenance of of the project, semicolon, and the LPG supply, end of quote. B, strike paragraphs three and four, and C,
redesignate paragraph five as paragraph three.
1:34:12
I so move. Motion properly made by Senator Gittins, seconded by Senator Carlos Joseph, Senator Capehart, Senator
Borges, hearing no objection. So ordered. Any further amendments? Madam Clerk, roll call on Bill 35-0061 as amended.
Senator Marvin A. Blyton? Yes. Senator Blyton?
1:36:05
Yes. Senator Angel L. Borges Jr.? Yes. Senator Borges Jr.? Yes. Senator Diane T. Capehart? Yes. Senator Diane T.
Capehart? Yes. Senator Samuel Carrion? Yes. Senator Samuel Carrion? yes senator doing MD graph senator doing MD
graph EA senator Ray Fonseca senator Ray Fonseca yay senator Novelli Francis jr. yay senator Francis jr. yay senator
Alma Francis Hyliger yes senator Alma Francis Hyliger yes senator Donna a Fred Gregory Yes.
1:36:32
Yes. Senator Fred Gregory, yes. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins. Yes. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins, yes. Senator Maurice C.
James. Yes. Senator Maurice C. James, yes. Senator Javon E. James, Sr. Yes. Senator James, Sr., yay. Senator Franklin
D. Johnson. Yay. Senator Johnson, yay. Senator Carla J. Joseph. Yes. Senator Joseph, yay. senator milton potter yes
senator potter yeah mr president 15 years well thank you very much madam clerk bill number 35 dash 0061 an act
directing the virgin islands inspector general to conduct an audit of the virgin islands water and power authority making
an appropriation of 250 000 appropriation to conduct the audit and for other related purposes as amended has been
approved by this body and will be sent to the governor for for further consideration and action. Next item, Madam Clerk.
1:37:09
Bill number 35.0070, an act authorizing the governor to utilize monies from public funds of the Virgin Islands to create
working capital to provide funds for any purpose for which the government is authorized to use and expend monies,
including but not limited to current expenses, capital expenditures, and discharge of any obligations of the government
the next three fiscal years beginning with two with 2023 and to issue a line of credit in the maximum amount of 150
million and issue tax anticipation notes to provide funding for authorized governmental operations amendment senator
joseph you recognize my amendment thank you mr president mr president i move amendment number 35-280
amendment to bill number 35-0070 offered by senators donna a fred gregory novel e francis jr marvin a blyton angel
boquez jr diane t capehart ray fonseca javon e james senior maurice c james carla j joseph and milton potter it reads a the
preamble is amended to read as follows whereas the virgin islands is still slowly recovering from the devastating
financial impacts of the two 2017 category five hurricanes irma and maria as well as hurricane dorian in 2019 whereas
damage to the territory caused by hurricanes marie arma maria and dorian totaled a loss upwards often billions dollars
whereas the territory is currently rebuilding from all three devastating hurricanes while navigating the effects of
co-workers recognize the emotion
1:38:12
thank you mr president i move to read the to to waive the reading of amendment number 35-280 iso move objection
motion properly made to waive the weeding of the the measure by senator fred gregory seconded by senator blyton
senator bulquez objected to by senator francis heiliger senator carrion and senator franklin johnson and Senator Degraff,
roll call. Senator Marvin A. Blyden.
1:40:32
Senator Blyden, yay. Senator Angel L. Bulquez, Jr. Senator Bulquez, Jr., yay. Senator Diane T. Capehart. Senator
Capehart, yay. Senator Samuel Carrion. Senator Carrion, nay. Senator Dwayne M. Degraff. Senator Degraff, nay. Senator
Ray Fonseca. Senator Ray Fonseca Senator Fonseca ye Senator Novell E. Francis Jr. Senator Francis Jr. ye Senator Alma
Francis Heiliger Senator Francis Heiliger knee Senator Donna a Fred Gregory Senator Fred Gregory ye Senator Kenneth
L. Gittins Senator Gittins knee Senator Maurice C. James Senator James Senator Jevan E. James Senior Senator James
Senior Senator Franklin D. Johnson Senator Johnson Senator Carl J. Joseph Senator Joseph Senator Milton Potter Senator
Potter Mr. President we have 10 yays, 5 nays Very well the motion carries objection objection any second so move for a
very well seconded motion properly made and so moved by senator college Joseph seconded by Senator Fred Gregory
seconded by I mean objected to by Senator Francis Heidegger roll call
1:41:11
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roll call Madam Clerk roll call Senator Marvin a Blyden Senator Marvin a Blyden Senator Blyden ye Senator Angel L.
Bocas jr. Senator Bocas jr. ye Senator Diane T. Capehart. Senator Capehart, yea. Senator Samuel Carrion. Senator
Carrion, not voting. Senator Duane M. DeGraff. Senator DeGraff, not voting. Senator Ray Fonseca. Senator Fonseca ye
senator novelle e francis jr. yeah senator francis jr. ye senator alma francis heiliger senator francis heiliger knee senator
Donna a Fred Gregory senator Fred Gregory ye senator Kenneth L Gittins Senator Gittins, nay. Senator Maurice C.
James, Senator James, yay.
1:43:03
Senator Javan E. James Sr. Senator James Sr., yay. Senator Franklin D. Johnson, nay. Senator Johnson, nay. Senator
Collar J. Joseph, Senator Joseph, yay. Senator Milton Potter, yes. Senator Potter, yay. Mr. President, we have 10... clerk
please record Senator Carrion's vote as yes. Senator President, Mr. President we have 11 yays, three nays, one not voting.
Very well thank you. The motion carries. Point of personal privilege, Senator Joseph, you recognize thank you thank you
so much uh mr president i just wanted to inform the listening and viewing public what we just did we really work
collaboratively across the lines here to actually gut the initial bill that the governor sent down and the amendment now
authorizes the governor to use public government funds to create working capital to provide funds for purpose authorized
and use and to expend the money to including but not limited to current expenses capital expenditures and discharges of
any obligations of the government for the next three years beginning with 2023 and we have reduced the amount from
150 million dollars that the governor had requested to 100 million dollars and to provide and this is fast tracking the
disaster recovery so we really are on a fast track to see a lot of things done here in this legislative body and i want to
thank my colleagues who worked uh sparelessly fearlessly fearlessly and putting this together thank you so much mr
president thank you very much we still have to complete the vote and i'll come and recognize you you point up be
recognized
1:44:29
good evening i too would like to use my point of personal privilege to put on the record that this entire document has
wiped out the bill that the governor had sent down and just for public education it has replaced it um many of the changes
and i want to stress to the public one of the reasons why i am not signed on to this bill many of the changes in this bill yes
came from discussions we had from myself um when we had this discussion yesterday so just know that we have not
completely voted on the bill as amended yet um i'm not sure if you want to wait to make that comment until we finish
that you'll ask for point of personal privilege i indicated to you that the bill is still going through the process she
explained why it was there i'm fine i'm just letting you that we have not voted on the bill very well you may conclude at
this time thank you um so at the appropriate time once we're able to vote i wanted to make sure the public is aware that
many changes were made to this document but at the end of the day we have to be get to the point where we're not always
doing things at the last minute throwing things on people's desk having these last minute powwows where there's a
minority within this majority that believe to control the majority of us thank you very much thank you very much senator
francis heiliger madam clerk roll call and bill number 35-0070 as amended Senator Marvin A. Blyton? Yes. Senator
Blyton? Yes. Senator Angel L. Boulkes, Sr. I mean, Jr. Yes. Senator Boulkes, Jr. Yes. Senator Diane T. Capehart?
1:47:00
Oh, yes. Senator Capehart? Yes. Senator Samuel Carrion? Senator Carrion? Yes. Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff? No.
Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff? nay senator ray fonseca senator ray fonseca yay senator novelly francis jr yeah senator
francis jr yay senator alma francis highly guys senator highly gar no senator donna a fred gregory senator fred gregory
yes senator kenneth l giddens senator kenneth l giddens nay senator murray C. James? Senator Murray C. James? Yay.
Senator Jovan E. James Sr.? Senator James?
1:48:49
Yes. Senator James Sr.? Yes. Senator Franklin D. Johnson? Nay. Senator Johnson? Nay. Senator Carter J. Joseph? Yes.
Senator Carla J. Joseph? Yay. Senator Milton Potter? Yes. Senator Thank you very much. Bill number 35-0070, an act
authorizing the governor to utilize monies from the public funds of the Virgin Islands to create working capital to provide
funds for any other purpose for which the government is authorized to use and expend moneys, including but are limited
to current expenses, capital expenditures, and discharge of any obligations of the government to the Virgin Islands next
three fiscal years, beginning with 2023, and to issue a line of credit in the maximum amount of $150 million, and issue
tax anticipation notes to provide funding for authorized governmental operation as amended has been approved and will
be sent to the governor for further consideration and action. At this time, Madam Clerk, please call up the next item for
vote on the final bill.
1:49:36
This bill is the non-jermaine amendment bill, bill number 35.0054. Bill number 35.0054, an act amending Title I, Virgin
Islands Code, Chapter 7, Section 103b relating to the centennial treasures award to provide for a single lump sum award
payment any amendments amendment senator carrion you recognize the amendment thank you mr president i rise to offer
amendment number uh 35-265 to bill 35-0054 Offered by this yours truly. Bill number 35-0054 is amended by
designating all the language after 103B as subsection A and adding subsection B to read as follows. B subsection E is
amended by inserting private senior care facilities after home. I so move.
1:51:01
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Motion properly made by Senator Carrion, seconded by Senator Alma-Francis Heidegger, Senator Johnson, and Senator
DeGraff, hearing no objections, so ordered. Motion, Senator, amendment. Senator Joseph. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
you so much, Mr. President. Mr. President, I rise to offer amendment number 35-260, and this amendment is to bill
number 35-0054, and it is offered by myself, and it reads, Bill number 35-0054 is amended by adding an appropriately
numbered section that reads, Section blank, Act No. 86117, is amended in Section 10100, General Fund, L, by inserting
the funds remain available until expended after OVA, Veterans Medical, and burial expenses for $450,000. I so move.
Motion properly made by Senator Joseph, seconded by Senator DeGraff, and Senator Blyden, hearing no objections. So
ordered. Amendment, Senator Frank Gregory.
1:52:13
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that amendment number 35-275 to bill number 35-0054. number 35.0054 is amended
by adding two appropriately numbered sections that read as follows. Section blank, the sum of $75,000 is appropriated in
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023 from the general fund of the Treasury of the Virgin Islands to WTJX public
television system for the satellite uplink for the St. Thomas St. John District. Section blank, the sum of $100,000 is
appropriated fiscal year ending september 30th 2023 from the general fund of the treasury of the virgin islands to the
virgin ounce election system for fiscal year 2023 for additional operating costs iso move motion property made by
senator fred gregory seconded by senator potter hearing objection so ordered senator james you recognize for your
amendment Thank you, Mr. President.
1:53:46
Mr. President, I move that Bill number 35-0054 is amended by adding an appropriately numbered section that reads as
follow. let me reinstate my mr chair i move that amendment number 35-140 be offered today to amend bill number
35-0054 bill number 35-0054 is amended by adding an appropriately numbered section that reads as follows act number
eighty six fifty one section one as amended by act number eighty six ninety section twenty five is fraud amended by
striking subsection C and inserting a new subsection to read as follows see ninety days after the commencement of the
development at the Randall Doctines Racetrack the government of the Virgin Islands through the Department of Sports
Parks and Recreation shall grant to vigl operations llc an amount not to exceed five million dollars for the development of
the race tracks the of the race track the fund shall remain until expended iso move motion property made by senator
james seconded by senator fred gregory senator de graf uh senator blyton hearing no objection so ordered amendments
senator johnson mr chair i rise in amendment to the amendment 35 1 4 0 amendment 35 1 4 0 amended by striking
commencements of the development of the randall doc james race track and inserting the words approval of the ccm
permits for the randall dark james racetrack iso move objection
1:55:07
motion properly made by senator johnson objected to by senator james roll call senator marvin a blighton i'm sorry
motion properly made by senator johnson objected to by, I mean, seconded by Senator DeGraff and objected to by
Senator James. Debate time.
1:57:08
You have two minutes, debate time. You want? Final protest, majority. How come I got it? Hey, I love it. Zero. Senator
Johnson, you recognise for your two minutes. Thank you very much. The amendment that I just made actually puts a
timeframe as to when this money will be released. So when I said the part approval of the CZM permits for the Randall
Jack James, what this does is actually put a timeframe in place so that when the permits is approved, then the money can
be released. How the bill is right now, the government could take whatever amount of time and determine when
commitments start. This will be basically when the government says start, but with this wording, the permit, once the
permit is approved, that's considered commencement start. I resolve the rest of my time.
1:57:42
Thank you. Madam Clerk, how much time does Senator Johnson has? One minute, 17 seconds. Very well. Senator
James, you're recognized for your two-minute debate time. Thank you, Mr. Chair. On September 15, 2022, the
government of the Virgin Islands, specifically the governor the Virgin Islands signed a Second Amendment to the
Franchise Agreement with VIGL. The Franchise Agreement is very clear and I would like to know, Mr. President, if I
can ask legal counsel for their opinion because Section 5, page 3 of 5, Section 5 of the Second Amendment to the
Franchise agreement says 90 days after the commencement of the development of the same inquiry racetrack the
government of the virgin islands through the department of sports parks and recreation shall grant vigl operations llc and
amount not to exceed five million dollars of the funds allocated for the reconstruction of the racetrack from any available
fund for specific projects in the development of the same inquiry racetrack as approved by dsbr in compliance with all
local and federal laws when i first brought the bill it had i resolved the rest of my time very well um madam clerk how
much time does senator james has 54 seconds 54 seconds thank you madam clerk um through the chair to legal counsel
can you respond to senator james inquiry through through the chair to senator james a few things first of all i'm not sure
what the inquiry is number one number two but if you could give me a copy of what you just read and then i can
understand exactly what you're inquiring yes so through the chair to legal counsel um there is a
1:59:08
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five page franchise agreement which is the second amendment to the franchise agreement which was signed between the
government of virgin islands and vigl on september 15 2022 and nowhere in section five of page three or five of this
franchise agreement says that based on the approval of ccm permits and what the amendment is offering that that will that
would be the language required to give VIGL the funding. So what I'm saying in section 5 of page 3 or 5 of the Second
Amendment to the Frontal Agreement makes it clear on the language used to determine who and when they will receive
the funds. I want to know can we make any changes knowing that there's a Frontal Agreement and resolve the balance of
my time.
2:01:03
Okay very well. Senator James, I'm going to end the debate because we have other call of the chair because we have lost
the senator this time but i will um i will let legal counsel finish that statement so um all the pay time has expired will
legal counsel i'll have legal counsel explain that we do a roll call on amendment uh through the chair to senator james
what essentially is as this legislature has done One is that it took the language that you read from the franchise agreement
and actually put it in the statute, right?
2:01:50
And your amendment cites the statutes by which this language is now part of the law, right? So what your amendment,
I'm sorry, what Senator Johnson amendment does is it puts a condition in the statute and to your specific inquiry, that
condition is not in the franchise agreement, it would be in the statute so the other conflict that's what I'm looking at here
now yes there I'm sorry there would be a conflict between what is in the franchise agreement versus what you're putting
in the law now the question is what would what would what would if Senator Johnson's amendment to your amendment
passes yes you would now have a situation where the law would say one thing and the franchise agreement would say
another that's what would be the practical effect thank you madam clerk will call and build amendment number Thank
you, thank you. Madam Clerk will call on amendment to the amendment, amendment number 35-282.
2:02:34
Will call. Yes, Senator Marvin A. Blyden. No. No. Senator Biden, no. Senator Angel L. Bolquez, Jr. Senator Bolquez, Jr.,
no. Senator Diane T. Capehart, Senator Capehart, absent. Senator Samuel Carrion. Senator Carrion, ye.
2:04:22
Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff. Senator DeGraff, ye. Senator Ray Fronseca, no. Senator Fronseca, no. Senator Novell E.
Francis, Jr., Senator Francis Junior, absent. Senator Alma Francis Heiliger. Senator Francis Heiliger, yay. Senator Donna
A. Fred Gregory. Senator Fred Gregory, nay. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins. Senator Gittins, yay.
2:04:52
yay senator Maurice C James senator James absent senator Jovan E James senior senator James senior knee senator
Franklin D Johnson senator Johnson absent senator Carla J Joseph senator Joseph knee senator Milton potter senator
potter yay mr president we have five years please monitor change senator james vote yes change senator javon james vote
yes same senator fred grabby vote yes Change Senator Rae Fonseca vote to yes.
2:05:29
Senator Rae Fonseca vote to yes. So can you please give me a vote call. Senator Joseph vote to remain the same. Okay.
So what about the count, Madam Clerk? Mr. President, we have eight yeas, three nays, four absent. Very well. The
amendment carries. motion senator javon james thank you thank you mr chair mr chair i move that i i move to offer
amendment number 35-271 bill number 35-0054 is amended by adding on a properly numbered section that reads as
follow not withstanding that the provisions of title 32 virgin islands code chapter 11 sub chapter 2 became law on january
10 2018 on the effective date of this act the provisions of title 32 virgin islands code chapter 11 sub chapter 2 are
suspended and held in abeyance until the virgin islands horse racing commission has advised the legislature of the virgin
islands at all obligations to fund and construct horse racing facilities at the randolph dark james racetrack on st croix and
the clinton e fifths racetrack on st thomas in according with the existing franchise agreements found in act number 79 53
and section 4 of act number 85 77 has been met the legislature will subsequently enact legislation reinstating the
applicability and enforceability of the provisions of title 32 virgin islands code chapter 11 sub chapter 2 iso move on my
member properly moved by senators jevron james seconded by senator carla joseph objected by milt senator milton potter
um debate two minute debate time
2:06:17
Senator James, do you recognize for your two-minute debate time? Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. The amendment that I'm
offering, which is Amendment 35-271, is straightforward. VHL has made it clear on the Senate floor in the Senate
hearing that they have no intention to build a running surface until the casino is built. So obviously this doesn't affect the
St. Croix has track. So let's get that out of the way. They are not going to build the running surface until the casino is
built. It was said right here on the records, you can go and check the records. However, I want you all to take into
consideration what has been going on in the U.S. mainland when it comes to the overall conversation regarding Title 32,
Chapter 11, Subchapter 2.
2:08:17
One thing about me, I do my research. In most jurisdictions around the U.S. mainland, they are being challenged in the
courts regarding anti-doping. why are we rushing and no trucks right now it's basically constructed and funded yes we
had a groundbreaking but it's not built we need to sit back and watch and see what the u.s mainland is doing regarding
2:09:03
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this touchy subject because states like nebraska and texas they are challenging the federal court and they're winning and
some of them are saying okay if that's the case we're not going to sell my cars we're not going to make it go live just to be
in accordance or in compliance with what's going on so please let us be careful hurry dog eat raw meat i resolve the
balance of my time very well madam clerk how much time does senator javon james have remaining 30 seconds 30
seconds senator potter you recognize for your two minutes thank you very much mr president i agree with my colleague
mccruzian colleague that how we dog eat raw meat and i think that this is exactly what we're doing now in a rush in haste
to have horse racing in this territory we are suspending anti-doping legislation to allow for us to quickly get this thing on
board i think it is wrong i think it is going to allow us to resort to the wild wild west when it comes to horse racing on the
track anti-doping legislation allows us to have some integrity to the sport of kings i have a respect for this process i have
a respect for the horses those majestic horses that run around the tracks for our entertainment and it is wrong for us to
decide to have a wild wild west situation out at clinton phipps racetrack where you own a horse and you may not be into
into um doping i have a horse that's running against yours i may have some integrity but your your horse is being juiced
am i going to just sit by and allow your horse to be juiced so now i am juicing my horses it is
destroying the longevity the health and safety of these majestic animals and it is it is scarring it is staining the integrity of
the sport of kings we do not need to support these initiatives in a haste 30 seconds to have uh horse racing started in this
territory how you start is how you end up on a federal level they're trying to federalize the process of anti-doping that is
how serious it is but what is things are on hold however the individual states their anti-doping laws have been reverted to
so it's not as though these things are being suspended the federal guidelines are being suspended but those individual
states still have time anti-doping legislation please do not support this initiative and probably the time have expired
senator james you recognize for your 30 seconds colleagues we are not getting rid of anti-doping nowhere speaks to
repealing title 32 chapter 11 sub chapter 2 so let's not misinform the public we are saying let's suspend and hold these
rules in obeying specifically to title 32 chapter 11 sub chapter 2 until this stuff is rectified so do not paint any false
narrative about senator jovan james senior i'm not repealing that section of the code it's for the interim thank you mr chair
for the time all time have expired my name clerk roll call amendment number three five dash seven two seven one three
five that's 271 roll call senator marvin a blyden yeah senator blyden ye senator angel l bolquez jr senator bolquez jr ye
senator diane t capehart senator capehart absent senator samuel carrion
2:11:11
senator carrion nee senator duane m de graf senator de graf yay senator ray fonseca Senator Fonseca, yay. Senator Novell
E. Francis, Jr. Senator Francis, Jr., absent. Senator Alma Francis Heiliger. Senator Francis Heiliger, nay. Senator Donna
A. Fred Gregory. Senator Fred Gregory, yay. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins. Senator Gittins, nay.
2:13:09
Senator Maurice C. James. Senator James, absent. Senator Jovan E. James, Sr. Senator James Senior, yay. Senator
Franklin D. Johnson, Senator Johnson, absent. Senator Carla J. Joseph, yes. Senator Joseph, yay. Senator Milton Potter,
no. Senator Potter, nay. Mr. President, we have seven yays, four nays, four absent. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The
amendment has carried.
2:13:40
Any other amendment? Hearing none, motion and bill number 35.0054 as amended and act amended Title 1, Virgin
Islands Code, Chapter 7, Section 103B, relating to the Centennial Treasurer's Award to provide for a single lump sum
award payment. Roll call and the bill as amended. Senator Marvin A. Blyden?
2:14:12
Yes. Senator Blyden? Yay. Senator Ankel L. Bokehs, Jr.? Yay. Senator Bokehs, Jr.? Yay. Senator Diane T. K. Park?
Senator Diane T. K. Park? Absent. Senator Samuel Carrion? No. Senator Samuel Carrion? Not voting. Not voting.
Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff? Wait, she was that one?
2:14:41
Yes. Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff? Yes. Senator Ray Fonseca, Senator Ray Fonseca, Senator Novelli-Francis Jr. absent.
Senator Alma-Francis Heiliger, Senator Alma-Francis Heiliger, Senator Donna A. Fred Gregory, Senator Donna Fred
Gregory, Senator Senator Kenneth L. Gittins?
2:15:09
Yeah. Senator Kenneth L. Gittins? Yeah. Senator Maurice C. James? Absent. Senator Maurice C. James? Absent. Yeah.
Senator Giovanni James, senior? Yes, senior. Senator James, senior, yes. Senator Franklin D. Johnson? Absent. Senator
Franklin D. Johnson? Absent. Senator Kakaula James-Joseph? Yes. senator college joseph yes senator milton potter
senator milton potter yes mr president naia one name four absent one not voting thank you madam clerk bill number three
five does zero five four the bended and act amended title one virgin honors code chapter seven section 103 b relating to a
centennial treasurer's award to provide five to provide for a single lump sum award payment have been voted on
favorably in this in this committee of the whole and will be sent to the governor for his signature and approval colleagues
colleagues colleagues it's been a long day um some of our colleagues had to leave to catch a flight back to st croix as we
know we have a real serious problem when it comes with transportation into island transportation and i look forward to
um port attorney and other agency working on their behalf i want to thank my colleagues for being here this evening
media staff central staff security for being here with our the committee of the session of april 14th is 2023 is here by
2:15:43
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adrian We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. Thank you. Let's get started. Thank you. We'll be
right back. Thank you.
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.
39x
Senator Marise C. James
the surname alone also matches: Javan James; Giovanni James Sr
heard in this transcript as: James, James Sr, James Sr., Marie C. James, Maurice C. James, Maurice D. James
30x
Senator Carla Joseph
the surname alone also matches: Clifford Joseph; Karla J. Joseph
heard in this transcript as: Carl J. Joseph, Carla J. Joseph, Carlos Joseph, Joseph
30x
Senator Franklin D. Johnson
heard in this transcript as: Johnson, Johnson's
30x
Senator Ray Fonseca
heard in this transcript as: Fonseca, Fronseca, Rae Fonseca, Ray Fronseca
29x
Senator Dwayne DeGraff
heard in this transcript as: DeGraff, DeWine M. DeGraff, Degraff, Duane M. DeGraff, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Dwayne M. Degraff
28x
Senator Kenneth L. Gittens
heard in this transcript as: Gettins, Gittens, Gittins, Kenneth L. Gittins
27x
Senator Samuel Carrion
heard in this transcript as: Carrion, Carriong
24x
Senator Marvin Blyden
heard in this transcript as: Blyden, Blyton, Marvin A. Blyden, Marvin A. Blyton
24x
Senator Milton E. Potter
heard in this transcript as: Milton E. Potter Jr, Milton Potter, Potter
23x
Senator Diane T. Capeheart
heard in this transcript as: Capehart, Diane T. Capehart
20x
Senator Alma Francis-Heyliger
heard in this transcript as: Alma Frances Heliger, Alma Francis Heiliger, Alma Francis-Hyliger, Alma-Francis Heiliger, Frances Heliger, Francis
Heiliger
18x
Senator Novelle Francis
heard in this transcript as: Francis, Francis Jr, Francis Jr., Novel Francis Jr, Novell E. Francis Jr, Novell E. Francis Jr.
13x
Senator Fred Gregory
the surname alone also matches: Donna A. Frett-Gregory; Donna Frett-Gregory
12x
Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr.
heard in this transcript as: Angel Bolquez Jr., Angel L. Bolques Jr., Angel L. Bolquez Jr., Angel L. Bulquez Jr., Bolquez Jr., Bulquez
11x
Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory
heard in this transcript as: Donna A. Fred Gregory, Donna Fred Gregory
11x
Senator Javan James
heard in this transcript as: Javan E. James Sr, Javon E. James Sr., Jevan E. James Sr., Jevon E. James Sr, Jovan E. James Sr, Jovan E.
James Sr.
8x
Senator Angel L. Bulkes Jr
heard in this transcript as: Angel L. Boulkes Jr., Angel L. Boulkes Sr., Angel L. Bulkes Jr., Boulkes Jr., Bulkas, Bulkes Jr.
7x
Senator Angel L. Bocas Jr
heard in this transcript as: Angel Bocas Jr., Angel L. Bocas, Angelo Bocas Jr., Bocas, Bocas Jr.
6x
Senator Angel L. Borges Jr
heard in this transcript as: Borges, Borges Jr
4x
Senator Alma Francis Heidegger
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Legislature USVI · | Regular Session2
heard in this transcript as: Alma Francis Heilegger, Alma-Francis Heidegger
4x
Senator Diane T. K. Park
heard in this transcript as: Dianne T. K. Park
3x
Senator Angel L. Bokes Jr
heard in this transcript as: Ankel L. Bokehs Jr., Bokehs Jr.
3x
Senator Francis Junior
3x
Senator James Senior
2x
Senator Carter J. Joseph
the surname alone also matches: Carla Joseph; Clifford Joseph
2x
Senator Collar J. Joseph
the surname alone also matches: Carla Joseph; Clifford Joseph
2x
Senator Donald Fred Gregory
the surname alone also matches: Donna A. Frett-Gregory; Donna Frett-Gregory
heard in this transcript as: Donafright Gregory
2x
Senator Francis Heidegger
2x
Senator Frank Gregory
the surname alone also matches: Donna A. Frett-Gregory; Donna Frett-Gregory
2x
Senator Giovanni James Sr
the surname alone also matches: Javan James; Marise C. James; Neville James
heard in this transcript as: Giovanni James
2x
Senator Javon E. James Senior
heard in this transcript as: Jevan E. James Senior
2x
Senator Kakaula James-Joseph
the surname alone also matches: Carla Joseph; Clifford Joseph
2x
Senator Karla J. Joseph
the surname alone also matches: Carla Joseph; Clifford Joseph
heard in this transcript as: Karla J. Josephs
2x
Senator Kaye Part
heard in this transcript as: K. Park
2x
Senator Murray C. James
the surname alone also matches: Javan James; Marise C. James; Neville James
2x
Senator Nova Lee Francis Junior
1x
Senator Donna Frett-Gregory
heard in this transcript as: Donna A. Frett-Gregory
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 35-0009
Act 8704 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending title 1 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 11, section 171(a) relating to the
observance of national holidays and enacting The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to declare June 19 a
legal holiday in the Virgin Islands ---0
Bill 35-0026
Act 8714 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending title 22 Virgin Islands Code relating to insurers becoming members of a
Federal Home Loan Bank and matters relating thereto aa--Qe==
Bill 35-0068
Act 8720 · An Act authorizing the members of the Board of Medical Examiners to serve temporarily as de facto board
members of boards established under title 3 Virgin Islands Code, section 415 if a board does not have enough members
to establish a quorum ---0
Bill 35-0054
Act 8722 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending title 1 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 7, section 103b, relating to the Centennial
Treasures Award, to provide for a single, lumpsum award payment; making various appropriations, and suspending the
provisions of title 32 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 11, subchapter II ---0
Bill 35-0055
Act 8730 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending title 17 of the Virgin Islands Code pertaining to school curriculum in elementary
and secondary schools
Bill 35-0070
Act 8701 · An Act authorizing the Governor to utilize monies from public funds of the Virgin Islands to create working
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Legislature USVI · | Regular Session2
capital, to engage in a line of credit in the maximum amount of $100,000,000 to provide for the disbursement of funds
needed to advance disaster-related recovery projects that are reimbursable through federal flinding and other
disaster-related projects and provide funding to advance payment of the $45,000,000 towards the buyout of the
infrastructure agreement between the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and VITOL and the acquisition of the
LPG facilities and to issue the Series 2023 Notes ---0
Bill 35-0050
Act 8717 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, title 3, chapter 7, by designating the existing
provisions as subchapter I and adding a subchapter II establishing the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance
within the Virgin Islands Department of Education for budgetary purposes; amending title 33, chapter 111, section
3092a, changing the Education Maintenance Fund to the School Construction, Maintenance and Capital Fund; and
appropriating $2,000,000 and $5,500,000 from the Virgin Islands Education Initiative Fund to the School Construction,
Maintenance and Capital Fund and for other related purposes ---0
Act 8297
Act 8297 · March 27, 2020 · An Act amending title 30 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, subchapter V, section 127 by
reducing the amount of time that the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority can hack-bill customers, and by defining
the teim ·billing cycle· ---0
Act 8704
Act 8704 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending title 1 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 11, section 171(a) relating to the
observance of national holidays and enacting The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to declare June 19 a
legal holiday in the Virgin Islands ---0
Act 8714
Act 8714 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending title 22 Virgin Islands Code relating to insurers becoming members of a
Federal Home Loan Bank and matters relating thereto aa--Qe==
Act 8720
Act 8720 · An Act authorizing the members of the Board of Medical Examiners to serve temporarily as de facto board
members of boards established under title 3 Virgin Islands Code, section 415 if a board does not have enough members
to establish a quorum ---0
Act 8722
Act 8722 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending title 1 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 7, section 103b, relating to the Centennial
Treasures Award, to provide for a single, lumpsum award payment; making various appropriations, and suspending the
provisions of title 32 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 11, subchapter II ---0
Act 8730
Act 8730 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending title 17 of the Virgin Islands Code pertaining to school curriculum in elementary
and secondary schools
Act 8701
Act 8701 · An Act authorizing the Governor to utilize monies from public funds of the Virgin Islands to create working
capital, to engage in a line of credit in the maximum amount of $100,000,000 to provide for the disbursement of funds
needed to advance disaster-related recovery projects that are reimbursable through federal flinding and other
disaster-related projects and provide funding to advance payment of the $45,000,000 towards the buyout of the
infrastructure agreement between the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and VITOL and the acquisition of the
LPG facilities and to issue the Series 2023 Notes ---0
Act 8717
Act 8717 · April 14, 2023 · An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, title 3, chapter 7, by designating the existing
provisions as subchapter I and adding a subchapter II establishing the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance
within the Virgin Islands Department of Education for budgetary purposes; amending title 33, chapter 111, section
3092a, changing the Education Maintenance Fund to the School Construction, Maintenance and Capital Fund; and
appropriating $2,000,000 and $5,500,000 from the Virgin Islands Education Initiative Fund to the School Construction,
Maintenance and Capital Fund and for other related purposes ---0
Referred to but not found in our acts corpus: Bill 35-0042, Bill 35-0049, Bill 35-0061
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