36TH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS  
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 
 
 
The Honorable Senator Milton E. Potter 
President 
  
 
 
Testimony Presented By 
The Honorable Justa Encarnacion, RN, BSN, MBA/HCM 
Commissioner of Health 
 
 
 
 
on 
Bill #36-0270 (An act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-20, St. Croix to rezone Parcel Nos. 
11-F and 11-G Estate Penitentiary Land, Company Quarter, St. Croix from R-3 (Residential-Medium 
Density) to P (Public)) will be considered by the 36th Legislature’s Committee of the Whole 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
VIDOH Testimony on Bill No. 36-0270 
May 11, 2026 
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Good day, Honorable Milton E. Potter, Senate President, and Senators of the 36th Legislature of 
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the Virgin Islands of the United States; and those viewing and listening. I am Reuben Molloy, 
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Assistant Commissioner of Health for the Virgin Islands Department of Health. Joining me 
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today, is Anisha Stanley, Director of Project Management.  
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We come before you today to testify on Bill No. 36-0270, an act amending Official Zoning Map 
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No. SCZ-20, St. Croix, to rezone Parcel Nos. 11-F and 11-G Estate Penitentiary Land, Company 
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Quarter, St. Croix from R-3 (Residential-Medium Density) to P (Public). 
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These parcels are currently in use for essential public health operations, including two VIDOH 
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divisions, the Certified Public Health Laboratory, and the Emergency Medical Services State 
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Office, which supports our regulatory functions. It also includes, with supporting parking and 
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logistical access. This request does not introduce a new use but rather aligns the zoning 
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designation with the existing and ongoing public use of the property. Approval of this measure 
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will support continuity of critical health services and provide necessary regulatory clarity for 
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government operations. 
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Importantly, this rezoning is also a critical component of the planned rebuild and long-term 
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modernization of the Donna M. Christensen Public Health Facility. The transition from 
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residential to public zoning provides the legal and planning framework necessary for the 
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Department to move forward with infrastructure redevelopment, future capital investment, and 
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federal funding opportunities tied to public-use facilities. It ensures that the property can 
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appropriately support expanded public health operations, emergency preparedness activities, 
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laboratory modernization, and integrated community health services designed to meet the 
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growing needs of the Territory. 
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VIDOH Testimony on Bill No. 36-0270 
May 11, 2026 
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The rezoning also strengthens the Department’s ability to responsibly plan for resiliency, 
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accessibility, parking, emergency response coordination, and future public health expansion 
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while ensuring compliance with land-use requirements. Simply put, without proper zoning 
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alignment, the Territory risks delays and limitations in rebuilding critical public health 
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infrastructure that serves the people of St. Croix and the Virgin Islands as a whole. 
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The Department respectfully requests your favorable consideration of this measure. 
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Honorable Senate President Potter and all Senators present, thank you for your time and your 
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commitment to the health of our community, and for your support as we continue to expand and 
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improve our healthcare infrastructure. We stand ready to answer any questions you may have. 
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