FLOOR 
07/20/2023 – SPECIAL ORDERED TO THE FLOOR 
 
 
BILL NO. 
35-0114 
 
Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
July 20, 2023 
 
 
 
A Resolution honoring and commending the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games 
Gold Medal winners, and for other related purposes 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
 
Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Novelle E. Francis, Jr.,  
Kenneth L. Gittens, Marvin A. Blyden, Milton E. Potter,  
Alma Francis Heyliger, Diane T. Capehart, Marise C. James,  
Carla J. Joseph, Ray Fonseca, Javan E. James, Sr.,  
Dwayne M. DeGraff, Franklin D. Johnson, Samuel Carrión and 
Angel L. Bolques, Jr. 
WHEREAS, the Central American and Caribbean Games is a multi-sport regional 
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championship event held every four years between 32 countries and 5 territories throughout 
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Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and Caribbean countries in South America; 
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WHEREAS, the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games was held in San Salvador, 
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El Salvador from June 23, 2023, to July 8, 2023; 
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WHEREAS, the Virgin Islands Senior Women National Basketball Team represented the 
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United States Virgin Islands in the women's team basketball competition; 
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WHEREAS, members of the Virgin Islands Senior Women’s National Basketball Team 
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who competed in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games include players: Kaya 
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Evans, Naja Ngongba, Kadasha Barry, Imani Tate, November Morton, Keshara Romain, Natalie 
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Kleeman-Day, Anisha George, Lanese Bough, J-Naya Ephraim and Shomyra Francis;  
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WHEREAS,  the coaching, training and support staff consisted of: Head coach, Tajama 
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Ngongba; Assistant coach, Clint Williams; Team Manager, Rufus Horton; and Support and 
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Training Staff, La Reina Robinson; 
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WHEREAS, Nicholas D’Amour represented the Virgin Islands in the male archer 
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competition; 
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WHEREAS, Nicholas D’Amour and the members of the Virgin Islands Senior Women’s 
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Basketball Team performed phenomenally, surpassing their competitors, and earned Gold 
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Medals in their division; 
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WHEREAS, the Gold Medal win for the Senior Women’s National Basketball Team is 
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the first ever win for the Virgin Islands in a team sport at the Central American and Caribbean 
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Games; 
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WHEREAS, these athletes represent the 11th and 12th Gold Medal win in the history of 
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the operations of the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee dating back to the 1966 Central 
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American Caribbean Games; and 
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WHEREAS, the Virgin Islands Senior Women’s Basketball Team and Nicholas 
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D’Amour demonstrated incredible athleticism and serve as a phenomenal representation in the 
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international arena of determination and talent in the United States Virgin Islands. Now, 
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Therefore, 
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Be it resolved by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands:  
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SECTION 1.  The Legislature of the Virgin Islands, on behalf of the people of the Virgin 
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Islands, honors and commends the Virgin Islands Senior Women’s Basketball Team and 
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Nicholas D’Amour for their gold medal win, athleticism, and exceptional representation for the 
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United States Virgin Islands in the international arena. 
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SECTION 2.  The President of the Legislature or the President’s designee shall prepare 
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and present a perma plaque copy of this Resolution to each member of the Virgin Islands Senior 
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Women’s Basketball Team, the Virgin Islands Basketball Federation, and Nicholas D’Amour 
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at the celebration activities in recognition of the athletes. 
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SECTION 3.  (a) The sum of $75,000 is appropriated from the Tourism Advertising 
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Revolving Fund in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, to the Virgin Islands Olympic 
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Committee to award $5,000 to Nicholas D”Amour and to each of the eleven members of the 
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Virgin Islands Senior Women’s Basketball Team, namely: Kaya Evans, Naja Ngongba, 
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Kadasha Barry, Imani Tate, November Morton, Keshara Romain, Natalie Kleeman-Day, Anisha 
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George, Lanese Bough, J-Naya Ephraim and Shomyra Francis. 
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(b) 
The Virgin Islands Olympic Committee shall award the remaining $15,000 to the 
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Virgin Islands Basketball Federation to be used for the celebration activities.  The Virgin Islands 
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Olympic Committee is subject to and must comply with the reporting requirements of title 29 
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Virgin Islands Code, section 29. 
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SECTION 4.  The sum of $5,000 is appropriated from the Tourism Advertising 
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Revolving Fund in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, to the Legislature of the Virgin 
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Islands be used to fund the activities described in Section 2 of this resolution. 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This resolution honors and commends the Virgin Islands Women’s Senior Basketball 
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Team and Nicholas D’Amour for their Gold Medal wins in the 2023 Central American and 
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Caribbean Games and makes and appropriation to the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee to 
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award the gold medalists $5,000 each and to award the Virgin Islands Basketball Federation 
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$15,000 to fund a celebration for the athletes.  The resolution also provides for a $5,000 
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appropriation of to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands to fund the presentation of the perma 
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plaque ceremony. 
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BR23-0644/July 20, 2023/SLR  
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