As we gear up for the 2024 Senate elections, it’s crucial to know where each candidate stands on issues that matter most to our community. To keep you informed, The Source has compiled a list of key questions on pressing topics affecting the Virgin Islands. The answers below are from incumbent St. Thomas-St. John District Sen. Dwayne M. DeGraff:
Why are you running for office, what are your qualifications, and why should voters choose you?
As a current sitting senator, I am running for office to continue to serve the people of the territory. I have been a committed public servant for 40-plus years to include 26 years as a police officer and retired as a Deputy Chief. I also served 22-plus years with the Army National Guard where I spent one year in Baghdad, Iraq at war, returned home, and was honorably discharged. My entire personal and professional life has been engaged in selfless service and leadership in the community.
How would you address the high cost of living in the territory and the lack of affordable housing?
We can address the high cost of living through the establishment of new industries. We should consider marketing the territory by attracting new companies to manufacture goods and services that are necessary for the territory. This would bring about diversity and create choices. As it relates to affordable housing, we should consider evaluating existing properties to allow for container homes or incentivizing the current housing stock by providing tax incentive for items such as building homes for disability access or energy efficiency.
How would you improve the territory’s electrical grid and implementation of renewable energy?
To improve the energy grid, we need to diversify the grid with more renewable options; for example, expanding the use of wind, solar, and hydro energy methods. Implementation of renewable energy can be accomplished by establishing legislation to encourage more companies to create availability and access.
What would you do to expedite or improve the territory’s disaster recovery, which has dragged on for seven years now?
In order to expedite or improve the territory’s disaster recovery, I would seek monthly updates and/or reports from the executive branch and collaborate with the Delegate to get the federal funds moved on a more expedited basis.
What reforms would you propose to ensure our children are receiving the public education that they deserve?
In addition to boosting the free tuition program, we should consider legislation to create a collaborative nexus between the Department of Education, the Board of Education, and the University of the Virgin Islands. This would create a link between what is expected of our children from the elementary level to the post-secondary level.
What are your solutions to address violent crime in the territory, especially among young men?
Some solutions that can address violent crime are to enact legislation establishing mandatory conflict resolution classes in our schools, expansion of the gun-buy-back program, and the implementation of one of my enacted legislations, Act #8547, which prohibits the use of ghost guns in the territory as well as requiring the declaration of firearm components entering the territory.
How can the territory improve upon its tourism product while addressing growing concerns about over-tourism? Are we too reliant on cruise tourism and what can be done to bring more overnight visitors?
We should consider augmenting our tourist product by focusing more on sports tourism. Creating annual tournaments in soccer, cricket and horse-racing would generate overnight visitors. More athletic tournaments can attract not only persons from the United States, but persons from the neighboring Caribbean and international visitors. I do not believe we are overly reliant on cruise tourism as that is seasonal.
What would you propose to better support people dealing with mental illness, alcoholism, addiction, and homelessness?
Sadly, since the pandemic, these issues have increased throughout the United States and the territory. Coincidently, mental illness, alcoholism, addiction, and homelessness can be corresponding issues. We have been awarded millions of federal dollars to support these issues. I believe we need to continue to financially support our non-profit agencies, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Health to reach those in need.
What plans do you have to re-establish the libraries in the territory?
This very important issue is community affecting. We need to support any local and federal revenues by reopening and maintaining all libraries. We also need to consider redesigning the traditional library. We should consider designing libraries that can be virtually accessed, to include the use of artificial intelligence.
How can we provide access to affordable healthcare for individuals and small businesses?
Collaborate with our Delegate and the executive branch to revisit access through the Affordable Care Act. We should also consider incentivizing health care companies to come to the territory to diversify our local insurance industry. Greater access and availability will drive down cost.
Please tell us about any of your other priorities for the territory that are not addressed in the questions above.
I have always advocated for those that are most vulnerable in our territory — our seniors, our veterans, and our disabled. First, on my immediate radar is establishing senior facilities, one in each district that will house independent and geriatric persons. Finally, in accordance with Act 8650, I am awaiting the final rendering and building of a veteran’s multipurpose center that will provide an all-purpose venue for veteran services.
And finally, if you could have one superpower to move the V.I. forward, what would it be and why?
If I had a superpower, it would be a mind-controller. I would use my superpower to bring peace around the world. Peace is globally affecting. I would also use it to influence the decision to increase the rum cover-over funds, to receive all past due and future monies from the gasoline taxes, create an overall territorial master plan to maintain unification of the territory, to provide housing, health, and financial access for all.
