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 St. Croix District incumbent Kenneth L. Gittens.
Why are you running for office, what are your qualifications, and why should voters choose you?
I am running for office because I love my home and want to be a real contributing factor in the shaping of our territory. I do hold an Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Administration, which have equipped me with a diverse skill set and a strong foundation in policy analysis, economics, and social justice. This educational background, combined with my extensive hands-on work experience in the executive and legislative branches, allows me to tackle complex issues effectively and advocate for policies that truly benefit our territory.
Voters should choose me because I am an experienced community leader who is committed to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to find solutions on their behalf. I prioritize transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in my approach. Together, we can build a brighter future for our territory, focusing on education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for everyone. I am ready to continue my experience and passion in the 36th Legislature to serve all of the people and their needs.
How would you address the high cost of living in the territory and the lack of affordable housing?
I would continue to advocate for increasing investment in affordable housing projects in the territory. This includes working with local developers to create incentives for building more affordable units and ensuring that our residents have access to safe and affordable places to live.
I would also continue to push policies that promote economic growth and job creation, which can help raise incomes and alleviate financial pressure on individuals and families. This includes supporting small businesses and attracting new industries to our territory, fostering a more diverse and resilient economy. I also believe in collaborating with community organizations to address immediate needs, such as food security and financial education, which can help families manage their budgets more effectively.
How would you improve the territory’s electrical grid and implementation of renewable energy?
Improving our territory’s electrical grid and implementing renewable energy solutions is critical for sustainability and resilience. We must invest in modernizing our grid infrastructure to enhance efficiency and reliability. This includes integrating smart technology to manage energy distribution more effectively. Simultaneously, we must prioritize renewable energy projects like solar and wind and providing incentives for local installations and supporting community-based initiatives, which also create jobs.
What would you do to expedite or improve the territory’s disaster recovery, which has dragged on for seven years now?
I believe in order to expedite disaster recovery in the territory, we need to streamline processes and improve coordination among federal and local authorities. This means ensuring that funding is released more quickly and that bureaucratic hurdles are minimized.
We should also hear from those in our community and prioritize their input to identify the most pressing needs and make certain that recovery efforts are fitted to their needs. Also, fostering partnerships or relationships with local organizations can help activate resources more effectively and help residents rebuild. It’s also crucial that we learn from past experiences and make future responses more efficient and effective.
What reforms would you propose to ensure our children are receiving the public education that they deserve?
To ensure our children receive the public education they deserve, I would continue to properly fund our education system and maintain proper oversight to ensure effective spending and maximum utilization of resources. Additionally, I would encourage our education system to invest in teacher training and higher salaries in order to retain experienced teachers. Also, I will continue to promote and support initiatives geared towards the expansion of early childhood education, which sets a strong base for learning. And with all the school violence that we’ve seen in our school system, I would make a push for comprehensive mental health services in schools. Our students must have an outlet and parents must become more involved in their children’s education.
What are your solutions to address violent crime in the territory, especially among young men?
To address crime and violence among young people, we need a comprehensive approach that includes investing in education, mental health services, and community programs. By providing safe spaces, mentorship opportunities, and job training, we can empower our youth and give them positive alternatives. Collaboration with law enforcement and community organizations is also crucial to ensure that young people feel supported and engaged. Together, we can create a safer environment for everyone.
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?
When it comes to tourism, I believe St. Croix can certainly absorb a great deal more in terms of both day and overnight visitors before there is a negative impact on our quality of life. However, we all know that overnight guests add much more to our local economy. I agree with the Tourism Department that one of the best ways to attract overnight guests is through a great experience here on a cruise ship visit. We need to do much more to ensure that all these cruise passengers have an amazing time here on St. Croix. I have been in recent communication with Tourism requesting that more be done to ensure that Frederiksted, in particular, is ready for the influx of visits we expect this season. Further, we must continue to work towards attracting a branded hotel on St. Croix, which would bring many more overnight guests and also ensure more flights in and out of the island.
What would you propose to better support people dealing with mental illness, alcoholism, addiction, and homelessness?
As a current sitting senator, I have been advocating for increased funding for mental health services, ensuring that care is accessible and for the build of a mental health facility for in-patient and out-patient services. I have also worked on legislation that improves housing stability. Additionally, I plan to continue supporting initiatives that promote rehabilitation, job training and employment opportunities for individuals in recovery.
What plans do you have to reestablish the libraries in the territory?
Libraries are vital to our community’s growth and education. I’m committed to reestablishing and enhancing our public libraries, and I believe they deserve dedicated support. That’s why I’ve drafted legislation to remove public libraries from under the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, creating a stand-alone Office of Libraries and Cultural Affairs. This will allow us to focus on their unique needs, secure sustainable funding, and expand programs that promote literacy, technology access, and cultural engagement.
How can we provide access to affordable healthcare for individuals and small businesses?
Access to affordable healthcare is a priority for me, and I believe we can take several steps to make it a reality for individuals and small businesses; I support expanding subsidies for health insurance to lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs; also, I believe in properly funding our public health clinics within the Department of Health. I will advocate for and/or encourage small businesses to come together to offer group insurance plans, making coverage more accessible and affordable.
Please tell us about any of your other priorities for the territory that are not addressed in the questions above.
There are two measures that I have worked hard on that each positively impact education and healthcare here in the Territory. Act No. 8506 creates a training program in our high schools for Emergency Medical Technicians. This program will enable our young people to graduate with a skill and help address the local shortage of EMTs. I am currently working on legislation creating a partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands for the use of their Medical School Simulation Center for this training and for young EMTs to be able to further their education at UVI. I am also the primary sponsor of Act 8801, which expands the legal definition from “school nurse” to “school health technician.” We are all too aware of the shortage of Registered Nurses both locally and nationally. This new definition will allow for Licensed Practical Nurses and other medical professionals to work at our schools under the supervision of a medical doctor or Registered Nurse.
And finally, if you could have one superpower to move the V.I. forward, what would it be and why?
If I had one superpower to move the Virgin Islands forward, I would end the culture of waste, fraud and abuse the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. I would like to see reliable and affordable energy for all. Problems at WAPA negatively impact every one of us and contribute immensely to the high cost of living here in the territory. The lack of reliable and affordable energy also greatly inhibits our economic growth.
