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 write-in candidate Nellie O’Reilly.
Why are you running for office, what are your qualifications, and why should voters choose you?
I am running for office as a Write-In candidate because I believe I can have a positive impact in the Legislature to effectuate much needed change. As a former 5 term senator (10 years) in the district of St. Croix, my record shows that I was able to sponsor and influence the passage of meaningful and far-reaching legislation that has helped to improve government operations and community projects. I feel that it is time for me to no longer stand on the sidelines. I hold a BS degree in Business Management and Finance. After leaving the Senate in 2018, I became a business partner in Sonya’s Fine Island Jewelry. As the hands-on managing partner since 2019, I have seen first-hand the challenges confronting small businesses in the territory and moreover St. Croix. I care deeply about our territory, about St. Croix in particular. St. Croix is lagging in economic growth, in community development, in infrastructure repairs, businesses are suffering, our best and brightest are leaving, the quality of life in our community has deteriorated. These are just a few of a long list of other concerns. St. Croix is suffering and needs someone who is committed to working directly on behalf of St. Croix. I am the advocate that St. Croix needs. As a Write-In candidate, I know that I have the expertise, commitment and energy to craft a vision forward that addresses our neglected issues with a focus on addressing healthcare, mental illness and all the disadvantages that stymie St. Croix’s growth and progress.
How would you address the high cost of living in the territory and the lack of affordable housing?
I will focus on expanding the St. Croix population in a culturally responsible way to encourage economic growth. A few of my priorities are: (1) Enter] into a public private partnership with established healthcare systems and mental health service providers off island to bring improved services to the island. This will allow St. Croix to establish itself as a destination for medical tourism and a place where residents can receive medical attention right here at home; (2) Engage a national builder to develop communities for retirees (55+) as well as micro-communities to expand affordable housing for residents; (3) Re-direct funding to create a revolving loan program for residents and small business to access renewable energy and fund legal services to assist with probate administration of derelict buildings in the downtown districts. Use the law passed in 2009 requiring grocery stores to provide DLCA with all shipping manifests that include the cost of goods. This will allow us to identify price gouging and foster competition.
How would you improve the territory’s electrical grid and implementation of renewable energy?
First and foremost, I will push for a full-scale, in-depth analysis and assessment of WAPA and our energy needs territory-wide. Once we know this, we can then begin to explore private partners and the refinery in providing energy solutions to the island of St. Croix. We can also expand renewable energy through the implementation of a revolving loan program to subsidize renewable energy for residents and small businesses. We should also open transmission lines to private power generators through Power Purchase agreements. I will also advocate restructuring the WAPA board by electing its members and removing the control of the electrical plant from the executive branch.
What would you do to expedite or improve the territory’s disaster recovery, which has dragged on for seven years now?
One of my first undertakings if elected would be to call for an immediate meeting with all the stakeholders to find out where all the projects stand, what timelines they must adhere to, what impediments have impacted completion and what must be done to move them forward. As a former senator I was a watchdog for our people and was not afraid to hold agencies accountable. I will continue to do so. I will continue, as before, to ask tough questions. I will continue to push for accountability at every stage and level. My commitment to transparency is clear. I sponsored the VI Transparency Act in 2010. I will push vigorously for the legislature to hold monthly hearings on the progress of projects funded by disaster recovery funds. In addition, I will move for greater oversight of all federal funds and grants to ensure timely disbursement, spending and reporting. We must utilize every dollar and not return any funds from a lack of effective management. Finally, the Legislature needs to fully vet appointees and not rubber stamp agency heads. They should present a plan on how to improve the agencies they aim to represent. Often the people running the critical agencies do not have the experience necessary to execute the department’s mandates.
What reforms would you propose to ensure our children are receiving the public education that they deserve?
Education reform is about how public schools operate, how teachers teach and how our schools are managed. We have a top-heavy education administration. We have stalled repair projects that impact student learning. Reform must consider our students’ socio-economic status. Reform must also look at working to resolve the wide array of issues affecting students’ learning and teachers teaching. We must address and build partnerships with doctors, mental health practitioners and community and businesses to meet the whole child’s needs and family needs. We must address incentives for our teachers. We must look at placing full decision-making and accountability at the school level for administrators to operate budgets and push for individual school reforms. This is why I also support other evidenced-based educational initiatives such as gender-based education. I also support piloting a selective Charter or a magnet school, to create academic excellence and teacher motivation and innovation. There are other federally funded education grants that allow for such innovative reforms that we should explore. I support expanding the authority of the Board of Education, to require BOE members to have extensive education backgrounds and degrees. We need to give the board the ability to hire the superintendent of education and to be able to create standards and monitor departmental progress. The current structure doesn’t work. Additionally, our students need extended day learning in facilities that are safe. I also support early intervention to identify mental illness. Students displaying anxiety or depression should be evaluated and provided with supplemental services to include home visits and support for parents and other siblings. I also support establishing a CTEC community college for students who seek alternatives to a 4-year degree at UVI. In the final analysis, education should be about creating opportunities for futures, for creativity, for building and realizing dreams. And how that is cultivated from day 1 is important.
What are your solutions to address violent crime in the territory, especially among young men?
Research shows that at-risk behaviors start in the home, with peers and with a lack of activities. A lot of our young men face societal pressures that expose them to trauma and stress and have no outlets or community agencies to guide them. Young people need activities to keep them busy and engaged. They need skills training and workforce development. The Economic Development Authority provides tax incentives for the development of youth-related activities. This program must be widely promoted to incentivize the development of youth recreation activities. The shutdown Sunshine Mall should be promoted to potential investors to develop activities such as rock climbing, mini golf, go-carts, and skating. Early intervention as mentioned above will help us identify areas of concern and address the core problems at home. I propose increasing funding for summer jobs and apprenticeships. Improving education and providing therapeutic outlets is paramount in addressing violence. There needs to be a more concerted effort between the Department of Human Services and the juvenile court to work with the VI National Guard Youth Challenge Academy. Funding increases for Out-of-school and after-school programs that focus on a variety of project-based and skills-based activities must become a priority. Dedicating and the strategic placement of resources are critical. On a more immediate basis we need to increase salaries for police officers, cap overtime, implement a robust recruitment program and offer longevity bonuses. Need to install cameras at all stoplights to be able to capture those who violate traffic laws as well as be able to document criminal activities. In addition, I support installing metal detectors at all ports and post offices.
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 are island destinations with great beauty and people look to escape in such settings for multiple reasons. We have relied on tourism as an economic driver for decades. Tourism is and must be recognized as a powerful driver of sustainable economic growth and prosperity. Tourism is not only about tourists but also about giving small businesses and entrepreneurs an opportunity to thrive, to build niche businesses to support themselves and their families and about exposing unique aspects of our culture through these small businesses. It can be a win-win for all sides. St. Croix provides a unique experience for visitors. While it would be wise to develop ways to grow our medium and long-term visitor-ship, cruise ship passengers and overnight visitors have sustained our tourism industry. Until we can grow other sectors effectively, we must continue to grow all sectors of our tourism product to continue to be competitive. At the same time, we must be mindful of the effect of tourism exposure on climate change, sustainability, crowding and the overall impact on our local communities. We must be forward thinkers and discuss policies and practices where our residents, businesses and our beaches and other natural resources can be sustained in a resilient way, respectful of our biodiversity and our local needs. On St. Croix, we can continue to grow by carrying out legislation passed to study the feasibility of developing an adventure park in Frederiksted. This would provide entertainment for all visitors as well as residents. The Gallows Bay port is poised to host luxury liners once the port authority can relocate the cargo activities to the south shore. Expansion of the boardwalk, and the rehabilitation of downtown Christiansted will be critical to provide high net worth cruise passengers with a memorable experience. St. Croix is also a popular diving destination. To compete with other destinations, we need to open the market to the Ride Share industry. I propose to consider bifurcating the Tourism Department to ensure fair promotion of St. Croix. I also propose to turn over the management of the St. Croix piers to WICO or another private entity.
What would you propose to better support people dealing with mental illness, alcoholism, addiction, and homelessness?
I support entering Public Private Partnerships with established providers of mental health services and substance abuse to build and operate an in-patient and outpatient facility. We should immediately work on repurposing a building to house the homeless and connect them to services. The man camp units are perfect to get this initiative off the ground. We need to encourage churches and pastors to be more involved and support those in need. I propose establishing a mental health court to manage the intervention and treatment of individuals with mental illness and substance abuse. I propose amendments to the Cannabis legalization law to ensure that we protect children by controlling access to edibles and ensuring that businesses that engage in the sale of these products do it in a safe and responsible manner.
What plans do you have to reestablish the libraries in the territory?
Libraries are often important safe spaces where children and young people have access to levels of knowledge and positive experiences they may not be exposed to anywhere else. Boosting programs in libraries could be a good way to provide families with places to bring children, as well as places where young people look for positive peer interactions and new learning experiences.
Libraries should be placed under the University of the Virgin Islands. DPNR has no business operating libraries. Community hours should be focused on directing students to work in libraries and offer after school and tutoring programs at these locations.
How can we provide access to affordable healthcare for individuals and small businesses?
The government health insurance program should be opened to residents and small businesses. I also propose eliminating the gross receipt tax and replacing it with a sales tax of 6%. I believe this will alleviate the cost of doing business and allow small business to offer health insurance benefits to employees. A long-term plan should include setting aside a portion of the sales taxes to build a national health insurance program.
.Please tell us about any of your other priorities for the territory that are not addressed in the questions above.
We need to change the way we govern. We need a mayor for each district. The funding used to operate the administrator’s office can be converted to fund a mayor’s office. This is crucial as residents rely heavily on the members of the senate to address their day-to-day challenges. The mayor’s office needs to be a resource to residents when navigating government bureaucracy. This would allow us to implement a part-time legislature. I support sub districts for the election of senators, and I support a part-time senate.
And finally, if you could have one superpower to move the V.I. forward, what would it be and why?
My commitment to solving problems. I believe that my past experiences both personal, in business and as a former senator have provided me with deep insight into what it takes to bring solutions to problems. I would push my colleagues relentlessly to have open, honest and frank discussions about our problems, about creative solutions, about accountability and about caring for the communities we represent. I believe I have the power to influence others to do good. I would use my strong persuasive skills to bring people together. All my experiences to date have helped me to cultivate strength, resilience and endurance. I would use these characteristics to challenge the status quo. I would encourage friends and foes and colleagues to put service above self and to keep the future of our young people at the center of all the policies they implement. I would challenge them to leave a legacy of far-reaching good for our future generations.
