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Updated: Governor Calls Another Special Session, Senate Asks Him to Call It Off

Gov. John deJongh Jr. has called a special session of the Legislature for Wednesday to approve a Coastal Zone Management permit for dredging for cruise ships and for bond funding of V.I. Port Authority projects. But Senate President Shaun-Michael Malone has requested the governor withdraw the request because the same legislation will be on the agenda at a session a few days later.

In a statement, deJongh said he called the session at the request of VIPA Chairman Robert O’Connor Jr.The CZM permit was on the agenda for session scheduled Monday, but that session was canceled Friday.

The permit in question would allow VIPA to dredge the East Gregerie Channel in Crown Bay and a section of the area along the northern portion of the pier at the Austin "Babe" Monsanto Marine Terminal. Cruise lines asked for the dredging, V.I. Port Authority Director Carlton "Ital" Dowe told the Rules and Judiciary Committee, which recommended approval.

Dowe said the work is critical to the Virgin Islands economy as St. Thomas stands to lose cruise ship calls in the 2015 cruise season if the ships are unable to berth safely in Crown Bay. If it is completed on schedule, St. Thomas may see an increase in cruise traffic, he said.

Dowe said VIPA submitted a joint CZM and Army Corps of Engineers permit application in April of 2013. They have received approval from the CZM commission and expect the rest of the permitting process to be competed before the end of summer. If that happens, dredging should begin in September and be completed in November, Dowe said.

Dredging should cost $3.5 million and the board is looking to find the best option to fund it, he said.

DeJongh said, "It is imperative that this project be approved now if it is to progress without disruption as we approach the busy tourist season. He said failure to complete the dredging by the deadline will result in the immediate cancellation of 13 cruise ships to Crown Bay, representing the loss of more than $7 million in spending by over 38,000 passengers.

DeJongh is also submitting a proposal to remove language from an existing act authorizing VIPA to issue bonds for work on Crown Bay, Gallows Bay and the Ann Abramson Pier. The language change would let VIPA refund the bonds without returning to the Legislature for approval. The current law that requires them to return for approval is "unlike what is required of other semi-autonomous agencies," according to Government House.

This is the second special session in as many weeks. DeJongh called a session for July 16 for legislation to make it possible for the government to borrow money to cover part of its current budget deficit and other purposes. (See Related Links below)

Malone sent a letter in response, saying this was unnecessary as he was calling the body into regular session July 28 and both the CZM permit and the consideration of an amendment to the law affecting VIPA bonding are on the agenda planned for that date.

"We delayed the session scheduled for July 21, 2014 because our Legal Counsel’s Office needed additional time to adequately prepare for the regular session after already being called into Special Session earlier this week by our Governor on July 16," Malone said.

Malone asked the Governor to withdraw his request "in the spirit of cooperation between the two branches" and indicated that it was a waste of resources to hold three sessions within the span of two weeks.

"I am requesting your favorable consideration of this request as I am assuring you this matter will be given full consideration when the body convenes in formal session on July 28, 2014," Malone wrote to deJongh.

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