In an effort to stem the illegal V.I. drug trade, senators in full session Tuesday passed legislation creating a new semiautonomous agency to specialize in drug enforcement operations.
The legislation, entitled the V.I. Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Act, replaces the V.I. Drug Enforcement Bureau, effectively dismantled by Gov. John deJongh Jr. in 2007 after being plagued by corruption and ineffectiveness for years.
Money to pay for the new organization would come from unexpended funds from the former drug enforcement bureau, along with a supplemental budget to be requested by an as yet unnamed director of the new bureau.
Lawmakers all agreed that illegal drugs and the violence associated with them are a rapidly growing problem in the territory.
“We need to try something new because what we’ve had happening to date is not working,” said Sen. Craig Barshinger.
The bill’s primary sponsor, Sen. Terrence “Positive” Nelson said a specialized agency is necessary because local police are already overextended. He also told senators that he wasn’t looking to target local youths who can get caught up in the drug trade, but the adults who are the major muscle behind it.
Sen. Celestino White Sr. agreed that there is a need for such an agency, but took issue with language mandating that all former employees of the drug enforcement bureau who were transferred to other government agencies be reinstated to the new bureau. White said bringing in the same old employees from a failed operation is only inviting failure to the new organization.
“It’s like you went out and played basketball for six hours, went home and took a shower – and put on the same briefs,” he said. “You haven’t done anything!”
In response to White’s concerns, Nelson amended the bill so that only non-agents could be hired back to the new agency.
All senators voted to pass the bill except Sen. Usie Richards, who was absent. The bill will be forwarded to deJongh to be signed into law.
Also approved Tuesday was an act appropriating $15 million to the V.I. Department of Education for the construction of a new St. Croix Central High School. The legislation calls for the plan to include a school for the creative and performing arts. It also mandates that the new structure be environmentally friendly.
To pay for the construction, $500,000 would be appropriated this year from the Internal Revenue Matching Fund, with an additional $5 million stretched out from 2011 to 2015.
“Let us not put a price tag on our children, said Sen. Sammuel Sanes, one of the bill’s sponsors.
The bill passed with all yeas, except from Sen. Nelson, who abstained from voting and Sen. Richards who was absent.
