Lingering doubts over the proposed transfer of the V.I. Waste Management Authority to the central government prompted senators Thursday to send a bill authorizing the change back to committee for further consideration.
Thursday’s decision, made in a full session of the Legislature, came on the heels of a meeting held Wednesday to discuss the pros and cons of the proposal, which has long been advocated for by Gov. John deJongh Jr., but has been languishing in the Senate for years.
The crux of the government’s argument has been that because the WMA still relies in large part on the General Fund, it should have more oversight from the executive branch. The argument has been further fueled by concerns over the authority’s performance; its operating under two federal consent decrees; and its inability, as a autonomous government agency, to collect the fees it needs to stand on its own.
While WMA and other government officials showed support for the proposal during Wednesday’s hearing, senators Thursday said they were still skeptical that making the move would improve anything, so instead of approving the bill, they sent it back to the Senate’s Committee on Planning and Environmental Protection for more debate, and possible amendments.
All other bills on the agenda Thursday were approved, however, including one that adds Contant and Frenchtown to the list of V.I. towns affected by a five-year moratorium on new bar and tavern licenses. The ban currently applies to Frederiksted and Christiansted on St. Croix, and Savan on St. Thomas.
Sponsored by Sens. Carlton "Ital" Dowe and Shawn-Michael Malone, the bill initially removed the reference to Frederiksted and Christiansted, allowing the five year-old moratorium to expire, but was put back in at urging of Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Wayne Biggs after a recent Senate committee hearing.
While some senators said Thursday that they still had concerns the ban would stymie the development of certain businesses — such as nightclubs — in these areas, Malone made it clear that the licenses specifically target establishments that serve only liquor and beer. A restaurant with a bar would not be included, he added.
Speaking candidly, Sen. Sammuel Sanes said that even if the bill is approved, the government still has to take a hard look at some of the establishments popping up in the historic towns, which also function as prostitution houses that aren’t being regulated by either the Police or Licensing and Consumer Affairs departments.
Also approved during Thursday’s full session were bills that:
— make it illegal to import gaming machines into the territory without Casino Control Commission or V.I. Lottery authorization and setting a maximum fine of $25,000;
— require casino developers to market the territory as a destination, as a condition of their license;
–petition the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to increase the duty-free exemption on items purchased abroad by U.S. residents returning from the territory;
— name the road that runs north to south, from the Wesley Methodist Church to Joseph E. Gomez Elementary School on St. Thomas, the "Rubena G. Todman-Gutliffe Drive;"
— allows small businesses looking to move the territory to hire local employees based on the company’s net income; and
–naming the roadway beginning at the intersection of Route 107 and Route 108 — up to Picture Point — on St. John the "Calvert C. Marsh Road."
Present during Thursday’s session were Sens. Craig W. Barshinger, Dowe, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Louis P. Hill, Neville James, Malone, Terrence "Positive" Nelson, Nereida Rivera-O’Reilly, Usie R. Richards, Ronald E. Russell, Sanes, Patrick Simeon Sprauve, Celestino A. White Sr. and Janette Millin-Young.
Sen. Alvin L. Williams was absent.
