Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach is out of the territory to attend meetings with the director of the National Park Service to address long-standing issues regarding the Virgin Islands National Park Service (VINPS) and hardships facing St. John landowners and residents.
“There has been continued engagement between my office and residents of St. John who are landowners. They have shared their ongoing frustrations regarding the inability to access parcels for which they are paying property taxes. It is imperative that this matter be raised on a federal level on behalf of taxpayers whose parcels fall within the park’s boundaries,” said Roach.
The lieutenant governor requested in-person meetings with the National Park Service to engage in discussions geared at resolving the land access issues. He is accompanied by a small contingent of staff, landowners and advocates who are intimately aware of the issues.
Roach will return to the territory on Wednesday, Aug. 31. During his absence, Senate President Donna Frett Gregory will assume the duties of the lieutenant governor, as per the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands.
