Edwin Simon Dies at 86
Bryan Approves Cannabis Rules and Regulations; Officials Say Severe Weather Coming
Election 2024 Nomination Deadline Spurs Intense Race: Incumbents, Former Officials, and New Hopefuls Vie for Office
Tuesday marked the official close of nomination petitions, revealing a heated race ahead with incumbents vying for reelection, former officials attempting comebacks, and a surge of new contenders, especially from St. Croix, eager to seize their chance at office.
The Elections System released the official list of candidates late Tuesday night, tallying 43 Senate hopefuls across two districts, three for Delegate to Congress, seven for seats on the Board of Education, and 14 for the Board of Elections. Additionally, 21 petitions were filed for Constitutional Convention delegates.
St. Thomas-St. John
In the Senate race, six incumbents have filed for reelection, joined by 11 challengers, including a few familiar faces, like St. Thomas-Water Island Administrator Avery Lewis. Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced in a press release Tuesday night that he had appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Kevin Rodriguez to serve in Lewis’ place temporarily, as candidates must take a leave of absence from government jobs upon filing their nomination petitions.
“Avery Lewis has served the St. Thomas/Water Island district with dedication and a deep commitment to our community. While he will be missed in his role, we fully support his decision to pursue a seat in the 36th legislature and wish him well in his future endeavors,” Bryan said in his statement.
Rodriguez, according to the Elections System, is running uncontested as the Democratic Party’s National Committee Man.
In the At-Large race, St. John Sen. Angel Bolques Jr. is aiming to reclaim his seat, facing a challenge from Senate hopeful Lorelei Monsanto. During a hearing Tuesday, Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory announced that she would not be seeking reelection.
Ida Smith has filed her candidacy for Delegate to Congress, and seven have submitted petitions for Constitutional Convention delegate. Within the party ranks, three candidates have filed for District Chair of the Democratic Party, five for the party’s Territorial District Committee, and eight for the Territorial Committee At-Large.
Stedmann Hodge Jr. is seeking to reclaim his position as the party’s State Chair, while Riise Richards has filed for National Committee Woman.
St. Croix
According to the listing sent by Elections Tuesday night, incumbent Sen. Javan James will not be returning to the race, though the remaining six sitting senators — Diane Capehart, Samuel Carrion, Novelle Francis, Kenneth Gittens, Marise James, and Franklin Johnson — are. Joining the race are former Senators Oakland Benta, who also ran for lieutenant governor in the last gubernatorial election, along with Norman Jn Baptiste, Nereida “Nellie” O’Reilly, Genevieve Whitaker, and Kurt Vialet. Additionally, 15 more petitions for Senate have been filed, with challengers including Jelani Ritter and attorney Russell Pate.
In the congressional race, Delegate Stacey E. Plaskett has filed her bid for reelection, challenged by former gubernatorial candidate Ronald Pickard. Fourteen candidates have filed petitions for Constitutional Convention delegate.
Eight candidates are vying for positions on the Board of Elections, three for the Board of Education, and within the Democratic Party, 10 have filed for a spot on the Territorial District Committee, along with two candidates for Territorial Committee At-Large. Carol Burke has filed her petition for State Chair of the Democratic Party, with Ophelia Williams Jackson running for District Chair.
Frett-Gregory Not Seeking Re-Election; Governor’s Financial Team Dodges Revenue Hearing
Fragmented Websites, High Costs Plague V.I. Government’s Online Presence, Senator Says
Senator Samuel Carriόn raised concerns this week about the V.I. government’s disjointed web presence, citing issues from “tremendous” maintenance and design costs to a lack of accessibility for users with disabilities. Carriόn sponsored a bill he said was “both practical and necessary” to address these problems. After receiving testimony Monday, the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection unanimously voted to send the bill to the Rules and Judiciary Committee for further consideration. This move signifies a potential step towards a more streamlined and user-friendly online government experience, Carriόn said.
“We will have to invest in our Bureau of Information Technology, however, we will save in the long run, while making all government interactions more efficient and user-friendly,” he added.
According to testimony at the hearing, the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA) bill aims to improve websites and digital services throughout the Virgin Islands Government and conform to federal handicap-accessible regulations.
Stephan Adams, CEO of Next Generation Network, called the bill “fantastic.” He recommended that the government establish a centralized government website that “would enable Virgin Islanders to easily navigate between all agencies in a single online visit, ensuring a common user experience. He added it would also allow the use of a “shopping cart” for multiple service transactions.”
Julien Henley, the government’s ADA coordinator, testified that the bill would ensure accessibility to individuals with disabilities.
Rupert O. Ross, director of the Bureau of Information Technology, offered words of caution. He testified, “While the bill is comprehensive and aligns with Governor Bryan’s vision for a digital and accessible government, areas require further attention, particularly funding and governance mechanisms. These aspects, if not clearly outlined, will likely pose challenges during implementation.”
He received support from Henley, who said, “BIT is well-positioned to spearhead efforts in implementing the Act. However, it’s essential to acknowledge the challenges BIT may face in reallocating resources to address the bill’s new priorities. Meeting the bill’s requirements may prove challenging without additional resources and support.”
Senators discussed whether federal grant money would be available to support the effort.
Sen. Carla Joseph said the General Fund of the Virgin Islands was limited in what help it could give.
“We presently have each of our various agencies individually contracting out the design, hosting, and maintenance of their websites at a tremendous cost,” Carriόn said at the Monday hearing and in a press release after the hearing.
Adams testified that the government also needed to examine how artificial intelligence will affect it.
“AI will have a profound effect on our society,” he said.
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Op-Ed: Rebuttal On Blood Shortage in V.I. Hospitals
Former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw’s recent op-ed paints a misleading and inaccurate picture of a supposed chronic blood shortage in Virgin Islands hospitals, which includes the Schneider Regional Medical Center. Her article, seemingly aimed at garnering attention, irresponsibly undermines the efforts of our hospital and fosters unnecessary mistrust among the public.
First, the claims made regarding blood supply shortages at our hospital are unfounded. Schneider Regional Medical Center (SRMC) maintains a consistent and reliable supply of blood and blood products. These blood products come from FDA-approved centers, ensuring that we are well-equipped to handle both routine and emergency medical needs. The notion that our hospitals frequently lack adequate blood reserves is simply false. The logistics of blood supply management in the Virgin Islands are well-coordinated, and our hospital has established protocols to ensure that blood products are available when needed. The transportation of blood from nearby regions, for us -Puerto Rico, is a standard practice of many healthcare systems nationwide, especially those in more remote areas and areas with smaller populations. This is how precious blood products are managed more efficiently and distributed and is not indicative of a crisis.
Ms. Sarauw’s failure to verify her claims with our hospital leadership, laboratory personnel, or official reports is glaringly irresponsible. Public statements about healthcare should be based on verified facts, not anecdotal evidence, or hearsay. By not doing her due diligence, the former senator spreads misinformation and causes undue alarm.
The assertion that blood must be transported from Puerto Rico due to a crisis or some immediate shortage is misleading. Routine, well-coordinated logistics do involve regional cooperation, this practice is common in many healthcare systems and does not indicate that a crisis or shortage exists. Our hospitals have established protocols to ensure that blood products are available when needed and have not reported any systemic issues with cancellations of surgeries or delays in critical transfusions due to blood shortages.
Moreover, the article’s suggestion that the healthcare system is unable to respond effectively to emergencies is a direct insult to the hardworking medical professionals who strive daily to provide quality care. Our hospital has been making significant strides in improving healthcare services, including investing in new technology and equipment and bringing in essential services to meet the community’s needs. These efforts are aimed at rebuilding and maintaining public trust in our healthcare system.
By spreading unfounded claims, Ms. Sarauw not only undermines these efforts but also jeopardizes the public’s confidence in our Hospital and healthcare system. This kind of rhetoric is harmful and counterproductive, especially when our dedicated team is working diligently every day to ensure the well-being of all residents in the Virgin Islands.
It is essential for individuals to rely on accurate and verified information when discussing healthcare issues in these types of public forums. SRMC remains committed to meeting and exceeding national quality standards. Our hospital is fully capable of providing high-quality care, and our dedicated caregivers deserve our support and trust.
Editor’s Note: This is a prepared statement by hospital management.
Taxi Debate Takes Several Routes
Safari taxi rides on St. Thomas can be part of the Virgin Islands experience. And for some, the more, the merrier the ride. However, senators have been concerned about the safety over the years.
While 29-seat capacity safaris were normal 30 years ago, legislation set a soft limit of 20 seats for safety concerns. Safaris of the period, seating 29, were grandfathered in; at least two of them are still running today (the grandfather clause went to the owner, not the vehicle).
However, for a new 29-seater to get a license, approval had to be obtained from the Taxicab Commission. Legislation before the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection Monday would take away the need for special approval for the 29 seaters. It was forwarded with a favorable recommendation to the Rules and Judiciary Committee, despite testimony from Vernice Gumbs, executive director of the Taxicab Commission.
“Is bigger better? How would residents benefit from the larger vehicles when many of the roads in the local neighborhoods are limited in width? Safaris of any size do not provide service to persons who are physically challenged; do not provide safety measures such as seat belts and doors,” she testified.
Kerry Harrigan, president of Best Taxi Services, testified that bigger is better. He mentioned how cruise ships kept getting bigger, and it was logical for the taxis to serve them to get larger. He said, “I am in favor of the bill as it pertains to taxi safaris’ increase in passenger capacity. However, the bill needs to be revisited, and certain vague and ambiguous portions need to be more specific.”
He said taxi drivers were at an unfair advantage. They had to buy expensive taxi medallions, while hotel shuttle buses and water taxis did not have that expense. He didn’t mention the competition that made taxi medallions lose 90 percent of their value in New York City. No one said Uber specifically, but Sen. Carla Joseph mentioned a TikTok video she recently saw where Uber-like services could be obtained in the Cari app. Sen. Marise James said she saw an online report that a Digicab company is being proposed for the territory.
National reports show that taxi companies in cities where Uber has taken hold have suffered. Some companies have met the challenge by adopting hi-tech methods. Virgin Island taxi drivers have been slow to accept credit card payments.
The relationships between Gumbs and some of the senators seemed testy. Sen. Marvin Blyden complained that when he went to the Taxi Commission Office it was closed because of a problem with the door.
Gumbs said about the bill, “Taking all things into consideration the proposed bill as written, and my research of the files at the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission regarding safaris, the bill would have been better served if all stakeholders were invited around the table for discussion and clarity of its intended goal.”
Gumbs and Harrigan did agree on one thing. They both believed the word surrey was not used correctly in the bill and that it was best used to describe a horse-pulled carriage rather than a Virgin Islands taxi.
Sen. Novelle Francis asked testifiers what the safety concerns were exactly. No one gave him a definite answer.
Committee members Samuel Carrión, Ray Fonseca, Alma Francis Heyliger, Javan James, Carla Joseph, and Milton Potter attended the hearing.
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