Tag: Senate

Legislation to provide the Public Service Commission with regulatory powers over the Water and Power Authority has long been discussed by the Legislature. Friday the measure was approved by the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Affairs.

Roads in the U.S. Virgin Islands are deplorable, Sen. Janelle Sarauw told Derek Gabriel the acting commissioner of the Department of Public Works, and several members of the Committee on Disaster Recovery and Infrastructure agreed.

Legislation to establish an Invasive Species Eradication Community Program – which would incentivize businesses and residents to euthanize invasive species by offering a bounty for wanted pests – was advanced by the Rules and Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

Senators commended Education Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin on a detailed presentation Wednesday, although some raised concerns about plans to consolidate USVI schools, contractors leaving jobs unfinished and the pace of rebuilding since the hurricanes of 2017.

The V.I. Senate Committee on Finance called on officials from local banks and the V.I. Housing Authority during a hearing on Tuesday to discuss what options are available to help residents seeking to purchase a home.

Women have always been active in the sport of politics in the Virgin Islands. They are at the forefront of running campaigns, raising money through fish fries and manning the phones and campaign headquarters.

The V.I. Senate Finance Committee forwarded four pieces of legislation on Friday that, if eventually enacted into law, would appropriate a total of over $4.5 million to fund four separate enhancement projects on St. Croix.

The Senate Rules and Judiciary Committee approved 10 nominations to various governmental boards at Thursday’s hearing at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. All nominations were vetted in prior committees and have now been forwarded to the Committee of the Whole.

The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services is contending with extreme staff shortages across every division and program, DHS Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez told lawmakers on Wednesday.

More than a year ago, when Fire Service Director Daryl George Sr. testified at the Senate, the senators expressed concerns about whether merging Emergency Medical Services with the Fire Service in the territory could be done smoothly.