FREDERIKSTED — St. Croix Senator Kurt Vialet that that he saw firsthand the hue and cry of local horse owners at Plaza Extra West on Saturday and has persuaded Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. to sit down with them to hear their grievances.
Protesters by the hundreds, some of them on horseback, assembled in the grassy areas around Plaza Extra West Supermarket in Estate Plessen on Saturday afternoon to protest a lack of horse racing on the island.
Many St. Croix residents keep and care for horses that are primarily used for horse racing. These horse owners depend on the money made in horse racing in order to continue to properly care for their animals.
Police and Public Works closed down a path in Williams Delight on Thursday that was being used as a makeshift horse racing venue.
The Randall “Doc” James Race Track has been closed since Hurricane Maria hit on September 20, 2017.
Bryan has promised to meet with horse owners at Government House on Monday at 3 p.m.
“I saw the cry and I heard the outcry regarding the horse races!” Senator Vialet said on Facebook. I want to thank the governor for his willingness to meet.
“Vialet said that he met with the horse owners at the demonstration on Saturday in Estate Plessen “and had a discussion about the path moving forward.””Horse racing is an integral part of the Virgin Islands and we need to address the concerns and challenges we are presently facing.” he said.
St. Croix Senator Kenneth Gittens was having a food sale at Plaza Extra West at the same time the protest was being made.
