By KELVIN DENNIE/St. Croix Taxi Driver Dear Editor: As a taxi driver in the territory for over 30 years, I cannot remain quiet after this second attempt to deny me the right of accepting the form of payment I choose. The mandatory language spoils the whole intent of the bill. Bill No. 33-0044 seeks to […]
Tag: 33rd Legislature of the Virgin Islands
USAO And Project Safe Neighborhoods Sponsor Camp DEFY: Meet Senators
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that about 50 V.I. youths are attending Camp DEFY (Drug Education for Youth) this week in St. Thomas with plans for Camp DEFY next week on St. Croix. Camp DEFY is supported by the United States Attorney’s Office through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) […]
Gittens Decries ‘Wholesale Mismanagement Of WAPA’; Subpoenas WAPA Top Brass, Public Services Commission
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority leadership and members of the Public Services Commission will be subpoenaed to appear before the 33rdLegislature to address what Senator Kenneth L. Gittens called “serious and myriad” problems at the utility. During Tuesday’s Legislative Session, Senator Gittens told his colleagues it was time to take a more […]
GITTENS: ‘Let’s Get Rid Of Paid Commissioners With The Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission’
CHRISTIANSTED — St. Croix Senator Kenneth Gittens will introduce a measure to restructure the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission, to include eliminating salaried positions for commissioners. Gittens’ legislation calls for V.I. Casino Control commissioners to be paid a stipend for their attendance at meetings as opposed to holding full-time salaried positions at the Commission as […]
Virgin Islands Celebrates Two Important Holidays Back-To-Back
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The people of the territory paid tribute to the “fortitude and perseverance of enslaved Africans in the former Danish West Indies on the 171st anniversary of the abolition of slavery” on Wednesday. Emancipation Day activities will be followed by the commemoration of the Declaration of Independence of the thirteen colonies, now the United States of America, from the […]
Senator Gittens Extends Emancipation Day And Independence Day Greetings
CHRISTIANSTED — Senator Kenneth Gittens has extended greetings to residents ahead of this week’s Emancipation Day and Independence Day commemorations. “It is my hope everyone remembers the significance of these holidays and the sacrifices made to achieve them as they enjoy attending one of this week’s special events or spending time with their families,” Senator […]
Legislature Approves Bill Banning ‘Coral Harming’ Sunscreen Ingredients
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Lawmakers approved a bill that would ban the sale of sunscreens with ingredients that environmentalists say are harming the ocean. The Virgin Islands Legislature on Monday unanimously passed bill number 33-0043, which bans the sale, distribution and import of sunscreen products containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Environmentalists welcomed the vote, calling the products toxic […]
Senate Says $22.9 Million Of Medicaid Windfall Will Go To WAPA To Pay Its Fuel Bill
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The government is hammering out a plan to direct cash to the territory’s junk-rated power authority to prevent a fuel cutoff threatened for as early as this Sunday. The Senate Rules and Judiciary Committee on Monday approved a bill that would send $22.9 million of a $39.5 million windfall from Medicaid to […]
Blyden Congratulates Scholarship Recipients And All 2019 Graduates
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Senator Marvin Blyden extended his heartfelt congratulations to the recipients of the 2019 Marvin A. Blyden Scholarship. Through distribution by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, the Senator awarded $10,000 in scholarships to high school seniors in the St. Thomas/St. John District who will attend a college, university, or vocational school this […]
SENATOR GITTENS: Privatize WAPA To Ensure Better Service To Customers
CHRISTIANSTED — The “partial privatization” of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority may represent the best opportunity for reliable and affordable service, Senator Kenneth Gittens said Friday. The St. Croix Senator is calling for investigative hearings on WAPA so that legislators have an opportunity to chart the best course forward, which he said is […]