Tag: 34th Legislature of the Virgin Islands

TAKE THAT! Senators Spank Bryan With Overrides For Trying To Protect WAPA

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Senator Janelle K. Sarauw expresses immense gratitude to her colleagues for their unanimoussupport and favorable vote to override the Governor’s veto of Bill Nos. 34-0021 and 34-0026 respectively. Each bill, primarily sponsored by Senator Sarauw, seek to address the long overdue overhaul of the inefficiencies of the organizational structure of the management/board […]

St. Croix Farmers In Action Respond To Senator’s Finance Committee Remarks

Political meandering needs to be called out for what it is. Today I listened to the Finance Committee’s budget hearing for the Department of Agriculture. For a moment I was pleased with the strides that Commissioner Positive Nelson reported to have made during the last year at the Department of Agriculture. I am sure we […]

TRIBUTE TO TREVOR: St. Croix Senator Salutes Outgoing VIPD Commissioner For His Service To The USVI Community

Thank you to Trevor Velinor for his dedicated service to the people of the Virgin Islands during his tenure as police commissioner. The courageous, professional and intelligent leadership that he demonstrated during his entire law enforcement career, as well as his efforts to bring progress and stability to the Department and territory were appreciated at […]

Governor Asks Legislature For 90-Day Extension Of State Of Emergency

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan today sent down proposed legislation to Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory requesting a 90-day extension to the current State of Emergency he proclaimed in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current State of Emergency extension is set to expire on Tuesday, July 6, and Governor Bryan is requesting […]

Governor Bryan Submits First Ever 2-Year Executive Budget, Revenues Projected to Increase For Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan has submitted to the 34th Legislature the first ever two-year Executive Budget and said revenue projections continue to increase during the next two years, providing an optimistic outlook for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023. Also included in the balanced budgets for both years are a number of highlights: Wage increases for […]

Fitch Says Possibility of WAPA Oversight Board Keeps Sinking Utility’s Bond Rate

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Following 34th Legislature’s approval of Bill No. 34-0021, which sought to assign a “turnaround” company to oversee the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Board, the Fitch Ratings service on Monday issued a statement that the bond market does not want to upgrade WAPA’s rating because of the possibility of additional oversight. Bill […]

VIPD, USAO, Community Action NOW! and Senator To Set Town Hall Meeting In Savan

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Captain Sandra Colbourne and members of the VIPD Crime Prevention Bureau; representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative; Iffat Walker, Founder and Executive Director of Community Action NOW!; and Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff of the 34th Legislature of the Virgin […]

Bryan Nixes 2 Senate Bills Aimed At Improving WAPA: Who’s Zooming Who?

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan vetoed bills that would have given the Public Service Commission additional control over the financially troubled Water and Power Authority and would have changed the utility’s board membership. Bryan signed a bill that will institute qualification requirements for the PSC and will change the quorum numbers. The Virgin Islands Legislature […]

Governor Bryan Asks Senate To Extend COVID-19 State of Emergency For 2 Months

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — On Saturday May 1, Governor Albert Bryan sent down proposed legislation to Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory requesting a 60-day extension to the current State of Emergency he proclaimed in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current State of Emergency extension is set to expire on Friday, May 7, and […]

Legislature Tries To Rein In WAPA By Giving PSC More Control Over It

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands legislature appears to be near to voting to increase Public Service Commission control over the financially troubled Water and Power Authority (WAPA). As of December 31, WAPA had $190 million of electrical system revenue bonds and unamortized bond premiums and a total of $1.143 billion of liabilities, according to […]