VI News Reporter 3 years ago
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Freshman Senator Francis-Heyliger garners unanimous support from colleagues

United States Virgin Islands – It was a day of overwhelming relief as Senator Alma Francis-Heyliger was able to get overwhelming support for a measure she presented and worked on since taking her oath of office in January. The passage of Bill No. 34-0037 built momentum during the 34th Legislature’s Legislative session held at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas, Tuesday, August 3, 2021. The senator was optimistic about the faith of the bill. “I hope my colleagues will support the measure and allow the people of whom we serve to benefit from this measure,” Francis-Heyliger said. The measure relates to decedents estates and payment of certain debts without administration to increase the aggregate amount that a surviving spouse may receive from debtors upon the death of the creditor and to increase the amount of debt a debtor must pay the survivors of a decedent creditor not less than thirty days after the creditor’s death from not more than $5000 to not more than $10,000.

Senator Francis-Heyliger recalled a personal experience. “Some years ago, a close friend was placed in this situation, and I can recall the hardship brought upon the family and vowed that no one should have this kind of avoidable hardship placed upon them going forward,” Francis-Heyliger expressed emotionally.
When the freshman senator embarked on this journey it was a solo mission. She was the sole sponsor of the legislation, then in the 12th hour one of her colleagues signed on moving to the floor to have unanimous support of the measure.
“I am appreciative of my colleagues coming on board and supporting the measure. I am here to work with all of my colleagues and expect the same from all of my colleagues,” Francis-Heyliger said. Absent from the session were Senators Milton Potter and Janelle K. Sarauw.

Senator Francis Heyliger did not end her persistence to fade away after her sponsored measure passed the body. She had long championed the separation of powers doctrine. A bill presented by another senator, Bill No. 34-0045 which is an Act repealing Title 2 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5 section 73. Senator Javon James, Sr. tried to order the measure directly to the floor but was defeated by a majority of senators present. The measure sought to repeal a provision that allows the Governor to recommend and fix the compensation of the members of the Legislature. Francis-Heyliger explained her position. “From May of this year we have asked to have the measure heard. The majority assigned it to the committee on Finance, chaired by Kurt Vialet. To date we have not had the measure heard, we are now in August,” Francis Heyliger admonished. “What other recourse do we have but to bring it to the floor. If we are serious about taking what a senator earns out of the hands of the executive branch. This shows me that we are unwilling to address this issue as elected officials. Senators James, Sr., Francis-Heyliger, Dwayne DeGraff and Franklin Johnson were in support of simply having the measure heard by the body.

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