Horse Racing Bill Yanked From Agenda; Senators Override Bryan's Caravelle Hotel Ballroom Veto; G.E.R.S. Zoning Request For New Hotel Approved as Over 20 Measures Win Senate Approval
More than 20 bills dealing with different aspects of life in the territory were approved when the Committee of the Whole met on Thursday and will be forwarded to Governor Albert Bryan. Among them was a measure that clears the path for a developer to build a branded hotel on St. Thomas at the Havensight Mall after lawmakers approved two Gov't Employees' Retirement System zoning requests. The hotel is not being built and will not be operated by G.E.R.S.; G.E.R.S. is simply leasing the land to the developer, Shaun Miller, a well-known and respected businessman and owner of Standard Aviation.
2022-03-25 12:38:22 - VI News Staff
Bill No. 34–0224, the controversial measure that sought to restart horse racing in the territory was removed from the Agenda. The bill met opposition as it would also give Southland Gaming, which has a powerful lobby in St. Thomas, a 13-year exclusivity extension for operating video lottery terminals, or VLTs in all of St. Thomas — not only exclusive to the race track. The 13-year exclusivity would activate after a previous extension granted during the John P. de Jongh administration expires 2028. This outcome would give Southland Gaming a 20-year monopoly on VLTs.
Lawmakers also overrode Governor Albert Bryan's Jan. 14 veto of Bill No. 34-0186, which had sought to reduce from 400 to 75 the number of people a required banquet hall must facilitate as part of the Caravelle Hotel casino’s existing license.
Bringing up the legislation for override was Senator Kenneth Gittens, and it was voted favorably by 11 senators while four did not vote. The 11 senators included Mr. Gittens, Kurt Vialet, Novelle Francis, Franklin Johnson, Genevieve Whitaker, Janelle Sarauw, Marvin Blyden, Dwayne DeGraff, Steven Payne, Samuel Carrion and Javan James. The lawmakers who abstained were Senators Milton Potter, Carla Joseph, Alma Francis Heyliger and Donna Frett-Gregory. Two-thirds of the V.I. Legislature is required to successfully override a veto, which is 10 of the 15 lawmakers. With the successful override, Bill No. 34-0186 is now law.
Most of the items down for debate had already received approval from committees including the Rules and Judiciary Committee, the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety.
Besides the bills and resolutions, the 34th Legislature approved most of six different candidates who were nominated to serve on various boards. Approved to serve on the Board of Optometrical Examiners is Dr. Carl Maschauer, O.D., while Carolyn Hermon-Percell was approved to serve on the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission. Sharon Amey, Laurent Alfred, Yvonne Toussaint, and Barbara J. Harris were all approved to serve on the V.I. Real Estate Commission
“To serve one’s community is definitely one of the most honorable things that a person can actually do or choose to do. It’s a personal choice where you receive little or no recognition when things are going great. However, when the stuff hit the fan then and only then you will be taking the blame head-on for everything that is going wrong,” said Senator Steven Payne.
Senator Janelle Sarauw, who expressed high praise for the nominees who were approved by the Rules and Judiciary Committee hours before, said the task ahead will not be an easy one. “I know it’s not an easy task before them,” she said while informing lawmakers that she once served on the United Way Board which she said was time-consuming.
Senator Kurt Vialet said he was very pleased to see new membership for the Real Estate Commission. “I am happy that we are finally getting nominees for the Real Estate Commission. It's time and we have some new members for that, and I hope that they hit the ground running,” said Mr. Vialet. He was followed by Senator Marvin Blyden who warned of the challenges ahead.
Lawmakers also approved a number of rezoning applications, most of which were homeownership or for establishing businesses. Among them were two from the Government Employees' Retirement System — both of which were endorsed by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources — for a new five-story, 125-room brand-name hotel on the property of the Havensight Mall which is owned by the pension system.