LAWMAKERS DEBATE WHETHER FIRE AND EMS INTERGRATION WILL MOVE FORWARD TO BECOMING LAW OR STALLONCE AGAIN
VIRGIN ISLANDS - Three years in the making, with several meetings and committee hearings bill No. 34-0101 held center stage. The Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services chaired by Senator Novelle Francis, Jr. convened at 10 a.m. at the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix Wednesday, March 9, 2022, to finally act on Bill No. 34-0101.
2022-03-10 12:49:09 - VI News Staff
This piece of legislation in the form of Bill No. 34-0101 is an Act amending Virgin Islands Code title 3 chapters 1 and 15, title 23, chapter 7 and title 33, section 3032 to create a new Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services to provide fire prevention services, fire suppression services, emergency medical services and for the protection of life and property. The bill was sent down to the 34th Legislature by the Honorable Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. and by virtue of her position as the Senate President she is granted sponsorship of the measure.
A series of stakeholders were invited to render testimony for or against the legislation. Invited to provide testimony were: The Honorable Justa Encarnacion, Commissioner of the VI Department of Health; Daryl George Sr., Director of VI Fire Services; Lisle Evelyn, Fire Service Assistant Director of EMS; Clarence Stephenson, St. John Deputy Chief of VI Fire Service; Marise James, Esq., Office of the Governor; Andre Dorsey, President of the St. Thomas Firefighters Union, International Association of Firefighters #2125; Joss Springette, Esq., Chief Negotiator, Office of Collective Bargaining and Jenifer O’Neal, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Also invited to give testimony was Melbourne Adams, the President of the St. Croix Firefighters Union, International Association of Firefighters #2832. Due to technical difficulties with internet connectivity, he was unable to participate.
The debates by lawmakers were all over the place it seems. Discussions of hazardous pay differentials, housing space availability, the faith of seven firefighters who have been on probation for more than two years. With the myriad of topics, it led one senator to seek to get the bottom of what is fact. Senator Alma Francis Heyliger inquired, “while we have the union, the division of personnel and the chief negotiator present let us clear this up now. While the issues are separate we need to clarify what is fact.”
It was obvious that the members got enough clarity that they needed as the committee offered and adopted amendment 34-363 to bill 34-0101 and voted unanimously by all the members that were present. Senators Marvin Blyden, Kenneth Gittens, Samuel Carrion, Francis Heyliger, Francis Jr. and the late arriving Janelle Sarauw voted to move the bill on the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration. Non-member Donna Frett Gregory participated in the entire process while member Kurt Vialet was absent from the long anticipated important life saving measure.
The Committee on Rules and Judiciary will embark on a robust agenda when it convenes at 9:30 a.m. at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The agenda features 8 Bills to take action with topics ranging from a Responsible Fatherhood Act to a measure adjusting service retirement annuity.