BILLS TO REZONE THE VIDEO LOTTERY AT THE HORSE RACETRACK AND TO EXTEND THE DECLARATION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY FORWARDED
Members of the 34th Legislature, led by Senate President Donna A. Frett-Gregory, convened in a Legislative Session. Lawmakers voted in the affirmative for two measures proposed by Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory at the request of the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands regarding the zoning for a video lottery at the horse racetrack on St. Thomas and the extension of the Declaration of the State of Emergency in the Territory.
2022-04-08 19:22:01 - VI News Staff
Senators voted in favor of the Body’s adoption by a vote of 8 yays and 7 nays: Bill No. 34-0224- An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 32, chapters 11 and 21, relating to video lottery at the horse racetrack in St. Thomas; amending Title 29, chapter 3, relating to the zoning for video lottery at the horse racetrack in St. Thomas; and providing for the ratification of the Second Amended Agreement to the Video Lottery Services Agreement and the Development Agreement regarding the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack by and between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Southland Gaming of the Virgin Islands, Inc., as amended. The measure seeks to facilitate the construction of the horse racetrack and related facilities, and the implementation of a video lottery at the racetrack on St. Thomas. Furthermore, the bill allows horse races to be conducted according to the terms of the Temporary License Agreement during the construction and completion phases of the St. Thomas racetrack.
Initially, Senator Kenneth Gittens made a motion to send Bill No. 34-0224 to the committee of jurisdiction, which sparked a three-minute debate. In objection, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger expressed concern, citing that the legislation is a plot to create a division between the St. Thomas-St. John District and the St. Croix District. Equally, in her objection, Senator Frett-Gregory noted that the measure should not be sent to the Committee on Finance, where two of the members, including the Chair, are running for higher office in the Executive Branch. Senator Frett-Gregory added that the motion is a political desire being placed above the welfare of the people of the Virgin Islands. In response, Gittens stated that our senate president relinquished the seat to launch an attack on two members of the body. Senator Gittens then restated the motion for the measure to be sent to the Committee of the Whole. Ultimately, the body voted it down, the motion failed, and it remained on the agenda for the Legislative Session.