Finance committee forwards bill appropriating $920,000 to assist fishermen on St. John, changes mandatory retirement age of police officers, firefighter and prison guards

US Virgin Islands – The legislative committee of Finance met Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at the Fritz E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix to debate and discuss a three-bill agenda. The meeting led by Chairman Kurt Vialet was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. but did not convene until hours later in the afternoon hours. A bill sponsored by Senator Dwayne DeGraff led the meeting off although it was listed as the second item on the agenda. The chairman has the privilege of arranging the agendas of committee hearings for whatever reason. Bill No. 34-0099 as presented is an Act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, section 530 (g) and chapter 27, section 705(c), relating to the mandatory retirement age of police officers, firefighters and prison guards to change the mandatory retirement age from 55 to 63. With so many agencies affected it required a myriad of testifiers to bring light and a proper understanding to this measure. Commissioner Nominee, of the Virgin Islands Police Department Ray Martinez participated, Director o the Bureau of Corrections, Wynnie Testamark, Director of the Virgin Islands Fire Services, Daryl George, Sr., Director of the Division of Personnel, Cindy Richardson, Administrator of the Government Employees Retirement System, Austin Nibbs, Member of the Law Enforcement Supervisor’s Union, Lt. Aaron Krigger, President of the Association Firefighters, Andre Dorsey and President of the Police Benevolent Association, Officer Hadaya Casimir were all invited to partake in the discussion. Lawmakers discovered some physical requirements that were not mandated within the agencies. As a result, the committee added and passed amendments 34-312 and 34-347 to strengthen the bill. Bill No. 34-0099 as amended was forwarded to the Committee on Rules for further consideration. Bill No. 34-0089 was up for consideration as an Act appropriating $920,000 to the Virgin Islands Port Authority for the construction of an aesthetically pleasing Cruz Bay fish market and to modify the existing concrete boat ramp and bulkhead at the Little Cruz Bay Dock, Cruz Bay Quarter; and appropriating $580,000 to the Department of Public Works for the construction of a boat dock and slipway at Enighed Pond on the island of St. John. Carlton Dowe, the Executive Director of Virgin Islands Port Authority was invited to provide testimony. St. John Fisherman, Kendall Anthony represented the St. John fisherman and gave vivid testimony of the plight, hardship and inconvenience to that group. The committee approved the measure and pledge to see it to fruition and expedited. The bill requiring the most attention of the day was Bill No. 34-0070 proposed by freshman senator, Samuel Carrion. It is an Act amending title 33 Virgin Islands Code, subtitle 1, part 1, chapter 3, section 54(b) relating to the remittance of the hotel room tax to the Government from travel organizations; and requiring the Director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue, with the assistance of the Commissioner of Tourism, to enter into an agreement with all travel organizations that offer sleeping accommodations in the Virgin Islands to collect the hotel room tax required under 33 V.I.C. Subsection 54. Invited testifiers were Joel Lee, the Director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Joseph Boschulte, the Commissioner of the Department of Tourism, Lisa Hamilton, the President of the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association, Allison DeGazon, Ph.D. the Director of the Bureau of Economic Research and Richard T. Evangelista the Commissioner of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs. They were all invited to present their views on the legislation. The measure passed by a unanimous vote of the members that were present. Members of the Committee voting in the affirmative on this measure were Senators Carrion, Dwayne DeGraff, Donna Frett Gregory, Javon James, Sr. and Kurt Vialet. Senators Marvin Blyden and Janelle Sarauw were absent for the vote. Senators Alma Francis Heyliger and Novelle Francis, Jr. also participated in the day-long hearing. The Committee on Government Operations & Consumer Protection chaired by Senator Carla J. Joseph is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. at the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, to discuss three bills and to receive testimony on the Virgin Islands Lottery’s operations to include but not limited to the enabling law and jurisdiction. Executive Director, Raymond J. Williams of the Virgin Islands Lottery is invited to provide testimony.