LEGISLATIVE SESSION APPROVES BOARD NOMINEES, RESOLUTIONS AND BILLS

ST. THOMAS- The 34th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, led by Senate President Donna A. Frett-Gregory, convened into regular legislative session on Thursday at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. Lawmakers considered nominations to the VI Board of Optometrical Examiners, The Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission, and the Virgin Islands Real Estate Commission. The body also considered several resolutions and bills.

Firstly, the Body voted unanimously on the nominations of Dr. Carl Maschauer, O.D., to the VI Board of Optometrical Examiners, The Honorable Carolyn Hermon-Percell, to the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission. Sharon Amey, Laurent Alfred, Yvonne Toussaint, Esq., and Barbara Harris were all voted unanimously to the Virgin Islands Real Estate Commission.

Lawmakers also voted to override Governor Albert Bryan’s veto of Bill No. 34-0186, An Act amending Title 32 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 21, article VI, section 435(b)(A), relating to the licensing of approved hotels under the Virgin Islands Casino and Resort Control Act and to reduce the licensing requirement that a Casino IV establishment have banquet facilities to accommodate a minimum of 400 persons to 75 persons.

Lawmakers also passed the following resolutions:

Bill No. 34-0146, An Act acknowledging and commemorating the memory of Mary Thomas, Axeline Salomon, Mathilde McBean, Susanna Abramson, and other estate laborers before, during, and after the Labor Uprising of 1878 or “Fireburn” and their courageous pursuit of human rights, freedom from serfdom variant, and improvement of labor conditions in the former Danish West Indies, and condemning the excessive, cruel, and unjust punishment meted out to the laborers by the Danish Government; making a $250,000 appropriation from the Community Facilities Trust Account to the Virgin Islands Council of the Arts to coordinate the erection of a monument to honor the Fireburn Queens and estate laborers who took part in the “Fireburn” Labor Uprising.

Bill No. 34-0148, An Act honoring and commending Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster for her contributions to the University of the Virgin Islands and the Territory in research and science, her contributions to the children of the Virgin Islands and for becoming the first woman to serve as President of the University of the Virgin Islands; Furthermore, the bill seeks to provide for the naming of the University of the Virgin Islands Administration and Conference Center on the island of St. Thomas in her honor and by making a $10,000 appropriation to the University of the Virgin Islands to pay the cost of signage at and maintenance of the Administrative and Conference Center and for other related purposes.

Bill No. 34-0157, A Resolution honoring, and commending Gloria H. Canegata Waterman for her outstanding years of service to the Virgin Islands Community as an educator and public servant through various organizations.

Bill No. 34-0174, A Resolution commending The Ivanna Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands on the occasion of the commemoration of its 50th Year Anniversary (1971-2021) and acknowledging the many accomplishments of the administrators, teachers, and students.

Lawmakers approved the following rezoning changes:

Bill No. 34-0184, An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-12 for the island of St. Croix to change the zoning designation of Plot Nos. 174 and 175 Estate Peter’s Rest, Queen Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands from R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) to B-1 (Business Central Business District).

Bill No. 34-0213, An Act to amend Official Zoning Map No. STZ-4 to allow for the rezoning of Parcel “F” Estate Sorgenfri (Western Half, No. 1 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. from R-1 (Residential – Low Density) to R-2 (Residential – Low Density- One and Two Family).

Bill No. 34-0214, An Act granting a zoning use variance from the B-4 (Business Residential Areas) for Remainder Plot No. 14 Estate Saint John, Queen Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands to allow for dwellings.

Bill No. 34-0215, An Act granting a zoning use variance from the R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) zoning designation for Plot No. 44 Estate Williams Delight Prince Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands to allow for a nail salon.

Bill No. 34-0216, An Act to amend Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-11 to allow for the rezoning of Parcels No. 5-E and 5-F VICORP Land, Estate Castle Burke, Prince Quarter, St. Croix from A-1 (Agricultural Zone) to A-2 (Agricultural Zone) and from A-1 (Agricultural Zone) to B-2 (Business Secondary/Neighborhood), respectively.

Bill No. 34-0217, An Act to amend Official Zoning Map No. STZ-10 for the island of St. Thomas to change the zoning designation of Parcel No. 13 and 14-A Estate Frydenhoj, No. 3 Red Hook Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands from R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) to B-3 (Business-Scattered).

Bill No. 34-0218, An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-20 for the island of St. Croix to change the zoning designation Plot 32 of Subdivision of Parcel No. 11 of Estate Richmond Matricular 1 AL, Company Quarter, St. Croix from the C (Commercial) to B-3 (Business-Scattered) Bill No. 34-0219 An Act granting a zoning use variance from the R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) zoning designation for Plot No. 126-E Estate Whim, West End Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands to allow for an adult daycare and assisted living facility.

Bill No. 34-0222, An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. STZ-7 for the island of St. Thomas to change the zoning designation of Parcel Nos. 2 and 4 Estate Thomas, Nos. 6B and 6F New Quarter, from W-2 (Waterfront Industrial) to R-3 (Residential-Medium Density).

Bill No. 34-0223, An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. SJZ-1 for the island of St. John to change the zoning designation of Parcel No. 12 Estate Susannaberg, No. 17A Cruz Bay Quarter, from P (Public) to R-3 (Residential-Medium Density).