Long anticipated Fire Services and EMS merger legislation is tabled once again: Indefinitely!

US Virgin Islands – The 34th Legislature convened in the Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services me at the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference room at 10 a.m. on St. Croix to discuss Bill 3 No. 34-0101. A bill that was conceived as far back as 2013 and then revised and caught steam again in 2019. We are now in 2021 and here we go again. Bill No. 34-0101is an Act seeking to amend the Virgin Island 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 the territory with fire prevention services, fire suppression services, emergency medical services and for the protection of life and property. This is a bill sent down by the Honorable Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. sponsored by Donna Frett Gregory by virtue of her position as senate president. Lawmakers agreed on the concept of what the bill’s intent was but differed in the process and going about a clear path on accomplishing that goal. Committee members wanted greater detail on the merger. “I am looking for the details, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger said. “For me to sign on to this legislation responsible I would like to see greater detail.” Senators Kenneth Gittens, Novell Francis Jr. and Kurt Vialet all echoed the same concerns. Members of the administrative branch claimed that they needed the legislation to be approved before revealing and implementing the merger details. Representing the government were Virgin Islands Department of Health Commissioner, The Honorable Justa E. Encarnacion, Daryl George of the Virgin Islands Fire Services, Lisle Evelyn, the Assistant Director of the VI Fire Services, Clarence Stephenson, the St. John Deputy Chief of the VU Fire Services, Jenifer O’Neal, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Joss Springette, Esq. the Chief Negotiator, Office of Collectives Bargaining, and Marise James, Esq. the former Policy Advisor for Justice and Public Safety, Office of the Governor. At the end of the day the bill was held in committee with Senators Francis Heyliger, Vialet, James Jr., Marvin Blyden and Gittens voting in the affirmative to hold the bill. Senators Samuel Carrion and Janelle Sarauw were absent. The Committee on Finance will meet at the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix at a.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, to discuss several pieces of legislation. They include bills No. 34-0089, No. 34-0099, and No. 34-0070.