As we gear up for the 2024 Senate elections, it’s crucial to know where each candidate stands on issues that matter most to our community. To keep you informed, The Source has compiled a list of key questions on pressing topics affecting the Virgin Islands. The answers below are from St. Croix incumbent Sen. Marise C. James:
Why are you running for office, what are your qualifications, and why should voters choose you?
I am running for re-election to the V.I. legislature because I believe in the transformative power of strong, compassionate leadership. As an attorney, I deeply understand the intricacies of lawmaking, which is the core responsibility of a senator. The words we craft into law must be precise, effective, and in the best interest of the people. My experience as a mediator has taught me the immense value of collaboration, a skill I will continue to bring to the Senate as I work with my colleagues to pass meaningful legislation.
As a former educator, I know that education is the key to creating a more equitable society. It opens doors and provides opportunities for all, regardless of background. I’ve seen firsthand how a solid education can change lives, and this perspective guides my work in policy to ensure that every child has the tools they need to succeed.
Being a mother of three adult children, I understand that children need a strong foundation—nurturing, guidance, and the right opportunities—to grow into responsible, empowered adults. Our policies must reflect this commitment to their future. Additionally, as a business owner, I know that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They fuel innovation, provide jobs, and drive community development, and they deserve policies that support their growth.
There is no one in the Senate with the same blend of education, experience, and expertise that I bring. But what truly sets me apart is my compassion and courage to make the right decisions for our people, even when those decisions are difficult. I am committed to serving with integrity, ensuring that the voices of our community are heard and that our future is brighter for all.
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How would you address the high cost of living in the territory and the lack of affordable housing?
To reduce the cost of living on our island, we can focus on increasing local production, especially in agriculture, renewable energy, and small-scale manufacturing. By investing in renewable energy, we can lower electricity costs, while supporting local farming and community gardening reduces reliance on imported food. Additionally, improving port efficiency and streamlining import logistics can help lower the price of imported goods, making them more affordable for residents.
Encouraging entrepreneurship, providing subsidies for essential goods, and improving public transportation are also key strategies. By empowering local businesses and promoting consumer cooperatives, we can reduce the need for imports and keep money circulating within the local economy. Investing in workforce development and education will build a skilled workforce to sustain these initiatives long-term, creating a more resilient and affordable island economy.
To address the housing shortage in the Virgin Islands, the government could implement several targeted strategies. One option is creating a local housing trust fund, which could pool resources from taxes, bonds, and private contributions to finance affordable housing projects. Streamlining the permitting process for housing developments and establishing public-private partnerships could also attract more developers, while using underutilized government land for housing could increase supply. Encouraging adaptive reuse of vacant commercial properties and supporting modular or prefabricated housing could further expand affordable housing options.
Additionally, the government could adopt inclusionary zoning laws requiring a percentage of new developments to include affordable units. Expanding financial support programs, such as rent subsidies or down-payment assistance like the V.I. Slice Program and the Williams Delight Grant Program that I initiated in collaboration with the Governor, could help low-income families and essential workers secure housing. Revitalizing public housing projects with energy-efficient upgrades and safety improvements (that is being done now with recovery funds) would ensure these developments remain a viable option for many residents. By leveraging these strategies, the Virgin Islands can address its critical need for affordable and workforce housing.
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How would you improve the territory’s electrical grid and implementation of renewable energy?
The Virgin Islands can generate reliable and sustainable electricity by utilizing a mix of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Solar and wind power are particularly promising due to the abundance of sunlight and wind here, and their intermittency can be addressed by incorporating energy storage systems like batteries. Hybrid systems that combine renewables with existing generators can provide a transition to cleaner energy while ensuring reliability. Energy efficiency improvements and smart grid technologies can also help reduce overall demand and optimize energy distribution.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer a valuable solution for revitalizing failing utility providers. These partnerships bring private investment, technical expertise, and operational efficiency, enabling upgrades to infrastructure and integration of renewable energy. PPPs allow for risk-sharing between the public and private sectors and can improve service delivery while fostering long-term sustainability. However, they require clear agreements, regulatory support, and community involvement to be successful, ensuring that the benefits are shared, and the projects meet local needs. I have pending legislation that provides a framework for P3 agreements to ensure that the public’s interest is protected.
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What would you do to expedite or improve the territory’s disaster recovery, which has dragged on for seven years now?
To expedite disaster recovery in the Virgin Islands, we must address key challenges like the labor shortage, housing for workers, and the bureaucracy in the procurement process.
Prioritizing workforce housing solutions, such as providing modular units, would support both local and outside labor. Expanding training programs for local workers, offering incentives to attract skilled labor, and establishing a fast-tracked procurement system would speed up recovery efforts, particularly for essential projects like schools and hospitals. Additionally, partnering with third-party project management firms could help overcome capacity issues in the local government and streamline large-scale projects.
I support project bundling of recovery efforts – combining several projects into larger contracts—because this strategy allows us to attract more experienced contractors who can manage multiple projects at once, thus moving the recovery process faster. We can streamline the design, contracting, and construction processes, significantly reducing delays. This approach allows us to capitalize on economies of scale, making projects more cost-effective and increasing efficiency across the board. Project bundling also fosters greater collaboration between agencies and contractors during project delivery, ensuring better coordination and faster progress. It took too long for the government to utilize this approach. It offers a comprehensive and accelerated solution for meeting our strategic recovery goals.
Supporting small contractors is crucial to ensuring their participation in recovery work. Establishing a Bonding Assistance Program would help local firms secure payment and performance bonds, while also ensuring timely payments through a dedicated fund or loan program. We must also ensure small contractors are paid promptly for their work. Delays in payments from the government or large firms can financially cripple local businesses.
Strengthening government oversight, improving transparency, and providing training for local officials in project management would help mitigate delays and hold parties accountable. By focusing on these areas, the territory can overcome the setbacks that have plagued the recovery process and rebuild critical infrastructure more efficiently. The people of the Virgin Islands deserve better, and we must rise to the challenge to rebuild stronger, more resilient communities.
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What reforms would you propose to ensure our children are receiving the public education that they deserve?
The need to improve the public education system in the Virgin Islands is clear. To ensure that our children receive the quality public education they deserve, we need a comprehensive restructuring of the educational system in the Virgin Islands. Here are the key reforms I propose:
- Restructuring the Educational System
- Establish a stronger Board of Education with jurisdiction and control over District superintendents to centralize authority and enhance This will allow for effective monitoring of educational standards and practices throughout the territory.
2. Engaging Parents
- Parental involvement is crucial for academic To foster this engagement, we should:
1. Implement Parent-Teacher Collaborations through regular workshops and community meetings to help parents understand their children’s academic progress and how to support learning at home.
2. Create Family Learning Programs that incentivize participation by educating families on engaging in literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking
3. Implement more effective communication systems between schools and families, such as parent portals, regular progress meetings, and even home visits in cases where engagement is low.
3. Office of Early Childhood Care and Education
- I propose the establishment of an Office of Early Childhood Care and Education to ensure all children begin school prepared. This office would:
1. Provide universal access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs.
2. Offer training and resources for early childhood educators to develop curriculum and teaching practices focused on early literacy and social- emotional development.
3. Develop support services for families to prepare children for the transition into formal schooling, particularly in economically disadvantaged (St. Croix – the poverty rate for children under five is 42%.
4. Integrate healthcare providers, social workers, and educators to ensure that children’s developmental needs (physical, emotional, and mental) are met.
- Curriculum and Skills Development
- Our education must prioritize not just academics but also life. To this end, we should:
1. Emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy within the curriculum.
2. Forge partnerships with local businesses and industries to provide vocational training and apprenticeships for high school students.
3. Ensure the inclusion of Virgin Islands’ history, culture, and contributions within the school curriculum to foster a deeper connection between students and their heritage.
4. Establish after-school programs that focus on mentorship, arts, sports, and community service for holistic development.
- Accountability and Transparency
- Every reform effort should be paired with measures for accountability and transparency. This could include:
1. Publishing annual performance reviews for schools and educators.
2. Incorporating parent and student feedback into evaluations for teachers and administrators.
3. Creating a public dashboard that provides data on school performance, student outcomes, and resource allocation, making it accessible to the community.
By implementing these reforms, we can begin to rebuild and strengthen our education system, ensuring that all children in the Virgin Islands receive the public education they deserve, fully prepared to thrive in a competitive world.
What are your solutions to address violent crime in the territory, especially among young men?
Decreasing crime requires a comprehensive approach that tackles its root causes and involves multiple strategies: (1) Increasing police presence in high-crime areas. Officers patrolling on foot or bike can engage with the community better than those only driving patrol cars. (2) Improved education and youth engagement programs and activities, (3) Job creation and skills development, (4) Mental health and addiction support, (5) Effective law enforcement, (6) Economic and social inequality. Policies that promote equality, such as fair wages, affordable housing, and equal access to healthcare, can lower crime rates over time, (6) Strengthen families and communities, (7) Hotspot policing and using surveillance and technology, (8) Educating the public about crime prevention, such as locking doors, being aware of surroundings, and reporting suspicious activity..
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How can the territory improve upon its tourism product while addressing growing concerns about over-tourism? Are we too reliant on cruise tourism and what can be done to bring more overnight visitors?
Improving the tourism product in the Virgin Islands while addressing over-tourism requires a multifaceted approach. Diversifying offerings to include adventure, eco-tourism, and cultural experiences, especially on St. Croix, can attract visitors seeking authentic interactions with local culture and nature. Implementing sustainable tourism practices, such as capacity management and environmental initiatives, will protect natural resources while enhancing the visitor experience. Investing in infrastructure, including better transportation options and a range of accommodations, will also help cater to different types of travelers and promote longer stays.
To attract more overnight visitors, targeted marketing campaigns can focus on promoting unique experiences and off-peak travel, while partnerships with travel influencers can broaden reach. Engaging local communities in tourism planning and supporting local businesses will foster authentic experiences for visitors. Additionally, assessing the impact of cruise tourism and implementing policies that promote sustainable practices can create a balanced approach to tourism, ultimately leading to a healthier tourism economy that benefits both visitors and residents.
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What would you propose to better support people dealing with mental illness, alcoholism, addiction, and homelessness?
Implementation of the following:
V.I. Behavioral Health Act passed in 2022 requires the governor to establish at least one Behavioral Health Treatment Facility.
The 2025 Budget passed by the legislature appropriated funds received as a result of the Virgin Islands’ civil action against the estate of Jeffrey Epstein includes $18 million in appropriations to the Health Department for completion of a behavioral health facility in Anna’s Hope and $3.5 million to complete the Eldra Schulterbrandt Mental Health Facility in Anna’s Retreat.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced an award of $600,000 to launch and expand mental health and substance use disorder services at Frederiksted Health Care in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
I agree with Dan Derima, chair of the Virgin Islands Continuum of Care on Homelessness that the codification of the Virgin Islands Council on Homelessness (VICH) into law is a critical step in working toward ending homelessness in the territory.
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What plans do you have to re-establish the libraries in the territory?
Reestablishing libraries in the Virgin Islands is essential for enhancing literacy and community engagement, particularly following the devastation caused by hurricanes. A key proposal is to transition library oversight from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources to the Board of Education. This change would foster a more cohesive integration of library services within the educational system. In Hawaii, the Board of Education appoints and evaluates the executive officer of the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, the State Librarian. Engaging the community in planning through town hall meetings will help identify needs and priorities for the libraries, while a thorough assessment of damaged facilities will guide the restoration process. Funding through federal grants and partnerships with local organizations can provide the necessary resources to rebuild libraries as vibrant community hubs.
Incorporating technology into library services is crucial for modernizing resources and ensuring accessibility. This includes establishing digital catalogs and providing technology training for both patrons and staff. Additionally, investing in staff recruitment and training will ensure that libraries are well-equipped to serve the community effectively.
Sustainable building practices can also be integrated into the rebuilding process to enhance resilience against future disasters. By implementing these strategies, we can create a robust library system that meets the needs of our community and promotes a love for reading and learning.
“FEMA is obligating $5.8 million to five public libraries in the U.S. Virgin Islands for hurricane repairs. Library repairs will include $669,400 in hazard mitigation measures to infrastructure damaged by the 2017 storms.” FEMA.gov DPNR also applied for and received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Even with this funding the Commissioner of DPNR emphasized that the facilities require significant funding to properly staff and operate.
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How can we provide access to affordable healthcare for individuals and small businesses?
Based my research, in 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor expanded access to affordable health coverage options for small businesses and their employees through Associations Health Plans. It allows small employers to band together, based on common geography or industry, to purchase the types of coverage that are available to large employers, which can be less expensive and better tailored to the needs of their employees. It also allows working owners without other employees to join the association. The Office of the Governor has been working over the past several months to facilitate the Associations Health Plan for small businesses territory wide, including identifying and vetting health insurance carriers that could provide coverage to the Associations Health Plan members. Five organizations have opted in – the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, the USVI Hotel and Tourism Association, the VI Bar Association, and the VI Realtor Association. I will have to do further research on the effectiveness of the Associations’ Health Plans.
To provide access to affordable healthcare for individuals and small businesses, several strategies can be employed. Strengthening health insurance marketplaces a can facilitate affordable coverage options. A public healthcare option could introduce competition in the market, potentially lowering costs for private plans. Additionally, tax incentives for small businesses that offer health insurance can encourage them to provide coverage to their employees.
Investing in preventive care and expanding telehealth services can also contribute to reducing long-term healthcare costs, ensuring that essential services are more accessible. Supporting community health centers can provide affordable care for uninsured and underinsured individuals and increasing awareness about available options can empower individuals and businesses to make informed healthcare choices. By combining these approaches, a more accessible and affordable healthcare system can be created for everyone.
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Please tell us about any of your other priorities for the territory that are not addressed in the questions above.
Education, Housing, Healthcare, and Good Governance. Please visit marisecjames.com to learn more about each priority area.
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And finally, if you could have one superpower to move the V.I. forward, what would it be and why?
The power to increase our literacy rate to 100% immediately. Literacy is vital for the Virgin Islands’ population as it directly impacts economic development, empowerment, and public health. A literate workforce is more productive and adaptable to new technologies, leading to enhanced economic performance. Additionally, literacy empowers individuals by enabling them to access information, communicate effectively, and advocate for their rights, which fosters informed decision-making regarding their lives and communities. Furthermore, literate individuals tend to have better health outcomes as they can understand health information, access services, and follow medical instructions.
Beyond economic and health benefits, literacy contributes to social stability, educational advancement, and cultural preservation. A literate population is more likely to engage in civic activities, promoting social cohesion and reducing crime rates. It also lays the groundwork for further education and lifelong learning, creating a more knowledgeable and skilled workforce. Moreover, literacy plays a critical role in breaking the cycle of poverty, as educated individuals are better equipped to secure higher-paying jobs and improve their families’ living standards, ultimately enhancing our islands’ regional and global competitiveness.
Our gratitude to all the candidates for their participation in this important series. Stay tuned as we share their views and priorities, helping you make an informed decision at the polls!
