36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands
SENATE CALENDAR
February 17, 2025 – February 24, 2025
TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 18, 2025
Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance
10:00 a.m.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will meet on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 10:00 a.m. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix to receive testimony from the Government’s Financial Team on the territory’s finances to include the status of vendor payments, property taxes, 90-120 days revenue collections, 90-120 days general expenditures, the Tourism Revolving Fund, Compliance reporting in accordance with Act 8915, the Line of Credit, the Budget Stabilization Fund, the Single Payer Utility, cash on hand, federal drawdowns and status of federal grants to include FEMA, ARPA and CARES and the Epstein Fund, etc.
The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance will also receive testimony from the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works on the overview of Capital Projects (Territorial), Garvee funded projects, an update on road projects and bridges and the status of the Paul E. Joseph Stadium and the VITRAN Maintenance and Operations Facility on St. Croix.
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Kevin McCurdy, Commissioner, VI Department of Finance
Julio Rhymer, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Joel Lee, Director, VI Bureau of Internal Revenue
Adrienne Williams-Octalien, Director, Office of Disaster Recovery
Brent Leerdam, Tax Collector, Office of the Lt. Governor
Chalma Moorhead, Acting Tax Assessor, Office of the Lt. Governor
Joss Springette, Esq., Chief Negotiator, Office of Collective Bargaining
Cindy L. Richardson, Director, Division of Personnel
Honorable Derek Gabriel, Commissioner, VI Department of Public Works
THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning
10:00 a.m.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
The Committee will receive testimony from the Office of Disaster Recovery on its operations and key disaster recovery and infrastructure projects, including but not limited to:
- Review of Federal Disaster Assistance Grants
- Current data on anticipated, allocated, obligated, and expended funds
- Challenges and Opportunities in Grant Utilization
- Super Project Management Office (PMO): Structure and Responsibilities
- Operation and Effectiveness of Super PMO
- Coordination with Other Agencies and Stakeholders
- Status of Bundles: Critical Projects
- Assessment of Bundling Approach and Contractor Responsiveness
- Update on Key Infrastructure and Recovery Projects
- Performance of CDBG-DR Programs
- Progress of Envision Tomorrow Initiative
- Data on Resident Participation and Responsiveness
Invited Testifiers:
Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien, Director, Office of Disaster Recovery
Eugene Jones, Jr., Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
FRIDAY,
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports and Parks
10:00 a.m.
Cleone H. Creque Legislative Conference Room
MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 24, 2025
Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection
9:00 a.m.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
BLOCK I
The Department of Property and Procurement will provide a comprehensive update on the state of the Government of the Virgin Islands contractual agreements, vendor payments, leases, and the GVI Buy Software.
Key highlights will include the status of capital projects, pending/outstanding leases, contracts, and payments that affect government operations.
Invited Testifier:
Honorable Lisa Alejandro, Commissioner, Department of Property and Procurement
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs to provide an update on programs that prevent fraudulent, deceptive,
and unfair business practices and information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid scams and fraud.
Key highlights include a fuel price survey, the frequency of grocery store price analyses and results, and the status of
capital projects.
Invited Testifier:
Honorable H. Natalie Hodge, Commissioner, Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services
10:00 a.m.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room, on St. Croix.
BLOCK I
The Committee will receive testimony regarding the strategic plan to address staffing shortages and the reduction of
emergency room wait-times at both hospital facilities. Also, the members will be presented with an overview on the
territory’s MAP program and the boarder crisis in the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Regional Medical Center and the
Schneider Regional Medical Center.
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Averil E. George, Commissioner, Department of Human Services
Tina M. Comissiong, Esq., MPA, CEO, Schneider Regional Medical Center
Hazel Philbert, Interim CEO, Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Regional Medical Center
Darlene Carty-Baptiste, Incoming CEO, Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Regional Medical Center
Christopher Finch, Chairman, Virgin Islands Government Health and Hospital Corporation Edgar Phillips, Resident, St. Thomas, USVI
BLOCK II
The members will receive an overview on the designs including final completion target dates of the Herbert Grigg
Nursing Home, Queen Louise Home for the Aged, Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center, Schneider Regional Medical Center, Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center, and the Department of Human Services Complex, on St. Thomas.
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Averil E. George, Commissioner, Department of Human Services
Christopher Finch, Chairman, Virgin Islands Government Health and Hospital Corporation
Darryl Smalls, Executive Director, Facilities and Capital Development, Territorial Hospital Redevelopment Team
Jerry Smith, Incoming Chairman, Virgin Islands Government Health and Hospital Corporation
THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 27, 2025
Committee on Rules and Judiciary
10:00 a.m.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
FRIDAY,
FEBRUARY 28, 2025
Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications
10:00 a.m.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas.
BLOCK I
Update and discussion on key matters related to the operations of the Department of Public Works. Providing the
department’s short- and long-term goals, staffing updates, transportation and bus route extensions, ferry operations,
engineering services to GVI agencies, and the current state of the territory’s roads, bridges, and cemeteries. As well as the challenges the Department is facing and their plans to address them to better serve the residents of our territory.
Invited Testifier:
Honorable Derek Gabriel, Commissioner, Department of Public Works
LUNCH
BLOCK II
Discussion on the operations of the Virgin Island Waste Management Authority as it relates to their plans and priorities for the coming year. Update on the status of staffing, payroll challenges and vendor payments. In addition to the status of tipping fees, wastewater treatment plants, pump station operations and capacity, landfills within the territory, garbage collection, oil collection, and any other challenges the agency is facing, along with their plans to overcome them to better serve the community.
Invited Testifier:
Daryl Griffith, Interim Executive Director, Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority
