The 36th Legislature’s Majority Caucus is taking an aggressive stance on oversight and accountability this February, launching a series of targeted committee hearings designed to push government agencies toward greater transparency and fiscal responsibility. Senate Majority Leader Kurt Vialet says the Legislature is responding to public demand for stronger oversight, ensuring commissioners and agency heads are held to clear expectations.
“We know that oversight is what the community has been asking for,” Vialet said in an interview Monday. “It’s critical that we hold individuals’ feet to the fire so they understand that accountability is nonnegotiable. These hearings will provide much-needed updates and force agencies to be transparent with the public.”
At the heart of this agenda is a fact-finding approach, with lawmakers focusing on some of the government’s most pressing concerns, including: the redevelopment and demolition of Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and the state of health care services; the territory’s financial outlook; and contractual obligations at the Water and Power Authority and Property and Procurement.
Vialet stressed that the hearings are designed to drive productivity and problem-solving within government agencies. When asked how senators plan to keep discussions constructive and curtail animosity, he emphasized that committee heads have been asked to maintain professionalism and keep the focus on accountability rather than personal attacks.
“We’re not here to waste time or bring people in just for the sake of it,” he said. “Each hearing must have a clear, defined purpose. We’re setting expectations for agency heads, ensuring they understand their role in structural reform, financial responsibility, and service delivery.”
A More Unified Legislature
This round of committee meetings follows Vialet’s call for a unified legislative agenda, a move he first mentioned after Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s State of the Territory Address. Since then, the Senate Majority has met to finalize key priorities and will build on collaboration with the Minority Caucus and frequent engagement with Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett.
“We’ve already had a meeting with the delegate to discuss potential cuts to federal grants and their impact on the Virgin Islands,” Vialet said, adding that both Majority and Minority came together for what were involved in what he described as a Caucus of the Whole.
“This isn’t about party politics – this is about securing the territory’s financial future. We’ve met as a Committee We asked the delegate if she could present to the caucus every two to three months to keep us updated on national issues, tax provisions, and the rum cover-over program,” Vialet said.
Beyond legislative oversight, Vialet said the government’s General Fund remains precarious, citing declining tax collections and the need to reevaluate revenue strategies rather than relying on an uncertain upswing. Among other things, he said the Legislature can reassess government building leases, exploring whether owning and renovating facilities would be a more sustainable long-term strategy than continuing to rent, as a possible austerity measure.
“We cannot go through the year with an unbalanced budget,” Vialet stressed. “We need to be realistic about our revenue streams, especially when it comes to tax collection. The Bureau of Internal Revenue has to do its part, and we will be pushing them to ensure they are aggressively collecting taxes on a regular basis.”
The following committee hearings are scheduled for February, focusing on key areas of government operations:
Wednesday, Feb. 5 – Committee on Education & Workforce Development
Chairperson: Sen. Kurt Vialet | 9 a.m., St. Croix
- Testimony from Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington and Craig Benjamin, Executive Director of School Construction & Maintenance.
Wednesday, Feb. 12 – Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications
Chairperson: Sen. Marvin A. Blyden | 9 a.m., St. Thomas
- Testimony from Public Works Commissioner Derek Gabriel and VI Waste Management Authority Interim Executive Director Darryl Griffith.
Thursday, Feb. 13 – Committee on Health, Hospitals & Human Services
Chairperson: Sen. Ray Fonseca | 10 a.m., St. Croix
- Testimony from Human Services Commissioner Averil E. George, Schneider Regional CEO Tina Commissiong, and leadership from Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and the VI Government Health & Hospital Corporation.
Tuesday, Feb. 18 – Committee on Budget, Appropriations & Finance
Chairperson: Sen. Novelle E. Francis Jr. | 10 a.m., St. Croix
- Testimony from Finance Commissioner Kevin McCurdy, OMB Director Julio Rhymer, BIR Director Joel Lee, and other key financial officials.
Thursday, Feb. 20 – Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure & Planning
Chairperson: Sen. Marise C. James | 10 a.m., St. Croix
- Testimony from Office of Disaster Recovery Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien and VI Housing Finance Authority Executive Director Eugene Jones, Jr.
Friday, Feb. 21 – Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports & Parks
Chairperson: Sen. Angel L. Bolques Jr. | 10 a.m. St. John
- Testimony from Human Services Commissioner Averil E. George and Sports, Parks & Recreation Acting Commissioner Renee Hansen.
Monday, Feb. 24 – Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs & Consumer Protection
Chairperson: Sen. Avery L. Lewis | 9 a.m., St. Thomas
- Testimony from Licensing & Consumer Affairs Commissioner H. Nathalie Hodge and Property & Procurement Commissioner Lisa Alejandro.
