Thirty-fifth Legislature Celebrates on St. Croix

Sen. Milton Potter waves to the crowd at Wednesday’s reception on St. Croix. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)

After being delayed by the FAA’s several hours halt to flights because of a system failure, members of the newly sworn-in 35th Legislature gathered on St. Croix Wednesday for an ecumenical church service and reception with family and friends.

Apostle Mona Barnes officiated the church service at the City of Refuge Worship Center and asked the senators whether they are “chickens” and “hawks” for the people of the Virgin Islands. In addition to singing several hymns, Sen. Samuel Carrion, Sen. Kenneth Gittens and newly elected Senate President Novelle Francis participated in the service.

Later, several senators told the reception crowd they will be hawkish when it comes to the people’s business.

The legislators, families and friends were seated under tents on the Frederiksted Pier, facing the sea. A breeze cooled the mid-afternoon event as the meal — chicken, salmon, macaroni and cheese, potato stuffing, rice and tarts was enjoyed by the celebratory crowd. 

The politicians mingled with family and friends, talking about the holidays, St. Croix Festival, and their legislative hopes for the future. Several spoke with The Source.

Many of their hopes and goals have been spoken of by previous senators, such as lowering utility rates, improving health care and fixing roads and street lights. Most senators seemed to feel these are still primary concerns.

Gittens said that as majority leader he will hold a caucus soon to come up with initiatives and a plan on how to move forward. Health care and getting the hospital up and running are his first priorities. Street lights and roads, especially on the west end of the island, are also very important, he said.

Sen. Kenneth Gittens greets friends and family members at the St. Croix reception Wednesday. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)

The Majority Caucus includes: Sens. Kenneth Gittens, Novelle Francis, Marvin Blyden, Carla Joseph, Angel Bolques Jr., Diane Capehart, Ray Fonseca, Donna Frett-Gregory, Javan James Sr., Marise James, and Milton Potter. 

“We need to get a timeline. It appears nothing has happened. The projects have been taking too long,” Gittens said, adding they will meet with the governor to help advance projects.  

Francis said he also is focused on working with the executive branch. He plans to hold town hall meetings soon to listen to voters’ priorities, he said. 

Health care and the V.I. Water and Power Authority are the two most important issues, Francis said, and he believes WAPA could be partially privatized — a hybrid. The Energy Committee could begin the research, he added.

“I’m a little concerned that our finances, our local finances may not be where they should be,” Francis said, adding he wants to ensure there is a rainy day fund to deal with future disasters. 

Outgoing Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory, the first woman to hold the office, said she never lost sight that the people elected her to be a senator, not to be the Senate president.

“One thing I did was remain focused on my senatorial agenda. I worked very closely with my colleagues on significant legislation and I know that with the 35th Legislature we’re going  to do likewise under Sen. Novelle Francis Jr.,” she said.

St. John Sen. Angel Bolques Sr. listed several goals for his first full term in the Legislature. Agriculture and food security are his primary concerns as well as helping people start small businesses while living in the housing communities. He also wants to help people transition out of housing communities and improve health care on the island, he said.

“I think St. Johnians are going to become extinct. We don’t have any St. Johnians being born on the island. Everyone has to go over to St. Thomas to have a child,” he said. 

Bolques said he is going to work on the Committee on Culture, Sports, Parks and Youth and plans to focus on seniors as well as youth. 

Marise James, former lawyer and V.I. National Guard officer, is a new senator from St. Croix. She said education is her first priority, which is why she volunteered to be the chair of the Education and Workforce Development Committee. Helping people get qualified to buy a house is her second priority, and getting the modular hospital open is another important focus, she said.

As a territorial hospital board member, James said the current plans moving forward to build the new hospital are good and there should be no time nor money wasted. Nursing and physician shortages are important as is transportation, especially between islands, she said. 

“It comes down to being really sincere about improving the lives of our people and understanding that it is possible. We just have to put our minds and our hearts together and make it happen,” she said.

Church services and celebrations were held previously on St. Thomas and St. John.