PFA Provides Additional Funding To DPNR For Purchase Of Police Vessel

The board of directors of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority (PFA) last week voted to provide additional funding to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) to assist in the purchase of a new vessel for law enforcement purposes.

The latest appropriation, which was not revealed in a press release issued by Government House, will supplement funds previously approved by the Senate to purchase vessels needed by DPNR in both the St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John districts.

Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr., chairman of the PFA board, had proposed $500,000 in the 2015 budget for the purchase of vessels on St. Thomas and St. Croix; however, the Legislature cut the funding level to $350,000. The additional money from PFA will now allow for the purchases to go forward.

In other action, the PFA board also approved another request from the DPNR Acting Commissioner J.P. Oriol to serve as the fiduciary for a sum of money earmarked for renovations to the State Historic Preservation Office on St. Thomas. The board also voted on a resolution to provide for a feasibility study for the development of a multi-purpose sports center and theme park on St. Thomas.