Rules Committee To Consider Ferry, GARVEE Bills, Vet Board Nominees

ST. CROIX — Senator Kenneth Gittens, chairman of the Committee on Rules and Judiciary has announced two upcoming committee meetings this week, according to a press release Gittens’ office issued this afternoon.

The meetings will focus on vetting several individuals who have been nominated by Governor Kenneth Mapp and forwarded to the committee for advice and consent and will also include the consideration of several bills.

The first committee meeting this week will be held 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 11th, in the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Halls on St. Thomas, where the committee will consider the nominations of Dr. Jerry Smith, as a member of the Board of Physical Therapy; Mrs. Pierina J.R. Feldman, as chairperson of the Public Employees Relations Board and Mr. Jose A. Penn as a member of the Economic Development Authority.

The committee will later consider three bills, including Bill No. 31-0073 – An Act authorizing the government of the Virgin Islands and the Department of Public Works to apply for no more than $105 million in Grant Anticipation Revenue, also known as the GARVEE Bill.

On Thursday, August, 13th, the committee will meet again at 9:30 a.m., this time at the Frits Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix. The committee will consider Governor Mapp’s nominations of Dr. Laura Lee Bailey and Dr. Bethany Bradford, both as members of the Virgin Islands Board of Veterinary Medicine; Ms. Vera Falu as a member of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center Board and Mr. Juan Figueroa, as director of the V.I. Lottery.

Later in the day on Thursday, the committee will consider two bills, including Bill No. 31-0137 – An Act establishing the Virgin Islands Ferryboat Fund as a separate and distinct fund in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands.

“We have two full agendas slated for committee meetings this week. We are continuing to use due diligence as we move these nominees through the process and continue to serve as the clearing house of all bills that move through the body,” said Gittens.

“We all know the critical importance of some of these nominations to the improvement of the quality of life in our community. We encourage residents to watch or listen to the live hearings so that they can remain informed on the issues,” he concluded.