Senate Session Set For May 14 And 15

ST. THOMAS — The 33^rd Legislature will convene its second session on Tuesday, Senate President Kenneth Gittens has confirmed. The Consortium previously reported that the session would take place mid-May. Mr. Gittens is expecting the session to last two days, ending on May 15. The session will be called to order at 10:00 a.m. at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall in St. Thomas.

“We look forward to a very productive two-day Session,” Mr. Gittens said. “I must thank my colleagues and the Legislative staff for their efforts thus far in this term.” 

The current legislature has not had a session to vote on Governor Albert Bryan’s picks to lead government departments and agencies since taking office in January, and many of the nominees, already favorably voted out of the Committee on Rules and Judiciary, await final confirmation so they could fully take up their respective roles.

Some Bryan-Roach campaign members have criticized the Senate for the length of time it has taken to hold a session to confirm nominees. In response, Mr. Gittens said a number of factors determine the scheduling of a session. “We’ve had scheduling conflicts that caused the previous tentative scheduled sessions to be postponed. It would be counterproductive as well to call the Legislature into session and not have a full agenda,” he said.

So far, the Rules and Judiciary Committee has approved Racquel Berry, commissioner nominee for the Dept. of Education; Nelson Petty, commissioner nominee for the Dept. of Public Works, Barbara McIntosh, director nominee for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles; Joel Lee, director nominee for the Bureau of Internal Revenue; Anthony Thomas, commissioner nominee for Property and Procurement; Positive Nelson, commissioner nominee for the Dept. of Agriculture; Jean-Pierre Oriol, commissioner nominee for the Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources; Justa Encarnacion, commissioner nominee of the Dept. of Health; Gary Molloy, commissioner nominee for the Dept. of Labor; Joseph Boschulte, commissioner nominee for the Dept. of Tourism; Kirk Callwood, commissioner nominee for the Dept. of Finance; Judges Douglas Brady and  Kathleen Mackay to serve in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands; Wynnie Testamark, director nominee for the Bureau of Corrections, Joss N. Springette, chief negotiator nominee for the Office of Collective Bargaining; and Jenifer C. O’Neal, director nominee for the Office of Management and Budget.

Also approved in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary recently were the nominations of Magistrate Judge Jessica Gallivan, to serve in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix in the Family Division, and Judge Debra Watlington’s re-appointment to serve in the Superior Court’s Family Division in the St. Thomas-St. John District. Denise George was favorably voted out of the committee to be the territory’s Attorney General; Dayna Clendinen as director of the Division of Personnel, and Leona Smith to serve on the Port Auhority’s board.

Mr. Bryan has yet to name leaders to some key positions, including a V.I.P.D. commissioner and Bureau of Information Technology director. B.I.T. is an important government arm responsible for the government’s online systems, including the handling of data storage. On Thursday, the governor’s pick to lead the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, Daryl DeFrance Jaschen, was held in committee with senators being doubtful that the nominee could effectively lead the sprawling agency after he was questioned on a myriad of VITEMA and disaster-related topics.

Mr. Bryan had promised to name his cabinet in full within the first 90 days upon taking office, but the governor is now well past 100 days. Even so, administration officials have said an announcement, at least for the commissioner position at the police department, would come shortly.

The Senate president reminded the public that next week’s session will be broadcast on VIYA Cable TV, Channel 26 and livestreamed on the Legislature’s website. The session can also be heard live on 91.9 FM, and watched on WTJX’s Facebook page.

Senators are expected to vote on the confirmation of the Bryan/ Roach Administration’s nominees and cabinet appointments, as well as to consider legislation, lease agreements and a rezoning.