Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture

The Committee on Economic Development & Agriculture will be meeting on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix. This hearing is to receive testimony on the overall status of the Limetree Bay Refinery, its recent sale, and other activities taking place at and around the refinery site. The committee will also receive testimony on the Agricultural Plan, developed by the University of the Virgin Islands as per Act 8404. This hearing will be conducted in person; however, support may participate remotely.

BLOCK I                                                                                                                                 10:00 A.M.

The committee will hear testimony, not limited to, the overall status of the Limetree Bay Refinery, its recent sale, and other activities taking place at and around the refinery site.

Invited Testifiers
Gordon Shirley, WIPL Chairman, West Indies Petroleum
Jeffrey Charles, Chief Operating Officer, Limetree Bay Terminals
Wayne L. Biggs, Chief Executive Director, VIEDA
Karl Knight, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor
The Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning and Natural Resources
The Honorable Richard Evangelista, Esq., Commissioner, DLCA
Nathan Simmonds, Director, Public Finance Authority
Joel Lee, CPA, CGMA, CFE, Director, Bureau of Internal Revenue
Zeno Bain, Community Contact, Environmental Protection Agency

LUNCH                                                                                                         12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.

BLOCK II                                                                                                                                   1:00 P.M.

The committee will hear testimony on the Agricultural Plan developed by the University of the Virgin Islands as per Act 8404, information regarding moving the plan forward through legislative action and other initiatives.

Invited Testifiers
Dr. David Hall, President, University of the Virgin Islands
The Honorable Anthony D. Thomas, Commissioner, Department of Property & Procurement
Kimme Bryce, Area Director, Christiansted USDA Service Center
Mark Carlton, District Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Honorable Positive T.A. Nelson, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Agriculture
Rudy G. O’Reilly, District Director, St. Croix District Conservationist
Dale Brown, Owner, Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands
Sommer Sibilly Browne, Owner, VI Good Food Co-Op
Luca Gasperi, Owner, Artfarm LLC