St. CROIX- Members of the Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Kurt A. Vialet, met Tuesday in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room. Senators received testimony on several measures regarding lease agreements between the Government of the Virgin Islands (GVI) acting through the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement, and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (VIWMA), Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Inc., the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation d/b/a Viya, and the Island Roads Corporation.

Lawmakers voted in the affirmative for two measures regarding lease agreements with the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority to construct and operate a solid waste convenience center on each parcel and to lease two portions of the land to leases. Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory sponsored both bills. Defending the measures, VIWMA Interim Executive Director Roger Merrit noted that there will be a total of nine Convenience Centers, a major part of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP) to collect waste with an organized approach. Out of the nine, only five require approval from the Senate. The breakdown of the five per district of the approved Convenience Centers is three on St. Croix and two in the St. Thomas-St. John District with the total estimated cost of $10.5 million. Merrit added that part of ISWMP features fenced sites and attendants with hopes of mitigating the illegal dumping of hazardous solid waste. In support of the bills, the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement’s Deputy Commissioner of the Property and Printing Division ,Vincent Richards mentioned that the leases for VIWMA will result in improved solid waste management throughout the Territory.

• Bill No. 34-0192- An Act approving the Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (1) Parcel No. 73C Estate Concordia, West End Quarter, St. Croix, (2) a portion of Parcel No. 10-B VICORP Lands, King Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands and (3) a portion of Parcel No. 1 Estate Cotton Valley, East End Quarter, St. Croix, to construct and operate a solid waste convenience center on each parcel. Proposed by Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory.
• Bill No. 34- 0200- An Act approving the Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority for the leasing of a portion of Parcel C Estate Nazareth No. 1 Red Hook Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; and a portion of Parcel No. 6 Remainder Estate Susannaberg No. 17A, Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands. Proposed by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt A. Vialet.

Moreover, Richards indicated that all the Lessees have followed the policy and procedures of DPP and satisfactorily met the requirements of the lease application process. Ultimately, policymakers voted with a favorable recommendation for the following Lease Agreements:

• Bill No. 34-0195- An Act approving the Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Inc. for Parcel No. 300-G Cruz Bay Town, Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands to build a building, wherein Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Inc., will provide welfare and charitable services, to include, among other services, a soup kitchen and dormitory facilities. Proposed by Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory.
• Bill No. 34-0196- An Act approving the Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement and Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation d/b/a Viya. Proposed by Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory.
• Bill No. 34-0199- An Act approving the Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Island Roads Corporation for the leasing of an improved portion of Parcel No. 1A Estate Bovoni, Nos. 1 & 2 Frenchman’s Bay Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Proposed by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt A. Vialet.
• Bill No. 34-0170- An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 29, chapter 12, sections 708, 708a, 708b, 710, 711, 712, 713a(b)(5), 715 and 723 relating to Economic Development Program, amend the incentives to beneficiaries to further their commitments to investment in the Virgin Islands community. Proposed by Senator Donna A. Frett Gregory.
• Bill No. 34-0171- An Act amending Virgin Islands Code Title 3, chapter 27, section 706 and chapter 28a, section 755 relating to the service retirement annuity to allow retirees to reenter government service and retain their annuity while paying a contribution to the Retirement System and for other related purposes. Proposed by Senator Milton E. Potter
• Bill No. 34-0192- An Act approving the Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (1) Parcel No. 73C Estate Concordia, West End Quarter, St. Croix, (2) a portion of Parcel No. 10-B VICORP Lands, King Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands and (3) a portion of Parcel No. 1 Estate Cotton Valley, East End Quarter, St. Croix, to construct and operate a solid waste convenience center on each parcel. Proposed by Senator Donna A. Frett Gregory.

Senators attending the meeting: Kurt A. Vialet, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Samuel Carrión, Marvin A. Blyden, Genevieve R. Whitaker, Milton E. Potter, Donna A. Frett Gregory, Dwayne M. DeGraff, and Alma Francis Heyliger.

 

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