ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands — The Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks, chaired by Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr., convened an oversight hearing at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall to examine elder care and senior protections in the Virgin Islands. Lawmakers reviewed the delivery of long-term care services and voted in the affirmative for legislations to strengthen protections against the financial exploitation of seniors and establish a standardized process for naming and renaming territorial parks and recreational facilities. All approved measures will be forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration. 

Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr. emphasized that protecting the health, dignity, and well-being of the Virgin Islands' senior population requires sustained legislative oversight and collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders. He noted that the Committee remains committed to promoting accountability and advancing policies that strengthen long-term care while safeguarding older adults throughout the Territory.

The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services Assistant Commissioner Taetia Phillips-Dorsett testified that the Territory's aging population continues to increase demand for long-term care services, while aging facilities, staffing shortages, limited bed capacity, and off-island placements remain significant challenges. She highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize the Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged and the Queen Louise Home for the Aged through FEMA-supported redevelopment projects, workforce recruitment, and infrastructure improvements designed to achieve CMS certification, expand local capacity, and secure sustainable federal funding.

The Virgin Islands Department of Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion testified that assessments of the Territory's long-term care facilities identified operational, clinical, staffing, and life-safety deficiencies that must be addressed before CMS certification can be achieved. She outlined the Department's strategy to strengthen regulatory oversight, establish a comprehensive territorial framework for long-term care, and provide technical assistance to facilities pursuing certification while emphasizing investments in workforce development, infrastructure modernization, and quality assurance.

The Virgin Islands Housing Authority Executive Director Dwayne Alexander testified that more than 760 seniors remain on Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists across the Territory, reflecting increasing demand for affordable housing and the challenges posed by limited housing availability and federal funding constraints. He highlighted the Authority's efforts to expand housing opportunities for older adults through fair housing protections, interagency partnerships, and continued administration of senior-designated housing communities that support aging in place.

Following testimony, lawmakers voted favorably on the following measures: 

• Bill No. 36-0192: An Act amending Title 34 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 15 to enact the Senior Financial Protection and Promissory Note Abuse Prevention Act of 2025. Proposed by Senator Alma Francis Heyliger
• Bill No. 36-0247: An Act amending Title 32 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 2, establishing the Territorial Park Naming Program creating a uniform process for naming and renaming parks, recreational areas, and facilities owned by the Government of the Virgin Islands. Proposed by Senator Marise C. James

Senators present at today’s Committee of the Whole meeting include Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Marvin A. Blyden, Avery L. Lewis, Alma Francis Heyliger, Novelle E. Francis Jr., Marise C. James, and Carla J. Joseph.

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