Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection

The Committee on Government Operations & Consumer Protection has scheduled a meeting for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 17, 2022, in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room, St. Croix. The purpose of the meeting is to receive and consider the following legislative measures:

Bill No. 34-0148         An Act honoring and commending LaVerne E. Ragster for her contributions and research efforts to the Virgin Islands, the University of the Virgin Islands and the children of the Virgin Islands and naming the University of the Virgin Islands Administration and Conference Center on the island of St. Thomas in her honor.

Bill No. 34-0155         An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code title 3, chapter 29, relating to notaries, notarial officers, and notarial acts by adding subchapter III enacting the “Virgin Islands Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (2021)”; and amending and repealing conflicting laws on notaries public.

Then, the Committee will receive testimony on the operations of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) and the Virgin Islands Port Authority.

BLOCK I 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

The Committee will receive testimony concerning the following bills:

Bill No. 34-0148          An Act honoring and commending LaVerne E. Ragster for her contributions and research efforts to the Virgin Islands, the University of the Virgin Islands and the children of the Virgin Islands and naming the University of the Virgin Islands Administration and Conference Center on the island of St. Thomas in her honor.

Invited Testifiers:

James O’Bryan, Jr., Former Senator, Legislature of the Virgin Islands

Mr. Rupert W. Ross, Jr., Resident

Mr. Roy Watlington, Former Professor, University of the Virgin Islands

Dr. David Hall, Esq., President, University of the Virgin Islands

BLOCK II 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

 Bill No. 34-0155          An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code title 3, chapter 29, relating to notaries, notarial officers, and notarial acts by adding subchapter III enacting the “Virgin Islands Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (2021)”; and amending and repealing conflicting laws on notaries public.

Invited Testifiers:

Ms. Monica Williams Carbon Esq., Chief of Staff, Office of the Lt. Governor

Ms. Alisha Udhwani, Esq., President, V.I. Bar Association

Mr. Troy A. deChabert-Schuster, State Director, AARP Virgin Islands

Mr. Tom Bolt,  Esq., Chair, V.I. Uniform Law Commission

Mr. Andrew C. Simpson, PC, Notary St. Croix

Ms. LaVerne Slack,  Notary St. Thomas

LUNCH 1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.

 BLOCK III 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

The Committee will receive testimony on the Department of Planning and Natural Resources operations to include but not limited to enabling law and jurisdiction, current agency challenges and plan of action to resolve challenges.

Invited Testifier:

The Honorable Jean-Pierre L. Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning and Natural Resources

BLOCK IV 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

 The Committee will receive testimony on the Virgin Islands Port Authority operations to include but not limited to enabling law and jurisdiction, current agency challenges and plan of action to resolve challenges.

Invited Testifier:

Mr. Carlton Dowe, Executive Director, V.I. Port Authority