Committee on Government Operations, Veteran’s Affairs and Consumer Protection

The Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection has scheduled a meeting for Monday, October 19, 2026 at 9:00 A.M. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to receive an update from WAPA and the VI Sixth Constitutional Convention and to consider of the following bills:

BLOCK I                                                                                                                                 9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.

The Committee will receive a brief update from WAPA regarding the St. John new generators.

The Committee will receive testimony from The VI Sixth Constitutional Convention on the following:

• To discuss the status, progress, challenges, and provide comprehensive updates on the VI Sixth Constitutional Convention.

BLOCK II                                                                                                                                   11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Bill No. 36-0345                     An act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25 by adding subchapter IX to enact “The Virgin Islands Heroes Act” making benefits payable to the spouses and eligible           children of public safety officers who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty

Invited Testifiers:

Ms. Cindy Richardson, Director, VI Division of Personnel

Mr. Mario Brooks, Commissioner, VI Police Department

Mr. Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General of the Virgin Islands

Bill No. 36-0354                     An act amending the Virgin Islands Code to rename the Division of Personnel the Division of Human Resources

 Invited Testifiers:

Ms. Cindy Richardson, Director, VI Division of Personnel

Mr. Kevin Williams, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor

BLOCK III                                                                                                                    1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Bill No. 36-0353                     An act to establish uniform governance, accountability, transparency, strategic planning, performance management, and community reinvestment requirements for public                 corporations, autonomous entities, and instrumentalities of the Government of the Virgin Islands

 Invited Testifiers:

Mr. Wayne Biggs, President/CEO, VI Economic Development Authority

Mr. Karl Knight, CEO, VI Water and Power Authority

Mr. Julio Rhymer, Director, Office of Management and Budget

Mr. Raymond Williams, Executive Director, VI Lottery

Mr. Delia Thomas, Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General

BLOCK IV                                                                                                                    2:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.

 Bill No. 36-0350                     A resolution honoring and commending the Virgin Islands Conference of the 16th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church on its 106th anniversary

Invited Testifiers:

Mr. Uklyn Hendricks, Bethel AME Church, Christiansted

Mrs. Amabel Hewitt-Compton, Bethel AME Church, Christiansted

Ms. Lydia Davis, St. Luke AME Church, Frederiksted

Mrs. Colleen Liburd Henderson, St. Luke AME Church, Frederiksted

Rev. Charles L. Brown, Jr., Family of Faith AME Church, St. Thomas

Bill No. 36-0349                     An act honoring and commending Austin M. Petersen for his extraordinary artistic contributions to the cultural heritage of the Virgin Islands; formally designating the mural wall     along Weymouth Rhymer Highway on St. Thomas as Black Utopia Lane; and appropriating funds for the installation of a plaque at Black Utopia Lane

Invited Testifiers:

Ms. Sandra M. Benjamin, Retired Teacher

Mr. Alyster Edwards, Retired Professional School Counselor

Mrs. Marva Thomas-Lake, Retired Guidance Counselor

Mrs. Marcella “Jaribu Bobo” Jennings Collier, Artist

Bill No. 36-0241                     A resolution honoring and commending Rashida Hodge for her being on a global scale in the field of technology as well as philanthropic efforts towards the people of the Virgin         Islands through the establishment of the Rashida Hodge Endowment Fund at North Carolina State University

Invited Testifiers:

Mr. Timothy Humphrey, Asst. Provost, Wake Tech Community College/IBM Executive

Ms. Dee Brown, President, Community Foundation of the VI

Mr. Louis Martin-Vega, Former Dean, NC State University College of Engineering

Mrs. Lisa Hassell-Forde, Former Administrator, VI Department of Education

Mr. Mark Souza, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft

Bill No. 36-0327                     A resolution honoring and commending the St. Thomas Majorettes for over two decades of service to the Virgin Islands community, by promoting discipline, teamwork, leadership                                                     development, academic encouragement, personal growth and mentorship for youth, through the performing art of baton twirling

Invited Testifiers:

Dr. Desha Powell, Co-Founder, St. Thomas Majorettes, Inc.

Ms. Meki’ya Thomas, Former STM Twirler/Trainer

Mrs. Raynette Richards, Community Advocate

Mr. Sheldon Turnbull, Performance Coordinator

Mr. Halvor Hart, Assistant Director, Division of Festivals