The Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports and Parks

The Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks will convene on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas for a legislative oversight hearing to examine the state of elder care and senior protections in the Virgin Islands. The hearing will include a comprehensive review of the operational conditions of government and privately operated nursing homes and long-term care facilities, with emphasis on quality of care, staffing levels, infrastructure readiness, financial stability, regulatory compliance, and progress toward CMS certification and federal funding eligibility. Through testimony from agency leaders, regulatory officials, and advocacy organizations, the Committee aims to identify systemic gaps, strengthen accountability, and advance policies that ensure safe, financially secure, and dignified care for the Territory’s aging population.

Additionally, the Committee will receive testimony on Bill No. 36-0192, the Senior Financial Protection and Promissory Note Abuse Prevention Act of 2025, which seeks to strengthen safeguards against financial exploitation of seniors through enhanced enforcement measures, reporting requirements, and interagency coordination.

BLOCK I                                                                                                                                    10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

 “Aging with Dignity: Oversight of Nursing Homes and CMS Certification Readiness in the Virgin Islands”

The Committee will receive detailed testimony regarding the operational conditions of all government and privately operated nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the Virgin Islands. The review will examine quality of care, staffing adequacy, facility infrastructure, occupancy rates, financial sustainability, and compliance with territorial licensing and regulatory standards, with particular focus on identifying systemic gaps and risks affecting the health, safety, and dignity of the Territory’s elderly population.

The Committee will also assess each facility’s status toward CMS certification and readiness to meet federal Conditions of Participation, including barriers to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, infrastructure deficiencies, and corrective actions necessary to secure sustainable federal funding.

This Block is intended to provide a comprehensive oversight evaluation of the Territory’s long-term care system and to outline strategic policy measures to strengthen accountability, elevate care standards, and safeguard the financial and personal well-being of the Virgin Islands aging community.

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Averil E. George, Commissioner, VI Department of Human Services
Honorable Justa Encarnacion, Commissioner, VI Department of Health
Honorable Dwayne Alexander, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Authority
Ms. Junia John-Straker, Chief Executive Officer, Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands
Ms. Ramona Leonce, Director, Flamboyant Gardens
Pastor Mona Barnes, Administrator, New Life Senior Resort
Mr. Troy de Chabert-Schuster, Executive Director, AARP Virgin Islands

LUNCH                                                                                                                                         1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

BLOCK II                                                                                                                                     1:30 PM – 4:30 PM

The Committee will debate on Bill No. 36-0192

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.

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Averil E. George, Commissioner, VI Department of Human Services
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General of the Virgin Islands, VI Department of Justice
Honorable Mario Brooks, Commissioner, VI Police Department
Ms. Glendina Matthew, Director, Division of Banking and Insurance, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Ms. Pamela Toussaint, Associate State Director, Advocacy and Community Outreach, AARP VI