ST. CROIX, VI – Members of the 36^th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, led by Senate President Milton E. Potter hosted a perma plaque ceremony at the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room.

In his opening remarks, Senate President Milton E.  Potter said, “A plaque is a relatively small thing, it fits on a wall, but what it holds is not small at all. It is a community’s decision that a name, a life, a contribution, will not be allowed to fade.”. Additionally, Senate President Potter stated that the honorees chose different paths, but every single one of them chose their own way to give something of themselves to this place we love so much.

Five honorees received perma plaques, in accordance with the following legislation:

Bill No. 36-0058, (Now Act No. 9048), An act honoring and commending Dennis “Pumpa” Lennox Leroy Liburd, Jr. for his many contributions to the Virgin Islands culture and music industry as a Soca artist by awarding him the Official key to the Territory and naming the main entrance of 6-Y Peters Rest Road, Christiansted, St. Croix in his honor. The measure was proposed by Senators Marise C. James, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Avery L. Lewis, Clifford A. Joseph, Sr., Kurt A. Vialet, Alma Francis Heyliger and Carla J. Joseph, and cosponsored by Senators Hubert L. Frederick and Novelle E. Francis, Jr.

Bill No. 36-0121, (Now Act No. 9053), An act to rename the Peter Carl Limpricht Park the Ten Sleepless Knights Park in honor of the Ten Sleepless Knights quelbe band and making an appropriation to effectuate that change.  The measure was proposed by Senator Marise C. James and sponsored by Senators Clifford A. Joseph, Sr., Avery L. Lewis, Kenneth L. Gittens, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Kurt A. Vialet, Franklin D. Johnson, Alma Francis Heyliger, Carla J. Joseph and Milton E. Potter, and cosponsored by Senators Hubert L. Frederick, Ray Fonseca and Novelle E. Francis, Jr.

Bill No. 35-0195, (Now Resolution No. 1912), A Resolution honoring and commending Mr. Willard John for his many contributions to the youth and culture of the Virgin Islands. The measure was proposed by Senators Marise C. James, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Samuel Carriόn, Franklin D. Johnson, and Donna Frett-Gregory.

Bill No. 36-0223, (Now Resolution No. 1925), A resolution honoring and commending the life, legacy, and service of former Warden Thomas Martin, posthumously, for his distinguished public service to the people of the Virgin Islands, his honorable military service as a Montford Point Marine during World War II, and his posthumous receipt of the Congressional Gold Medal. The measure was proposed by Senators Clifford A. Joseph, Sr., Marise C. James, Milton E. Potter, Novelle E. Francis, Jr. and Carla J. Joseph.

Bill No. 35-0229, (Now Act No. 8873), An Act honoring and commending the Eighth elected Governor of the Virgin Islands, Kenneth Ezra Mapp for his years of service to the people of the Virgin Islands and naming Route 75 on the island of St. Croix from Bassin Triangle intersection at Route 70, Estate Richmond and ending at Krause Lagoon the “Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp Highway”; appropriating $45,000 from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Public Works to implement the mandates of this Act, to bestow the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor on Kenneth Ezra Mapp and for other related purposes. The measure was proposed by Senators Franklin D. Johnson, Milton E. Potter, Samuel Carriόn, Javan E. James, Sr., and Kenneth L. Gittens.

Senators present at today’s perma plaque ceremony were Milton E. Potter, Kenneth L. Gittens, Marvin A. Blyden, Dwayne M. Degraff, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Alma Francis Heyliger, Hubert L. Frederick, Marise C. James, Avery L. Lewis, Franklin D. Johnson, Clifford A. Joseph, Sr, and Kurt A. Vialet.

The Division of Public Affairs is committed to providing the community with accurate information on legislative proceedings and other events at the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. Visit www.legvi.org.                    

####