Javan E. James, Sr. was born and raised on the island of St. Croix to Marilyn and Jonathan E. James on July 7, 1987. Of his two siblings, he is the second child. He attended the Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School, Elena L. Christian Junior High School, and St. Croix Educational Complex High School. He received his high school diploma on June 6, 2005. He worked as a certified process operator at the Hovensa LLC refinery, firefighter at the United States Airforce, front desk at the Loft Condominium in Florida, Buccaneer Hotel, and as an administrative assistant for Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. during the 31st and 32nd Legislature of the Virgin Islands. James is married to Shemira M. James. The couple has three amazing children by the names of Ameira, Janess, and Javan II. Mr. James is a devoted family man who is known for setting an example for our young men and women in the community.
James announced his bid for a seat in the 33rd Legislature of the Virgin Islands a few weeks after Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the U.S. Virgin Islands. On Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Javan E. James was elected as the youngest Senator to serve in the 33rd Legislature of the Virgin Islands at the age of thirty-one. In his first term in the Senate, James served as the Chairman of the Committee on Youth, Sports, Parks, and Recreation. Senator James has since then been re-elected as the youngest in the 34th and 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands. His goal is to advocate for more economic development for the island of St. Croix while serving in the 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands. Since taking office in 2019, he has offered legislation pertaining to sports, infrastructure, youth, education, culture, and economic development.
To name a few, he has brought forward legislation to construct a cricket field in Estate Bethlehem, St. Croix at a total of $2,175,000 (Act 8473), renovate the Police Athletic League Headquarters in Estate Whim, St. Croix at a total of $200,000 (Act No. 8446), redirect all revenues derived from fees for initial and renewal firearms and ammunition licenses into the VI Education Initiative Fund to assist the Career and Technical Education schools in both districts (Act 8434), end child marriage by prohibiting the issuance of marriage licenses to persons under the age of eighteen (Act No. 8255), fund the completion of the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack on the island of St. Croix at a total of $5,000,000 (Act 8651), and erect a monument in honor of the estate laborers and queens of the 1878 Fireburn on St. Croix at a total of $250,000 (Act 8543).
