More than a decade after the Paul E. Joseph Stadium project first broke ground, lawmakers gathered Wednesday for a long-anticipated construction update — but none of the invited government officials or contractors appeared, reigniting long-standing frustrations over the stalled redevelopment effort in Frederiksted.
The Senate Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks had scheduled the hearing to receive testimony on the project’s timeline, contract status, procurement challenges, and interagency coordination. Instead, it turned into a flashpoint over accountability.
“This hearing is not optional,” said committee Chair Sen. Angel Bolques Jr., who said he had attempted since April to coordinate the hearing with the appropriate agencies. “The people of the Virgin Islands deserve answers.” Bolques called the absence “unacceptable,” a sentiment echoed across the committee.
Sen. Novelle Francis Jr. was more blunt. “It is an embarrassment, it is an abomination, it is a disgust — $30 million and we still can’t show anything for it.” Sen. Franklin Johnson called it “a shame,” pointing out that lawmakers had recently allocated another $5 million toward the stadium’s completion. Sen. Carla Joseph called the no-show by agency heads and contractors disrespectful, while Sen. Marvin Blyden said it showed a lack of seriousness about delivering for the community.
In response, senators voted unanimously to subpoena five individuals to testify at a rescheduled hearing on July 18: Public Works Commissioner Derek Gabriel; Property and Procurement Commissioner Lisa Alejandro; Sports, Parks, and Recreation Commissioner-nominee Vincent Roberts; GEC LLC owner John Wessel; and GEC Director of Operations Tim Demsey.
The Paul E. Joseph Stadium project has spanned more than 12 years, with repeated funding allocations, shifting timelines, and limited visible progress. Named for civil rights activist and former Sen. Paul E. Joseph, the original stadium opened in the 1960s and once hosted Major League Baseball exhibition games, regional cricket matches, and other cultural events. It was demolished in 2015 under the Mapp administration to make way for a new multiuse complex, but the redevelopment quickly stalled.
As reported by the St. Croix Source in 2021, federal flood plain approval had been one of the major hurdles holding up progress for years. The Public Works Department finally received the green light from FEMA in late 2021, allowing reconstruction to begin under contractor GEC LLC.
By early 2022, construction had visibly resumed, with the pouring of concrete bleacher slabs and other site work. At the time, officials were optimistic about completing the stadium by the end of 2023. However, further delays followed, and in November 2023, the Legislature approved an additional $5 million appropriation for the project, including funding for stormwater systems and a press box.
Even so, by early 2024, progress had again slowed. During a February 2024 hearing, senators proposed legislation to strengthen liquidated damages clauses in government construction contracts, noting that although penalties were in place, they were rarely enforced.
