Sir Keir Starmer will join world leaders at a historic summit in Egypt today – to witness the signing of the Gaza peace plan to end two years of conflict, bloodshed and suffering that has cost tens of thousands of lives and turned Gaza into a wasteland.
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36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands
SENATE CALENDAR
October 13, 2025 – October 24, 2025
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025
Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging,
Sports and Parks
Town Hall Meeting
5:30 P.M.
Cleone H. Creque Legislative Conference Room, St. John Annex
The Committee of Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports and Parks will host a critical townhall meeting with the Taxi Associations in the St. Thomas/St. John District on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 5:30 P.M. The purpose of this meeting is to garner feedback from the respective Taxi Associations and have discussions regarding ongoing planning and policy discussions related to enhancing transportation services and guest experiences for our valued visitors.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025
Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection
Town Hall Meeting
5:30 P.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
The Committee of Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection will host a critical townhall meeting with the Taxi Associations in the St. Thomas/St. John District on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 5:30 P.M. The purpose of this meeting is to garner feedback from the respective Taxi Associations and have discussions regarding ongoing planning and policy discussions related to enhancing transportation services and guest experiences for our valued visitors.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025
Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning
10:00 A.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
The Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, October
16, 2025 in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room at 10:00 A.M. to discuss and consider the following:
BLOCK I
Bill No. 36-0135 An act amending title 29 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 294 regarding expedited
building permits for developers.
Invited Testifier:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning and Natural Resources
BLOCK II
The Committee will receive an update from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources with a focus on the implementation of the Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan, including a review of:
• Progress made to date
• Current or anticipated challenges
• The projected timeline for next steps in the implementation process
Invited Testifier:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning and Natural Resources
BLOCK III
The Committee will receive testimony from the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority on the status of FEMA-funded power plant upgrades and recovery projects at, including a review of:
• Progress on FEMA-funded replacement of the Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix and unit upgrades at the Randolph Harley Plant on St. Thomas, including the design-build solicitation process and anticipated construction timeline.
• Critical resilience projects such as undergrounding of electrical lines, installation of advanced composite utility poles, battery energy storage systems, and advanced metering.
• Integration of the recently commissioned solar farms on St. Croix into the WAPA power grid and their impact on system reliability, as well as any plans for solar development and integration in the St. Thomas–St. John district.
Invited Testifiers:
Lemuel Lavinier, Chief Operating Officer, Electric System, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
Noel Hodge, Chief Engineer, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
Vernon Alexander, Director of Special Projects, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
Maxwell George, Director of Project Management, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
Joelle Webster, Director of Grants Management, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety
10:00 A.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
The 36th Legislature’s Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety will meet on Friday, October 17, at 10:00 a.m. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands to consider the following agenda.
BLOCK I 10:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.
Bill No. 36-0139 An act amending title 31 Virgin Islands Code to assess civil liability for destruction or damage to government property through willful or negligent act
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice
Honorable Lisa M. Alejandro, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Property and Procurement
BLOCK II 11:15 A.M. – 1:15 P.M.
Bill No. 36-0151 An act amending title 23 Virgin Islands Code regarding the illegal possession of machine guns and machine gun conversion devices
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice
Mr. Moleto Smith, Director, V.I. Law Enforcement Planning Commission
Mr. Antonio Emanuel, Director, V.I. Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Bill No. 36-0144 An act amending title 14 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 113 to define and prohibit assault rifles, ban suppressors and silencers, and requiring safety training for licensed rifles and shotgun holders; prohibiting large-capacity magazines and preventing the illegal sales of firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition.
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice
Mr. Luis Valdes, Florida State Director, Southeast Regional Director, Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands Director of Outreach, Co-Chair Fuerza 2A, National Spokesman, Gun Owners of America
Mr. Kosei Ohno, Founder, VI Safe Gun Owners
Mr. Ehren Henderson, Former Gun Shop Owner, St. Thomas
Mr. John Canegata, Owner, D&J’s Shooting Gallery, LLC, St. Croix
BLOCK III 1:15 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.
Bill No. 36-0105 An act amending title 7 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 13, subchapter III by prohibiting the possession, sale, or manufacture of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, delta-6 THC, delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC products in the Virgin Islands and for other related purposes
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice
Honorable Justa “Tita” Encarnacion, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Health
Honorable Louis E. Petersen, PhD, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Agriculture
Honorable H. Nathalie Hodge, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Ms. Joanne Moorehead, Executive Director, V.I. Office of Cannabis Regulation
Ms. Riise Richards, Chair, V.I. Industrial Hemp Commission, Deputy Commissioner, V.I. Department of Agriculture
Mr. Duane Howell, Executive Director, ARCH Institute
Ms. Lindsey Rithamel, Owner, The Remedy
Mr. William Waldo, Owner, Virgin Abis
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025
Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance
10:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025
Committee on Education and Workforce Development
9:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
The Committee on Education and Workforce Development will meet on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 9:00 A.M. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas to receive Considerations of proposed legislations.
Bill No. 36-0067 An Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5 by adding a section 41j requiring the Pledge of Allegiance and the Virgin Islands Motto to be recited at the beginning of each school day in public schools, but additionally provides that students may opt out of the recitation
Invited Testifiers:
Kyza A. Callwood, PhD., Chairperson, Virgin Islands Board of Education
Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ed.D., Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education
Merlene Jones, Ed.D., Principal, Lockhart K-8 School, Virgin Islands Department of Education
Bill No. 36-0069 An Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 9, subchapter 1, section 82, subsection (a)
by changing the age a child begins kindergarten from five years of age to four years of age
Invited Testifiers:
Kyza A. Callwood, PhD., Chairperson, Virgin Islands Board of Education
Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ed.D., Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education
Merlene Jones, Ed.D., Principal, Lockhart K-8 School, Virgin Islands Department of Education
Honorable Averil George, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Human Services
Honorable Justa E. Encarnacion, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Health
Bill No. 36-0080 An Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5 mandating a daily morning exercise routine for students in all public schools in the Virgin Islands
Invited Testifiers:
Kyza A. Callwood, PhD., Chairperson, Virgin Islands Board of Education
Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ed.D., Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education
Merlene Jones, Ed.D., Principal, Lockhart K-8 School, Virgin Islands Department of Education
Honorable Justa E. Encarnacion, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Health
Brian Young, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Partners 4 Kids
Honorable Vincent Roberts, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2025
Committee on Rules and Judiciary
10:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
Donald Trump claims he has ended seven wars and that “everyone says” he should get the Nobel Peace Prize as
