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Frederiksted, St. Croix –
Senator Luther F. Renee, in a letter to the Coordinator of the St. Croix Legislative Caucus, Senator Usie R. Richards, requesting a meeting of the group, as soon as possible. In Senator Renee's letter he wrote, "All St. Croix Senators must work together to bring about some urgent change for St. Croix's failing economy."
Senator Renee continued in his letter, "As St.Croix Senators, (we) can collectively and actively advocate for the capital projects that are already slated for St. Croix. We need to adopt a joint approach to ease the economic plight of St. Croix."
Senator Renee stated, "When it comes to St. Croix, there is always an obstacle which prevents capital projects from starting. As a representative, from the district of St. Croix, I plead with my St. Croix district colleagues to hold one voice and become activists for the start of St. Croix's Capital Projects. The people of St. Croix can no longer afford to wait and see, when and if the projects will ever start."
"I sent correspondence to the Governor on August 25th, to declare a state of economic emergency for the St. Croix district. Under a state of economic emergency for St. Croix, the necessary permits and other requirements for the capital projects will move through the process with a greater sense of urgency and avoid the red tape." Senator Renee continued.
"St. Croix's projects must move forward and they must do so now. The Legislature have been told that various capital projects where scheduled to start during the summer on St. Croix, but to date there is no activity. We are at a 20% unemployment rate on St. Croix and the people are in need of employment. Jobs will create a cash flow stimulus, in which store owners can keep their doors open and employees will still have their jobs."
Senator Renee concluded, "I look forward to Senator Richards setting a date for the St. Croix caucus meeting and developing an approach that will ensure the start of capital projects, in a manner that will put people to work. In the interim, this will give the Executive and Legislative Branches time to develop a comprehensive plan to assess and improve the way we conduct the government's business and to attract investment to the territory."
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