From economic development to environmental protection, Assistant Insular Affairs Secretary Anthony Babauta is expected to touch on some of the territory’s major issues and outline the federal government’s plans to help during a speech scheduled before the V.I. Legislature Thursday.
During his first official visit to the territory, Babauta will be making various courtesy calls to local and federal officials. According to Basil Ottley, V.I. desk officer at the Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs, Babauta will be "sharing his vision of what his office and the Department of Interior will be doing to help further the objectives and priorities of the V.I. government."
Legislators have said they hope he will speak about the development of a gross territorial product for the Virgin Islands and how his office can assist in projecting future economic growth.
Babauta’s visit, which includes trips to St. Thomas and St. Croix, kicks off Wednesday and runs until Monday, Nov. 23. He will be meeting with the governor and his cabinet, administrators at Schneider Regional Medical Center and Interior Department officials from the National Park Service.
Meetings with Delegate Donna M. Christensen and representatives from the Joint Institute for Caribbean Marine Studies have also been scheduled, according to a recent news release.
Babauta made a similar speech two months ago before the Legislature in his native Guam, balancing his thoughts on some of the territory’s more critical problems with solutions for change and a push for officials to work with other Caribbean leaders to boost regional prosperity and well-being.
The Senate will meet in Committee of the Whole at 10 a.m. Thursday on St. Thomas for Babauta’s address.
