For the third time in a row, the scheduled Senate Government Operations Committee meeting Wednesday was cancelled because of a lack of quorum.
According to committee chairman Sen. Gregory Bennerson, only he and two other senators were present out of the seven members. Along with Bennerson, Sens. Roosvelt David and Donald "Ducks" Cole showed up. Excused were Sens. David Jones, who was off island, Allie-Allison Petrus, who was sick, and Lorraine Berry and Adelbert Bryan, who had previous commitments.
Bennerson was not only perturbed about Wednesday’s cancellation, but also those of previous meetings on Feb. 14 and 16. Bennerson said he agreed with a proposal that would dock the $65,000-a-year pay of senators who miss a scheduled vote.
Senators, he said, are supposed to "legislate and protect the interests of the people . . . with full paid salary, God bless."
Proposals that weren’t heard Wednesday were bills to establish a voter identification and registration fund; an amendment to allow for the assignment of income tax refunds to satisfy rental payments, hospital bills, education, land and other long-term loans; and a bill to subdivide and offer to sell for home ownership approximately 107 acres of real property conveyed to the Government of the Virgin Islands from the Alumina Corporation.
The Government Operations Committee is scheduled to meet again on March 15 in St. Thomas.
