Nov. 26, 2002 – The Crucian contingent of the coming 25th Legislature has taken the first steps toward hammering out an agenda for helping to pull St. Croix out of its economic and social slump.
At its first meeting, on Monday, the group decided to call itself the St. Croix Legislative Caucus. Its membership comprises the seven St. Croix senators, the at-large senator and a representative of Delegate Donna M. Christensen's office.
A release states that the group's mission is "to serve as a forum for adopting consensus on plans and actions for improving the quality of life for all residents and visitors in the district of St. Croix."
Sen.-elect Raymond "Usie" Richards, who organized the meeting, will serve as the group's coordinator, charged with orchestrating members' attendance and participation at meetings.
Richards said last week that the goal of the meeting was to come up with a St. Croix agenda that would help the island recover from its myriad problems, including crime, infrastructure and education issues.
He said the district's representatives will best protect the island's interests by forming an alliance and an agenda early on. "This beginning stage is an opportunity for all of us, if we're sincere about St. Croix being our first priority, to establish a bond along those lines," he said.
Present at the Monday meeting were Sens. Douglas Canton Jr., Emmett Hansen II, David Jones and Norman Jn Baptiste, at-large Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd, and Sens.-elect Luther Renee, Richards and Ronald Russell. At the request of Christensen, Lenny James, representing her office, also was there.
Richards said he was pleased with the outcome of the first meeting "and glad to see the willingness exhibited by the members to work together." The caucus will meet again soon "to formulate and prioritize the ideas and actions to be included in the St. Croix agenda," he said.
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