74.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesMotor Vehicle Department Bill Killed in Committee

Motor Vehicle Department Bill Killed in Committee

June 17, 2004 – A bill that would make the Motor Vehicle Bureau a separate governmental department died Wednesday in the Senate Government Operations Committee.
Employees of bureau, which is currently a part of the Police Department, had complained at earlier hearings before the committee of poor and "inhumane" working conditions and inadequate funding.
Lawrence Olive, the bureau director, had testified in favor of the bill; Police Commissioner Elton Lewis had spoken repeatedly against it.
Sen. Adlah Donastorg, the bill's sponsor, said he felt that making the bureau an independent department would improve its effectiveness, "enhancing and expanding a revenue-generating bureau."
But Donastorg's colleagues did not see eye-to-eye with him. The measure was killed on a 3-3 vote with Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone, the committee chair, and Sens. Carlton Dowe and Celestino A. White Sr. voting in favor of the measure and Sens. Lorraine Berry, Douglas Canton Jr. and Louis Hill voting against. The seventh committee member, Sen. Emmett Hansen II, attended the meeting but was absent from the floor at the time of the vote.
Canton said he agrees that the bureau needs help but does not feel that severing it from the Police Department is the best way to provide that help.
"The Bureau of Motor Vehicles is a cash cow that the government has been starving," Canton said. "This is an agency that produces. This is an agency that makes money for the government and could make much more if it was properly invested in."
The bureau brings the government revenues of $6 million to $8 million each year, Olive has said.
Lewis, who testified against the bill again on Wednesday, told the committee that "it is clear the Virgin Islands' fiscal condition cannot sustain the weight of another bureaucracy."
Lewis said the problems facing the bureau are primarily the result of "long-term deficiencies in funding."
Berry said she would be preparing legislation to form a revolving fund for the bureau.

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name, and the city and state/country or island where you reside.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.