Oct. 23, 2006 Sen. Louis P. Hill has collected nine signatures, including his own, fulfilling his wish for the entire senate, "the Committee of the Whole," to convene and investigate the Public Services Commission's involvement in a controversial bankruptcy settlement.
Twice Hill has asked Senate President Lorraine L. Berry to call the meeting since the Source uncovered the PSC's involvement in a plan to use the Virgin Islands Telephone Co. (Vitelco) to secure a $470 million loan to settle a bankruptcy between Vitelco owner Jeffrey Prosser, two of his other companies and three of his creditors. (See "Prosser Seeking to Involve Vitelco in Bankruptcy Settlement.")
Twice Berry has turned him down.
In her second letter rejecting his request, Berry told Hill that if he wanted to have a Committee of the Whole meeting, he should get eight more signatures. A majority of senators can force the Senate president to call a Committee of the Whole meeting.
"Per the request of Senate President Lorraine L. Berry, we have secured the signatures of nine of the 15 members of the Legislature to convene the Committee of the Whole," Hill said in a news release Monday.
Agenda items include possible violations of the Sunshine Act and news releases sent to the media denying any involvement or secret agreements by PSC Chairwoman Alecia Wells and PSC attorney Jeffery Moorhead. The committee has also asked for transcripts of any meetings held by the PSC wherein they discussed supporting and endorsing the use of Vitelco to fund the bankruptcy of the upstream companies.
Joining Hill in signing the petition were Sens. Craig W. Barshinger, Roosevelt St. C. David, Liston A. Davis, Adlah Foncie Donastorg, Juan Figueroa-Serville, Neville S. James, Terrence Positive Nelson and Ronald E. Russell.
The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the Earle B. Ottley Hall on St. Thomas.
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