The Rules and Judiciary Committee approved a bill Thursday listing recommendations to Gov. John deJongh Jr. for the government’s negotiations with Hovensa on the next steps now that refinery operations have ceased, sending it on to the full Senate for final consideration.
Sponsored by Sens. Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly, Terrence "Positive" Nelson, Neville James and Craig Barshinger – all non-members of the majority caucus – the bill encourages the governor to ask Hovensa to immediately start cleaning up the site if it has no plans to reopen the refinery. It also encourages deJongh to request Hovensa give its own employees and Virgin Islands residents priority for cleanup jobs and to ask that the government get first dibs on leftover equipment. It also would authorize the governor to negotiate for increased access to and use of Lime Tree Bay, which is the bay used by Hovensa’s port facility.
"It is not binding, but it surely establishes an opinion from the Legislature and I have no problem with that," Senate President Ronald Russell said in support of the measure.
Currently limited to $125,000, the V.I. Housing Finance Authority will be able to offer home loans up to $220,000 if another bill sent on for final consideration Thursday becomes law.
V.I. Housing Finance Authority Executive Director Adrienne Williams gave a qualified endorsement to Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen’s bill when the measure first came before the Housing and Labor Committee Monday, but said it would have little effect without funding. Hansen said at the time she would seek a source of funding and offer an amendment later in the process. Hansen was absent from Thursday’s hearing.
While supporting the bill’s objective, some senators said they would wait and see about a funding source before deciding whether or not to vote for final passage.
"Hopefully (Hansen) will identify the funds," Sen. Sammuel Sanes said. "I will wait until the full session to see where the financing is coming from.”
Russell too said he wanted more information. "It needs a little more support on the floor of the Legislature to understand whether there is a framework to implement this," Russell said. "I support the concept … I am going to vote yes but I am going to wait to hear more on the floor."
The committee also sent on a bill to authorize the government to negotiate for the purchase or exchange of property on St. Thomas for a car racing track.
Several bills were held in committee, some indefinitely and some for further amendment. All votes were unanimous.
Present were Russell, Sanes, Sens. Carlton "Ital" Dowe, Patrick Sprauve and Usie Richards. Hansen and Sen. Celestino White were absent.
