Senate Vice President Kenneth L. Gittens described Governor Albert Bryan’s call for a Special Session, held Friday, as another episode in an increasingly tiresome pattern of political gamesmanship.
“Under the Revised Organic Act, the Governor does indeed have the authority to call this legislative body into Special Session whenever, in his opinion, the public interest may require it,” Senator Gittens said. “However, just because the authority exists does not mean it should be used carelessly or as political maneuvering. The power to convene the Legislature should be exercised with a sincere commitment to the public good, not as a tool for posturing or retaliation.”
Senator Gittens noted that the Territory faces many urgent matters, to include under-resourced hospitals, schools in disrepair, an uptick in violent crime, and a deteriorating infrastructure.
“Yet the focus of this Special Session appears to have been driven more by personality and pettiness than public necessity,” he said. “There were countless moments throughout this term when a Special Session could have been justifiably called to address the real concerns of the people, but that didn’t happen. Instead, we were called into Special Session today at a needless cost to the taxpayers, addressing bills that do not represent pressing legislative priorities.”
Senator Gittens said the Governor was aware that he had been pre-empted on two of the three bills presented Friday.
“Furthermore, the remaining bill was unnecessary, as the Government Employees Services Commission (GESC) Board already holds the authority to address our health insurance matters, which we reaffirmed during the Special Session, meaning no bill was required” the Senator said. “The People of the Virgin Islands are not asking for stunts, they are asking for solutions. They deserve a government that puts their needs first, not one distracted by personalities or power plays. With all due respect to the Office of the Governor, this behavior is unbecoming of leadership.”
