MONDAY,
APRIL 20, 2026
Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks
10:00 A.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
The Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks will reconvene for a critical oversight hearing to examine investment, accountability, and completion timelines associated with two major capital projects: the Paul E. Joseph Stadium and the Clinton E. Phipps Horse Racing Track. This hearing reflects a renewed and necessary commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable progress following prior proceedings, including the July 2025 hearing, where significant issues remained unresolved and key deliverables were not met. These projects represent more than infrastructure; they reflect a promise to the people of the Virgin Islands, and this Committee is committed to ensuring that promise is fulfilled with integrity, urgency, and accountability.
BLOCK I 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
“Financial and Administrative Oversight of the Paul E. Joseph Stadium Project”
This block will examine the financial and administrative oversight of the Paul E. Joseph Stadium project following the postponement of scheduled hearings in November 2025 and February 2026. The Committee will require clear updates, address unresolved issues, and enforce full accountability relative to the originally projected December 2025 completion timeline.
Agency Roles and Focus Areas:
• Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – Provide a detailed report on historical appropriations and current expenditures. The Committee expects transparency regarding any recent budget reallocations or shortfalls that may have impacted the project’s timely completion.
• Department of Property and Procurement (DPP) – Address the status of contractor performance, including any procurement delays, contract amendments, or unresolved vendor issues that may be affecting final project delivery.
• Department of Public Works (DPW) – Present an update on current construction progress, agency coordination efforts, and confirm whether the December 2025 completion target remains feasible. The Committee seeks clarity on progress since July and explanations for any missed milestones.
• Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation (DSPR) – Provide an operational readiness assessment of the facility, including which amenities are complete, what remains outstanding, and what is required to make the stadium fully accessible for public use.
• Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR) – Review funding disbursements, contractor oversight, and compliance with all applicable federal and local regulations. The Committee requests a summary of all ODR-administered grants supporting this project.
• GEC, LLC / Coastal Systems USVI – Deliver a comprehensive update on construction deliverables, identify remaining tasks, and explain any delays related to change orders, materials, or workforce that could impact the project’s timeline.
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre L. Oriol, Commissioner, VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources
Honorable Lisa M. Alejandro, Commissioner, VI Department of Property and Procurement
Honorable Derek A. Gabriel, Commissioner, VI Department of Public Works
Honorable Vincent Roberts, Commissioner, VI Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation
Mr. Julio Rhymer, Director, Office of Management & Budget
Ms. Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien, Director, USVI Office of Disaster Recovery
Mr. John Wessel, Director of Operations, GEC, LLC / Coastal Systems USVI
LUNCH 1:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M.
BLOCK II 1:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
“Operational Status and Financial Oversight of the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack and the Horse Racing
Initiative Fund”
This block will assess the current operational status of the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas, including any outstanding construction, regulatory, and logistical issues, and will receive testimony on delays related to permitting, funding gaps, and inter-agency coordination. The Committee will examine revenues from past racing events and require a detailed accounting of receipts and disbursements, with particular focus on the Horse Racing Initiative Fund, including its balance, recent expenditures, and district-level allocations, to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper use of funds supporting racetrack improvements and horsemen associations in both districts.
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Vincent Roberts, Commissioner, VI Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation
Mr. Raymond Williams, Director, Virgin Islands Lottery
Mr. Hugo Hodge, Jr., Chairman, USVI Horseracing Commission
Mr. Robert E. Huckabee, III, President and CEO, Southland Gaming
TUESDAY,
APRIL 21, 2026
Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance
12:00 P.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
WEDNESDAY,
APRIL 22, 2026
Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services
9:00 A.M.
Site Visits
The Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services is finalizing arrangements for a series of official site visits on the island of St. John, now rescheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M., and respectfully invites your participation in this important initiative. Please note that this date reflects a change from the previously anticipated schedule.
These site visits form part of the Committee’s ongoing oversight efforts to evaluate the operational status, service delivery, and facility conditions of key healthcare and human services institutions serving the residents of St. John.
Your presence and engagement are highly valued as we work to ensure that the people of the Virgin Islands receive accessible, efficient, and high-quality services.
The scheduled visits will include the following facilities:
• Department of Human Services — Senior Centers (2)
• Department of Human Services — Head Start Program
• Department of Health — Morris DeCastro Clinic
• Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center
This initiative will provide members with the opportunity to engage directly with administrators and staff, observe facility operations, and gain firsthand insight into the delivery of services within the community.
THURSDAY,
APRIL 23, 2026
Committee on Rules and Judiciary
10:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
Please be advised that the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands’ Committee on Rules and Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas.
The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimonies from the Governor’s Nominees and to consider the following legislative measures:
BLOCK I 10:00 A.M – 12:00 P.M.
GOVERNOR’S NOMINEES
Ms. Renee M. Andre, Esq., Judge, Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Division of St. Thomas – St. John
Honorable Denise M. Francois, Justice, Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands
BLOCK II 12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Bill No. 36-0009 A resolution honoring and commending Mr. Steven van Beverhoudt for his years of dedicated service and numerous contributions to the people of the Virgin Islands
Bill No. 36-0207 An act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter VI, by adding section 590d and title 24 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1, by adding section 24 requiring employers to grant parents or legal guardians of a child with a diagnosed disability, two hours per month of paid leave to attend the child’s medical appointments
Bill No. 36-0236 An act amending title 33 Virgin Islands Code, subtitle 3, chapter 111, section 3061 by increasing the amount of money that is to remain in the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund before any interest can be deposited into the General Fund
Bill No. 36-0258 An act reprogramming administrative fees resulting from the bonds issued for the Fortress Investment Group transfer for various projects and initiatives to enhance the economic development of St. Croix and to be deposited into the Budget Stabilization Fund
Bill No. 36-0232 An act amending Act No. 8018 to authorize the disposal of green waste using controlled incineration technologies, including air curtain incinerators, and for other purposes
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026
Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning
10:00 A.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
