The ten Democratic Party members elected to the 15-seat V.I. Legislature in November formed a legislative majority caucus and named St. Thomas Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone to the post of Senate president, after an organizational meeting held at a St. Thomas restaurant Tuesday.
Sen. Sammuel Sanes of St. Croix was named vice president and will chair the powerful Rules and Judiciary Committee, which sees nearly all bills before they reach the floor for a final vote.
"I wanted a little more responsibility and I wanted to start implementing some of the changes we need in the Legislature, which is why I decided to go for the Rules committee," Sanes said Thursday afternoon. "We will be going to the media and holding a press conference on the changes that need to be done. For one, we want to be more open and transparent. And I do think we have the right group to accomplish many things which will be beneficial to the Virgin Islands," he said.
He extended an olive branch to minority members, saying he has and will continue to lend his support to any good legislation proposed by minority members.
"Regardless of whether a senator is in the majority or minorty, we are all working for the people, and we will have the same resources and the same opportunity to push legislation," he said. "I have in the past supported minority member’s legislation when it is beneficial to the community and will in the future too," he said.
St. Croix has only three members of the majority, while St. Thomas and St. John has seven. Asked if that would have any impact, Sanes said he is one of those from St. Croix and "if a St. Croix senator brings forth legislation beneficial to St. Croix, they will get my support. I think it is just a matter of producing and lobbying for the legislation."
Sen. Janette Millin Young was named legislative secretary and Senator Donald "Ducks" Cole was named majority leader.
According to a statement from Malone, the Democrats in the new, incoming majority have committed to "working in a harmonious fashion with all elected senators, regardless of party affiliation, political views and organizational ties."
Malone is off-island visiting family and could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Senator-elect Diane Capehart was named secretary for Intergovernmental and Territorial Affairs, Senator-elect Clarence Payne was designated liaison to the U.S. Congress, Senator-elect Myron Jackson was named liaison to the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs and Senator-elect Kenneth Gittens was designated liaison to the White House.
Senator-elect Clifford Graham will chair the Finance Committee and oversee the Legislature’s Post Audit Division. Payne will chair the Health, Hospitals, Human Services and Veterans Affairs Committee. Cole will chair the Committee on Education and Workforce Development. Capehart will chair the Committee on Housing and Government Services. Jackson will chair the Committee on Culture, Historic Preservation, Youth and Recreation. Gittens will chair the Committee on Public Safety, Homeland Security and Justice and oversee security operations at the legislative facilities. Senator At-Large Craig Barshinger will chair the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection and Senator Janette Millin Young will chair the Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture and Planning.
