A mock Senate session on St. Thomas on Wednesday brought to light real care and support issues confronting the Virgin Islands elderly population as seniors debated and passed an ersatz bill to make descendants legally liable to care or pay for care for elder relatives.
Senior citizens from all over the Virgin Islands came to the Legislature in Charlotte Amalie, replacing each of the 15 sitting senators and the legislative staff for the annual moot or mock senior session. The hypothetical legislation of the "senior senators” was titled the “Livelihood Improvement Act of the Elderly in the U.S. Virgin Islands” and suggested strengthening and streamlining administrative and judicial procedures in support of seniors. The bill also sought to develop a policy mandating family who are already legally responsible for the elderly to fulfill their legal obligation of care.
The gallery was packed with seniors for the debate and, while the substitute senators joked and laughed on occasion, they also made serious points about difficulties senior citizens face in the territory – from erratic bus service to bad roads near senior centers.
The real senators of the 30th Legislature and their staff stood nearby, helping their replacements deal with the mechanics of procedure: introducing bills and amendments and making motions.
"I am in support of this bill, but first I would like to know how do we really plan to help our seniors?" asked Regina Joseph, playing the part of Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson. “What kind of financial support will there be? Because programs such as this will need money and we know we are having trouble with government finances.”
Joseph later proposed an amendment appropriating $5.5 million from the Communities Facilities Trust account, a fund established in the Diageo distillery’s operating agreement with the V.I. Government. The agreement states that Diageo’s new distillery will deposit “3 percent of the annual gross cover over receipts” into the fund, administered by the V.I. Public Finance Authority. 
Senior Sen. Joseph took the opportunity to speak to the public over the government access channel to weigh in on the care of senior facilities, bus transportation and other matters affecting seniors.
"I would like to see postings at all the bus stops showing the bus routes, times and bus numbers," Joseph said. "I’ve seen this in the states and it helps people a lot. And buses would have to maintain their schedules too," she said.
Violet Williams, playing the part of Sen. Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly, also commented on bus service, saying it could take up to two and a half hours between buses and without predictable times, "many seniors are stranded."
After some debate and other amendments, the "senators" approved the ersatz bill and adjourned for a luncheon.
"I hope they take this bill to the real Senate," said Ruth Smith, who played the part of Sen. Clarence Payne III, after the vote. That may not be a vain hope. Although it is a mock session, it has led to real legislation before. A 2010 home accessibility bill came out of the 2009 senior mock session and is now law. (See related link below)
The annual mock Senate is sponsored by the Department of Human Services in conjunction with the Legislature. It alternates between St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The complete list of seniors and the roles they played are listed below:
– Senate President, Sen. Shawn Michael Malone — Vera Falu;
– Senate Vice President, Sen. Sammuel Sanes — Eleanor Tyson;
– Senate Secretary, Sen. Janette Millin Young — Lola Richards;
– Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Donald Cole — Carol Stagger;
– Sen. Craig Barshinger — Eulita Jacobs;
– Sen. Judi Buckley — Cheryl Harley;
– Sen. Diane Capehart — Janet Phillips;
– Sen. Kenneth Gittens — Miguel Ramos;
– Sen. Clifford Graham — Angela Jean Baptiste;
– Sen. Alicia “Chucky” Hansen — Bernadine Figuroa;
– Sen. Myron Jackson — Angelita Jennings;
– Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson — Regina Joseph;
– Sen. Clarence Payne — Ruth Smith;
– Sen. Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly — Violet Williams;
– Sen. Tregenza Roach — Helen Edwards;
– Post Audit — Miguel Aponte;
– Legal Counsel — Joyce Caron;
– Journal Clerk — Pansy Walters;
– Stenographer — Lyantine Belle;
– Archive Clerk — Arold Petersen;
– Timekeeper — Gilbert Samuel;
– Sergeant-At-Arms — Keith James;
– Chaplain –Lola Richards; and
– Page — Dorothy Joseph.
