Senator Carla Joseph says statements made by Senator Kenneth Gitten during the Oct. 9, 2025, Committee on Rules and Judiciary legislative meeting are a misrepresentation of facts and misleading.
Senator Carla Joseph stated, “Senator Gittens’s assertion that the opportunity to hear from invited testifiers on Bill No: 36-0144 is as “a waste of time” is a denial of the democratic process.”
Furthermore, Senator Gitten’s assertion that Senator Carla Joseph did not respond to Senator Clifford Joseph, Sr.’s memo is untrue. In fact, on September 26th a letter was sent to Senator Joseph, Sr., in response and all Senators were copied including Senator Gittens.
More importantly Senator Joseph states, “Both legislations, Bill No. 36-0105 and 36,0144, sponsored by Senator Joseph, Sr. at his verbal request, were initially on the September 8, 2025 Rules and Judiciary Committee Hearing agenda. At that hearing a motion was made to hold these bills as well as two other Bills in Committee at the call of the Chair.”
The Rules of the 36th Legislature enables senators to conduct additional deliberations as well as offer amendments on the legislation in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary prior to submission to the entire legislative body for review.
The motion to remove Bill Nos. 36-0144 and Bill 36-0105 from the agenda during the Oct. 9, Committee meeting with invited testifiers present, according to Senator Carla Joseph, was an attempt to impede the democratic legislative process.
During Thursday’s Rules Committee meeting, Senator Carla Joseph said, “ I don’t want us in this body and our integrity to be in a position where we are stifling the people’s voice.” She said, “testifiers are here saying that they have not all been included. We cannot be a body where we are not including people who are affected by certain legislation. That’s hypocritical. We are their servants, and they have every right and they shouldn’t be dismissed.”
Senator Carla Joseph stated that the testifiers on the Rules and Judiciary Committee meeting were unable to provide input during the initial hearing within the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice, and Public Safety, although correspondence of opposition was submitted.
The Committee on Rules and Judiciary meeting on October 9, 2025, was the subsequent phase in the legislative process of Bill Nos. 36-0144 and 36-0105. The purpose of the Committee hearing was to continue the dialogue and vetting process, and, most importantly, to gather feedback from subject matter experts and constituents who are directly affected by the bill. She also stated that the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Rules were not violated.”
Senator Carla Joseph concluded, “She remains steadfast to be the people’s voice and follow through with action in the legislative process.”
