St. Croix’s Democratic Senate candidates sounded off on the territory’s most pressing issues Tuesday night at the St. Croix Educational Complex.
Over two hours, aspirants Omar B. U. Henry, Jose Besse Gonzalez, Dwight Mike Cartier, Lynda Nikki Brooks, Nemmy Williams-Jackson and Lisa J. Charles and incumbent senators Clifford Joseph, Hubert Frederick, Kurt Vialet and Angel Bolques Jr. fielded questions on accountability, affordability, education, health care and public safety. Moderator Sheniqua Robinson initially asked three candidates the same question before switching topics. Later, each candidate had an opportunity to respond to questions submitted by audience members and to answer “lightning round” questions.
Their responses ran the gamut from sweeping and nonspecific to focused and granular, and they revealed both points of common ground and, at times, different visions for the territory’s legislative branch. Those differences came to fore when Robinson asked each of the 10 aspirants about the first piece of legislation they intend to bring forward.
Henry said he would move legislation to create an elected council for the island of St. Croix. Gonzalez spoke of revitalizing the island’s youth rehabilitation center and programs. Cartier said his first bill would focus on strengthening agriculture. Vialet said he intends to address the territory’s growing special needs and aging populations, and Frederick said he’ll take aim at abandoned and derelict buildings. Charles spoke of the need to expand Human Services Department programs, and Joseph, Brooks and Bolques all said the territory needs more mental health care offerings and facilities. Willimas-Jackson said she’ll work to raise the Medicaid reimbursement cap and fund the territory’s hospitals.
Though some priorities differed, the candidates generally agreed when it came to the Legislature’s budgetary authority.
“Virgin Islanders are very concerned about Executive Branch spending and fiscal accountability,” Robinson noted before asking how each candidate planned to enforce spending caps and handle line-item appropriations. Three of the most passionate responses came from aspirants Charles, Brooks and Williams-Jackson, who said department heads need to be brought before the Legislature more frequently.
“I think we need to call them in every six months or every quarter to find out how our money is being spent, rather than letting them come back every year to tell us the same old story,” Charles said. “Call them in. Hold them accountable. They’re spending our money.”
Brooks and Williams-Jackson went further.
“I feel that once we appropriate the funds for these departments, and they don’t spend it where it’s supposed to go, they’re breaking the law,” Brooks said. “I will not deal with stuff like that when I’m in the Senate. I’m going to hold them responsible.”
Williams-Jackson added that while the Executive Appropriations Act addresses the misuse of appropriated funds, the act doesn’t specify a penalty.
“And if there is no penalty attached to misusing government funds, we’re just going around in a circle,” she said. “So what we need to do is attach penalties for misuse of government funds, and then we may not be in a crisis with finances as we are in today.”
The evening’s final question had candidates assign a letter grade to the current Legislature and say what they think needs to improve.
“Who wrote that question?” Vialet quipped. “Raise your hand.”
To the surprise of probably no one, sitting lawmakers generally rated the Legislature higher than did their as-yet unelected counterparts with grades in the “B” range.
“I would say a ‘B-minus.’ We have good bills, but where the failure occurs is implementation and enforcement on the executive side,” Vialet said. “So you can pass whatever you want, but it is for the Executive Branch to be able to implement and enforce what has been passed.”
The Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands will also hold a congressional debate at 7 p.m. Thursday and a gubernatorial debate at 6 p.m. on Friday. Both events will be held at the St. Croix Educational Complex.
