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The Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection The Honorable Avery Lewis, Chairman 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Monday, September 22, 2025 Vincent L. Roberts Commissioner Nominee, The Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation Vincent Roberts, Commissioner Nominee The Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation Testimony: Bill No. 36-0121 Monday, September 22, 2025 2 Good day, Honorable Avery Lewis, Chairman of the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection, 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands of the United States (USVI), Honorable Senators, Central Staff, and the listening and viewing audience. I am Vincent Roberts, Commissioner Nominee of the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation (DSPR), St. Thomas/St. John District, I am honored to fully support Bill No. 36-0121, which renames Peter Carl Limpricht Park to TSK Park in recognition of the Ten Sleepless Knights (TSK). This measure highlights both music and artistry and serves as an essential act of cultural preservation for the Virgin Islands. For over fifty years, the Ten Sleepless Knights have served as cultural ambassadors for the Virgin Islands, spreading the sound of Quelbe—our official music—across generations and around the world. From the annual Christmas serenades that have become a staple of Crucian holiday traditions to their work with the Quelbe Education Program and the Virgin Islands Folklife Festival, TSK’s contributions extend beyond entertainment. They have protected our heritage, educated our youth, and shared the story of the Virgin Islands with audiences everywhere. This bill guarantees that their significant cultural contributions are permanently engraved in our community’s landscape, while honoring Stanley Jacobs and his fellow musicians while they are alive. Renaming this park as TSK Park formalizes this space as a living stage for the culture, music, and traditions of the Virgin Islands. The shift from honoring a colonial figure to elevating local cultural icons is a deliberate and meaningful step toward aligning our public spaces with the values, identity, and history of the people who use them. The Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation fully supports this legislation and sees this bill not just as a name change but as a cultural investment—an effort that boosts community pride, reinforces cultural identity, and helps future generations understand the significance of TSK’s legacy. Chairman Lewis and Senators, DSPR is in full support of Bill No. 36-0121. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.