USVI Public Records

Document text

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERAN AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 12/7/2023-REPORTED OUT TO THE FLOOR 10/25/2023-REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY BILL NO. 35-0123 Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands August 22, 2023 An Act to commission and direct the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts to construct and erect a bronze bust of Dr. Alfred O. Heath to be placed next to those of Edith L. Williams, J. Antonio Jarvis, and Rothschild Francis in Education Park on the island of St. Thomas, and for other purposes PROPOSED BY: Senators Ray Fonseca, Kenneth L. Gittens, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Carla J. Joseph, Dwayne M. DeGraff Co-sponsor: Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Milton E. Potter, and Marise C. James WHEREAS, Dr. Alfred O. Heath was born on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to Josephine 1 Agnes and Oswald Heath; 2 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath attended Jefferson Elementary School and Lincoln Junior High 3 School; 4 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1947, and was 5 the recipient of the Forum Scholastic Award; 6 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath studied Pharmacy at the University of Puerto Rico School of 7 Pharmacy from 1947 to 1949 and Temple University, where he graduated upon earning a B.S. 8 in Pharmacy and receiving a Pharmacy Award in 1953; 9 2 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath received his Medical Degree from Jefferson Medical College in 1 1957; 2 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath is licensed to practice Pharmacy and Medicine in Pennsylvania 3 and the Virgin Islands; 4 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath was named Honorary Chairman of the United Way Campaign 5 from 1986 through 1987; 6 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath was President of the Virgin Islands Medical Society in 1986; 7 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University 8 of the Virgin Islands in 1993; 9 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath has had a distinguished career in the military, including 10 involvement in the University of Puerto Rico ROTC Program from 1947 to 1949; the Temple 11 University of ROTC Program from 1949 to 1951; U.S. Army Reserves from 1951 to 1960; 12 commissioned 2d Lieutenant Transportation Corps, U.S. Army, Distinguished Military 13 Graduate in 1951; Medical Corps, U.S.A. Hospital, serving as Captain in Heidelberg, Germany, 14 from 1960 to1963; U.S. Army Aero Medical Center, Ft. Rucker, Alabama, graduating from the 15 flight Surgeon Program in 1978; V.1. Army National Guard, serving as a Lt. Colonel in 1979, 16 Assistant Adjutant General (September 1979), Colonel (September 1980), and Consultant (June 17 1999); and promoted to Brigadier General in 1999; 18 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath received several awards and commendations during his military 19 service, including the following: the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster from 20 1960 to 1983; Meritorious Service Medal in May of 1979; recipient of the Legion 3 of Merit 21 Award and the V.I. Distinguished Service Award for 30 years of military service in December 22 of 1999; 23 3 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath has received numerous specialty certifications, including the 1 following: Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery (January 1970); Re-Certification by 2 Examination, American Board of Surgery (October 1980); Fellow of the American College of 3 Surgeons (October 1968); Fellow of the International College Angiology (January 1981); 4 Affiliate of Royal Society of Medicine (1982); Member of the American Academy of Family 5 Practice (July 1969); Associate Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia (January 6 1986); Member of the Regional Faculty, American College of Surgeons Advanced Trauma Life 7 Support (May 1987) and Certified Advanced Cardiac Life Support (1993, 1998-2002); 8 WHEREAS, Dr. Heath has served in the following capacities: the Medical Director of 9 Sea View Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility; Acting CEO/Administrator for St. Thomas 10 Hospital; Commissioner of Health of the Government of the Virgin Islands (twice); Director of 11 Hospital & Medical Services; Director of Emergency Medical Services, Knud-Hansen 12 Memorial Hospital; Chairman of the State Commission on Trauma, American College of 13 Surgeons; Chief of Surgery of the Knud-Hansen Memorial Hospital and CEO/Medical Director 14 of the St. Thomas Hospital; Member of the Governing Body of the Department of Health, St. 15 Croix; Clinical Assistant Professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine Surgery 16 Department; Professor of Surgery at the American University of the Caribbean, St. Maarten; 17 Assistant Territorial Commissioner of Health; and Eucharistic Minister and Lector at the St. 18 Peter and Paul Cathedral, St. Thomas; 19 WHEREAS, in Resolution No. 1652, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands bestowed the 20 Virgin Islands Medal of Honor to Dr, Alfred O. Heath in recognition of his distinguished career 21 of dedicated service; Now, Therefore, 22 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 23 4 SECTION 1. The Legislature of the Virgin Islands, on behalf of the people of the Virgin 1 Islands, honors and commends Dr. Alfred O. Heath for his contributions to the people of the 2 Virgin Islands and his country. In recognition of Dr. Alfred O. Heath’s numerous contributions 3 in Pharmacy and Medicine, the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts shall commission and direct 4 the construction and erection of a bronze bust of Dr. Alfred O. Heath to be placed in Education 5 Park, on the island of St. Thomas, as a lasting tribute to his honor. 6 SECTION 2. The sum of $200,000 is appropriated in the fiscal year ending September 7 30, 2023, from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands to 8 the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts to commission, construct, and erect a bronze bust of Dr. 9 Alfred O. Heath as provided in Section 1. The monies remain available until expended. 10 BILL SUMMARY 11 Section 1 directs the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts to commission, construct, and 12 erect a bronze bust of Dr. Alfred O. Heath. Section 2 grants an appropriation for the 13 construction of the bust. 14 BR23-0639/July 18, 2023/PFA 15