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COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 09/22/2025-REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY BILL NO. 36-0058 Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands March 28, 2025 An Act honoring and commending Dennis “Pumpa” Lennox Leroy Liburd, Jr. for his many contributions to the Virgin Islands culture and music industry as a Soca artist by awarding him the Official key to the Territory and naming the main entrance of 6-Y Peters Rest Road, Christiansted, St. Croix in his honor PROPOSED BY: Senators Marise C. James, Angel L. Bolques, Jr. and Avery L. Lewis Co-sponsor: Novelle E. Francis, Jr. WHEREAS, on December 10, 1986, Dennis Lennox Leroy Liburd, Jr., better known as 1 “Pumpa”, was born in Cayon, St. Kitts; and 2 WHEREAS, in 1995, Pumpa’s parents, who are originally from St. Kitts and Pumpa 3 relocated to St. Croix; and 4 WHEREAS, Pumpa is one of twelve children between his biological parents and was 5 raised in Peters Rest, Christiansted, St. Croix, where he spent his formative years; and 6 WHEREAS, Pumpa attended Lew Muckle Elementary School, Elena Christian Junior 7 High School, and St. Croix Central High School, graduating in June 2005; and 8 WHEREAS, during his elementary school years, his classmates gave him the nickname 9 “Pumpa” in recognition of his exceptional athletic abilities; a name that would later come to 10 symbolize the boundless energy Pumpa brings to his musical performances worldwide; and 11 2 WHEREAS, in 2002, Pumpa’s passion for music led him to begin his musical career as 1 the lead singer of Rocking Vibez Band; and 2 WHEREAS, in 2003, Pumpa joined the Xtaushun Band, where he performed as a lead 3 singer until 2005; and 4 WHEREAS, in 2006, after the Xtaushun Band disbanded, Pumpa embarked on a 5 successful solo career, balancing his music with higher education and athletics; and 6 WHEREAS, Pumpa attended Bryant & Stratton College in Syracuse, New York, on a 7 soccer scholarship, earning an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration before 8 transferring to Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York, in 2007, where he completed his 9 Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration; and 10 WHEREAS, Pumpa’s musical career was deeply inspired by Nicholas “Daddy” Friday 11 of the Awesome Jamband and Machel Montano; and 12 WHEREAS, Pumpa successfully established himself as a solo Soca artist; and 13 WHEREAS, Pumpa, as an accredited producer, co-produced his first international song, 14 “Massage” which was released in 2012; and 15 WHEREAS, Pumpa won the title of USVI Soca Monarch King with his hit song “Honk 16 Yo Horn”; and 17 WHEREAS, in the 2014 St. Croix Carnival, Pumpa’s performance of “VI Up” earned 18 him the title of 2014-2015 VI Soca Party Monarch; and 19 WHEREAS, throughout his career, Pumpa has won three Road March titles: in 2004, 20 with “Energy” while performing with the Xtaushun Band; in 2005, with “Babysitting Club” 21 (also known as “Gasoline”) with the Xtaushun Band; and in 2017, with “Back Together” as a 22 solo artist; and 23 3 WHEREAS, at the 2016-2017 St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival, Pumpa made 1 history as the first solo Soca artist from the Virgin Islands to win a Road March title with his 2 song “Back Together”; and 3 WHEREAS, Pumpa has toured Antigua, Saint Maarten, St. Kitts, Anguilla, Grenada, 4 London, Trinidad, Florida, Texas, Georgia, New York, the British Virgin Islands, and 5 numerous other locations, proudly promoting the Virgin Islands through his music; and 6 WHEREAS, he became the first Virgin Islands Soca artist to achieve international 7 success, representing the Virgin Islands on the Uber Soca Cruise in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 8 and 2024, with confirmed performances for the 2025 and 2026 sailings; and 9 WHEREAS, Pumpa’s international breakout song, “A-List”, has surpassed 1.5 million 10 views on YouTube, further solidifying his global recognition; and 11 WHEREAS, at the 2024 Caribbean Music Awards, Pumpa was honored with the Impact 12 Award in recognition of his influence and impact on Caribbean music; and 13 WHEREAS, for the 2025 Trinidad Carnival Season, Pumpa collaborated with Soca icon, 14 Machel Montano, who he has performed alongside multiple times, on the hit song “Her 15 Mudda”; and 16 WHEREAS, Pumpa is proud to represent the Virgin Islands wherever he goes—whether 17 through his music, the flag, or even the clothing he wears—always keeping the spirit of the VI 18 close to his heart; and 19 WHEREAS, Pumpa’s music is fueled by the love and support of his fans, his dedication 20 to Soca, and the unwavering encouragement of his fiancée, Larissa, and their two children, 21 Xidani and Xenga; and 22 WHEREAS, Pumpa remains committed to expanding the reach of Virgin Islands music 23 across the Caribbean and beyond, with aspirations to perform on all seven continents; Now, 24 Therefore, 25 4 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 1 SECTION 1. The Legislature of the Virgin Islands, on behalf of the people of the Virgin 2 Islands, honors and commends Dennis “Pumpa” Lennox Leroy Liburd Jr. for his many 3 contributions to the Virgin Islands culture and music industry as a Soca Artist. 4 SECTION 2. In recognition and appreciation of his contributions to the Virgin Islands 5 culture and music industry as a soca artist, the President of the Legislature, or the President’s 6 designee, shall present the Official Key to the Territory, pursuant to 1 V.I.C §103a.(b), and 7 shall prepare and present a perma plaque copy of this Act to Dennis “Pumpa” Lennox Leroy 8 Liburd Jr. at an appropriate ceremony. 9 SECTION 3. The main entrance of 6-Y Peters Rest Road, Christiansted, St. Croix is 10 named the “Dennis “Pumpa” Liburd Drive”. The Department of Public Works shall erect a 11 sign bearing this name. 12 SECTION 4. Notwithstanding 33 V.I.C §3087(a), there is appropriated in the fiscal year 13 ending September 30, 2025, the sum of $10,000 from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund 14 to the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works to erect the proper signage at the main 15 entrance of 6-Y Peters Rest Road as provided in section 3 and to hold the ceremony as provided 16 in section 2. 17 BILL SUMMARY 18 This bill honors and commends Dennis “Pumpa” Lennox Leroy Liburd Jr. for his many 19 contributions to the Virgin Islands culture and music industry as a soca artist and presents him 20 with the Official Key to the territory. This bill also names the main entrance of 6-Y Peters Rest 21 Road, Christiansted, St. Croix as the “Dennis “Pumpa” Liburd Drive”. The bill further 22 appropriates $10,000 from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund to the Virgin Islands 23 Department of Public Works to erect the proper signage at the main entrance of 6-Y Peters Rest 24 Road and to hold a ceremony in his honor. 25 5 BR25-0321/February 7, 2025/Revised March 3, 2025/GC 1