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COMMITTEE RECEIVES ST. THOMAS CARNIVAL SAFETY UPDATE - Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands Close About Us History Functions and Structure FY 2026 Budget Honor Roll Rules of the 36th Legislative Youth Advisory Council Application Careers Archives Legislative Archives Tours × St. Thomas Senators  St. John Senators  St.Croix Senators  Districts All Senators St. Croix St. Thomas - St. John Senator at Large × Committees Committee of the Whole Budget, Appropriation and Finance Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Economic Development and Agriculture Education and Workforce Development Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection Health, Hospitals and Human Services Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications Rules and Judiciary Session Folder × No event found! Calendars Bi-Weekly Senate Calendar Session Agenda × Dialog window Dialog window General Senators Committees Media Calendars Contact HOMELAND SECURITY, JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY | Press Releases | Senator Kenneth L. Gittens COMMITTEE RECEIVES ST. THOMAS CARNIVAL SAFETY UPDATE Published: Apr 5, 2024 Search for: ST. THOMAS – The 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands’ Committee on Homeland Security, Justice, and Public Safety, led by Senator Kenneth L. Gittens met in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on Thursday. Lawmakers received an overview of safety and security efforts ahead of the St. Thomas Carnival 2024 activities. This included updates on parking restrictions, accommodations, environmental cleanups, permitting requirements, curbside pickup, trash removal, trash containerization, and other related matters. Ian Turnbull, Director of the Division of Festivals stated that the Division had hosted meetings with representatives with various Carnival stakeholders. Priority topics during these meetings focused on events logistics, community health and safety, and location preservation for all official Division of Festivals events. The Division has also met with the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority to discuss the connection of utilities and staging of village booths. Mario Brooks, Assistant Police Commissioner spoke of the ways that the Department would ensure safety during the Carnival. Brooks stated that due to the sensitivity of the plans, specifics must be left confidential, but assured the body that their strategies are comprehensive, innovative, and tailored to address the challenges of coordinating a massive event. A key part of the operational plan is deploying a centralized, real-time information center. This allows for instantaneous response and access to real time surveillance of the Carnival Village and immediate areas, dispatch capabilities, and comprehensive communication channels. The Department will be deploying temporary cameras, utilizing drones, mobile surveillance cameras, camera systems, and various forms of digital equipment enhancing surveillance capabilities during Carnival. Horace Graham, Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs delivered testimony. The Department usually collaborates with the Virgin Islands Police Department to issue permits for activities during activities, such as Carnival. It is the Department’s practice to issue special permits for such gatherings. It also allows food and beverage vendors to participate in Carnival if they have received the necessary permissions from the Department and the VIPD. Graham also informed the body that it is dedicating resources to bolster the police presence to counteract any potential shortage of law enforcement personnel. The Department’s enforcement officers, who operate under the VIPD’s guidance, will perform compliance checks during Carnival. These officers will also tackle the prevention of unauthorized and illicit activities. Justa Encarnacion, the Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department stated that the Division of Environmental Health maintains a close partnership with the Division of Festivals. The Department convened meetings with vendors to ensure that Temporary Food Establishments were operating properly. Encarnacion stated that enforcement officers would diligently patrol and monitor key festival events to ensure proper operating procedure. All food vendors must obtain permits from the Department of Health to operate any food establishment, whether it be temporary, mobile, stationary, or permanent. All individuals operating Temporary Food Establishments must also possess valid health cards, which must be displayed. They must also provide laboratory results displaying negative tests for parasites. Individuals who hold a valid ServSafe certificate may submit a copy of their certificate in lieu of laboratory results. Reuben Jennings, Assistant Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works stated that the Department met with Division of Festivals committee members, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Waste Management Authority, and other key stake members to prepare for Carnival. The Department provides the Division of Festivals access to the Fort Christian Parking Lot, to use as the venue for the St. Thomas Carnival Village. The Department is responsible for preparing the area before the construction of the Village by patching uneven areas, preparing bathroom facilities, and using the street sweeper to remove any debris or construction material. The Department provides barricades for various events during Carnival. The Department cleans after carnival events. The Department has been asked to provide logistical support to the horse races, as this is the first time they have been held since 2017. The Department assists with advertising road closures due to Carnival activities. Roger Merrit Jr, the Director of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority stated that the authority is responsible for trash collection and removal from venues where there are official events that are held by the Virgin Islands Division of Festivals. This includes the cleaning and preparation of the village site, the disposal of trash by booth owners in designated bins in the vicinity of the village, nightly cleanup of the village, and the proper disposal of cooking oil used in the village. Crews are assigned as necessary to major festival events. Chairman Gittens voiced concern about safety, stating that crowd control and management was key. Gittens cited an incident of a fallen table the St. Croix Festival Village, which caused a state of panic, and injuries to some village attendees. Chairman Gittens stated that he hoped for a healthy and safe Carnival. Senators present at today’s Committee meeting included Kenneth L. Gittens, Ray Fonseca, Diane T. Capehart, Dwayne M. Degraff, Novelle E. Francis Jr., Alma Francis Heyliger, Javan E. James, Sr., and Franklin D. Johnson. The Division of Public Affairs is committed to providing the community with accurate information on legislative proceedings and other events at the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. Visit www.legvi.org. #### Find More Search for: Categories News Observances Press Releases Special Events Related Content COMMITTEE REVIEWS FY 2027 EXECUTIVE BUDGET REQUESTS FOR GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, AND BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES July 23, 2026 ST. 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