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P a g e | 1 Rules and Judiciary Committee Report March 27, 2025 Memorandum: 25-005 TO: Mrs. Kurell A. Sheridan, JD Executive Director 36th Legislature of the V.I. FROM: The Honorable Carla J. Joseph _________________________ Chair Committee on Rules and Judiciary DATE: March 28, 2025 SUBJECT: Committee Report for Thursday, March 27, 2025 Hearing Please find attached the report for the Committee on Rules and Judiciary hearing held on Thursday, March 27, 2025 in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room, St. Croix. Cc: All Senators Chief Legal Counsel Archive Division Journal Division P a g e | 2 Rules and Judiciary Committee Report March 27, 2025 RULES AND JUDICIARY MARCH 27, 2025 COMMITTEE HEARING REPORT The Committee on Rules and Judiciary held its hearing on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix. The Committee considered the following Governor’s Nominations and Bills:  Mrs. Elizabeth Guadalupe-Perez – Virgin Islands Real Estate Appraisers Board,  Mrs. Trinity Granger- Austrie – University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees,  Bill No. 36-0028 – An Act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Island and Tropical Marine, Inc., for Parcel No. 37-1 Estate Nadir, No. 2 Red Hook Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and a portion of unsurveyed Estate Nadir, No. 2. Red Hook Quarter, St. Thomas. Sponsored by: Sen. Milton E. Potter By Request of the Governor,  Bill No. 36-0038 – An Act amending title 29 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 10, subchapter III, section 551, subsection (a) by increasing the limit for outstanding bonds for the Virgin Islands Port Authority from $100 million to $500 million. Sponsored by: Sen. Milton E. Potter, and  Bill No. 36-0040 – An Act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Charles M. Kim V.I. Foundation, Inc. d/b/a Virgin Islands Museum of Art, for a portion of Lot No. 48b Norre Gade, Kings Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Sponsored by: Sen. Milton E. Potter By Request of the Governor The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chair, Sen. Carla J. Joseph at 10:04 a.m. Committee Members Present Non-Committee Members Present Sen. Carla J. Joseph, Chair Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens, Vice Chair Sen. Angel L. Bolques, Jr. Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger Sen. Clifford A. Joseph, Sr. Sen. Avery L. Lewis Sen. Milton E. Potter Office of the Executive Director Mr. Charles Brown, Jr. Ms. Myrna De-Altier-Pickard Sergeant-At-Arms Mr. David Johnson Sen. Marise C. James Legislative Reporters Ms. Nataya Melchoir-Munoz Mrs. Nadine Coley-Williams Clerk/Timekeeper Ms. Khadijah Hodge Supporting Staff Ms. Neta Christopher Legal Counsel Attorney Cynthia Moore P a g e | 3 Rules and Judiciary Committee Report March 27, 2025 Public Affairs/Media Mr. Omari Hicks Mr. Kashief Hamilton Ms. Africah Harrigan Ms. Chaunte Herbert Ms. Diana Cruz Mr. Jamal Potter Mr. Alwyn Baptiste, Jr. Mr. Alvin Burke, Jr. Mr. Eustace Browne In block one of the meeting, Mrs. Elizabeth Guadalupe-Perez, Governor's Nominee for the Virgin Islands Real Estate Appraisers Board read her testimony into the record. Senators proceeded with one (1) round of three (3) minutes each of questioning. Senator Clifford A. Joseph, Sr. motioned that the nomination of Mrs. Elizabeth Guadalupe-Perez to the Virgin Islands Real Estate Appraisers Board be favorably voted upon in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary and forwarded to the full body for further consideration and action. The motion was seconded by Senators Lewis, Bolques, Jr. and Potter. Voting in favor were Senators Carla Joseph, Bolques, Clifford Joseph, Lewis, and Potter. The motion was carried. (5 yea, 2 Absent). In block two of the meeting, Mrs. Trinity Granger-Austrie, EIT, Governor's Nominee for the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees read her testimony into the record. Senators proceeded with one (1) round of three (3) minutes each of questioning. Senator Clifford A. Joseph, Sr., motioned that the nomination of Mrs. Trinity Granger-Austrie, EIT to the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees be favorably voted upon in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary and forwarded to the full body for further consideration and action. The motion was seconded by Senators Lewis, Francis Heyliger, Bolques and Gittens. Voting in favor were Senators Carla Joseph, Gittens, Francis Heyliger, Bolques, Clifford Joseph, Lewis, and Potter. The motion was carried. (7 yea) In the final block of the meeting, Bill Nos. 36-0028, 36-0038, and 36-0040 were introduced by Senator Milton E. Potter. Senators proceeded with one (1) round of four (4) minutes each of debate time. Senator Angel Bolques, Jr., made a motion for Bill No. 36-0028 to be favorably voted upon in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary and forwarded to the full body for further consideration and action. The motion was seconded by Senator Francis Heyliger. Voting in favor were Senators Carla Joseph, Gittens, Bolques, Francis Heyliger, Clifford Joseph, Lewis, and Potter. The motion was carried. (7 yea). Senator Milton E. Potter made a motion for Bill No. 36-0038 to be favorably voted upon in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary and forwarded to the full body for further consideration and action. The motion was seconded by Senators Bolques and Lewis. Voting in favor were Senators Carla Joseph, Gittens, Bolques, Lewis, and Potter. The motion was carried. (5 yea, 2 nay). Senator Avery L. Lewis made a motion for Bill No. 36-0040 to be favorably voted upon in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary and forwarded to the full body for further consideration and action. The motion was seconded by Senators Francis Heyliger, Bolques, and Lewis. Voting P a g e | 4 Rules and Judiciary Committee Report March 27, 2025 in favor were Senators Carla Joseph, Bolques, Francis Heyliger, Clifford Joseph, Lewis, and Potter. The motion was carried. (6 yea, 1 nay). The Chair, Sen. Carla J. Joseph, adjourned the Committee on Rules and Judiciary hearing at 12:53 p.m.