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LAWMAKERS SEATED IN 34TH LEGISLATURE’S OATH OF OFFICE CEREMONY - 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 News | Press Releases LAWMAKERS SEATED IN 34TH LEGISLATURE’S OATH OF OFFICE CEREMONY Published: Jan 11, 2021 Search for: ST. THOMAS – The mes such as passion, gratit ude and commitment to working on th e people ’ s b usiness echoed from the inner chambers of the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall as fifteen lawmakers took the Oat h of Office of the 34 th Legislature of the Virgin Islands on Monday, officially starting their first day amidst a global pandemic with a pledge to serve the best interest of the territory . “ Colleagues, let ’ s remember why we ’ re here, ” said Senate President Donna Frett-Gregor y . “ L et ’ s remain focused on th e people of the Virgin Islands. ” She t akes her place in history as only the third woman in the institution ’ s 65- year-old past to serve as the Senate ’ s top leader , following in the footsteps of legendary forerunners such as Lorraine Berry and Ruby M. Rouss . Praise for women ’ s achievements in politics blended with recognition of their roles in the success of the family, with several senator s expressing gratitude to t he single mothers and grandmothers who raised them among their other supporters , alive and departed . By the end o f the organization of the 34 th Legislature, she encouraged her colleagues to collaborate in spite of recent sh akeups among the majority which saw changes in officers and committee cha i r manships. With the passage of Bill No. 34-0001, President Frett-Gregory w ill serve alongside Vice President Novelle E. Francis, Jr. , Legislative Secretary Genevieve Whitaker , and Majority Leader Marvin A. Blyden as part of an eleven-member majority to include Senators Samuel Carrion, Kenn eth L. Gittens, Sr. , Kurt A. Vialet, and Genevieve Whitaker of the St. Croix district ; and Senator s Carla Jos eph, Milton E. Potter , J anelle K. Sarau w; and at-large Senator Steven D. Payne of the St. Thomas-St. John district. The ceremony , distinguished by ma sks , celebratory elbow bumps, and beautiful vo cal and instrumental renditions of the anthems , was also significant in the context of national events , u nderscored by some of the new senators, as well as in remarks by Dr. Haldan e Davies, V ice President for Business Development and Innovation at the University of the Virgin Islands, who chaired proceedings earlier in the day at the Emanicipation Garden. Dr. Davies ca lled on the leaders to have th e heart of a public servant at a time when Vi rgin Islanders seek to clarify their political status and identit y while reeling from the many challenges of the covid-19 pandemic, and “ a time when we see the foundation of our democracy shaken and the adhesive of the Union loosen by t he extreme vi e ws of some of our fellow citizens . ” As the only juris diction under the American flag with a majority black leadership, the impact of the violent storming of the nat ion ’ s Capitol by unruly p rotestors , some brandishing racis t paraphernalia , in an effort to overturn democracy , resonated sharply . “ It ’ s saddening to say the least , ” President Frett- Gregory said during her remarks in the chambers . “ As leaders we must not undermine the very institution we aim to protect. ” Sen. Francis Heyliger warned her colleagues against “ p ower-hungr y grabbi ng ” while other senators spoke about their willingness to w ork together despite party affiliation. She joins Sen ator Dwa yne M. DeGraff also of the St. Thomas-St. John district, and Senators Javan James, Sr. and Fr anklin Johnson of the St. Croix district in the fou r-member minority . Issues such as GERS, the economy, education, crime and violence, revitalization of our towns, the environment, energy , water, workforce development, and partnership with private and non-profit sec tor s as well as the wider Caribbean region are amon g those the 34 th Legislatu re will seek to address over the course of th eir two – year term . The ceremony included the reading of the election certification and presentation of senators by Supervisor of Elections Caroline F. Fawkes ; ad ministering of the o ath of office by C hief Justice Rhys S . Hodge of the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands ; and musical performances by the Virgin Islands National Guard Band, Lorna Freeman-Woodley, Malvern Gumbs, Gylchris Sprauve, and Sherwin Williams . T he Rt. Rev. Ambrose Gumbs , Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Virgin I slands, offer ed prayers of inspiration and the Civil Air Patrol posted the colors. Dignitaries to include Gov. Albert Bryan, Lt. Gov . Tregenza Roach, and Delegate -to-Congre ss Stacey Plaskett were among those in attendance. At a glance, t he following ref lects the organizational establishment of the 34 th Legislature of the Virgin Islands , according to Bill No. 3 4 -0001 : Majority Cau cus: • Sen. Marvin A. Blyden • Sen. Samuel Carrion • Sen. Novelle E. Francis, Jr. • Sen. Donna A . F rett-Gregory • Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens • Sen. Carla Joseph • Sen . S teven D. Payne, Sr. • Sen. Milton E. Potter • Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw • Sen. Kurt A. Vialet • Sen. Genevieve Whitaker   Offi cers: • Sen. Donna A . Frett-Gregory : ​​ President • Sen. Novelle E. Francis , Jr. : ​​ Vice President Secretary for Intergovernmental and Territorial Affairs • Sen. Genevieve Whitaker : ​​ L egislative Secretary Liai s on to the United States Department of Interior and O ffice of   Insular Affairs • Sen. Marvin A. Blyden : ​ Majority Leader • Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens : ​ Liaison to the White House   Standing Commi tte es: • Commit ttee on Rules and Judiciary Chair : ​​ Sen. Milton Potter • Committee on Finance Chair: ​ Sen. Kurt A. Vialet • Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services Chair: ​ Sen. Novelle E. Francis, Jr. • Committee on Education and Workfo rce Development Chair: ​ Sen. Genevieve Whitaker • Comm ittee on Disaster R e covery a nd Infrastructure Chair: ​ Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw • Committee on Economic Developmen t & Agriculture Chair: ​ Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens • Commi ttee on Homeland Security, Justice, and Public Safety Chair: ​ Sen. Steven D. Payne, Sr. • Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection Chair: ​ Sen. Carla Joseph • Committee on Housing, Transportation, and Telecommunications Chair: ​ Sen. Marvin A. Blyden • Committee on Youth, Sp orts, Parks, and Recreation Chair: ​ S en. S amuel Carrion • Committee on the Whole Chair: ​ Sen. Donna A . Frett-Gregory Vice Chair: ​ Sen. Novelle E . Francis, Jr. M embers: ​ Sen. Genevieve Whitaker, Legislative Secretary ​ Sen. Marvin A. Blyden, Majority L e ader ​ Sen. Sa muel Carrion ​ Sen. Dwayne M. DeGraff ​ Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger ​ Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens ​ Sen. Javan E. James, Sr. ​ Sen. Franklin D. Johnson ​ Sen. Carla Joseph ​ Sen. Steven D. Payne, Sr. ​ Sen. Milton E. Potter ​ Sen. Janel le K. Sarauw ​ Sen . Kurt A. 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