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COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 11/20/2024-SPECIAL ORDERED 11/18/2024-AMENDED AND REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY BILL NO. 35-0298 Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands July 15, 2024 An Act honoring and commending Daryl A. George Sr., colloquially known as “Mousy”, posthumously, for his contributions to the people of the Virgin Islands as a firefighter, first responder, mentor and as Director of the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services; renaming the Tango Company Fire Station the “Daryl A. “Mousy” George, Sr., Fire Station” in his honor; and appropriating $10,000 from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund to the Department of Public Works to erect the proper signage PROPOSED BY: Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Milton E. Potter, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., and Dwayne M. DeGraff WHEREAS, Daryl A. George Sr., colloquially known as “Mousy”, was born on January 1 14, 1968, on the beautiful island of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to the late Alric A. George and 2 Nathena Thomas-George; and 3 WHEREAS, Daryl A. George Sr., was raised and educated on St. Thomas, and attended 4 the St. Peter and Paul Catholic School; Addelita Cancryn Junior High School; and completed 5 his high school education online with ICS Newport Pacific High School; and 6 WHEREAS, in 1980, upon the recommendation of former Senator Carlton Dowe, Daryl 7 A. George Sr., began his pre-service career through the Junior Officer Firefighter Corps; and 8 WHEREAS, in 1995, Daryl A. George Sr., began employment with the Virgin Islands 9 Fire Service and was named Employee of the Year his first year; and 10 2 WHEREAS, Daryl A. George Sr., served as the President of the International 1 Association of Firefighters Union, Local 2125 for four consecutive years; 2 WHEREAS, Daryl A. George Sr., worked his way up to serving as the Special Assistant 3 of the Virgin Islands Fire Service; and 4 WHEREAS, Daryl A. George Sr., was confirmed as the Director of Virgin Islands Fire 5 Service and became the Director of the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services 6 (“VIFEMS”) upon the merger of the Virgin Islands Emergency Medical Service with the Virgin 7 Islands Fire Service; and 8 WHEREAS, his decades of advocacy for the integration of the two entities was critical 9 to the passage of the legislation and formation of the VIFEMS; and 10 WHEREAS, Daryl A. George Sr., through his visionary leadership, continued initiatives 11 including establishing strategic ladder apparatus houses; modernizing the VIFEMS fleet; 12 acquiring vital marine firefighting equipment; erecting fire stations in critical locations; and 13 strengthening the Territory’s emergency response capabilities; and 14 WHEREAS, beyond the flames, from 1997 to 2014, Daryl A. George Sr., served as the 15 Coordinator of the Junior Firefighters Program where he nurtured future generations and 16 inspired countless youths by igniting a passion for service in young hearts, shaping them into 17 responsible citizens through summer camps, after-school initiatives, and his vision for a steel 18 pan orchestra; and 19 WHEREAS, Daryl A. George Sr., served the VIFEMS with unwavering dedication for 20 20 years, sharing his exceptional knowledge and skills to save countless lives and protect his 21 community; and 22 WHEREAS, Daryl A. George Sr., was the proud father of five children: Daryl George 23 Jr., D'Andre George, DeLani George, Darline George, and Te-Nae George; and 24 3 WHEREAS, on Oct. 24, 2023, Daryl A. George Sr., passed away following a sudden 1 illness; and 2 WHEREAS, Daryl A. George Sr., leaves behind a legacy of perseverance and 3 determination that will continue to inspire the Virgin Islands community for generations to 4 come; Now, Therefore, 5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 6 SECTION 1. The Legislature of the Virgin Islands, on behalf of the people of the Virgin 7 Islands, honors and commends Daryl “Mousy” A. George Sr., posthumously, for his many 8 years of extensive contributions to the Virgin Islands community, through his roles as a 9 firefighter, first responder, mentor and as Director of the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency 10 Services. In recognition and appreciation of his contributions to the Virgin Islands community, 11 the President of the Legislature, or the President’s designee, shall present a perma plaque copy 12 of this Act to the family of the late Daryl “Mousy” A. George Sr., at an appropriate ceremony. 13 SECTION 2. Tango Company Fire Station located at #8-1 Fortuna, St. Thomas, V.I. is 14 re-named the “Daryl A. “Mousy” George, Sr., Fire Station”. The name “Daryl A. “Mousy” 15 George, Sr., Fire Station” must be retained for any future relocations of the fire station. 16 SECTION 3. (a) Notwithstanding the use restrictions in 31 V.I.C. § 202(b), the sum of 17 $10,000 is appropriated in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, from the Business and 18 Commercial Properties Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, to 19 erect the proper signage designating the “Daryl A. “Mousy” George, Sr., Fire Station” as 20 provided in section 2. 21 (b) The funds appropriated in subsection (a) remain available until expended. 22 BILL SUMMARY 23 This bill honors and commends Daryl A. “Mousy” George, Sr., posthumously, for his 24 many years of service and contributions to the Virgin Islands community; renames the Tango 25 4 Company Fire Station the “Daryl A. “Mousy” George, Sr., Fire Station”; and appropriates 1 $10,000 from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands 2 Department of Public Works to erect the proper signage. 3 BR24-0861/June 12, 2024/GC 4