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COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 11/20/2024-SPECIAL ORDERED 11/18/2024-REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY BILL NO. 35-0273 Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands May 31, 2024 An Act honoring and commending Ronald Alphonso “Slimo” Blyden posthumously for his years of service and contributions to the Virgin Islands community; renaming Flamboyant Avenue in Estate Anna's Retreat, the “Ronald Alphonso “Slimo” Blyden Drive” and naming the cul de sac containing house addresses 129-27 through 129-34 Estate Anna's Retreat, “Slimo Circle” in his honor; and making a $10,000 appropriation from the District Public Road Fund to the Department of Public Works to erect the proper signage PROPOSED BY: Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Milton E. Potter WHEREAS, Ronald Alphonso Blyden was born on August 7, 1937 on St. Thomas, 1 Virgin Islands, to Terrance Blyden, Sr. and Beulah Phillips Blyden; and 2 WHEREAS, he was the second of nine children and the first boy born of the union; and 3 WHEREAS, due to his slender physique, he was affectionately known from an early age 4 as “Slimo”; and 5 WHEREAS, Slimo was educated in the public school system of the Virgin Islands, and 6 in 1956, began working at the Department of Education; and 7 WHEREAS, in 1956, Slimo met his wife, Eleanor R. Penn, at the Department of 8 Education and they were married on June 7, 1957; and 9 WHEREAS, Slimo worked in the tourism sector during the boom in the 1960s, working 10 at renowned hotels such as Blackbeard's Castle, Bluebeard's Castle, and the Virgin Isle Hotel; 11 and 12 2 WHEREAS, he was the father of two children, LaVerne “LaVie” Cecilia Blyden and 1 Ronald “Ronnie” Blyden Jr., father-in-law to Barbara Connor Blyden, grandfather to LaMont 2 Ronald Joseph, and great-grandfather to Amir Joseph and LaVonte' Joseph; and 3 WHEREAS, he was a dedicated and devoted family man, giving much to his community; 4 and 5 WHEREAS, Slimo dedicated 36 years of exemplary service as a Graphic Arts Specialist 6 in the public school system, retiring on September 30, 1992, leaving behind a legacy of 7 dedication and commitment; and 8 WHEREAS, alongside his professional career, Slimo pursued freelance photography, 9 capturing the joyous moments of people's lives such as weddings, graduations, and proms; and 10 WHEREAS, Slimo's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish the popular nightclub and 11 discotheque, "SLIMO'S," which became a favorite gathering place for the young and young at 12 heart for several years; and 13 WHEREAS, Slimo's passion for driving and his ownership of a coveted 1967 Plymouth 14 Satellite convertible made him the sought-after chauffeur for weddings, parades, and for 15 esteemed visitors to St. Thomas, including his memorable association with Puerto Rico's 16 baseball superstar, the late Roberto Clemente; and 17 WHEREAS, Slimo was connected to many neighborhoods in St. Thomas, including 18 Upstreet, Savan, Garden Street, Down Street, Long Path, Solberg, and Mafolie which 19 contributed to his widespread popularity among Virgin Islanders; however, he was committed 20 to and involved in the Estate Anna's Retreat, Old Tutu community where he resided with his 21 family; and 22 WHEREAS, Slimo's family was one of the original households in the community that 23 was established in 1964, and eventually came to be known as “Old Tutu”; and 24 3 WHEREAS, Slimo's home was the entry point and a centerpiece for the “Old Tutu” 1 community where residents would gather for entertainment and have exchanges that enhanced 2 the posture of the “Old Tutu” neighborhood in general; and 3 WHEREAS, Slimo garnered the admiration and respect of the youth and the older 4 residents in “Old Tutu” to the point where he was referred to as “The Mayor”; and 5 WHEREAS, Slimo strongly influenced the maintenance of an immaculate “Old Tutu” 6 neighborhood by his constant monitoring and cleaning of the roadways and surrounding areas; 7 and 8 WHEREAS, Slimo passed away on October 7, 2000; Now, Therefore, 9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 10 SECTION 1. The Legislature of the Virgin Islands, on behalf of the people of the Virgin 11 Islands, honors and commends Ronald Alphonso “Slimo” Blyden posthumously for his many 12 years of service and contributions to the Virgin Islands community. In recognition and 13 appreciation of his contributions to the Virgin Islands community, the President of the 14 Legislature, or the President’s designee, shall present a perma plaque copy of this act to the 15 family of the late Ronald Alphonso “Slimo” Blyden at an appropriate ceremony. 16 SECTION 2. The road from the entrance of Estate Anna's Retreat beginning at the traffic 17 light at Four Winds Plaza continuing to the Alvin McBean Ballpark currently named 18 “Flamboyant Avenue”, is renamed the “Ronald Alphonso “Slimo” Blyden Circle”. The cul de 19 sac containing house addresses 129-27 through 129-34 of Estate Anna's Retreat is named 20 “Slimo's Circle”. 21 SECTION 3. (a) Notwithstanding the use restriction of title 33 Virgin Islands Code, 22 chapter 111, section 3002, subsection (c), the sum of $10,000 is appropriated in the fiscal year 23 ending September 30, 2024, from the District Public Road Fund to the Virgin Islands 24 4 Department of Public Works, to erect the proper signage designating the “Ronald Alphonso 1 “Slimo” Blyden Circle” and “Slimo’s Circle” as provided in section 2. 2 (b) The funds appropriated in subsection (a) remain available until expended. 3 BILL SUMMARY 4 This bill honors and commends Ronald Alphonso “Slimo” Blyden posthumously for his 5 many years of service and contributions to the Virgin Islands community. The bill also renames 6 the road from the entrance of Estate Anna's Retreat beginning at the light by Four Winds Plaza 7 until the Alvin McBean Ballpark currently named “Flamboyant Avenue”, the “Ronald 8 Alphonso “Slimo” Blyden Circle”, and names the cul de sac containing house addresses 129- 9 27 through 129-34 of Estate Anna's Retreat, “Slimo's Circle”. The bill further appropriates 10 $10,000 from the District Public Road Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works 11 to erect the proper signage. 12 BR24-1061/April 10, 2024/GC 13