Election season is reaching fever pitch, and senators in Tuesday’s legislative session were eager to claim credit for their accomplishments and criticize their opponents while debating several bills and nominations.
Lawmakers met first in the Committee of the Whole to hear testimony on two bills, before moving into the full session to debate and vote.
All 11 senators in the majority caucus voted in favor of Bill No. 34-0300, which reorganizes the caucus to include Sen. Angel Bolques Jr., who was selected by the Democratic Party to replace former Sen. Steven Payne Sr. after he was expelled from the body for sexual harassment.
Sens. Dwayne DeGraff and Franklin Johnson voted against it, while Sens. Alma Francis Heyliger and Javan James Sr. abstained.
Senators voted unanimously to approve Bill No. 34-0244, “to expand and clarify the definition of naturopathic medicine and the physical modalities used in the practice of naturopathy.”
They also voted unanimously to approve Bill No. 34-0299, an Act ratifying the redevelopment agreement by and between the V. I. government and CREF3 USVI Hotel Owner Inc., the company redeveloping the former Marriott Frenchman’s Reef resort on St. Thomas.
The hotel was destroyed by hurricanes Irma and Maria five years ago, and Sen. Kurt Vialet said he sponsored the legislation that will allow the company to…
