USVI Senators Rebuke Each Other 'in Jesus
Lawmakers clashed this week during debate on Bill 36-0119, which would reroute funds to the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation to complete the Randall 'Doc' James Racetrack on St. Croix. New reporting from Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) adds detail about earlier committee actions, allegations about the former contractor VIGL, and the heated exchange in which Senators 'rebuked' each other 'in the name of Jesus.'
Weeks before the full Legislature took up the matter, Senator Janelle Joseph, then chair of the Committee on Rules and Judiciary, pressed for a comprehensive assessment of horse racing's economic viability in the territory. 'I have to see the numbers,' she told colleagues, saying a full study is needed to show whether horse racing produces measurable returns that justify public investment, according to reporting by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO).
On Thursday the chamber debated Bill 36-0119, an act amending Act No. 8651 to reroute appropriated funds to the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation to support completion of the Randall 'Doc' James Racetrack on St. During that session Senator Joseph again raised concerns about revenue generation and said she would offer an amendment identifying the source of funds at the appropriate time, VINO reported.
Joseph also took credit for uncovering problems with the former contractor, VIGL. She told colleagues she had sent a press release asking the Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging and Sports and Parks to subpoena VIGL after finding that 'those human beings were not doing any work there to help horse racing in the Big Island.' She added that some people from St.
Croix opposed having the contractor called to testify, and said it took an appropriation from a St. Thomian to 'get things D, O, N, E,' VINO reported. Senator Donna Frett-Gregory Francis, who usually speaks immediately after Joseph during sessions, pushed back sharply. He noted that horse racing has been part of St.
Croix life for decades and warned that the bill was 'dead on arrival.' The exchange escalated when Francis called Joseph's remarks 'shots fired,' prompting Joseph to 'rebuke' him 'in the name of Jesus.' Francis quickly replied, 'I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.' Chamber leaders then restored order, according to VINO.
After the interruption members returned to the substance of the measure. Senator Francis acknowledged the proposed appropriation is 'insufficient' to complete all work but argued it is a start that 'will get us going.' The rhetoric drew criticism from other senators. James, daughter of the racetrack's namesake, said she was disappointed and described the language used around her father's name as 'violent,' urging that the project be a unifying one rather than a source of division.
Gittens said he did not appreciate the tone of the debate. For residents of the British Virgin Islands, the episode echoes familiar themes: inter-island tensions over public investment, concerns about procurement and contractor oversight, and the challenge of balancing preservation of cultural institutions with rigorous economic planning.
VINO's reporting adds new detail about the earlier committee action and the contractor dispute, underscoring calls from some lawmakers for transparency and evidence of returns before additional public funds are committed.
Primary source: VINO