Jan 18, 2002 – The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on St. Thomas at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on "crucial issues facing the V.I. Lottery."
The committee will be looking for proposals on improving the lottery and also will take testimony from officials of the V.I. government and of Caribbean Lottery Services Inc. on the contracts between the two entities, Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, the committee chair, said.
A similar hearing was held last Tuesday on St. Croix.
Hansen said it is "important that lottery dealers and concerned citizens" of St. Thomas and St. John attend the hearing "and give the committee … the benefit of their advice."
At a contract signing ceremony on Jan. 9 at Government House on St. Croix, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull announced that Caribbean Lottery Services, a subsidiary of Leeward Islands Lottery Holding Co., will be bringing new lottery games into the territory including those the parent company operates in other Caribbean jurisdictions. According to the contract, 10 percent of the Caribbean Lottery Services' gross revenues will go into the General Fund.
Administration officials have said the V.I. Lottery, which has been losing money for several years, will continue to operate along with the new games, but some local lottery dealers see the move as putting them out of business.
Hansen said "many sound proposals" were offered by lottery dealers and "concerned citizens" at the hearing on St. Croix.
She asked that anyone wishing to testify at the hearing advise the committee in advance by calling 712-2222.