The following material is being published, unedited, exactly as it was received via e-mail from the office of the government official named below, as a Source community service. Government office holders wishing to contribute to the bulletin board must e-mail [email protected]. The Source reserves the right to choose what is published.
Senator Ronald E. Russell, Esq. is urging the community to participate in public hearings scheduled next week to discuss potential changes to the Revised Organic Act of 1954.
"These are important proposals that will affect how we vote and how our government will be run," Senator Russell said. "Everyone deserves a chance to be heard before these proposals are voted on."
The public hearings, which are scheduled for each island, are to receive testimony on a bill to petition Congress to amend the Revised Organic Act of 1954, to empower the Legislature, with the approval of the voters, to charter municipal governments on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix; to establish a Municipal Government Charter Commission, and to provide for a referendum on the charter of municipal governments on all three islands.
"These public hearings are the first important steps for us as a territory to decide where we want to go, especially with the upcoming constitutional convention," Senator Russell said.
He noted that another bill currently working its way through the Senate Committee on Rules & Judiciary is a proposal to enact laws that will change the way referendums and recalls are decided upon in the Virgin Islands.
"I want to commend the chair of the Rules Committee, Senator Shawn-Michael Malone, and Senate President Lorraine L. Berry for agreeing to hold public hearings on that measure to obtain public input," Senator Russell said.
The hearings will be held on Monday, June 13, 2005 in St. John; on St. Croix on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 and on St. Thomas on Tuesday, June 21, 2005. They will begin at 6 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers of each respective island.