The V.I. Legislature approved two zoning matters and several commission and board nominations Wednesday. Wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein received a major coastal zone permit to put two mooring buoys and covered structures at each end of an existing dock on his privately-owned Little St. James Island. The permit also allows continued use of an existing dock, bulkhead and other infrastructure.

Sen. Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly opposed the permit, saying she "will not support bad and criminal behavior." Epstein was convicted in 2008 of felony solicitation of prostitution with a minor. (See related link below.)

Voting to approve the permit were Sens. Craig Barshinger, Carlton "Ital" Dowe, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Louis Hill, Ronald Russell, Sammuel Sanes, Patrick Sprauve, Alvin Williams and Janette Millin-Young. Voting nay were O’Reilly, Sens. Usie Richards, Neville James and Terrence "Positive" Nelson. Sens. Shawn-Michael Malone and Celestino White were absent.

Owners of an unoccupied building across from Havensight Mall got a use variance to allow the owners to convert a run-down, unoccupied building into a small, one-screen movie theater for tourist films.

In other business, the Legislature approved a measure honoring and commending Audie Enrique Henneman and to name the gymnasium at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School the “Audie Enrique Henneman Gymnasium."

The Legislature also approved the nominations of:
– Manuel Gutierrez Jr. to the V.I. Port Authority Board of Governors;
– Joseph San Martin to the V.I. Public Services Commission;
– Vernon Finch to the V.I. Lottery Commission;
– Former Sen. Allison "Allie" Petrus to the V.I. Port Authority;
– and J. Brion Morrisette to represent St. John V.I. Coastal Zone Management Commission.