>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING OF THIS PROGRAM IS UNDER WRITTEN BY PERFECTED CLAIM.

SUPPORTING ACCESS FOR JUSTICE FOR ITS CLIENTS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS COMMUNITY SINCE 2021.

>>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF.

>>> ON THIS EPISODE, WE´LL GO ONE ON ONE WITH GORDON, WHO EXPLAIN HOW HE IS TACKLING THE TERRITORY IT IS MOST PRESSING JUSTICE RELATED ISSUES.

>>> DOCTORS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT DANGEROUS SHORTAGES AT THE TERRITORY HOSPITALS.

THE GOVERNOR REJECTS CALLS FOR STATE OF AN EMERGENCY.

WE´LL HAVE THE DETAILS.

>>> WITH DEMOLITION ON HOLD AT LBJ GARDEN, HOME ORDINARY REASONS ARE CALLING FOR FAIR COMPENSATION WHILE CONSIDERING BUYOUTS AND OFFERS FROM THE FINANCE AUTHORITY.

WE´LL EXPLAIN.

PLUS.

>> I WILL INTRODUCE THE AMENDMENT THAT ADDRESSES EVERY ISSUE RAISED.

>> AFTER AN INITIAL VETO, THE SENATOR RECENTLY PRESENTED A NEW VERSION OF HIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BILL.

HE SAYS THIS ONE ADDRESSES THE GOVERNOR´S CONCERN.

WE´LL HAVE MORE AND LATER.

THE PANEL JOINS THE CONVERSATION TO ANALYZE THESE STORIES AND MORE.

COMESWITH THE TERRITORY STARTS NOW.

>>> WELCOME TO COMES WITH THE TERRITORY, FOUR AND FIVE MONTHS AGO, GORDON RAY, A SEASONED LIT OF EXPERIENCE IS WORKING TO STRENGTHEN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

FROM FILLING CRITICAL VACANCIES TO IMPROVING COORDINATION ACROSS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

HERE IS MORE.

>> IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE AND CONFIDENCE THAT I NOMINATE ATTORNEY, GORDON REA TO SERVE AS THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> CAME LAST APRIL, FOLLOWING MULTIPLE LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

INCLUDING THE FIRING OF FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, DENISE GEORGE, AT THE END OF 2022.

THE ABRUPT RESIGNATION OF HER SUCCESSOR, AERIEL SMITH, AFTER EIGHT MONTHS ON THE JOB.

DURING HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING, ATTORNEY RAY LAYED OUT SPECIFIC NEEDS WITHIN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

>> THREE ITEMS STAND OUT.

FIRST IS THE URGENT NEED TO FILL NUMEROUS VACANT POSITIONS.

SECOND CRITICAL NEED IS THE DEPARTMENT IS IN I.T.

CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR PAPER FILES, EXPEDITE THE EXCHANGE OF DATA WITH POLICE AND ALERT PROSECUTORS THAT COURT FILINGS ARE COMING DUE.

FINALLY, I PLAN TO STEP UP THE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR OUR ATTORNEYS.

>> RAY ASSURED LAWMAKERS THAT HE WOULD PROSECUTE PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

>> HOW WILL YOU ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENT AND ITS OFFICIAL ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE?

>> FIRST, IF ANY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE CAUGHT DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL OR CORRUPT, I WILL PROSECUTE IT.

THERE´S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

I MADE THAT CLEAR.

AS I SAID, WE´VE BEEN LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR WHITE COLLAR CRIMINAL DIVISION.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WAS ALSO WORKING TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF A FUNCTIONING ON ST. CROIX.

>> SO, THAT´S WHAT WE ARE HAVING TO DO ON ST. CROIX.

RIGHT NOW, IT´S A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

I MAKE NO EXCUSE FOR IT.

BODIES THAT NEED TO BE EXAMINED BY MEDICAL EXAMINERS, FORENSICALLY, HAVE TO BE SENT TO ST. THOMAS.

THAT IS COSTLY.

>> JOINING ME ON SET TO DISCUSS HOW HE IS APPROACHING SOME OF THE TERRITORIES MOST PRESSING JUSTICE RELATED ISSUES IS ATTORNEY GENERAL, GORDON RAY.

WELCOME TO COMES WITH THE TERRITORY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WANT TO START WITH WHAT YOU FOUND WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK OFFICE.

I KNOW YOU STARTED AS ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL BEFORE BEING SWORN IN FIVE MONTHS AGO.

YOU KNOW, WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU THE MOST ABOUT THE STATE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES TO STRENGTHEN IT?

>> WELL, THE STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS MIXED IN MANY WAYS.

IT FELT LIKE IT NEEDED TO HAVE A LOT OF AREAS LIFTED UP.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A NEED FOR MORE TRAINING.

IT WAS OBVIOUS THERE WAS A NEED SYSTEM.

AND IT WAS ALSO BECAME OBVIOUS FAIRLY QUICKLY THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO BUILD STRONGER AND BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH SISTER AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY´S OFFICE.

THE COURTS.

AND WITH THE DEFENSE BAR, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH OUR OFF AND ON ON OPPOSITE SIDES, WE NEED TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND WORK TOGETHER TO REACH RESULTS.

THOSE WERE THE BIG AREAS I LOOKED AT.

>> NOW, THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A PUBLIC PERCEPTION THAT CASES AREN´T MOVING FORWARD HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OR THAT CONVICTIONS AREN´T BEING SECURED.

SPEAK TO ME A BIT ABOUT WHAT THE CONVICTION RATE LOOKS LIKE FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL´S OFFICE RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT SHOULD THE PUBLIC EXPECT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP?

>> THAT´S A MULTIFACETED QUESTION.

FIRST, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CASE BACKUP, BECAUSE WE HAVE A HUGE NUMBER OF CASES, YEARS.

THEY JUST WEREN´T MOVING.

SO WHAT I´VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS GET CASES RE-EXAMINED, PARTICULARLY THE OLD ONES.

ARE THE WITNESSES STILL AROUND?

ARE THE CASES STILL TRYABLE?

AND EITHER DISMISS THEM IF THEY ARE NOT TRYABLE OR WORK OUT RESOLUTIONS IF THEY ARE WEAK, AND OF COURSE, IF THEY ARE TRYABLE AND STRONG, THEN TAKE THEM TO TRIAL.

THAT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

WE´VE BEEN HAVING MEETINGS, CONTINUALLY, WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE, TO SIT DOWN WITH THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND GO THROUGH THE CASES THAT ARE COMING UP FOR TRIAL TO SEE IF THEY CAN BE RESOLVED BEFORE THE TRIAL.

AND WAYS THAT WILL BE POSITIVE FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND POSITIVE FOR THE DEFENDANT.

AND FOR THE SOCIETY.

I´M NOT A PERSON WHO FEELS LIKE EVERYBODY WHO COMMITS A CRIME HAS TO GO TO JAIL.

PARTICULARLY, YOUNGER PEOPLE, PEOPLE INVOLVED IN NONVIOLENT OFFENSES, OFTEN NEED HELP AND THERE ARE PROGRAMS AND VARIOUS SYSTEMS THAT CAN BE SET UP.

AND HAVE BEEN PUSHING HARD TO GET SOME OF THOSE GOING, SO WE CAN HOLD OVER BASICALLY A WRONGDOERS HEAD, POTENTIAL PROSECUTION, BUT IF THEY GET ANGER MANAGEMENT OR DRUG TREATMENT OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, THAT THEY NEED, OR EVEN IF THEY FINISH SCHOOL AND DO SOME JOB TRAINING, THEN THEY CAN PLEAD TO A LESSER OFFENSE OR WHATEVER.

SO, IT DEPENDS UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT I VIEW IT, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS TO DO JUSTICE, NOT JUST PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL.

>> NOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU NOTED ALSO, TOO, IS A STAFFING SHORTAGE.

SO HOW DOES THAT TIE INTO GETTING THAT EXPEDITED AS WELL?

>> THAT´S BEEN TOUGH.

WE STILL DO HAVE QUITE A STAFFING SHORTAGE.

OUR TRIAL ATTORNEYS ARE, WELL, THERE AREN´T ENOUGH, TO PUT IT MILDLY, AS WELL AS OUR BACKUP STAFF.

WE HAD TO DO THE BEST WE COULD WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

MAKE THINGS FOR EFFICIENT.

WE BROUGHT DOWN A TEAM OF ASSOCIATION OF ATTORNEY GENERALS, WHICH IS A NATIONWIDE ORGANIZATION.

SO THAT OUR ATTORNEYS COULD GET MODERN, UP TO DATE TRIAL TECHNIQUE TRAINING.

AND I´M VERY CONTENT WITH WHAT THAT TRAINING TURNED OUT LIKE AND I THINK OUR STAFF NOW IS MUCH MORE UP TO DATE, MUCH MORE UP TO NATIONAL STANDARDS.

TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT, I´VE BEEN WORKING TO PUT INTO PLACE A MODERN CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

SO THAT THE ATTORNEYS WON´T HAVE TO SCRAWL EVERYTHING DOWN THAT NOBODY CAN READ.

IT WILL BE THERE ELECTRONICALLY AND WE´LL KEEP TRACK OF NEW CASES, OLD CASES, ETCETERA.

SO THERE´S A LOT OF SYSTEMIC CHANGES I´M TRYING TO PUT INTO PLACE.

WE ARE JUST COMPLETING THE CONTRACT WITH A COMPANY THAT DOES THAT NATIONWIDE FOR ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO, WE´RE GOING TO BE UP TO NATIONAL SPEED IN THAT AREA AS WELL.

I´VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN SECURING GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE AGENCIES THAT I MENTIONED.

MARIO BROOKS, THE POLICE COMMISSIONER, OF THE SAME MIND SET.

WE SPEAK FREQUENTLY.

WE GET TOGETHER FREQUENTLY.

AND TALK THROUGH DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING MEETINGS WITH THE VARIOUS POLICE DETECTIVES, OFFICERS, ETCETERA, AND OUR PROSECUTORS.

SO WE CAN ALL TALK ABOUT WHAT IS WORKING WELL AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

>> WE´RE NOW STARTING TO DRAW SOME --THE FRUIT IS STARTEN TO RIPEN.

IT´S A REAL PROCESS.

WHAT WE´RE DOING AT THIS STAGE IS WE ARE MANAGING TO RESOLVE A LOT OF CASES.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ARE NOW RESOLVING MORE CASES THAN ARE COMING IN, WHICH IS A VERY POSITIVE WAY FOR A PROSECUTING AGENCY TO BE.

>> YEAH.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> I COULD GO ON.

THERE´S A LOT.

>> YOU DO HAVE A LOT TO COVER.

AT THE GOVERNOR´S PRESS CONFERENCE LAST JUNE, ANNOUNCING THE RESIGNATIONS OF JENNIFER O´NEAL, AND FORMER POLICE COMMISSIONER, RAY MARTINEZ.

YOU SAID YOUR OFFICE WOULD ASSIST THE U.S. ATTORNEY´S OFFICE AND YOU WOULD OPEN YOUR OWN INVESTIGATIONS INTO DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

I BELIEVE YOU SAID QUOTE, YOU WANT TO JOIN THEM IN AN INVESTIGATION TO HELP IN ANY MANNER APPROPRIATE.

AND THEN YOU KNOW, KIND OF MAKE SURE TO SIT DOWN WITH THOSE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

ARE THOSE INVESTIGATIONS HAPPENING AND ARE THEY STILL ON GOING?

SHOULD WE SEE THINGS ON THE HORIZON?

>> YES.

QUITE A BIT.

FIRST, I´VE MET FREQUENTLY, AGAIN, WITH THE U.S. ATTORNEY, HER CRIMINAL CHIEF, MICHAEL CONNOLLY, AND WE´VE DEVELOPED WHAT I FEEL IS A VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

AND I´M LOOKING, HAVING BEEN A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR MYSELF FOR MANY YEARS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND DOWN HERE IN THE ISLANDS, I´M VERY COMFORTABLE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE FEDS AND THEY CAN BRING A LOT TO OUR CASES.

FOR INSTANCE, WHITE COLLAR CRIME, WHICH INVOLVES THE KIND ABOUT, OFTEN IS A VERY EXPENSIVE TYPE OF THING TO PURSUE, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF EVERYTHING FROM PHONES, TO ALL KINDS OF EVIDENCE.

EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

THE FEDS, BY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, CAN BRING IN THE FBI, THE ATF, AND THE VARIOUS FEDERAL AGENCIES AND GET THAT KIND OF WORK DONE FOR US THAT OTHERWISE COULD NEVER BE DONE.

AND SO THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, I THINK, ARE CRITICAL.

AND YES, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO ASSIST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN ITS INVESTIGATIONS AND WE´RE ALSO LOOKING TO BRING CASES TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP WHEREVER THERE´S FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP TO A CASE, SO THEY CAN PROPERLY GET INVOLVED WITH US.

>> I KNOW WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT PUBLIC CORRUPTION WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ALSO NOTED WAS FOCUSING ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHEN IT COMES TO WHITE COLLAR AS WELL, TOO.

SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THOSE INITIATIVES.

>> RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE A WHITE COLLAR DIVISION.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT ISN´T COMPLETE.

AGAIN, STAFFING ISSUES.

WE HAVE ONE ATTORNEY WHO ALSO HAS OTHER THINGS THAT SHE IS DOING WHO IS HITTING IT UP RIGHT NOW.

AND WE NEED A GOOD FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR AND OTHERS.

BY WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POLICE, WHICH ALSO HAS A GOOD ECONOMIC CRIMES INVESTIGATION UNIT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING A SERIES OF CASES.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, DURING THIS PAST YEAR, DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS, WE HAVE FILED SOMETHING LIKE 15 WHITE COLLAR TYPE CASES.

WE´VE ALSO RESOLVED, I THINK IT´S SEVEN OR EIGHT OF THOSE KIND OF CASES.

OFTEN WITH WHITE COLLAR CASES BECAUSE THEY INVOLVE DEATHS OF MONEY IN ONE FORMAT OR ANOTHER, OFTEN THE RESULT IS TO HAVE THE OFFENDER OBVIOUSLY MAKE THE VICTIM WHOLE BY GETTING THE MONEY BACK AND THEN SERVE SOME OTHER PENALTY.

>> OKAY.

STATUS OF THE MORGUE SITUATION ON ST. CROIX.

WHEN CAN RESIDENTS EXPECT TO SEE THAT RESOLVED?

>> I BELIEVE.

AND I MADE PREDICTIONS BEFORE THAT HAVE NOT COME TO PASS.

BUT I BELIEVE WE WILL SEE A MORGUE IN PLACE AND OPERATING AND OPEN BY AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.

>> OKAY.

>> WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS, WELL, I MET THIS PROBLEM WHEN I CAME IN.

AND IT HAS TAKEN A LOT OF WORK, BUT WE HAVE A SIDE CLEARED AND READY TO GO.

WE´VE BEEN WORKING WITH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, WHO APPROVED THE PLANS THAT WE´VE GOT, AND WE´VE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH A COMPANY VESTA, THAT DOES THIS SORT OF THING, AND THAT CONTRACT IS ALMOST FINISHED.

THE COMPONENTS OF THE MORGUE, THE MODULAR COMPONENTS ARE BEING HELD RIGHT NOW OUT AT THE PORT ON ST. CROIX.

THEY ARE READY TO BE MOVED TO THE SITE.

AS SOON AS THAT SITE IS PUT INTO SHAPE.

IT´S OUR PLAN AND IT LOOKS LIKE ALL OF THAT CAN BE DONE BY, HOPEFULLY BY THE FIRST OF AUGUST.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE SEEN A PATTERN WITH THE WHISTLE BLOWER LAWSUITS RECENTLY.

WE HAVE LUCY NUNEZ, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.

VERSUS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

PETER CHAPMAN.

AND WHILE NOT ALL OF THESE CASES FALL UNDER YOUR OFFICE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT CONSTITUTES AS A VIOLATION OF THE WHISTLE BLOWER ACT?

>> A WHISTLE BLOWER IS GENERALLY SOMEONE WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE OF AN AGENCY WHO BLOWS THE WHISTLE.

BASICALLY, GOES TO THE AUTHORITIES AND SAYS, I THINK THERE´S SOMETHING GOING ON WRONG HERE.

SOMETIMES THEY CAN ACTUALLY REPORT WRONG DOING OR SOMETIMES IT´S REPORTING THE SUSPICION OF A WRONG DOING.

THAT´S WHAT A WHISTLEBLOWER IS.

THEY ARE BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON US.

WE HAVE A WHISTLE BLOWER ACT HERE IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS THAT IS SIMILAR TO ONES FOUND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT´S TO GIVE PEOPLE WHO BLOW THE WHISTLE PROTECTION.

BASICALLY, OUR WHISTLE BLOWER ACT SAYS IF YOU DO TELL THE AUTHORITIES ABOUT WRONG DOING, IF YOU REPORT IT, YOU CANNOT BE PENALIZED BY YOUR EMPLOYER.

YOU CANNOT BE FIRED.

YOU CANNOT BE DEMOTED.

YOU CANNOT BE PENALIZED IN ANY WAY.

AND THOUGH PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO BLOW THE WHISTLE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

YOU´RE GOING TO BE PROTECTED.

AND IT´S AGAINST THE LAW FOR YOUR EMPLOYER TO IGNORE THAT STATUTE AND IF THEY DO, WE WILL GO AFTER THEM FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO, WE CAN´T BRING WHITE COLLAR CASES UNLESS THEY COME FORWARD AND ARE WILLING TO TESTIFY, BE WITNESSES, AND TELL US WHAT´S GOING ON.

>> CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE CURRENTLY ANY WHISTLE BLOWER CASES CURRENTLY UNDER YOUR REVIEW?

MAYBE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYEES, ANY TYPE OF THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> I CAN´T REALLY COMMENT ON ON GOING INVESTIGATIONS OR CASES IN ANY DETAIL.

FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

BUT I CAN SAY THAT YES, WE ARE LOOKING INTO A FEW OF THOSE AND MOST OF THEM WOULD FALL UNDER THE WHITE COLLAR.

>> NOW, YOU PREVIOUSLY SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAD BEEN CONDUCTING A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION.

THROUGH ITS SPECIAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION, A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO FORMER COACH, BRUCE SMITH, AND THE SEXUAL ABUSE MATTER.

NOW, SPECIFICALLY LOOKING INTO WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOL OFFICIALS WERE INVOLVED, HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE ABUSE, AND HAD CONDONED IT IN ANY WAY, NOW, CAN YOU SPEAK TO US WITHOUT PROVIDING, OF COURSE, INTIMATE DETAILS, LIKE YOU SAID, WHERE DOES THAT INVESTIGATION STAND TODAY?

>> OKAY.

AGAIN, I WISH I COULD, BUT I CAN´T TELL YOU ANY DETAILS ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE IT HAS NOT YET COMPLETED.

IT´S VERY NEAR COMPLETION.

WE´VE HAD OUR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION AND ACTUALLY THE CHIEF OF THAT DIVISION HAS BEEN THIS INVESTIGATION.

REALLY DIGGING IN DEEP TO FIND OUT WHO KNEW WHAT, WHO FAILED TO TAKE ACTION, AND WHY.

AND I PREDICT THAT WE´RE GOING TO SEE SOME CONCRETE RESULTS COME FROM THAT.

>> OKAY.

>> ONE THING THAT, THE WHOLE EPISODE ALSO HAS LED TO IS A CHANGE IN THE CIVIL STATUTE.

THAT WAS A BIG SUPPORTER OF THIS.

THERE WAS A TWO-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR VICTIMS TO BRING CLAIMS AGAINST PEOPLE WHO WERE VICTIMIZING THEM.

AND THAT IS TOUGH IN SEXUAL ABUSE CASES, BECAUSE OFTEN PEOPLE AREN´T READY TO TALK ABOUT THE SEXUAL ABUSE THAT THEY UNDERWENT UNTIL MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED.

MUCH MORE THAN THE LAW CURRENTLY PERMITS.

SO, I WAS A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE CHANGE IN THAT LAW SO PEOPLE COULD BRING CHARGES AND CIVIL CASES AGAINST WRONGDOERS, ANY TIME THAT THEY ARE READY TO COME FORWARD.

AND I THINK THAT WAS A POSITIVE THING THAT IS REALLY SPURRED AND HAS COME OUT FROM THE MATTER.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHERE DO YOU HOPE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS --WHAT DO YOU HOPE UNDER YOUR TENURE, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE IN THE PUBLIC, TO THE COMMUNITY, AS FAR AS WHO MAY BE A BIT SKEPTICAL AS FAR AS SEEING CHANGES IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM THAT YOU HOPE YOUR LEGACY WILL BE AS FAR AS MAKING SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

>> I HOPE MY LEGACY WILL BE STRONG.

I´M NOT A SPRING CHICKEN.

I´VE BEEN AROUND FOR AWHILE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I TURNED 80 THIS YEAR.

>> HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I KNOW MOST PEOPLE MY AGE ARE OUT PLAYING GOLF OR WATCHING TV ALL DAY.

THAT IS JUST NOT ME.

I FELT THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY VIRGIN ISLANDS WHERE I´VE BEEN PRACTICING LAW FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

AND TO BRING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THE EXPERIENCE I GAINED AS A PROSECUTOR IN WASHINGTON AND AS A PROSECUTOR DOWN HERE, AND AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

I´VE BEEN DEFENDING CRIMINAL CASES HERE FOR MANY YEARS, BEFORE I CAME BACK INTO PROSECUTING.

AND I THINK I CAN BRING TO THIS JOB A BALANCE THAT CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE BEHIND, AT THE END OF MY TIME, WHICH I BELIEVE WILL BE IN A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO YEARS, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE BEHIND A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THAT CARES ABOUT JUSTICE.

THAT WANTS TO SEE WRONGDOERS IMPRISONED IF NECESSARY, OR HELPED, IF THAT´S POSSIBLE.

AND CAN HELP MAKE OUR ISLAND SAFER AND BETTER PLACE.

>> WELL, ATTORNEY GENERAL, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I KNOW WE CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.

I´M SURE THERE´S SO MUCH MORE.

ARE THERE ANY FIND WORDS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PEOPLE FOR HAVING GIVEN ME THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE GOVERNOR AS WELL.

AND ALL I CAN PROMISE TO DO IS TO DO MY VERY, VERY BEST TO HONOR AND FULFILL THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING SO ACCESSIBLE AS WELL, TOO.

I THINK IT´S VERY REFRESHING TO HAVE THE A.G. BE ACCESSIBLE AND SPEAK WITH THE MEDIA AS WELL.

I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.

>> I ALSO BELIEVE IN OPENNESS.

WHEN IT CAN BE DONE.

AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING ALSO, I JUST MIGHT MENTION, NOT ONLY VARIOUS APPEARANCES ON TV AND WHATEVER, BUT ALSO SOME TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

I HAD TWO, TWO WEEKS AGO.

WE´LL BE DOING THEM IN ST. THOMAS, AND ST. JOHN.

AND I´VE BEEN JOINED IN THOSE BY COMMISSIONER MARIO BROOKS AND SOME OF THE SENATORS AND OTHERS.

THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE US, HEAR US, AND ALSO TELL US WHAT IS ON THEIR MIND.

>> AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMING UP, WE´LL HEAR FROM THIS WEEK´S PANEL.

FIRST, HERE´S A LOOK AT THE TOPICS UP FOR DISCUSSION.

>>> ALARMS ARE BEING RAISED AT BOTH OF THE TERRITORIES HOSPITALS.

ABOUT SEVERE SHORTAGES IN STAFF, SUPPLIES, AND FUNDING.

DOCTORS WARN PATIENT CARE IS AT RISK AND CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION.

>>> AT THE HOSPITAL, 28 PHYSICIANS RECENTLY SENT A LETTER TO THE SENATOR.

CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOSPITALS, AND HUMAN SERVICES, ASKING FOR $17.6 MILLION FOR CRITICAL SUPPLIES, NEW HIRES, AND VENDOR DEBT.

THEY DESCRIBED A YEAR AND A HALF OF FINANCIAL TURMOIL.

DRIVEN BY DECLINING GOVERNMENT FUNDING, DELAYED PAYMENTS, A RISE IN UNCOMPENSATED CARE.

THE LETTER SAYS THE HOSPITAL IS SHORT BY 30 PHYSICIANS WITH THREE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS DOCTORS SCHEDULE.

AND NEARLY HALF EXPECTED TO GO UNCOVERED BECAUSE TWO ER DOCTORS RECENTLY RESIGNED.

AT THE REGIONAL CENTER, 79 PHYSICIANS DESCRIBE SIMILAR CONDITIONS IN A MARCH 31 LETTER.

REPORTED SHORTAGES IN THE EMERGENCY, MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH, ANESTHESIA, INTERNAL MEDICINE, AND SURGERY DEPARTMENTS.

THE LETTER SAYS SUPPLIES HAVE RUN OUT.

INCLUDING URINALS, DIAPERS, AND LAB EQUIPMENT, AND MODERATE AND HIGH RISK SURGERIES ARE NOW BEING REFERRED ELSEWHERE.

THE LETTERS PROMPTED HIM TO RENEW HIS CALL FOR A HOSPITAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.

>> IF THE GOVERNOR DECLARED THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, THEY WOULD TAP INTO VARIOUS SOURCES OF FUNDING WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AS APPROPRIATE.

>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE MONEY THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB.

HE HAS ACCESS TO OVER $130 MILLION OF FUNDS THAT WERE GARNERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION FROM ALL THE LOSSES.

THE HOSPITAL NEEDS MONEY, JUST GIVE THEM THE MONEY.

THERE´S NO NEED FOR STATE OF EMERGENCIES.

JUST APPROPRIATE THE MONEY.

EVEN IF I CALL A STATE OF EMERGENCY, I CAN´T SPEND MY OF THE MONEY, BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW SAYING THAT EVEN IN A CASE OF EMERGENCY, WE CAN´T SPEND $130 MILLION.

THAT DOESN´T MAKE ANY SENSE.

>> ALSO CALLED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FROM HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP.

REFERENCING THE OVER $20 MILLION THEY RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

>> WE GAVE THE HOSPITAL OVER $20 MILLION IN CASH.

AT SOME POINT, THEY´LL HAVE TO MAKE THE EXECUTIVE --THE HOSPITAL STAY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING.

THEY DECIDED TO SPEND IT ALL IN RAISES, AND NOW THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THEY ARE MAKING THE BUDGET INFLATED FOR THE HOSPITAL AND HARDER TO DO.

YES, WE NEED HEALTHCARE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MONEYS?

>> SENATE PRESIDENT MILTON POTTER HAS SCHEDULED AN EMERGENCY SESSION, TO CONSIDER A FUNDING BILL.

>>> RESIDENTS OF THESE HOMES MUST SOON DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT OFFERS FROM THE VIRGIN HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY TO STAY IN THE HOMES AS THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANS TO DEMOLISH ITS ABANDONED HOUSING COMMUNITY NEARBY.

>> WHAT ABOUT COMPENSATING US FOR ALL THE STRESS AND ALL THE EMOTIONAL DAMAGE?

ALL THE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS THEY HAVE CAUSED US.

NOT ONLY EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, BUT THE HEALTH HAZARDS.

>> TEMPORARILY PAUSED THE PROJECT AFTER THE CONTRACTOR BEGAN TEARING DOWN BUILDINGS EARLIER THAN PLANNED AND BEFORE RESIDENTS COULD BE NOTIFIED.

LAWMAKERS DURING A FEBRUARY 20 SENATE HEARING.

>> SATURDAY, BEGAN THE WORK AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED.

WE HAD ALREADY HAD IN POSITION TO BEGIN THE MONDAY, SAY HEY, THIS WILL BEGIN WITH A DATE, TIME, ETCETERA.

SO THAT IS WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAID, THE CONTRACTOR GOT AHEAD OF OUR NOTIFICATION.

>> WE CONTINUE TO --I BELIEVE THAT THERE´S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY.

OUR CONSTITUENTS WELL BEFORE IT HITS THE FAN.

>> RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT HAD HELD AN IN-PERSON MEETING WITH LBJ GARDENS TO RAISE CONCERNS, STEMMING FROM THE DEMOLITION AND IDENTIFIED FUNDS TO COVER TWO OPTIONS FOR A PATH FORWARD.

ACCORDING TO NIKEA, THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, THE OPTIONS INCLUDE A BUYOUT, WHICH REQUIRES COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY AGREEMENT, AND WOULD REQUIRE THE PROPERTIES TO CONVERT TO GREEN SPACE.

WHILE THE SECOND OPTION IS AN ACQUISITION, ALLOWING THEM TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTIES WITHOUT FULL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.

AND WOULD MITIGATION.

THE PROPERTY EVALUATIONS WILL FOLLOW AN APPRAISAL.

RESIDENTS HAVE UNTIL APRIL 28 TO EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST IN WRITING.

THOUGH CLARIFIED THIS IS NOT A DEADLINE FOR MAKING A FINAL DECISION.

>>> IN DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT, I WILL INTRODUCE THE AMENDMENT THAT ADDRESSES EVERY ISSUE RAISED.

>> AFTER GOVERNOR ALBERT BRIAN, JR., VETOED HIS ORIGINAL BILL TO ESTABLISH MANDATORY MINIMUM BILL AMOUNTS IN DOMESTIC CASES.

WARNING IT WOULD UNFAIRLY PENALIZE THE POOR.

THE SENATOR REWORKED THE LEGISLATION.

HE PRESENTED THE NEW VERSION AT AN APRIL 3 SENATE HEARING.

EMPHASIZING THAT IT NOW ADDRESSES THE GOVERNOR´S CONCERNS.

>> BILL NUMBER 36-0005 NOW THROUGH ITS AMENDMENT, ELIMINATES MANDATORY MINIMUM BILL AMOUNTS AND REQUIRES ACTUAL RISK TO THE VICTIM AND THE COMMUNITY.

IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR FULL SECURE BILL, ONLY WHEN THERE IS A CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF DANGER OR FLIGHT RISK.

THUS RESTORING AND RESPECTING JUDICIAL DISCRETION.

IT ALSO EMPOWERS THE COURT TO CONSIDER NONMILITARY RELEASE CONDITIONS, SUCH AS ELECTRONIC MONITORING, HOUSE ARREST, OR MANDATORY CHECK-INS WHEN FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IS DEMONSTRATED.

>> VICTIMS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD HAVE A VOICE IN BILLED DECISIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO COURT APPROVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.

SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL INCLUDED THE WOMEN´S COALITION OF ST. CROIX AND THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER ON ST. THOMAS.

BOTH POINTING TO RISING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES AND CALLING THE BILL A CRITICAL STEP FORWARD.

>>> IT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY TRUST AND THE JUSTICE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND VICTIMS WILL BE SUPPORTED AT EVERY STEP.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL GORDON RAY ALSO SUPPORTED THE BILL.

>> I URGE THE BODY TO PASS BILL NUMBER 36-0005.

WHICH UNDERSCORES OUR COMMITMENT AS A COMMUNITY TO PROTECT THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOLDING OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE.

>> THE BILL WAS APPROVED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, JUSTICE, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND NOW HEADS TO THE RULES AND JUDICIARY COMMITTEE BEFORE FACING A VOTE IN THE FULL SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR´S DESK.

>>> JOINING ME ON SET TO ANALYZE THESE ISSUES IS FORMER SENATOR, DONALD COLE, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PLEASURE BEING HERE.

>> JOINING THE SHOW FROM OUR ST. CROIX STUDIO IS MANAGING ATTORNEY OF WALKER LEGAL, AND A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

BEFORE WE GO TO ISSUES OF THE DAY, I WANT TO TURN TO YOU, ATTORNEY WALKER, AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY WHO WORKS REGULARLY WITH PROSECUTORS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, YOU´VE SEEN ABOUT FOUR ATTORNEY GENERALS UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE THE ACTING APPOINTMENTS.

WHAT IMPACT, IF ANY, HAS THIS TURNOVER HAD ON THE OFFICE IN YOUR OPINION?

AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM PROSECUTORS TO KEEP CASES MOVING EFFICIENTLY?

>> YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, PARTICULARLY ST. CROIX, STRUGGLED FROM BEFORE THIS ADMINISTRATION TOOK OVER.

I THINK THERE´S BEEN A TURNOVER OF THREE NOW ATTORNEY GENERALS.

I DON´T THINK IT´S ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION THAT ALSO EXPERIENCED A TURNOVER.

I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL, HOWEVER.

ALTHOUGH HE HAS LIMITED TIME TO TRY AND TURN THE OFFICE AROUND, IT´S CLEAR THAT THE PROCEDURES THAT HE IS PUTTING INTO PLACE ARE SYSTEMATIC.

PROCEDURES AND SYSTEMATIC CHANGE THAT HOPEFULLY WILL IMPROVE THE OFFICE OVERALL.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE OFFICE IS UNDER STAFFED.

I THINK THE PROSECUTORS ALSO APPEAR TO BE OVERWELMED.

BUT FOR MY PRACTICE, WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS EARLIER RESOLUTION OF SOME OF THE CASES.

MY CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY IS THAT SOME OF THESE CASES ARE PENDING FOR THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS, YOU HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE GOING TO TRIAL, SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST THEM.

AND I THINK THAT´S A REAL DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH.

I WANT TO TURN NOW TO THE SITUATION FACING OUR TERRITORIES HOSPITALS.

MR. EMMANUEL, THE SENATOR IS NOW PUSHING HARD FOR A HOSPITAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.

BUT JUST LAST YEAR, AS CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOSPITALS, AND HUMAN SERVICES, HE HELD NO FACT FINDING MEETINGS ON THE CRISIS AT ONE HOSPITAL FROM APRIL THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

EVEN AS THE CEO AND THE TOP FINANCIAL OFFICER HAD RESIGNED.

THE HOSPITAL WAS FACING ON GOING TURMOIL.

WHY DO YOU THINK NOW WE´RE SEEING THIS LEVEL OF ACTION?

HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES, NOT JUST OF ONE, BUT ALSO AT REGIONAL.

THE FACT THAT BECAUSE THE PHYSICIANS WROTE THIS LETTER, THEY TAKE THE SITUATION MORE SERIOUSLY.

WE HEARD THOSE CONCERNS BEFORE.

THE --THREW MONEY AT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT TRYING TO SOLVE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM, BUT JUST THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT FIX IT.

WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND STATE THE PROBLEM AND TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN THROW MONEY.

WE HEARD ISSUES FROM SOME STAFF MEMBERS, BUT NOW THE PHYSICIANS ARE COMING OUT.

I THINK WE TAKE THE DECISION A LOT MORE SERIOUSLY.

>> NOW, MR. COLE, THE GOVERNOR ALLOCATED $20 MILLION IN FUNDS TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE IS NOW ARGUING THAT THE MONEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MANAGED MORE EFFICIENTLY TO PREVENT THE CRISIS THAT WE´RE SEEING TODAY.

MR. EMMANUEL, JUST SPOKE ABOUT HOW THESE ARE CRISIS THAT HAVE BEEN ON GOING.

DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR IS RIGHT IN HIS LOGIC?

>> THE GOVERNOR TO A POINT, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE LEGISLATURES ROLE IN MANAGING AN OVERSIGHT OVER THE HOSPITAL.

I THINK HE HAS A POINT.

THE GOVERNOR SAYING HE SAID $20 MILLION.

I DON´T KNOW IF THOSE MONEYS WERE SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, OR WAS IT THE USE OF THE HOSPITAL AND MAYBE THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT IN THIS PARTICULAR CAPACITY RATHER THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR PRESUMED IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON.

I DON´T KNOW IF THEY WERE DEDICATED.

THE GOVERNOR HAD BEEN SENDING MONEY FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

TO PAY FOR LIGHT, TO PAY FOR SUPPLIES, WATER, AND SUPPLIES.

YOU SEND MONEY ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I DON´T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED.

THE THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE, OBLIGATING ITS RESPONSIBILITY IN OVERSEEING THE HOSPITALS IS THAT WE KNEW THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS IS UNCOMPENSATED CARE.

AND UNCOMPENSATED CARE SHOULD HAVE AN APPROPRIATION.

EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

WE DON´T TURN ANYONE AWAY.

SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THE HOSPITAL WHO AREN´T ABLE TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE COST OVER A FISCAL YEAR.

IF IT´S $50 MILLION, YOU HAVE TO FIND THE MONEY AND THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF MONEYS FOR UNCOMPENSATED CARE, UNTIL GOING TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.

PEOPLE COMING IN, GETTING SERVICE, AND CAN´T PAY.

THAT´S A PROBLEM.

THAT´S THE MAJOR PROBLEM.

>> THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT WE ALSO ARE TALKING ABOUT MANAGEMENT AS WELL, TOO.

DO YOU NOT THINK THAT MANAGEMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN WHAT WE´RE SEEING TODAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MANAGEMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY.

MANAGEMENT CAN ONLY MANAGE WHAT THEY HAVE.

IF YOU DON´T HAVE MONEY, YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE, AM I GOING TO PAY FOR BLOOD?

AM I GOING TO PAY FOR LAUNDRY SUPPLY?

AM I GOING TO PAY FOR THIS?

HOW AM I GOING TO ATTRACT INDIVIDUALS TO COME TO ATTRACT AND KEEP.

NOT JUST ATTRACT, ATTRACT AND KEEP NURSES, DOCTORS, AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT?

YOU HAVE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE NECESSARY.

IF YOU´RE NOT GETTING COMPENSATED CARE.

WHEN I SAW IT IN THE LEGISLATURE, UNCOMPENSATED CARE HAD TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE THERE.

INSURANCE.

THEY DON´T HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

THEY COME IN, AND WE HAVE TO SOLVE THEM.

THEY CAN´T TURN THEM AWAY.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO SEND THE MONEY TO THE HOSPITAL?

THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO IDENTIFY.

THAT´S THE JOB OF THE LEGISLATURE, TO FIND FUNDING, RUN THE HOSPITAL.

MANAGEMENT WILL COME IN, BUT CAN´T MANAGE WHAT YOU DON´T HAVE.

>> YES.

ATTORNEY WALKER, SPEAKING OF MANAGEMENT, GIVING YOUR PAST ROLE AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE HOSPITAL, HOW SERIOUS IS THIS CRISIS AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS, IF IMMEDIATE ACTION ISN´T TAKEN?

>> THE HOSPITALS ARE ALWAYS IN CRISIS.

THIS ONE MAY BE MORE SERIOUS THAN THE USUAL CRISIS THAT THE HOSPITALS ARE ALWAYS IN.

OF COURSE THERE WILL BE HARM TO THE PUBLIC IF IT´S NOT ADDRESSED.

I AGREE WITH BOTH MR. EMMANUEL AND MR. COLE TO AN EXTENT.

UNCOMPENSATED CARE IS A HUGE ISSUE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO ONE DEFINED IT.

UNCOMPENSATED CARE IS ONE THING, AND YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US, OR THOSE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROPRIATING FUNDS OR IDENTIFYING FUNDS ARE ALSO DEFINING IT DIFFERENTLY.

THE ISSUE WITH THE HOSPITAL IS THE DESIGN OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOSPITAL AND I´M TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE.

IT´S UNCLEAR TO ME WHY THESE TWO HOSPITALS HAVE NOT BEEN COLLAPSED INTO ONE SYSTEM, WITH ONE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM.

IT´S UNCLEAR TO ME WHY WE HAVEN´T CREATED ENOUGH CLINICS IN THE COMMUNITIES TO LESSEN THE BURDEN OF THE HOSPITAL THAT IS NOT ONLY DOING EMERGENCY SURGERY, NOT ONLY RESPONDING TO MAJOR TRAUMA INCIDENTS, BUT ALSO ACTING AS PRIMARY CARE TO A HUGE SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THESE ISSUES HAVE NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED.

UNTIL THEY ARE ADDRESSED, AND UNTIL PEOPLE MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS TO SAY LISTEN, WE DON´T NEED TWO EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAMS FOR THIS SMALL POPULATION THAT WE HAVE, THE HOSPITAL WILL CONSTANTLY BE COMING, YOU KNOW, COMING TO THE LEGISLATURE, TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, NEEDING $20 MILLION, $30 MILLION, $40 MILLION, AND EVERY TWO YEARS OR SO, WE´RE GOING TO GET THE SAME LETTERS WE´RE GETTING NOW FROM THE PHYSICIANS.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU.

SENATORS ARE GETTING READY FOR THIS EMERGENCY SESSION TO APPROVE NEW HOSPITAL FUNDING.

IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT KIND OF LIMITS OR SAFEGUARDS DO YOU THINK THAT THEY SHOULD PUT ON THE MONEY TO MAKE SURE IT IS REALLY GOING TO URGENT HEALTHCARE NEEDS?

>> YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO -- IF THEY HAVE TO LINE ITEM.

HAVE A LIST OF WHAT THE HOSPITAL IS ASKING FOR.

WE NEED TO PAY FOR LABOR.

WE NEED TO PAY FOR LAUNDRY.

WE NEED TO PAY FOR MEDICINE.

WE NEED TO PAY FOR BLOOD AND ALLOCATE THE MONEYS DIRECTLY TO THOSE PARTICULAR INSTANCES.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MANAGEMENT.

IF THE MANAGEMENT IS NOT DONE WITH THE MONEYS THEY RECEIVE, STARTED.

WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN TERMS OF PAYMENT.

AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SAY LISTEN, $10 MILLION FOR SUPPLIES.

$5MILLION FOR THIS, $5 MILLION FOR THAT.

AND ALLOCATE AND LINE ITEM THAT, SO IT CAN BE ALLOCATED.

THAT´S THE ONLY WAY IT WILL BE DONE.

IF MANAGEMENT ISN´T SPENDING THE MONEY HOW IT´S SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT, THEN THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO DO THE LINE ITEM.

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT THAT THEY NEED TO BE LINE ITEM?

HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE RESTRICTIONS SHOULD LOOK?

>> I MEAN, I DO AGREE IT SHOULD BE LINE ITEM.

I THINK IF THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY SESSION, THEY SHOULD ALSO DISCUSS LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO WHAT IT´S DOING AGAIN.

YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PHYSICIANS ARE ASKING FOR IS A LUMP SUM AMOUNT OF MONEY SO THEY CAN STAFF UP.

THAT´S ALL FINE AND WELL.. YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT STAFF AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT.

IF YOU HAVEN´T COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE, TO MERGE THE HOSPITALS INTO ONE SYSTEM, WHICH IS A VERY EASY THING TO DO, IF YOU DON´T COME UP WITH IMPLEMENT ANY SOLUTIONS, WE´RE GOING TO BE IN THE SAME CRISIS OVER AND OVER AND WE´LL GET TO A POINT WHERE THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO SAVE THE HOSPITALS.

AND THEN WE WILL ALL SUFFER.

>> YES.

I WANT TO MOVE NOW TO LBJ GARDENS ON ST. CROIX, WHERE RESIDENTS ARE BEING ASKED TO WEIGH THEIR OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR HOMES.

MR. EMMANUEL, HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY DO YOU BELIEVE THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY BEARS FOR THE CONFUSION AND THE FRUSTRATION RESIDENTS ARE FEELING IN THIS PROCESS RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THEY ALREADY KNEW WHAT THE PLANS WERE AND I LISTEN TO THE PRESS RELEASE THEY HAD OUT.

IF YOU HAVE YOUR CONTRACT MOVING FORWARD, MOVING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, SOMEBODY TOLD THEM TO MOVE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

HAVING SUCH A DEMOLITION WOULD KNOW WE WERE GOING TO CAUSE SOME ISSUES THERE.

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ASSUMED THE WATERS ARE CONTAMINATED AND TRYING TO FIND THE SOLUTION.

THE SOLUTION, THEY PROPOSE.

I DON´T THINK IT´S A GOOD SOLUTION.

I THINK THEY --I DON´T KNOW HOW WE´RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE.

THE PRICE OF OUR RENT IN ST. CROIX, AND THE LACK OF OUR RENTAL UNITS, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND HOUSES AND PAY FOR THEIR PROPERTY.

CAN YOU IMAGINE IF PEOPLE HAVE TO MOVE INTO A RENTAL UNIT, HAVING TO PAY, AND THEN TAKE THAT MONEY TO BUILD, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO BUILD, OR EVEN BUY A HOUSE?

WILL THEY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE THE PROPERTY THAT THEY ARE RELINQUISHING?

I DON´T THINK IT´S FAIR TO THEM.

I THINK IT WAS ILL PLANNED AND NOW THAT THE FUNDS --I AGREE, EITHER WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, IT´S NOT GOING TO BE FAIR TO THE RESIDENTS.

>> ATTORNEY WALKER, HOW CONCERNED DO YOU THINK RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LOW APPRAISALS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CONDITIONS SURROUNDING LBJ GARDENS?

I KNOW WHILE IT MIGHT BE CLOSE TO THE WATER, CLOSE TO THE BEACH SIDE, AND EVERYTHING, IT IS STILL AN INDUSTRIAL AREA.

AND IF A LOW APPRAISAL DOES HAPPEN, IS IT REALISTIC THEY WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME AS MR. EMMANUEL JUST SPOKE ABOUT?

TO NOW LEAVE HOMEOWNERS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO MORTGAGES TO BE IN A POSITION TO BECOME RENTERS ARE NOW PAYING A MORTGAGE.

>> I MEAN, THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND THE BEST FORMULA DETERMINE A FAIR BUYOUT.

AND THE APPRAISAL MAY NOT WORK BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THE SURROUNDING AREA.

BECAUSE THEY DEMOLISHED THE HOUSING COMMUNITY NEXT DOOR.

SO IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF FORMULA CREATED THAT IS AGREEABLE TO THE PARTIES.

THIS IS A DISPUTE.

I´M HOPING THE HOMEOWNERS CAN ENTER INTO SOME FORM OF MEDIATION, WHERE THEY CAN ARRIVE AT AN ARRANGEMENT THAT THEY WILL ALL AGREE TO.

I THINK THAT´S THE BEST WAY TO RESOLVE THIS.

I´M HOPING THE HOMEOWNERS WILL BE PAYING COUNCIL NOT TO NECESSARILY SUE OR GO AFTER THEM, BUT RETAIN COUNSEL, TO NEGOTIATE THE BEST RESOLUTION POSSIBLE FOR THE HOMEOWNERS.

>> I THINK THAT´S SOMETHING SENATOR MAURICE JAMES ADVISED RESIDENTS, TO GET A LAWYER FOR THE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION.

GIVEN THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED AND THE CONCERNS RAISED BY RESIDENTS, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE NEXT STEP FOR THEM IN THE PROCESS?

>> IF IT WERE UP TO ME, I WOULD RECOMMEND MEDIATION.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE HOMEOWNERS BAN TOGETHER, REPAY COUNCIL, AND ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH VIFA.

IT´S A BENEFIT TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

WHETHER THEY IMPROVE THAT AREA, WHETHER THE HOMEOWNERS STAY, OR WHETHER THE HOMEOWNERS LEAVE, THERE´S DEFINITELY A BENEFIT TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO TAKE DOWN LVJ TO REPLACE IT AND TO DEVELOP THAT AREA IF THAT IS POSSIBLE.

SO I DO THINK THAT MEDIATION IS THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AT THIS.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THEY CAN COME TO SOME RESOLUTION, BECAUSE THE HOMEOWNERS, OF COURSE, TO BE MADE WHOLE, WOULD NEED TO BE RELOCATED INTO HOMES THAT THEY OWN WITH NO LIENS, NO MORTGAGES, NOTHING ATTACHED TO IT.

YOU WOULD HAVE THE BEST, SIMILAR SITUATION TO THE ONE THAT THEY HAVE AND EXPERIENCING IN THAT AREA ALREADY.

>> THE PLAN IS TURN THE AREA INTO A GREEN SPACE, BUT GIVEN THE PRIME LOCATION, ISN´T IT RIGHT TO SPECULATE THAT THIS LAND COULD POSSIBLY EVENTUALLY BE MARKETED FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT?

>> AND THAT´S WHY WE HAVE YOU.

WE WERE TALKING EARLIER.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT -- IF YOU HAVE A VIEW.

AND LOTS OF US TAKE THE VIEW FOR GRANTED.

AND THE VIEW IS NICE.

AND I THINK THAT´S PRIME REAL ESTATE AND I THINK IF YOU MOVE, MOVING OUR LOCAL LAND, HOMEOWNERS OUT OF THOSE TYPE AREAS, AND LATER ON, WE´RE SELLING OR DEVELOPING FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO BENEFIT.

SO I THINK IT´S UNFAIR.

THERE.

IT´S UNFAIR, IF THEY TAKE THOSE PROPERTIES AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE, WHICH IS GOOD.

BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THEY TOOK THE PROPERTY AND DEVELOPED THAT LAND AND SELL THOSE CONDOS AND SELL IT FOR TOP DOLLAR.

IT WILL BE UNFAIR.

THE RESIDENTS WILL LOSE EITHER WAY, UNLESS YOU PUT THEM IN A PROPERTY THAT IS EQUAL OR BETTER.

AND IF YOU PAY THEM, JUST SWAP, THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOSING IMMEDIATELY, LATER ON, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO STAY.

YOU CAN´T JUST BUY A HOUSE TOMORROW AND YOU HAVE TO RENT.

YOU ALREADY PAID FOR YOUR HOUSE, IF YOU´VE BEEN THERE 30, 40 YEARS.

SO, IT IS JUST SAD TO SEE THIS HAPPENING.

AGAIN, I DON´T THINK THE SOLUTIONS ARE THE BEST.

WE NEED TO EXPLORE SOME MORE AS TO WHAT A BETTER SOLUTION WILL BE.

A BETTER FORMULA THAT WILL BE MORE EQUITABLE.

>> I KNOW THIS MIGHT BE HAPPENING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD IN ST. CROIX.

THE RESIDENTS SPOKE ABOUT CALLING FOR COMPENSATION.

NOT JUST FOR HIS FAMILY´S PROPERTY, BUT EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND HEALTH CONCERNS.

DO YOU THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AS WELL?

>> BE ABLE TO PUT THE VALUE IN THE PROPERTY.

AND THE VALUE THAT GOES WITH TIME CERTAIN, YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS.

I MEAN, YOU PUT YOUR BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS INTO THIS PROPERTY.

I AGREE WITH ATTORNEY WALKER, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET AN ATTORNEY.

A REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY, SO YOU CAN SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THESE VARIABLES WITHIN THAT STRUCTURE.

YOU´RE NOT GOING TAKE IT BY EMINENT DOMAIN, THEN I CAN STAY THERE, BUT YOU´LL HAVE PROBLEMS.

MR. EMMANUEL SPOKE ABOUT THE WATER THAT IS CONTAMINATED.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THAT ARE THERE HAS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY.

I BELIEVE THEY MADE A MISTAKE BY STARTING TO DEMOLISH WITHOUT EVEN ALLOWING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.

THEY NEED TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY AND AN ATTORNEY TO SIT DOWN AND ASSESS ALL, NOT JUST THE REAL ESTATE THAT IS THERE, BUT THE VIEW.

I LIKE VIEW.

IF YOU ARE SEEING THE WATER, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ASSESS THE VALUE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE VIEW?

I BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND GET AN ATTORNEY, SO THEY CAN SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE WITH HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY.

>> YEAH.

WE SHIFT OUR FOCUS TO THE SENATOR WHO MADE KEY CHANGES AND REINTRODUCED HIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BAIL REFORM BILL.

NOW IN VETOING THE BILL THE FIRST TIME AROUND, THE GOVERNOR AMOUNT COULD UNFAIRLY PENALIZE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR.

ATTORNEY WALKER, COULD THIS BE SEEN AS PRIORITIZING CRIMINAL FAIRNESS OVER REAL VICTIMS?

OR SHOULD THE CONCERN BE AS VICTIM ADVOCATES HAVE SAID, HOW EASILY SOME PERPETRATORS CAN PAY LOW BAIL AND WALK FREE.

>> YOU KNOW, I DID NOT INTERPRET THE GOVERNOR´S VETO LANGUAGE TO PRIORITIZE CRIMINAL CONDUCT OVER VICTIMS RIGHTS.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID IS, YOU´RE TAKING AWAY THE DISCRETION FROM THE JUDGES WHO ASSESS AND DETERMINE WHAT THE RIGHT BAIL AMOUNT IS.

AND IN ACTUALITY, WHEN YOU REVIEW THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY SENATOR, THE PAST COMMITTEE, IT IS ACTUALLY ALREADY LAW.

THE JUDGES HAVE ALWAYS HAD DISCRETION TO SET BAIL.

WHILE THERE´S BEEN LEGISLATION A MINIMUM AMOUNT FOR SOMETHING, OR YOU KNOW, LANGUAGE HERE OR THERE, ULTIMATELY, THE JUDGES ALREADY DETERMINE WHETHER THE DEFENDANT IS A RISK TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHETHER THE DEFENDANT IS STILL A RISK TO THE VICTIM.

WHETHER THE DEFENDANT IS A FLIGHT RISK.

THAT´S BEEN PART OF OUR SYSTEM FOR CENTURIES, WHEN YOU´RE LOOKING AT BAIL DETERMINATIONS IN BOTH THE FEDERAL SYSTEM AND LOCAL SYSTEM.

SO THE AMENDMENTS THAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED ADDRESS THE CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED BY GOVERNMENT.

BUT IT IS REALLY STILL THE STATUS QUO, BECAUSE THE DISCRETION SHOULD LIE WITH THE JUDGES AND THAT´S WHAT THE AMENDMENTS ALLOW FOR.

>> NOW MR. EMMANUEL, IN VETOING THE ORIGINAL BILL, GOING BACK TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID, IT DIDN´T ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLENCE AND PENALIZED POVERTY.

IS IT REALISTIC TO EXPECT A BAIL REFORM BILL TO TACKLE THE ROOT CAUSES THAT WE´RE SEEING WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

AND YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD IT REALLY TAKE TO ADDRESS THE RISE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, LET ME RESPOND TO THAT.

LET ME COMMENT ON ATTORNEY WALKER SAID, YOU´RE THE ATTORNEY HERE.

WHEN I READ THAT AMENDMENT, I SAID WE´RE ALREADY DOING THAT.

THE JUDGES ALREADY HAVE THAT DISCRETION TO DETERMINE WHAT CIRCUMSTANCE WILL REQUIRE, IF A DEFENDANT HAS TO GO THROUGH A PROGRAM OR WHATEVER.

SO, WHEN I READ THAT AMENDMENT, I WAS LIKE, DOESN´T MAKE SENSE TO ME, THAT´S ALREADY HAPPENING.

THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WHY WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUE AND THE PERSON IS OUT AND THEY CAUSE HARM TO THE VICTIM.

SO WE´RE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM OR SOLUTIONS.

WE´RE LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM AND TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

WE PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE MORE, NOT JUST HAVING THAT VICTIM GO THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS, BUT MAYBE HAVE IN THE FAMILY.

WE´RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE DAMAGE THAT IS DONE THROUGH THE CHILDREN IN SUCH SITUATIONS.

WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM REALISTICALLY, RATHER THAN HIS OR HIS WIFE OR HER HUSBAND, AND WE ARREST HIM OR HER, AND ASK HIM TO STAY AWAY FROM THE OTHER PERSON.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE EFFECT ON THE CHILDREN.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHY THIS HAPPENED.

SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE SEE WHEN PEOPLE SOMETIMES ARE IN A SITUATION, YOUR EMOTIONS GET THE BEST OF YOU WHEN YOU´RE FINANCIALLY STRAPPED.

AND MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT FAMILY AND THE FAMILY I´M LOOKING AT, WORK RELATED, FINANCIAL RELATED SOLUTIONS WHERE HUSBAND AND WIFE CAN BE THAT THEY REFRAIN FROM SUCH BEHAVIORS, OR HAVE A WHOLE FAMILY, WHAT´S THE WORD I´M LOOKING FOR?

HAVE FAMILY COUNSELING RATHER THAN HAVING CITY COUNCILLING FOR HAVING COUNSELING FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

HAVE FAMILY COUNSELING SESSIONS, WHERE WE NOT LOCK HIM UP OR LOCK HER UP.

LET´S GO BACK AND TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> YEAH.

HOW EFFECTIVE DO YOU THINK LEGISLATION CAN BE TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES?

I MEAN, WE SEE --WE HAVE ATTORNEY WALKER SAYING, MAYBE JUDGES ALREADY HAVE THIS DISCRETION ALREADY.

BUT THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE´RE SEEING HERE, YOU KNOW, HOW EFFECTIVE DO YOU THINK IT´S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE CASES THAT WE´RE SEEING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS HERE IN THE TERRITORY?

LEGISLATION IS PUT IN PLACE BASICALLY FOR DETERRENCE, RIGHT?

WE´RE GOING TO DETER THIS BEHAVIOR THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A JUDGE WITH DISCRETION.

AFTER AN ACT HAS BEEN PERMITTED, IT´S THE JUDGE USES DISCRETION.

I DON´T KNOW WHAT IS IN THE JUDGE´S HEAD.

YOU DON´T KNOW WHAT IS IN THE HEAD OF THE PERPETRATOR.

OKAY?

THIS GUY IS A NICE GUY, HE DID THIS, AND GO BACK OUT AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY IS DEAD.

HE TURNS AND ENFORCEMENT.

HELPS TO ENFORCE WHATEVER YOU SAY.

IF YOU´RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY HOME, YOU HAVE TO STAY HOME.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONITORING.

THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

AND ENFORCEMENT AND DETERRENT.

THAT´S WHEN LEGISLATION IS.

THE BILL WAS --THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

YOU KNOW, WHO SPOKE ON THE BILL, SAID HE LIKES THE BILL.

ADVOCATES LIKE THE BILL.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PLACED THERE AS ATTORNEY WALKER SAID, ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE GOVERNOR WHERE YOU GIVE DISCRETION FOR THE JUDGES TO DO THAT.

SO, ME PERSONALLY, YOU AND I, YOU´RE YOU, I AM ME, AND I -- >> WE SHOULD BE KEEPING OUR HANDS TO OURSELF.

ATTORNEY WALKER, AS A CRIMINAL DEFERENCE ATTORNEY, WHAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO SEE TO HOPEFULLY ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES, TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING IT.

WE HAVE EVEN TESTIFYING SAYING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GENERATIONAL AS WELL, TOO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS THOSE ROOT CAUSES, OUTSIDE OF LEGISLATION?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE´S THIS MISCONCEPTION THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS MAN ON WOMAN.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALSO INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, WOMEN TO MEN.

IT ALSO INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, WHAT PARENTS MAY BE DOING TO THEIR CHILDREN.

WHAT CHILDREN ARE DOING TO THEIR PARENTS.

IT INCLUDING SIBLING VIOLENCE.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING IN A HOUSEHOLD AND IT ALSO INCLUDES THAT.

SO, AS FAR AS ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSE IS CONCERNED, THE WOMEN´S COALITION AND OTHER SIMILARLY RELATED ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP PROTECT VICTIMS.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO TO A BAIL HEARING IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT PUTS THEIR POSITION ON A RECORD AND THE DEFENDANT GETS TO PUT HIS POSITION ON A RECORD.

WHEN YOU´RE A SENATOR, AND YOU ARE ISSUING LEGISLATION, YOU ARE DOING THAT FROM THE HALLS OF WHERE YOU WORK.

CASE BASIS THAT THE JUDGES ARE SEEING.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER JUDGES ARE NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNOR.

WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE SUITABLE AND APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THESE DISCRETIONARY DECISIONS.

SO, THERE ARE TIMES YOU HAVE TO CLAIM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THOSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OCCURRED.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT CLAIM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE IN A DIVORCE OR A CUSTODY BATTLE.

AND YOU HAVE TO ALLOW JUDGES TO HAVE THE DISCRETION TO HEAR BOTH SIDES AT A BAIL HEARING, RENDER AN ANALYSIS AND MAKE A DECISION.

WHEN YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF SOMETHING, YOU GO INTO THE SCHOOL AND YOU TALK ABOUT VIOLENCE.

YOU FUND THE WOMEN´S COALITION.

YOU FUND THE MEN´S COALITION.

YOU MAKE MORE ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.

YOU ADDRESS THE STRESSORS.

NOT JUST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT >> THAT´S ALL THE SHOW WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.

TUNE IN NEXT SUNDAY AT 1:00 P.M. FOR AN ALL-NEW EPISODE OF COME TO THE TERRITORY.

IN THE MEANTIME FOR YOUR NEWS UPDATES, TUNE INTO THE WTJX NEWS FEED ON 92.1, OR BY DOWNLOADING THE APP.

I´M MARCINA, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT WTJX TV 12, STAY TUNED.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING WAS UNDERWRITTEN BY JUSTICE CLAIMS.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS COMMUNITY SINCE 2021.