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

>>> ON THIS EPISODE OF "COMES WITH THE TERRITORY," A STRING OF FIRES ON ST. THOMAS HAS CAUSED SOME ALARM AMONG RESIDENTS.

VIRGIN ISLANDS FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR DESIGNEE, ANTONIO STEVENS IS HERE TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS, AS WELL AS HIS PLANS FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

>> JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED.

>> SENATORS KARLA JOE SE AND FRANKLIN JOHNSON ARE SPEAKING OUT, FOLLOWING THE ETHICS COMMITTEE´S RECENTLY DISMISSAL OF THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT FILED BY JOSEPH AGAINST JOHNSON.

WE´LL HAVE REACTION FROM BOTH SIDES.

>> IN RECENT WEEKENDS, ST. THOMAS HAS WITNESSED A STRING OF DISTURBING HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS, PROMPTING CONCERNS AMONGST RESIDENTS.

TWO LAWMAKERS HAVE RESPONDED WITH PROPOSED MEASURES TO COMBAT THIS ALARMING TREND.

WE´LL HAVE DETAILS.

"COMES WITH THE TERRITORY" STARTS NOW.

>>> WELCOME TO "COMES WITH THE TERRITORY."

WE BEGIN WITH A STRING OF FIRES THAT OCCURRED ON ST. THOMAS WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, INCLUDING BLAZES AT THREE LOCATIONS WITHIN A SINGLE WEEK IN LATE FEBRUARY, FOLLOWED BY TWO VEHICLE FIRES IN MARCH.

HERE´S MORE.

ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS, A STRUCTURAL FIRE BROKE OUT ON JANUARY 25th AT A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN ALTONA AND WELLGUEST.

A MONTH LATER, ANOTHER FIRE OCCURED.

DISPATCH UNITS WORKED SWIFTLY TO CONTAIN THE BLAZE, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF A HOUSE AND A SHED, ACCORDING TO DEPUTY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS, USETIST GRANT.

>> WE JUST WANTED TO PROTECT ALL OF THE EXPOSURE.

WHAT WE HAD WAS A FARM WITH SOME CHICKENS AND OTHER STUFF.

WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE THE DWELLING DOWN THERE.

NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT OTHER FIREFIGHTERS WERE SAFE ON THE GROUND.

>> THREE DAYS LATER ON FEBRUARY 26th, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO ANOTHER FIRE AT THE TROPICAL BLISS SPA IN CROWN BAY CENTER.

THE FIRE ORIGINATING FROM THE SPA´S BACK ROOM WAS CONTAINED WITHIN TEN MINUTES, PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE.

THE VERY NEXT DAY ON FEBRUARY 27th, THE FIRE SERVICE REPORTED THAT THE SECOND STORY OF THE ABANDONED BEACH KOEMER HOTEL WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

EMERGENCY SERVICES RESPONDED TO THE SCENE, AS THE FIRE VISIBY TORE THROUGH THE STRUCTURE.

AT LEAST TWO MORE BLAZES OCCURRED IN MARCH.

A VEHICLE FIRE ON MARCH 1st AND A SAFARI BUS FIRE ON MARCH 13th ON MEGAN´S BAY ROAD.

NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS IMMEDIATELY RELEASED REGARDING THE CAUSES OF THE FIRES, OR THE STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATIONS.

JOINING THE SHOW TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE RECENT FIRES ON ST. THOMAS AS WELL AS HIS PLANS FOR THE VIRGIN ISLAND FIRES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IS DIRECTOR DESIGNEE, ANTONIO STEVENS.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MR. STEVENS, LET´S BEGIN BY DISCUSSING THE FIRES ON ST. THOMAS THAT MADE THE NEWS HEADLINES, AND PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THESE FIRES, STARTING WITH THE ONE ON THE 25th OF JANUARY.

IT WAS A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURAL FIRE.

WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION?

>> WELL, THE CAUSE OF THAT PARTICULAR FIRE WAS FROM WHAT WE DETERMINED, FROM THE ARSON INVESTIGATION UNIT WAS THE -- A POWER STRIP.

WE DETERMINED THAT THAT WAS AN THE ACCIDENTAL FIRE, WHICH WAS UNFORTUNATE.

ANY FIRE IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT FINDING THAT IT WAS A POWER TRIP IS CONCERNING, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE IN ALL OF OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON´T OVERUSE IT.

PUT TOO MANY CONNECTIONS IN IT AND DAISY CHAIN, SO TO SPEAK.

>> THE FIRE THAT FOLLOWED ON THE 23rd, WE LOST AN ENTIRE HOME WAS LOST THERE.

DO WE KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE OF THAT WAS?

>> WE DO NOT.

ALL THREE FIRES ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, SO WE DON´T WANT TO DISCLOSE ANY DETAILS ABOUT THOSE FIRES, BECAUSE WE DON´T WANT TO ALARM ANYONE.

SO WE WANT TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THOSE FIRES.

>> I´M GLAD YOU SAID WE DON´T WANT TO CAUSE ANY ALARM.

THAT´S ONE OF THE THINGS WE´VE TRIED TO DO, PUT OUT ANY INFORMATION THAT MAY CAUSE ALARM.

AND THEN THE BEACH KOEMER FIRE AS WELL.

>> STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

>> WHAT I DON´T WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY IS THEY´RE SOMEHOW CONNECTED.

EACH ONE HAD ITS INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS.

THAT´S WHAT WE FOUND OUT IN THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, BUT WE DON´T WANT, SO WE KNOW FOR A FACT RIGHT NOW THAT THEY´RE NOT CONNECTED.

BUT WE DO WANT TO CONTINUE OUR INVESTIGATION IS PROCESS.

>> TYPICALLY, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BE COMPLETED?

>> AN INVESTIGATION CAN BE COMPLETED IN AS LITTLE AS THREE TO FIVE DAYS, OR IT CAN TAKE FIVE TO TEN YEARS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SITUATION IS.

>> REALLY?

>> THE DEPARTMENT IS TASKED WITH DETERMINING ORIGIN AND CAUSE.

THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE, AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, AND WE GET DEEPER INTO, OKAY, ONCE YOU FIND CAUSE, CAN WE SAY, THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED, AND PUT PIECES TOGETHER TO COME TO A CONCLUSIVE -- >> DOES THAT EVER INCLUDE SENDING EVIDENCE OFF ISLAND -- >> IT DOES.

>> LET´S TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> WE HAVE A TOBACCO AGENCY THAT SUPPORTS US.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY COME DOWN AND ASSIST IN MAJOR FIRES.

AND THEY ARE ASSISTING IN ONE OF THESE FIRES THAT WE JUST MENTIONED.

I DON´T WANT TO GIVE AWAY TOO MUCH.

BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THEY DO, ALONG WITH THE PD, DO HELP US WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT´S A FORENSIC SITUATION OR WHEN ATF COMES IN AND TRIES TO ASSIST US IN DETERMINING WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

>> AND SAY, FOR INSTANCE, AND I JUST WANT TO HELP THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND, IF, INDEED, THERE ARE SOME NEFARIOUS REASONS BEHIND A FIRE, WHAT STEPS ARE THEN TAKEN BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT?

>> WELL, THE PD IS INVOLVED.

BECAUSE THEN THEY HAVE A BIGGER LAW ENFORCEMENT ARM THAN WE DO.

LET´S SAY, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THERE´S A DEATH, IT AUTOMATICALLY GOES OVER TO PD, BUT THERE ARE SOME STEPS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUR PART, AND GET THE PD INVOLVED TO TAKE OVER.

BUT WE HAVE TO PRESENT THEM WITH ENOUGH FOR THEM TO TAKE OVER.

>> LET´S TURN TO YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS EMERGENCY SERVICES.

YOU ARE NOW THE DIRECTOR DESIGNEE?

>> YES.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET THAT RIGHT.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES AND WHAT VISION DO YOU HAVE FOR THE ENTITY THAT´S GONE THROUGH A LOT OF TRANSFORMATION AND CHANGES RECENTLY.

LET´S HEAR WHAT YOU ENVISION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TENURE THERE.

>> MY TENURE, IS NUMBER ONE TO CONTINUE A LEGACY THAT FORMER DIRECTOR DARRYL GEORGE STARTED.

WE STARTED WITH THAT AND I WANT TO CONTINUE THE BUILD OUT OF THAT INTEGRATION.

EVERYBODY THINKS THAT, THE INTEGRATION HAPPENED AND IT´S DONE.

IT´S NOT.

THERE´S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE RIGHT NOW.

MY BIGGEST PRIORITY TO DATE IS TO HIRE PARAMEDICS.

WE ARE HURTING FOR APARTMENTS WITHIN THE TERRITORY.

I HAVE ONE PARAMEDIC IN ST. CROIX DISTRICT AND I HAVE SIX HERE IN THE ST. ZWROINGT.

IT´S BARELY ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY WHICH WE SO LOVE.

>> LET´S GET A QUICK CLASSIFICATION HERE.

PARAMEDICS THAT WORK FIRE OR PARAMEDICS AT THE HOSPITAL.

>> OUR PARAMEDICS ARE FIRE AND EMS.

>> AH.

>> NOW THAT THE INTEGRATION HAS TAKEN PLACE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN´T UP TO SPEED WITH THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED.

>> SO IF YOU ARE EMT PARAMEDIC, ADVANCED EMT AND YOU WANTED TO WORK, YOU WOULD BE WORKING UNDER THE BRANCH OF THE VIRGIN ISLAND MEDICAL SERVICE, RATHER THAN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE.

>> SO WE SEE THESE AMBULANCES WITH A BRAND THAT I THINK IT´S PAFRD.

THEY ALSO WORK UNDER YOUR US A MISSES.

>> THEY DO.

THEY CONTRACT TO HELP SUPPORT US, AND A IT´S A CONTRACT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK OURSELVES OUT OF.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WHAT WE´RE TRYING TO DO IS REACH OUT, WHETHER IT´S IN THE COMMUNITY OR ON THE MAIN LAND TO TRY TO GET PARAMEDICS INTO THE TERRITORY TO SUPPORT AND GET US OFF OF THAT DEPENDENCY.

>> SO WHAT RIGHT NOW IS THE STATUS OF EMS CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING WITH THE DEPARTMENT?

>> CLARIFY THE QUESTION.

>> HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A PARAMEDIC TO GET TRAINED OR IF THERE´S FIRE SERVICE PERSONNEL RIGHT NOW THAT WANT TO UNDERGO TAKE A LISTENING, WHAT´S THE PROCESS?

>> SO TO BECOME AN EMT, IT´S LIKE A THREE-MONTH COURSE, TO BECOME A PARAMEDIC IS ALMOST NINE MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS.

>> AH, OKAY.

>> IT´S A MORE INVOLVED SITUATION.

ALMOST LIKE A STEP BELOW A DOCTOR, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT, IN THE FIELD.

BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE TO ADMINISTER DRUGS IN THE FIELD, THEY DO HAVE TO STABILIZE A PATIENT IN THE FIELD, WHICH IS CALLED PRE-HOSPITAL CARE.

SO THAT SCHOOLING IS A LOT MORE INVOLVED, REQUIRES A LOT MORE WORK, SO WE WANT TO MAKE THAT FOR IS THE LONG HAUL.

WE´RE DOING REALLY WELL TO HIRE OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO BECOME EMTs.

RIGHT NOW I WITH SAY PROUDLY THAT WE BASICALLY HAVE MORE DUAL ROLE, WHICH IS THE FIREFIGHTER EMTs THAN WE HAVE THE SINGLE ROLE PROVIDERS, WHICH IS JUST THE EMTs.

BUT OUR GAP, OUR NEED IS TO HIRE MORE PARAMEDICS WITHIN THE TERRITORY.

>> GREAT.

>> IN THE PAST, THERE HAS, CHALLENGES.

WE HEAR FROM NEIGHBORHOODS, WHETHER IT´S ON THE EAST END OF STMPLT KROIS OR CORAL BAY IN ST. JOHN, OR FORTUNA, WHERE IT TAKES TOO LONG FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES TO REACH THEM.

HOW IS THE DEPARTMENT ADDRESSING THOSE GEOLOGICAL CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY?

>> SO YOU MENTIONED ST. JOHN.

I DON´T KNOW IF THE PUBLIC IS AWARE, BUT WE DO HAVE TWO AMBULANCE LOCATIONS IN ST. JOHN.

ONE AND OUT IN CRUISE BAY.

SO THAT WAS A NEED THAT THAT COMMUNITY KEPT ON BRINGING UP.

AND SO WE FOUND WAY TO ADDRESS IT.

SO WE HAVE TWO AMBULANCES ON ST. JOHN, TWO ERAS THAT THEY RESPOND FROM.

>> LET ME INTERRUPT YOU REALLY QUICKLY.

SORRY ABOUT THIS.

BUT IF THEY HAVE TO BE AMBULANCE DOWN TO ST. THOMAS, I KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES THERE, WHAT´S THE STATUS OF THE AMBULANCE BOAT, AND IS IT UP AND RUNNING AND AVAILABLE FOR SAN ANTONIOS?

>> IT IS UP AND RUNNING.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO DRY DOCK IT FOR MAINTENANCE REASONS.

SO, WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS, IT´S SCHEDULED, AND WE HAVE A BACKUP, THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT.

I WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE ANOTHER BOAT, WHICH IS A FIRE BOAT, THAT SHOULD BE HERE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND WE DO PLAN TO USE THAT BASICALLY IN THE SAME MANNER, EVEN THOUGH ITS CAPABILITIES ARE A BIT DIFFERENT, WHICH IS TO ASSIST IN FIREFIGHTING, BUT WE CAN TRANSPORT PATIENTS IF NEED BE.

>> THAT´S GOOD NEWS.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE RESIDENTS IN, SAY, THE EAST END OF ST. CROIX AND THE WEST END OF ST. THOMAS?

>> THE RESIDENTS ARE COMFORTABLE, I WOULD SAY.

WE HAVE A STATION OUT THERE.

WE DO NOT HAVE LIKE AN EMT OR EMR OUT IN THAT LOCATION, BUT WE´RE STILL WITHIN THAT EIGHT TO-TEN-MINUTE WINDOW.

SO WE´RE GOOD THERE.

I KNOW HERE IN THE ST. THOMAS ERA, WHERE WE DO HAVE A BETTER CHALLENGE, THE INTENT IS TO GET A RESPONSE TO YOU.

LIKE ANY PLACE ON THE ISLAND WITHIN EIGHT MINUTES.

RIGHT NOW, WE´RE OUTSIDE THAT WINDOW.

FROM SOME LOCATIONS.

BUT WE´RE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING ON IT.

WE CURRENTLY ARE IN THAT PHASE WHERE WE´RE TRYING TO BUILD OUT WHERE THE DAMAGE TO THAT FORTUNA STATION, WE´RE GETTING A BRAND-NEW STATION, AND WHEN THAT BRAND-NEW STATION IS BUILT, WE HAVE A RESPONSE UNIT IN THAT AREA.

IT MIGHT NOT BE AN AMBULANCE, BUT -- >> THAT´S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.

>> IT WILL BE AT LEAST AN EMT OR AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDER, TO AT LEAST GET THERE, STABILIZE THE PATIENT, PRIOR TO TRANSPORT.

>> THE KEY ISN´T NECESSARILY THE TYPE OF VEHICLE, BUT HAVING THE PERSONNEL COULD ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES, IF THERE´S A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, ESPECIALLY, THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS HAVING.

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

LET´S TALK ABOUT THE STATUS OF RENOVATIONS OF THE -- OF ONE OF YOUR STATIONS ON ST. CROIX PIP UNDERSTAND THAT SOME EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE.

LET´S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR OUR VIEWERS.

>> SO EVERYONE BY NOW KNOWS THAT THE -- THAT THIS PROCESS IS A LONG PROCESS.

I REMEMBER IN 2019, WE SAID, WOW, WE GOT THESE AWARDS.

WE´RE GOING TO START BUILDING STATIONS AND MAKING MODIFICATIONS.

I´M PLEASED TO SAY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, WE WILL BE STARTING TO REBUILD OF A BRAND-NEW STATION, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS FOR THAT COMMUNITY, AND SOMETHING THAT I´M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER STATIONS, THE EAST END STATION THAT I JUST MENTIONED IN ST. CROIX, THAT´S SCHEDULED FOR A COMPLETE NEW STATION, AS WELL, THE FORTUNA HERE IN ST. THOMAS IS GOING TO BE A NEW STATION AS WELL.

>> THAT´S GOOD NEWS.

I DON´T KNOW IF EVERYONE REMEMBERS, BUT BACK IN DECEMBER, WHEN WE HAD THE FUNERAL, WE DID SAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO NAME THAT STATION AFTER GEORGE.

SO WE´RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE PROJECTS COMING IN LINE.

>> AND TIMELINES THAT YOU CAN SHARE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIMELINES IN MIND FOR WHEN THOSE -- YOU KNOW, WE´RE AT THE POINT NOW FROM OUR RECOVERY WHERE YOU SAID, WE HEAR ABOUT THESE AWARDS, WE HEAR ABOUT OBLIGATIONS AND THEN, IT´S LIKE, OKAY, WHERE´S THE NEW BUILDING?

>> THEN ALL THE PEOPLE -- WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> LET´S TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THESE RASH OF FIRES.

YOU GAVE SOME GOOD ADVICE ABOUT THE POWER STRIPS WE ALL HAVE IN OUR HOMES.

BUT SIMPLE SAFETY TIPS THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD USE TO KEEP THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES SAFER.

>> I´M GOING TO DO LIKE A LITTLE PSA, WHICH I -- YOU KNOW IN ST. CROIX, WE JUST HAD A LONG EASTER HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

AND I WANT TO TAKE MY HAT OFF TO THAT COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THEY DID AN OUTSTANDING -- WE DID NOT GET ONE CALL.

WITH ALL THE CAMPERS THAT WERE OUT THERE, EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY DID -- COLLECTED THEMSELVES IN A SAFE MANNER.

NO FIRES, NO ISSUE THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT, RIGHT?

SO WHICH IS GOOD.

AND WE JUST WANT TO CONTINUE THAT TREND.

WE KNOW THAT CARNIVAL IS COMING UP, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT TREND HERE TO BE SAFE.

NOT JUST WHEN OUT COMES TO FIRE, BUT EVERYTHING, ACCIDENTS ON THE ROAD AND ALL OF THESE OTHER KIND OF THINGS.

WE JUST WANT YOU TO BE SAFE OUT THERE.

>> GREAT.

AND MR. STOOEMPBS, ONE LAST THING, WHEN DO YOU EXPECT YOUR CONFIRMATION TO BE DONE.

>> I DON´T HAVE A DATE ON THAT, BUT SO FAR, I´M EXCITED.

I THINK THE MEN AND WOMEN ARE EXCITED.

SO I JUST WANT TO PICK UP THIS MANTLE AND CONTINUE TO PUSH ON MAKING THE SERVICE A BETTER PLACE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

>>> UP NEXT, WE´LL HEAR FROM WEEK´S PANEL, BUT FIRST, LET´S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOPICS UP FOR DISCUSSION.

>> THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ETHICAL CONDUCT RECENTLY DISMISSED SENATOR KARLA JOSEPH´S COMPLAINT AGAINST SENATOR FRANKLIN JOHNSON, WHICH ALLEGED SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT, STEMMING FROM A HANDSHAKE BETWEEN BOTH SENATORS ON THE SENATE FLOOR LAST NOVEMBER.

JOSEPH, WHO SHARED DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE COMPLAINT WITH WTJX CHANNEL 12 SAID SHE WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TOOK FOR THE MATTER TO REACH THE ETHICS COMMITTEE.

SHE ALSO QUESTIONED THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS.

>> IT´S VERY EGREGIOUS THAT I NEVER WAS INTERVIEWED, I NEVER HAD ANY DISCUSSION WITH ANYONE FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ETHICAL CONDUCT.

AND I´M VERY DISAPPOINTED, I´M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW THIS WAS CONDUCTED.

THIS IS A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE.

>> JOHNSON SAID THE COMMITTEE ON ETHICAL CONDUCT DIDN´T INTERVIEW HIM EITHER.

>> I WROTE A REPORT.

I SUBMITTED TO THEM.

AND FROM THE REPORT I WROTE AND THE INVESTIGATION THEY DID, WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE CAMERAS, NOTHING TO THE NATURE LIKE WHAT SHE SAID.

NOTHING.

>> THE INCIDENT ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 2023, JUST PRIOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

JOSEPH CLAIMS SHE WAS ABOUT TO EXIT THE CHAMBER WHEN SENATOR JOHNSON APPROACHED HER AND SHE EXTENDED HER HAND FOR A FRIENDLY HANDSHAKE.

SHE CLAIMS THAT DURING THE HANDSHAKE, JOHNSON SQUEEZED HER HAND SO HARD THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO PULL IT LOOSE, EVEN THOUGH THAT SHE TOLD HIM THAT SHE HAD TO GO TO THE RESTROOM.

JOSEPH CLAIMS THAT JOHNSON CONTINUED GRIPPING HER HAND, AS HE TOLD HER THAT SHE COULD DO WHAT SHE NEEDED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM TO DO ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> WHAT IS THAT?

WHAT MENTALITY THAT A HUMAN BEING HAS TO DO THAT TO A FEMALE.

>> JOHNSON DENIES EVER MAKING THE RESTAURANT COMMENT TO BATHROOM, AND NONE OF THAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A HANDSHAKE.

>> THE COMMITTEE ON ETHICAL CONDUCT ADMITTED THAT IT WAS NOT TIMELY CONVENECONVENED, BUT THE COMPLAINT APPEARED ALARMING AND SHOULD BE DECIDED ON THE MERITS.

SENATE PRESIDENT NOVELLE FRANCIS NOTED SEVERAL ISSUES THAT ALLOWED FOR THE DELAY, INCLUDING A LAPSE IN TIME WHEN JOSEPH FILED HER INITIAL COMPLAINT, SO WHEN SHE FILED AN AMENDED COMPLAINT, AS WELL AS THE TIME IT TOOK FOR JOHNSON TO RESPOND.

BUT THE RULES WERE NOT BROKEN, FRANCES SAID.

IN EXPLAINING HOW MEMBERS WERE SELECTED FOR THE ETHICS COMMITTEE, HE FIRST ASKED MEMBERS TO CONDUCT AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE NEXT STEPS TO RESOLVE THE COMPLAINT.

BUT BOTH SENATORS DECLINED.

FRANCES HE SUBSEQUENTLY CHOSE FIVE MEMBERS.

SENATOR DIANE CAPE HART AS CHAIR, AND SENATOR SAMUEL, DUANE DeGRASSE, KENS, AND MILTON POTTER.

MOST OF THEM HAD PRIOR EXPERIENCE SERVING ON THE ETHICS COMMITTEE DURING THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT INVESTIGATION INVOLVING OUSTED AT LARGE SENATOR, STEPHEN PAYNE, ACCORDING TO FRANCES.

>> I´M THANKFUL THAT THE ETHICS COMMITTEE DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND COULD FIND NOTHING CLOSE TO BEING THE TRUTH.

SENATOR JULES HAD THE GUTS TO COME AND SAY "I´M SORRY," NO, BECAUSE SHE DIDN´T EVEN KNOW WHAT SHE SAID GOES AND IT´S RIGHT AND IT HAPPENED.

CLEARLY, THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

I´M PLEASED WITH THE RESULT AND WHAT THE CONCLUSION WAS ON THE ETHICS COMMITTEE.

AND I´M READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> JOSEPH HAD A DIFFERENT TAKE.

>> AS MARTIN LUTHER WOULD SAY, JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED.

AND SO MY JUSTICE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS IS BEING DENIED.

BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INTERVIEWED AND TO SAY TO OUR CURIOUSES.

AND THIS IS JUST DENIED RIGHT HERE.

>> RECENT WEEKENDS IN ST. THOMAS WERE MARKED BY A TROUBLING WAVE OF GUN VIOLENCE, WITH MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES DOMINATES NEWS HEADLINES.

IT´S BECOME SO CONCERNING THAT SENATOR KENNETH GIVENS WHO CHAIRS THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, IS CALLING ON THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH FOR ASSISTANCE.

IN A RECENT PRESS, GITTENS, WHO IS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER, URGED THE GOVERNOR TO GATHER ALL AVAILABLE AND ASSIGN THEM TO WARNING WITH THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE NEXT 90 DAYS.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER, THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES, YOU HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, YOU HAVE THE VA, LOTTERY, YOU EVEN HAVE FIRE MARSHALS WHO ARE SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.

AND I´M SAYING THIS ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS POOLED UNDER THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE WILL BE ACTUAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND ADDRESSING THE CRIME SITUATION THAT WE´RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

THERE´S A NUMBER OF POLICE VEHICLES AS WELL THAT´S IN THE TERRITORY, THAT´S BEEN IN THE TERRITORY FOR SOME TIME NOW, WEEKS TO MONTHS, THAT´S PARKED UP, SO THERE IS ENOUGH VEHICLES FOR THESE OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IN AND THESE OFFICES WILL BE ABLE TO MOBILIZE WILE BEING PAIRED UP WITH A VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE OFFICER.

>> GITTENS IS ALSO PUSHING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT MORE TRAFFIC STOPS, BELIEVING IT WOULD DETER THE CIRCULATION OF UNLICENSED FIREARMS.

>> YOU COULD FIND THESE THINGS IN VEHICLES.

AND A LOT OF THESE VEHICLES THAT ARE MOVING OR TRAVERSING THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY THAT´S UNREGISTERED, UNINSURED, OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE COULD INTERVENE AND THAT STOP SOME SORT OF VIOLENCE AHEAD OF TIME AND SO I WANT TO SEE THESE INITIATIVES TAKEN PLACE SO WE CAN ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY.

>> SENATOR DUANE DeGRASSE ALSO A FORMER POLICE OFFICER, ISSUED A PUBLIC STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE SURGE IN GUN VIOLENCE.

>> A COUPLE PEOPLE GOT SHOT AND THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND, ANOTHER SET OF PEOPLE GETTING SHOT.

>> DEGRAF SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO BAN GUNS IN THE TERRITORY.

>> AL 47 IS REMOVE GHOST GUNS, THE GUNS THAT COME TO THE TERRITORY, AND DON´T HAVE ANY SERIAL NUMBER AND THEY´RE SOLD LEGALLY, AND INDIVIDUALS CAN BUY THEM IN PARTS AND SEND THEM HOME, AND THEY COME IN THROUGH THE MAIL.

SO RECENTLY, I´VE ENDED AN AMENDMENT TO THAT BILL SO INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE POLICE COMMISSIONER.

BECAUSE PRESENTLY WHAT HAPPENS IS, THEY COME INTO THE OFFICE AND IF THAT´S NO LAW IN PLACE, THEY HAVE TO GIVE THEM THAT PARTICULAR COMPONENT.

AND WE BAN IT, TOO MANY PEOPLE GET KILLED AND PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE OF GETTING KILLED.

>> DEGRAF STRESSED FROM CURBING GUN VIOLENCE ULTIMATELY BEGINS WITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

>> WE ASK THE COMMUNITY TO STEP UP.

WE´VE GOT TO GET TOGETHER WITH LAWS AND I´M GOING MY HEART AND TRYING MY BEST TO BE A PART OF THIS IN ASSIST GETTING THESE PERSONS PUT BEHIND BARS AND ADDRESS THE EVIL SITUATION THAT´S TAKING PLACE AT THIS TIME.

>> JOINING ME ON SET TO DELVE INTO THESE TOPICS ARE MELANIE DURN BULL AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, IAN SAMUEL.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

AND JOINING THE PANEL DISCUSSION, LET´S WELCOME TO THE SHOW, FORMER FIRE SERVICES DIRECTOR, CLIFFORD JOSEPH.

IT´S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE, MR. JOSEPH.

LET´S START WITH YOU, MR. JOSEPH.

AS A FORMER FIRE SERVICE DIRECTOR, WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON THE INTERVIEW WE HAD WITH THE NEW DESIGNEE, MR. STEVENS?

TAKING OVER THE SERVICE IN A DIFFERENT ERA, SO I WAS VERY RELUCTANT, AND I´M HERE TO STAY.

SO DESPERATE IN A NEW VENTURE AS WELL AS THE EMS MERGER TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.

>> MR. SAMUELS, AS BEING A RESIDENT OF ST. JOHNSON, YOU HEARD WHAT MR. STEVENS SAID IN REGARD TO THE STATION OVER THERE.

THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND, THE RESPONSE TIMES THAT THEY HAVE, AND BEING SHORT OF THE GOAL SOMETIMES AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH PERSONNEL, WHAT ARE THE RESIDENTS ON ST. JOHN FEELING AS FAR AS EMERGENCY SERVICES RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK OVER THE PERIOD OF THE MERGER, I THINK WE CAN SEE THAT THE BETTERMENT OF THE SYSTEMS IN TERMS OF RESPONDENTS, LIKE DIRECTOR STEVENS MENTIONED, THEY HAVE TWO AMBULANCES.

SO CALLS ON THE EASTERN END ARE RESPONDED TO BY CARL BAY.

WHICH IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE PAST, EMS HAD TO BE DISPATCHED FROM CRUISE BAY.

SO THE RESPONSE TIMES HAVE GOTTEN TREMENDOUSLY BETTER.

>> THAT´S GOOD TO HEAR.

ATTORNEY TURNBULL, YOU HEARD HIM ALSO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING PARAMEDICS TRAINED.

AND YOU KNOW, THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE EMTs, I DIDN´T EVEN KNOW THAT.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING, BUT WE HEAR ABOUT SHORTAGES LIKE THAT, AND IN EMERGENCY SERVICES, IT´S SO DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT´S SUCH AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE.

I´M CURIOUS TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I THINK THERE´S A LABOR SHORTAGE IN GENERAL IN EVERY INDUSTRY.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE´RE SUFFERING FROM IS JUST ECONOMIC RESOURCES AND SO, WHEN YOU HAVE A POSITION THAT´S VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL, YOU FIND THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO COME DOWN.

BUT I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO GO AND GET THE TRAINING.

FROM WHAT HE SAID, IT´S ONLY ANYWHERE FROM THREE MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS.

AND THAT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME TO JUST HAVE SOMEONE GO AWAY AND GET TRAINING.

BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE IT CONDITIONAL.

WE CAN HAVE SOMEONE, WE CAN PAY FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND GET TRAINING, PUT THEM ON A CONTRACT, IF THEY LEAVE EARLY, THEY HAVE TO PAY BACK THE SCHOOL FEES OR PAY BACK PORTIONS OF THE CONTRACT AND HAVE SOME KIND OF CLAWBACK CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT.

AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET INNOVATIVE IN HOW WE FILL THESE POSITIONS, BECAUSE THERE´S A SHORTAGE EVERYWHERE.

>> MR. JJOSEPH, LET ME COME BACK TO YOU.

YOU MENTIONED THAT HE´S TAKEN OVER IN A DIFFERENT TIME.

TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE POSITIVE CHANGES YOU´VE SEEN HAPPEN IN THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SINCE YOUR LEADERSHIP.

>> THE ONLY THING THAT HAS REALLY CHANGED IS THE MERGER, BECAUSE WE HAD MAYBE SIX OR EIGHT THAT WERE LEAVING AS EMTs.

AND THEN, I´M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THEY´RE GETTING THERE.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS DRIVEN AND STILL WAITING TOR REPAIRED.

YOU´VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT THE PERSONNEL WORKS 24 HOURS.

WHEN YOU´RE LEAVING YOUR HOME TO GO TO THIS NEXT HOME, YOU WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT HOME IS SECURER THAN THE ONE YOU´RE LEAVING.

SO I STILL TAKE MY HAT ALL THE WAY OUT.

WORKING CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN TIGHT.

WE JUST HEARD THE COMPLAINT DISMISSED BY SENATOR JOSEPH AGAINST SENATOR JOHNSON.

TWO Js THERE.

FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, CAN SHE TAKE THIS TO A COURT OUTSIDE OF THE LEGISLATOR TO HANDLE HER COMPLAINT?

>> SHE COULD, SO WHETHER SHE CAN TAKE IT, YES, WHATEVER HAPPENS TO AN INDIVIDUAL, THEY CAN TAKE IT.

BUT THE QUESTION REALLY BECOMES WHETHER SHE REALLY HAS A CLAIM THAT CAN GET FAR.

AND I DON´T KNOW FROMMEN ITS FACE HOW FAR THAT CLAIM WOULD GO.

I DON´T KNOW IF THE ATTORNEY´S OFFICE WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE A REPORT JUST FROM THE LIMITEDER COMPLAINT THAT I READ, WOULD TAKE THAT REPORT AND ACTUALLY FILE CHARGES.

THE STANDARDS ARE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER AND IN THESE CASES, IT´S VERY DIFFICULT -- WHETHER THE HANDSHAKE ACCOMPANIED WITH THE BATHROOM COMMENT CAN PASS MUSTER, I DON´T THINK SO.

I PERSONALLY DON´T THINK SO.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND THIS IS NOT TO CAST ASPERSIONS ON OUR SENATORS, I THINK THAT THEY BUNGLED THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.

AND THIS ENTIRE INVESTIGATION.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU REALLY REVIEW SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SAID, THEY TRY TO SAY THAT HER COMPLAINT WAS OUT OF TIME.

AND I JUST DISAGREE WITH THAT, FUNDAMENTALLY.

IT CAN´T BE OUT OF TIME WHEN YOU DON´T HAVE AN ETHICS COMMITTEE IN PLACE.

AND SO.

THEY MADE A BIG FUSS ABOUT THE INCIDENT OR PAST HER COMPLAINT.

WELL, SHE MADE A COMPLAINT IN A REASONABLE TIME, WHICH IS TWO DAYS.

AND THE ETHICS COMMITTEE WAS NOT FORMED OR CONVENED, AND SO TO THEN DING HER AND SAY THAT SHE DIDN´T FOLLOW THE RULES AND WE´RE GOING TO BE DISMISSING ON THIS PROCEDURAL ISSUE, I DON´T FIND THAT MERITORIOUS.

I DON´T LIKE THAT THEY RULED THAT WAY, BUT I DO LIKE THAT THEY STILL LOOKED AT IT ON THE MERITS, BUT I DON´T THINK THAT THEY DID AN ACTUAL INVESTIGATION.

IT JUST SEEMS VERY CONCLUSORY.

I THINK THE ASSAULT AND BATTERY, SHE GAVE FACTS TO SUPPORT IT, BUT IN HER FOLLOW-UP, SHE JUST SAID SEXUAL HARASSMENT WITH NOTHING ELSE.

AND THAT´S TOO CONCLUSORY TO MAKE.

>> GREAT LEGAL ANALYSIS.

>> I´M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT´S GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU SAW THE PEOPLE AND OVERALL, HOW DO YOU THINK VIRGINIA ISLANDERS FEEL WHEN THEY KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE TERRITORY?

>> IT´S OBVIOUSLY CONCERNING?

IT´S HE SAID/SHE SAID, SO IT´S HARD TO TAKE SIDES.

PERCEPTION IS REALITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE, IF SOMEBODY IS PERCEIVED AS, THAT´S HOW THEY FEEL, TO NOT HAVE IT ADDRESSED OR LOOKED AT OR INVESTIGATED IS CONCERNING.

SO, YOU KNOW AND TO BE ACCUSED, AS WELL, AND IT NOT NECESSARILY BE WHAT THE INTENTION WAS COULD BE A LITTLE BIT -- >> UNNERVING AS WELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LET ME COME TO YOU, MR. JOSEPH.

HEARING THE PIECE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE MAY HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY OR WHAT COULD THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE TO AVOID INCIDENTS LIKE THIS HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE?

>> SINCE THEY´RE GOING TO WHERE THE ALLEGED SEXUAL HARASSMENT, THEY NEED TO COLLECT ON WHO ALL IN THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN IN TRAINING, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

I TALKED TO YOU EARLIER ABOUT TRAINING.

AND SO WE TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED OR OUR CULTURE OR OUR BEHAVIOR IN THE PAST KIND OF KEEP BLAZING ON.

BUT WE ALL KNOW AND WE UNDERSTAND BEHAVIORS, SO WE NEED TO TRAIN TO MAKE SURE, WHERE ARE THE LINES.

THERE WERE NO LINES TO BEGIN WITH.

SO THAT´S MY POINT.

I FEEL THAT EVERYBODY -- IF YOU DON´T TAKE FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE A SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

IT´S VERY IMPORTANT, AND YOU EXPECT SOMETHING TO COME BACK.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

>> THAT´S MY POSITION.

>> VERY INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE.

I´M GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH A QUESTION, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE ETHICS COMMITTEE THAT WAS CONVENED.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE WOMAN ON THE COMMITTEE.

>> I THINK THE RESISTANCE BY THE FIRST SENATORS THAT WERE ASKED TO DO THE COMMITTEE, I THINK THEY WERE MORE QUALIFIED TO TAKE THE INVESTIGATION OR BE A PART OF THE COMMITTEE BASED ON THEIR BACKGROUNDS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS COME INTO EFFECT, ESPECIALLY WHEN -- UNLIKE A TRIAL, YOU DON´T HAVE A JURY, BUT ULTIMATELY, THEY´RE THE ONES MAKING DECISIONS ON WHETHER TO MOVE THIS FURTHER OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, WE KNOW ATTORNEY TURNBULL, THAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT SELECTED THE MEMBERS MORE THIS ETHICS COMMITTEE, BUT DO YOU THINK IT´S UNUSUAL THAT BOTH PARTIES WEREN´T INTERVIEWED IN THIS SITUATION?

>> YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY.

I DON´T THINK IT´S UNUSUAL.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN SEE A COMPLAINT ON ITS FACE, YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN BACKGROUND WITHOUT INTERVIEWING A PARTY, PARTICULARLY IN THIS TYPE OF SETTING.

I THINK THE BEST PRACTICE SHOULD BE TO INTERFERE THE INDIVIDUALS.

I DON´T BELIEVE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION HAS TAKEN PLACE TO INVESTIGATE HER CLAIMS, BECAUSE THE CLAIMS WERE VERY SERIOUS CLAIMS THAT SHE MADE.

I DON´T THINK THAT THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT THAT.

AND THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SOMEONE INVESTIGATES.

I THINK THAT´S IMPROPER.

BUT THE ASSAULT AND BATTERY CLAIMS, I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE INVESTIGATED.

BECAUSE HOLDING SOMEONE´S HAND FIRMLY AND NOT LETTING THEM GO, WHETHER THE COMMITTEE FOUND IT TO BE ASSAULT OR NOT, IT´S, TO ME, MEETS MUSTER OF BEING ASSAULT AND BATTERY.

IT´S AN UNWANTED TOUCH.

>> MR. JOSEPH, I´LL COKE BACK TO YOU REALLY QUICKLY.

DO YOU FIND IT ODD LIKE I DO THAT THERE ARE PARTS OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT THERE ARE NO CAMERAS THAT RECORD IT.

I´M CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT SHOULDN´T BE -- THAT´S CONDUCIVE.

>> ANYBODY ELSE ON THE PANEL?

ANY LOOPHOLES IN THE VERY LEGISLATURE THAT TAXPAYERS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON SECURITY AND THE ALARMS AND EVERYTHING.

WHY DON´T WE HAVE CAMERAS THAT RECORD ALL THE PUBLIC SPACES IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS LEGISLATURE?

>> I THINK THAT´S INTERESTING.

SO I THINK CAMERAS COULD HAVE RESOLVED SOME OF THIS.

BECAUSE THE HE SAY/SHE SAY IN ITSELF IS DIFFERENT FACTS.

SO THOSE DIFFERENCES HAVE TO BE EXPLORED.

WHY WOULD SENATOR JOSEPH FOR A LOBBYING CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW.

OR WHY WOULD SENATOR JOSEPH NOT MENTION THE LOBBYING.

THESE ARE INHERENT ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE EXPLORED AND SO NO ASPERSIONS AGAINST THE SENATOR, THE ETHICAL COMMITTEE, BUT I THINK THEY BUNGLED THIS INVESTIGATION, AND JONG THE OUTCOME WOULD BE DIFFERENT, BUT THE INVESTIGATION, THE PROCESS AND EVEN THE PROCEDURAL PROCESS OF CONVENING THE COMMITTEE WAS ALSO BUNGLED.

I KNOW THAT THEY ARE CLAIMING IT WASN´T, BUT I THINK ON ITS FACE, JUST READING THE RULES, IT CLEARLY WAS.

>> TWO SENATORS RECENTLY HAVE COME OUT TALKING ABOUT THE SPATE OF GUN VIOLENCE, AND IT´S KIND OF INTERESTING, BECAUSE, YES, THEY ARE BOTH POLICE OFFICERS BUT GUN VIOLENCE IS NOT NEW TO THIS TERRITORY, SO I´M WONDERING WHY NOW.

THE ONE THING THAT I FOUND SBRERGS THAT WE KNOW HAS BECOME AN ISSUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS THE ISSUE OF GHOST GUNS.

SO I´M GOING STOORT WITH YOU, MR. JOSEPH, ON THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX.

THE ONE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN OFFERED BY SENATOR GITTENS MEEBLTIZING ALL OF THE AVAILABLE ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES TO SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT 90 DAYS, HOW EFFECTIVE IS THAT?

>> I THINK THAT´S SOMETHING IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

WHAT WE HAVE, AT THIS TIME OF I FEEL THAT IT HAPPENS THREE OR FOUR, YOU CAN GO WITH TWO.

ONE ISSUE AND ALLOW ANOTHER ONE AND MAYBE THE GUYS DOING SOMETHING ELSE ILLEGAL, NOW YOU WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES.

THE MEASURE IS NOT A BAD IDEA, BUT NOT ALL BUT FOR THE NEXT TWO, AND IT WOULD BE GOOD, BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THE GUN VIOLENCE MAYBE FOR LESS EDUCATED FOLKS WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, BUT TODAY, I WOULDN´T SAY THAT TODAY.

I THINK TODAY, IT´S FOR REVENGE, YOU KILL MY BROTHER AND WE LIVE IN A SMALL PLACE, AND ACTIONS WILL BE TAKEN BASED ON SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT I CONTINUE.

AND I´M JUST SAYING THAT I SUPPORT THE MEASURE TO A POINT, BUT NOT ALL AT ONCE, BECAUSE I FEEL I ALLOW FOR THE NEXT ELEMENTS.

>> THAT´S A VERY GOOD POINT.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THAT DIPD OFFICERS ARE RECEIVING OFFICERS, WE KNOW GO POLICE ACADEMY TOE GET THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING.

BUT DO YOU THINK A PROPOSAL LIKE THAT COULD WORK?

>> I PERSONALLY DON´T THINK IT WILL WORK.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT OFFICERS, THEY DON´T HAVE THE SAME, SAME TYPE OF POLICE OFFICER, THAT THE OFFICER DOES.

SO IN MY MIND, YOU´RE PUTTING THEM IN DANGER.

THEY DON´T KNOW HOW TO DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION.

MAYBE THEY DIDN´T HAVE TO DEAL -- >> SO GOING THROUGH THE ACADEMY ISN´T ENOUGH ZWLM NO, THERE´S SO MUCH MORE TRAINING AFTER YOU DO THAT AND OUR ATTORNEY IS SHAKING HER HEAD BECAUSE LACK OF TRAINING IS TO HER BENEFIT AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

ER SHE´S LAUGHING, I´M SORRY.

BUT NO, I THINK IT WOULD -- YOU KNOW, EVEN SIMPLE REPORTERS.

SO YOU HAVE A LOTTERY OFFICER, FOR EXAMPLE, NOT TO PICK ON LOTTERY, BUT I HAVE TO RESPOND TO CRIME SCENE AND THEY DON´T KNOW THE PROTOCOL OF HANDLING THAT CRIME SCENE.

THAT MESSES UP THE CHANCES OF PROSECUTION.

>> YES, YEAH.

THAT´S A GOOD POINT!

>> THAT´S CONSIDERING FOR ME AS A RESIDENT IS THAT A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AS A SENATOR WOULD RECOMMEND THAT.

>> INTERESTING.

YOUR TAKE ON THE SAME THING, AND LOGISTICSICALLY, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE FOR INSTANCE FROM MR. SAMUEL´S POINT, BRINGING IN PEOPLE THAT AREN´T NECESSARILY TRAINED TO HANDLE A CRIME SCENE, WOULD YOU PUT THEM, FOR INSTANCE, ON TRAFFIC OR SIMPLER ENFORCEMENT TYPE CRIMES THAT DON´T REQUIRE THE EXTENSIVE TRAINING OR THE UTILIZATION OF THE TRAINING THAT THEY DO HAVE WOULD BE OPTIMAL.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY BROTHER, SAMUEL OVER HERE.

>> I JUST MET YOUR BROTHER.

>> I KNOW, I KNOW.

>> WE ARE, WE ARE.

>> BECAUSE YOU´RE TALKING ABOUT PULLING RESOURCES FROM A TERRITORY THAT HAS VERY, VERY STRAINED RESOURCES.

AND JUST FOR A 90-DAY PERIOD, I´M NOT UNDERFUNDING THE PURPOSE.

I DON´T SEE THE OBJECTIVE.

I DON´T SEE HOW IT CAN BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

I ALSO TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE LACK OF TRAINING THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

JUST TRYING TO PUT BODIES ON THE GROUND FOR A 90-DAY PERIOD, TO SHOW SOME SORT OF POLICE PRESENCE, I DON´T THINK THAT GETS TO THE HEART OF THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE, WHICH I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS ON.

BUT, NO, I DON´T AGREE WITH THIS MEASURE AT ALL.

>> MR. JOSEPH, ONE OF THE OTHER SUGGESTIONS THAT WAS MADE BY SENATOR GITTENS IS TO CONDUCT MORE TRAFFIC STOPS TO DETER THE CIRCULATION OF UNLICENSED FIREARMS.

I´M CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT´S GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU HEAR THAT WORKS, DOESN´T WORK.

NOT A GOOD IDEA.

>> IT WORKS, YOU KNOW, THE WORK IS CONTINUOUS.

EVEN CONTINUOUS MEANING, IT DOESN´T HAVE TO BE WEAKLY, IT DOESN´T STOP WITHIN THE MONTH AND THE NEXT MONTH, IT COMES.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE´RE DOING.

IF THERE´S A REASON TO STOP, YOU STOP THEM.

>> I WANT TO GET A QUICK QUESTION IN.

THE BANNING OF ASSAULT RIFLES WAS MENTIONED BY SENATOR DEGRAF ATTORNEY TURNBULL, AND THE SHIPPING OF GHOST GUN COMPONENTS THROUGH THE MAIL IS ALSO AN ISSUE.

AS A CRIMINAL ATTORNEY, ARE YOU SEEING CASES WHERE GHOST GUNS ARE NOW BECOMING PREMPBLT AND THESE ASSAULT RIFLES THAT SENATOR DEGRAF IS REFERRING TO?

>> I WOULDN´T SAY GHOST GUNS ARE BECOMING PREVALENT, BUT I THINK I HAVE SEEN A RISE IN ASSAULT RIFLES.

AND THE SENATOR IS RIGHT.

THERE IS NO, ON THE BOOK ASSAULT RIFLE LAW, BUT THEY DON´T NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE ONE.

BECAUSE IT WOULD MORE LIKELY THAN NOT COME UNDER AN UNAUTHORIZEDER POSITION OF A FIREARM.

THERE ARE NOT MANY PEOPLE COMMITTING CRIMES.

WE END UP OVERPOLICING, DRAFTING A LOT OF LEGISLATION, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE BAND-AIDS FOR A MUCH, MUCH BIGGER ISSUE.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO SPUR TO ACT, BUT ACTING AND TREATING THE WRONG THING.

WE NEED TO BE STARTING IN THIRD GRADE.

NOT, OH, WE JUST HAD A RASH OF GUN VIOLENCE, SO LET´S SEND POLICE EVERYWHERE.

>> DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING REALLY QUICKLY?

>> I THINK WHAT SHE SAID IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON POINT.

I´VE BEEN SAYING FROM 2016 BEFORE THE STORMS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR THOUGHTS LEAD TO YOUR WORDS OR YOUR LEADS LEAD TO YOUR ACTIONS AND L.A.X.S LEAD TO YOUR LIFESTYLE.

LET´S LOOK AT THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, RIGHT.

EIGHT YEARS, WE HAD THE STORMS, QUOEFD.

THE EDUCATION LIKE MR. JOSEPH MENTIONED ARE THESE FOLKS GETTING?

HOW DO YOU VOEFL OR DE-ESCALATE.

YOU DON´T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE YOUR SOCIAL ANXIETY IS THE UTMOST HIGH.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS.

THIRD GRADE, WHAT PEOPLE DON´T REALIZE, IN LARGE COMMUNITIES, JAILS ARE BUILT BASED -- >> ON THE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES -- >> YEP, THIRD GRADE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES.

THAT´S HOW THEY DECIDE HOW MANY JAIL CELLS TO BUILD.

DURING A RECENT MEETING, THE TOPIC OF STANDARD WEIGHT TIMES AT THE JUAN LOUISE´S HOSPITAL´S EMERGENCY ROOM SPARKED QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.

HERE´S MORE.

>> OUR OPERATIONS ARE FACED WITH A FEW CHALLENGES, INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY ROOM DEPARTMENT WAIT TIMES AND THE HOUSING OF BOARDERS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT INCREASED WAIT TIMES ARE REFLECTIVE OF NONLIFE-THREATENING COMPLAINTS, AS ALL PATIENTS UNDERGO TRIAGE UPON ARRIVAL.

THOSE WITH LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES ARE IMMEDIATELY TREATED IN EXAM ROOMS.

>> THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT TWO HOURS WAITING TIME IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

FIRST OF ALL, I MUST SAY THAT THAT AVERAGE WAITING TIME, TWO HOURS, WOW.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO GOES TO THE HOSPITAL AND COMES OUT WITHIN TWO HOURS OF BEING SERVED.

BECAUSE EVERYONE I KNOW AND MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HAS NOT BEEN TWO HOURS.

>> INTERESTING TO HEAR THE SENATOR RESPOND LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE WAIT TIMES IN HOSPITALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE LONG.

LIKE, TWO HOURS -- AND I´VE BEEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

I´LL BE ABLE TO SAY, I´VE BEEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TREATED UNDER TWO HOURS.

SO I COULD ATTEST TO THAT, BUT THAT´S NOT EVERYBODY´S EXPERIENCE.

AND I DON´T WANT TO CAST THE ASPERSION THAT THAT´S WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT YOU HEAR ABOUT LONG WAIT TIMES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

I EMPATHIZE, BECAUSE THEY´RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE TO PICK WHO NEEDS SERVICES.

SINCE YOU WORKED IN EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL IN THE TERRITORY, WHEN AS A PROFESSIONAL, AND I´M SURE YOU´VE BEEN AROUND A LOT OF EMERGENCY ROOMS AS A FIREFIGHTER, WHEN YOU´RE UNDER THAT STRESS OF HAVING TO DECIDE WHO GETS TREATED AND WHEN THEY GET TREATED, WHAT IS THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT GOES INTO THAT?

>> HE WAS CLEAR, THE TRIAGE, THE FIRST THAT NEEDS TO BE ATTENTION TO GET IT FIRST.

YOU COME IN AND YOU HAVE -- REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU CAME IN FROM, IF YOU HAVE BREATHING ISSUES, THEY´LL TAKE CARE OF YOU FIRST, LOSING BLOOD, THEY´LL TAKE CARE OF YOU FIRST.

THAT´S THE WAY IT WORKS.

TWO HOURS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU´RE TALKING ABOUT AVERAGE, SO SOME FOLKS MIGHT BE IN AND THE PLACE IS EMPTY.

THEN YOU COME THERE AND THE PLACE, A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS ARE SUFFERING FROM A FLU AND THE WHOLE EMERGENCY ROOM IS FILLED.

SO AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION THAT CAUSES YOU TO BE AHEAD OF THESE FOLKS, YOU´LL BE GONE OR TREATED ANYWHERE BEFORE SOME OF THEM THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THREE OR FOUR HOURS.

SO YOU LOOK AT THE DRAW OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM, A LOT OF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FEEL -- AND THAT´S WHERE I GO.

>> AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT´S A GOOD POINT HE MAKES.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EMERGENCY ROOMS BECOME SOMETIMES PRIMARY CARE -- THE PRIMARY CARE LOCATIONS FOR MANY UNINSURED VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

SO THE PREVENTATIVE CARE THAT SHOULD TAKE PLACE TO VOUD PEOPLE HAVING TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOMS, IT BECOMES THE PLACE OF FIRST RESORTS.

MR. SAMUEL, I´M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT´S GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND AS YOU LISTEN TO THIS CONVERSATION.

>> YOU KNOW, WE DON´T HAVE A HOSPITAL ON ST. JOHN, WE HAVE A CLINIC, SO OUR RESPONSE TIME INCLUDES IF YOU HAVE TO GET SHIPPED ON A BOAT OVER TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

AND WHAT´S UNFORTUNATE, I DON´T KNOW IF IT´S CHANGED, IS THAT ONCE WE GET THERE, IT´S ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE TO CHECK BACK IN LIKE IT´S A WHOLE NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS.

EVEN THOUGH MYRA KEATON AND RLS ARE THE SAME ENTITIES, IT´S ALMOST LIKE WE´RE JUST GETTING IN THERE.

>> THAT´S AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE ON SOMETHING THAT THOSE OF US THAT LIVE ON THE OTHER ISLANDS PROBABLY WOULD NEVER THINK ABOUT.

>> I COULD TELL YOU HORROR STORIES, AND THAT´S NOT THE BASIS OF IT IS.

TALKING ABOUT, I THINK, ALL THE HOSPITALS COULD DO BETTER.

BUT IT´S THE EQUIPMENT, WE´RE SEVEN YEARS OUT OF HURRICANE.

ALL OF OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS WERE DESTROYED.

YOU KNOW IS THE EQUIPMENT EFFECTIVE?

SO LET´S FIND SOME PARTNERSHIPS MAYBE WITH SOME LARGER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS THAT CAN OFFER TELEMEDICINE SUPPORT OR SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS US TO LEVERAGE OUR TIME AND RESOURCES.

>> A LITTLE BETTER.

ATTORNEY TURNBULL, I KNOW YOU´RE A VERY CREATIVE INDIVIDUAL.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE SOME OF THESE WAIT TIMES?

OR MAKE THE TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE WAITING PERHAPS A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE OR PALATABLE OR EASY TO DEAL WITH?

>> I THINK FIRST, THEY CAN REMODEL THE WAIT TIME, THE WAITING LOUNGE.

I WAS THERE A MONTH AGO AND THE WAIT TIME WAS EIGHT HOURS WITH A TODDLER.

AND SO, TWO HOURS SOUNDS CRAZY TO ME.

>> AND I´VE HAD THOSE EIGHT-HOUR WAIT TIMES AS WELL.

LET ME SAY, ONE, AND TWO, WE LIKE TO SAY LOCALLY.

>> THE CARE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GREAT.

THE CARE AT THE END OF THE DAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN GREAT.

BUT I DO AGREE, PERHAPS WE COULD DO SOME TELEMEDICINE.

WE COULD ALSO DO -- WE COULD ALSO HAVE CHECK-INS WHERE, YOU´RE NEXT IN LINE, WHAT THEY´RE DOING WHERE THEY TAKE YOUR NUMBER AND TEXT YOU AND MESSAGE YOU TO COME BACK.

SO YOU MAY NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE WAITING, SITTING IN THE ER THE ENTIRE TIME.

>> SO THE UTILIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY.

>> YES.

>> I KNOW YOU BROUGHT UP TELEMEDICINE.

PERHAPS WHILE YOU´RE SITTING THERE, A DOCTOR SOMEWHERE COULD TELEMEDICINE YOU ON YOUR PHONE OR SOMETHING AND SAY, HEY, WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS YOU´RE EXHIBITING OR DO SOME KIND OF TRIAGE IN ADVANCE OF YOU GOING IN TO SEE THE ACTUAL EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR.

>> AND YOU KNOW, YOU´VE GOT TO BE CREATIVE, AS WELL.

I THINK EVEN IF YOU HAVE AN INFORMATION PERSON IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, SO MANY TIMES YOU SIT THERE AND YOU JUST WONDERING WHAT´S GOING ON.

IF THERE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS SAYING, HEY, GUYS, WE HAD A CODE BLUE OR SOMETHING, ALL OF OUR RESOURCES ARE TAKING CARE OF THAT, AS SOON AS WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIME THAT WE CAN SEE YOU, WE´LL LET YOU KNOW.

>> I LIKE THAT IDEA, OF SENDING PEOPLE A TEXT.

>> SEND ME HOME.

>> IF IT´S NOTHING SERIOUS, WE´LL GIVE YOU A CALL WITHIN A HALF HOUR OR HOUR OF WHEN WE´LL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE YOU.

I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY IS LISTENING OR WATCHING THIS SHOW THAT CAN HELP TO IMPLEMENT THOSE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, MR. SAMUEL ATTORNEY TURNBULL, GREAT SHOW.

YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB TODAY.

AND THAT IS ALL THE SHOW WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.

BUT BE SURE TO TUNE IN NEXT SUNDAY AT 1:00 P.M. FOR AN ALL NEW EPISODE OF "COMES WITH THE TERRITORY," TUNE INTO WTJ KBRKS FOR YOUR NEWS.

TAKE CARE.