>>> ON THIS EPISODE OF COMES WITH THE TERRITORY, WE EXAMINE THE DISTURBING TREND OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING THE HOLIDAY SUSAN.

DR. CLEMA LEWIS JOINS US FOR A ONE-ON-ONE DISCUSSION AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS SET TO HOLD A CAUCUS ON FEBRUARY EIGHT GETTING A DIRECT VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND WE WILL HAVE THE DETAILS PLUS FEDERAL FUNDING IS RUNNING OUT FOR A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MONTHLY SUBSIDIES FOR INTERNET ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS AND WE ARE TELLING YOU WHAT ARE OFFICIALS ARE DOING ABOUT IT.

>> A GOLF COURSE ON ST. THOMAS AND KIDNEY DIALYSIS AND A $14 MILLION DEBT PAYMENT ARE SOME OF THE PLANS THE GOVERNOR HAS IN MIND FOR THE EPSTEIN RELATED SETTLEMENT FUNDS.

ANALYZE THESE ISSUES ARE THE FORMER SENATOR, JOHANN CLENDENIN, ROOSEVELT DAVID.

IT STARTS NOW.

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR COMES WITH THE TERRITORY.

I AM LESLIE COMISSIONG.

THEY ARE PUSHING FOR INCREASED ATTENTION FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE AN UNSPOKEN EPIDEMIC IN THE TERRITORY.

THIS IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

DESPITE NUMEROUS NEWS HEADLINES THIS PAST HOLIDAY SEASONS, PARTNER VIOLENCE REMAINS UNADDRESSED IN THE VIRGIN ADVOCATES SOUNDING THE ALARM TO HIGHLIGHT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND DOCTOR LEWIS OF THE WOMEN´S COALITION OF ST. CROIX SAID THE CARNIVAL SEASON AND THE EASTER CAMPING.

ARE TWO OF THE PERIODS IN WHICH THERE IS AN INFLUX OF DOMESTIC ABUSE CASES REPORTED IN THE TERRITORY.

HOWEVER, DIVERTING ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM REMAINS AN ONGOING CHALLENGE ACCORDING TO DOCTOR LEWIS AND LAST YEAR´S MULTIMILLION DOLLAR EPSTEIN RELATED SETTLEMENT BROUGHT SEX TRAFFICKING AND FOCUS PROMPTING ACKNOWLEDGMENT IN THE RECENT STATE OF THE TERRITORY ADDRESS.

>> LAST AUGUST THERE WAS SUPPORT FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS INCLUDING MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FORFEITED TO THE 35th LEGISLATOR ACTION AND THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION RECOGNIZES AN ADDITIONAL $11 MILLION SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE TERRITORY.

>> ADVOCATES HOPE TO GET SIMILAR AWARENESS IN THE TERRITORY CALLING ON THE GOVERNOR, THE SENATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PRIORITIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSE CASES ALONGSIDE OTHER CRITICAL MATTERS.

JOINING THE SHOW VIRTUALLY FROM OUR ST. CROIX STUDIO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WOMEN´S COALITION OF ST. CROIX, DR. CLEMA LEWIS.

WELCOME TO COMES WITH THE TERRITORY.

THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND ONE THAT IS A VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WOMEN´S COALITION ON ST. CROIX AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE TERRITORY.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE TERRITORY BUT THE WOMEN´S COALITION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 43 YEARS WITH THE MISSION OF PROVIDING CRISIS COUNSELING, INTERVENTION, SHELTER, FOOD, AND CLOTHING FOR CRIME VICTIMS AND PARTICULARLY THOSE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THIS IS 24 HOURS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 365 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR AND OUR AGENCY IS THE ONLY ONE IN ST. CROIX THAT PROVIDES US SERVICES AND FAMILY RESOURCES AND THE ONLY AGENCY IN ST. THOMAS THAT PROVIDES THIS TYPE OF SERVICE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN´T AWARE OF THE SERVICES AND THE LIFELINE LITERALLY THAT YOU EXTEND THE RESIDENCE IN OUR TERRITORY UNTIL IT COMES TO THE DOORSTEP OR A RELATIVE OR FRIEND IS IN NEED OF THE SERVICE OR A WOMAN FINDS THEMSELVES IN NEED OF THE SERVICE AND TELL US ABOUT THE MISCONCEPTIONS, A LOT OF THE POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS, THAT PLAGUE OUR TERRITORY AS IT RELATES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES.

VICTIM ADVOCATE GROUPS ONLY WORK FOR WOMEN.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

I HAVE MALE VICTIMS COMING IN EVERY DAY SO THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG MYTHS AND ANOTHER ONE IS WE BREAK UP HOMES AND THAT IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE ONCE YOU INJURE OR HURT A PERSON, YOU HAVE ALREADY DESTROYED YOUR OWN HOME AND ANOTHER MYTH IS WE DON´T WANT TO SEE FAMILY SURVIVE AND WE ARE BREAKING UP THAT AND DESTROYING THE COMMUNITY AND AGAINST THE CULTURE.

THERE IS NO CULTURE IN THIS WORLD THAT SUPPORTS HURTING EACH OTHER SO THEM ARE SOME OF THEM THIS AND PEOPLE THINK DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ONLY PHYSICAL WHETHER IT BE A WOMAN OR MAN BEING PHYSICALLY BEATEN AND WHETHER THEY ARE HIT OR KNOCKED DOWN, CUT OR BEING SLAMMED UP AGAINST THE WALL.

THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY TIME WE WANT TO HELP VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHEN THEY CAN SEE THIS IS A INJURY BUT WE PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE WHERE YOU PUT THE BIG PERSON DOWN AND YOU DON´T PUT OUT ANY SUPPORT FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND YOU THINK THEY ARE CRAZY OR GAS LIGHT THEM AND I DID HEAR SOME VICTIMS SAY THEY WOULD RATHER BE BEATEN THAN GO THROUGH EMOTIONAL ABUSE.

YOU HAVE SEXUAL ABUSE WHERE VICTIMS ARE FORCED TO HAVE SEX 24/7 AND ALL KINDS OF WAYS WITH PARTNERS AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE EVEN HAD A FEW CASES WHERE VICTIMS WERE FORCED TO HAVE SEX WITH ANIMALS.

YOU HAVE VERBAL ABUSE WHERE NAMES ARE CALLED AND THE PERSON IS PUT DOWN AND YOU HAVE FINANCIAL ABUSE WHERE THE PERPETRATOR CONTROLS ALL THE MONEY.

LET ME BE CLEAR.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST ABOUT LOW INCOME WOMEN.

I WORK WITH WOMEN IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE BUT WHEN SOMEBODY CONTROLS YOUR MONEY, IT DOESN´T MATTER WHO YOU ARE.

WE HAVE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE THE TERRITORY AS WELL.

MOST PEOPLE DON´T LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT AVENUES AND FORMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUT EACH ONE I MENTIONED IS AGAINST THE LAW.

>> MY NEXT QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAPPENING DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO COVID-19.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, WE SAW A RISE AND PREVALENCE IN INDIVIDUALS FORCED TO BE HOME AND THEY COULDN´T GO TO WORK AND SCHEDULES WERE UPENDED.

I DO SUSPECT THAT SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO A RISE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING COVID ARE THE SAME FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING HOLIDAYS WITH THIS PIECE LEADING UP TO IT AND WE MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY THE CAMPING SEASON IN ST. CROIX AND FESTIVAL AND CARNIVAL AND WE SEE A RISE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND LET´S LOOK AT SOME OF THE FACTORS DURING COVID THEN WHEN WE NORMALLY GET THAT BECAUSE WE SAW A HUGE RISE IN COVID BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS LOCKED DOWN AND NOBODY COULD GO ANYWHERE OR GO TO YOUR NEIGHBORS OR FAMILIES IN THE KEY IS EVERYBODY WAS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER 24/7 AND YOU COULDN´T GO OUT OR NO AVENUES OUTSIDE AND IF WE CAN´T WORK AND GET OUTSIDE, LET´S TALK ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES.

I THINK THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE RISE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING COVID AND THE RISE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING THE HOLIDAYS WE HAVE TO BREAK THREE AND IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND DURING FESTIVAL AND CAMPING SEASON AND THIS IS WHEN MOST VICTIMS COME FOR OUR SERVICES AND OUR SHELTERS ARE PACKED NOT ONLY DURING THOSE HOLIDAYS BUT ANYTIME WE GET A LOT OF RISE IN THE REPORTING OF WOMEN ARE GETTING SHOT AND THEY ARE THROWN OUT THE WINDOW OR WE HEARD A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN KILLED OR INJURED OR SOMEBODY, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY AND ANY TIME THERE IS PANIC OR ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARENA, EVERYBODY RUNS TO THE SHELTER AND EVERYBODY CALLS THE SHELTER BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE SAFE AND IT NEVER FAILS AND IT HAPPENS EVERY SEASON SO WE NEVER CLOSED THROUGH COVID AND WHENEVER BUT HE WAS SHUT DOWN, WE WERE STILL OPEN AND WE PROVIDED SERVICE FOR ALL THE HOLIDAYS AND WE ARE 24/7 AND WE CAN´T CLOSE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT MOST OF OUR CALLS COME IN THE MIDDLE THE NIGHT AND THE WEEKEND AND HOLIDAYS WHEN MOST AGENCIES AREN´T AVAILABLE AND WE HAVE TO BE IN THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS IS NOT BEING AVAILABLE.

>> LET´S TALK ABOUT WHY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE TERRITORY GOES LARGELY UNADDRESSED AND AS A VIRGIN ISLANDER, I AM VERY FAMILIAR.

WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE IN DIFFERENT VENUES WHERE I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU AND INTERVIEWED YOU ON RADIO AND INDIVIDUALS FROM THE WOMEN´S RESOURCE CENTER AND THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER OVER HERE IN ST. THOMAS.

WHY DO WE TEND TO SHOVE THIS UNDER THE RUG?

WHY DON´T WE OPENLY SPEAK ABOUT IT AND HERE TEAR THE BAND-AID OFF OF THE WOUND AND GET DOWN TO THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS THAT LEAD TO THIS?

I WILL LEAD OFF BY SAYING SOME THINGS THAT ARE WILDLY UNPOPULAR.

OUR MUSIC ATTRIBUTES TO IT, OUR ENTERTAINMENT ATTRIBUTES TO IT, THE OVER SEXUALIZATION AND OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN AS SEXUAL OBJECTS CONTRIBUTE TO IT, AND WE SEEM TO BE ENCOURAGING, ALMOST, INTERCULTURAL ACTIVITIES OF THE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

>> I LOVE THOSE.

ALL OF THOSE WERE GREAT, LET´S TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND LET´S TALK ABOUT LEADERS.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WILL NEVER BE ERADICATED FROM THIS COMMUNITY CAN´T GET PEOPLE FROM THE TOP, LEGISLATURES AND PEOPLE WHO HOLD POSITIONS AND PEOPLE WHOM WE RESPECT IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND IF THEY DON´T COME OUT AND STAND UP AND SAY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS WRONG AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE, IT WON´T STOP.

IT WON´T STOP BECAUSE THE PEOPLE COMMITTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEY ARE PROMINENT FAMILIES AND PEOPLE WITH NAMES IN LEADERSHIP AND CHURCHES AND ENTITIES WHERE WE DON´T WANT TO TOUCH WHETHER IT IS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERY ENTITY IN THIS COMMUNITY IS IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SO WE AREN´T GOING TO TAKE OFF THE BAND-AID BECAUSE WE DON´T WANT TO ADDRESS THAT AND WE DON´T WANT IT IN OUR HOUSE OR WANT OUR LOVED ONE ARRESTED OR PUT IT IN PUBLIC EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NO --WE KNOW WE ARE DOING ALL THESE THINGS.

IF YOU ARE NOT OWING TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BEING KILLED, THE ONLY TIME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GETS HUGE ATTENTION IS WHEN IT HAPPENS TO SOMEBODY POPULAR IN THIS COMMUNITY OR IF SOMEBODY DIES BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECAUSE THIS BRINGS REALITY TO US THAT IT COULD HAPPEN TO US NEXT.

SO ALL OF THOSE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE COVERING IT UP, IT HITS HOME WHEN SOMEBODY REALLY GETS KILLED OR GET SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THAT IS UNTIL WE TAKE OFF THIS AND CALL IT WHAT IT IS AND GET PEOPLE TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT, I AM SORRY.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AND IT WON´T GET ANY BETTER BECAUSE IT IS ON THE RISE AND THE PERPETRATORS ARE MORE VIOLENT AND I HAVE HEARD THEM SAY I AM NOT SCARED OF JAIL AND I WILL PAY MY $100 BILL AND I WILL BE OUT THE NEXT DAY AND GO BACK FOR HER AND WHERE IS THE SAFETY AND THAT?

WE HAVE LAWS, BUT THEY ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED.

THERE ARE SO MANY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND I DON´T WANT TO CALL THAT CULTURE AND I WANT TO CALL THAT A COMMUNITY AND SAY WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY FOR 43 YEARS.

I DO HAVE TO BE HONEST.

I HAVE SEEN SOME CHANGES.

WE DID MAKE SOME PROGRESS AND WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> THAT IS A VERY INTERESTING POINT.

AS I AM SITTING HERE, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS.

SOLUTIONS, I THINK, REST WITHIN THE REALM OF EDUCATING THE YOUNGER GENERATION THAT OFTEN TIMES ARE VICTIMS OF THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY DO SEE THIS VIOLENCE IN THE HOUSEHOLD AND IT DEVELOPS A CULTURE OF ACCEPTANCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN, AFTER THERE IS PHYSICAL FRONT OF THE CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN SEE IT, AND MOM AND DAD GET BACK TOGETHER OR MOM AND WHOEVER OR DAD AND WHOMEVER GET BACK TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING IS OKAY AND IT BECOMES NORMALIZED AGAIN.

THEY LEARN THAT IN THE HOUSEHOLD AND WE HAVE TO START TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE BEGIN TO CHANGE FROM THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM AND AVOID IT BEING GENERATIONAL AS IT IS IN SOME FAMILIES SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EFFORTS TAKING PLACE IN THAT REGARD?

>> I AM GLAD YOU SAID THAT.

YOU ARE RIGHT ON TARGET AND WHEN I DO PRESENTATIONS AND EDUCATION, I START OFF AS TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS INTERGENERATIONAL AND NOT DISCRIMINATORY.

I HAVE BEEN HERE 45 YEARS.

I HAVE WORKED WITH FOUR GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHERE IT GOES FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT AND NEXT AND YOU ARE CORRECT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO TELL THE VICTIM THAT WHEN YOU ARE BEING BEAT, YOUR CHILDREN ARE BEING BEAT AND THE MESSAGES WE SEND TO THE YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN THAT THAT IS ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR AND WHAT WE DO IS WE GO INTO THE SCHOOLS.

AND FROM AS YOUNG AS KINDERGARTEN, ALL THE WAY ELEMENTARY LEVEL, I MEAN HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, WE GO TO THE UNIVERSITY AND WE TRY TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT VIOLENCE IS AND WHEN IT HAPPENS AND WHAT TO DO AND WHAT CAUSES IT.

SO THAT I REALLY BELIEVE THAT AN INFORMED AND EDUCATED COMMUNITY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE DO A LOT OF OUTREACH AND YOU SAW THE MARCH ON TELEVISION AND WE SET UP FORUMS AND WE DO TELEVISION ADS AND WE ARE ON THE RADIO EVERY WEEK TRYING TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY.

WE DO NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING.

WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT IT ISN´T GETTING ANY BETTER AND IT ISN´T ACCEPTABLE.

THE ONLY WAY WE WILL HAVE TO STOP THIS IS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START HELPING EACH OTHER AND REACH OUT AND BE CLEAR THAT THERE IS NEVER AN EXCUSE OR NEVER ACCEPTABLE OR TOLERATED, WHETHER IT IS A TEENAGER, MIDDLE-AGED, OLDER PEOPLE.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IMPACTS EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING OUR ELDERS AND SENIORS WHO ARE GETTING BEAT UP BY THE ROOM KIDS AND THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT.

THERE IS NOTHING HARDER FOR ME WHEN I GET A CALL FROM A MOTHER THAT HER SON IS BEATING HER UP AND SHE CAN´T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT IS A CHILD AND LET´S BE CLEAR.

IT AFFECTS EVERY AGE GROUP AND THERE IS NO DISCRIMINATION HERE.

>> THAT WAS PRETTY INTENSE HEARING SOME OF THE SCENARIOS YOU JUST MENTIONED AND REALLY BRIEFLY BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

THERE ARE SETTLEMENT FUNDINGS COMING IN THE TERRITORY AND BRIEFLY, HOW WOULD THE WOMEN´S COALITION FACTOR INTO GETTING UTILIZATION OF SOME OF THOSE FUNDS QUIET >> THEY HAVE STARTED THIS ABOARD AND WE ARE ON THE BOARD AND MY PLAN IS TO BE A WATCHDOG OVER THAT MONEY AND I JUST THAT MONEY WAS SET ASIDE FOR VICTIMS SERVICES, EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE THERE IS COUNSELING AND MAKING SURE CHILDREN GET WHAT THEY NEED.

IT IS TRUE.

I DON´T KNOW IF ANY OF THOSE VICTIMS ARE ANY OF OUR PEOPLE BUT IT HAPPENED DURING OUR TERRITORY DURING THIS TIME AND WHAT IS IT TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN IF WE DON´T EDUCATE WE DON´T PROVIDE THE SERVICE?

I AM HOPING THAT THE MONEY GOES WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO NOT GOES TO ALL OF THESE OTHER ENTITIES WHO LACK MONEY AND, TRUST ME, I WILL BE LOUD AND CLEAR THAT I WILL FIGHT THAT IT GOES WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO AND TAKE SOME SERVICES AND PROSECUTION AND EDUCATION AND MANDATORY REPORTING WHICH IS WHERE THAT MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO GO.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE YOU BACK BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE >> UP NEXT LET´S LOOK AT SOME OF THE ISSUES UP FOR DISCUSSION.

>>> THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE URGING CONGRESS TO EXTEND ITS AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM WHICH CURRENTLY PROVIDES A $30 MONTHLY SUBSIDY TO OFFSET THE COST OF INTERNET FOR 5000 LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN THE TERRITORY AND FEDERAL FUNDING IS PROJECTED TO RUN OUT IN APRIL AND THEREFORE ENROLLMENT WON´T BE PROCESSED AFTER FEBRUARY 7.

>> THE REASON WE ARE ASKING CONGRESS TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

>> THEY SERVE A 3500 HOUSEHOLDS ENROLLED AND THE CEO URGED LOCAL LAWMAKERS AT A RECENT MEETING TO IDENTIFY FUNDING TO INTERNET UNTIL IT IS KNOWN WHETHER CONGRESS WILL DO SO NATIONALLY.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AND WE HAVE TO ACT BECAUSE THEY WILL EXPERIENCE THIS SERVICE WITHIN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

>> THE SENATOR SAID THE FINANCIAL PREDICAMENT COULD PREVENT APPROPRIATION OF FUNDING TO EXTEND IT LOCALLY.

THESE SENATORS JOINED THIS DELEGATE AS THIS IS SENDING A LETTER TO CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP URGING FULL FUNDING OF THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM WITH AN ADDITIONAL $6 BILLION.

>> UNDER THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT, THEY WILL PAY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS $105 MILLION IN CASH PLUS ONE HALF OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE.

>> IN LATE 2022 THE ATTORNEY ANNOUNCED THE SETTLEMENT WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN´S ESTATES TO RESOLVE CLAIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING MARKING THE LARGEST MONETARY SETTLEMENT.

AND THEN LEON BLACK PLATE 62 $.5 MILLION TO RESOLVE THE POTENTIAL CLAIMS RELATED TO EBSTEIN´S SEX TRAFFICKING AND THEN CAME ANOTHER MULTIMILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT FOR THE TERRITORY RELATED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

>> THIS IS A HISTORIC $75 MILLION VICTIM SUPPORTING SETTLEMENT WITH J.P. MORGAN CHASE AND CONTACTED RECENTLY THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR GAVE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT FUNDS RELATED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

>> $242.5 MILLION INCLUDING $105 MILLION FOR THE EPSTEIN SETTLEMENT AND PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF LITTLE ST. JAMES AND ALSO INCLUDES A SETTLEMENT FROM LEON BLACK OF $62.5 MILLION FROM THAT CASE AND ALSO MORGAN CHASE AND NOT ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND SOME HAVE BUT NOT ALL SO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WILL HAVE THOSE DETAILS AND WHATEVER AGREEMENTS FOR THE DISBURSEMENT ARE.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID HE ASKED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO PUT CERTAIN CONDITIONS IN PLACE TO ACCOUNT FOR PORTIONS OF THE MONEY.

>> I SAID, LISTEN, MAKE SURE IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT YOU SET ASIDE MONEY FOR SPECIFIC THINGS SO WE JUST DON´T HAVE A SPENDING SPREE AND WE DON´T GET STUFF DONE AND MAKING SURE WE TAKE CARE OF VICTIMS AND WE NEED A PRIORITY FOR JUSTICE AND THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT ARE PROTECTED FROM TRAFFICKING IN CHILD SAFETY AND THOSE THINGS ARE BUILT-IN AND THERE IS NO PROCESS.

WE COULD SPEND THE MONEY.

>> HE SAID HE SPOKE WITH LAWMAKERS ABOUT USING THE MONEY.

>> THEY HAVE $14 MILLION THAT IS RIGHTFULLY OWED TO THEM BY THE HOSPITALS AND LEASE MANAGEMENT AND WE HAVE DONE THIS IN A FEW YEARS AND THEN WE HAVE A CASH FLOW ISSUE SO TAKE $14 MILLION FROM THE PROCEEDS WE HAVE WITH ALL OF THESE LAWSUITS AND PAY IT OFF.

>> HE ALSO SAID HE TOLD LAWMAKERS THAT HE WANTED TO USE THE SETTLEMENT FUNDING FOR A GOLF COURSE ON ST. THOMAS AND A KIDNEY CENTER ON ST. CROIX.

>> I REALLY WANT TO GET A GOLF COURSE BECAUSE IF WE BUILD OVER THAT WE WILL NEVER HAVE A GOLF COURSE AND I CALLED HIM AND SAID, LISTEN.

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.

13 MILLION AND 6 MILLION BECAUSE WE NEED A CARIBBEAN KIDNEY CENTER AND WE HAVE TO HAVE DIALYSIS.

>> IN CLARIFYING HIS COMMENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD FLOATED HIS IDEAS LAWMAKERS LAST YEAR.

>> THOSE WERE IDEAS DISCUSSED AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THAT AND THIS IS IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTINUED WORK WITH THIS LEGISLATURE AND I AM VERY TRANSPARENT AND FORTHCOMING WITH THIS.

AND WHAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE SEEN.

>> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WILL HOLD ITS CAUCUS FOR THE THIRD REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST OF 2024 AND THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8 AND ALL SIX CANDIDATES REMAIN LISTED ON THE OFFICIAL BALLOT, FOUR HAVE PUBLICLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE RACE AND ARE NO LONGER ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNING LEAVING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND FORMER SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR AND UN AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY IS THE ONLY ACTIVE CONTENDERS FOR NEITHER CANDIDATE HAS DIRECTLY VISITED THE TERRITORY, THEIR CAMPAIGNS ARE ACTIVELY COURTING BOATERS AND THEY TARGETED THE LOCAL GOP RECENTLY WITH A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION.

>> AND IN THIS MOVEMENT IF YOU ARE NOT JOINING WITH ME, YOU WILL JOIN WITH ME IN THIS FIGHT TO SAVE AMERICA AND I PROMISE YOU THAT OUR BEST DAYS ARE YET TO COME.

>> TRUMP DISPATCHED WESLEY HUNT TO STUMP FOR HIM DURING A RECENT COMMIT TO CAUCUS RECEPTION.

>> THE TIME FOR US TO BE DIVIDED MUST END.

THAT IS WHAT I AM HERE DOING THIS TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT TRUMP TO MAKE SURE THAT HE IS OUR PRESIDENT.

>> WHILE THE PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUSES BEING RUN BY THE REPUBLICANS, ANY VOTER CAN CAST A BALLOT SO LONG AS THEY CHANGE THE REGISTRATION TO THE GOP ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS FROM REPUBLICAN PARTY.

JOINING OUR PANEL FOR THIS EPISODE I HAVE WITH ME THE AND JOINING THE DISCUSSION FROM THE W -- THE STUDIO IS FORMER SENATOR KURT VIALET AND JOINING US VIRTUALLY ALL THE WAY FROM LAS VEGAS WE WELCOME JOHANN CLENDENIN AND THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE SERVICES COMMISSION AND WELCOME TO EVERYONE.

LET´S BEGIN WITH THIS LAST STORY WE JUST RAN WHICH IS ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS ON FEBRUARY 8 AND VOTING WILL BE AT THE CHICKEN SHACK AND AT THE RUM BAR ON ST. JOHN AND WHAT IS A CAUCUS WITHOUT SOME RUM BUT THERE WILL BE TWO BALLOTS AND ONE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS AND ONE FOR THE LOCAL ELECTION AND ON THE LOCAL BALLOTS, VOTERS CAN SELECT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN AND WOMAN IN THE REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

BUT THE FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEWOMAN IS PROTESTING THE LOCAL BALLOT AND LET´S LISTEN TO A PORTION OF HER COMMENTS FROM THE RECENT VIRGIN ISLANDS IN THE MORNING RADIO SHOW.

>> I CANNOT SEE THEM REPRESENTING THIS PARTY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHEN THESE PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM OUTSIDERS AND MOST OF THEM --AND OUR COMMUNITY IS BLACK AND HUMBLE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE FROM THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS AND PEOPLE FROM PUERTO RICO AND PEOPLE STATESIDE AND WE WELCOME EVERYBODY BUT WE NEED A PERSON THAT REPRESENTS US.

AGAINST THE WHITE PEOPLE, NO.

THEY COME HERE AND WE ACCEPT THEM WITH OPEN ARMS AND WE LET THEM COME IN BUT ONLY SOME OF THEM CRYING FOR SELF INTEREST BUT THEY TAKE OVER OUR PARTY AND THEY ARE ONLY LOOKING OUT FOR THEM AND NOTHING FOR OUR PEOPLE.

>> AT LAST CHECK, REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS APPROXIMATELY 1180 REGISTERED VOTERS AND IT´S THE SMALLEST POLITICAL PARTY IN THE TERRITORY, BUT THEY HAVE THE MOST CONFUSION GOING ON.

AND IT´S LIKE NEVER ENDING WITH THE GOP SO LET´S GO TO LAS VEGAS AT THIS CONVENTION ACTUALLY THE WINTER MEETING AND NOT A CONVENTION BUT THE WINTER MEETING FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES AND YOU JUST HEARD THE COMMENTS FROM THE FORMER SENATOR AND THE FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEWOMAN AND WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY?

>> I KNOW HER AND SHE IS A FRIEND AND I HAVE GONE TO CONVENTIONS WITH HER IN MINNESOTA AND ALSO IN TAMPA WHERE I WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DELEGATION AND I DO UNDERSTAND SHE HAS STRONG FEELINGS.

MY POSITION IS AS THE COMMITTEEMAN IS THERE IS A PROCESS AND WE HAVE LAWS AND WE FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW AND IT´S SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY PERMEATES WITH SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD EARLIER IN THE SHOW.

SO WE DO HAVE A PROCESS AND RULES IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE PEOPLE HAVE JOKES BUT THE POINT IS THAT SHE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT WITHIN THE RULES AND THE RULES ARE, SHE HAS ARGUED THAT THE COURT SEEMS TO GIVE OUTSIDERS A DIFFERENT ROLE AND THE COURTS ARE AGAINST US AND EVERY BUDDY IS AGAINST US AND THE POINT IS THERE IS AN APPLICATION PROCESS TO BECOME A DELEGATE AND YOU HAVE TO FILE THAT PAPERWORK JUST LIKE YOU DO IN THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR OTHER OFFICES WITH SENATORS AND EVERYBODY HAS TO FILL THAT OUT.

SHE ISN´T A STRANGER TO THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND SHE DIDN´T FILL OUT HER APPLICATIONS AND IS A PROCESS TO BECOME A DELEGATE TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION AND YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT THAT AND HAVE IT POSTMARKED AND THE WEEK BEFORE THE CAUCUS ISN´T THE TIME TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

SO SHE RECEIVED ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT IS ON THE REPUBLICAN WEBSITE AND SHE RECEIVED E-MAILS, WHICH SHE DID OPEN AND SHE RECEIVED PERSONAL NOTES FROM ME TO SAY, LILIANA, I KNOW YOU´RE ANGRY BUT THERE IS A PROCESS TO FOLLOW AND IF YOU FOLLOW THAT, WE WILL BE GOOD.

THAT IS THE ISSUE.

I SIT HERE AS A X GENERATION AND A BLACK MAN FROM ST. CROIX AND MY FATHER WAS REPUBLICAN AND SO WAS HIS AND WE ARE HERE LOOKING FOR HOW WE CAN RESTORE THE FAMILY VALUES AND THE CONSERVATIVE NATURE OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING AND PEOPLE KNOW THE FIRST GOVERNOR WAS REPUBLICAN.

EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE TRY TO DIMINISH WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, WE CAN´T CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN AND PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY DON´T TRUST WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING AND THEY DON´T TRUST THE COURTS AND THEY DON´T TRUST WHAT HAPPENS WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW IT IS ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN PROTEST AND YOU GO ON THE RADIO AND YOU CAN SAY, LOOK, MY FAMILY THIS OR MY PERSON WHO KNOWS THAT SO EVERYBODY DOES KNOW IT IS WHO YOU KNOW AND YOU DON´T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW BECAUSE YOU HAVE SPECIAL TREATMENT AND THAT PERMEATES THE SENATE AND EVERYTHING WE DO AND IT IS BECAUSE WE DON´T HAVE A RULE OF LAW THAT PEOPLE FOLLOW.

>> TO BE HONEST, AND I HAVE FOLLOWING THE INNER FIGHTING THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITHIN THE LOCAL GOP IN THE LAWSUITS AND YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS THAT DON´T TRUST WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE DOING EITHER.

SO HOW DO YOU PREACH TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN, WITHIN THE PARTY ITSELF, WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW CONSTANT FIGHTING MAKING IT INTO THE NEWS AND NOT A GOOD REPRESENTATION FOR THE TERRITORY AND WE KNOW THAT AGENTS HAVE INFILTRATED THE PARTY NOT HAVING ANY TIES TO THE TERRITORY BUT YET STILL REPRESENTING US OF THE TERRITORY ON A NATIONAL LEVEL REPRESENTING THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS THAT THEY DON´T EVEN KNOW AND I CAN APPRECIATE YOUR BEING A SIX GENERATION VIRGIN ISLAND OR BECAUSE I AM AS WELL BUT I DO TAKE ISSUE COMING OFF THE PLANE GOING TO THE BOARD OF ELECTION AND REGISTERING TO VOTE AND CHALLENGING THE LAWS WHICH THEY WANT AND A LEGAL CHALLENGE IS A LEGAL CHALLENGE AND YOU GET IT ON THAT LEVEL AND I CAN SEE THAT.

BUT THERE IS AUTHENTICITY TO FORMER SENATOR MADE.

AND I DON´T KNOW IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR BUT SHE WAS MAKING SPECIFIC CLAIMS ABOUT THE REPRESENTATION OF THE TERRITORY AND WHO WILL REPRESENT AND I DO AGREE THAT IF THERE ARE RULES, AND THIS JUST DIDN´T POP UP AND WE KNOW THIS IS COMING AND THEY DID A GOOD JOB OF ADVERTISING AND IT WILL GIVE THE PARTY CREDIT AND IN TERMS OF GARNERING THE INTEREST OF A NATIONAL CANDIDATE AND MOVING AND STRATEGIC AND IT BEING THE THIRD IN THE COUNTRY WHICH I THOUGHT WAS SUPER AND I SPOKE PERSONALLY AND SAID HATS OFF TO YOU BUT IF YOU CAN GET IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, BY ALL MEANS I CONSIDER THAT PROGRESS BUT GETTING CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT I CAN GUARANTEE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS MORE MONEY IN THE BANK THAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND I WOULD BET MY HOUSE ON THAT, BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

I DO APPLAUD THEM FOR THIS EFFORT AND THEY ARE MAKING STRIDES LIKE HE SAID TO BRING BACK AT THEIR PARTY AND THE ISSUE OF HER PRESENTATION IS IMPORTANT AND, WELL SOCIALLY, THERE ARE ISSUES THAT VIRGIN ISLANDERS I THINK ARE NATURALLY CONSERVATIVE ON THE MALE LINE WITH REPUBLICAN VALUES, THERE ARE OTHER VALUES THAT I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TOTALLY IS OFF BASE WITH THIS COMMUNITY AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> OVER THE YEARS, I AM ACCUSTOMED TO SO MUCH CONFUSION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT I LOST MY APPETITE FOR FOLLOWING WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

BUT HERE, LOCALLY, THE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY SMALL BUT YOU HEAR THE VOICES SO YOU COMMEND THEM FOR HEARING THE VOICES AND WANTING TO RUN GOVERNMENT.

>> THEY HAVE A SENATORIAL CANDIDATE.

I THINK THE LAST SENATORIAL CANDIDATE WERE THESE TWO.

>> CORRECT.

BUT I SEE THIS IF YOU ARE PREACHING ALL OF THIS CONFUSION AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT YOU WITH ALL OF THESE CONFUSIONS, HOW WOULD THEY GO TO THE POLLS AND SAY I AM NOT A REPUBLICAN BUT I DO LIKE WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND IT DOESN´T HAPPEN AND IT WILL BE POOR REPRESENTATION IF YOU GO OUT THERE EVERY DAY AND NOTHING BUT CONFUSION AND HOW DO THEY CONVINCE ME THAT YOU HAVE POLICIES PUT IN PLACE THAT TO RUN THIS PLACE IT COULD GIVE YOU A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH NOTHING BUT CONFUSION.

>> LET ME GO TO THE FORMER SENATOR IN ST. CROIX WHO IS IN OUR STUDIOS THERE AND YOU HEARD THE INTERVIEWS AND COMMENTS FROM THE FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEWOMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE VIRGIN >> FIRST, I WILL SAY THERE IS A NEED TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE PARTY IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE NEED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS TODAY MORE WANT TO HAVE THE DELEGATES OR DO THEY WANT TO REPRESENT THE PARTY AND THE PEOPLE?

BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT IT, ONE OF THE MEMBERS ARE ONE OF THE LEADERSHIP IN THE LEADERSHIP POSITION ALSO WROTE A BOOK THAT HELP TO DISRUPT THE SYSTEM.

SO LET´S ADD TO THAT CONVERSATION IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, ARE THEY LOOKING AT A PROCESS OF SELECTING DELEGATES AND BEING ABLE TO BARTER EXACTLY WHO WILL BE SELECTED, OR ARE THEY TRYING TO BUILD A STRONG LOCAL REPUBLICAN ENTITY THAT WOULD BE A VIABLE PARTY AND BE ABLE TO PUT CANDIDATES OUT TO RUN?

WE HAVE TO QUESTION THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME AND THEY ARE ABLE TO REGISTER AND THERE ARE A LOT OF INFIGHTING AND IT CONTINUES.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS A TRUE REPRESENTATION AND AFTER FEBRUARY, IS IT A BIGGER PICTURE?

>> THOSE ARE GREAT POINTS YOU BRING UP.

I WILL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND OF WHAT YOU HEARD AND THEN I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY, TO EDUCATE VOTERS, LET´S TALK ABOUT FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS STANDS AND WHAT WOULD BE APPEALING TO THE VOTERS HERE FOR THE VOTERS WHO WANT TO JOIN AN INCREASE NUMBERS FROM THE 1022 THAT I CHECKED THAT ARE REGISTERED?

>> THANK YOU.

FIRST PLUG WHAT THE SENATOR SAID THAT I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THE TWO- PARTY SYSTEM AND WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS UNFORTUNATE IS THAT THE SAME THING I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THAT THE FOOD FIGHT MENTALITY IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TODAY IS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE WRONG ON THE TALK SHOWS AND RADIOS, BUT NOT ASSENTING TO ACTUALLY DOING CHANGE.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAPPEN AND I CAME BACK INTO ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AFTER WORKING ON THE HURRICANE RECOVERY TO ACTUALLY SEE IF WE COULD FORM FROM THE GRASSROOTS STARTING IN ST. CROIX TO GET DELEGATES.

AND PEOPLE WHO WOULD WORK ON THE DISTRICT PARTY IN ST. CROIX AND ALSO FORM A DISTRICT PARTY IN ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN.

WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT PUTTING TOGETHER THOSE ABOUT IN A MOMENT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE SEE BLOOD IN THE WATER, THEY TALK ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY AND DON´T ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

SO RIGHT NOW THEY´RE ATTACKING HIM FOR THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN 2016 AND WAS CONTROVERSY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITHIN THE PARTY AND PEOPLE DOING THAT, BUT THAT WENT TO THE PORTS --COURTS AND THEY DECIDED THIS THANKS.

SO NOW WE ARE TRYING TO REBUILD WHERE WE ARE WITH THE PARTY.

THE FACTS ARE THAT WE SHOULD BE PRIVILEGED TO SAY THAT HE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN NATIONALLY KNOWN AS FAR AS POLITICAL OPERATIVES ABOUT HOW TO ORGANIZE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZERS.

HE WROTE THE BOOK ABOUT MICHIGAN POLITICS AND NOT ABOUT ST. CROIX POLITICS AND THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2016 AND SINCE THAT TIME WHEN HE MOVED AND HE ST. JOHN AND THE COURTS RECOGNIZED HIS RESIDENCY, HE IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER ON ST. JOHN AND HAS BOUGHT MULTIPLE BUILDINGS ON ST. CROIX INCLUDING A HOTEL AND BY THE PEER AND HE IS DOING THINGS TO BUILD OUR ECONOMY BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE IS WILLING TO SERVE AS A DELEGATE SO THEY TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE AND THEY SAID I DON´T WANT TO BE A RACIST OR SAY THINGS LIKE THAT BUT HE HAS BEEN HERE FOR 62 YEARS DOING GOOD THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HERE A REGISTERED DELEGATE ALSO HAS RUN MULTI- GENERATIONS AND NOW HER SON WITH REAL ESTATE ON ST. THOMAS.

SO THE WAY WE ARE TRYING TO DO IT IN WORKING WITH ATTORNEY JOSEPH IN ST. CROIX AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE TRYING TO ORGANIZE THE PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY AND OTHER PEOPLE THROUGH THESE VALUES SAY HOW DO WE ACTUALLY DO THIS.

>> YES.

LET´S GET TO THE VALUES BECAUSE YOU GOT INTO DEFENDING PERSONALITIES AND SOME OF I AGREE WITH AND I KNOW SOME OF THESE PEOPLE PERSONALLY AS WELL BUT IT´S NOT ABOUT THEM.

IT´S TELL THE COMMUNITY WHAT DOES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLAN TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

>> SO THERE ARE FOUR PILLARS AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

ONE A FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, HEALTHCARE AND TELEHEALTH AND WE WANT TO FOCUS ON TERRITORY SECURITY.

WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, THERE ARE SOME $12 MILLION AVAILABLE TO THE TERRITORY AND WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THOSE FUNDINGS OVER ALMOST 6 YEARS SINCE WE HAD THE HURRICANES.

>> I THINK MOST DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN NONREGISTERED AND NONAFFILIATED VOTERS WOULD ALL AGREE IN YOU AS AN THAT THE UTILIZATION OF THE MONEY HASN´T BEEN CONCISE BUT -- BUT WILL THEY PUT IT INTO THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP EFFECTUATE THAT CHANGE AND THAT IS THE QUESTION?

I DON´T SEE WITH 1022 MEMBERS HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

>> RIGHT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS WE HAVE TO, AS REPUBLICANS, GAIN CONTROL BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT IS CONSERVATIVE THAT HAS ETHICAL LEADERSHIP VALUES THAT ARE NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE TERRITORY AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS.

WHAT I AM SAYING IS THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE, SO TO SPEAK, ARE DEMOCRATS THAT CONTROL THE MONEY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GETTING THE SETTLEMENT AND MAKING PAYMENTS AND SAVING THIS BUT WE HAVE A FACILITY CALLED THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION THAT IS TASKED WITH DOING THOSE THINGS IN THERE ARE RULES AND THEY HAVE GONE TO THE SENATE AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW WITH THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS WHILE THE SENATOR WILL REMEMBER IT COMES INTO THE SENATE AND SAYS WE HAVE TO ALLOW THESE TO HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THESE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, BUT THE SENATE DOESN´T SEE THEIR WAY TO DO THAT.

WHAT THEY SAY IS IF WE CAN GO BACK AND HAVE PEOPLE REGISTER AND GET BACK CONTROL -- >> ONE SECOND.

ONE SECOND.

WE WILL GO BACK TO THE SENATOR AND WHAT WE JUST HEARD ABOUT THE GOVERNOR´S PLAN TO DO IT AND THE GOVERNOR´S SPOKESMAN SAYING THAT THE PLANS AND CONCRETE AND THERE ARE MIXED SIGNALS GIVEN RIGHT NOW THE PLANS FOR THE SETTLEMENT FUNDING.

LET ME ASK YOU.

BASED ON WHAT YOU HEARD IN THE PIECE, MONEY FROM MAHOGANY RUN AND MONEY FROM PAID OVERDUE BILLS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS, HOW DO YOU THINK THE MONEY SHOULD BE ALLOCATED?

DO YOU THINK THAT VICTIM RELATED ITEMS LIKE WE JUST HAD HIM ON THE SHOW, DO YOU THINK THOSE THINGS WILL GET COVERED?

>> IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, SOME OF THE STUFF I WILL CALL THIS FOR VICTIMS ET CETERA BUT I DO THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED TO FIND OUT IS ACTUALLY HOW MUCH MONEY IS AVAILABLE BECAUSE YOU HEARD THIS AMOUNT OF $242.5 MILLION BUT SOME OF THOSE MONIES WILL GO TOWARD ATTORNEY FEES AND WILL BE SET ASIDE AND IT DIDN´T INCLUDE A $25 MILLION.

SO WE DO NEED TO HAVE A COMPLETE FIGURE AS TO EXACTLY WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND THEN WE WILL KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND I BELIEVE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATION SHOULD CONVENE A MEETING AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS AS TO HOW THE MONEY WILL BE UTILIZED AND SPENT.

I KNOW THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION AS TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL BE A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ISSUE AND EXACT THE WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE AND HERE THIS IS TRYING TO GET BOTH OF THOSE CENTERS AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO BE A PART OF THE PORTFOLIO BUT WE DO NEED INFORMATION AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MONIES WILL BE UTILIZED IN A MANNER THAT WILL BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN SPECIFIC AREAS AND I THINK IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WILL --WE WILL LOSE ACCESS TO THAT FUNDING AND THERE IS A LOT THAT HAS RUN OUT AND WE NEED TO BEGIN TO BUILD THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE MONEY COME INTO THE COFFERS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND IT SHOULDN´T BE A BACK-AND-FORTH ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND LEGISLATURE BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS APPROPRIATING THIS AND ALL DECISIONS HAVE TO GO TO THE MENU CAN´T DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH THE MONEY BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS SPENT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> THERE IS A POINT THAT HE MADE ABOUT US HAVING A CONCRETE UNDERSTANDING AND I WOULD THINK THIS UNEXPECTED WINDFALL THAT WE KNOW THIS PERCENTAGE IS GOING TO ATTORNEY FEES AND WE HAVE TO HAVE OTHER FEES AND TAXES AFFILIATED AND YOU ARE A FORMER BANKER SO YOU KNOW THIS BETTER THAN ANYBODY WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMING OUT OF THE GATE AND WE WILL HAVE TO BUILD THESE CENTERS IN ST. CROIX, ST. THOMAS, ST. JOHN, AND THESE ARE THE COSTS OF THE FACILITIES.

THIS LOOKS TO ME LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE ARE NOT MAXIMIZING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN, IN RECENT TIMES, WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID.

>> I DO THINK THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS SHOULD BE ENHANCED THROUGH THESE MONIES AND NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

I THINK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE THE PERFECT WAY TO GO AND SOME MONEY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO CHARITIES FOR EDUCATION AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE, BUT ONCE YOU HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT CREATES JOBS LIKE JOB CREATION, IT IS A MULTIPLIER EFFECT.

THE MONEY WILL BE MULTIPLYING AND YOU REMEMBER AT ONE POINT IN TIME $250 WAS PAID.

SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THIS MONEY COULD DO THAT COULD MULTIPLY THAT WOULD KICK IN AND THE GOVERNOR UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS THEY HAVE TO WORK IN TANDEM WITH LEGISLATURE AND THAT´S THE ONLY WAY IT WILL HAPPEN.

I DO BELIEVE TOUCHING ON THAT MAHOGANY RUN DEVELOPMENT, IT IS A GREAT IDEA, BECAUSE IT WILL CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND ONCE IT DOES, THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT KICKS IN AND THAT MONEY COULD DO A NUMBER OF THINGS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS OR THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN´T PAY FOR THEIR MEDICINES OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, ALL OF THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THIS AND LET´S TALK ABOUT INVESTMENT AND LET´S TALK ABOUT THIS WHEN IT WAS A FARM WITH FOOD PRODUCTION AND TO LOWER THE FOOD COST, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT MULTIPLIER EFFECT AND I THINK THE TERRITORY IS THE BEST NATION ON THE WHOLE BUT LET´S TALK ABOUT ST. CROIX BECAUSE LET´S FACE IT THEY HAVE WONDERFUL GOLF COURSES AND THERE ARE THREE OF THEM OVER THERE ALREADY AND IF YOU WANT TO GOLF, GIVE THE BIG ISLAND SOME TOURISM BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE BECAUSE THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THERE ARE TECHNOLOGIES BEING USED RIGHT NOW IN THE TERRITORY THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH IN TERMS OF AQUACULTURE THAT COULD BE EMPLOYED THERE AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN´T REQUIRE THE INVESTMENT THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO BRING THE GOLF COURSE BACK BUT I DO WANT TO ASK JOHANN CLENDENIN IN LAS VEGAS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THE EPSTEIN SETTLEMENT FUND SHOULD BE USED?

>> I THINK FIRST OF ALL WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE AND I THINK THEY SHOULD GO TO VICTIM SUPPORT.

SO THE NOTION THAT WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID ABOUT WE HAVE THESE THINGS IN PLACE SO WE SHOULD USE IT FOR WAPA I THINK IS INAPPROPRIATE AND I COME BACK TO THE POINT WHERE I THINK THE FIDUCIARY USE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE TO SEE HOW WE DO THAT AND IF IT´S IN THE GENERAL FUND, IT SHOULD BE APPROPRIATED APPROPRIATELY AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I TEACH THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS AND HAVE ACTUALLY GOLFED IN MAHOGANY RUN AND THE DEVILS TRIANGLE YEARS AGO BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS A GOLF COURSE OR THERE COULD BE, IT DEPENDS ON DEVELOPMENT.

SO YOU CAN BRING IN A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR THAT WILL ACTUALLY DEVELOP A GOLF COURSE AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF LAND AVAILABLE TO DO THE AGRICULTURE THAT WE AREN´T USING ON THE BIG ISLAND.

WE NEED TO DO AGRICULTURE AND IT´S NOT AND IF OR NOT, BUT IT IS A QUESTION OF IF THERE IS A DEVELOPER THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF MAHOGANY RUN AND I THINK THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

THE MONEY THAT COMES FROM THE EPSTEIN SETTLEMENT, I THINK IT IS HORRIBLE.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE EPSTEIN SETTLEMENT, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOCAL VIRGIN ISLANDS AND ITS DUPLICITOUS THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

>> I COULDN´T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

GOLF COURSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WORLD ARE CLOSING DOWN AND RECORD NUMBER AND UNFORTUNATELY IN SOME AREAS IT DOES WELL BUT SOME HAVE BEEN REPURPOSED THING THESE GOLF COURSES ACROSS THE COUNTRIES AND LET´S TALK ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM.

RIGHT NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN LETTERS SENT TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM WITH THE FUNDING RUNNING OUT AND THEY ARE PREPARING TO OFFER A SIMILAR FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM AND THIS WEEK WE DID SEE SOME NEWS HITTING ABOUT ONE OF THE GIVEAWAYS HAVING SOME CONTROVERSY ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND THAT START WITH YOU.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS UTILIZATION HOW WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT AND DO YOU THINK THERE IS A CHANCE OF CONGRESS EXTENDING THE DOLLARS NECESSARY?

>> I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT THAT CONGRESS WOULD ACT AND IN OUR FAVOR AND THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO REALLY PAY FOR THAT CONNECTIVITY FOR THAT INTERNET SERVICE AND IT DOES ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE AND IF THAT DOESN´T HAPPEN FROM CONGRESS, OUR LEGISLATURE HAS TO APPROPRIATED MONEY TO FIND IT SOMEWHERE TO MAKE SURE THE SUBSIDY IS IN PLACE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE PEOPLE WHO CAN´T AFFORD IT TO PAY FOR THAT SERVICE.

>> NO QUESTION ONCE YOU BECOME DEPENDENT ON A SUBSIDY LIKE THAT IT IS HARD TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT GIVEN THE FINANCIAL SITUATION AND THE TERRITORY, I AM A LITTLE LEERY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS ON OUR OWN AND I WILL COME TO YOU HERE ON THE ISLAND OF THINK ROY AND HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING WIRELESS AND THIS WAS ANNOUNCED OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND NOW RETRACTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS INTO WHO THIS GUY WAS AND ALLEGATIONS BY LOCAL SENATORS THAT THIS DEAL FROM CONCEPTION TO EXECUTION TOOK PLACE IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS WHICH DOESN´T HAPPEN IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHTS, OR HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ISSUE?

>> IT DID TAKE PLACE WITHIN 24 HOURS AND WHAT YOU SAW WAS A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH HERITAGE AND SENATOR GREGORY THAT HAD A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND IT WAS TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO GET FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH AND AGAIN YOU REALIZE THAT THIS COMPANY IS OWNED BY ONE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMPANY WAS ACTUALLY CREATED A YEAR AGO AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN THE COMPANY AND YOU SEE A HISTORY OF FRAUD AND DECEPTION WITH COVID FUNDING AND MONIES UTILIZED WHEN ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS HELD A AN ELECTED POSITION SO WHY DO WE GET INTO THESE QUESTIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHY WOULD YOU GET IN A DISCUSSION WITH THEM AND WOULD YOU BE SHINING A WHY THEY GET INTO BED WITH THEM FOR ONE YEAR AND THEN YOU SEE A RETRACTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THEY ARE ACTING LIKE THEY NEVER SPOKE ABOUT A PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS COMPANY AND IT MAKES YOU WONDER MORE BUT THE WORST PART IS THIS IS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AND SET TO EXPIRE ON APRIL 24 AND HERE IN FEBRUARY YOU COME OUT OF THIS KNOWING THAT IF THE PROGRAM ISN´T REAUTHORIZING IN A FEDERAL PROGRAM AND THEN THE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG AND IF WE THINK THE GOVERNMENT COULD BE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG JUST GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE LAST YEAR WHEN THE TEAM DIDN´T DO THAT FOR THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT SO YOU CAN´T CONTINUE TO ADD ON AN ADD-ON AND I THINK THEY NEED TO JOIN WITH THE SENATORS AND SEND A IMPORTANCE OF THE PROGRAM BUT IT´S STRANGE THAT IT ONLY BECAME IMPORTANT THE LAST WEEK OF JULY AND THE SILENCE WAS DEAFENING BEFORE THAT.

>> VERY GOOD POINT AND WE HAVE THREE MINUTES LEFT ON THE SHOW AND I WILL ASK AND I DON´T KNOW IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ESPECIALLY IS THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE PSC, BUT YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON THE ISSUE AND HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING THE CONTROVERSY THAT HAS COME UP IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE LAST FEW DAYS REGARDING THIS PROGRAM?

>> AS YOU SAID, IT IS A NATIONAL ISSUE WITH PROGRAMS THAT COME WITH A LOT OF MONEY THAT COMES TO THE TERRITORY AND FROM MONEY WITH THE INITIAL THAT CAME TO THE TERRITORY AND LIBERTY HAS SPENT MONEY AND THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT COME AND AND THE SUBSIDY IS IS REALLY ONLY OF SMALL IMPORTANCE AND I THINK IT IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE PSC IF THEY ARE DOING THAT AND THEY ASK FOR A QUALIFIED FACILITY AND LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE FUNDS, WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT CAN DO THAT.

I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THINGS GET FORCED THROUGH, BUT YOU KNOW THE CHICKENS WILL COME HOME TO ROOST AS THE SENATOR SAID.

THIS ISN´T A --IT IS GOOD THAT THINGS CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY, BUT THE TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON MULTIMILLION BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THAT IS WHAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> I WILL SAY ON A FINAL NOTE THAT WHEN WE RUSH INTO DEALS AND OFTEN TIMES WE TALK ABOUT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT AND HOW INDIVIDUALS LOOK AT US, WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THIS, IT OPENS IT UP TO CRITICISM.

THERE IS A LOT THAT IS LOOK LIKE THE SENATOR SAID AND IT PRESENTS ISSUES.

AND AGAIN, TO WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM ABOUT MISTRUST OF LEADERS, THIS FURTHER FOSTERS THIS.

WHEN A PARENT HAS TO BRING THE AGREEMENT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAYS GUESS WHAT THERE IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN IT, I WON´T SIGN IT.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A PROBLEM.

GUESS WHAT?

WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING A LOT OF FUN.

THAT IS ALL FOR THE SHOW TODAY AND BE SURE TO TUNE IN NEXT SUNDAY FOR AN ALL-NEW EPISODE OF COMES WITH THE TERRITORY AND FOR YOUR NEWS UPDATES TURN INTO WTJX WEEKDAYS AT 5:00 OR BY DOWNLOADING THE WTJX APP.

I AM LESLIE COMISSIONG FOR ALL OF US HERE AT WTJX.

HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY.

>> YOU HEARD THE COMMENTS FROM THE FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEWOMAN OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS REPUBLICAN PARTY AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> THEY WANT TO REPRESENT THE PARTY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS BE CLOSE ONE OF THE MEMBERS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP IS THIS INDIVIDUAL ACTUALLY WROTE A BOOK ON HOW TO DISRUPT THE SYSTEM.

>> COMES WITH THE TERRITORY AIRS SUNDAY AT 1:00 P.M. AND REPEATS AT 7:00 P.M., CHANNEL 12.