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

>> ON THIS EPISODE OF COMES WITH THE TERRITORY, BUSINESS OWNERS SHARE HOW ONGOING ROAD ISSUES AND REPEATED SEWAGE OVERFLOWS ARE ONCE AGAIN DRIVING AWAY CUSTOMERS AS THE HOLIDAY SYSTEM --SEASON NEARS.

> >> QUESTIONED ABOUT THE ELECTION, AND THE RESULTS ON ST. THOMAS AND CONCERNS OVER THE ABSENCE OF BALLOT BOXES ON ST. CROIX.

WE WILL HAVE THE DETAILS > >> LATER, HOW A DONALD TRUMP WHITE HOUSE COULD IMPACT RECENTLY REELECTED DELEGATES OF CONGRESS AND THE AGENDA FOR THIS TERRITORY.

STAY TUNED AS THE PANEL JOINS THE CONVERSATION TO BREAK DOWN THESE ISSUES AND MORE.

COMES WITH THE TERRITORY STARTS NOW.

>> WELCOME TO COMES WITH THE TERRITORY, I AM MARCELLINA VENTURA-DOUGLAS.

A YEAR AGO THIS MONTH, WE HIGHLIGHTED CONCERNS FROM DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANS DEAD ABOUT THE SEWER REPLACEMENT PROJECT WITH EXTENSIVE DIGGING AND LEFT WROTE UNPAID FOR LONG TIMES.

AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON APPROACHES, SOME ROADS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BUT REPEATED SEWAGE OVERFLOWS CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE FRUSTRATION AS WORK CARRIES ON.

HERE IS MORE.

THIS WAS A SITUATION RECENTLY NEXT TO A BOAT HOUSE IN DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANSTED, SEWAGE WATER BUBBLING UP FROM A MANHOLE IN A PUDDLE IN THE STREET AND SLOWING INTO THE BOARDWALK INTO THE CHRISTIANSTED HARBOR AS DINERS STRUGGLED WITH THE STENCH.

AT THE SAME TIME, SEWAGE OVERFLOW FROM A MANHOLE INTO THE SEA NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE TERMINAL WASTE MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS SAYS THE LATEST SEWAGE ISSUE IN DOWNTOWN WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN 20 INCH LINE WHICH REQUIRED THE PUMP STATION TO GO OFF-LINE TO MAKE REPAIRS.

>> WHEN THE STATION GOES DOWN AND THE WATER HAS TO FIND AN EXIT.

IF THE WATER WILL OVERFLOW, THAT IS THE WAY FOR THE WATER TO GET OUT.

UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, BEST FOR THE WATER TO LEAVE THE SYSTEM THROUGH THAT MANHOLE THEN BACK UP INTO RESIDENTIAL HOMES OR BUSINESSES IN CHRISTIANSTED.

>> THE ISSUE WAS CONTAINED WITHIN A FEW DAYS THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM LAST MONTH, A MALFUNCTIONING PARK --HOPE CAUSED FROM RAW SEWAGE TO FLOW FROM MANHOLES IN CHRISTIANSTED FOR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, THE SEWAGE PROBLEM IS ONE OF MANY CHALLENGES.

WITH THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON APPROACHING, STOREOWNERS IN CHRISTIANSTED ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE CHRISTIANSTED SEWER REPLACEMENT PROJECT THE CONDITION OF THESE ROADS HINDERS FOOT TRAFFIC AND SALES, MAKING AN ALREADY TOUGH SEASON EVEN HARDER.

I AM JOINED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHRISTIANSTED CHRISTIANSTED RETAIL AND RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, MATTHEW RIDGWAY, AND JIMMY MARCHIONNA, THE HOUSE SUPERVISOR OF NATE´S BOATHOUSE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> JIMMY MARCHIONNA, AS NATE´S BOATHOUSE, WHAT WASTE MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS CALLED THE LOWEST AREA IN CHRISTIANSTED WHERE WASTEWATER OVERFLOWS WHENEVER THERE IS AN ISSUE, COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY AND HOW IT IS IMPACTING YOUR CUSTOMERS?

>> WHENEVER THERE IS HEAVY RAIN, WE WILL HAVE FLOODING IN THAT GENERAL AREA OF THE STREET.

THE MANHOLE COVERS WILL ACTUALLY BE BLOWN OFF SO IT IS A DANGER TO DRIVE.

THE GENERAL ODOR THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO EAT IN, BUT EVEN WALKING BY HIS UNPLEASANT.

ANYTIME THERE IS GRAYWATER COMING OUT OF THOSE, WE WILL HAVE AN ODOR, OUR BATHROOMS WILL BACK UP AND BE UNUSABLE BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THE WATER TO FLOW AND WE WILL NOT DO ANY BUSINESS DURING THOSE TIMES.

THAT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM A COUPLE HOURS, IN THE CASE OF MID-OCTOBER, ABOUT FOUR DAYS INCLUDING THE WEEKEND.

>> MR. RIDGWAY, YOU MENTIONED THAT A NEWLY INSTALLED SEWER LINE FROM THE CHRISTIANSTED SEWER REPLACEMENT PROJECT BECAME DISCONNECTED IN MARCH, LEADING TO SEWAGE SPILLING UP SINCE THEN HOW HAS THIS ISSUE BEEN IMPACTING YOUR BUSINESS?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE TIME BETWEEN MARCH AND NOW, MY BUSINESS IS DOWN 30% AND IN THAT SAME TIME, THE BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH IS UP 22% HOW I AM ABLE TO RECONCILE THE LOSS OF BUSINESS ANY OTHER WAY THAN THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM, IS CHALLENGING.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN TOYS AND ACTIVITIES IN CHRISTIANSTED BUT IF I CANNOT GET SOMEBODY TO WALK NEAR MY BUSINESS I CANNOT SELL THEM DOWN TOUR.

WE ARE NEXT IF THIS IS NOT FIXED.

>> JIMMY MARCHIONNA, WHAT HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS HAS THIS ISSUE RAISED FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM?

>> ANY TIME YOU HAVE GRAYWATER IN AN AREA, YOU HAVE AN ODOR WHICH AFFECT PEOPLE´S MOOD, HOW THEY ACT AND WORK.

WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE HAD TO LEAVE IN MID-OCTOBER WHEN THE STENCH WAS SO BAD, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO OPERATE EVEN THOUGH OUR BUSINESS WAS OPEN, WE DID LITERALLY NO BUSINESS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR REGULAR BAR BUSINESS FOR FOUR DAYS.

>> MR. RIDGWAY, YOU CAN ANSWER FIRST, HAVE YOU HAD TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS WITH YOUR BUSINESS, WITH LIFE, BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES?

>> YES.

RIGHT NOW, CARIBBEAN SEA ADVENTURES IS DEPLETING MY PERSONAL ASSETS TO KEEP THE BUSINESS ALIVE, WHEN THEY NEED $10,000 FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, BUT WE HAVE NOT MADE IT IN THE MONTH, THAT IS A PROBLEM.

I CANNOT CALL THEM UP AND SAY, WASTE MANAGEMENT BROKE A PIPE IN FRONT OF MY BUSINESS AND I HAVE NO CUSTOMERS.

THAT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER TO CAN TOTHEM.

WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE SURVIVED BUT THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHERE WE CAN GO.

WASTE MANAGEMENT, THEY DO NOT HAVE AN EXCUSE FOR THIS BEING THE WAY THAT IT IS.

ALL THAT HAPPENED IS TWO PIPES BECAME DISCONNECTED, PUT A CLAMP ON IT, THIS WOULD TAKE 20 MINUTES TO PREPARE BUT IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 200 DAYS AND I AM NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THIS IS NOT OKAY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US.

I AM ANGRY AND VERY DISAPPOINTED.

>> SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THE ADJUSTMENTS YOU HAVE HAD TO MAKE OVER AT NATE´S BOATHOUSE, JIMMY MARCHIONNA.

>> WE HAVE HAD TO REDUCE OUR STAFF, NATURALLY, THIS IS THE SLOWEST TIME AS WE GET THROUGH OCTOBER AND INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHERE WE START TO SEE OUR LOCALS INCREASE, AND PEOPLE STARTED TO COME DOWN FROM THE STATES.

WE REDUCED STAFFING.

WE ELIMINATED THE MUSIC WE HAD A COUPLE DAYS A WEEK.

WE WERE DOING MUSIC ON FRIDAY, WE NORMALLY DO MUSIC ON SUNDAYS, WE HAVE ELIMINATED THOSE AND HOPE TO BRING THEM BACK BUT WE NEED TO SEE AN INCREASE IN NUMBERS.

RIGHT NOW, WE NEED THE LOCAL CLIENTELE, WHICH LAST YEAR WE LOST DURING THAT TIME WHEN THEY HAD CARVED UP THE ROADS AND LITERALLY NO ONE WAS COMING INTO TOWN.

WHEN YOU LOSE THAT, YOU LOSE THE REPETITION, PEOPLE ARE CREATURES OF HABIT, THEY GET INTO A HABIT, WE ROUTINELY HAD PEOPLE COMING THREE OR FOUR TIMES PER MONTH AS GROUPS, THOSE ARE ALL GONE AND WE HOPE TO GET THEM BACK INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> MR. RIDGWAY, AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHRISTIANSTED RETAIL AND RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM OTHER DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS?

PEOPLE SHARING HER STRUGGLES, WHAT ARE THEIR IMPACTS, BOTH FOR THE SEWAGE OVERFLOW AND FOR THE ROAD CONDITIONS?

>> IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS, I AM ALSO PART IN ST. CROIX SURF COMPANY, AND I WAS A PARTNER IN GINGER THOMAS WHICH WE HAD TO CLOSE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOOT TRAFFIC TO MY OTHER BUSINESSES, WE ARE ON LIFE SUPPORT.

IF THIS IS NOT FIXED VERY QUICKLY, MANY BUSINESSES IN CHRISTIANSTED WILL GO UNDER.

NO MATTER IF YOU PAVE THE STREETS AND GOLD, WE WILL NOT BE THERE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE PREVENTING US FROM PURSUING WHAT IS BEST FOR US.

I CAN´T TELL YOU HOW DISAPPOINTED THIS IS, I AM A LIVE AND LET LIVE GUY, BUT WE HAVE A SOCIAL CONTRACT AND THEY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING WHAT IS IN EVERYBODY´S BEST INTEREST.

AT NO POINT IN TIME, TO THE STREET RUNNING WITH SEWAGE IS IN ANYBODY´S BEST INTEREST THEY HAVE FAILED US IN A DRAMATIC WAY AND I DON´T KNOW WE WILL BE HERE IF THEY DO NOT FIX THIS VERY SOON.

>> YOU ARE GETTING READY TO PUT ON THE ANNUAL POST- THANKSGIVING JUMP UP EVENT WHICH IS AROUND THE CORNER, DO YOU THINK THESE CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO IMPACT OVERALL TURNOUT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN PATRONIZING CHRISTIANSTED BECAUSE OF THE ROADS LAST YEAR AND THE SEWAGE NOW, FOR SOME PEOPLE IT HAS BEEN YEARS SINCE THEY HAVE COME TO SEE US I DON´T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT OUT OF THE JUMP UP, WE WILL PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD AND WE ARE EXCITED WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, MAKING SURE THIS IS THE BEST JUMP UP IT HAS EVER BEEN.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND SEE US AGAIN.

WE LOVE YOU AND WE MISS YOU.

I BELIEVE THAT WASTE MANAGEMENT WILL DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT A HINDRANCE TO THIS WONDERFUL EVENT.

>> MR. MARCHIONNA, ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO HELP RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS?

>> IT IS DIFFICULT.

WE KNOW THAT THE WATER ISSUE IS BASED ON THE VOLUME THAT IS COMING DOWN AT A CERTAIN TIME.

OBVIOUSLY, THE PUBLIC SITUATION HAPPENED IN MID-OCTOBER WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

THE BLACK WATER, THAT WAS RAW SEWAGE GOING INTO THE OCEAN, GOING INTO PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HARBOR.

THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE, WHEN THAT HAPPENS THEY NEED TO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WILL AT LEAST FILTER OUT WHAT IS COMING DOWN FROM THE GRAYWATER, THEY PROBABLY NEED TO CREATE SOME KIND OF LOW AREA WHERE THEY CAN GET THE WATER TO TO SETTLE AS OPPOSED TO GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE HARBOR.

>> MR. RIDGWAY, BEFORE WE GO, HAVE YOU OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS DISCUSSED IN THE COLLECTIVE ACTIONS YOU MAY BE THINKING OF TAKING AS THESE ISSUES CONTINUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, IF ONE OF MY BOATS WAS TO DISCHARGE RAW SEWAGE, THAT IS A $10,000 FINE.

SO, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DOING IT EVERY DAY FOR 200 DAYS, WE FEEL THAT LITIGATION IS OUR ONLY OPTION AT THIS POINT AND CARIBBEAN SEA ADVENTURES IS PURSUING LITIGATION AGAINST WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR THIS.

WE NEED TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED AND WE WILL SEEK DAMAGES.

>> MR. MARCHIONNA, ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW ABOUT SUPPORTING DOWNTOWN MARCHIONNA BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE ONGOING HURDLES?

>> IT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU IN THE BOARDWALK.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EVENTS COMING UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND WE WOULD LIKE LOCAL CLIENTELE TO SEE LOCAL BUSINESSES, SHOP LOCALLY, JUST TO SEE MORE PEOPLE COMING DOWN FROM THE LOCAL AREA WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE BLESSING TO US ON THE BOARDWALK.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING SO CANDID AND SHARING THESE ISSUES, WE HOPE YOU HAVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES RESOLVED.

COMING UP, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PANEL.

FIRST, LET´S LOOK AT THE ISSUES UP FOR DISCUSSION.

WITH THE RESULTS CERTIFIED, QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT THE ISSUES DURING THE NOVEMBER 5th GENERAL ELECTION, THE FIRST MANAGED BY THE SUPERVISOR´S OFFICE, RATHER THAN THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY, THE SUPERVISOR ASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT HER OFFICE WOULD PROVIDE A TRANSPARENT PROCESS, PROMISING TIMELY RESULTS.

>> OUR GOAL HAS BEEN TO GET THE RESULTS.

>> ON ELECTION NIGHT IN ST. THOMAS, THERE WERE DELAYS COME AFTER 9:00 P.M., BALLOTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL BOATING CENTER WERE STILL IN TRANSIT TO THE ELECTION OFFICE, WHICH IS LESS THAN A HALF A MILE AWAY.

IT RESULTED IN UNOFFICIAL RESULTS FOR THE DISTRICT, TO BE RELEASED AFTER 10:00 P.M., POSTPONING THE OVERALL TERRITORIAL TALLIES ON ST. CROIX, THE ELECTION OFFICE MET ITS TARGET, RELEASING UNOFFICIAL DISTRICT RESULTS ABOUT 8:15 P.M., OFFICIALS ENCOUNTERED A SEPARATE ISSUE HOWEVER EARLIER THAT DAY WHEN SOME VOTERS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF BALLOT BOXES.

>> I GOT MY PAPER BALLOT, I FILLED IT OUT, I TURNED AROUND TO LOOK FOR THE BALLOT BOX BUT I SAW NONE.

I ASKED WHERE THE BALLOT BOX WAS, THEY SAID, YOU HAVE TO GO --I SAID NO, AT THAT TIME, IF I BELIEVE IN CHAPTER 19, THEY HAD NO ANSWER.

>> A SUBSEQUENT EXCHANGE BY OFFICIALS AT THE BOWLING CENTER ENDED WITH MOOREHEAD HANDCUFFED AND REMOVED.

>> I WAS DETAINED AND REMOVED BECAUSE SHE REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

>> THEY VOTED AND EPISCOPAL SCHOOL AND NOT THE ONLY VOTER WHO QUESTIONS A LACK OF BALLOT BOXES AND VOTING CENTERS.

>> THERE IS NO BALLOT BOX PRESENT, VIOLATING THE CODE, SHE IS IN VIOLATION.

>> THEY EXPLAINED THE REQUIREMENT FOR BALLOT BOXES DATES BACK TO A 1963 LAW WHICH SHE SAID HAS BEEN OUTDATED SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES IN 1986.

>> FROM 1986, THE BOXES IN THE VOTING CENTERS HAVE BEEN PUT AWAY WITH.

THE PRESENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, 200 MACHINES, DO HAVE A BOX IN IT, A BLUE BALLOT BOX.

ALL VOTES ARE CAST AND TABULATED IN THE VOTING MACHINE.

>> SHE HIGHLIGHTED THE LEGISLATURE TO AMEND THE 90s 23 LAW AND SAY SHE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL ELECTION LAWS IN NEED OF UPDATING WHEN SHE BECAME SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IN 2013.

CLEOPATRA, WHO WAS ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SAID SHE WOULD CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ELECTION REFORM.

>> I WANT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

THAT IS WHAT I WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR.

FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS FOR ALL.

>> WITH DONALD TRUMP RETURNING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, DELEGATES IN CONGRESS COULD FACE NEW CHALLENGES IN ADVANCING HER AGENDA.

AS A DEMOCRAT, THEY GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION IN 2021 WHEN SHE SERVED AS ONE OF THE HOUSE MANAGERS AND THE SECOND APPEASEMENT TRIAL OF DONALD TRUMP, SAYING HE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR INCITING THE JANUARY 6 CAPITAL ATTACK.

TO WHEN THE VIOLENCE ERUPTED AS A RESPONSE TO CALLS TO FIGHT AGAINST THE STOLEN ELECTION, HE DID NOT WALK IT BACK.

HE DID NOT TELL THEM NO.

HE DID THE OPPOSITE.

THE OPPOSITE.

HE PRAISED AND ENCOURAGED THE VIOLENCE SO THAT IT WILL CONTINUE.

HE FAN THE FLAME OF VIOLENCE.

>> STACEY PLASKETT HAS HAD MEMORABLE MOMENTS WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ON THE HOUSE FOR AS LAST YEAR A TENSE EXCHANGE WITH NOW HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON DURING A COMMITTEE HEARING.

>> YOU CAN EXAMINE IT, IT IS A DOCUMENT.

>> EXAMINE HIM FOR WHAT HE WROTE AND THE INTENT BEYOND WHAT HE SAID >> I WOULD POINT OUT THAT UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR DOCUMENTS, WE HAVE THE DOCUMENT RIGHT HERE.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

>> WE RECOGNIZED MISS WASSERMAN SCHULTZ.

>> A UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST.

>> AT THE CONVENTION IN AUGUST, STACEY PLASKETT JOINED THE GOVERNOR AT A CONTINGENT OF LOCAL DEMOCRATS AND ENDORSED THE OPPONENT OF DONALD TRUMP, KAMALA HARRIS.

>> RESILIENCE, COMMITMENT TO THE PROCESS TO VOTE FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES, ALL 13 VOTES TO KAMALA HARRIS.

>> STACEY PLASKETT WENT VIRAL IN SEPTEMBER WHEN A VIDEO CLIP FROM HER MSNBC INTERVIEW LAST SUMMER WAS SHARED BY ELON MUSK.

SHE IS REFERRING TO DONALD TRUMP WHEN SHE SAYS -- >> HE NEEDS TO BE SHOT -- STOPPED.

>> SHE CORRECTED HERSELF BUT ELON MUSK STATED, THE DEMS CALL FOR DONALD TRUMP TO BE SHOT AT TWO PEOPLE HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL.

DESPITE THE PARTISAN CHALLENGES, PLASKETT SAID THAT SHE IS CONFIDENT IN HER ABILITY TO WORK WITH REPUBLICANS TO MOVE FORWARD THE VIRGIN ISLANDS´ AGENDA.

>> PLENTY OF INSTANCES WHEN I HAVE HAD VERY STRIKING DEBATES WITH MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND GONE OUT TO DINNER WITH THEM AFTERWARDS.

WE RECOGNIZED, IN THE HOUSE, WE ARE REPRESENTING THE INTEREST OF OUR PEOPLE AND THAT IS WAY I WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE.

I THINK, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WANT TRUTH AND THEY WANT US TO STAND UP FOR RIGHTS.

ANOTHER REASON THEY SEND US TO WASHINGTON.

MY JOB IS NOT TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY, BUT TO BE THEIR VOICE ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER TWO YEARS OF BEING THE VOICE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN WASHINGTON.

>> JOINING THE ONSET TO BREAK DOWN THESE ISSUES IS TERENCE A. THOMAS, SR., CO-HOST OF WSTA 1340 A.M.

WELCOME TO COMES WITH THE TERRITORY.

>> GOOD EVENING AND NICE TO BE HERE.

>> FROM OUR ST. CROIX STUDIO, JOINED BY ATTORNEY KYE WALKER, FOUNDING AND MANAGING ATTORNEY OF THE WALKER LEGAL GROUP AND NEVILLE JAMES, FORMER SENATOR AND HOST OF ANALYZE THIS ON WTJX-FM 93.

1.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU BOTH WITH US.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> BEFORE THE ELECTION RELATED TOPICS, I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON OUR FEATURED DISCUSSION, KYE WALKER, ONE OF YOUR OFFICES IS IN DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANSTED AND YOU ARE SEEING THIS ISSUE OF THE PLUMBING, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE?

>> THE BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANSTED, ESPECIALLY THE RETAIL BUSINESSES HAVE STRUGGLED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WITH THE ROAD SITUATION, THERE WAS A TIME LAST YEAR WHERE THERE WERE TRENCHES IN THE ROADS IN CHRISTIANSTED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING TO DRIVE ACROSS.

SO, THE ROADS ARE FINALLY BEING REPAIRED AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

BUT THEY WERE LEFT IN THAT STATE FOR A LONG TIME.

NOW, WITH THE SEWAGE ISSUES, IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME HOW THESE BUSINESSES ARE CONTINUING TO SURVIVE AFTER ALL THIS TIME.

>> MR. THOMAS, WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES WHEN WE ARE SEEING THESE ISSUES WITH ROADS AND SEWAGE REPEATEDLY COMING ABOUT MIKE MAX >> I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS OVERWHELMED, A LARGE NUMBER OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THEY ARE UNDERTAKING.

I THINK THEY ARE OVERWHELMED.

NUMBER TWO, SITUATIONS LIKE SEWAGE NOT JUST IN ST. CROIX BUT A SIMILAR SITUATION IN ST. THOMAS, THAT TELLS ME WE DON´T HAVE ENOUGH MANPOWER TO DEAL WITH THESE SITUATIONS AND PERHAPS WE ARE NOT LOOKING FORWARD IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROPERLY EQUIPPED, BASED ON WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD, THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS SITUATION WITH SEWAGE HAS TO DO WITH THE CAPABILITY OF PUMP STATIONS TO MEET THE DEMAND OF PUMPS BREAKING DOWN INTERMITTENTLY.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE TO REPAIR THE PUMP.

I THINK IT IS A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE IN OVERHEAD.

>> MR. JAMES, WHAT DO YOU THINK CHRISTIANSTED RETAILERS SHOULD DO TO PUSH FOR SOLUTIONS WITH THESE ISSUES?

>> WE HAVE COME TO THE POINT NOW WHERE THEY ARE EXPECTING RESULTS.

WHEN WASTE MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCED IN NOVEMBER OF 2021 THAT THEY HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH FEMA FOR THREE YEARS TO ADDRESS THE ISLANDS WATER AND SEWER ISSUES, THEY FIGURED THAT WE WERE TOLD BACK THEN, BETWEEN $1.

5 MILLION, $1.

5 BILLION AND $2 BILLION, WHEN THEY SETTLED ON AN ACTUAL FIGURE IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, THAT NUMBER WAS REDUCED TO $989 MILLION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON WITH A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

AT THIS POINT, THEY JUST WANT RESULTS.

UNDERSTANDABLY SO.

I SPOKE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON OCTOBER 5th AND I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION.

WE SPOKE ABOUT THE SITUATION IN ST. CROIX.

HE AGREED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS OF HIGH- PRIORITY.

HE HAS TWO YEARS, ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF ON TOP OF THAT, SO HOPEFULLY WE SEE POSITIVE RESULTS.

NOT GOING TO BE A TWO YEAR ISSUE, A PLANNING ISSUE, BY THE WAY, A SHOUT OUT TO TWO FORMER SENATORS BECAUSE, I, AS A SENATOR DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY AND WHY PLANNING IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR JURISDICTION AND THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE >> TO THE RECENT GENERAL ELECTION AND DELAYS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL VOTING CENTER THAT PUSHED BACK THE RELEASE OF THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS FOR THE ST. THOMAS-ST. JOHN DISTRICT ON ELECTION NIGHT.

THE SUPERVISOR SAID SHE CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT AND THIS IS WHAT SHE FOUND.

>> THE WORKERS INDICATED THEY WERE OVERWHELMED.

THEY DID NOT KNOW THE DEPUTY NO SOME DID NOT SHOW UP AND THE PROCEDURES ON ELECTION NIGHT, THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT GOING FORWARD.

TO MAKE SURE WE GET TIMELY AND ACCURATE INFORMATION.

WE WILL MAKE THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IN THE FUTURE AND WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE UNTIMELY RESULTS.

>> MR. THOMAS, HEARING THAT POLL WORKERS FAILED TO NOTIFY THE ELECTION SYSTEM OF NOT BEING PRESENT, WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO YOU ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT WITH THE ELECTIONS OFFICE AND HOW THIS ELECTION WAS CONDUCTED?

>> THE POLLS OPEN AT 7:00 A.M., YOU FIGURE, BY MIDDAY, 1:00 P.M.

IN THE AFTERNOON, THEY CAN DO AN ASSESSMENT AS TO WHERE THEY ARE WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING INTO VOTE AND THE PERSONNEL THEY HAVE TO HELP MANAGE A POLLING PLACE.

WITH PROPER PROCEDURES IN PLACE, UNLESS YOU CAN --THAT SHOULD TRIGGER YOU MAKING A CALL TO WHOEVER NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSE AT 7:00 P.M. >> MR. JAMES, WHAT SHOULD ELECTION OFFICIALS DO TO RESTORE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AFTER THESE PROBLEMS THAT WE SAW?

>> I AGREE WITH MR. THOMAS, THE POLLS OPEN AT 7:00 AND WE HAVE 12 HOURS, A 12 HOUR VOTING WINDOW, THERE SHOULD BE CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL.

OBVIOUSLY, 2024 WAS A TURNOUT PROBLEM ELECTION YEAR ON THE MAINLAND WITH LESS TURNOUT THAN EXPECTED, LESS POLL WORKER TURNOUT ALSO, NOT A LAUGHING MATTER, BUT, TO NOTE THAT THE PROXIMITY FROM THAT PARTICULAR PRECINCT OR POLLING CENTER TO THE ELECTION OFFICE, USING THE ARGUMENT, OR THE EXCUSE, THEY WERE OVERWHELMED AND THEY DID NOT KNOW THEY WOULD BE SHORT ON WORKERS COMP I AM SORRY, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WE ONLY GET TO VOTE EVERY SO OFTEN.

THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF WHERE PREPARATION IS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

I FEEL BAD FOR THE VOTERS IN ST. THOMAS.

I FEEL BAD FOR THE MEDIA, OURSELVES, WE WANT TO GET OUR COMPREHENSIVE RESULTS, TOTALLY UNFORTUNATE.

ON THE ST. CROIX SIDE, WE DELIVER THE VOTES.

>> TWO CANDIDATES ON THE ST. CROIX BALLOT, RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT A LACK OF BOXES AND VOTING CENTERS AND SAID THEY VIOLATED THE LAW, BUT BOTH WERE ELECTED USING THE SAME SYSTEM THEY HAD AN ISSUE WITH HOW DO YOU THINK THIS IMPACTS THE CREDIBILITY OF THEIR CONCERNS?

>> ULTIMATELY, I DON´T THINK IT IMPACTS THE CREDIBILITY OF THEIR CONCERNS.

I HEARD THE POSITION OF MS. FOX, THAT IT IS AN OUTDATED LAW AND I UNDERSTAND THAT POSITION.

TO THE EXTENT YOU STILL HAVE MEMBERS OF THE VOTING PUBLIC THAT CONCERNS WITH THEIR BALLOT, ABOUT YOU BEING A MACHINE OR AN ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM, UNTIL THE LAWS ARE AMENDED, I DO THINK WE SHOULD AT LEAST CATER TO THE VOTERS AND TRY TO MAKE THAT MEANS OF VOTING AVAILABLE TO THEM AS FAR AS AFFECTING THE CREDIBILITY, I DO NOT THINK IT DOES NECESSARILY.

I JUST THINK THERE IS AN ISSUE REGARDING PREFERENCE AND TRUST WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING.

>> LET´S GET INTO THE NEW ELECTION BOARD, WITH CLEOPATRA PETER NOW ELECTED, WHAT CHALLENGES WILL THIS POST FOR SUPERVISOR FOX GIVEN SHE HAS BEEN ONE OF HER MOST VOCAL CRITICS.

>> I AM CONFIDENT IN MS. FOX IN HANDLING CLEOPATRA PETER.

WHEN SHE FIRST CAME ON, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2013 AND 2014, SHE WAS DEALING WITH -- NEVER SEEN A CONFRONTATION YOU WOULD EMBRACE AND I´M CONFIDENT MS. FOX CAN HANDLE MS. PETER, WHO IS OUTSPOKEN, A RADIO PERSONALITY, AND I EXPECT MS. FOX WHO IS TENACIOUS IN HER OWN WAY, DO NOT FORGET, MS. FOX IS IN THE MANAGEMENT BUSINESS, MS. PETER IS A BOARD MEMBER, SHE JUST WON THE ENTIRE BOARD.

IT IS ABOUT REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE, SHE WANTS FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS, WE WILL SEE IF SHE STICKS TO THAT.

>> THERE WILL BE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITH SIX MEMBERS DEPARTING, AND THE ST. THOMAS- ST. JOHN DISTRICT, FOUR BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE LEAVING.

ON ST. CROIX, TWO CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS WHICH WILL NOT BE RETURNING.

NEW FACES INCLUDE CLEOPATRA PETER AND JASON JOHN BAPTISTE.

ONE HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD AND WILL JOIN HIS WIFE AS A FELLOW BOARD MEMBER.

MR. THOMAS, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT HUSBAND AND WIFE BOTH SERVING ON THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS?

>> I DON´T SEE IT AS AN ISSUE, BOTH OF THEM RAN IN ACCORDANCE AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO RUN FOR THAT POSITION.

JUST THE LUCK OF THE DRAW.

I DO NOT SEE ANY ISSUES.

THERE ARE OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COME UP IN THE TERRITORY WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS SIT ON DIFFERENT BOARDS AND HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS.

>> MR. JAMES, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WE ARE SEEING WITH THE BOARD?

>> CHANGE IS CONSTANT.

I AM GLAD IN A SENSE.

THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER ON THE BOARD, THEY HAVE SERVED WILLINGLY FOR A LONG TIME BUT THEY HAVE DONE WELL, HOPEFULLY, THOSE WHO ARE, AS WE SAY, THE NEWBIES, REPLACING THEM, UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE.

THE ELECTION SYSTEM, THE INALIENABLE RIGHT TO VOTE IN SECRET, I WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON BEING AN EFFECTIVE BOARD MEMBER AND NOT NECESSARILY FOCUSING ON BUILDING THEIR PROFILE AND THEIR PERSONALITY.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE ELECTION PROCESS, BEEN ELECTED, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, I WANT A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTION, BUT WE WANT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO HOW TO VOTE AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO VOTE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY THAT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY SO OFTEN.

>> ELECTION SUPERVISOR CAROLYN FOX BY THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN OCTOBER AFTER THEY VOTED TO PLACE DELEGATES OF CONGRESS CANDIDATE IDA SMITH BACK ON THE BALLOT, FOLLOWING HER INITIAL DISQUALIFICATION OF HER.

THE LAWSUIT WAS DISMISSED WITH THE COURT FINDING THAT FOX CANNOT SUE IN HER CAPACITY AS ELECTION SUPERVISOR.

THE COURT RULED THAT SHE CANNOT CONTINUE THE COMPLAINT AS SHE CANNOT DEMONSTRATE AN IMPACT FROM SMITH BEING ON THE BALLOT ATTORNEY WALKER, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SERIES OF EVENTS RELATED TO THESE COMPLAINTS?

>> I THINK IT WAS A SAD SERIES OF EVENTS.

WHILE SHE MAY HAVE HAD A POINT TO MAKE AND MAYBE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT ON THE MERITS WERE CORRECT ON THE MERITS, THE LAWSUIT WAS VERY ILL-ADVISED.

WHEN YOU ARE FILING A LAWSUIT, YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE TECHNICALITIES AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE SUBSTANCE OF THE LAWSUIT.

IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS TECHNICALITY DID NOT SUPPORT THE LAWSUIT GOING FORWARD AND I THINK ULTIMATELY IT DOES MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD.

NOT EVERY SINGLE BATTLE NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT ALL THE WAY, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LET THINGS GO, MAYBE WAIT FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT PRESENTS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO MAKE YOUR POINT.

I THINK THIS IS A TAINT ON THE ELECTION SYSTEM AND I THINK IT WILL LEAD TO MORE DISPUTES BECAUSE THE OBVIOUS QUESTION IS WHO WILL PAY FOR THIS LAW FIRM THAT THE SUPERVISOR REPAID TO FILE THE LAWSUIT WHEN THE COURT ULTIMATELY HELD THAT ONLY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS CAN´T RETAIN COUNSEL TO INITIATE LAWSUITS INVOLVING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BOARD AND SUPERVISOR FOR MATTERS CONCERNING THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

>> MR. JAMES, JUDGE ROSS EDWARDS NOTING THAT THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO RETAIN PRIVATE COUNSEL TO REPRESENT HER.

IN HER CAPACITY, WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL, IN LIGHT OF THIS OPINION, DO YOU THINK THIS COULD PLACE HER EMPLOYMENT IN JEOPARDY?

>> I WOULD HOPE NOT.

SHE HAD A DEEP ROOTED CONVICTION, WITH RESPECT TO WHAT TOOK PLACE WITH CANDIDATE IDA SMITH.

I LOOK AT IT AS A CIVICS LESSON, WITH WHAT DETERMINES ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL OFFICE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY THAT THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT THAT MS. FOX HAS HELD ONTO, SO VIGOROUSLY, REALLY IS NOT ASTRINGENT AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS.

I WAS SPEAKING WITH AN ATTORNEY WALKER EARLIER AND I THINK IT IS LIKE WHAT TOOK PLACE WITH LAUREN BOGERT IN COLORADO, SHE WAS IN A DISTRICT AND DID NOT THINK SHE WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL IF SHE RAN IN THIS DISTRICT, THERE WAS A RETIREMENT AND SHE DECIDED SHE WOULD RUN IN A DISTRICT IN COLORADO.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT BUT THERE WASN´T.

IT WAS A GOOD CIVICS LESSON, I THINK SHE OVERSTEPPED AND ULTIMATELY, I THINK SHE MAY BEAR THE COST FOR THE LAW FIRM BASED ON HOW THE JUDGE RULED.

>> TURNING TO DELEGATES OF CONGRESS, STACEY PLASKETT, AND THE IMPACT OF A DONALD TRUMP PRESIDENCY, IS HER CONFRONTATION WITH REPUBLICANS LIMIT HER ABILITY TO THE TERRITORY´S AGENDA OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS?

MR. THOMAS?

>> I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT, BASED ON HIS HISTORY, HAS SHOWN PETTINESS AND GETTING EVEN WITH FOLKS.

THERE IS NO RUNNING FROM THAT.

HE HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THROUGHOUT HIS POLITICAL CAREER.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS DEFINITELY GOING REPUBLICAN.

SOME OF HIS STAUNCHEST SUPPORTERS ARE POSSIBLY GOING TO GO INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE HOUSE.

AFTER THAT, HE NOMINATED MATT GAETZ, ONE OF HIS BOSOM BUDDIES, SO TO SPEAK, TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND ONLY GOD IN HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THIS MOTLEY CRUE OF INDIVIDUALS HE PUT TOGETHER TO BE PART OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

STACEY´S SAVING GRACE IS I WANT TO BELIEVE SHE IS MORE LEVELHEADED AND EVEN-TEMPERED.

THAT IS WHAT I´M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

I DO NOT EXPECT TO SEE SOME ISSUES ARISE --I DO EXPECT TO SEE SOME ISSUES ARISE, AND PUERTO RICO, THE PRESIDENT ELECT, WHO WAS PRESIDENT AT THE TIME, WHEN AFTER THE MAYOR OF SAN JUAN.

>> MR. JAMES, WHAT COULD THIS MEAN FOR ISSUES LIKE RAISING THE RATES?

>> A LOT OF FRUSTRATION.

IT WAS A FRUSTRATING ISSUE.

ONLY BECAUSE, WHEN THE DEMOCRATS HAD THE WHITE HOUSE, THE SENATE, AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THEIR FAVOR IN 2021 AND 2022, THEY DROPPED THE BALL.

NOW, THE TRIFECTA IS NOW HAS FLIPPED AND WE HAVE A PRESIDENT- ELECT WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY A PRESIDENT IN DONALD TRUMP, A HOUSE, THAT MR. THOMAS JUST MENTIONED, CONFIRMED TO BE IN REPUBLICAN HANDS, WE HAVE THE SENATE WITH A 53-47 EDGE, OR MARGIN.

SO, I REALLY DON´T KNOW.

AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF MAKING START ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF WHAT I BELIEVE ARE THE PEOPLE´S MONEY.

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, WE ARE AT 10:50, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET BACK AT 13:25, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TIED TO THAT.

IT IS UP IN THE AIR.

HOPEFULLY THE STARS CAN ALIGN BUT WE WILL FIND OUT ABOUT OUR DELEGATE RIGHT NOW.

SHE HAS BEEN A STAUNCH OPPONENT OF THE REPUBLICANS AND WE WILL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

SHE WILL BE A BETTER DELEGATE AT THE END OF 2026.

>> ATTORNEY WALKER, SOME CONCERT A DONALD TRUMP PRESIDENCY MAY LEAD TO CUTS IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE TERRITORY, DO YOU THINK THIS IS A REALISTIC CONCERN?

>> I DO NOT THINK SO, WHERE WE ARE WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDS, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF THE HURRICANES, AND THAT COVID FUNDS.

AS MUCH OF A HUGE PORTIONS OF THE FUNDS ALLOCATED HAVE BEEN OBLIGATED WHICH PUTS US IN A GOOD POSITION.

ALSO, WHILE SHE IS A GREAT DELEGATE, STACEY PLASKETT IS NOT OUR ONLY VOICE IN DC, THE GOVERNOR TRAVELS TO DC AND WE HAVE LOBBYISTS IN DC, DURING THE TIME THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN IN OFFICE AS GOVERNOR, HE HAS MADE SURE TO ENGAGE LOBBYISTS ON BOTH SIDES, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS BUT THERE ARE RELATIONSHIPS IN DC WE CAN BUILD UPON.

THE DELEGATE MAY NEED TO PIVOT AND ADJUST AND PROBABLY WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH SOME OF THE LOBBYISTS WHO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNOR IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AS FAR AS FEDERAL FUNDING WE CURRENTLY HAVE BEING UNDER THREAT, I DON´T SEE THAT.

>> I WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, THIS IS A TIGHT MARGIN IN THE HOUSE, EVEN THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN CONTROL, IT IS A VERY SLIM MARGIN.

WITH CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENTS, THAT COULD CREATE SOME FRICTION AND SOME DECISION- MAKING.

DEMOCRATS COULD BE IN CONTROL THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW.

>> THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WILL BE INTERESTING.

I WANT TO SHIFT TO REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGE HISPANIC COMMUNITY ON ST. CROIX THE SENATOR IS A KEY HISPANIC VOTE WHO VOTED IN THE RECENT ELECTION, MR. JAMES, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR HISPANIC REPRESENTATION MOVING FORWARD?

>> CHECK THIS OUT, WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC THE SENATOR IS HALF HISPANIC.

THERE IS REPRESENTATION.

HAVING SAID THAT, THERE WAS A TIME ON ST. CROIX WHEN OUR MAKEUP, OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, WAS ABOUT 35%, 40% PUERTO RICAN.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

WE HAD GREAT SENATORS OVER THE YEARS WHO ARE PUERTO RICAN.

WE HAD A GOOD ELECTION THIS YEAR.

THE LIST GOES ONE.

THE SENATOR SERVED US WELL FOR TWO YEARS, I THINK HE FINISHED NINTH.

THE PEOPLE, THE HISPANIC POPULATION ON ST. CROIX, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THEIR ONLY REPRESENTATION WE KNOW OF IS MS. JAMES, THEY WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.

ALWAYS BEEN A COLLECTIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS MELTING POT THAT IS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, SPECIFICALLY IN ST. CROIX.

>> ATTORNEY WALKER, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LOSS SAYS ABOUT THE POLITICAL INFLUENCE OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY ON ST. CROIX?

>> ULTIMATELY, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED HIM IN THE PAST, THEY DID NOT SUPPORT HIM THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED HIM IN THE PAST AND DID NOT SUPPORT HIM ARE HISPANIC.

SOMETIMES, YOU CAN -- IN A MANNER OUTSIDE OF RACE OR ETHNICITY, YOU ARE JUST VOTING FOR WHO YOU THINK IS THE BEST OR VOTING FOR WHO YOU THINK PERFORMED WELL, I DO NOT THINK IT IS AN ACTUAL JUDGMENT OR SOME SORT OF CONCLUSION ON THE REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY OF HISPANICS.

HISPANICS ARE A MAJOR PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE ST. CROIX COMMUNITY.

MY GRANDMOTHER´S GENERATION, I DON´T KNOW ONE PERSON FROM HER GENERATION WHO DID NOT SPEAK FLUENT SPANISH ALL OF US HAVE COUSINS WHO ARE OF HISPANIC ORIGIN, I HAVE 20 OF COUSINS IN MY FAMILY WHO ARE PUERTO RICAN OR WHO HAVE SOME SORT OF PUERTO RICAN FAMILY.

I VOTE FOR WHO´S THE BEST AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT IS A PUERTO RICAN I DON´T THINK IT SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT OR ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT THE REPRESENTATION OF HISPANICS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> MR. THOMAS, ST. THOMAS, A LARGE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, TOO, THE SENATOR, THAT HISPANIC REPRESENTATION FOR THE ST. THOMAS, ST. JOHN DISTRICT, DOESN´T NEED A STRONGER REPETITION OF VOICE FOR THOSE WITHIN THAT DISTRICT?

>> HE IS RUNNING AT LARGE.

SENATOR TERRY YOUNG, IN A DISTRICT I WAS LOOKING AT EARLY NUMBERS, WHERE HE CROSSED THE FINISH LINE WAS IN THE ST. CROIX DISTRICT.

WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS WHERE HIS FATHER IS FROM ORIGINALLY.

I DON´T KNOW, NECESSARILY, IF THERE IS A DEMONSTRATED NEED, SO TO SPEAK, FOR SOMEBODY TO REPRESENT HISPANIC PEOPLE.

I AM TRYING TO THINK, WHILE YOU WERE TALKING TO OTHER PANELISTS, WHICH SENATOR IN THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS THAT IS OF HISPANIC ORIGIN OR DESCENT IN THE ST. THOMAS-ST. JOHN DISTRICT AND I CANNOT THINK OF ONE.

I DO NOT THINK THAT "REPRESENTATION " FACTOR IS AS BIG OF A CONCERN OR A CONCERN IN GENERAL IN THIS DISTRICT VERSUS ST. CROIX.

>> MR. JAMES, DO YOU RECALL WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A HISPANIC --NOTABLE HISPANIC REPRESENTATION FROM THE ST. THOMAS-ST. JOHN DISTRICT, YOU ARE SOMEWHAT OF A POLITICAL HISTORIAN?

>> I HONESTLY, I REMEMBER, AS A KID IN THE 1970s, LOOKING AT THE REPRESENTATION, I AM SITTING HERE TRYING TO THINK OF SOMEONE WE WILL CALL, AFFECTIONATELY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS, WE REFER TO THEM AS PAPA OR MAMA.

WE CALL A PUERTO RICAN SENATOR FROM THE DISTRICT OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN, HE IS CORRECT, THEIR DAD IS FROM ST. CROIX.

LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SENATORS FROM ST. CROIX.

THE VERY FIRST TIME I RAN IN 2004, THERE WAS A CONCERTED EFFORT TO COLLECT SENATORS OF PUERTO RICAN DESCENT BECAUSE, AT THE TIME, THERE WERE NO PUERTO RICANS ON THE LEGISLATURE FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE WERE ALSO KNOCKING THE TERM LIMIT ADMINISTRATION FOR NOT HAVING PUERTO RICANS IN KEY ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE CABINET.

SENATORS, PART OF THE SAME FRESHMAN CLASS, SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, I WILL BE HONEST, IT REALLY HASN´T BEEN THERE.

I LIKE MY HISTORY, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, I CANNOT REMEMBER ONE TRUE PUERTO RICAN SENATOR FROM THE DISTRICT OF ST. THOMAS-ST. JOHN.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, OUTSIDE OF THE PUERTO RICANS, A LARGE DOMINICAN POPULATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE ST. THOMAS- ST. JOHN DISTRICT, I WANT YOU TO SPECULATE ON WHAT YOU THINK WE WILL SEE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DOMINICAN, THE DOMINICAN LINEAGE, BEING ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE.

>> IN THE NEXT DECADE.

THAT PERSON IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION VIRGIN ISLAND OR WHO CAME FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO HEAR.

THEY WENT TO SCHOOL HERE.

POSSIBLY ATTENDED UNIVERSITY HERE AND THROWN THEIR HAT INTO THE RING.

I WAS RACKING MY BRAIN, THE ONLY OTHER PERSON WOULD BE FORMER SENATOR YOUNG, HER MOTHER IS FROM PUERTO RICO.

I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HER.

I NEVER LOOKED AT HER AS BEING A PUERTO RICAN, I JUST KNEW THAT SHE SPOKE SPANISH.

>> BEFORE WE WRAP UP, ONE MORE ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO COVER THEM THE GOVERNOR FACED PUBLIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE DURING A PRESS BRIEFING LET´S TAKE A LOOK AT PART OF THE EXCHANGE.

>> WE HAVE RECEIVED REPORTS THAT YOUR SECOND MISSION APOSTATES ACTING AS FIRST LADY, AND MAYBE RECEIVING TAXPAYER- FUNDED SECURITY, OTHER PERKS, IS ANY OF THAT ACCURATE AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN -- >> I ALSO BROUGHT AN AIRPLANE, I BOUGHT A JET, I HAVE A BABY IN ST. CROIX, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ME?

ASKING ABOUT RUMORS ON THE STREET?

THE FIRST LADY IS MARRIED TO THE GOVERNOR.

YOU ARE ASKING ME ABOUT MY PERSONAL LIFE.

NONE OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS TRUE.

WHAT ARE YOU, THE INQUIRER?

>> IT IS A FAIR QUESTION GIVEN EVERYONE INVOLVED IS A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE TRAVELING ON TAXPAYER-FUNDED TRIPS.

I DO NOT THINK THAT IS UNFAIR.

>> ONLY ONE TRIP PER YEAR THE GOVERNMENT PAYS FOR, EVEN WHEN I WAS MARRIED TO YOLANDA, THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, WENT TO A MEETING EVERYTHING ELSE, ANY OFFICIAL IS PAID FOR BY THE GOVERNOR OR THE PERSON ITSELF, OR SOMEBODY ELSE.

I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR BEING THE FIRST LADY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS NOT A JOB ANYWHERE, IT IS NOT LISTED AS ANYTHING.

>> GIVEN WHAT YOU EXPLAINED IS YOUR DIVORCE FINAL AND IS CURRENTLY A FIRST LADY OF THIS TERRITORY?

>> I AM NOT MARRIED TO ANYBODY.

I DO THINK THAT IS ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS.

>> OKAY.

>> MR. THOMAS, I WANT TO ASK YOU, DO YOU THINK THE REPORTER CROSSED THE LINE BY ASKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR´S PERSONAL LIFE OR WHAT SHE JUSTIFIED GIVEN THE REPORTER´S POINT THAT ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE INVOLVED?

>> THE REPORTER STARTED OUT ON THE RIGHT FOOT BY ASKING ABOUT THE PERSON IN QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN SEEN TRAVELING WITH THE GOVERNOR.

REPORTERS HAVE A DUTY TO PROBE.

I THINK THE QUESTION ABOUT THE STATUS OF HIS DIVORCE, THAT GETS A LITTLE BIT PERSONAL.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO REALIZE HE IS A PUBLIC FIGURE AND THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT PICK US UP IN MOMENTS THAT, 30 OR 40 YEARS AGO, NOBODY WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT.

YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND EXPECT THAT QUESTION.

QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM THE MEDIA AND ELSEWHERE.

HE HAS A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

PEOPLE MAY GO INTO HIS POSTS, AND ASK THEM CERTAIN QUESTIONS.

IF THAT WAS ME, I WOULD NOT ASK HIM ABOUT HIS DIVORCE, THAT IS VERY PERSONAL AND HE HAD HIS DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS --HE DID NOT WANT THAT TO THE PUBLIC ASKING ABOUT SOMEONE TRAVELING WITH HIM WHO HAPPENS TO ALSO BE A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, THAT WAS A FAIR QUESTION.

>> ATTORNEY WALKER, SHOULD THE REPORTER FOR A QUESTION DIRECTLY INSTEAD OF AS RUMORS, OUR TAXPAYER FUNDING THE COMMISSION´S PROBLEM WITH THE GOVERNOR?

AND IS SHE RECEIVING TAXPAYER-FUNDED SECURITY?

>> DEFINITELY.

ON THIS POINT, I WILL DISAGREE WITH MR. THOMAS.

I THINK THE ONLY APPROPRIATE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE GOVERNOR´S DIVORCE WAS FINAL.

THE REASON THAT IS THE ONLY APPROPRIATE QUESTION IS BECAUSE IT ANSWERS THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THERE IS A FIRST LADY WHEN HE BEGAN HIS GOVERNMENT THERE WAS A FIRST LADY.

IT IS A GENERAL AND APPROPRIATE CURIOSITY OF THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHETHER THERE IS STILL A FIRST LADY.

THE FIRST QUESTION, HOWEVER, THAT THE REPORTER ASKED, IS THERE AN INDIVIDUAL, SHE IDENTIFIES THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ACTING OR PRETENDING TO BE THE FIRST LADY, THAT WAS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE, COMPLETELY RUDE, AND DISRESPECTFUL TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.

THERE ARE OTHER MEANS BY WHICH YOU CAN ACQUIRE OR GET DETAILS ABOUT THE TRAVEL OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

YOU CAN MAKE A REQUEST FOR THE TRAVEL RECORDS OR THE RECEIPTS, WHATEVER, WHATEVER OFFICIAL YOU ARE LOOKING INTO.

THE WAY SHE PHRASED THE QUESTION, INVITED THE RESPONSE SHE RECEIVED I THINK THAT THE ONLY THING THE PUBLIC REALLY IS ENTITLED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOVERNOR´S PERSONAL LIFE AT THIS POINT IS WHETHER HE IS MARRIED OR NOT, HE ANSWERED THE QUESTION SO LET´S MOVE ON.

>> MR. JAMES, DO YOU AGREE?

WHEN DOES IT BECOME THE PUBLIC´S BUSINESS?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY DELICATE MATTER.

I AM GLAD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE TALK ABOUT, I WANT EVERYBODY TO KEEP A NUMBER OF FACTUAL THINGS, DETAILS COME IN CONTEXT, NUMBER ONE, WE ARE A SMALL COMMUNITY.

YOU CANNOT IGNORE THAT.

EVERYBODY LITERALLY KNOWS EVERYBODY.

THAT IS NUMBER ONE NUMBER TWO, THE GOVERNMENT WAS, HE DID AN INTERVIEW AND WE SPOKE ABOUT IT WHEN I WAS A GUEST ON HIS SHOW SOMETIME LAST YEAR, WITH RESPECT TO HIS PENDING DIVORCE, THE GOVERNOR SAID, WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, I WILL LET THE PUBLIC KNOW.

HERE IS THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE, A PERSONAL ONE WITH ME, THE ELECTION CYCLE THIS YEAR, PEOPLE SAW ME, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR SENATOR?

I SAID, BECAUSE I WANT MY LIFE BACK.

PEOPLE WOULD STOP AND NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU RUN FOR OFFICE, THERE IS A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION WHO BELIEVE THAT, BECAUSE YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THEY CAN ASK YOU WHATEVER THEY WANT.

BECAUSE THEY ELECT YOU AND PAY YOUR SALARY.

I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT, THE GOVERNOR GOT FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THAN THAT.

BUT, THE MEDIA HAS A RIGHT TO PROBE AND ASKED QUESTIONS.

I DO NOT LIKE THE RUMOR PART.

>> THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE INTERVIEW WITH ERNEST WITH THE GOVERNOR, GIVEN THE REPORTER´S HISTORY OF ASKING SIMILAR QUESTIONS, LAST MONTH THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE COUPLE IN THE SKY BOX AT THE JETS GAME, DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING?

>> THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS IT WILL COME, I THINK, GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE ENVIRONMENT HE NOW OPERATES IN AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, HE SHOULD EXPECT THOSE QUESTIONS.

HE IS ENTITLED TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRIVACY IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE.

BUT IT IS THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE NOW.

I REMEMBER, AS A KID GROWING UP, YOU SAW THE GOVERNOR, SHE WAS HANGING OUT, IT DID NOT PHASE ANYONE.

IF WE HAD SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE 1970s, IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY.

THIS ENVIRONMENT PUTS PRESSURE ON PEOPLE IN ELECTED OFFICE.

>> THAT IS ALL THE SHOW FOR YOU TODAY FOR NEWS UPDATES, TUNE INTO THE WTJX NEWSFEED ON WEEKDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. ON 93.1.

I AM MARCELLINA VENTURA-DOUGLAS, FROM ALL OF US AT WTJX CHANNEL 12, TAKE CARE.

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