>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

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

>>> WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "RECOVERY IN FOCUS."

IT´S BEEN A TEDIOUS PROCESS MANAGING THE RECOVERY OF THE TERRITORY IN THE FOUR YEARS SINCE HURRICANE´S IRMA AND MARIA THAT DEVASTATED THE ISLANDS.

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, THERE´S MUCH TO CELEBRATE AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2022 THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF OUR VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEM TICK.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE ROAD TO RECOVERY WILL MAKE THE TURN TOWARDS MORE ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION.

IN THIS EPISODE WE´LL TALK ABOUT THE TERRITORY´S PROGRESS WITH A SPECIAL GUEST AND WHAT ELSE LIES AHEAD.

BUT FIRST, HERE´S THE MOST RECENT NEWS ON THE RECOVERY PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

FROM THE WTJX STUDIO ON ST. CROIX, I´M LA REESA ELLIS.

THE WATER AND POWER AUTHORITY IS CONTINUING ITS EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE RESILIENCE OF THE TERRITORY´S POWER GRID.

ON ST. CROIX A $2.8 MILLION UNDERGROUND PROJECT HAS COMMENCED ON CONTAINER POINT ROAD.

DENNY KURCHELL AND ANTHONY MOREL DISCUSS THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT.

>> THIS SUBPROJECT IS PART OF A LARGE-SCALE EFFORT MADE BY THE AUTHORITY TO CONVERT CRITICAL FACILITIES AND RESIDENTIAL OVERHAD LINES TO UNDERGROUND.

THESE WILL GREATLY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY HAVING A FASTER RESTORATION TIME IN THE EVENT OF A STORM.

THE SPAN FOR THE CONTAINER PORT PROJECT BEGINS AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE MELVIN H. EVANS HIGHWAY NEXT TO THE TRAINING SCHOOL AND IT WILL GO DOWN THE CONTAINER PORT ROAD SOUTHWARD TOWARD THE STORAGE TANKS.

THIS PROJECT IS ALSO A COST SHARE PROJECT OF A 90/10% SCALE.

BE PROVIDED BY FEDERALLY FUNDED FUNDS AND THE REMAINING 10% WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE AUTHORITY.

>> I´D SAY WE´RE APPROXIMATELY 65% DONE ON THE MAIN ROAD.

OUT OF THE 15,000 FEET THAT WE WERE PROJECTED TO DO, WE´VE DONE ABOUT 8,000 ALREADY SO WE´RE WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

WE SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE TRENCHING WORK AND ASPHALT RESTORATION WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND THEN WE HAVE SOME SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WITH THE MATERIAL, THE TRANSFORMERS AND THE JUNCTION BOXES THAT WOULD BE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT WE EXPECT TO BE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THAT.

>> THE CONTAINER PORT, UNDERGROUND PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY MARCH 2022.

THE AUTHORITY HAS ALREADY STARTED PROJECTS AT GOLDEN GROVE ON ST. CROIX AND CRUISE BAY ON ST. JOHN´S.

A SIMILAR PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN MIDLAND ON ST. CROIX BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR HOSTED THE SECOND SUMMIT FROM OCTOBER 6th TO THE 8th.

THE DAYLONG WORKSHOPS WERE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN MULTIPLE AGENCIES.

ACTIVITIES TOOK PLACE ON ALL THREE ISLANDS AND ARE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION´S INITIATIVE TO INCREASE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, STABILIZE THE ECONOMY AND PROVIDE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGH DEMAND FOR OCCUPATIONS.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COMMISSIONER GARY MALLOY GAVE OPENING REMARKS.

>> THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER IN MAKING SURE THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT IT´S TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS, OFFERINGS, OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP IN THAT REGARD.

AND SO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WANTS TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, ESPECIALLY OUR CORE PARTNERS.

WE´VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WITH THE BOARD -- WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND IT´S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US SEE THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT JUST ONE SINGLE ENTITY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS WE MAKE OUR RESIDENTS TAKING PART IN OUR RECOVERY AND A PART OF THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MOVING THIS RECOVERY AND OUR ECONOMY.

>> CONTINUING A SUCCESSION OF RECENT APPROVALS, FEMA HAS MADE GOOD ON ITS WORD TO PROVIDE A DECISION ON THE PRUDENT REPLACEMENT OF QUEEN LOUISE HOME FOR THE AGED.

THIS APPROVAL ALLOWS FOR THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE FACILITY.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER SHARES MORE DETAILS.

>> LIKE WITH MANY FEDERAL PROGRAMS, YOU HAVE TO JUSTIFY THAT YOU MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

FOR QUEEN LOUISE HOME WE HAD TO PROVE THAT THIS WAS A CRITICAL SERVICE AND THIS IS WHAT WE DO HERE, CRITICAL RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

WE HAD TO SHOW THAT WE MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET ACT, WHICH IS CALLED BBA, A SPECIAL ACT AFTER HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO TO BUILD BACK CRITICAL SERVICES TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS.

>> FEMA AND THE TERRITORY ANTICIPATE AGREEING ON THE COSTS TO REBUILD WITHIN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022.

AND MORE GOOD NEWS FOR THE TERRITORY´S HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE OVER $840,000 TO RESTORE THE WICK BUILDING.

DISASTER RECOVERY SPECIALIST BROWN EXPLAINS THE OBLIGATIONS AND THE PROJECT.

>> THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMAN, INFANT AND CHILDREN, ALSO KNOWN AS WIC, HAS BEEN AWARDED A GRANT THROUGH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE PROGRAM.

SPECIFICALLY FOR $6.1 MILLION.

FOR THE BUILDING, INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS RELATED TO HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA, THE AMOUNT OF $786,454 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED.

ADDITIONALLY A HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,000 HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR PHASE 1 OF THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE WIND RETROFITTING OF THIS BUILDING.

THE SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDES REMEDIATION FOR THE ENTIRE FACILITY, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINTING.

IT INCLUDES REPAIRS TO THE WINDOWS, THE ROOF, THE SHUTTERS AS WELL AS GUTTERING AND NEW HVAC AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

CURRENTLY WE ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT.

OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS OUT TO BID BY NOVEMBER OF 2021 AND TO HAVE A CONTRACT EXECUTED BY DECEMBER OF 2021.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS ON THE MOVE.

A $28 MILLION PROJECT IS UNDER WAY ON SEVERAL SITES IN THE ST. THOMAS/ST.

JOHN DISTRICT.

THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM MANAGER GIVES US THE SPECIFICS.

>> GOOD DAY.

WE ARE CURRENTLY HERE AT THE LOCATION IN CROWN BAY ON THE ISLAND OF ST. THOMAS.

THIS SITE WAS RECENTLY JUST COMPLETED BY THE CONTRACTOR ISLAND ROADS TO DESIGN BUILD CONTRACT FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS DUE TO THE STORM, FROM HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA.

IF YOU RECALL BACK IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR, THIS ROADWAY WAS ESSENTIALLY DOWN TO A SINGLE LANE OF TRAFFIC THAT COULD TRAVERSE THE AREA, AND NOW THIS PROJECT HAS RECENTLY JUST BEEN COMPLETED.

THE CONTRACTOR IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON SEVERAL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND OF ST. THOMAS.

THIS IS THE FIRST SITE TO BE COMPLETED.

ANOTHER SITE IS 99% COMPLETE AND ANOTHER SITE IS 70% COMPLETE.

THE CONTRACTOR IS WORKING IN THE STATE MANDOLL AND STATE HULL BAY WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 40% COMPLETE.

THE CONTRACTOR ALSO COMPLETED TWO SITES ON THE ISLAND OF ST. JOHN IN BORDER MOUNTAIN AND IN ESTATE FISH BAY ON THE ISLAND OF ST. JOHN.

SIMILARLY ON THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX, WE HAVE A CONTRACT TO DO 16 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX.

THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD BEGIN THE FIRST FIVE SITES DURING THE MONTH OF -- THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2021.

THE DEPARTMENT IS FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOLICITED -- WE GOT APPROVAL FROM FEDERAL HIGHWAY TO SOLICIT FOR THE LAST SEGMENT OF MELVIN EVANS HIGHWAY, SEGMENT NUMBER TWO, WHICH RUNS DELIGHT.

THAT PROJECT SHOULD BE ADVERTISED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF PROPERTY AND PROCUREMENT DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

WE ALSO HAVE IN SOLICITATION COMING UP IN OCTOBER THE CLIFFTON HILL CONNECTOR PROJECT WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF TURN LANES AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG ROUTE 75 HEADING TOWARDS THE LORAIN INTERSECTION.

>> THERE IS A SIMILAR PROJECT FOR 16 LOCATIONS ON ST. CROIX.

CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY NOVEMBER.

BUSINESS OWNERS, CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS INTERESTED IN DOING BUSINESS WITH THE RECOVERY SHOULD VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR A FREQUENTLY UPDATED LIST OF OPEN BID ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DETAILED INFORMATION.

THIS MONTH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS SOLICITING PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS FOR PHASE THREE OF THE MELVIN EVANS HIGHWAY AND THE CLIFTON HILLS ROADWAY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER OPEN BID ANNOUNCEMENTS AS WELL AS UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON ALL DISASTER RECOVERY PROJECTS IN THE TERRITORY, LOG ON TO WWW.USVIODR.COM.

>> THANKS FOR THAT UPDATE, LARISSA.

I HAVE MY CO-HOST WITH ME, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY.

AND DRUM ROLL.

IT´S MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE SHOW, NONE OTHER THAN THE HONORABLE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ROACH.

>> GREETINGS TO YOU AND TO DARRELL AND ALL IN THE AUDIENCE.

A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> ITS PLEASURE IS OURS.

>> DEFINITELY THE PLEASURE IS OURS.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE INVITATION AND COMING ON THE SHOW TO UPDATE US WHY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE´LL GET INTO MORE BUT BEFORE THAT LET´S GET INTO UPDATES.

WE HAD A VISIT FROM A NATIVE VIRGIN ISLANDER IN HIGH PLACES HERE THIS MONTH.

>> WITH A SIMILAR NAME AS YOURS.

ADRIAN TODDMAN CAME TO VISIT US FROM THE HUD OFFICE, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF HUD, ASSISTANT DEPUTY SECRETARY.

WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER WITH US.

WE TOURED A NUMBER OF FACILITIES WITH HER.

BEFORE WE EVEN TOURED, WE WENT OVER SOME CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WERE FACING US IN THE TERRITORY.

THE FIRST PART OF THE MEETING WAS WITH VIHA STAFF AND DISCUSSED WHAT´S HELPING US AND MAKING US MOVE FORWARD ON THE GRANT AND WHAT´S HOLDING US BACK AND WHAT HUD CAN DO TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE THINGS HOLDING US BACK FROM MOVING AT FULL SPEED.

SO THAT WAS VERY EXCITING AND IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WHO UNDERSTANDS THE ROADBLOCKS IN THE TERRITORY AND IS COMMITTED TO HELPING US REMOVE THEM SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO SERVE THE PEOPLE HERE.

>> YEAH, THAT´S CRITICAL.

SOME PEOPLE, THEY DON´T UNDERSTAND HOW WE HAVE 150,000 PEOPLE MORE OR LESS, BUT IT´S SPREAD ON THREE ISLANDS.

SO THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY IS ALWAYS MUCH HIGHER THAN IF YOU WERE WORKING WITH A STATE AND EVERYTHING WAS IN ONE AREA.

SO HAVING SOMEONE AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAT UNDERSTANDS THIS IS GREAT FOR US.

>> YEAH, IT WAS FANTASTIC.

THE SECOND PART OF THE MEETING SHE SAT DOWN WITH THE GOVERNOR AND OUR TEAM TOO AS WELL.

THE GOVERNOR EXPLAINED TO HER SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE TERRITORY TOO AS WELL AND THEY HAD A VERY GOOD AND OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT HUD CAN DO AND WHAT THE TERRITORY CAN DO TO HELP MOVE THE RECOVERY ALONG, SO THAT´S FANTASTIC.

>> THAT´S GOOD TO HEAR.

SO YOU TOOK ON A TOUR?

>> YEAH, WE TOOK HER ON A TOUR.

THE FIRST PART WE LOOKED AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY´S TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY´RE DOING.

HALF OF IT IS PAID WITH TAX CREDIT FUNDS AND THE OTHER WITH CDGBR DISASTER FUNDS.

>> 84 UNITS?

>> 84 UNITS IN THERE.

AND THE PRICE TAG IS WELL OVER $60 MILLION FOR THAT.

SO IT´S -- AND IT´S GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC FACELIFT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.

AS YOU KNOW, AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW TOO, WHAT THE AUTHORITY´S MAIN BUILDING WAS DAMAGED, WE MOVED THE PEOPLE TO THREE DIFFERENT SITES SO THEY´RE GOING TO DUNU, MEGAN´S JUNCTION AND THEY´RE OF COURSE GOING BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION.

SO THIS WAS EXCITING TO SEE THE HARD WORK BEING DONE, SEEING THE CONSTRUCTION BEING DONE AND SEEING JUST THE IMPROVEMENT OF ALL THE BUILDINGS THERE.

WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT AND SHE WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE WORK BEING DONE IN THE TERRITORY TOO AS WELL.

>> THAT´S GOOD.

THAT´S GOOD.

WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU GOT GOING ON?

>> AFTER THAT WE BROUGHT HER TO THE HOME OF ENVISION.

THE ROOF WAS FIXED AND REPLACED BY THE STEP PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW THE STEP PROGRAM, WE DID OVER 8,000 HOMES WITH THE STEP PROGRAM DOING DIFFERENT TYPES OF REPAIRS.

AND THEN THE ENVISION PROGRAM DID ALL OF THE INSIDE AND ALL OF THE WINDOWS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND ALL OF THE FLOORS, SO NOW THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE AT HOME WITH AGAIN.

AND HE STARTED TO CRY DURING THE VISIT, SO THAT´S WHEN I TURNED AWAY.

I SAID, OKAY, I DON´T WANT TO BE -- BECAUSE I WAS READY TO TEAR UP TOO AS WELL SEEING THE JOY IN HIS EYES AND HIS WIFE´S EYES THAT THEIR HOME WAS NOW -- THEIR HOUSE WAS NOW MADE A HOME AGAIN AND A PLACE THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE LIVING.

SO THAT WAS GREAT FOR US AND IT WAS GREAT FOR MISS ADRIAN TODDMAN TO SEE THE HARD WORK OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE TERRITORY AND WHAT WE´RE DOING TO BRING EVERYONE BACK.

>> SO, L.T., I KNOW THAT GETTING HOUSING RESTARTED ALSO IMPACTS YOUR OPERATION AS WELL, WITH BANKING AND INSURANCE AND ALL OF THAT.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE MORE PEOPLE TEAR UP WITH TEARS OF JOY?

>> WELL, I THINK IMPACTING PEOPLE´S QUALITY OF LIFE IS PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT MEANS REVENUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SO YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THESE TWO THINGS.

MANY PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEIR HOMES WERE DAMAGED TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED BY OUR DIVISION AND TO HAVE THE APPRAISAL VALUES LOWERED AND THE TAXES LOWERED.

AND SO NOW THAT THESE HOMES ARE BEING RESTORED TO FULL USE AND FULL VALUE, WE GET A CHANCE TO REVISIT THE ASSESSMENTS.

SO I THINK QUALITY OF LIFE IS IMPORTANT AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT IN THIS PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, AS WELL WHEN THERE´S SO MANY OTHER THINGS COMPETING AGAINST A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE, A GOOD MINDSET FOR PEOPLE.

AND SO EVERY TIME WE DELIVER NEWS LIKE THAT AND EVERY TIME YOU HAVE AN EVENT LIKE THAT, IT´S SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY, PERFECT.

WELL, WE SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS ABOUT WHICH PROJECTS THAT THEY WERE KEYING ON MOVING FORWARD.

HERE´S WHAT SOME OF THEM HAD TO SAY.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY HOMES THAT NEED TO BE NOT REPAIRED, BUT BUILT, THEY´RE TOTALED.

MOSTLY THE HOME.

IF YOU DON´T HAVE A HOME OR ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD, IT IS TERRIBLE.

THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING HIS BEST TO DO WHAT HE CAN.

NO MATTER WHAT HE DO, IT JUST MAY BE A SMALL GROUP, A HANDFUL, 10 OR 15 PEOPLE.

THAT´S THEIR OPINION.

BUT RIGHT NOW HE´S WORKING WITH US AND I PRAY TO GOD SOON THAT MOST OF THESE HOUSES, WILL BE REDONE.

>> I´D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT FEMA IS DOING ABOUT A LOT OF THESE HOMES WHERE THE ROOFS ARE STILL NOT FIXED.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT´S TAKING SO LONG.

PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO THEM WITH THEIR INFORMATION AND THEY GET PATCHWORK DONE.

PLACES ARE STILL LEAKING, THE ROOFS ARE STILL NOT FIXED.

WHAT IS FEMA DOING?

I KNOW THERE´S A LOT OF DISASTERS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE PLACE RIGHT NOW, BUT ST. THOMAS NEED HELP.

AND I´M JUST ANNOYED WITH THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A GOVERNOR, HE´S GOOD.

FOR SOME REASON SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED.

HOW SHOULD I SAY, THEY´RE NOT BEING ADDRESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

I KNOW HE´S TRYING TO DO HIS BEST BECAUSE HE HAS A LOT ON HIS PLATE.

BUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

FEMA NEEDS TO COME BACK AND FINISH WORKING WITH THESE PEOPLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF RAINS LATELY AND PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.

SO MY CONCERN IS WHEN ARE THESE THINGS GOING TO BE DONE?

>> OKAY.

SO HOUSING.

HOUSING IS PRIMARY ON FOLKS´ MINDS.

I KNOW THAT YOU´RE HELPING TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE FORWARD JUST A BIT WITH YOUR SOLICITATION FOR 200 HOMES.

I KNOW THAT WE SPOKE WITH FEMA BUT IT´S NOT FEMA RIGHT NOW, IT´S REALLY MOVING THE ENVISION TOMORROW PROGRAM FORWARD.

>> YEAH.

AND IT WAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

WE STARTED OFF WITH FEMA WITH THE STEP PROGRAM IN WHICH WE DID 1600 ROOF REPAIRS AND NOW WE´RE WITH HUD ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY.

WE HAVE 200 HOMES ACTUALLY THAT NEXT WEEK WEDNESDAY TO QUALIFY FOR THEM TO APPROVE FOR US TO START REPAIRING HOMES THERE, SO WE´RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AFTER THAT IN JANUARY WE´LL BRING ANOTHER 400 HOMES TO THE BOARD SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE HOMES REPAIRED.

REMEMBER, THE HUD FUNDS SERVE LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

SO ALL OF THE HOMES THAT WE´RE GOING TO BE SERVING ARE GOING TO BE THOSE FOR LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO WE HAVE ALREADY APPROVED AND THEY HAVE ALREADY APPLIED FOR THE PROGRAM.

SO WE´RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT MOVE FASTER.

THAT´S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THE HUD DEPUTY SECRETARY WAS HOW THEY CAN HELP US MOVE THAT ALONG FASTER.

SO WE HAVE SOME GREAT NEWS COMING WITH THAT HAPPENING SO PEOPLE WILL SEE HAMMERS SWINGING AGAIN AND A LOT OF ROOFS STARTING IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ANOTHER BAROMETER IS MAKE SURE WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE WITH OUR EYES -- >> DEFINITELY.

>> -- THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH AND MAKING THAT CORRELATION BECAUSE IF THEY CAN´T SEE IT, IT´S NOT REALLY HAPPENING.

TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AS WELL AS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS OVERSIGHT OVER BANKING AND INSURANCE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT TO TELL IN THAT REALM AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO SHARE THAT WITH US.

>> IT´S GOOD TO BE HERE AND IT´S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR STAFF BECAUSE WE WERE CREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS IN 2019.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OF AKRED -- ACCREDITATION, THEY COME BACK AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO ANY ISSUES.

WHAT THEIR REVIEW WAS, I WILL SAY WE WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH THE STAFF AFTER.

IT´S HEADED BY GLENDINA MATTHEW, WHO IS THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF BANKING AND INSURANCE.

WHEN YOU SPEAK OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, ONE OF THE VERY BIG ONES THAT COMES TO MIND FOR ME, WHICH IS ON OUR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIVISION, IS THE STREET ADDRESS INITIATIVE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.

JUST ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, A WEEK AND A HALF AGO ACTUALLY, IT WAS LIGHTING UP WITH CONCERNS PEOPLE HAD BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY PROCURING FLOOD INSURANCE.

IT´S BECAUSE FEMA USES A SYSTEM OF STREET ADDRESSES TO MATCH PEOPLE TO THE FLOOD PLAINS.

IN OUR CASE, WE DON´T HAVE RELIABLE ADDRESSES.

SO ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS SOME CRISIS.

>> ANOTHER -- >> SOMETIMES IT WORKS.

CULTURALLY IT´S LIKE US, YOU KNOW.

NOW YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE WHERE THE TREE IS AT THE SAME TIME, RIGHT?

>> THAT´S TRUE.

>> SO THEY HAD TO USE -- WE HAD TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO OGA´S PLATFORM TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE SO ALL OF A SUDDEN A CRISIS WENT DOWN.

WE WERE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY.

WE JUST RECEIVED A NATIONAL AWARD FOR THAT PROJECT.

WE WERE THE ONLY STATE TERRITORIAL REGION THAT RECEIVED THAT GOVERNMENT EXEMPLARY SYSTEMS AWARD.

>> WOW.

>> CHRIS GEORGE, THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DIVISION, JUST WENT AWAY TO RECEIVE IT.

AND VIPD IN ITS HIGHWAY PLANNING AND SAFETY PROJECT ALSO GAVE US THEIR AWARD AS WELL FOR THE STREET ADDRESSES.

>> WELL, WE CAUGHT UP WITH CHRIS GEORGE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE STREET ADDRESS INITIATIVE IS A PROJECT THAT ENABLES THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TO CONSTRUCT A NATIONALLY STANDARDIZED ADDRESS GRID FOR THE ENTIRE TERRITORY.

THIS PROJECT IS LONG OVERDUE.

IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY GOVERNOR BRIAN AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN MODERN VIRGIN ISLANDS HISTORY.

WE´LL BE DOING STREET SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

WE LIKE TO ADVOCATE TO OUR TERRITORY AND RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECT, TO COME UP WITH NAMES, EVENTS, THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEIR SPECIFIC COMMUNITY SO WE CAN GET THE STREETS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES NAMED WITH THEIR INPUT.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IT IS A COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECT AND WE ENABLED OUR COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE HOPE THE PROJECT WILL START NEXT MONTH.

THERE WILL BE DATA SHARING AND DATA PROCESSING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

WE´LL BE LAUNCHING IN ST. JOHN OFFICIALLY TO COMPLETE ST. JOHN.

ST. JOHN WILL BE THE FIRST ISLAND THAT WILL BE COMPLETED IN THIS PROJECT.

NOW, WE HAVE TO THANK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ROACH FOR ENABLING ME AND MY TEAM TO PROCESS THE PAPERWORK WITH THIS PROJECT WITH EXPEDIENCY TOGETHER WITH FUNDING FROM THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.

WE´RE HOPING TO GET THAT FUND IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> SO BOTH OF YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.

GOOD NEWS.

SO YOU´RE FUNDING IT.

>> WE´RE FUNDING IT AND THE TEAMS HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSE TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO THAT NOTICE TO PROCEED SO WE CAN HAVE THE FUNDS START FLOWING TO KEEP THIS GOING.

I KNOW MY TEAM IS EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND WE´RE EXCITED ABOUT THE MOU THAT YOU´RE DOING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WITH THIS TOO AS WELL.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, JUST TO CLARIFY ONE POINT, CHRIS SAID WE´D BEGIN IN NOVEMBER, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY AWARE THAT THIS NOVEMBER PHASE WILL BE THE SECOND PHASE.

>> THAT´S CORRECT.

>> BECAUSE WE ALREADY DID THE FIRST ONE WHERE WE DID ALL OF FREDERICKSTED, ALL OF CHRISTIANSTED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE NATURE OF ST. JOHN, ST. JOHN WILL BE THE FIRST ISLAND TO BE TOTALLY DONE, TOTALLY MAPPED AND GRIDDED.

AND WE WANTED TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT.

SO THAT PART OF IT ENGAGES THE UNIVERSITY, BUT IT IS ALSO ACROSS THE BOARD A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

THE POSTAL SERVICES ARE INVOLVED, FIRE SERVICES, PAUSE THIS IS SO CRITICAL TO THEIR RESPONSE OF EMERGENCIES.

THE UNIVERSITY IS ALSO A PARTNER IN IT.

THIS INFORMATION IS REALLY GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE.

THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THE TERRITORY.

AND WE HAVE A VERY SMALL STAFF THAT IS IN THAT DIVISION.

WE´RE ADDING TO IT, BUT THEY DO TREMENDOUS WORK.

>> WE CAN SEE THAT.

IF YOU SAW FROM THE FOOTAGE WHERE I SAW EDDIE ORTIZ DRIVING, AND YOU KNOW EDDIE ORTIZ WAS ONE OF -- WAS THE NOTABLE PERSON IN THAT COMMUNITY, SO THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT I HEARD MR. GEORGE TALK ABOUT, BEING ABLE TO NAME THE -- IN YOUR STATE PEOPLE WHO MADE SERIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY THERE.

I REALLY LIKE THAT.

I´LL SEE IF I CAN GET SOMEWHERE NAMED ADRIAN.

>> I LIKE IT.

I LIKE IT A LOT.

BUT THOSE ARE THE EXCITING THINGS THAT WE´RE DOING WITH THE COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT AND THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH YOUR OFFICE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM´S LEADERSHIP TOO AS WELL.

WE´RE JUST HAPPY THAT WE CAN BE THERE TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING THAT YOU NEED FOR SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE TERRITORY.

>> AND THE FUNDING IS CRITICAL.

BEING ABLE TO USE THE CDBG GRANTS IS IMPORTANT.

AND I MENTION THAT BECAUSE IT GIVES THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF STREETS AND SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON´T CARRY NAMES.

AND SO THERE´S A PROCESS.

THEY CAN JUST CONTACT OUR OFFICES BY CALLING US AT 774-2991 AND WE GO THROUGH THE PROTOCOL, HOW IT´S DONE.

IT INVOLVES GETTING YOUR NEIGHBORS INVOLVED SO YOU HAVE TO DO A LITTLE PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME BROWNIES OR SOME CAKE -- >> SO WE MIGHT HAVE AN ADRIAN WILLIAMS.

>> I LOVE IT.

THAT´S NOT THE ONLY THING THAT YOU HAVE GOING ON.

YOU ALSO ARE WORKING ON SOME OF YOUR BUILDINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO GET REPAIRED.

HOW CRITICAL IS THAT?

HOW HAS YOUR STAFF BEEN WORKING, DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOUR FACILITIES ARE NOT 100%?

>> WELL, WE HAVE SOME WORK TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING ON GOVERNMENT HILL.

WE´VE DISCUSSED THE PLANS FOR THAT.

THESE THINGS TAKE A WHILE.

THE MONEY WITH FEMA IS ONLY OBLIGATED IN 2020 FOR THAT PROJECT.

YOU HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR MY STAFF BECAUSE WE´VE CONTINUED TO WORK IN THE BUILDING.

ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS IS ALL OF THE CARPETING HAD TO BE HAULED OUT SO THERE´S NO ISSUE OF ANY MOLD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE´RE ON THE BARE CONCRETE FLOORS, BUT WE DECIDED THAT THE WORK OF THE OFFICE REALLY HAD TO GET DONE.

BUT WE´RE GOING TO BE BEGINNING THAT WORK STARTING FROM THE FLOOR UP.

I THINK IT´S IN NOVEMBER.

SO I´M EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME PEOPLE BACK TO OUR OFFICES BECAUSE A GOOD PART OF IT WAS THAT NOBODY WAS COMING IN.

JUST THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED THERE.

I´M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLING MY OFFICE BECAUSE WHEN THEY DRIVE ALONG THE QUEEN MARY HIGHWAY AND THEY LOOK UP AND THEY SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL HOUSE WITH THE WINDOWS, YOU KNOW, BLOWING IN THE WIND, THEY ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

BUT AGAIN, A PROCESS OF GETTING THIS APPROVED, GETTING THE DRAWINGS, THE ARCHITECTURAL WORK, THE DESIGN WORK, THAT IS NOW AT A COMPLETED PHASE AND I THINK WE´RE GOING TO GO OUT FOR BID IN NOVEMBER.

>> NOVEMBER, DECEMBER.

>> NOVEMBER, DECEMBER.

AND THAT OF COURSE GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN THE DISTRICT OF ST. CROIX IN A LITTLE BIT MORE ECONOMICAL WAY BECAUSE THEN I WON´T BE DEPENDENT ON HOTELS AND THOSE OTHER KINDS OF EXPENSES.

SO WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

WE´RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE IS A PART OF THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT´S A PLACE THAT I WOULD STAY.

BUT THE GENERAL AREA, THE LIFE OF THAT AREA IS ENHANCED BY HAVING THIS BUILDING COMPLETED.

AND SO I´M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD FOR IT TO BE DONE TO HOLD SOME LITTLE EVENTS IN THE YARD, SOME MUSIC, YOU KNOW, HERE AND THERE.

>> VIENNA CAKE.

>> I THINK THAT WILL BE EXCITING.

AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME HAZARD MITIGATION THAT WE´RE DOING.

WE HAVE TO DO WORK ON REPLACING SOME OF THE GENERATORS SO THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE ALWAYS POWERED, WHETHER WE HAVE ANY INTERRUPTION OR NOT.

SO THAT IS A GOOD THING.

AND TO LOOK AT HOW WE PREVENT DAMAGE IN THE FUTURE TO SOME OF OUR BUILDINGS.

>> YES.

>> WE HAVE EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE PLANNING STAGES OF RELOCATING OFFICES IN THE ST. CROIX DISTRICT.

I EXPECT THAT TO BE HAPPENING AS WE GOT TO THE END OF THIS YEAR AND EARLY INTO NEXT YEAR.

ALL OF WHICH WILL MEAN A BETTER QUALITY ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO WORK IN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

YOU KNOW IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET IT MOVING.

L.T.

CALLED ME AND I CALLED THE ARCHITECT.

I SAID LISTEN, L.T.

CALLED ME.

MAKE SURE.

SO AS YOU MENTIONED IT´S VERY CRITICAL AND WORKING TO MOVE IT FORWARD SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT GOING OUT TO BID AND GETTING SOME WORK STARTED.

THE FACT THAT IT DOES TAKE A WHILE FOR THE OBLIGATIONS FROM THE FEDERAL RESOURCES IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WHY WE´RE AT THIS POINT.

IF WE KNOW THAT THE CRITICAL FACILITIES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND, THE SCHOOLS, THE HOSPITALS, A LOT OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECTS, OUR FIRE STATIONS, THEY´RE LAGGING BEHIND BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN BUT BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN MIRED IN SOME BUREAUCRACY, THE GOVERNOR REALLY REQUESTED THAT LEADERS FROM FEMA COME DOWN FOR A SUMMIT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET ACT AND HELP TO MOVE SOME OF THAT FORWARD, AND THE NEED TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS.

IF YOU THINK THE GENERAL PROCESS WAS CHAOTIC, THE BBA INFORMATION OF IT WAS EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.

SO WHAT WE´VE DONE IS TO HAVE THAT MEETING AND ASK FOR SOME KEY GUIDANCE.

THE GOVERNOR PROVIDED SOME COMMENTS ON THE RESULTS OF THAT DAYLONG SESSION.

>> WE AIM TO GET TO A PLACE WITH FEMA WHERE THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT IS CONGRESS INTENDED.

IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO HAVING THE DELEGATE THERE THAT ADDED TO THE DISCUSSION THAT CAN TELL WHAT WAS THE INTENT.

AND THE INTENT WAS TO GIVE US A BRAND NEW VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> A BRAND NEW VIRGIN ISLANDS MEANS ONE´S THAT´S MORE RESILIENT.

STORMS ARE JUST IMMINENT.

BUT WE CAN´T HAVE GOOD MONEY THROWN AFTER BAD.

LET´S FIX IT RIGHT.

LET´S MAKE IT STRONG.

LET´S MAKE IT RESILIENT SO THE NEXT TIME AROUND WE DON´T HAVE TO THROW MONEY AT IT AGAIN.

THE DELEGATE WAS CRITICAL IN THAT CONVERSATION TO REALLY REITERATE WHAT CONGRESS INTENDED WHEN THEY PASSED THE BOY PARTISAN BUDGET ACT AND SHE SHARED HER THOUGHTS AS WELL.

>> TODAY WAS REALLY VERY HELPFUL AND I WAS REALLY GLAD THAT THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, THE OFFICE OF DISASTER RECOVERY WERE ABLE TO BRING DOWN THOSE DECISION-MAKERS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., FROM FEMA HEADQUARTERS AS WELL AS FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE TO BE THERE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS AND TO REITERATE WHAT THE INTENT OF CONGRESS WAS.

I WAS HAPPY THAT OUR OFFICE WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE LANGUAGE WERE THERE TO ASSIST IN THAT DISCUSSION.

THE OFFICE OF DISASTER RECOVERY, THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD THE PAST FEW YEARS TO ENSURE THAT WE RECEIVE ALL OF THE FUNDING POSSIBLE AND MAKING SURE THAT DECISIONS WERE MADE THAT WERE INSTRUMENTAL TO THE RESILIENCE AND TO FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN THIS REBUILD.

>> THE DELEGATE WAS PHENOMENAL IN THAT SESSION.

SHE WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THAT CONVERSATION SAYING WHEN WE WROTE THIS LANGUAGE, THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SO WE WANT TO JUST THANK HER FOR HER CONTINUED SUPPORT ON THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD PROGRESS ON A NUMBER OF FACILITIES.

EARLIER YOU HEARD THAT THE QUEEN LOUISE FACILITY ON ST. THOMAS WAS AGREED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED.

AND THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY NEWS THAT SOME OTHER SCHOOLS WILL BE REPLACED IN ADDITION TO ARTHUR A. RICHARDS SO WE´RE SEEING SOME GOOD FRUITS FROM THAT CONVERSATION SO WE REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED.

YOU KNOW, L.T., WE´VE HAD A LOT OF PROGRESS.

AND THE ADRIAN SENIOR CENTER ON ST. JOHN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ONES THAT WE HELD A REAL RIBBON-CUTTING WHERE IT WAS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING ALL THE WAY TO THE END WHERE THE SENIORS WERE JUST HAPPY TO BE BACK IN THE FACILITY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, AND HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK IT MEANS A WHOLE LOT.

IF YOU´VE EVER ENGAGED WITH THE RESIDENTS AT ADRIAN, THEN YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

EVEN BEFORE THE BUILDING WAS DESTROYED, I DON´T KNOW IF YOU RECALL SOME OF THE SENIOR CENTERS WERE ACTUALLY CLOSED.

>> RIGHT.

>> SOME CONSOLIDATED.

AND I CAN SPEAK PERSONAL LOW BECAUSE MY MOM USED TO ATTEND THE ONE AT ANNA´S RETREAT.

THOSE SENIORS, THEY WERE REALLY A FAMILY.

IF ONE DIDN´T COME ONE WAY, THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHY.

THEY WOULD CHECK ON ONE ANOTHER.

THERE WERE HUMAN SERVICES PEOPLE WHO PICKED THEM UP, STOPPED AT THE MALL SO THEY COULD PICK UP THEIR BREAD BEFORE THEY WENT HOME AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD FOR THEM TO HAVE THE KIND OF FAMILY THAT EXTENDED BEYOND THEIR OWN HOME.

AND WHEN THE SERVICES WERE CUT BACK, THE SENIORS AT BOTH ADRIAN AND AT ST. URSULA´S IN TOWN WERE PRETTY DISAPPOINTED.

SO THEN WHEN THE BUILDING WAS DESTROYED AND MESSED UP A WHOLE LOT BY THE HURRICANES, IT WAS EVEN MORE DISTRESSING.

SO IT IS AN INCREDIBLE THING NOW TO BRING THEM BACK IN THE CENTER.

I EXPECT TO BE GOING UP AND VISITING THEM, AS PEOPLE FROM MY OFFICE WOULD DO IN THE PAST.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT ISN´T THAT CLICHE TO SAY THAT WE REALLY CAN MEASURE SOCIETY BY HOW IT TAKES CARE OF THEIR VERY YOUNG AND VERY OLD.

ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FROM THOSE BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM I THINK SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

>> I THINK SO TOO.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> YOU´RE IN THE MIDDLE, THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> I HOPE SO.

>> WE´RE ALL OVER.

>> ALL OVER.

YOU KNOW WHAT, THOUGH, WE JUST APPRECIATE THE EXPERIENCES AS WE GO THROUGH -- AS WE GO THROUGH ON A JOURNEY.

ANOTHER GROUP THAT NEEDS TO BE CELEBRATED OF COURSE IS OUR VETERANS.

IN MARCH OF 2020, THE ERIC ROSEN VETERAN AFFAIRS BUILDING ON ST. CROIX HELD A RIBBON-CUTTING AS WELL AND THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE.

VETERANS ARE ANOTHER CRITICAL PIECE OF OUR OPERATION.

THEY KEEP US SAFE -- WELL, NOT THE VETERANS, BUT THEIR SERVICE HAS ALLOWED US TO BE KEPT SAFE.

WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION´S PERSPECTIVES ON VETERANS AFFAIRS IN THE TERRITORY?

>> WELL, I THINK A CRITICAL DISCUSSION THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE, AND I KNOW JUST RECENTLY BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND DIRECTOR FERREL WERE HERE TO DISCUSS IMPROVING THE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

I THINK THE VETERANS AS YOU HAVE VERY APTALLY STATED, THEY HAVE GIVEN A LOT, BOTH TO US AND TO THE COUNTRY.

AND OUR VETERAN WHO SAY COME OUT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, BY PROPORTION WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE SERVING AND MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LOST IN THIS CONFLICT OF THIS NATION THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY.

THE VETERANS DESERVE OUR VERY BEST.

THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PROVIDED, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY AND TAKE CLASSES THERE FOR FREE AS WELL.

BUT I THINK THAT PIECE OF HEALTH CARE IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON BECAUSE IT IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET ADEQUATE CARE WITHIN THE PRESENT SCHEME.

I KNOW THE DELEGATE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.

I THINK WHEN WE GET THAT ADDRESSED IN A WAY THAT IS SATISFACTORY TO THE VETERAN POPULATION, IT WILL MEAN A REAL BOOST IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY EXPERIENCE.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE.

I KNOW YOU DO HAVE SOME HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND SET-ASIDES FOR VETERANS IN YOUR SUBDIVISIONS AS WELL.

>> FOR EVERY COMMUNITY WE HAVE A SET-ASIDE FOR VETERANS IN WHICH THEY HAVE THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE AND ALSO WE SET IT ASIDE FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME SO THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND PURCHASE A HOME THERE.

SO THAT´S CRITICAL FOR US IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR ALL OUR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

>> WE ALSO HAVE A TAX EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE AND A PAYMENT OF TAXES AS WELL AND RECEIVE CREDIT.

>> OKAY.

WE´LL CONTINUE, AGAIN, THEY´RE THE REASON WHY WE CONTINUE TO BE FREE AND WE ALWAYS THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.

NOW ROADS.

I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE THAT ROADS, ROADS, MORE ROADS.

WHEN WE DRIVE, ROADS IMPACT EVERYONE.

IN ORDER TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT, WE MUST TRAVEL.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS COMFORTABLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT STRIDES WITH ROADS.

WE HAVE ROADS BEING PAVED IN FREDERICKSTED.

ON ST. THOMAS WE TALKED ABOUT SOME ROADS.

THESE ARE HIGHLY TRAVERSED ROADS.

I KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE BEEN PLEASED WHEN YOU SAW IT MOVE FROM CONSTRUCTION ALL THE WAY TO BEING PUT BACK INTO FULL SERVICE.

>> WHEN I SAW IT ON THE SCREEN, I THOUGHT, HEY, THAT´S MY ROAD.

BUT I TRAVELED THAT ROAD EVERY DAY.

THOSE ARE PRECIPITOUS ROADS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLAPSE OF THE SIDES OF THE ROADWAYS ON THE MOUNTAIN.

THERE ARE AT LEAST ON THAT ROAD, ONE, TWO, THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE PLACES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS.

WE SPENT MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS ALTERNATING THE LANE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TEMPORARY STOP SIGNS, ALLOWING ONE LANE TO GO AT A TIME.

SO I BELIEVE IT´S A REALLY CRUCIAL ASPECT.

I WELCOME THAT BECAUSE THEY JUST COMPLETED IT A FEW WEEKS AGO.

THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE, BUT I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, WITH SO MANY OF THE PIECES OF THIS GOVERNMENT, IT´S LITERALLY LIKE WORKING ON A MOVING TRAIN.

NOTHING STOPS.

JUST DO YOUR WORK.

NOTHING STOPS.

YOU HAVE TO WORK UNTIL SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN ARE GETTING EDUCATED.

YOU HAVE TO WORK IN HOSPITALS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING TREATMENT AND RECUPERATION.

YOU HAVE TO WORK ON ROADS WHILE PEOPLE ARE TRAVERSING AND GETTING TO AND FROM THEIR HOMES AND WORK AND RECREATION.

SO IT IS A CHALLENGE TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT, BUT IT IS LITERALLY WORKING ON A TRAIN AS IT´S MOVING.

>> THAT´S RIGHT.

WE ALSO CALL IT LEARNING THE AIRPLANE WHILE WE´RE FLYING IT.

THE SPORTS PARK AND RECREATION, I CALL THEM THE LITTLE DEPARTMENT THAT COULD.

THEY HAVE OVER 50 PROJECTS.

THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING SOME SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

I THINK THEY HAVE COMPLETED ABOUT 12 OF THOSE PROJECTS ALREADY.

THEY HAVE ANOTHER 20 OF THEM IN THE PROCESS IN THOSE VARIOUS STAGES.

BUT THEY HAD A NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT REALLY GETTING THE VINCENT MASON POOL STARTED AGAIN.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE PROGRESS THE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE THIS YEAR SO LET´S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS BECAUSE THEY´RE MOVING FORWARD.

JUST YESTERDAY WE STARTED POURING CONCRETE AT THE STADIUM.

YOU CAN CLAP.

[ APPLAUSE ] THE GOVERNOR HAS COMMITTED SOME $400,000 FOR THE RENOVATIONS OF THE MAJOR CUMMINGS PLAYGROUND.

YOU CAN CLAP.

[ APPLAUSE ] WE STARTED AND AS YOU´RE LEAVING AND GOING BACK OUT, THE BASKETBALL COURTS, THE CONTRACTOR DOING THE RESURFACING PROJECT IS OUT THERE TODAY STARTING THE WORK.

HE´S GOING TO WORK HIS WAY UP EAST, RENOVATING ALL OF THE BASKETBALL COURTS, TENNIS COURTS, RACQUETBALL COURTS IN THE TERRITORY.

THAT PROJECT HAS STARTED.

[ APPLAUSE ] THE GOVERNOR ALSO COMMITTED $1.5 MILLION FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE WATERFRONT PROJECT.

ANOTHER PROJECT ON THE SPORTS PARK AND RECREATION.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE MOVE UP AND HAVE THE VINCENT MASON POOL.

AND THEN I STARTED THINKING JUST LAST WEEK WE ISSUED A CHECK FOR THE CARIBBEAN DRAG RACING ASSOCIATION.

WE HAVE A CONTRACT AND NOW JUST STARTING GETTING READY TO DO WORK AT THE HORSE TRACK.

WE HAVE A PAVILION WHERE CONTRACTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SELECTED TO START THE WORK AT THE PAVILION AND THE CONCESSIONS.

SO WE ARE WORKING.

>> WELL, PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING.

ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE MOVING.

I THINK YOU WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY.

THE ATMOSPHERE WAS REALLY POSITIVE.

>> YES, IT WAS.

YES, IT WAS.

I THINK BECAUSE THE POOL IS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

SEEING PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT THE RETURN TO USE OF THE POOL IS EXTRAORDINARY.

I THINK THERE´S A POINT THAT I MADE AND I WANT TO REITERATE BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO GET TIRED WHEN THEY SEE THESE PROJECTS BEGIN AND THEY DON´T KNOW WHAT´S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND JUST THE EXCITEMENT OF HAVING IT RESUME AGAIN TAKES ME BACK TO THE FACT THAT IN THE 30th LEGISLATURE, 2013, IS WHEN I VOTED FOR THE FUNDING FOR THAT STADIUM.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, YOU HAVE FEMA, YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE FORCES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CONTROL.

YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THE FACT THAT THAT´S THE SITE THAT YOU´RE WORKING ON.

WHATEVER THE LATENT ISSUES THAT ARE PRESENTED BY IT.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATIONS OF PEOPLE AND THEY´RE LIKE, OH, MY GOD, WHEN IS THIS DONE.

WHEN ARE WE ABLE TO SIT IN THIS STADIUM?

WHEN WILL WE HAVE A GAME HERE, YOU KNOW WHAT I´M SAYING?

BUT IT´S REALLY GOOD TO SEE SO MANY THINGS COMING TOGETHER AND TO SEE THE END PRODUCTS IN SIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS ALSO TOLD US HOW THEY FELT ABOUT THE RECOVERY OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN THE TERRITORY.

YOU KNOW, THAT´S CRITICAL.

SO LET´S HEAR WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SCHOOLS REBUILT.

NUMBER ONE, I HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THE SCHOOL AND MAKING IT A TERMINAL FOR FREIGHT.

NUMBER ONE, WE DON´T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.

WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF ABANDONED SCHOOLS THAT WE SAY ARE NO LONGER FIT FOR OUR EDUCATION.

WE NEED TO REPAIR OUR SCHOOLS AND WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE CHILDREN HAVING AN EDUCATION IN A LESS CONDUCIVE FACILITY FOR THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YOU WERE THERE.

SOME OF WHAT THOSE SPEAKERS SAID ABOUT WHAT THE VISION FOR SCHOOLS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND WE HAD THE WEEKLY MODERNIZATION PROJECT.

I KNOW YOU HAD SOME REALLY, REALLY SALIENT WORDS AT THAT OPENING AND WHAT MODERNIZATION OF OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES AND THE MEANING FOR OUR EDUCATION QUALITY HERE IN THE TERRITORY.

>> WELL, SO FIRST OF ALL, THAT´S MY ALMA MATER.

I WAS JUST TELLING PEOPLE THAT I REMEMBERED WHEN ONE OF THOSE BUILDINGS WAS ADDED.

I THINK THAT WAS IN THE TENTH GRADE AT THAT TIME.

AND STUDENTS WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WERE GETTING A NEW BUILDING.

WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HAVING CLASSES IN THIS NEW BUILDING.

AND I THINK IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN PEOPLE -- WHEN CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS INVESTED IN THEIR WELL-BEING, IN THEIR FUTURE, TO THE POINT OF COMMITTING THE FACILITIES AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR THEIR USE.

IT WAS REALLY GREAT.

I HOPE THEY KEEP PLAYING THE TOUR THAT WE DID TO SEE HOW TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO BE INCORPORATED IN THE CLASSROOMS THERE, TO SEE THE KIND OF PREPARATION THAT THEY´RE GOING TO BE GIVING TO STUDENTS AND TO TEACHERS ABOUT HOW YOU TEACH IN THIS NEW PARADIGM.

THE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE.

ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN SO CHALLENGING FOR CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR HAS ALSO PROVIDED LESSONS ABOUT HOW YOU USE TECHNOLOGY AND HOW YOU IMPROVE YOUR EFFICIENCIES.

AND IT´S GOING TO BE A MODEL REALLY FOR OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DEVELOPED IN THE TERRITORY, TO MAKE SPACES LIKE THAT CONDUCIVE TO THE LEARNING PROCESS.

>> YES.

AND WE DO HAVE THE DEMOLITION OF THE EVELYN WILLIAMS SCHOOL MAKING WAY FOR THE ARTHUR RICHES JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, THE VERY FIRST SCHOOL THAT WILL BE COMPLETELY REBUILT USING INDUSTRY STANDARDS.

IT´S REALLY EXCITING.

WE EXPECT THAT THE WORK WILL BEGIN IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.

SO FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR WE´LL BE BUILDING A BRAND NEW SCHOOL IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS.

SO JUST THE LIGHTING AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS INCORPORATED REALLY SET THE STAGE.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, FEMA ALSO OBLIGATED $899 MILLION THROUGH ITS PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PERMANENT REPAIRS OF THE ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND SUBSTATIONS.

SO WE HAD SOME UPDATES FROM ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS EARLIER ON.

WE GOT THE MIDLAND THAT´S GOING ON NOW, THE CONTAINER PORT, THERE´S GOLLING GROVE, REALLY MAKING OUR GRID MORE RESILIENT.

AFTER THE STORMS, WE KNOW CHRISTIANSTED WAS ABLE TO COME BACK REALLY QUICKLY BECAUSE WE HAD UNDERGROUNDING.

SO MAKING A RESILIENT POWER GRID IS ALSO ONE OF THE PRIORITIES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> WHEN WE HAD THE GROUND-BREAKING FOR THAT PROJECT, THAT VERY SAME WEEK I HAD BEEN IN MEETINGS, VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF GUAM AND SOME OTHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM, I THINK, HAWAII AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN ALASKA.

AND WE WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS FOR ISLAND SPACES, FOR SMALL NATIONS, AND HOW THESE PROJECTS FIT INTO THE SCHEME OF MAKING THESE ISLANDS BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.

WE TALKED ABOUT OUR UNIVERSITY AS BEING THE FIRST HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY TO HAVE FREE TUITION FOR ITS STUDENTS AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN.

UNDERGROUNDING, 50% OF SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL FACILITIES.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE LABOR INITIATIVES, THE APPRENTICESHIPS THAT WE HAVE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO EXPOSE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO VARIOUS CAREERS.

ALL THOSE PEOPLE WE WERE PRESENTING TO.

>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ONE OF THE THINGS WE´RE DOING AT THE HOUSE AND FINANCE AUTHORITY TOO IS WE´RE FUNDING THE POWER PLANT AND THAT GENERATOR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SHIPPED TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

IT´S BEING SHIPPED NOW AND WILL ARRIVE IN NOVEMBER TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THAT´S OVER A $95 MILLION PROJECT THAT WILL HELP THE PEOPLE OF ST. THOMAS WITH THE POWER OUTAGES THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING.

SO WE´RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT TOO AS WELL WITH WHAT´S HAPPENING IN THE OVERALL POWER GENERATION IN THE TERRITORY.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> OKAY.

WE ALSO HAVE WORK GOING ON ON OUR AIRPORTS, EXPANSION BOTH AT THE ROSEN AIRPORT AS WELL.

AND THAT PORTION OF KEEPING TRANS-SHIPMENT AND MOVING PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH IS CRITICAL TO THE OVERALL ECONOMY.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE FACT THAT WE´RE WORKING ON BOTH AIRPORTS AND THEN THE CONTAINER PORT, GALLOWS BAY, IT´S REALLY A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE.

WHEN WE WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE TALKED ABOUT IN ST. THOMAS THE CONVERSATION IS ABOUT THESE MEGA SHIPS.

BUT THE CRUISE LINES ARE ALSO MAKING SMALLER SHIPS AGAIN.

AND SO THEY´RE LOOKING FOR LESS TRAVELED PORTS.

PLACES THAT ARE ON THE GRID ARE ST. CROIX, ST. VINCENT, PLACES THAT ARE TRAVELED TO.

THEY BRING A DIFFERENT QUALITY OF VISITOR AND THE SPEND IS INCREASED AND THAT WAS THE CONVERSATION THAT GALLOWS BAY COULD BE A PORT THAT BRINGS IN THESE SMALLER CRUISE SHIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT THE KIND OF CULTURAL EXPERIENCE THAT ST. CROIX PRESENTS, THE CULINARY OFFERINGS THAT ARE HERE AS WELL AS JUST A TREMENDOUS LANDSCAPE AND SWIMMING AND DIVING OPPORTUNITIES.

SO I´M EXCITED ABOUT OUR FUTURE.

>> I LIKE THAT.

WE´RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR FUTURE, WITH OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS, OUR AIRPORTS, YOU KNOW, OUR CRITICAL FACILITIES.

WE´RE GOING TO SEE MOVEMENT ON OUR SCHOOLS.

JUST A LOT GOING ON IN THE NEXT YEAR.

YOU KNOW, EARLY ON I SAID THAT WE´RE GOING TO DO A LOT OF DESIGN THIS YEAR AND YOU´RE GOING TO SEE THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR GOING INTO 2022 AND I THINK WE STARTED TO DELIVER ON THAT.

THE CRITICAL COMPONENT OF MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY FROM HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA, AGAIN, IS OUR WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE THE SKILLS FOR TODAY PROGRAM AND WE´RE ALSO ENCOURAGING, IT´S A VERY CRITICAL POINT THAT WE HAVE THE WORKFORCE TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE WORK THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT.

AND WE´RE ENCOURAGING ANYONE WHO´S INTERESTED IN CAREER TRAINING AND HOSPITALITY, HEALTH CARE, MARINE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD TO REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR THE SKILLS FOR TODAY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING.

>> YES.

>> AND WE RAN OUT OF TIME.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> ALREADY.

>> ALREADY.

SO WE´RE GOING TO JUST GO TO OUR MAIL BAG REALLY QUICKLY WHERE WE ALWAYS GET REALLY INTERESTING QUESTIONS FROM OUR LISTENERS.

I REACHED OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER THE SHOW IN ADDITION TO THE QUESTIONS THAT WE GET ON FACEBOOK.

WE GOT A QUESTION ON HOW DO I BID ON PROCUREMENTS LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE?

WELL, ON OUR WEBSITE WE MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE ALL OF THE SOLICITATIONS FROM ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

YOU CAN ALWAYS CLICK ON THAT LINK ON OUR WEBSITE, USVIODR.COM AND IT WILL CONNECT YOU OVER TO HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY OR THE DEPARTMENT OF PROPERTY AND PROCUREMENT WHERE THEY HAVE ALL OF THE SPECIFICS ON THE JOBS AND THE REQUIREMENTS TO SUBMIT A BID FOR THAT SOLICITATION SO OUR WEBSITE IS KIND OF LIKE AN UMBRELLA WEBSITE THAT WILL FEED YOU OVER TO THE OTHER WEBSITES WHERE THE AGENCIES HAVE THESE SOLICITATIONS SO STAY TUNED AND CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THAT.

SO LAST WORDS, WRAP US UP.

>> LAST WORDS.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS PROUD TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT IN NOVEMBER WE´RE HAVING A GROUND-BREAKING AT MEGAN´S JUNCTION IN WHICH WE HAVE SOME APARTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BECOME AVAILABLE, OVER 64 APARTMENTS.

THOSE APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN 100% FUNDED BY BOTH LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT FUNDS AND ALSO FROM THE CDBGR FUNDS AS WELL SO ANOTHER GREAT PLACE FOR VIRGIN ISLANDERS TO CALL HOME AT A VERY AFFORDABLE PRICE.

>> GOOD.

>> L.T.?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK AND GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL UPDATES, GIVE THE PEOPLE ADDITIONAL UPDATES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING THEM.

>> SEE, AS SOON AS I LEAVE HERE I´M GOING TO GET ON THE PHONE AND CALL THE ARCHITECTURE.

>> I´M ALSO GOING TO GET SOME VIENNA CAKE AND CALL YOUR OFFICE AND GET A STREET NAMED AFTER ME.

I ALREADY HAVE HAD THE LAST NAME WILLIAMS.

IT´S SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE HAD YOU HERE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AS WELL AS YOU, THE LISTENING AUDIENCE.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO STAY FOCUSED AND BE ABLE TO PUSH OUR RECOVERY FORWARD.

PLEASURE AS WELL, MY CO-HOST.

IF YOU WANT TO STAY UP TO DATE BY VISITING US ONLINE AT USVIODR.COM, YOU CAN ALSO KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING ON FACEBOOK.COM/WTJX.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE´LL CONTINUE TO BUILD A LEGACY OF RESILIENCE.