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Over $10 Million Allocated to USVI through Community Projects by Delegate Plaskett

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During the second day of the 118th Congress, Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) takes part in the speaker’s fourth voting round, January 4, 2023. Credit: THE HILL

In a significant advancement for the U.S. Virgin Islands, the recent approval of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024 by the House of Representatives heralds a substantial financial boost for local initiatives, thanks to the efforts of Delegate Stacey Plaskett. Plaskett announced the inclusion of twelve Community Project Funding Requests from her office in the federal bill, highlighting her commitment to enhancing education, healthcare, community development, and economic opportunities for the territory’s vulnerable populations.

Upon the anticipated Senate approval and President Joe Biden’s signature, the legislation will channel more than $10 million into the Virgin Islands for various critical community projects. Beneficiaries include notable entities such as the St. Croix Foundation, My Brother’s Workshop, and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, each tasked with implementing projects that aim to foster community well-being and economic resilience.

Deanna James, Executive Director of the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development, praised the funding as a testament to the impact of civic-public partnerships in catalyzing significant social change in underserved areas. The Foundation is set to receive $1 million to rejuvenate affordable housing and commercial spaces in Christiansted, underscoring the initiative’s potential to transform local communities.

Similarly, St. Croix Farmers in Action will utilize their $1 million allocation to refurbish essential water infrastructure at the Bethlehem Sugar Factory site, enhancing agricultural resilience against drought conditions. Kareem Edwards, a board member, emphasized the project’s critical importance to St. Croix’s agricultural sector.

The funding extends to a diverse array of projects across the U.S. Virgin Islands:

  • Lord God of Sabaoth Evangelical Lutheran Church is allocated $1,666,279 to increase affordable housing and activate essential services for Christiansted’s disadvantaged populations.
  • My Brother’s Workshop receives $1,000,000 for constructing a facility that will bolster education and workforce development.
  • The Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts is awarded $850,000 to transform a historical site into an educational center for traditional building crafts.
  • Caribbean Centers for Boys & Girls of the Virgin Islands gets $1,000,000 for the rehabilitation of youth centers damaged by hurricanes.
  • The Department of Planning and Natural Resources is allocated $510,000 for renovations and solar lighting at the Gustave Quetel Fish Market.
  • World Ocean School will use $850,000 for the educational refurbishment of the Roseway, a National Historic Landmark.
  • The Army Corps of Engineers receives funding for projects improving navigation in Christiansted and Charlotte Amalie Harbors.
  • Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative is granted $438,000 to study and mitigate the impacts of sargassum on marine life.
  • An additional $963,000 goes to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources for addressing harmful sargassum algal blooms.

This allocation underscores a forward-thinking approach to enhancing the U.S. Virgin Islands’ resilience and sustainability, marking a pivotal moment for community development in the territory.

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Federal

Plaskett’s Bill to Honor Virgin Islands Hero Passes House

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In a notable legislative milestone, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett successfully led the passage of a bill through the House to rename a post office in St. Croix in honor of a distinguished local military figure.

The bill, designated H.R. 5034, proposes renaming the post office located at 2119 Market Square in Christiansted as the “Lieutenant General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office.”

Lt. General Samuel E. Ebbesen, a native of St. Croix, is renowned for his extensive military service, business acumen, and community leadership. His illustrious military career includes commanding the First Brigade, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He also served as the commander of the Second U.S. Army at Fort Gillam, Georgia.

Expressing his appreciation for the honor, Lt. General Ebbesen said, “I continue to be humbled by the efforts of Representative Stacey Plaskett and her office to honor my service. Being present to witness us being one step closer to the designation of the Market Square, Christiansted Post Office in my name is truly an honor.”

Ms. Plaskett emphasized the significance of acknowledging Lt. General Ebbesen’s exemplary life and service, stating, “The naming of the Market Square Post Office on St. Croix as the Lt. General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office will enshrine his legacy and serve as a testament to the thousands of Virgin Islanders who answer the call to duty in our armed forces. Recognizing Lt. General Ebbesen’s service through this federal building designation is important.”

With its passage in the House, the bill will now move to the Senate for consideration. If approved, it will be sent to President Biden for his signature into law.

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U.S. DOJ Moves to Reschedule Marijuana to Ease Criminal Penalties

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The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that Attorney General Merrick Garland has initiated a process to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This proposed rulemaking, submitted to the Federal Register, could significantly change marijuana’s legal status, reduce federal criminal penalties, and acknowledge its accepted medical use in the U.S.

Marijuana has been a Schedule I drug since the CSA was enacted in 1970. On October 6, 2022, President Joe Biden requested a scientific review of marijuana’s classification. Following recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August, Garland sought legal guidance from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). Based on HHS’s findings and OLC’s advice, the Attorney General has now begun the rulemaking process to reclassify marijuana.

Rescheduling a controlled substance involves a formal procedure that includes public notice, an opportunity for comment, and an administrative hearing. During this process, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will collect and review public input to make a final determination. Until then, marijuana remains a Schedule I substance.

Historically, marijuana’s classification has faced numerous legal challenges and petitions for rescheduling. Initially classified as Schedule I, marijuana was deemed to have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of safety under medical supervision. Despite various attempts to change this status, the DEA has repeatedly denied such requests, adhering to its five-part test for determining a drug’s “currently accepted medical use” (CAMU).

The recent HHS recommendation was based on a two-part inquiry: assessing whether licensed healthcare providers widely use marijuana for medical purposes and whether there is credible scientific support for at least one medical use. HHS concluded that marijuana meets these criteria, supporting its reclassification to Schedule III.

This potential rescheduling raises several legal and regulatory questions. An April 2024 memorandum from the OLC stated that the DEA’s current approach to determining CAMU is too narrow. The OLC asserted that HHS’s two-part inquiry is sufficient to establish CAMU and emphasized that DEA must give significant weight to HHS’s scientific and medical determinations in the rulemaking process.

Additionally, the memorandum addressed compliance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the CSA. It concluded that neither mandates marijuana’s placement in Schedule I or II, and that DEA can meet international obligations by rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III with appropriate regulatory controls.

The rulemaking process will include public participation, with opportunities for comments and a hearing before a final decision. The outcome could change marijuana’s classification, impacting its legal status and medical use availability in the United States.

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Court Decision Paves Way for Integration of Caneel Bay Resort into National Park

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A pivotal ruling from a U.S. Circuit Court judge has mandated the transfer of ownership of the Caneel Bay Resort’s buildings and infrastructure to the U.S. Department of the Interior. This decision enables the National Parks Service to proceed with the redevelopment of the iconic resort.

The legal tussle over the rightful ownership of the property began in 2022, involving EHI Acquisitions LLC and the United States Government. Originating from a unique ownership arrangement crafted between 1977 and 1983, the Caneel Bay Resort was built on a 150-acre tract that was part of a larger 5,000-acre donation to the National Park Service by philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller. While the land was deeded to the National Parks Service (NPS), the buildings remained under the ownership of Rockefeller’s company via a “retained use estate.” This arrangement included an indenture with a reversion clause, offering the government the option to acquire the resort buildings at no cost—otherwise, the land would revert to the resort’s owner.

The legal dispute intensified when EHI, having acquired the retained use estate, claimed full ownership of both the land and resort buildings after the government declined a 2019 offer to assume ownership. EHI interpreted this “offer” as a sales proposition, whereas the government viewed it as a no-cost conveyance.

Judge Cheryl Ann Krause clarified this discrepancy in court, affirming the documents’ explicit intention for the land and improvements to be gifted to the government for a nominal fee of $1, as stipulated in the 1983 indenture. She stated, “To keep the land, the Government would have to accept the offer of the improvements. But if that offer were conditioned on payment, then the Government’s retention of that land, in effect, would also be conditioned on payments…meaning it would no longer be a gift.”

Judge Krause further underscored the non-commercial nature of the transaction, reflecting on the indenture’s clear direction for the integration of the Caneel Bay Resort into the Virgin Islands National Park, aligned with both parties’ philanthropic objectives.

Despite EHI’s arguments that the government intended to spend significantly to re-acquire the resort and their attempt to redefine “offer,” the court found these points unconvincing. Judge Krause dismissed these claims and awarded summary judgment to the United States, confirming that since no valid offer was made by EHI before the expiration of the retained use estate on September 30, 2023, the land’s title remains with the U.S. Government.

This ruling confirms that the government not only retains ownership of the land but also gains title to the resort’s structures, with EHI planning to appeal the decision. This marks a significant step towards the full integration of the Caneel Bay Resort into the national park system, reflecting the original intent of its benefactor.

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