Government

911 Operator Shortage Continues, Senators Learn; National Guard Stands Ready for Potential Emergency Response Operations

Apart from concerns regarding tsunami sirens, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety also heard on Tuesday about the ongoing shortage of 911 dispatchers across the territory. Per the VI Code, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency maintains the 911 Emergency System. The dispatchers are funded through the Government of the Virgin Islands and are represented by a United Steelworkers Collective Bargaining Unit.  According to VITEMA, there are not enough dispatchers in either district, even after significant efforts to fill the nine vacancies on St. Thomas and five on St. Croix.  "It's been a struggle finding qualified candidates," remarked Merlinda Philomene, deputy director of Human Resource and Labor Relations at VITEMA. Ms. Philomene told lawmakers that a hiring exercise for St. Croix yielded only four applicants, three of whom did not meet the required qualifications. As a result, only one additional 911 operator has been added to ...