Government

Legislature Advances Bill to Incentivize Removal of Invasive Species; Senators Voice Displeasure With Key Testifier's Absence

A bill that would pay Virgin Islanders $100 for each large, invasive snake captured by creating a special program funded with $10,000 was approved in the Committee of Economic Development and Agriculture on Monday, and will be forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further vetting. Bill No. 34-0023 establishes the Invasive Species Eradication Community Program Fund and an imprest account fund for the payment of bounties under the program. The $10,000 would be appropriated from the Animal Fund. According to bill sponsor Senator Kenneth Gittens, the measure's main intent is to address the rise of the invasive species of snakes on St. Croix, however the bill is also inclusive of all invasive species.  Nicole Angeli, director of the Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources' Fish and Wildlife Division, shared some statistics about the emergence of Boas in the territory. According to Ms. Angeli, no Boas were reported in 2011, two Boas were reported in both 2012 and 2013 and ...