Government

Senate Committee Approves Three Government Property Leases for Agriculture, Heritage, and Rescue Operations

On Friday, the Senate Committee on Budget Appropriations and Finance unanimously voted in favor of three leases of property owned by the Government of the Virgin Islands.  Bill 35-0211 related to leasing 15 acres of land in Princes Quarter, St. Croix to James Gaston for crop production and rearing small livestock. According to bill sponsor Senator Novelle Francis, “this lease agreement directly supports agriculture and the territory’s goal to work towards greater production and sustainability of our locally grown food supply.”  Mr. Gaston will hold the lease for an initial term of 20 years at a cost of $225 per year, with a ten-year renewal option. Though he was not present at Friday’s hearing, committee members were all in support of the proposal. Leases like those, Senator Marvin Blyden said are “critical to our growth and our economic development moving forward.”  The second lease, presented as Bill 35-0225, makes provisions for a multiyear agreement between the GVI acting throug...