Frederick Withdraws $10,000 Grant Increase After Gittens Cites Agreement to Await Committee Review

An attempt by Senator Hubert Frederick to increase the Morris de Castro Grant by $10,000 was withdrawn Thursday after Senator Kenneth Gittens reminded him that lawmakers had collectively agreed to hold the measure for committee discussion over concerns about the program’s administration. Nearing the end of Thursday’s legislative session, Mr. Frederick rose to introduce a non-germane amendment that would amend Title 17 of the Virgin Islands Code to raise the grant’s maximum amount to $55,000. According to Mr. Frederick, the grant is available to “two exceptional employees” within the government to “further their education and their training.” The Consortium has previously reported on the Morris F. de Castro fellowship, which provides one award for the St. Croix District and one for the St. Thomas–St. John District, with a maximum award of $45,000.  “Some of the members in this same body have benefited from that same program,” Mr. Frederick said after Mr. Gittens objected to the amend...