Johnson Calls for Committee of the Whole, State of Emergency to Address St. Croix's Lead and Copper Water Crisis

Senator Franklin Johnson on Sunday became the second legislator to ask that President of the Senate Novelle Francis convene the Committee of the Whole, to discuss the lead and copper contamination recently discovered at several locations in St. Croix's water distribution system. The senator also called on Governor Albert Bryan to declare a state of emergency on the same issue, joining Senator Samuel Carrion and other lawmakers. Last Thursday, Senator Kenneth Gittens said that he had written to Sen. Francis to request that lawmakers be given the opportunity to hear testimony under oath from several key players in the contamination response. Likewise, Sen. Johnson believes it is crucial that relevant agencies, including the Water and Power Authority, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Health and others be present to testify when the committee meeting is held. To ensure their presence," Senator Johnson is strongly advocating for the issuance of subpoenas," according t...