Business

Senate President Says If HOVENSA Deal Is In Place The Public Should Know

ST. CROIX -- Recent news reports of a potential sale of the HOVENSA refinery has prompted the Senate President of the 31st Legislature to comment on the pending deal, expressing excitement that the refinery may well be on its way to reopening, while cautioning the parties involved to be forthcoming with the information so the deal could be received favorably by the community. That's what Neville James said in a press release issued on Tuesday afternoon, adding that expenditures associated with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the refinery could have a positive impact on the local economy. James said at a time when the local job market is at its most dismal state, a potential restart of the refinery could lead to the resurgence of much-needed financial injection into the government's coffers. "The catastrophic blow to our manufacturing sector has led to the doubling of our unemployment rate and the erosion of our middle class, especially on St. Croix," said James."The ...