Debates

"Until WAPA is regenerated with the 4.7 billion dollars that I was able to receive for the Virgin Islands, how are you going to attract a private sector company to come in and do a generation program?"

"WAPA requires a comprehensive plan that includes renewable energy, financial discipline, and community trust. We need collaboration, not finger-pointing. The utility's problems did not begin with any one administration."

"I am as affected by WAPA outages as you are. I have an aging mother who uses a nebulizer and has medications that need to be refrigerated. The agony of WAPA outages are real for me in their effect and not just the substance of some ad for political gain."

Proposed seeking a public-private partnership for WAPA power generation within her first 100 days. Argued WAPA's failures stem from "years of mismanagement."

"EDC rules that allow companies to hire workers from elsewhere and count them as V.I. residents after one year — that does not grow resident employment. That is a thing that I would change."

"I agree with Senator Frett-Gregory that a dashboard is eminently necessary for Virgin Islanders to be able to see what they are getting from the companies that are here."

"We do raid the tourism fund on a regular basis and the governor raids it for what he wishes to raid it."

"Respectfully, we have collaborated for years. What we need now is decisive action and leadership willing to make difficult decisions."

"Federal dollars mean little without proper local planning. Many projects remain delayed."

Highlighted federal grants secured for school reconstruction and technology upgrades.

"More than a fighter, I'm a worker, and I will stand by my record. I'm not going to take just the good and not take the bad."

"I'm running for governor because it's time for results for our people, not for a select few here in this territory. It is time that we put our young people first in this territory."

Urged unity, compassion, and a renewed commitment to public service.

"We have an enormous amount of resources — over $4 billion — to rebuild our utility system and none of us know what the plan is. It has been seven years and no one knows what the plan is. That is the first thing I would do: transparency."

"Delegate Plaskett has never spoken about WAPA except now that she's running for governor. The first thing she wanted to do was to bring the Department of Energy here to declare an energy emergency. They came. They said no."

"Delegate Plaskett has not pushed her colleagues on the mainland in Washington to ensure that we have the support from our federal partners to get our power grid up and running."

"After Irma and Maria, I had the law changed that has allowed the 24 billion that is here. I had 300 million in disaster loans forgiven. I had the Medicaid percentage dropped from 45% to 17."

"A nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives did not by herself bring us $24 billion. That is an absolute misrepresentation of what has happened."

"I find your commentary about the office of the inspector general extremely concerning. We have experienced an insurmountable amount of corruption in this territory."

"We will put in place the public-facing dashboard and the 411 system to address corruption in the United States Virgin Islands."

"We're not going to stay on this stage tonight and be disingenuous about the conversations that we're having. Let's start telling the truth."

"That 24 billion has still not created a hospital on St. John or any island. And electricity is still unaffordable and unreliable. We must do better."

"My background is finance. I will ensure that we focus on the financial management of this territory. This election is about the people of the United States Virgin Islands."

"I have not run away from the places in my administration that have been successful and that have not been as successful. What I've asked you to do is consider me on my merits."

"The average cost of construction in the Virgin Islands can range anywhere from $500,000 to well over a million dollars, and these factors are not being included in the assessments when federal awards are decided."

"I would work with the Committee on Appropriations to have a real conversation about increasing federal funding in this space. Supply chains and costs have skyrocketed and we cannot start at the baseline we are at now."

"I would push for disaster equity legislation that would require that the territories be treated fairly when it comes to disaster funding and FEMA funding. Data drives policy."

"There is a motto: people before party. My record reflects that I have been the only non-Democrat in an all-Democratic majority the entire time I served in the legislature."

"I have performed under Republican administrations, under Democratic administrations, and under President Trump's administration on two different occasions."

"You have to talk to him. And when I say talk, I mean sit down and honestly tell him why we need what we need. Not with an attitude, and not taking sides."

"Striking Section 1108 would be one of the first major legislative actions I would pursue, taking us from $20 million to $128 million annually for the territory."

"I would definitely support removal of the Medicaid cap because no other state has to deal with caps. We should be treated as a state in this regard."

"No one will outwork me, no one will outprepare me, and no one will fight harder than I will fight for the people of the Virgin Islands. I have this sacrificial agape type love for my home."

"I have delivered results. I have no ulterior motives. I've never been a politician and my need to serve has nothing to do with putting another check in a box."

"I would like to be empowered to do more — to get health care equity, to get tax equity across the board. This will open our life up and move our Virgin Islanders into the middle class."

"Just as I always have done by serving my community, I pledge to you today that when you send me to Congress, you'll have my full attention."