Delegate to the United States Congress for the United States Virgin Islands Stacey E. Plaskett said that her first year in office is a rough one with formidable challenges coming to the Barack H. Obama Administration and resistance to programmes that would benefit the USVI from the Republican party. Photo: St Croix Source

According to Plaskett, the Republicans made a disrespectful move when President Obama brought down his budget by tossing it out. Photo: Internet source

Plaskett was speaking yesterday April 29, 2016 on the sidelines of the Carnival horse races at the Clinton E. Phipps race track during an interview with radio station Lucky 13 WSTA St Thomas 1340 AM.

“They were completely of a mindset that they were not trying to do anything,” she said, speaking of the Republicans in the Congress. “And so we have been really trying to push just to remain steady, not even asking for increases of things but making sure that they are not cut,” she said.

According to Plaskett, the Republicans made a disrespectful move when President Obama brought down his budget. “They have not even allowed him to have a hearing,” she said. “They dismissed the budget that the President had and created their own.

“We have been really trying to push through and make sure that our voices are heard.”

She said that a lot of what is going on with Puerto Rico and their bankruptcy are going to have an impact in the United States Virgin Islands.

“We want to make sure that Puerto Rico does not simply get bankruptcy but that they create the environment for that economy to move forward.

She said if the US Congress gives Puerto Rico a work out of their bankruptcy, that United States territory will be back in to Washington DC seven years for another bailout again.

Conversations with President Obama

According to her, the best part of her job to date is when people see her as working hard and really trying to represent the people of her home territory. "The other members have really been very kind, helpful and supportive of the issues,” she said.

Plaskett said over the past year she has been able to have conversations with President Obama and discussed the plight of the territory.

On the issue of healthcare, she said that it has been about three times since she's been there that the Republicans have tried to completely repeal the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.

“Healthcare for the territory is not something that we know that the Congress is going to be able to do at this time. We recognise that if we don’t get stability in our Healthcare that is going to drive our economy down,” she said.

Plaskett made the news last month when she allegedly snubbed an invitation from President Obama to be part of the delegation going to Cuba for the President’s historic visit, citing prior engagements in the interest of the territory of the US Virgin Islands.