Governernor Albert Bryan Jr. Photo: Government House

The decision prevented the special session called by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. from producing the immediate up-or-down vote he had sought on the agreement, which is intended to support the restoration of horse racing at the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack on St. Croix.

The special session began well after its advertised time, a delay lawmakers attributed to the V.I. Water and Power Authority and another electrical outage on St. Thomas.

No testifiers were seated in the legislative well when the session convened, confirming Mr. Bryan’s earlier concern that stakeholders had not been invited to testify. Representatives including the commissioner of the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation were present in the audience, but their testimony will not be heard until Aug. 19.

The Committee of the Whole does not take votes. Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene in Legislative Session on Aug. 21, when a decision on the agreement is expected.

The Senate president could have recessed the Legislative Session, convened the Committee of the Whole to receive testimony and then returned to the session for a vote. That procedure has been used several times during the 36th Legislature.

Senator Ray Fonseca attempted to follow that process Tuesday, but his motion failed.

Several lawmakers said the additional month would provide time to examine the proposal, which contains provisions extending beyond a conventional lease agreement.

Potter Questions Timing and Scope of Special Session

The intention to delay a final vote became apparent at the beginning of the proceedings.

Senate President Milton Potter said the timing and “singular focus” of the special session “are deeply puzzling in light of the crises unfolding all around us.”

Although he acknowledged horse racing’s importance to the cultural fabric of St. Croix, Mr. Potter said provisions involving “long-term leases, gaming revenues, tax exemptions” required “thorough, transparent vetting, not rushed consideration.”

He questioned the administration’s decision to prioritize the agreement through a special session while the territory confronts other unresolved problems.

“It is difficult to understand why, of all the urgent matters before us, the governor has chosen to summon the Legislature into special session to prioritize a horse racing lease agreement at a moment when our people are demanding solutions on power, public safety, solid waste, education, and housing.”

Mr. Potter said the governor’s call raised “serious questions about priorities and about the alignment of executive action with the everyday realities facing Virgin Islanders.”

He maintained that St. Croix’s horse-racing legacy should be honored “not by rubber stamping complex agreements in a hurried special session, but by insisting on rigorous scrutiny, balanced governance, and an unwavering focus on the most pressing needs of our people.”

Eight Senators Back Further Review

Senators Marvin Blyden, Hubert Frederick, Kenneth Gittens, Marise James, Franklin Johnson, Clifford Joseph, Milton Potter and Kurt Vialet voted to send the agreement to the Committee of the Whole.

Senators Angel Bolques Jr., Alma Francis Heyliger, Carla Joseph, Novelle Francis, Ray Fonseca and Avery Lewis opposed the motion.

The eight-member majority’s decision was final, leaving the agreement scheduled for testimony before the Committee of the Whole on Aug. 19 and a possible vote two days later.