The League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands was represented at the Bordeaux Agricultural Fair on January 14th. They led a creative activity for children called "Catch the Comet Game" craft and handed out flyers to spread the word about the work of the League of Women Voters
LWV Assists Housing Authority by Monitoring Elections
On December 6, at the request of the VI Housing Authority, the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands provided volunteers to help monitor the elections of the resident council at Oswald Harris Court and Kirwin Terrace. Members were present during the elections throughout the day and helped count the votes at the closing of the polls.
LWV Hosts Wine & Cheese Event
In early December LWV hosted a Wine & Cheese & Beer Tasting fundraiser at the Caribbean Genealogy Library. Members and guests enjoyed food, drinks, and the company of each other. We held a raffle and the winner took home some free wine and chocolates. It was a great night for all and we hope to have others in the future.
St. Thomas Unit Hosts Inspector General of the Virgin Islands
On December 3rd the St. Thomas Unit hosted Steven van Beverhoudt, the Inspector General of the Virgin Islands, for an informative discussion about the role and function of the Inspector General, how the Inspector General chooses which areas to investigate and what that process is like, and current projects. Van Beverhoudt encouraged people to visit the website of the Inspector General at http://www.viig.org/ where they can read recent reports and submit suggestions for areas to investigate fraud.
Van Beverhoudt also suggested ways in which citizens can help improve the function of the Inspector General. One way is to support legislation that would set the budget for the Office of the Inspector General as a specific percentage of the overall government budget. He also stated that his office once had several more employees than it currently does and with more employees he is able to investigate more areas of government, and perhaps more importantly, follow-up with previous investigations. The Office of the Inspector General does not have any ability to force any department to follow through with recommendations made in published audits. Van Beverhoudt stated that if citizens wanted departments to comply, they should encourage their senators to force compliance by making it a requirement in order to receive funding.
A full-length video of Van Beverhoudt's talk will be posted shortly.
Get Educated! View LWV Candidate Forums on YouTube!
The LWV of the Virgin Islands moderated several Candidate Forums with the help of WTJX. They have been playing on WTJX and are now also on WTJX's YouTube channel. Click on the links below to view the videos.
- Episode 1: Moderated by Dr. Gwen Marie Moolenaar and featuring independent Candidates Stephen "Smokey" Frett and Patrick Simeon Sprauve
- Episode 2: Moderated by John Abramson Jr. and featuring Patricia James and Danny Emmanuel
- Episode 3: Moderated by Dr. Gwen Marie Moolenaar, features Bruce C. Flamon, Alma Francis Heyliger, Margaret Price and Maxwell A. Carty
- Episode 4: Moderated by Dr. Gwen Marie Moolenaar features Janelle K. Sarauw,(I) Senatorial Candidate, Shirley M. Sadler, (I) Senatorial Candidate, Kevin A. Rodriquez, (D) Senatorial Candidate, Dwayne DeGraff, (I)Senatorial Candidate
- Episode 5: Moderated by Gwendolyn Brady and featuring Sen. Novelle Francis Jr., Sen. Sammuel Sanes, and Sen. Kenneth Gittens
- Episode 6: Moderated by Rosalie Simmonds Ballentine, Esq. features Sen. Myron Jackson, (D) Senatorial Candidate, Sen. Marvin Blyden, (D) Senatorial Candidate
- Episode 7: Featuring Sen. Tregenza Roach, Wilma Marsh Monsanto, Albert Richardson
- Episode 8: Featuring Se. Kurt Vialet, Alicia Chucky Hansen, Robert Moorhead, and Sen. Neville James
- Episode 9: Featuring Democratic Sen. Justin Harrigan, Sr., Sen. Janette Millin Young, and Sen. Jean Forde
- Episode 10: Moderated by Denyce Singleton and featuring Sen. Nereida O’Reilly, and Sen. Positive Nelson
Get Educated! Daily News Voter Guide
Part of being an effective voter is being an informed voter. One way to become informed is to read the Daily News Voter Guide. Every year the Virgin Islands Daily News reaches out to candidates with a variety of questions and publishes their answers in their Voter Guide. This year they have graciously given us a link to their Voter Guide with no pay wall. Thank you!
Virgin Islands Daily News Voter Guide: General Election 2016
If you would like to support the VI Daily News through a subscription, you can do so at the following link:
LWV Holds Voter Registration Drives
During the month of September, the LWV held four registration drives in effort to register voters for the upcoming November election. The LWV coordinated with the Board of Elections to hold registration drives on the first three Saturdays in September at the Red Hook ferry dock. Since particular documents are required to register to vote, the goal was to hold the drives in a location where people would already have the required documents (such as a passport) with them.
The League also held a voter registration drive on September 27th at the UVI St. Thomas campus. This drive was very successful and registered over 20 voters.
LWV Participates in National Registration Day
On Tuesday, September 27, the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands participated in National Registration Day by holding a Voter Registration drive at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas campus. Several League members were on hand to assist as Board of Elections members registered over 20 people to vote. Board of Elections members stated that it was the most successful voter registration they had had that election season thus far.
LWV Hands Out Voting Flyers at Chili Cook-off
During the 32nd Annual Texas Society of the Virgin Islands' Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, August 21st, members of the League of Women Voters handed out flyers to attendees reminding them of the importance of voting and the procedures to register to vote.
LWV Book Reading at Jazz in the Park
On Saturday, July 30, 2016, the League of Women Voters participated in Jazz in the Park by hosting a booth in the Children's Corner. Members read a children's book about voting to children and talked to people about what the League of Women Voters does in the Virgin Islands.