From TJC TV channel 12 and the Virgin Islands Consortium.

This is decision 2026, the Democratic primary debate for Virgin Islands delegate to Congress featuring Emmet Hanson, the second Delia Smith, Terry Helenius and Janelle Salo, moderated by Marcelino Ventura Douglas and Ernest Gilbert.

The debate begins now.

Welcome to our Democratic Delegate to Congress debate presented by WTTG and the Virgin Islands Consortium.

I'm Marcelina Ventura Douglas, radio news reporter for the news feed on 93.1 earnings.

Gilbert, publisher of the Virgin Islands Consortium.

Whether you're watching on TV channel 12 or on the social media platforms of and the VII consortium, we are glad you're here.

The delegate to Congress represents the US Virgin Islands in Washington, and advocates for the territory in the US House of Representatives.

Over the next 90 minutes, the four Democratic candidates seeking that seat will make their case directly to you.

For our viewers information, this debate was prerecorded live to tape, meaning no editing of the content.

There is no studio audience to our candidates.

We appreciate you being here with us.

We will begin with your introductions followed by moderator lead questions and answers and end with your closing statements.

During the Q&A, Ernest and I will alternate asking you specific questions drawn from information in the public sphere and from your experience as a public official or administrator.

The questions were not shared with anyone in advance.

The order of the questions rotates from round to round.

However, the order may be adjusted based on specific questions we may have of a candy.

You'll have 90s for each main question.

Certain questions will be allowed more time for a response at the sole discretion of the moderators.

You may ask a follow up question when an answer is unclear, too broad, or needs more detail.

Follow up answers are limited to 30s.

If we determine that you have directly or indirectly referenced another candidate in your answer, that candidate will receive 30s to respond in studio cue cards.

We'll show when you have 30 or 15 seconds remaining, and this sound means time is up and we must move on.

Viewers, let's meet our Democratic candidates for delegate to Congress former Senator Emmet Hansen, the second former US attorney.

Delia Smith, Terry, Helena's former director of state federal relations and Washington representative for the office of the governor, and former Senator Janell Sorrow.

We'll begin with 32nd introductions in the order listed on the ballot.

Mr.

Hansen, you have 30s for your to introduce yourself.

Thank you.

Good day everyone.

My name is Emmet Hansen, and I am in this race because I have a decade of experience working with the DNC.

I've been able to bring not one, but two assistant secretaries here to the VI to help a housing, both public and private.

And today I bring this experience.

I bring my knowledge and I bring my yearning for a better Virgin Islands to this podium.

Thank you all for putting this together, and I hope to see all of you on the trail.

Miss Smith, please introduce yourself.

Good day.

My name is Delia Smith.

I'm a native of Saint John, and I've been a public servant for the past 40 years, the most recent of which I served at the level as the United States Attorney for the district of the Virgin Islands.

Haven't been confirmed by the Senate.

And I stand now to bring to you the federal service that I've provided in this capacity as our delegate to Congress.

Please introduce yourself.

Greetings.

WTTG and VI Consortium and Virgin Islanders I am Terry Helenius, born and raised in Mumbai on Saint Croix.

I have been delivering results for the past 30 years, whether it be in the public or private sector, and I look forward to expanding on these issues this morning.

Please introduce yourself.

Riggs everyone, thank you to consortium for having this debate today.

I want to also congratulate my colleagues here today, because it takes a lot to offer yourself up for public service.

So welcome.

My name is number four on the ballot running for delegate to Congress.

And I look forward to a robust discussion this afternoon.

Thank you candidates, for your introductions.

We'll move on to the first question, which is a general question that all candidates will answer.

We'll start with Miss Smith.

The delegate to Congress serves as the Virgin Islands voice in Washington.

While the delegates votes in congressional committees and proposes legislation, they do not have a vote in power on the final passage of bills on the House floor.

However, the position plays a critical role in shaping legislation within committee advocating federal agencies securing funding, influencing policy, and building relationships that directly affect life in the Virgin Islands.

Our discussion will focus on your record on issues that have reached the public policy priorities, and how you would represent the territory in Congress.

The first question federal recovery awards lag construction costs in the Virgin Islands by timbers.

Herman Hill facility, for example, received 22.51 million but now needs 52.4 million plus 7.2 million in unfunded equipment.

The territory accepted fixed cost female awards for 241 projects under section two, 38, 28 of the Stafford Act, and now agencies are forced to shrink designs.

What federal remedy will you pursue to prevent under-equipped facilities that cannot deliver intended services to Virgin Islands?

The approach must start with, including in the assessment as to the funding that we should have received.

We must first include our cost of shipping, the cost of supplies, the cost of construction and the cost of of of real estate in our territory.

These are not factors that are currently being considered when these the awards are being decided.

And we must approach this from a more realistic standpoint so that these agencies, when they are in fact giving these awards, that they understand that we are not the continental United States.

The average cost of construction in the Virgin Islands can range anywhere from 500,000 to well over $1 million, and these are not factors that are currently being considered.

Wendy's assessments are being made as far as awards and the size of projects and the their ultimate completion.

So that's where my approach would be in order to make sure that the funding does not run out, make sure that we have an adequate workforce and make sure that the cost, the true cost of construction and building would be included in the awards follow up quickly.

What is the federal remedy would you pursue?

I'm not sure.

I heard clearly the federal action you would take there.

It would require Mr.

Gilbert.

It would require discussions with the secretaries of HUD, the secretaries of USDA, the agencies of like FEMA, the ones that are responsible for giving us these, these awards.

The discussion must come with the persons who are in, in, in charge of making the assessments so that the required issues as far as the cost of shipping, the cost of construction, the cost of supplies are included in the awards.

Miscellaneous.

Same question.

Thank you for the question.

I would work with the Committee on Appropriations, specifically Congressman John Molenaar and other committee members, really to have a conversation with them about funding, increasing the federal funding in this space.

When we look at supply chains and the cost, the costs have skyrocketed.

And when we consider hurricanes and other natural disasters, you know, we can't start at the baseline that we are at now.

We have to go to Congress and work with the white House and the federal departments, really to increase appropriations, whether they are done by attaching a bill or by Congress, making the delineation that the territories, not just the Virgin Islands, because it's easy to go in as a party of five to get increased funding, whether we do that alone or together.

I would work with appropriations, the white House and the federal departments.

First, I would push for a disaster equity legislation that would require that the territories be treated fairly when it comes to disaster funding, FEMA funding to We data drives policy.

That's one thing we learned in political science.

So the Government Accountability Office is often underutilized.

I would ask a request that the Government Accountability Office conduct a report on our FEMA process, on the backlogs, that we have more approvals based on the report.

It will we will be able to bolster our case in going to FEMA and the federal government stating that the territories are treated unfairly.

So we have to utilize the Government Accountability Office.

Three I would also use my relationships, bipartisan relationships, specifically with the Committee on Natural Resources because FEMA, Department of Interior, Insular Affairs, they all fall under the the Committee on Natural Resources.

I would advocate for the Committee on Natural Resources to lead a bipartisan delegation to the territory to see firsthand the issues that we face.

If you are a primary source and you're there, you witness it.

It will be easier to to actually make a case within the House of Congress.

Thank you.

We'll have a quick follow up with Miss Helena's.

You will you resigned to run for Congress.

But some of the some of the agendas you mentioned here, one could argue that this should possibly be done while you served in your capacity.

Why haven't those actions been taken?

So these actions, many have been underway for years, similar to rum cover over and the permanency that we we requested.

It took us 50 years to get the permanency.

Many of these initiatives are underway by our team of lobbyists and myself.

So they have been in progressing.

Mr.

Hansen, same question for you.

Can you read the just a question again, please?

Federal recovery lags construction costs in the Virgin Islands by Timothy Hill facility, for example, received 22.51 million but now needs over $50 million plus 7.2 million in unfunded equipment.

The territory accepted fixed costs FEMA awards for 241 projects under section two, four, two, eight of the Stafford Act, and now local agencies are forced to shrink designs.

What federal remedy will you pursue to prevent under equipped facilities that cannot deliver intended services?

Thank you.

One of the problems that we have is that we are often late to the party, meaning that we wait until something has happened to have all these plans drawn up and it drags it out.

And then you have to ask for extensions.

When Hurricane Hugo hit, Lieutenant Governor Derek Hodge moved me from his office to OMB and I would say disaster program specialist that put together all the DNR.

So what I'm saying to you is not a guess.

It's what I know.

We cannot wait until it happens.

All of our plans can be done in advance, because if we maintained our buildings, we would know what the source spots are.

And what FEMA does is they come in with a state site list of prices, both for labor and for and for materials.

That is absolutely not applicable here.

So we must be ready in advance for these things.

Mr.

Hansen, the question is what remedy would you pursue to prevent undersized and under-equipped facilities that cannot deliver intended services?

I still have some time.

Okay, okay.

So knowing that there has to be an MOU between the governor's office and the delegates office so that when these requests are made to be put in place before, you have to have that cohesion between the two so that you know what you're asking for when you do go and ask for it.

So you have to go ahead and put it together.

And before a hurricane comes, any disaster.

You already have the agreements made with the funding bodies.

I'm going to follow up again, Mr.

Hansen.

We are talking about projects that are already in play.

I see that's what I didn't hear that were in play.

You mentioned the one for.

Yeah, we're talking about disaster recovery projects that are currently in place.

So we mentioned why.

But you have over 200 more projects in the territory.

And those budgets are being shrink because of rising costs.

So these things are actually in play now.

We want to understand, if you were elected delegate to Congress, what would be your action while in Congress to remedy the situation?

How would you deal with that?

How would you increase funding?

Mr.

Gilbert, you do have a process on the Stafford Act where you can gather information and say, look at this.

This is why this price is the way it is.

So that's that's a very good point because you do have it, but it has to come from the government of the Virgin as the executive branch in Congress.

The delegate can go ahead and move that forward because although it's FEMA, the funding ultimately rests with Congress.

And your action and my action, of course.

What is your action?

My action, again, would be to go ahead.

And once that determination is made from the executive branch to move that forward within the halls, so get the whole thing funded to the right, appropriate amount.

We're going to move on the next question.

The next delegate will have to work with President Donald Trump and his office, regardless of what happens in Congress as a Democratic candidate.

How will you build a productive relationship with him while avoiding National Party rhetoric or personal attacks that may satisfy Partizan audiences, but make it harder for Virgin Islands to secure federal action?

The first question goes to you, Miss Helenius.

Surely I already have established these bipartisan relationships with the white House, with key departments across the government and of course, in Congress.

I've worked, you know, with Congressman John Molenaar, Congressman Pete Sessions, Senator Maggie Hassan, Senator Mike Crapo, where we got the Republican Senator Mike Crapo, where we got the billion dollars.

This is how I have been working across the aisle for the last eight years.

And and really over the last 30 years.

This is nothing new to me.

I'm very familiar.

I've built these bipartisan relationships and nurtured, nurtured them.

And as a result, our retirees receive $1 billion across Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

So I'm very comfortable doing this.

And I've, you know, made and nurtured these bipartisan relationships for some time now.

Miss sorrow, same question.

There's a motto.

There's always people before party.

So my record reflects that.

I have actually been the only non-democratic in an automatic majority the entire time I served in the legislature.

The key is to actually build relationships, to educate, to form bipartisan relationships.

Anytime it comes to any concerns of Virgin Islanders, it's always if the efforts above any Democrat, any Republican.

So I, I for me it's a no brainer because we actually have more in common than our differences.

So the key would be building relationships.

And actually since I have more time, the data also shows as well that the Congress may turn blue in the midterm elections as well.

So that's that's a plus for the Democratic Party.

Mr.

Hampson, I do not intend to get involved with that argument because it's very serious for us.

Excuse me.

Now, between the Democrats and the president, like the old people say, cockroach don't belong in our house.

We cannot come from this small island and decide that we are going to get in a big person's fight.

We are not in a position to do that.

My job will be every day, 24 over seven to advocate for the Virgin Islands.

We are too small.

Yes, we do have the Territorial Caucus yet, and still we do not have the force to get in a fight with the president of the United States.

To the extent possible, we have to be cordial with everyone.

We have to be respectful.

No one listens to a bully.

No one listens to a bull in a China shop.

My only concern will be those things that will help us to live a better life.

And if we have to sit down and listen to it still, we have to walk up there with all of the evidence about why, as Americans, we should be treated fairly and have every single advantage given to to an American on the mainland, to everybody in the territory, including us, first of all.

Mr.

Hanson, a quick follow up again.

Sure.

How would you foster those relationships?

How would you foster a relationship with the current president?

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.

We are territory.

He is the president.

He is bound by Constitution to treat us all.

And we have to get out of this colonial status.

And that's number one.

But it's not what you say is how you say it.

So you have to go to the man's office with all the respect that he is due in that position.

Thank you, Miss Smith.

I have performed under Republican administrations, under Democratic administration.

I've performed under President Trump's administration on two different occasions and received outstanding performance evaluations across the board.

I understand as a federal employee that there is only one commander in chief I've served.

I will continue to serve and make the priority, the objective, the people of our territory, our welfare and our security.

I've built those relationships and will continue to do so based on my past record.

I want to move on to the next question.

The Supreme Court has ruled that in in unincorporated territories such as the Virgin Islands do not automatically possess all constitutional rights.

The Justice Department acknowledges that the Insular Cases relied on, quote, indefensible, end quote unquote racist stereotypes and quotes, but says territorial status must be addressed by Congress.

Question will you pursue this issue on what specific strategy would you advance?

So we'll begin with you.

You're correct.

The Insular Cases of 1901, Bidwell v downs and the rest during the colonial era, following the Treaty of Paris in 1898, do indicate that we are alien races and savages to be governed by Anglo-Saxon principles.

The Supreme Court did say that Congress has the ability.

Congress has plenary power over the territories.

I intend to actually pursue that.

I want to work closely with non-profits like Right to Democracy.

I want to work with the five territories included on Washington, D.C.

as well.

They have a level of disenfranchisement.

In addition to that, we also need to look at the I would pursue data, show the data.

Right now, the population in the five territories exceeds the population of about 11 US states.

So we do have a large voting bloc.

I will also talk to members of Congress to whom their jurisdictions have a lot of people from the territories like New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, and activate those that are in the diaspora to actually push their fellow representatives of Congress to actually think about giving us the right to vote and all powers included in being an American citizen.

Mr.

Hanson, I come from a point of evidence.

I think it's probably because my my training as a journalist and to that end, we have to make concrete arguments such as when you look at what we pay for Social Security, but we don't get back in equal benefit.

That's a valid point.

I think that's an extremely valid point.

When we pay all those things off our Medicaid, Medicare, all these things.

But yet my access depends on where my feet are.

That's inane.

And we have to make those sorts of arguments because we're not begging.

All we're asking is to be treated equally.

Our veterans are shortchanged tremendously, tremendously.

And the US Congress must understand that when they had the draft and everything else, they took in disproportionate numbers men and women from the territories, and they still do.

So from that viewpoint, eliminates the thinking that we're somehow begging, that we're a welfare state.

It shines a light fully on the fact that you are denying us what we have paid into for no reason, except for those cases.

That's how I feel that we have to approach it, and that's what we have to hammer.

We are not less than anyone else and what we pay into, we deserve to get back just like anyone else.

A quick follow up.

I think you know, the current delegate to Congress and other representatives have made the argument that we are not less than for quite a while.

So that has been trumpeted with the other territories as well.

Still hasn't worked, though.

So what specific action would you take?

How would you maneuver to pursue that strategy to make sure that we are recognized?

Thank you.

What you have to do is you have to look at the numbers.

We can't just say you're treating me badly.

You have to show why we came to that conclusion.

We pay in 100%, just the same as anyone else according to income.

So if we can show definitely that you are withholding our investment in ourself, then it's a different argument.

Because you're right, people have made that argument.

But that is not the one that I will make.

Miss Smith, it is correct.

The Insular Cases have not been decided in our favor, notwithstanding the numerous times that this issue has been brought before and decided by the Supreme Court.

But all hope is not lost because the last decision was A52 split.

So there is hope.

However, the issue remains that it must be an act of Congress to have Virgin Islanders and other citizens of other territories be recognized with full protections under the Constitution.

So if it's an act of Congress, then any delegate from any territory must lobby.

They must use and leverage their powers on committees to bring stronger focus on this issue with their counterparts in Washington, building those relationships so that that issue cannot die, that we will continue as a collective front to pursue these rights, because all rights, if they're white, if they are worth fighting for, have always required constant beat of that drum in order to be recognized in order to break those walls down.

And I think that an act of an act of Congress is still possible if the issue is continued to be a hot plate issue, and if the force of the number two sheer numbers of representatives from territories continue to collaborate, use our leveraging power to advance this issue and to convince those with the authority to, in fact, make these changes.

The current delegate has lobbied and has worked with other territories in order to push the Insular Cases.

The matter of the Insular Cases forward.

What other specific strategy different from what the current delegate has done already, would you implement if you were elected?

The only strategy is to focus on who is who has the power to make the change.

And so it is not to say that it's because it has been done before, that it can and has failed, that it's somehow a different strategy.

The strategy remains with where the power lies.

The power lies with Congress.

So it's not a different strategy.

It's a continued beat of the drum to make sure that you're heard, that you're leveraging your powers to convince those with the power to act on your behalf.

In this round, we'll be moving to direct questions to candidates.

We'll be.

Miss Helen, I'm so sorry.

We sorry.

Thank you for that.

To give you the opportunity to respond.

Surely Congress has a moral obligation to repeal and do away with this vestige definition.

I would work really across the board for equity.

Equity in health care, equity in our tax policies.

I think if we start in phases with striking 1108 as it is in the Social Security Act right now, we would be getting our Medicare on par with the states.

Right now, it is capped at 20 million a year once it runs out, seniors and children and veterans and those disabled have to find funds on their own.

If it is struck, everything is on par and fear with the states.

So equity is certainly a priority for me.

Number three on the ballot will follow up on you if you have a criticism you want to.

You want to.

You want to follow follow ups really are if it's specific, if they've mentioned you specifically, then you'll be allowed one.

Okay.

But we're moving to direct questions to candidates okay.

And we'll begin with you, Miss Sorrow.

In 2018, the Virgin Islands consortium reported on a domestic violence case involving you and your then girlfriend.

Eight years later, in June, a Florida judge denied a petition for a restraining order against you.

However, that trial revealed that you and a recent partner engaged in a pattern of ongoing physical abuse.

The judge admonished you for your part in the abuse.

Domestic violence is a serious social issue that creates long term effects on individuals and families, and drove one third of the police cases in the Saint Thomas district alone in 2025.

Why should voters send you to the Hill when you stop before a judge just last month and admitted to your part in physical abuse with a domestic partner?

Thank you for the question of all.

I have apologized to the people of the Virgin Islands on numerous occasions.

One, two.

The domestic violence is a very serious thing, but it's also something called reactive abuse.

And the moderator said in the courthouse.

And so as well on the matter, I won't get into the details of the situation, but we we there was it was proven that there were constant moments of, of acts of abuse initiated.

And then when I reacted, that became the problem.

The lesson learned is knowing when to, for lack of a better word, cancel the order.

So I don't have a problem talking about abuse.

Talking about reactive abuse.

Talking about when to leave a situation for me, I my case has shown a level of authenticity.

I am not the perfect candidate.

I am not the perfect person.

But there's always a lesson in the story, and I think I've learned my lesson in the story.

And if to quote religion right, there's always this thing about the greatest story ever told.

We talk about Jesus all the time, but we forget the cross.

We forget the suffering, we forget the process.

And I've been through that process.

I'm prepared.

I'm ready to serve.

And none of us on this podium are beyond reproach.

All of us have something that we are particularly not proud of.

Want to move to a next question?

Miss Helena's miscellaneous A temporary restraining order was obtained against you under the Domestic Violence Act and later dismissed after a settlement in 2012.

The same party sued you for cyber smearing, alleging an email that quote contained false and extraordinarily offensive, obscene, false, fabricated and derogatory statements calculated to destroy the personal and professional reputation of the plaintiff to humiliate him, humiliate him, and otherwise cause plaintiff extreme personal distress.

Because a delegate must demonstrate judgment, restraint, accountability, and credibility.

What happened?

How was the case resolved?

And why should voters trust your leadership?

Certainly.

Thank you for the question.

I'm glad to clear this matter up.

At that time, there was a domestic.

It was ranked under domestic violence because that individual did not want me speaking with their marital partner.

And I must say that this is during a time where my husband and I were separated.

For six years, I dated this individual and there was some discussion with myself and his marital partner, because he had shared with me that a divorce was underway.

Come to find out that that was not true and he did not want me speaking with his marital partner.

So he sought to the court to get a TRO on me, which I must say, I shared this with the Daily News as well as their editor.

This was thrown out.

This was not even ever litigated because there was no marital connection between me and that person and me and that person's wife.

This matter never went anywhere.

This was thrown out.

Thank you, Miss Smith.

While serving as U.S.

attorney for the Virgin Islands, you were lead counsel in the prosecution of a major federal drug and firearms case involving Ivan James and others.

During those proceedings, U.S.

District Judge Mark Kearney conducted a show cause hearing over the government's conduct and later concluded that the U.S.

Attorney's Office improperly precluded the public from access to certain filings, and fell short of its duty to be of being forthcoming with the court.

What was your role in the conduct that led to the George that led to the judge sanctioning you and ordering every employee in your office to receive notice, reminding them of their duties to the court?

And what responsibility do you accept in the conduct that led to the court's sanction?

Every judge has the ability to control his courtroom in the manner in which he or he or she sees fit.

Every judge, however, doesn't necessarily like the government and decide and the role that we play the as US attorney, even though a US attorney is responsible for the management of his or her district, I was forced to also prosecute cases because of the nature of the danger involved and the level of threat assessments involved that none of our assistant Line USA's AUSA were comfortable prosecuting those cases.

Those cases required me, notwithstanding all of my duties, to to to lead the district also to prosecute two cases involving drug major drug gangs, violence involving violence, murder, drug trafficking, gun violence on the island of Saint Croix.

The court did take did take certain measures that they felt was necessary, but later recalled those measures.

So we did not hide anything from the the parties, notwithstanding all of our efforts.

This was based on a filing that we were supposed to do on a timely manner.

The the the electronic system was malfunctioning.

And regardless of what we said, based on our attempts to file that document, the court was not satisfied and felt that we should have still moved more melting more mountains to get that document filed.

And so what actions I did, I did as I always do.

Whatever the court says is what you do.

Yes, this is true, but the the judge did document it here in an order that the US left post-it notes on the podium given by an associate attorney and paralegals during the US attorney's presentation, which offered a different view than what you had represented to the court.

And the judge, given the judge having to now specifically hold separate hearings to call upon public servants working on other matters in the public, seemingly stating that you essentially had lied to the court.

Well, the court wasn't satisfied.

As I said before, the court was not satisfied and considered it misleading that we could not file the document because the court's electronic system had malfunctioned.

When I ultimately brought another employee, our Intel analyst manager, to come up and prove electronically that not only was it that the system in the Virgin Islands malfunctioning, but it was also malfunctioning across the nation.

Only then did the court accept that this filing, error or malfunction was not an intentional act on behalf of the government, and I have never seen this type of reaction from a judge, but it is not within my purview.

No, my authority to question a judge's ruling.

If he says he wasn't satisfied, we went as far as we could.

Bringing in all of the experts to show the error was not with the United States.

It was with the national filing system.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Hansen.

You are the only candidate without a campaign website, despite site and communication strategy and web development experience.

If you have not assembled the basic campaign infrastructure to clearly represent your candidacy on agenda.

Why should voters believe you are prepared to build and run an effective congressional office on day one, or choose you over candidates who appear better prepared?

Okay, number one, I don't think I promise to do that.

I think that's inference.

I do not remember promising to put that up.

Well, we well, Mr.

Hansen, I was present during a during a candidate forum in which you said that in June, back in June, in which you said that your website would be up the following week.

Okay.

That's I'll accept that we have I have had numerous problems.

Part of it with an old computer.

I bought a new one.

But my biggest problem has been the speed that I'm not getting from my provider.

However, I have used other means, including having an hourly show on WSC.

Also going to I don't think.

In fact, I know I have not missed a single forum, debate or opportunity to talk to my public.

In addition, I feel I have reels where I filmed it.

I have a what do you call a page on Facebook which is updated.

So the thing is that I am not running to be anybody's who I've master.

I am running on my basis of my time, serving at my own expense in the DNC.

And I will submit that any legislation that I have told anyone is there.

It's on a Facebook page with many people can communicate with me on.

So I don't see the relevance of a question of being a webmaster, being able to do the work.

Well, you follow up.

Yes.

You promised to have the website up, you didn't get it up.

And the Facebook page, you mentioned the the platform that you have on there.

There's nothing detailed on that platform.

Well, if you want more information, you know how to get in touch with me.

But but your question is how?

How do I expect people to think that I can do the job?

I see absolutely no relevance.

If you want to say, okay, you didn't have a Facebook page, fine.

But you're making one heck of a leap, like across the Grand Canyon thinking one thing has to do with the other.

You have no idea how many meetings I've gone to, so I think I think that you're mixing apples and oranges.

Well, that's your opinion, but but some would say if you cannot take care of the basic elementary requirements, then why?

And trust you with larger response.

You would say that okay.

You would say that okay.

Mr.

Hansen, we're going to stick with you.

Virgin Islanders still face delayed meal, fragile, fragile packaging routes, private carriers and exclude or overcharge the territory and new customs cost and paperwork on low value packages.

The current delegate has intervened with the USPS and joined legislation on shipping price parity and territorial de minimis relief, but residents still do not have a permanent, enforceable solution.

What structural result has she failed to deliver that you can and name the law or federal action you would pursue.

The committee and Senate partner needed to move it, and the relief residents should see during your first year.

I completely agree with that, with that depiction of my mail.

In fact, I've been victimized by it because it took three extra weeks for my campaign paraphernalia to get here, and the price that I paid to get it here was more than it cost.

So yes, it's definitely a problem.

I have tried to get this done from as far back as when Donna Christensen was our delegate.

The problem that we have is that the Postmaster General is is in a separate entity.

That's why President Biden could not get rid of him.

I think that what we need is a package that along because Grand Island and because we are more adversely affecting the people in the mainland who can choose to have it driven and still get it within a certain time, is to have all of the territories who are suffering the same thing.

To go to the board of the Postmaster General and see what they can turn back.

Because clearly this is not just a problem, but affects us more because we are island nations, all of us.

And so we can't just select drive it over, but it's costing all of us more money.

A lot of things reach here and they're spoiled or it's beyond the date that you needed them.

So that's what I would do.

I would go to the board who manages the postmaster general and have them make the change because it's necessary.

It's killing us, and the rates are far beyond as Smith.

Same question.

I think that the discussion has to start with the fact that we are outside the US custom zone.

Many of what we experience in cost is solely based on the fact that we're outside the US custom zone.

So being outside the US custom zones, we're always going to experience more for every service.

One of the things I would do, however, is the Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is lumped.

It's grouped together for many services coming out of the mainland US.

That is true for law enforcement.

It's true for the Department of Justice, and it is true for the Postal Service.

So it's not that we don't have, you know, people that are championing your question being, what would I do differently to the current the current delegate to Congress?

I believe that the, the, the only thing I would do differently and of course, complimenting her on her continued struggle.

But what I would do differently is to engage the white House directly, the executive branch, to separate funding that comes on lumped under one umbrella, that is Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

We need our mail to come directly.

We have we already have those services through the private couriers like Fedex and DHS, DHL and and UPS.

So there's no reason that we should have to go through Puerto Rico.

The delays that my brother speaks of and the costs associated can be substantially reduced.

We are not at a point where we can, in fact become a part of the contiguous US.

Of course, as you just asked, those insular cases will continue.

Thank you so much.

Let me you mentioned go to the white House directly.

Is that is that something that that you're committing to that you would do?

Absolutely.

Mr.. Mr.. Gilbert.

Absolutely.

I've been to the white House, and I would go back to this in terms of the white House.

We were actually engaged with the white House, the five territories on the US, and the threshold of $800, up to $800 in packages and the cumbersome process, the white House right now with the five territories, they are going to come back to us by the end of September, because when President Trump came out with these tariffs, etc., he did not consider that there was a negative impact to the territories.

We have visited the white House and spoken with Deputy Chief James Blair and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

They do have it for consideration to come back to us by the end of September.

So that is one issue.

The other issue is, as we are noting, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, what's happening here that nobody is talking about.

Of course, Puerto Rico has the lion's share of employees, and they want to keep their employees, so they want to keep that funding.

We do need parity for the Virgin Islands.

We need to increase our USPS employees and and all the ancillary services.

And so we need to have a sit down with them to get more funding for the Virgin Islands.

Terri Helenius, number three on the ballot.

And so before I go to Miss Sorrow miscellaneous, there would be some more scrutiny on On You because you currently represent the current administration in Congress and should be taking care of those issues.

We now have an administration that's been in power for in office for eight years.

Why haven't we seen some conclusions to some of those issues that we face?

Well, this thing about the minimum, this just happened recently.

So we are working through that and actually in in partnership with Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett and then previously Jennifer Gonzalez Cologne, the administration actually did work on these issues.

So these are pervasive issues that we are still working through.

It wasn't as if there was no interaction or engagement on these issues.

We have been working through these issues and in terms of Congress, things take a long time, but we are working feverishly to close these gaps.

One, I won't I won't critique the work of a delegate to just to redirect for a second.

Yes, we are in the custom zone and being a custom zones.

Actually, our request to be in a custom zone two U.S.C.

48, subsection 1645, calls for the Secretary of Treasury to remit back to the territory our customs fees at the beginning of each fiscal year.

For.

I would like to meet with the USPS postmaster.

I want to raise a case with the Committee on Natural Resources, to which the Department of Interior, Office of Insular, first falls under.

I want to utilize a salt shop central, make a pitch because we pass the feature the Free Trade Zone Act, make the salt shop sink or actually like a mail hub, give an incentive to USPS until the other carriers can make a mail hub so we can get mail directly and then provide meals for the rest of the Caribbean, South America, Central America.

Even if you have to go global to Africa.

And the last point is to continue to be a pest.

I will continue to raise the concern, raise the issue over and over, but we have to create an incentive and that will be the social synchrony for synchronized.

Be our meal hub so our meal can come directly to the territory.

Okay, I'm going to move forward.

Next question, Mr.

Hansen.

Virgin Islanders face capped Medicaid with a 17% local match, no disproportionate share funding and Medicare formulas for GFL and Schneider based on 1996 and 1982 costs.

Which federal disparity would you make your first health care priority?

What exact legislative or administrative change would you pursue, and what measurable improvement should patients see by the end of your first term?

Let me let me back into that and answer your last question first.

I cannot say not being a hospital administrator.

What percentage of health care, because my expectation is that if we're hiring professionals and they have the tools necessary, then everyone to their medical history should be able to get the best care, you see.

So my my difference in that is that to the extent possible, to improve quality of life, to the extent possible, our hospitals can render that care.

Now, earlier I said something I reiterated here.

The fact is that we we do not pay in any less than anyone else when it comes to those Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security.

We also have an issue, which is a huge issue.

If you look at the amount of veterans that we have that should have we should have had a long time ago a federal hospital here, I would have even said part of the hospitals be dedicated to veterans, that it can gain that funding.

I want to say that clearly, if we give the hospitals, if they give part of that to veterans, they get the funding, especially that which is easily attainable, such as the reimbursement for going to Puerto Rico.

That money should go to their care.

Thank you, Mr.

Hansen.

Miss sorrow, we'll go to you.

Same question.

Can you repeat the question?

Sure.

Virgin Islanders face capped Medicaid with a 17% local match.

No hospital Medicaid, disproportionate share funding and Medicare formulas for Fell and Snyder rooted in 1996 and 1982 base years.

Which federal disparity would you make your first health care priority?

What legislative or administrative change would you pursue, and what measurable improvement should patients see by the end of your first term?

I don't want to promise some legislation is actually it takes a while.

So I don't want to give any empty promises.

But I would actually pursue tephra and the Medicaid cap, which we say 1108 often I would do it simultaneously.

I would actually going back to the Government Accountability Office data drives policy, right?

So the Government Accountability Office, I would ask reports on the impact of tephra.

What is the levels of uncompensated care?

How many people have moved from the Virgin Islands, the mass exodus.

As you can see, our population continues to decline.

The impact of the Medicaid cap, the impact of the outdated federal formulas from the ROM cover over to the Medicaid cap to the territory basin.

If the Government Accountability Office can conduct a comprehensive study that would bolster argument in Congress and the Energy and Commerce Committee, because the Energy and Commerce Committee oversees all matters pertaining to public health, I think I'll be able to give a strong argument in conjunction with our two hospitals.

Are our federally qualified health care centers like federal health care to East and Center.

And if we could provide that data, we're able to actually have a stronger case to revisit the outdated formulas, basin and territory today.

So just follow up quickly.

Part of the issue here is funding for the local match.

Yes.

Right.

And so you mentioned Tesla and the level or eight as well.

But one of the main issues we have is finding the funds for local matching.

That would help us substantially.

What is the what is the remedy for the local much in particular, you have to revisit the formula.

You keep talking about a remedy.

And is this finding funding if you eliminate the cup?

We're one of the only jurisdictions actually that has a cap on Medicaid.

If you other states there's this never ending pool of Medicaid funding, the territories have a cap, and that cap is from 1902 to 1970 or prior to that in a Social Security Services Act.

So it's not a matter of finding fund, it's removing a cap.

To be honest.

So if we have the data, we could impact on the data.

When you look at segregation, the dial test.

Right.

So the data was able to so segregation the negative impact.

So if we can show a negative impact through these studies, we're able to have a strong case to remove all the audiotape formulas.

Miscellanies.

Shirley.

So the matter of the issue is really health care equity striking.

1108 would be one of the first major legislations that I proposed.

If we strike 1108, that would take us from 20 million to at least 128 million a year for Medicaid.

The other factor is hospitals are paid currently on tephra, which hasn't been reimbursed since or since 40 years ago and 30 years ago.

Schneider and Wang Louis, if we moved to an inpatient system, they would be paid across the board like they are, like hospitals in the states are reimbursed.

So that would change and increase our numbers dramatically.

It would, you know, improve our numbers to the fact where we wouldn't it would no longer be a concern and health care equity would be on the table as being phased in as a relief.

Just want to yeah.

Go ahead.

Just want to follow up quickly.

Miscellaneous.

Some of the strategies that you mentioned.

And also Miss Sorrow has the current delegate to Congress pursued these these strategies, including Tafur and 1108.

Do you know so the Bryan administration, we have been pursuing this our lobbyist specifically Winston and Strong, we have been working with the committees on health care and with the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

We've been speaking with chairman Mike Lee, really to sit down at the table so they understand how these issues are impacting us.

We have provided the language to be struck, and it is under consideration right now in committee.

So just a quick and that is the that's the reason for the question.

Again, you know, and why you face more scrutiny is because you've been that representative for the governor.

It's been eight years.

How long have you been pursuing this particular matter and why haven't been resolved?

So, you know, we have been pursuing this particular matter for at least four years.

And, you know, with the two different administrations now, we are working with the members of Congress.

You know, Republicans are in power right now.

They have certainly certainly been receptive to hearing our concerns.

And those matters are being talked, talked about across the table and negotiated.

So this is another one which is underway.

We have had discussions with chairman Mike Lee and others.

Surely, Miss Smith, while I would definitely support removal of of a cap Medicare Medicaid cap because no other state has to deal with caps, so we should be treated equally as well.

But as the question asked, the issue is more of how do we meet our requirement for the 17% matching?

And we can't we run out of money.

We can't even get to the amount because we can't meet the 17% that is required for matching for Medicaid funds.

And so the discussion has to start with how do we identify those fundings?

We would have to, number one, modernize our billing system.

We're not collecting for the services that we provide.

There's so much uncompensated care that is provided in our territory because of the underinsured or people that live below the poverty level.

Yes, the Government Accountability Office, my approach would be for them to conduct new studies to determine the exact rate of our poverty.

What level of poverty are we at?

I know nationally we are twice the national rate, and we're certainly higher than any individual state in the nation.

So there has to be some focus on our poverty rate that would then open up room for discussion, for additional medical funding that can help the government in meeting that 17% matching, so that we can, in fact, get to the bigger question, which is the removal of the cap.

Miscellanies.

Surely, you know, I would like to say thank you to Congress, Miss Helenius.

She did not directly mention you, so there was no fear, not for a follow up, not just add something to add.

No.

If it's not within the it's not within the rule.

Within the rules.

So we're going to move on.

Okay.

The Virgin Islands Board of Elections voted contrary to the law to have the delegates of Congress raised on the same ballot as the other local races.

The chairman of the board indicated that they need time to assimilate the electorate into utilizing separate ballots.

Do you support the board?

Do you support the board's decision for one ballot?

Miss will go to you first.

If I am a policymaker and we are crafting laws, then it's not.

Whether it's not what I feel, it's not what I think.

It's a matter of simply following the law.

That's a no brainer.

Whatever the last dates, we should follow it.

Have you reached out to the board to formally voice your non support?

I have not.

All right.

Would you challenge the outcome of the election based on this issue?

Come on November 3rd.

August 1st.

What are we talking about?

Which would you like?

Any lection.

Any election?

Would I challenge it?

Yes.

The challenge would have to be before.

After all.

Right.

Mr.

Hansen, same question.

I think that the board, in terms of the workers of the Board of Elections, they are without a doubt some of the most I've ever encountered in government.

The decision that was made to not follow the law, it's not just on Caroline Fox.

It's on the Board of Elections as well.

They were wrong, and they need to follow the law if they expect anyone else to follow theirs.

They were wrong 100% and not follow the law.

Have you reached out to the board?

I have not, miss Smith.

Same question when there are disputes as to how the law should be interpreted, which is what I believe is the case here.

We have courts of law and we have judges.

And those are the the proper venue for which disputes involving the interpretation of law should be taken.

Whatever the court decides, when the court decides would be the position that I would adopt, because the law would have been interpreted by the person that's responsible for interpreting and rendering decisions based on the law.

Miss Helen, this week I do have new information about this matter, which was asked of me last week, and I do agree the law should be adhered to.

All right.

Thank you.

Next question.

When the governor, legislature and the delegate disagree on a federal issue.

How would you decide which position to pursue?

Would you would you advance the elected territorial government's preferred outcome despite personal skepticism, or follow your own agenda?

Explain where independent judgment ends and your duty to represent the territory's institutional position begins.

Miss Smith, as an officer of the law, as an officer of the court, my duty is to the people.

I've taken oaths to defend the laws of this country and the United States Constitution for more than for almost 30 years, and any dispute involving the executive, the legislative and the delegate again must be guided by the delegate must be guided by the oath that he or she takes to uphold the laws of this territory and the laws of the United States.

Miscellaneous.

There is one governor at a time, and there is one delegate at a time where issues or problem surfaced.

You know, we are all adults.

It is important to have a sit down, discuss the matter, come up with shared values where there are none.

You know there are opportunities.

Find opportunities to to make it work before coming out of that room.

That's to me, you know, this is a simple matter because I've seen over the years the delegate and and the governor, maybe they sparred on issues.

But you know, we have these meetings and we come out with a shared goal and we path forward.

Those matters never you know, they never rest for they never Pervaiz for for quite some time we come out and we have we speak in one voice.

That is what I have seen in this administration, working with Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett.

Conflict is inevitable.

But conflict is also murder for change.

Democracy calls for conflict.

It calls for compromise at the same time.

So I don't ever expect the delegate, the governor and the legislature to always be on the same page.

But it's critical that we actually meet in a room, hashtag, have these discussions, and come to some common ground.

Also, I work for the people, but if there's information, because as lawmakers were privy to a lot of confidential information that the public is not privy to.

So if there's information and data that says to the contrary, I may have to take a position that's independent.

As Doctor King states, there comes a time when you take a position as another political expedient, popular, but you take it because conscience says it's right.

So there will be times that I will have to make a decision because conscience says it's right.

So follow up to that.

You of course, you're running as a Democrat.

The most likely governor will be a Democrat, most likely.

And so there's the matter of cohesion working together as a team.

Would you go the extra mile of trying to find consensus common ground before taking a divergent decision?

Of course, I would definitely go to extra mile.

If if I mean before breaking wrong, I will make any necessary steps to have the conversation to continue to build cohesion.

Come to a compromise.

But like I said, if the data shows to the contrary, I don't have a problem breaking rank.

And we state across the nation where we have like a one party system, when we see that there's nobody standing up to a particular person in charge.

At points.

We've had the Supreme Court, we've had the Congress bar into the executive branch.

So conflict is good.

Disagreement is also good.

Yes.

Mr.

Hansen, thank you.

I'm to quote Governor Alexander Farrelly, you're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.

What I found, having been in office and out of office and being on many, many private nonprofit boards, is that persons often come to the table with a different set of facts that in and of itself is an impediment to agreement.

I think that as persons elected to represent the people, we owe it to them to sit down and agree on what the facts are, and then we know what we're talking about.

It is one of the most frustrating things in the world, to try and have a coaching conversation with someone who doesn't know what the facts are, or doesn't agree with the fact.

The fact has no friends.

It's like math one and one is two.

So I believe that there's nothing that we cannot sit down and discuss intelligently.

That's what has to happen when I come to work.

I leave my ego at home because that's where it belongs.

So I think that in that case, we all have to sit down and simply debate the facts.

Thank you.

Emmet Hansen, numero uno.

Go ahead.

Yes.

So we've seen local criminal territory for a long time.

This has been an ongoing issue.

We've had over 26 homicides this year in the territory.

It's a lot.

And while the VIP continues to say it's doing its best as the representative in Washington, would you seek more federal intervention on local crime matters if you were to be elected?

Mr.

Hansen will begin with you.

Thank you.

I agree that we are living in dangerous times.

But I'll tell you something.

We have to take ownership for a lot of it.

When I look at the age of a lot of perpetrators, my heart drops in my stomach.

I have a child, I've raised another, and I cannot imagine losing them to street violence.

In 2001, when I was first elected, my first bill was gun control.

To get rid of all these unlicensed guns by way of forcing a recognition of the consequence.

I think that most of these young people don't think about consequences, and it's bad for them, and it's certainly bad for everyone else.

Governor Turnbull said, is too draconian and he's not enforcing it.

He said that until a young tourist from Puerto Rico came to Saint Thomas for quinceanera and she was murdered by a stray bullet.

As a congressperson, what I must insist upon is that they take our damn Coast Guard cutter out of Puerto Rico and bring it here, because we don't make guns there.

People laugh when we say that, but the guns are coming in somehow.

We don't have the tankers to blame anymore.

Someone is bringing them in and they should go to jail and be charged with murder.

That's going on.

The first things that I would do.

Control the drugs coming in.

Control the guns coming in.

It starts there.

So follow up.

The question was, would you seek federal intervention locally?

Federal federal law enforcement?

Yes.

Yeah.

My answer is yes, which is why I mentioned the cutter.

Because we see I live on the South Shore.

I see the lights coming in all hours of the night.

So I know somebody because there's a reef.

Nobody goes out there with lights on unless they're dropping or picking up something.

We need their help.

Miss Helen's certainly.

I would work as a watchdog to bring in federal funds to support Coast Guard, the FBI and our local partners.

In tandem with that, I have been on the hunt and have identified $9 million, which I have asked the administration before stepping down to provide 3 million of that to Yuvi, who was in a quagmire.

They are beginning to close those gaps with some funding that has been achieved, and a portion of this $9 million, the remainder of which I have asked the administration to go to the equestrian center.

Horse racing, baseball, cricket, boxing and the like to keep our kids away from trouble, drugs and violence.

If we fund through the Department of Education and Sports, Parks and Recreation, recreation, if we get more funding on the federal level, which I will receive the formula funding.

And I'll look around, as I have found, identified this $9 million that will help keep our children and youth off the street.

Terry Helenius, number three on the ballot.

The question.

The question is, would you support additional level of federal law enforcement to battle the crime we're seeing at home?

So as I shared, I would support federal funding, getting more monies into the Coast Guard and Haida and FBI here.

Locally, funding is fine, but more food presence.

Would you would you recommend the higher level of of soldier?

I would law enforcement I would I would like to have them on the ground here as a balance to our local partners.

Certainly I do agree.

Okay.

Miss Smith, I have for 20 years worked in federal law enforcement, and ten years before that in local law enforcement.

In my capacity as a US attorney, I introduced measures that brought the two agencies together federal law enforcement with local law enforcement.

So to answer your question as to whether we need additional boots on the ground.

No, we need to continue to combine these efforts to attack the crime and to act as an intervening force.

Secondly, what we would do it has worked.

That model has worked.

We had memorandums of understanding, not only under prosecution side with the US Attorney's Office and the AG's office to prosecute cases with the federal nexus.

That's why I continue to be a prosecutor, even in my three years of leadership, because we adopted those cases during my reign and had no one to prosecute them, so I assumed that responsibility.

Secondly, what is so serious is, again, the lumping and combining of federal efforts with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Take the cutters, Coast Guard cutters, or CBP ammo or see those vessels are shared between these territories, Puerto Rico being the largest of the two.

Of course, they receive the lion's share.

We need to be separated from that umbrella.

So we have our own resources.

So are we can patrol our streets, we can patrol our borders, we can use resources in our airports, continued efforts in our airports so that we can interdict every form of contraband, whether it's drugs, guns or explosives.

Thank you, Miss Massaro.

I'm a very different approach to crime.

We have a lot of nonprofits that are filling the gap on the prevention and intervention side.

I want to work with our non-profits.

We rely a lot on a GV funding.

If someone in my office can work with them on securing federal funds for their nonprofits.

So before we even get to crime and committing crimes funding for nonprofits.

But to answer your question directly, CBS I. The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative fiscal year 24, the allocated $88 million in fiscal 25 was $81 million.

I need to see a breakdown of how the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative was spent in the Caribbean Basin.

I would like to allocate more money if possible, or redirect some of those funds for greater protection of our borders.

We are seeing a huge influx of illegal weapons on our streets.

If we can protect our borders and ensure that those funds go toward the Coast Guard's customs to protect the borders, because we are in the custom zone based on what we preferred, I'd like to know where that 81 million is going.

And lastly, personally, to reduce, I want to launch an initiative from my office.

I want to visit our local jails more and have that interaction with them and ask them why, the why.

And if we're able to understand the why, we can craft better policies.

Okay, so we're going to go to our final question before we go to your closing statements, please.

I'm going to begin with you, Miss Smith, and then we'll go on to the other candidates.

Tell us what a successful first term looks like for you if elected.

Successful first term for Delia Smith would be to use my experience as a bipartisan approved US attorney, coupled with the other 184 attorneys that are currently sitting in Congress to use that reputation, a reputation of success, a reputation of integrity, a reputation of maturity and of commitment and hard work.

So that I can form those alliances, build relationships, leverage my experience and my approval in Washington to get the packages that we need the funding so that I'm leveraging for their their their incentives and their measures that they're defending.

They are then returning the favor in supporting the measures that we need for our funding projects.

And so it also would include building, getting on the the most important committees that address, as I said, the Agricultural committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, those committees that specifically deal with the issues that we are currently facing in our district.

And so, again, it's leveraging, it's building, it's advocating getting my feet in the door, getting my chair at the table so that I can continue to work with the people who have already approved me in Washington to get the job done on behalf of my people.

Massaro, please tell us what a successful first term looks like for you if elected.

So often we like to undo the work of our predecessors, so successful first term would actually be meeting with the congresswoman prior to taking office and finding out some of her initiatives, building upon her initiatives while adding my own flavor and twist to it.

I'm raising awareness on all the issues that we've spoken about today.

Time doesn't call for that.

Establishing critical relationships not only with the Congressional Black Caucus, not only with the Democratic Party, but also with the cabinet, the cabinet of President Trump, and also on the Republican side, also in the Senate and in Congress.

In taking a stab at even addressing all of the federally outdated formulas that negatively impact the territory and maintain a level of visibility within the US Virgin Islands to often sometimes you go to DC, we kind of remain a little removed from the people of the Virgin Islands, and having a constant communication with the local population, so that would be a successful first term for me.

Mr.

Hanson, what was a successful system look like for you?

First year for me?

What would you know?

My success would be jumpstarting things that directly affect the people of the Virgin Islands.

I would like to see.

Finally, the affordable homes begin to be built.

That is the guest start of any community home ownership.

If you do not own property, you will never be at least middle class right now.

Elizabeth Warren and Tim Scott just puts forth a massive housing initiative, and we should be able to take care of that right away, because the local legislation was passed in 2004, and I was the lead sponsor of that.

It that's all of the government land be available for homeownership, buying down the cost, because we all know what the cost is for that.

Also, we have to take care of the cost of doing business.

I was sent to us some years ago and was my mind was blown at the level of entrepreneurship there.

It seemed like you almost had to run away from being a business owner.

Finally, infrastructure has turned away so many investors that we have to have a plan.

And talking to you, oppa, about making this place affordable.

So that would be the three first things that I would look to have home ownership, infrastructure and home ownership infrastructure and doing something about Wapa in particular.

Okay, finally.

Miscellaneous.

What would a successful for Stem look like for you?

Thank you for the question.

I would like to strike 1108 if doing so would take us from 20 million to 128 million annually.

I would like to institute a feed mill here to provide food security for Virgin Islanders.

Right now our farmers purchase feed from Puerto Rico.

If we instituted a feed mill here on Saint Croix, that would help our farmers and provide food security.

And thirdly, I would like to have a veterans wing at the Wong F Louis Hospital and Schneider Regional Hospitals that our veterans do not have to travel off island to receive service.

They would have top tier service here, with funding provided from the national level to be serviced appropriately here again.

11 08A feed mill and the veterans wings.

Thank you, Terry Helene, number three on the ballot.

All right.

Candidates.

You now have 30s each for a closing statement.

Well, actually, we have a little time.

So we're actually going to give you 60s for our closing statements.

I begin with with sorrow.

Again, thank you for having us here this afternoon, this morning, this evening, whatever time this is going to be aired.

Thank you to the listening audience for tuning in these debates.

Happy to make an informed decision on Election Day.

I'm number four on the ballot.

Janelle keys, delegate to Congress.

As I've always played it.

No one will work me.

No one will prepare me.

I know I will fight her, that I will fight for the people of the Virgin Islands.

If I don't know, I would use my research skills if I am wrong.

I've seen today I am probably the only candidate who apologizes if they're wrong or if there's a lapse in judgment.

And I will fight and fight for the people of the Virgin Islands.

I have this sacrificial agape type love for my home.

I lead with love.

I am a servant leader and I'm asking for your vote on August 1st and during early voting July 2329.

Number four on your ballot, Janelle K servo.

Thank you, Mr.

Hansen.

You have 60s.

Thank you.

I want to thank the people of the Virgin Islands for their attention.

I love to thank consortium and WTTG for putting this event together.

I really want to thank those of you who took your time throughout this whole campaign to pay attention, to seek me out, to tell me what's on your mind, to share with me your biggest issues.

And just as I always have done by serving my community, I pledge to you today that when you send me to Congress, you will have my full attention.

You part of me crazy.

Attention, Joe.

Vivo contigo into surveillance programs.

Pero contessa también cuando cuando amigo to save you.

So you know this to.

This la de gracia Toro mi Hansen.

Numero uno.

Miss me?

I have 60s closing statement.

I have served my community.

Saint Thomas, Saint John, Saint Croix for the last 40 years.

I've done so as a servant in the Attorney General's office, starting as a secretary and then as an attorney.

After putting myself through law school, myself through college, as a single parent, working from a 7:00 ferry and returning on an 11:00 ferry to pursue my goals, I was it was based on my demonstrated hard work, is why I was selected by a president to serve as one of 94 attorneys to lead the district, and I have delivered the results.

I have was the last person, the first person to enter that federal building and the last one to leave.

My record speaks for itself.

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 just putting another check in a box.

This is about my people.

It's about my children, my grandchildren, and all of the people of our territories receiving leadership that they can trust and that they can appreciate.

Thank you, Miss Smith.

And finally, Miss Helen's, you have 60s.

Thank you so much.

I have delivered results for the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands and for Virgin Islanders.

I have worked throughout the last 30 years for Virgin Islanders to improve their quality of life.

I would like to to be empowered to do more, to get health care equity, to get tax equity across the board.

This will open it up, open our life up, make our life better, bring the federal funds here to the Virgin Islands and keep our Virgin Islanders, or move our Virgin Islanders into the middle class.

Thank you for the opportunity.

And that concludes our Democratic delegate to Congress debate the final installment of our three debate series.

Our deepest thanks to Emmett Hansen, the second Delia Smith, Terry Helen's and Janelle Sorrow for participating.

If you missed any part of this series, all three debates will air back to back on television in an encore presentation on Sunday, July 26th, beginning at 3 p.m.

on TJ TV channel 12.

I'm Marcelina Ventura Douglas and I'm Ernest Gilbert on behalf of WTTG and the Virgin Islands Consortium.

Thank you for watching.