It is 2026, another election year, and the League of Women Voters is here again on WTJX TV to interview candidates seeking elected office in the US Virgin Islands.

Our goal with these programs is to help you, the voter, make well-informed choices for your precious votes.

My name is Diana Joshua Woods, a member of the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands.

Today, we are speaking with four candidates for the position of the senator in the St.

Croix district.

Candidates, thank you for being here.

Please introduce yourselves only with your name, political affiliation, and ballot number, starting with Candidate Charles.

Lisa J. Charles, Democratic Party, number 24 on your ballot.

Samuel Carion, No Party, number 16 on your ballot.

Bianca Francis, No Party, number five on your ballot.

Franklin D. Johnson, number 25 on your ballot, Independent candidate.

We regret that a 16-minute program does not provide enough time for us to speak on all the major issues of concern to the residents of the US Virgin Islands.

We have selected some topics for discussion that we hope will allow the viewing public to help determine who can best address their major areas of concern for the betterment of the territory.

To begin, let's learn more about you.

To Senator Franklin Johnson, why should voters return you to the legislature?

What accomplishments in the 36th legislature do you believe speak strongly in favor of your return?

Thank you very much for that question.

I'll start with my last legislation, Act 9069, measure raising the minimum wage, which had not been raised for the past 10 years.

Taking the minimum wage from $10.50, taking it up to $12 with a sliding scale that would take it up just to about $15.

Also, being a prime sponsor on moving the government wages.

Government employees was making $27,000.

I was a prime sponsor of that measure, taking it from $27,000 to $35,000.

Measures like these make a difference in people's lives when people go to the grocery store, and the cost of everything else is going up except their wages.

It was important for me to make sure that we adjust wages, not only in the government but also in the private sector.

Now, Candidate Charles, why should you be selected to replace those currently in the legislature or to fill an empty seat?

Specifically, what will you bring to the 37th legislature through your education or training or relevant accomplishments to improve or build on what is already there?

Thank you for that question.

Now, why I decided to run and why I think I would be a wonderful pick for the legislature is because I know how government works.

I've worked in as far as the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, and the Department of Health.

My roles included working with the Medicaid office and with the Division of Senior Citizens Affairs.

I've seen frontline how our families are struggling.

I've seen where there are the gaps where families are not getting cared for or do not know where to go.

I know how that government works, and I want to make sure that we build laws, create laws, and have people readily available to receive the services that they're well needed in this community.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

Candidate Carion, would you like me to repeat the question?

No.

Thank you.

Samuel Carion, number 16 on your ballot.

I'm asking to return to legislature because I believe I possess the quality that we need within the Senate.

I've prepared, I have experience, and I'm willing to work from day one.

I have a background in business management.

Business owner here in the Virgin Islands, but also, I understand how government operates.

Working in the judicial branch of government gave me an understanding.

I also work in the executive branch of government, and I had the opportunity to also work in the legislative branch of government.

I also serve as a leader and director of a nonprofit organization, founder of one.

So I understand the importance of the private sector, the importance of the nonprofit sector, and how government operates.

And I will bring to the Senate all that experience and combination of that knowledge to advocate and fight on behalf of our people and legislate laws that would benefit and improve the quality of life for everyone.

Two things I'm focused on, affordability and accountability, and that's what I'm bringing to the floor.

Candidate Francis?

For over a decade, I've worked in this community, serving in different capacities.

I've owned and operated a business in Christiansted Town for over 11 years, so I know the struggles of small business.

But most importantly, I have led numerous initiatives to fill gaps with families facing hardships.

And because of this, I understand that while the work is important, filling temporary gaps, it is most important to push through legislation where these gaps can be filled, not temporary, but through progress of permanent change.

Thank you, Candidate Francis.

Now we move on to some talking points on the major issues.

To ensure that you each have equal time to answer questions, our timer will let you know when your time to respond is up.

If there is a difference of opinion, you are encouraged to make a rebuttal for 45 seconds on those questions so identified.

After the rebuttals are made, the candidates will have 45 seconds to address them all.

We ask for your respectful treatment of each other.

Your interactions will certainly say much to the viewer about what to expect of your behavior as a senator in the 37th legislature.

Candidates, before we begin, will you affirm that you have not been previewed to our questions in advance in any way?

Candidate Charles, will you affirm?

I will affirm.

Candidate Carion, will you affirm?

I affirm.

Candidate Francis, will you affirm?

I affirm.

And Candidate Johnson?

I affirm.

Thank you.

We start with the elephant in the room, stomping on everything, WAPA.

Let's be frank.

Don't you think there is more to WAPA's colossal failures besides a lack of money?

So let's identify other factors you think contribute to this horror story, and then explain how, as a senator, you would address these concerns besides money.

You may still include financial issues as a minor point if you wish.

Each candidate will have 60 seconds to respond, starting with Candidate Charles.

Now, that sure is the elephant in the room.

So, with WAPA, what I've noticed what's been happening, yes, money is an issue, financial issue, but what I believe is more importantly is the fact that maintenance is an issue throughout the entire government.

Now, I've asked the question, and I've seen Hovensa here for years, Hess.

And I remember growing up seeing how Hovensa was always lit, and I've always asked that question, what did they do differently?

What they did differently was they routinely made the maintenance and the changes on the equipment that they have to ensure that these equipment are running properly.

I do believe if we do invest and have regular maintenance done, I think that will help alleviate some of the major problems that we are actually having.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

You're welcome.

Same question, candidate Carion.

Thank you for the question.

I think with WAPA, what we've been seeing over the years is a management issue.

I don't think we really have had a money issue like you mentioned.

It's more of a poor management within the administration of WAPA.

Part of what we did in the 34th Legislature and the 35th Legislature, along with the commission that had to do with focus on energy, with some of my colleagues, we worked on restructuring the board, not only of WAPA, but also the hospital.

Because we understand that we need to have individuals with the capacity and skills to understand what's happening in WAPA and make the changes necessary.

So I think a physical audit of WAPA is necessary.

I think maintenance has been a problem, that we need to correct that.

I think we need to change from fossil fuel and improve into more alternative energy.

Solar is the way to go.

We started to do that.

I think we need to continue to expand that to bring relief to our people.

Our people cannot continue to pay the high price they've been paying.

And LEAC has been a problem that hasn't been touched for years.

So we understand and we need to empower more the Public Service Commission so that they can regulate also WAPA and have more oversight over WAPA.

We can't manage directly, but we can make changes.

Thank you.

Thank you, candidate Carion.

Candidate Francis.

So WAPA is a generational issue that's been plaguing our community.

I agree with candidate Carion that management is one of our biggest factors.

Of course, antiquated infrastructure is another, so maintenance is definitely an issue.

We need to explore alternatives, such as, as my colleague, Senator Carion mentioned, solar energy.

We have sun year-round.

Also, one of the issues that we face is that WAPA continues to put the load onto ratepayers, and it is unreasonable to expect that families are struggling and businesses are struggling, that we continue to carry that burden.

So alternative options need to be explored.

Thank you, candidate Francis.

Senator Johnson.

Thank you very much for that question.

WAPA maintenance is pretty much the main part of the issue.

They have done a very poor job on maintenance.

We have been putting money into WAPA, and it's been going into a pit and just falling out.

There's opportunity for us, lots of opportunity, but we have to aggressively utilize those federal funding, start building a plant, start on the structure of Synchroid, and make sure that we do it in a timely manner.

With those antiquated equipment, it's going to take a long time for us to even bring them into fine tune to bring the prices and the cost down.

We must utilize the federal funding that we have to build new plants in this territory.

Maintenance continue to be collapsing on the island of St.

Thomas, and Synchroi have done a little fair job.

However, we must continue pressing for solar, wind, and use alternative energy in order to bring the cost down holistically for all the territory.

Candidate Carion, this question is for you.

What impacts do you see resulting from continuing outward migration and an aging population on our future?

Are strategies addressed in your platforms to address these impacts?

You will have 60 seconds to respond, and there will be time for 45-second rebuttals.

Thank you for that question because it is something I'm addressing within my platform, and for me, it's so important.

Why?

Because when we look at our census, we realize that our demographic and our population is an aging population.

So given this fact, as a government, and part of our job in the legislature is to ensure that this aging population, we have the infrastructure necessary to support it.

And part of infrastructure that is needed to support an aging population, one is healthcare.

Two is also providing the services necessary to support the aging population.

For example, Homemakers program.

We need to increase funding for the Homemakers program, ensure that we have assistance for these individuals that are seniors, so that their quality of life can be improved.

We also, Meals on Wheels, improve that.

Assistance, Home Assistance Program.

Create also incentives to create adult care facilities that then can support families and caregivers with individuals that are aging.

Also, open up our community centers that are necessary.

We only have one in the territory.

Our seniors deserve a quality of life, and we have to work to give it to them.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to rebuttal?

He's on point.

Okay, we move on.

Affordability.

Everyone will respond and have 60 seconds.

The high cost of living has driven outward migration in the U.S.

Virgin Islands.

This is especially true for older adults who want to remain in the territory at home.

AARP's 2026 research shows that affordability and aging are top concerns for Virgin Islanders, especially with far too little government support.

What do you see as factors that contribute to the high cost of living, especially for seniors who wish to remain at home?

Secondly, what can you do as a senator to address these factors affecting affordability?

We will start with candidate Francis first.

Thank you for the question.

So as we know, especially our elders, they live on fixed incomes.

So some of the factors that may affect them is WAPA, and we already briefly spoke about what influences WAPA.

Definitely the cost of groceries.

We import most of our goods, so unfortunately, there is an increase in the cost.

The way that we can assist them is helping them navigate the system.

So there's programs out there to assist the elderly.

The issue that I see is that they don't have the access or know how to navigate these programs.

There's programs that assist with stipends for utilities as well as stipends for nutritional programs.

There's also nonprofits out here that assist with giving groceries to elderlies.

So for me, I would think that if we were to be able to support assisting them in navigating these programs and knowing what's available to them would definitely help them.

Senator Johnson.

Thank you very much.

I think healthcare is the main reason why most of our seniors depart from the territory.

We have a very not pretty managed or the infrastructure of our hospital.

The healthcare is not to the standard that they want, and many times they have to leave for medical reasons.

I think if we consider investing more into agriculture, planting food, so that it could cut down the cost of all what we're bringing in.

And very simple.

We could start off with doing tomato, cucumber, lettuce, whatever produce that we continue bringing.

If we could start planting it and stop bringing it in, it will cut down the cost, and it will make it a lot easier for folks to be able to eat and eat healthy.

Because eating fresh food is the best thing to do, and make sure that we continue helping our farmers by having those grants and different opportunities for them to be able to plant and plant well.

Candidate Charles.

Thank you for that question.

Now, with that question made me start thinking about a whole lot of things.

Why people don't come to the Virgin Islands, why don't businesses come here?

WAPA is on the top of that list because it's too expensive to run a business, manufacture, because we have property, we have land.

But why?

Because our WAPA bills are too expensive.

And again, bringing in the cost of living is because we have to, every item that we need here, we do not grow on island.

We bring that in.

If we do, I agree with Senator Frankie Johnson, that if we do start with our agriculture here and grow the crops that we eat here, that'll help.

Our seniors going off island, the healthcare system is the problem.

What we need to do is develop the way that we can have increase and a better living, quality of living for everyone, including our seniors, and work towards getting a better life on Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

And Candidate Carion?

Thank you for that question.

For me, this is near to my heart because my own family has experienced this.

My mother had to leave the territory with my stepfather, who just passed away recently, because seeking better affordability and quality of health.

So we have to look at this from different perspective and tackle at the same time.

We have to improve our healthcare system, we have to improve WAPA, and we have to also make things more affordable.

So things made more affordable is by increasing the salaries within the territory, which has already been done, but also supporting our farmers and agriculture department so that we can do more things locally and be more sustainable, right?

97% of everything that we consume is imported, so we need to change that, and we have the land to change that.

We also need to increase our healthcare system, increase the budget to the Department of Health so that clinical services can be expanded, releasing the pressure on the hospital.

Right now, everybody goes to the hospital emergency room for services.

So if we increase the services within our clinical system and hospital, that would release the pressure in the hospital and increase the whole infrastructure for our healthcare system within the territory.

Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Carion.

We move on to the economic stimuli.

This question will be for Senator Johnson.

You'll have 60 seconds to respond, and we will allow 45 seconds for rebuttals.

With a significant population decline, our tax base has plunged, worsening all of our woes.

What economic stimuli or strategic approach to increase the tax base would you advocate as a senator?

You have 60 seconds.

Well, it's already been in place.

The South Shore Enterprise has been a very extensive piece of work done by the legislature, which will encourage companies manufacturing to come to the South Shore of the island of St.

Croix that can get the tax break, the break from WAPA.

All of these things are in place in that South Shore enterprise.

So example, if a company was to come, let's say from a Caribbean island or any other territory, and they develop their area on the South Shore, they'll be able to get tax break.

They'll also be able to get a lower rate with WAPA, and that seems to be one of the biggest problem with companies can't stay, keep their doors open because of the power plant and the cost for WAPA and energy.

So that South Shore enterprise was a dynamic piece of measure that was passed, and that will encourage companies to come to St.

Croix especially, to improve our infrastructure when it comes to the tax base.

Would anyone like to rebuttal?

Yeah, I agree with Senator Johnson, but I think part of what we need to do a better job is to promote what we have.

So we have laws already in place and the structure created for incentives and tax breaks.

What we need to do is promote that internationally to attract those individuals as we fix WAPA and healthcare because no one wants to be in a place where the cost of energy is so high and you don't have healthcare.

So, we need to work these things hand in hand and promote what we really have.

The enterprise zone is structure in place, and we're going to attract them to come and be here and do business in the territory.

Now we move on to accountability.

We would like everyone to respond, 60 seconds.

Let's talk about accountability.

According to AARP, most families are concerned about the lack of government accountability and transparency.

As part of the legislature's oversight responsibilities, what measures will you promote to share information and achieve transparency so the taxpayer and public can monitor progress and accountability throughout government?

We'll start with Ms., um, Candidate Charles.

Oh, thank you for that question.

That is something that I've always thought about.

And when I watch legislation going on and, hmm, commissioners and supervisors go, what I notice that they don't do is bring a line person, somebody who's doing the work to talk about what is really happening.

And so when you talk about whistleblowing, there's an opportunity where the employees who are actually doing the job and is facing the crisis that is happening is not being talked to.

I think you need to go to the bottom, see what is going on, visit the office, and understand what is happening within that office.

And most of the times it's too much work, it's an overload, and no work is being done because there's not enough employees to carry out the job.

Understanding what the employees have to do and putting forward to getting that done is very important.

I think understanding the functions of these offices is very important to get the job done.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

Candidate Francis?

So this administration already has a transparency website.

However, one of the biggest issues that I have seen is when, before the hearings, when we go before the Senate, there's a lot of information that is not put on the floor because lack of information.

What you don't get is a follow-up.

There's no one following up on what the answers are, and I believe that the viewers, our constituents deserve to know what the follow-up is.

So definitely something that I would want to see happen and that I will work on when I am in the 37th legislature is to ensure that the public knows what the follow-up is, and they get a clear understanding of what was on the floor.

Candidate Carion?

Thank you.

Thank you for the question.

So one of the things I'm proposing is to have an integrity act, which is focused then on creating penalties for government employees who have been found guilty of corruption, removing their pension.

Um, also across the board, providing training and workshop for all government employees, starting from those at the executive level of leadership.

But also, part of what we need to do also is in a live dashboard.

Even though this administration has implemented a transparency website, I think we need a live dashboard where individuals can see every contract, can see every transaction that happens in the government.

Why?

Because it's the people's money, and we owe that information to the people.

So I think those things are important to change things around within our territory.

Thank you, Candidate Carion.

Senator Franklyn Johnson?

Thank you very much for that question.

I've asked the hard question and will continue to ask the hard question to hold the executive accountable.

Many times, some of the commissioners come to the chambers, and we don't get the full truth.

Sometimes people say I'm a little too hard, but when I see a commissioner or director not being truthful to me, it hurts me because I am making decision off of information that is not accurate.

The legislature have mandates that we can make sure that when they take that oath and they are not telling us the truth with what's happening in those agency, we hold them accountable.

And that's the only way it's going to stop, where people come to the legislature, tell us whatever stories they feel sounds good, but at the end, we find out when those agency has these dire problems.

So I will continue asking the hard question, hope I'll get my colleagues to be willing to use the rules of the legislature by swearing them in and holding them accountable and charge them when they come and not be truthful.

Thank you, Senator Johnson.

We'll move on to youth violence.

This question will be for Senator Carion.

You'll have 60 seconds to respond, and we have 45 second rebuttals.

To what do you attribute the violence we see in the community, especially among young males?

How does your platform address this major concern for our community?

Thank you for the question.

We've seen our community declining, especially our young people.

And part of, I believe, the problem is in, I think we need to look at this from a holistic approach.

Uh, there's a lot of issues that have been affecting our young men and women within our community.

Before, we always use a statement, "It takes a village."

I think the village has- place their guard down and we have stepped away from all of our responsibility.

So we have to create alternative programs for our young people.

One of the departments that should be better funded is Department of Sports, Park and Recreation, because their focus should be on the young people, providing programs, services to keep our young people involved that would deal with their mind, that would deal with their body.

But also through Department of Education, we don't see as much of our after-school programs like before.

But I think one thing that also is crucial, supporting a nonprofit organization.

It hurt my heart to see how almost by 50% nonprofits have been cut when they play a major role in the ailments within our community in supporting our young people.

The Office for Gun Violence has to be expanded and supported also to create these programs to assist our young people and bring down the violence.

Would anyone like to rebut?

I'd like to rebut.

Okay.

I do agree with most of what Senator Carion said, but a lot of after school programs, some of the programs we used to have in the past have just been wiped away.

So we need to reset.

We need to go back to programs like BECON.

BECON, which was a after school program in the school where students who didn't have something or activity to do after school, they stay right in their school, and there was different type of programs there, whether it was cooking, whether it was crochet, whether it was sewing.

We have to find things to keep young people active, especially after school.

So I do support some of the nonprofit, make sure that they got the applications and funding to do these programs to keep our young men and women active after school.

Thank you, Senator Johnson.

Candidate Francis?

I would like to add that I mentored the youth for over a decade, and I understand that they're a product of their environment, and a lot starts not just in the home, but what they bring to schools.

We need to ensure that we're funding our schools and that we have appropriate means for the counselors, the therapists.

So I believe that bringing mental health into the curriculum will help curb that with youth violence.

Thank you, Candidate Francis.

And Candidate Charles?

So growing up, and I'm going to always go back to when I was growing up, we had activities in our church, activities after school, activities throughout our community.

And yes, I do agree with all of the candidates here today.

What is happening?

We all need to take responsibility for our youths at home, at school, at church.

And if we all take those responsibility to ensure that we have actual activities that will make these young people be involved in things, Pathfinders, Boy Scouts, that is all gone.

I'm not hearing anything about those.

But choirs, bands, things that will pique the interest for our youths to keep moving and doing stuff, and having those resources available because navigating the system is very difficult.

Be there, have advocates for the parents who are actually having issues and need the help, and so they can get the help to help their children.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

Now we move on to healthcare and hospitals.

The AARAVI has noted that the government's failure to reach the 17% Medicaid match has prevented many seniors and minor children who are Medicaid eligible from receiving critical care.

Further, our hospitals are then called on to absorb costs of treating such patients from their already strained budgets.

How should priorities in the future annual budget recommendations address this critical failure to meet the Medicaid matching requirement at a level that addresses these concerns?

We'll start with Candidate Francis.

So one of the biggest issues that I see is that our emergency department in the hospital is overworked.

We need to bring in a fast track so that those that are on Medicaid can seek non-emergent care, not at the cost of emergency room.

That will definitely decrease the load of what the cost is for our government as well as the federal dollars.

That's one of the biggest concerns, and I think that we can mitigate that easily.

Thank you, Candidate Francis.

Candidate Charles?

So with Medicaid money, thank you for that question.

With Medicaid money, a lot of the issues that's happening is when patients go into the hospital and they're unable to be seen by the hospital, once they're stabilized, they're flown out because there are no specialties there to help.

That's where a lot of the money is being spent.

Having to fly someone out for air ambulance or Masa or any of-- That you're talking thousands of dollars.

Going out and leaving the territory to be leaving us without monies.

Then there's billing, that the hospital needs to bill, and those things are happening, and it's causing a domino effect.

So if we had specialties here in the hospital, we would not have to be using and making thousands of dollars being paid out to these air ambulance to go to other facilities outside of the territory.

If we work on having those specialties here and improving our healthcare system, that money from the Medicaid unit, from the Medicaid program, would stay within the territory rather than being spent outside of the territory.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

Senator Johnson?

Thank you very much for that question.

Let's call a spade a spade.

St.

Croix don't have a hospital.

We've been in a modular that outlived its time, seven years.

The modular should already been done.

We should already knocked down one new hospital and start.

But I do agree with my Candidate Charles here.

We have to have a memorandum of understanding with outside hospital because we don't have enough patient for specialties.

So what you do, you have a memorandum of understanding with a outside hospital that you could utilize their folks with their expertise, special care, that you bring those folks down maybe once a month, twice a month, with whatever special care that you need.

But as long as we don't start utilizing these federal funds that we have here to build that hospital, especially in the island of St.

Croix, we'll continue going down this road, continue taking and shipping folks out every day by air ambulance.

Thank you, Senator Johnson.

And Candidate Carion?

Thank you.

I think we have to work along with whoever is selected as delegate to Congress to ensure that that scale with their Medicaid changes.

It's really ridiculous, the fees that we are able to be able to charge.

So that needs to change.

We need to be along with other states and territory because it's creating a burden on our budget within our hospital.

We also need to audit internally within our hospital because I believe we have a mismanagement problem.

We're having almost the same problem with WAPA with the hospital, is continuing putting money in a broken barrel and it's leaving.

Our healthcare should be our number one priority.

If we don't have a healthcare system, nothing else matters.

So this has to be top of the line, and it's unfortunate we're not seeing within the administration how serious and critical our healthcare is.

So one of the things that I mentioned before, we need to expand the services within our Department of Health.

Before, our clinical services provided all kinds of assistance, releasing the burden on the hospital.

So that needs to happen.

We need to support for a healthcare clinic, which is a nonprofit organization that's also providing services and releasing the burden from the hospital.

And the hospital has to improve on its billing.

How can we sustain a hospital if we're not billing?

So the system and the structure within the hospital has to change.

Samuel Carion, number 16.

Thank you.

We move on to disaster recovery.

What do you see as the best way to restructure disaster recovery, given a complete turnover in the project's executive administrative control?

What role should the legislature play in the new recovery approach, given a new administration and ongoing FEMA and HUD investigations into corruption and mismanagement?

We will start with Senator Johnson.

We'll all have 60 seconds.

Thank you very much for that question.

As we know right now, there's a freeze with HUD for some of those allegations of not spending the money in the right manner.

The legislation needs to take a more forceful step in having the executive sit down, either in legislation or on the side for us to go through piece at a time what's happening with these federal funds, why they're not being utilized.

There are so many homes on this island that are stalemate right now because of some of these funds that have not been utilized.

Our seniors living in homes, every time it rain, the water just pour come down.

We have a whole lumber yard in Concadia School sitting there waiting to utilize some of this lumber.

If we don't start making sure that the executive do their part, the lumber that's there will just stay there and rot in.

We cannot continue allowing the executive to not share information with us and find out how we can assist.

If we need to put a team and a delegation to go to Congress and try to ease these restriction, that's what we need to do.

But for now, with those hold, we are in a stalemate right now with most of these programs.

Thank you, Senator Johnson.

Candidate Charles?

Thank you for that question.

So I grew up hearing my dad say, "The people without vision will perish."

If we don't understand the process of what we're doing and the procedures in which the direction we're supposed to be going in the event of a disaster, we're going to always be like a dog spinning our tails.

What we need to understand is how the process work.

What happens when there is a disaster?

The plan needs to be in place.

A standard of operation of procedures need to be in place so we understand where we're going and how long it's supposed to take to rebuild and restructure so we can get there quickly.

I think if we visit our operations and how we should get it done, it's the beginning of making sure that we accomplish the task that is before us in the event there is a recovery, a disaster.

My name is Lisa J. Charles.

I'm number 24.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

Candidate Carreon?

Check and balances.

The government is structured that way so that we can hold each branch of government responsible.

So oversight and accountability plays a major role in getting anything done.

If something is not supervised, it's not going to get done.

So we need to ensure in the legislature to do a more active and aggressive role.

We're not only bringing these departments to the legislature during budget hearing.

Have them continually coming before the Senate, asking the questions, the hard questions, and working along with our delegate to Congress and the executive branch of government.

We need to have quarterly meetings together to look at where we are, what's the status with the recovery, what needs to improve.

We need to work together in order to move these Virgin Islands forward.

If we don't do it, we're going to end up in the same place.

So those are the things that I think are crucial so that we could see that recovery process.

It continues.

It's been horrible, and our people are suffering.

It's not tangible.

We're not seeing the results.

It's time to have the results and move our recovery forward.

Samuel Carreon, number 16 on your ballot.

Thank you.

We move on to education.

With student academic achievement below standard and school infrastructure crumbling, what do you see as the key issues the legislature must tackle to address these problems, and which solutions do you intend to champion in particular?

You each will have 60 seconds, starting with Candidate Charles.

Education.

Proper planning.

Executing to make sure that our students are prepared for when they step out of those doors of high school.

What we need to have in place is making sure the Department of Education has an exit plan for every one of our students.

Making sure that they're working towards their, what you call, a exit out of high school, even though they may not be going to college.

Or if they're going to a trade school.

We should stay on top of them, follow them, understand the pattern, understand and prepare them for when they come out of high school.

I think making sure that our students are understanding what it is, because at that point, they're just students, have no clue.

What we need to help them bridge that gap for when they become adults, that they could become more successful youths.

Thank you.

Lisa J. Charles.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

Candidate Carreon?

The Department of Education is one of our biggest department within the government.

They have money canned done.

They receive federal fund that almost every year they have to send back.

So part of what we have to do is to ensure that these federal money they receive, Department of Education is monitored, is carried out, and is executed for our children.

So that's one.

Also, we need to increase the salary for our teachers.

Our teachers are not paid when we look at levels like in the United States, and we have to continue to bring in teachers from foreign countries because we don't have enough teachers.

So if we pay our teachers and they're happy doing their job, they're going to transmit that energy and that excitement and that passion of teaching to our children.

The problem we have is this, is that teachers are tired.

They have to bring out from their own pockets for simple things to buy materials so that their students can at least have what's necessary.

If we improve that whole system, then we're going to see that our children are going to strive because the whole environment within the department has to change completely.

So those are some of the things, providing incentives for our teachers, assisting our teachers, and then doing these programs as necessary to support our children.

Our children are reading at a third grade level.

We have to bring those changes.

Thank you, Candidate Carreon.

Candidate Francis?

So what I've been noticing is that we are focused on ribbon cutting of beautiful buildings and not equipping our teachers with the necessary resources that they need to instruct our students.

So what's a beautiful building with empty instruction?

The Department of Education, as Candidate Carreon mentioned, is one of the largest departments, and they do have funds.

But we need to ask, what are the funds being used for?

Where's the data collection?

What's working and what's not working?

I believe that our teachers, their salary should be increased, because at the end of the day, they put in the work.

What we have right now is focusing on infrastructure.

We're focusing on building beautiful buildings that our kids will be used to be babysat at because the teachers don't have the necessary resources.

The teachers don't have the support, and they're tired.

They do come out of their pockets.

At the beginning of the year, they dress up their classrooms.

They don't get a stipend for that.

That comes out of the pocket because they have a passion for it.

So we need to support our teachers.

Through legislation, we need to ensure that our teachers are supported.

Thank you, Candidate Francis.

Senator Johnson?

Thank you very much for this question.

This is a community problem.

When you listen to the Department of Education and they talk to you and tell you about the absentee rates, 60, 70, 80% students them are not going to school, and we have to hold everyone accountable.

It's not just the Department of Education alone.

Human service, law enforcement.

You're going to take a team effort to find out why these children are not going to school.

If you're not going to school, you ain't going to learn to read, write, or do mathematics.

It's as simple as that.

But when you check that ratio of the absentee in our school, it's alarming.

Last time the Department of Education came and gave us these numbers, it was staggering to find out sometimes in just one semester, a child missed 50 and 60 days.

Child will never be able to read or write.

So it's a holistic problem where we're going to take all of those agency coming together, finding out why these students are not going to school, going to the projects, going to the homes, and have conversation with family members in order to solve that problem to make sure that the absentee rate could raise.

Thank you, Senator Johnson.

We now move on to waste management.

As a small territory that imports most things, waste accumulation is a big problem.

Is the Waste Management Authority still the best solution, or should it go back to public works?

You will have 30 seconds to respond, starting with Candidate Francis I do feel that Waste Management can handle this.

It's just that we need a recycling plant.

There's no need to send out so many items.

We can recycle or use plastic and create items with it as they're currently doing.

Also, our tires, we can recycle aluminum to create needles and other different things.

So definitely a recycling plant is needed, but I do believe that the Waste Management can handle it.

They're just not equipped with the resources that's needed.

Thank you, Candidate Francis.

Senator Johnson?

I think Waste Management can do the job.

We need to start finding ways to start doing source separation so we can start the recycling, but information needs to be out there.

They're not giving out enough information as to where and when people could drop some of the white goods.

For instance, folks don't know when you hear you got to go to Anguilla to drop off your fridge or stove.

People think they have to go up on the dump.

You don't have to.

All those bins to the bottom will just drop the stuff off there.

But the information is not getting out to the people, so many times you see a lot of fridges, stove, all throughout this territory.

So they need to be more candid with the information to the people.

Thank you, Senator Johnson.

Candidate Carreon?

I think we need to revisit the law because it's kind of gray between the responsibilities of public work and waste management.

So that's one thing that we need to address.

But I think one of the things we should focus on is waste to energy.

We have an energy crisis.

We have waste.

Other countries are doing it.

There's ways to be able to do it.

So I think that's one of the areas that we need to do along with education and having recyclable.

But listen, there is money in garbage, and I think as a territory, we're losing.

We're limited geographically, and we know we're on a content decree with our landfills.

We need to get into a public-private partnership to increase this.

Thank you, Candidate Carreon.

Candidate Charles?

Well, that's a very good question, but Waste Management Authority, yes, I believe that they can handle it.

However, given the issues that we're having within our government where there's an issue with resources, resources are an issue, and educating the people is another.

So what we need to do is have where there's a balance.

We're educating our community about where and how garbage can be disposed instead of we having to see our fridge and stove at the side of the road, and then it's there for months, and nobody picks it up.

Who's responsible?

Resources and educating our community.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

Time is almost up for discussion with these four candidates seeking a seat in the 37th Legislature.

So here's our final talking point for 60 seconds each.

Select any topic not addressed in our program today and explain your approach for addressing it as a senator.

You will have 60 seconds, starting with Candidate Charles.

Okay.

Very good question.

Let me see where I'm going to go from.

I'm going to go from UVI, where we pay for our students to go to school and earn a degree.

I hope that continues.

But what I would like to see, after they graduate from college, that there's a placement for them here, where the incentive is that they have to work five years at least before they leave the territory.

What happens when you leave the territory, it leaves us with a hole because we only took care of you for you to get a degree, but then for you to leave us with a hole.

What I want to have seen is that our students, after they're learning, that there's a placement for them, and so we can further have them here on island.

And even do an incentive for programs that we need specialties here for, so again, they can stay within our territories after graduation.

Thank you for that question.

Lisa J. Charles, number 24.

Thank you, Candidate Charles.

Candidate Carreon?

Thank you.

I think we addressed a lot of main issues that is affecting our territory and that really require our attention.

But I think one that we don't speak much about is support to small businesses.

Small businesses within the territory are a driving force.

They're our engine that continue to run this economical system, and also support, right, because our taxes and government run from taxes.

So I think we need to provide more incentives to our small businesses so that they can continue operating and doing what they've been doing.

And part of it, we have to look maybe of our tax structure.

We have to look at the gross receipt.

When you speak to business owners around the territory, they're crying out because the gross receipt is not working for their behalf.

So that's one of the issues we have to look, and I plan to look into how can I assist and support small businesses.

But talking about small business, also, we have to bring to the table our workforce development.

So we need to have training facilities to increase our workforce.

Right now, part of the problem we have recovery is because we don't have the workforce, the skilled labor individuals that we need.

So all of that is crucial to improve our quality of life here.

Thank you, Candidate Carreon.

Candidate Francis?

So my passion is split between the youth and the elderly.

But if we're speaking on something that was not touched on most, I would say agriculture.

Agriculture is one of our largest resource here that I would consider untapped, and that's because our farmers are not given the support that they need.

Now, our farmers are phasing out, and I do believe that the key would be to grow our own farmers.

So one initiative that I would love to see is that agriculture be woven into our curriculum, where all students will be given the opportunity to learn about agriculture and to find a passion for it.

And this will be done through an initiative called the Greenhouse Project.

And I am very honored to be part of that project through the company that I currently work for.

And I hope that once elected into the 37th Legislature, I can definitely move on and support that measure through funding and oversight.

Thank you, Candidate Francis.

Senator Franklin Johnson?

Thank you very much for that question.

Tourism.

Tourism is the base of this territory, and we have to find other ways to attract folks to come to the island.

I've always believed in sport tourism.

Sports tourism can bring lots of people to this territory by having tournaments.

On the island of St.

Thomas, they do a basketball tournament with all the college team.

I keep pushing, saying we need to do that same thing on the island of St.

Croix with a baseball team, bringing those college baseball team to do tournaments or a national team to take part in it, and that will drive that economy when it comes to bringing folks into this territory.

But we must invest into our infrastructure in order to have the accommodation for those teams to come here.

Senator Johnson, number 25 on your ballot.

Thank you, Senator Johnson.

We now invite each candidate to make a closing statement for 60 seconds, starting with Senator Johnson.

Thank you very much.

I'd like to start off by saying thank you to the League of Women Voters, WTJX, for hosting this forum.

I am Senator Franklin Johnson, asking you for your support.

I'm number 25 on your ballot.

A man of action.

I go in that legislature, and I work hard.

I make sure I ask the difficult question.

I will continue asking the difficult question and moving meaningful legislation, holding the executive branch accountable.

I ask you for your support, your vote.

Franklin Johnson, number 25 on the ballot.

Thank you, Senator Johnson.

Candidate Francis?

I would like to start by thanking the League of Women Voters and WTJX for hosting this forum, as well as my fellow candidates for sharing this platform with me.

I am Bianca Francis, independent candidate, number five on your ballot.

I'm asking for your support and your vote of confidence to continue the work that I am doing in my community and to afford me the opportunity to have a seat at the table where effective policy can create meaningful change.

I am rooted in family and grounded in community.

Again, Bianca Francis, independent candidate, number five on your ballot.

Thank you, candidate Francis.

Candidate Carreon?

I also want to thank the League of Women Voters for hosting this forum this evening.

I also would like to thank WTJX, and also want to wish my colleagues here, the candidates that are running also the best.

I am Samuel Carreon, number 16 on the ballot.

I'm asking for your vote to be able to continue to fight on your behalf and represent you.

For me, this is home.

St.

Croix will always be first, and I will always fight for our territory.

I'm vested in this community.

I have my elderly parents that are here.

My children are in the public education system.

Everything that happens here affects me and the people that I love, and this is the place that I love.

That's why you hear this passion that I have.

I'm a person that moves with compassion in things that I do and put God first in everything that I do, and I think it's time for our territory to shine and be the place that it should be.

So that's why I'm asking for your support.

To look into my platform, you can visit my website, www.samcarreon.com, to find more information about me and the things that I care about.

Help me so that we can continue working to improve the quality of life for our people here in St.

Croix and the Virgin Islands as a whole.

God bless you.

Thank you, candidate Carreon.

Candidate Charles?

I want to thank the League of Women Voters for having me here today, for my colleagues, for Ms.

Joshua Wood, for being the monitor here.

I want to thank you for allowing us to have this opportunity, and I'm only wishing the candidates all the success in this election.

My name is Lisa J. Charles.

I'm number 24 on your senatorial ballot, Democratic Party nominee.

Now, I have worked in this community for over 30 years, just about.

I have a master's degree in healthcare management.

I'm a licensed massage therapist.

I'm jack of all trade, pretty much.

But what I would like to say, I have had the deeds of working in our communities with our seniors, with what to do with the healthcare, and development and opportunities for our youth to become more successful in the future.

I am a mother of one, and I want to see that our youths prosper because they're literally our future.

Without us, without our moms, our dads, our elderlies, and without our youths, I don't want to see St.

Croix fall.

Lisa J. Charles, number 24 on your ballot.

Thank you, candidate Charles.

The League of Women Voters hope this program helped you, the viewer, to make choose among candidates in this election season.

But we also encourage you to read their platforms and attend their events for further evaluation.

This program has been recorded for viewing on WTJX Facebook page, the WTJX free app at wtjx.org, and WTJX YouTube page, as well as on the League of Women Voters Facebook page until the election.

Be sure to let others know so they too can view the program if they missed it.

Candidates, thank you for participating today.

Thank you to WTJX, our timer, and you, the viewing audience.

Please do vote.

It is not only your right, it is your responsibility.