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February 8, 2008
Governor signs bill to protect Witness Protection Board information from public disclosure Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. Friday approved three bills passed by the 27th Legislature in its January session. The bills, which arrived at Government House on January 29, were due back to the Senate on Saturday. DeJongh signed into law Bill 27-0153 which protects most information of the Witness Protection Board from public disclosure. “This measure is a positive and necessary move to encourage more persons to come forward with information which will better equip our law enforcement officials to apprehend and prosecute persons in our community who insist on engaging in criminal activity.” Also signed into law was Bill 27-0159 which ratifies various purchase orders of the V.I. Fire Service and allows for payments to vendors who have provided critical equipment to emergency first responders in the territory. Though he signed the legislation, deJongh again reiterated his commitment that the blatant failures of the government to comply with the V.I. procurement code will “not occur in the future.” deJongh acknowledged the Senate’s passage of a resolution which recognizes Mrs. Eulalie Rivera on the occasion of her 100th birthday. “She is one of the education giants in the Virgin Islands. The facts of her life noted in the Resolution clearly establish her dedication to her family, education, and culture in the Virgin Islands. I congratulate her on her 100th birthday and wholeheartedly agree that she is deserving of the recognition bestowed by the Legislature,” deJongh said in a transmittal letter to Senate President Usie Richards on Friday. |
