Advocacy

Magdalene Morancie, Acting Director

Elected leaders are important resources in a community. These individuals hold a great deal of responsibility for the health, welfare and prosperity of their community. Their leadership and foresight are critical toward the success or failure of all of us. Voters, on the other hand have a responsibility and a duty to learn as much as they can about the individuals who have come forward to serve the community. Only by getting familiar with each candidate can the voters truly feel they will be making the best possible selection for their community leaders.

Español Government of the Virgin Islands retirees, also known on the island of St. Thomas as Government Retirees United for Fairness (GRUFF) saw their advocacy work pay off on March 17, 2014 when Governor John DeJongh signed Act 7585 into law.

Normal

Español The wait is over! Virgin Islands homeowners can NOW participate in the program that AARP and its Visitability Coalition partners worked so hard to make available.

In a Legislative hearing held on March 4, 2014 Senators and concerned government agency heads debated the pros and cons of moving an additional 2 percent of money collected from territorial property taxes to help fund street lighting. The additional 2 percent will bring the total amount dedicated to pay for street lighting up to 6 percent or an estimated $6.3 million for 2014.

Over the years, AARP VI has worked to educate VI Government retirees about the Government Employees’ Retirement System’s (GERS) condition. That work involved trying to motivate retirees to advocate that the VI government take immediate steps to help the system remain solvent.