Author: swiftkurrent

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – Limetree Bay Terminals should pause refining operations until it  can adequately prevent further emissions and install appropriate air quality monitoring systems, Senator Samuel Carrión said Thursday. 

The St. Croix Senator also requested that Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory convene an  emergency meeting of the Committee of the Whole to address residents’ concerns and better  inform the public of steps being taken to address any emissions from the refinery. 

“While I applaud Limetree’s planned reinstatement of the air monitoring program, we can’t expect  the people of St. Croix to live with the threat of contaminated air and water – public health must  be prioritized,” Senator Carrión said. “We must acknowledge that there will be incidents at  Limetree from time to time, but those incidents must be extremely isolated. Nothing has boosted  St. Croix’s economy more than the oil storage terminals and the refinery; however, nothing is more  important than the health and well-being of our people.” 

Senator Carrión agreed that the Governor’s activation of the Territory’s Joint Command Center to  address concerns related to Limetree was appropriate under the circumstances, but that more must  be done to protect residents in the short term. 

Limetree was served with a notice of violation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on  April 30, 2021 for sulfur dioxide emissions and further action by the EPA is possible.  

“It’s a real problem when our children can’t even attend classes,” Senator Carrión said. “These  students have missed so much school already. School closures at this stage are simply  unacceptable. I remain very concerned about all of the residents downwind from the refinery, as  many of them are also periodically impacted by refineries and landfills.” 

Senator Carrión said he would be following up with Limetree regarding timelines for reinstating  air monitoring equipment. He has also requested that the 34^th Legislature hold a Committee of the  Whole meeting to hear from Limetree, medical experts, and impacted residents. 

“We need more information, but at this point, the prudent thing to do is to paused refining  operations at least until the air monitoring equipment is operational,” Senator Carrión concluded.

St. Croix – Candidate for the 34th Legislature, Samuel “Sam” Carrion, has been officially endorsed by former St. Croix District Senator Nereida “Nellie” Rivera O’Reilly.

Mr. Carrion said he was exceptionally grateful and humbled to have the support of Senator O’Reilly, a Democrat, who served the people of St. Croix honorably for five terms.

“I thank Senator O’Reilly for her gracious endorsement and for her continued interest in improving the quality of life for the people of St. Croix,” Mr. Carrion said. “It’s a great responsibility to be entrusted with leading this community and I pledge to honor the faith so many have placed in me.”

Senator Rivera O’Reilly’s endorsement of Samuel “Sam” Carrion:

“Samuel Carrion represents a New Generation of Leadership.  I ask you to consider allowing him the opportunity to bring his perspective as a business owner and community organizer to the senate.

He has shown sensitivity and compassion towards the needs of others and shares a vision of unity and progress for all.  I believe he will work well with other members of the body and will speak his truth without demeaning his colleagues. Samuel Carrion will add balance to the discourse without condescension. In my interactions with him I see a person who is eager to be part of the solution.  I see someone who will respect the opinion of others and who will seek to find common ground. He recognizes that no man is an island.

Samuel Carrion deserves an opportunity to put his ideas and vision to work for his fellow Virgin Islanders. I respectfully ask you to Vote #13 Samuel Carrion.” – Senator Nereida “Nellie” O’Reilly

The Source asked every senatorial candidate ten questions, so readers could learn where they stand on some of the most pressing issues of the day. Click here to read Samuel’s responses to The Source’s 10 questions.

Born and raised on St. Croix, Samuel “Sam” Carrion has worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors, including as a senior policy advisor in the Office of the Governor, where he worked with many local and federal government agencies to help coordinate hurricane relief efforts. He also spent more than 10 years as an interpreter and judicial assistant at the Superior and District Courts.

Carrion says he has also operated both retail and hospitality businesses and is active in community organizations.

Click here to read Samuel’s responses to The Source’s 10 questions.

Senatorial Candidate Samuel Carrión reminds residents that the location for early voting has moved to Sunny Isle Shopping Center’s interior mall, near the former site of the movie theatre.

Registered voters can cast their ballots from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through October 25th, 2020.

“It’s important that the community knows that the Board of Elections has moved early voting to this new location,” Mr. Carrión said. “You will not be going to vote in the same place where you went to register. Please call me directly if you have any questions or need any assistance.”

The Candidate noted the significance of voter turnout this election year.

“We are in a period of economic, health, and social crisis,” Mr. Carrión said. “We need more compassionate, innovative and independent vision to move these islands forward. As a father of four children in our public schools and the caretaker of elderly relatives, I know, first hand, the difficulties our families are experiencing and I am prepared to offer solutions. As someone who has worked in the non-profit, government, and business sectors, I know how to form the partnerships necessary to improve St. Croix’s quality of life. We can’t elect the same candidates and expect different results. Your vote is very important.”

St. Croix – Senatorial Candidate Samuel Carrion urges all unregistered voters to let their voices be heard in the upcoming November Elections.

The Virgin Islands is struggling right now with crime, healthcare and many other pressing issues and voting gives citizens the power to shape our government and the policies we want to see implemented in our community, Mr. Carrion said.

“It’s important that all Virgin Islanders participate,” he said “Voting is our political power as citizens. Don’t give up your power!”

Mr. Carrion said he was working with a group of volunteers that would assist anyone who needed help with the process or who felt that they may need translation services to complete their registration. Contact Mr. Carrion at 340-227- 2266.

“Call us and we will do our best to assist,” the Candidate said.

Mr. Carrion, who has long been very active in the community, said he was running for office in order to play a bigger role in addressing the issues most important to Virgin Islands families.

“People have begun to lose hope, but I truly believe we can and must do better,” he said.

His own dissatisfaction with the status quo inspired Mr. Carrion’s bid for office.

“I am adamant about pushing for voter registration and voter participation, as we won’t get different results until we have some different representation,” he said. “I am asking for your support, so that I can do more to support you. My campaign is not about me, but about the people – your family, my family, all of us! I believe in ‘Progress for All’. Progreso para todos!”

U.S. citizens who meet Virgin Islands residency requirements can register to vote at the Board of Elections at Sunny Isle from 10 to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Voter registrations will continue through Saturday, October 3.

Visit www.samcarrion.com for more information or www.vivote.gov for details on voter registration.