Status of Land Swap Questioned

Sen. Angel Bolques Jr. told the Source this week that he is confident that negotiations concerning water rights around Whistling Cay will not “hinder” the proposed land swap with the National Park Service. The land swap will give the Virgin Islands government land in Estate Catherineberg on St. John to build a school.

However, St. John resident David Silverman told the Source in an email Tuesday that he believed the swap was in jeopardy.

At the center of the discussion, and where more disagreement emerged, is an amendment that failed Senate passage on Nov. 15. Bolques introduced the amendment and said it would not change the situation as far as residents using the waters around Whistling Cay were concerned.

However, Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger disagreed fervently with that assessment. Six of Heylinger’s colleagues agreed with her assessment and joined her in voting Nay on the amendment, bringing about its failure.

Silverman said the amendment would entirely remove the protections promised by the governor and debated during the passage of the bill. The new amendment stated that waterway use must be “consistent with the NPS Organic Act and all applicable federal laws.”