ST. CROIX — Lawmakers are calling for action by the Senate’s leadership in response to conduct displayed by Senator Carla Joseph while chairing a Committee on Rules and Judiciary meeting on Thursday that they described as “disrespectful” and “disruptive” while noting a pattern of similar behavior.
Senate Vice President Kenneth Gittens said he and some of his colleagues believe Joseph’s repeated behavior is “unprofessional and detrimental to the image and integrity” of the Virgin Islands Legislature.
Gittens, Committee on Rules and Judiciary vice chair, said he has shared his concerns regarding Joseph’s demeanor via correspondence to both Senate President Milton Potter and Senate Majority Leader Kurt Vialet.
“I for sure expect that these concerns will be formally addressed by both the Senate president and the Senate majority leader,” he said.
If Joseph’s pattern of conduct continues after being formally addressed, Gittens suggested pursuing a resolution seeking her removal as chair of the Committee on Rules and Judiciary.
“This is not a step that I take lightly, but it is one that I feel is necessary because it’s about upholding the standards of respect, accountability, and professionalism that the people we serve expect from us,” he said.
Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, a member of the Committee on Rules and Judiciary, criticized Joseph’s conduct, describing it as “disrespectful and deplorable.”
“She was bashing every member of the committee,” Heyliger said. “She went through a whole list of things every time one of us spoke.”
Heyliger said she would not have any problem if the committee were chaired by a senator who is more respectful, mindful of the rules, and responsive to the will of the majority of committee members.
“You put somebody that appropriately can manage the committee without all of this extra nonsense that she continuously does,” Heyliger said. “It is that simple for me.”
Like Gittens, Heyliger also said Joseph’s behavior was not an isolated incident. They both referred to times when Joseph ignored her colleagues’ voices while chairing her committee.
“Something is severely wrong with this individual’s state of mind and the way they function and interact with us here in the institution,” Heyliger said about Joseph. “And as an elected member, I was not elected to deal with people’s egos and issues.”
Heyliger said she has already told her colleagues that she would formally request to be removed as a member of the Committee on Rules and Judiciary if they do not do something about how Joseph is running it.
“I cannot continuously be going to meetings for this one individual’s lawless, disrespectful behavior to be constantly drawing me into debates while I’m simply trying to do the people’s work,” she said. “That is not my job.”
Gittens successfully made a motion to remove two bills from Thursday’s agenda, returning measures that seek to ban pistols modified to fire rifle rounds and define hemp products to the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety for amendments and further debate. Gittens made the motion upon the request of Senator Clifford Joseph Sr., who sponsored both bills and participated in the committee meeting remotely from outside the territory.
Gittens, in a statement issued Thursday, expressed serious concern regarding Carla Joseph’s conduct during the meeting, noting she temporarily relinquished the gavel to object to his motion.
“Her decision to use a point of personal privilege to publicly demean fellow committee members was both inappropriate and inconsistent with the decorum expected within this institution,” he stated. “Parliamentary rules clearly prohibit members from explaining a ‘no’ vote once it has been cast, whether under the guise of personal privilege or formal objection. These rules exist to preserve the fairness and integrity of our legislative process.”
Gittens, in his letter to Potter, which WTJX obtained, indicated that Carla Joseph’s behavior continues to erode the decorum of the Legislature and exposes the body’s proceedings to public ridicule.
“Each outburst finds its way to social media platforms, where it is consumed and circulated without context, further diminishing the public’s trust in the Legislature,” Gittens wrote.
Gittens informed the Senate president that he was “appalled” by the committee chair’s display, urging the body’s leadership, and, if necessary, the full body to initiate a serious review of her conduct.
“This Legislature cannot afford to turn a blind eye to repeated abuses of authority that shame our members and bring embarrassment to the institution we are all entrusted to uphold,” he wrote.
Carla Joseph, during a point of personal privilege after the committee voted to approve Gittens’ motion, said she was disappointed with the motion, noting a full gallery of attendees in addition to testifiers from the Virgin Islands Department of Justice. She said it was “unconscionable” not to allow them to have an opportunity to testify.
“We want to make sure our citizenry know that this is the people’s house and the people has a voice, and as long as I remain the chair of this committee, they will have a voice,” she said, adding that she objected because they needed to be heard.
Gittens, during a point of information after the chair spoke, said he made the motion to give the committee of jurisdiction more time to refine the proposed amendments before moving forward in the legislative process. He said the committee chair ignored a verbal request to have the bills removed, as well as a written request that was sent to her office in ample time so that she would not “waste people’s time.”
“It’s a crying shame that my colleague would do such a thing to put it on the backs of the members of this committee fully well knowing that she received information in writing from the bill sponsor asking that the measure not be placed on the agenda, to give him ample time to address the amendments needed,” Gittens said. “He is also working closely with the opposition and those in support of the measure.”
Attempts to contact Carla Joseph and Potter for comment were unsuccessful, and messages were not returned as of publication time.
