Senate committee subpoenas agencies and GEC LLC after years of delays at Paul E. Joseph Stadium

The Legislature of the Virgin Islands' Committee on Culture, Youth, Sports and Parks on June 11 authorized subpoenas requiring the Department of Public Works, the Department of Property and Procurement, the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, and contractor GEC LLC to appear July 18 in St. Croix and produce documents on the Paul E. Joseph Stadium construction project.

The committee voted 7-0 to subpoena Derek Gabriel, commissioner of the Department of Public Works (DPW); Lisa M. Alejandro, commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement (DPP); Vincent Roberts, acting commissioner of the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation (DSPR); and GEC LLC representatives John Wessel and Tim Dempsey. The motions set a July 18, 2025 hearing date and listed required documents including project schedules, funding breakdowns, change orders and procurement records.

The subpoenas followed a hearing called by Senator Angel L. Balquez Jr., chairman of the committee, who told the committee that key invitees either declined or failed to attend the June 11 session. "This lack of full engagement is unacceptable, particularly when we are dealing with a project that has now spanned for over a decade," Balquez said during opening remarks. Letters read into the record included an apology from Vincent Roberts saying he had received the hearing notice too late to attend and a message from Lisa Alejandro that she had a prior commitment and could not designate a representative.

Members described repeated efforts to secure participation. Balquez said formal invitations had been issued April 17, with follow-ups in May and early June. Several senators noted the committee has previously appropriated large sums to the project but has not received consistent, detailed updates. Senator Franklin D. Johnson said he would not support further appropriations without accountability. Senator Johnson told the committee, "I'm tired of it," reflecting frustration voiced across members about delays and repeated funding requests.

Committee members cited past appropriations and invoices discussed at the hearing: senators referenced an additional $5,100,000 allocated in November 2023, an earlier $5,000,000 appropriation, and testimony that the Legislature has provided more than $30,000,000 to the stadium over time. Members also read a DPW memorandum mentioned in the record that referenced a payment of $16,650,000; the committee asked for an accounting of total budgeted, obligated and spent funds.

Each subpoena motion specified documentary requirements. The DPW subpoena requests a written statement on DPW's statutory authority and oversight role, a recent project update and project schedule, construction milestones, a funding allocation breakdown, a financial summary of budget and expenditures to date, a list of change orders or contract amendments and copies of recent bimonthly reports submitted to the Legislature. Similar document lists were attached to the subpoenas for DPP, DSPR and GEC LLC representatives, including procurement records, the executed contract with GEC LLC, and a "detailed construction program report for the last 10 years." All motions passed on recorded 7-0 roll calls.

Committee members stressed next steps: staff will issue the subpoenas and the committee will receive the produced documents and testimony at the July 18 hearing in the Fritz Ila West Legislative Hall, St. Croix. Several senators said the committee will consider further measures, including legal action or referrals, depending on what the July 18 record shows. Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr. said he has observed "slight movements" at the site but expressed doubt that an August completion previously reported to the Legislature is achievable.

The hearing record includes calls from senators for better project schedules, monthly or biweekly status reports, and clearer interagency coordination. The committee recessed briefly before taking the subpoena votes and adjourned after confirming the July 18 hearing date.

The committee's actions do not themselves change the project's contracts or funding; they are directed to compel testimony and documents for legislative oversight. The committee set the subpoenas and the July 18 date as its next formal step to seek detailed answers on schedule, scope, spending and contractor performance.