6th Constitutional Convention elects officers 8-7 after objections; delegates set 14‑day deadline to adopt rules

Delegates at the formation session of the 6th Constitutional Convention of the United States Virgin Islands adopted Resolution 1 to establish convention officers by an 8-7 roll-call vote, a result that drew objections and a formal point of order over missing rules.

The vote followed a motion by Delegate Devin F. Carrington to “adopt resolution 1 of the 6th constitutional convention … establishing the officers” naming Uzi Raymond Richards as president, Stedman Hodge as vice president, Imani Daniel as secretary and John J. Abramson Jr. as treasurer. Carrington made the motion and Delegate Uzi Raymond Richards seconded it. After objections, the clerk took a roll-call vote: Abramson Jr., Liliana Belardo De O’Neil, John M. Cannegueta, Devin F. Carrington, Stedman Hodge Jr., Uzi Raymond Richards, Akima Richardson, Rupert W. Ross Jr. and Ronald Russell voted “yea”; Imani Daniel, Lydia Hendricks, Brida la Hodge Jr., David Silverman, Arturo/Aturu Watlington Jr. and Alicia M. Wells voted “nay.” The clerk reported “8 yeas, 7 nays,” and the temporary presiding officer announced, “The motion carries.”

Why it matters: the leadership elected under Resolution 1 will steer how the convention organizes its work to draft a proposed constitution to be presented to the people of the Virgin Islands and, where applicable, to Congress. A close vote and repeated objections during the formation session signaled early divisions among delegates about how the body should be organized and how rules should be adopted.

The session opened under the temporary authority of the Senate president, who said he was authorized “per act 8681” to serve as temporary presiding officer until permanent officers were elected. Earlier in the ceremony, the supervisor of elections read the certification of election returns “pursuant to title 18, chapter 3, section 47, act 86, 81, and act 8734,” formally recognizing the 15 delegates to the convention.

After the roll call, Delegate Uzi Raymond Richards accepted the chair and said he would give each delegate three minutes to speak. Several delegates used their time to urge cooperation and to express concern about the process used to organize the convention. Delegate Imani Daniel said, “It’s day 1, and I’m already incredibly disappointed in this convention,” criticizing how leadership was chosen and urging delegates to put differences aside to “draft a constitution worthy of your support.” Other delegates gave short remarks thanking supporters and pledging to work together despite disagreements.

A procedural dispute followed the election. Delegate David Silverman raised a point of order, saying that Section 4 of Resolution 1 “states that the rules governing the organization and operation of the 6th constitutional convention … are as set forth in the document titled ‘rules of the 6th constitutional convention’ which are attached,” but that none of the delegates had seen the rules. Silverman said, “none of us have seen the rules of the 6th constitutional convention. They were not distributed.”

The newly seated president and other officers responded that the convention must adopt rules within the statutory timeframe. The president said the statutes and the process of Robert’s Rules of Order provide for a 14‑day limit to complete the rules and told delegates the body would meet within that period to review and adopt the rules. The chair then recessed the session under the call of the president.

Formal actions and next steps: the convention (1) adopted Resolution 1 to establish officers and (2) recessed while directing officers and delegates to prepare and review proposed rules to be presented within 14 days. The clerk’s roll call and the 8-7 tally are the official record of the vote. The body will reconvene at the call of the president to consider rules and other organizational matters.

The session also included the earlier swearing-in of delegates by Superior Court Presiding Judge Deborah S. Watlington and the certification of election results by Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fox, each performed as part of the convention’s organization but not contested during the vote. The delegates recessed under the authority of the chair to resume organization and rule adoption within the statutory timeline.