Legislature committee subpoenas officials and contractor in long-delayed Paul E. Joseph Stadium probe

The Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports and Parks of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands voted unanimously June 11 to issue subpoenas to the Department of Public Works commissioner Derek A. Gabriel, Department of Property and Procurement commissioner Lisa M. Alejandro, acting Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation commissioner Vincent Roberts, and two GEC LLC representatives — owner John Wessel and operations director Tim Dempsey — ordering them to appear in person and produce project documentation at a July 18 hearing in St. Croix.

The vote followed committee members' repeated complaints about a stadium project that has stretched more than a decade, multiple supplemental appropriations, and what senators described as insufficient progress and a lack of transparency. Senator Franklin D. Johnson said, "I have no intent on giving a next dime to the Paul Joseph Stadium," and other members said subpoenas and possible further legal steps were necessary to hold responsible parties to account.

The subpoenas require written statements and documentary production including a recent project update and schedule, construction milestones, funding sources and allocations breakdown, financial summaries of total budget and expenditures, change orders or contract amendments with explanations, and recent reports to the Legislature. Each subpoena directs the recipient to appear at a hearing scheduled for July 18, 2025, in the Fritz E. Lowette conference room, St. Croix.

Committee members pressed several themes during opening remarks: longstanding delays despite repeated appropriations, the project's use of local (not federal) funds, and limited participation by invited agencies and contractors at the June 11 hearing. Senator Carla J. Joseph noted the committee had issued invitations beginning April 17 and had followed up multiple times; she said the payment schedule provided by DPW lacked a project schedule and that a schedule was essential to reconcile payments with work completed. Senator Novelle Francis Jr. said the Legislature had appropriated "over $30,000,000" for the project and that visible work on site did not match those appropriations.

Multiple senators urged the committee to use its subpoena power. Senator Marvin A. Blyden said he had reviewed a DPW memorandum referencing a $16,650,000 payment and that committee members had not received adequate explanations. Senator Avery L. Lewis recommended regular status reports and said the committee should consider monthly or biweekly updates to rebuild public trust.

All five subpoenas were moved on the record, seconded, and carried by roll-call votes of 7-0. The motions list the documents to be produced and specify the July 18 hearing date. The committee recessed briefly during the meeting for procedural matters and returned to complete each motion.

The committee chair said the action was intended as oversight rather than personal, stating the goal was timely completion so youths and residents could use modern recreational facilities. The committee adjourned after setting the July 18 hearing date for the subpoena responses.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved subpoenas (7-0) ordering appearance and document production on July 18, 2025, for: Derek A. Gabriel (Department of Public Works); Lisa M. Alejandro (Department of Property and Procurement); Vincent Roberts (acting commissioner, Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation); John Wessel (owner, GEC LLC); Tim Dempsey (director of operations, GEC LLC). Each motion enumerated required documents including project schedule, funding breakdowns, change orders, and financial summaries.

The committee cataloged concerns but did not take further formal action (for example, filing litigation or contract termination) during the June 11 hearing; senators said they would consider additional steps after reviewing materials and testimony scheduled for July 18.