STX Senate Candidate Raymond T. James, Esq. CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CLEANUP OF RANDALL “DOC” JAMES RACETRACK BEFORE TOURISM SEASON
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Calls on Government, Port Authority, and Legislative Leadership to Act Within 30 Days and Honor Dr. James’s Legacy
ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Raymond T. James, Esq., Republican candidate for the Senate in the District of St. Croix, is calling for immediate action to improve the physical appearance of the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack, located directly across from Henry E. Rohlsen Airport.
“The racetrack occupies one of the most visible locations on St. Croix. Its appearance reflects upon our community, our tourism industry, and our government’s commitment to maintaining public property,” Mr. James stated.
Mr. James emphasized that the racetrack bears the name of Dr. Randall “Doc” James, a respected physician, civic leader, and sportsman whose contributions to St. Croix deserve to be remembered.
“A public facility bearing his name should be maintained with dignity and care. Maintaining the racetrack is not only a matter of public responsibility; it is also a way of honoring the legacy of a man who contributed so much to our community.”
Mr. James noted that approximately $5 million has been identified for racetrack improvements and that sand has already been placed on the racing surface. However, he emphasized that the larger investment should not distract from the immediate responsibility to maintain the surrounding property.
“The question today is not how many millions have been appropriated or how much sand has been purchased. The question is why we cannot take the immediate steps necessary to maintain the appearance of a public facility directly across from our airport.”
Mr. James called upon the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, working in coordination with the Virgin Islands Port Authority, to immediately inspect the property and complete an initial cleanup and beautification effort within 30 days.
The effort should include cutting overgrown vegetation, removing debris, addressing deteriorated fencing, and improving the appearance of the property facing the airport and adjoining public roads.
Mr. James further called upon the Port Authority, as the property owner and operator of the nearby airport, to work with the appropriate government agencies to clarify their respective maintenance responsibilities under existing agreements.
Mr. James also called upon Senator Angel L. Bolques Jr., Chairman of the Legislature’s Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks, and the committee members to exercise their oversight authority to ensure that the necessary cleanup is undertaken without further delay.
“Legislative oversight should not end with the appropriation of public funds. It must include following up to ensure that the public receives the improvements and services those funds were intended to support.”
Mr. James urged the responsible agencies to publicly identify their maintenance obligations and announce a timetable for completing the cleanup.
He emphasized that this request is separate from the broader issues surrounding the future of horse racing.
“We must not allow another tourism season to begin, or our Virgin Islands diaspora to return home, only to encounter the same conditions at the Randall ‘Doc’ James Racetrack. Our visitors deserve a welcoming first impression, and our returning Virgin Islanders deserve to see that we take pride in the island they continue to call home.” Mr. James concluded:
“Pride in St. Croix must be demonstrated by how we maintain our public properties. We owe it to our visitors, our returning Virgin Islands diaspora, and the memory of Dr. Randall ‘Doc’ James to maintain this property with dignity and pride. We should not have to wait for another major appropriation or development agreement to cut grass, remove debris, repair fencing, and improve its appearance. The time to act is now.”
Raymond T. James, Esq.
Republican Candidate for Senate
District of St. Croix
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Raymond T. James, Esq. for Senate.
About Raymond T. James, Esq. Mr. James is a former Assistant Attorney General for the USVI and the former Chairman of the GERS Board, a farmer and small business owner, and a graduate of Howard university School of Law. He is married to Lystra Roland James, a longtime educator.
Campaign: raymondforsenate.com / Contact: 340-643-7822
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