STX Senate Candidate Raymond T. James Esq. Proposes Small Hotel Ownership and Historic Town Revitalization Initiative
"We have invested millions in attracting large hotels It is time to invest in Virgin Islanders and help them become hotel owners"
ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS - Republican Senate candidate Raymond T. James, Esq., is proposing a small-hotel ownership and historic-town revitalization initiative designed to help Virgin Islanders own hotels, create jobs, build generational wealth, restore underused properties, and expand the lodging inventory needed to strengthen St. Croix's tourism economy.
"Virgin Islanders should have confidence that they can own hotels and participate fully in the tourism economy," Mr. James said. "Our people should not be limited to being maids, groundskeepers, front-desk clerks, or maintenance workers. Those are honorable jobs, but Virgin Islanders must also have a path to ownership - for today and for the next generation."
The initiative would support locally owned small hotels, inns, and bed-and-breakfast properties, generally with no more than 25 rooms. The first demonstration projects would focus on Frederiksted and Christiansted, where historic buildings, vacant upper floors, and underused properties could be rehabilitated or converted for hospitality use. New construction could also be considered, including buildings of several stories and, where zoning, infrastructure, historic-design standards, and neighborhood conditions permit, as many as six floors.
Mr. James said the proposal does not reject large hotels. Instead, it responds to the territory's limited success in attracting and completing enough large-hotel projects by adding a practical local-ownership strategy. Smaller properties can have a more manageable footprint, lower operating costs, phased development schedules, and the flexibility to remain family-run through changing economic conditions.
"Government has repeatedly offered land, tax benefits, infrastructure support, and other assistance to encourage major hotel development," Mr. James said. "We should also use our resources to help qualified Virgin Islanders invest in themselves. Local ownership keeps more tourism income circulating in our communities and creates assets that families can pass from one generation to the next."
The financing program would combine small and subordinate loans, loan guarantees, predevelopment assistance, historic-rehabilitation incentives, and private financing. The Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA) and appropriate government development-finance programs could work with commercial banks, credit unions, community-development financial institutions, federal lending programs, and qualified private or diaspora investors.
Mr. James said the financing structure should be designed around a 'yes, we can' commitment while maintaining responsible underwriting. Public participation could include limited guarantees or loan-loss reserves until projects reach agreed performance thresholds. Borrowers should provide meaningful equity, demonstrate management capacity, and submit independently reviewed construction and operating plans. The program should begin with a limited number of demonstration projects before expanding.
Participation should require substantial Virgin Islands ownership, local hiring and purchasing plans, transparent project costs, prompt payment of local contractors, and safeguards against speculation or the quick resale of publicly assisted properties. Assistance agreements should include performance deadlines and reasonable remedies when owners fail to meet their commitments.
Candidate Raymond James also called for a Community Reinvestment Loan Consortium through which banks could document qualified community-development lending and investment. He noted that the federal Community Reinvestment Act does not impose a hotel-lending quota and generally does not apply to credit unions. However, banks may receive favorable consideration for properly structured loans and investments that demonstrably benefit low and moderate-income communities, support small businesses, create jobs, or revitalize distressed areas.
"My interest is not in creating another large government lending program," Mr. James said. "It is in developing a focused small-loan and credit-support initiative that helps local owners cross the financing gap. We must be creative in assembling each package while protecting public funds and insisting on strong business plans."
The initiative would be coordinated with a hospitality-training program involving the Department of Tourism, the University of the Virgin Islands, and the Department of Labor. Training should include hotel operations, customer service, digital reservations and marketing, bookkeeping, food safety, housekeeping supervision, facilities maintenance, and paid apprenticeships. Owners and employees would receive the skills needed to deliver professional service and maintain financially sound properties.
Mr. James said clusters of well-managed small hotels and bed-and-breakfast properties can strengthen surrounding neighborhoods. Rehabilitating historic and underused buildings can improve nearby property values, support restaurants and shops, expand opportunities for taxis and tour operators, and bring evening and weekend activity back to the towns.
The additional rooms could also support efforts to obtain and maintain more airline service. Limited lodging inventory on St. Croix is frequently cited as a factor affecting the business case for additional flights. A network of locally owned small properties would increase capacity gradually, diversify the visitor market, and give airlines stronger evidence of sustained demand.
"This is about investing in ourselves," Mr. James said. "Tourism should not only create jobs for Virgin Islanders. It should create Virgin Islands owners. With disciplined financing, proper training, and accountable leadership, we can revitalize our historic towns, increase hotel rooms, strengthen air service, and build lasting family wealth."
If elected, Mr. James said he would work with fellow legislators, development agencies, financial institutions, UVI, and the private sector to establish the pilot program with clear eligibility rules, public reporting, and measurable results.
Vote for Republican Raymond T. James for Senate District of St. Croix
Ballot No. 20 • Donate: PayPal rjames_esq@yahoo.com • RaymondForSenate.com
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About Raymond T. James
Raymond T. James, Esq., is the Republican candidate for the Senate in the District of St. Croix. A graduate of Howard University School of Law, James is a former Assistant Attorney General and former chairman of the Government Employees' Retirement System (GERS) Board. He also earned a certificate in negotiation from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. James is a farmer and small-business owner. He is Ballot No. 20 in the November 3, 2026 general election.
