STX Senate Candidate Raymond T. James, Esq. Unveils Healthcare Reform Plan focused on Elder Care

 STX Senate Candidate  

Raymond T. James, Esq. Unveils Healthcare Reform  

Plan focused on Elder Care

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     St. Croix - Raymond T. James, Esq. Republican candidate for the Legislature from the St. Croix District is announcing a comprehensive healthcare reform plan designed to improve patient care, strengthen the Territory’s hospitals, expand elder care services, protect hospital employees, and restore public confidence in the Virgin Islands healthcare system.

     “Quality healthcare is not a privilege - it is a fundamental responsibility of government,” Mr. James stated. “The people of the Virgin Islands deserve a healthcare system that is financially sound, professionally managed, technologically advanced, and focused on delivering quality care to every resident.”

     Mr. James said that for far too long, too many Virgin Islanders have been forced to leave the Territory for specialized medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care. This enormous inconvenience places emotional and financial burdens on families while sending millions of healthcare dollars out of the Virgin Islands each year. 

     Mr. James’ Healthcare Reform Plan calls for a comprehensive approach that will improve hospital services, expand community-based healthcare, strengthen financial accountability, invest in healthcare professionals, and establish a long-term strategy for caring for the Territory’s growing senior population. 

     A cornerstone of Mr. James’ proposal is expanding elder care through public-private partnerships that encourage qualified healthcare providers to establish assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, memory care programs, and other long-term care services. Mr. James noted that these facilities would complement existing hospital services while allowing more Virgin Islanders to receive quality care without leaving their families and communities.

     “Our senior citizens helped build these islands,” Mr. James said. “They deserve that opportunity to age with dignity, independence and access to quality healthcare close to home. Expanding elder care is both a moral responsibility and an economic opportunity for the Virgin Islands.”

     Republican candidate for Senate, Raymond T. James, Esq. also proposes studying the feasibility of developing community healthcare centers on the east end and north side of St. Croix, to provide primary care, preventive medicine, outpatient services, chronic disease management, diagnostic testing, and other essential healthcare services closer to where residents live on these remote parts of the island.     

     Recognizing that healthcare begins with people who deliver it, Mr. James emphasized that healthcare reform cannot succeed without investing in the workforce. 

     “Healthcare reform cannot succeed without properly training our healthcare employees in cutting-edge hospital technology, modern medical practices, and patient-centered care. We must provide our healthcare professionals with the education, training, and resources necessary to deliver first-class medical services.”

     Mr. James further pledged to aggressively pursue available federal funding opportunities that support hospitals, rural and Territorial healthcare systems, workforce development, community health centers, and elder care initiatives in order to strengthen healthcare while reducing the financial burden on the Government of the Virgin Islands.

     Mr. James also called for restoring financial accountability throughout the healthcare system.

     “The Hospital Board has a fiduciary obligation to the people of the Virgin Islands and must hold hospital administration accountable for the proper management of public funds,” said Mr. James. “The Board must ensure that employee retirement contributions and all payroll withholdings are transmitted promptly and in accordance with the law. These funds belong to hardworking employees and must never be withheld, delayed, or diverted to finance hospital operations.”

     Republican candidate for the Senate, Raymond T. James stated that he will support legislation, if necessary, requiring stronger board oversight, regular independent financial audits, transparent financial reporting, and meaningful accountability to safeguard employee-earned retirement benefits and restore public confidence in the Territory’s healthcare institutions. If additional operating funds are needed to run the hospitals, the Government of the Virgin Islands must meet this responsibility through appropriate appropriations rather than relying on employee retirement contributions.     

     Mr. James added that improving healthcare is also an economic development strategy. A stronger healthcare system can create new careers in medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, elder care, and healthcare technology while encouraging retirees, professionals, businesses, and investors to make the Virgin Islands their home.

     “Our vision is clear,” Mr. James concluded. “We must build a healthcare system that our people can trust - one that delivers quality care, protects employees, respects our seniors, embraces innovation, operates with transparency, and reflects the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. Together, we can build a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous Virgin Islands.”

Raymond T. James, Esq.

Republican candidate for the Legislature

District of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands