THREE REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATES CALL FOR EXPANDED FOOD-LOSS AND SMALL-BUSINESS RELIEF FOLLOWING POWER OUTAGES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

October 28, 2026 

THREE REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATES CALL FOR EXPANDED FOOD-LOSS AND SMALL-BUSINESS RELIEF FOLLOWING POWER OUTAGES 

James, Tillet and Callwood urge a fair, territorywide response that includes SNAP recipients, non-SNAP households and small businesses. 

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS - Raymond T. James, Esq., Republican candidate for the Legislature in the District of St. Croix, together with Republican Senate candidates Tillet and Derrick Callwood of St. Thomas, call for an expanded emergency relief framework to assist residents and small businesses affected by prolonged electrical outages. 

The candidates support Governor Albert Bryan Jr.'s efforts to secure replacement food assistance for eligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. They also believe the response should consider households that do not participate in SNAP but suffered comparable food losses. 

"The same electrical outage does not distinguish between a household receiving SNAP benefits and a working family that does not qualify for the program," James said. "Both may have lost hundreds of dollars in refrigerated and frozen food." 

EXPANDING HOUSEHOLD FOOD-LOSS ASSISTANCE 

The candidates propose evaluating a separately funded emergency food-replacement program for qualifying non-SNAP households, with an illustrative maximum of $300 per household, subject to documented loss, financial need, available funding and legislative authorization. Priority should be considered for low- and moderate-income households, seniors, persons with disabilities and families with children. A simplified application and safeguards against duplicate compensation would be essential. 

Federal SNAP replacement benefits remain subject to federal eligibility rules. The proposed non-SNAP assistance is a separate territorial policy proposal, not an existing benefit or guaranteed payment. 

SMALL BUSINESSES MUST NOT BE OVERLOOKED 

The candidates also support James's proposed Small Business Outage Recovery and Resilience Program: grants of up to $5,000 for documented uninsured perishable-inventory losses and low-interest emergency loans of up to $25,000 for larger losses, refrigeration repairs, replacement inventory, backup-power equipment and short-term payroll needs. Priority consideration would go to locally owned businesses, particularly those employing 20 or fewer people. These are proposed ceilings, not promises of payment. 

"When businesses lose inventory, employees lose working hours, families lose income and government loses gross receipts tax revenue," James said. "Protecting small businesses also protects the economic foundation of the Virgin Islands." 

A TERRITORYWIDE POLICY FOR FUTURE OUTAGES 

The candidates urge the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Human Services, Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, Virgin Islands Energy Office and other appropriate agencies to review lawful funding options and determine whether additional legislative action is necessary. They also propose objective, territorywide standards for assessing food and business losses after prolonged or widespread outages on St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island. 

"Assisting SNAP recipients, other affected households and small businesses are not competing priorities," James concluded. "A responsible government should establish a fair and financially sustainable framework that addresses these needs."

JOINT STATEMENT 

Raymond T. James, Esq. - Republican Candidate for the Legislature, District of St. Croix 

Tillet - Republican Candidate for the Legislature, District of St. Thomas-St. John 

Derrick Callwood - Republican Candidate for the Legislature, District of St. Thomas-St. John 

### 

ABOUT RAYMOND T. JAMES, ESQ. 

Raymond T. James, Esq., is the Republican candidate for the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, District of St. Croix. A graduate of Howard University School of Law with a certificate in negotiations from the Wharton School, he is a former Assistant Attorney General, former Chairman of the Government Employees' Retirement System Board, former Chairman of the Christiansted Federal Credit Union, and a former administrator of horse racing. He is also a St. Croix farmer and small-business owner. His guiding principle is "Service for the people, not for self."