New Leadership Is Needed
Senate · District of St. Croix
Ballot No. 20Leadership with Knowledge.
Leadership with Knowledge.
Raymond James is a former Assistant Attorney General, small business owner, and farmer with decades of experience in public service and community leadership. A graduate of Howard University, he has also served as Chairman of the GERS Board, Chairman of the Christiansted Credit Union, and Administrator of Horse Racing. James also holds a certificate in negotiation from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
I'm Raymond T. James, Esq., candidate for the Senate in the District of St. Croix, Ballot No. 20.
St. Croix has the people, land, and assets to build a stronger future. We need leadership that listens, makes decisions, and follows through.
On this page, I will share specific proposals for:
Which of these should St. Croix address first? I want to hear from you.
The same political system accepting the same failures year after year.
1 in 5
residents have left the territory — the population has dropped more than eighteen percent
2×
electricity costs forty to forty-three cents a kilowatt — more than twice the American average
44
homicides recorded in 2024 — a rate of fifty-one per hundred thousand, among the highest under the American flag
30 yrs
of one-party rule — and an education system that is simply not being prioritized
On this page, I will share specific proposals for:
Priority 1
St. Croix residents should be able to get more of the care they need close to home. I will press for stronger hospital services, examine community health centers for the East End and North Side, and support better options for elder care.
What is the greatest health care difficulty your family faces?
Priority 2
I will seek a clear plan for WAPA's reliability and costs, and greater support for farmers and fishermen to bring more local food to our tables.
What change would make the biggest difference to your household budget?
Priority 3
I will pursue housing on suitable public land and explore responsible GERS partnerships that protect the retirement system's independent judgment and its members.
Priority 4
I will support better teacher compensation and expand vocational and technology training tied to opportunities in the Virgin Islands.
Which skills should our schools emphasize?
Priority 5
I will press for airport modernization that delivers essential service, a fair process to restore horse racing, and careful consideration of a refinery restart with environmental safeguards.
Priority 6
One Virgin Islands does not require one economic strategy. I support exploring municipal government to give St. Croix a stronger voice in its infrastructure and economic future.
Priority 7
I will ask clear questions about project costs, deadlines, funding, and who is responsible for delivery. Residents should be able to see what was promised, spent, and finished.
My Agricultural Homestead Program would preserve agricultural land, support local farmers, and create opportunities for the next generation through education, training, and technical assistance. By growing more food locally, we can strengthen our economy and reduce our dependence on imports.
I support modernizing our airports to strengthen tourism, create economic opportunities, and improve travel for residents and visitors. Completing VIPA's careful review of the proposed partnership and including jet bridges for St. Croix from the outset will help ensure this investment serves the long-term interests of the people of the Virgin Islands.
Public service should be built on qualifications, experience, and the ability to do the job—not politics. I'm calling for a review of the 1987 Government Reorganization Law and restoration of the Personnel Merit System to protect qualified public employees, improve accountability, and strengthen professionalism in public service.
I support restoring horse racing on St. Croix to create jobs, support local horsemen, strengthen tourism, and preserve an important part of our island's heritage. A transparent, competitive process with strong oversight can help build a sustainable industry that protects the public interest.
Our seniors deserve quality healthcare close to home, where they can remain connected to their families and communities. My healthcare reform plan would expand elder care, strengthen our hospitals, invest in healthcare workers, and restore financial accountability.
I support efforts to position St. Croix as a Caribbean shipping and trade hub, creating opportunities for jobs, investment, and local businesses. Seeking federal designation as a pre-clearance port for commercial vessels could strengthen our maritime industry and expand our role in regional trade.
I support municipal government to give St. Croix greater control over its economic and infrastructure priorities while preserving the unity of the Virgin Islands. My proposal aims to bring decisions closer to the people and strengthen local accountability, giving residents a greater voice in our island's future.
I support restarting the St. Croix refinery with safeguards that protect the people of the Virgin Islands. A strategic partnership with a private investor could help attract additional funding and demonstrate our commitment to a restart.
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