All ten St. Croix senatorial candidates running for a seat in the 32nd Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands accepted the St. Croix Educational Complex High School Senatorial Forum challenge on Friday, October 14 and carefully outlined their individual platforms before an audience of students in the Social Studies and English classes.
The candidates, both sitting senators and aspirants, were invited to participate in the school’s senatorial forum according to Social Studies Department Chairperson Augustina Gonzague, the organizer of the event.
“Students learned about their civic responsibilities in the democratic system, and the candidates got an opportunity to address the issues that are affecting our schools and community,” Ms. Gonzague said. Candidates were timed in their opening presentations, in the question-and-answer period, and in their closing remarks. A few students seated in the front row held up “yield” and “stop” signs to signal when a candidate’s time was nearing the end or had expired.
The eager students questioned the candidates on athletic funding for travel, the rise in crime, the Government Employment Retirement System (GERS), improvements in education, among other compelling topics.
Candidates appearing for the St. Croix Educational Complex Senatorial Forum were Senators Novelle Francis, Nereida Rivera O’Reilly, Neville James, and Kurt Vialet. Senatorial hopefuls attending were Norman JnBaptiste, Robert Moorehead, Danny Emmanuel, Terrence Joseph, Alicia Chucky Hansen and write-in candidate, Eugene LaCorbiniere.
Senatorial Independent Candidate Alicia Chucky Hansen
Social Studies Teacher Norda Munoz moderates St. Croix Educational Complex Senatorial Forum on Friday, October 14. 
Democratic Senator Novelle Francis
Democratic Senator Kurt Vialet
Democratic Senator Nereida Rivera O’Reilly
Senatorial Republican Candidate Robert Moorehead
Independent Senatorial Candidate Danny Emmanuel 
St. Croix Senatorial candidates listen to question from a student during St. Croix Educational Complex forum on Friday, October 14. 
Student signals a candidate that his time is up.
Write-in Independent Senatorial Candidate Eugene LaCorbiniere