2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 3 - Executive
Chapter 1 - Governor
§ 9a. Commission on Caribbean Cooperation
(a) There is established within the Office of the Governor, a Commission on Caribbean Cooperation (hereinafter, referred to as the “Commission”). The Commission shall be composed of ten members, broadly representative of government, business, labor and youth to be appointed as follows:
(1) Five members appointed by the Governor and four members appointed by the President of the Legislature for terms of two years; provided, that of the members appointed by the Governor and President of the Legislature, one shall be below the age of 21;
(2) The Legislature's Secretary for Inter-governmental Relations and Territorial Affairs shall serve as an ex-officio member;
(3) The Governor and President of the Legislature shall be ex-officio, honorary, non-voting members of the Commission. The Commission shall elect its Chairman and other officers. Members shall not be removed until expiration of their terms, except for misconduct in office;
(4) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation for such service, but they shall be paid their necessary expenses in carrying out their obligations under this Act; provided, however, that no member shall receive more than fifty ($50.00) dollars per day nor more than one thousand ($1000.00) dollars per year, exclusive of transportation expenses.
(b) The Commission may incur such expenses, including the employment of personnel, as may be necessary for the proper performance of its duties, in accordance with appropriations by the Legislature.
(c) The Commission shall:
(1) Collect and disseminate official information on social and economic progress and development in the various countries and territories of the Caribbean;
(2) Encourage and assist governmental and non-governmental officials and agencies to develop and maintain friendly contact by correspondence, conference and otherwise with their counterparts in the various countries and territories of the Caribbean;
(3) Keep the Governor and Legislature informed of developments and programs in the areas of health, education, conservation, recreation, commerce, tourism, labor, youth development and other social and economic matters undertaken by various governments of the Caribbean, business, labor, professional, youth and other organizations, and of regional, national and international conferences relating to such matters that may be of importance to the United States Virgin Islands, and recommend to the Governor and Legislature the participation by the United States Virgin Islands in such conferences where, in its judgment, the Virgin Islands would substantially benefit by such participation; and
(4) Perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the Governor or the Legislature.
(d) The Commission shall report to the Governor and the Legislature within fifteen days after the convening of each regular legislative session, and at such other times as it deems appropriate.
