News From Virgin Islands

AARP in Your State

September 2009

Have a say — Under a bill the legislature passed early this summer, two retirees from government service would serve on a committee advising the Group Health Insurance Board, which makes health insurance decisions for government employees and retirees. The bill (28-0033) gives the two retirees equal voting rights with board members, a privilege not previously granted to advisory committee members.

Gov. John deJongh, D, vetoed the bill in late June, asking lawmakers to send him instead a version increasing the board's composition from seven to nine, including two retirees.

AARP strongly supports these efforts to give government retirees a seat at the table when insurance decisions are made. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/vi.

May 2009

Better communities — Anticipating $244 million in economic stimulus funds, with nearly $20 million earmarked for transportation, AARP Virgin Islands met with lawmakers in March to discuss ways to make communities more livable. AARP aims to improve the quality of life in local communities by making streets safer and improving transportation options for all residents, especially those age 50-plus.

In 2008 AARP staff and volunteers conducted pedestrian surveys at key intersections on each island. The results showed a critical need for the territory to upgrade roads, signs, sidewalks and bus shelters and to consider transportation in the first stages of regional planning.

To learn more—and to send a "we need livable communities" message to your elected officials—visit www.aarp.org/vi.

January-February 2009

Reducing disparities — The image of the U.S. Virgin Islands as an idyllic tropical paradise stands in stark contrast to the health problems suffered by many local residents. AARP aims to address disparities in access to care through health care reform.

About 27 percent of the islands' residents live in poverty and 31 percent are uninsured, roughly double the U.S. rates of poverty and lack of health insurance. In addition, lack of data on rates of cancer and heart disease in the Virgin Islands is itself a disparity, advocates say.

In December, the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix was the setting for the second National Conference on Health Disparities, which set priorities for reform efforts. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/vi.