Sam Sanes - Man of the People
When it comes to men who are looked upon as pillars of the community, there is no one who sits higher on the list than Sam Sanes, the Administrator for the island of St. Croix. He is the type of man who is universally admired for his calming voice, his cool demeanor and his fair treatment of his fellow man.
In his role as Administrator, Sanes acts as a sort of liaison between Governor Albert Bryan and the various governmental agencies that handle the daily business workings of the USVI. No small task for a man who has to deal with a Territorial government that wields a billion dollar plus budget. In the same capacity, his talents as liaison and mediator spill over into the private sector, the nonprofits and the public. But having been a Senator in the Legislature, Sanes knows all too well the ins and outs of government as it interweaves with the various types of businesses in the Virgin Islands. He is what you might call the “Go-to Man,” someone who can get things done quickly and efficiently.
The St. Croix Times caught up with him during a break in his breakneck schedule. We were wondering what was currently sitting at the top of his ultra-busy schedule.
“One of the programs we are pushing right now is the beautification of St. Croix. We are trying to beautify the Big Island in a number of different ways. One of those is picking up the eyesores that are abandoned vehicles. We have picked up hundreds of them across the island so far. We particularly try to help the seniors out and if they have an abandoned vehicle in their yard or on their property we help them get rid of it.” Sanes went on. “One of the other initiatives we are proud of, that we started a couple of years back, that also benefits seniors is helping them organizing and filing away their important documents. They can bring their important papers into our office here at Government House and we will scan them into a USB junk drive so they can keep these important documents in one place in the event a storm or calamity occurs. It’s amazing how many important papers get lost when a big storm hits the island.”
The St. Croix times heard that Sanes was a devout “foodie,” a lover of all things great about Big Island food.
“I’m not being biased,” he replied. “But you cannot do better than the food scene here on St. Croix. It is just amazing! We cover everything from Hispanic dishes, to local favorites, to a great selection of the best the Caribbean has to offer. I mean I love my Arroz con Pollo, but i also love my callaloo; and the next day I can go and pick up some fabulous Roti. St. Croix is a mecca when it comes to food. You can’t beat it. You just cannot beat it!”
No, you cannot beat him. Sam Sanes is definitely a Man of the People.
