Alma Francis-Heliyer is a United States Virgin Islands politician, former radio talk host, and Senator serving in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands from the St. Thomas-St. John District, since 2021.^[1]

The owner of Infinity Broadcasting, LLC.^[2] In December 2020, Alma achieved her goal to take ownership of Radio One AM 1000, while becoming one of the many Black women to manage a radio station out of 11,000 radio stations across the country.^[3]

Early life and education

Alma Francis was born on October 12, 1973, in St. Thomas to the late Leeann Rabsatt Francis of Tortola and Denzil” Frank” Francis Defreitas of St. Kitts. Alma graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1991. She later attended the University of the Virgin Islands and obtained her degree in Business communications.^[4]

Career

Francis-Heyliger has been employed with the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for over 22 years. She have worked for the MIS Division and inside the office of Senator Donald Cole from 1999 to 2003 and Senator Lorraine Berry from 2003 to 2005. Prior to being in that capacity, Alma was a contract specialist for Department of Property and Procurement Home Protection Roofing program.^[5]

Political career

Since taking office, Alma has introduced 14 pieces of legislation which include the CROWN Act.

In January 2023, Francis-Heyliger pushed back when Democratic members of the 35th Legislature voted down her measure to create a minority caucus.^[6]

References