How to get a constructor for a Public class to run - vb.net

Question

I have a Public class with a Public Shared Dictionary in vb.net. The constructor does not seem to be running. I have a breakpoint in the constructor which does not break. Also when I make a database update, the new values do not show up in the dictionary.
Public Class SkywalkerPolicy
Public Shared CustomPolicies As Dictionary(Of String, String)
Shared Sub New()
CustomPolicies = New Dictionary(Of String, String)
Dim bvin As String = String.Empty
Dim title As String = String.Empty
Dim poldescr As String = String.Empty
Dim dtResult As New DataTable("Result")
dtResult.Locale = System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture
Dim request As New DataRequest
request.Command = "sky_PolicyDictionary_s"
request.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
request.Transactional = False
Dim result As DataSet
result = SqlDataHelper.ExecuteDataSet(request)
If Not result Is Nothing Then
If result.Tables.Count() > 0 Then
dtResult = result.Tables(0)
For Each row In dtResult.AsEnumerable
bvin = row.Item(1)
title = row.Item(0)
poldescr = row.Item(2)
If CustomPolicies.ContainsKey(title) Then
CustomPolicies(title) += poldescr
Else
CustomPolicies.Add(title, poldescr)
End If
Next
End If
End If
End Sub
End Class
When I access the dictionary, any changes I've made to the data do not show up.
Dim pol As String = SkywalkerPolicy.CustomPolicies("Orders and Shipping Details")
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get the constructor to work?
Or should I have an additional Sub which duplicates initializing the dictionary before I use it?
Thanks

Answer 1

I have a workaround with an Update routine which I call just before accessing the dictionary. But I am still unclear why I can't step through the constructor. So if anyone can answer the original question, I would appreciate an update. Thank you.
Public Class SkywalkerPolicy
Public Shared CustomPolicies As Dictionary(Of String, String)
Shared Sub New()
CustomPolicies = New Dictionary(Of String, String)
Dim bvin As String = String.Empty
Dim title As String = String.Empty
Dim poldescr As String = String.Empty
Dim dtResult As New DataTable("Result")
dtResult.Locale = System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture
Dim request As New DataRequest
request.Command = "sky_PolicyDictionary_s"
request.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
request.Transactional = False
Dim result As DataSet
result = SqlDataHelper.ExecuteDataSet(request)
If Not result Is Nothing Then
If result.Tables.Count() > 0 Then
dtResult = result.Tables(0)
For Each row In dtResult.AsEnumerable
bvin = row.Item(1)
title = row.Item(0)
poldescr = row.Item(2)
If CustomPolicies.ContainsKey(title) Then
CustomPolicies(title) += poldescr
Else
CustomPolicies.Add(title, poldescr)
End If
Next
End If
End If
End Sub
Public Shared Sub UpdateDictionary()
CustomPolicies.Clear()
Dim bvin As String = String.Empty
Dim title As String = String.Empty
Dim poldescr As String = String.Empty
Dim dtResult As New DataTable("Result")
dtResult.Locale = System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture
Dim request As New DataRequest
request.Command = "sky_PolicyDictionary_s"
request.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
request.Transactional = False
Dim result As DataSet
result = SqlDataHelper.ExecuteDataSet(request)
If Not result Is Nothing Then
If result.Tables.Count() > 0 Then
dtResult = result.Tables(0)
For Each row In dtResult.AsEnumerable
bvin = row.Item(1)
title = row.Item(0)
poldescr = row.Item(2)
If CustomPolicies.ContainsKey(title) Then
CustomPolicies(title) += poldescr
Else
CustomPolicies.Add(title, poldescr)
End If
Next
End If
End If
End Sub
End Class