July 11, 2003 – In a move that surprised the other members of the Rules Committee on Friday, Sen. Carlton Dowe abstained from voting on a motion to move the governor's bond bill onto the full Senate floor, resulting in a 3-3 tie that killed the motion.
Senate President David Jones made the motion to move the amended bill onto the Senate floor under a "closed rule," meaning no further amendments could be made to it.
Sens. Douglas Canton Jr., Roosevelt David and Jones voted in favor of the bill.
Sens. Lorraine Berry, Louis Hill and Ronald Russell voted against it.
Jones said afterward that although his motion failed, that did not mean the end of the bill, because it did not die in a full Senate session. "This doesn't bode well for us, but I'm hopeful," he said.
The bill still can be special-ordered to the Senate floor, and Jones said he would seek to do this at the full Senate session scheduled for Tuesday.
In its original form as submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, the bill would have approved the borrowing of $235 million on the bond market, $100 million of it for working capital, $80 million to develop a 250-room resort on St. Croix, $20 million to finance private economic development initiatives on St. Croix, and $10 million to finance the Carifest theme park on St. Thomas.
Jones moved to amend the bill to allow gross receipts tax revenues to be used as "additional security for the repayment of loan notes" authorized to finance the construction of a conference center on St. Croix and to finance capitalized interest. The motion was seconded but Hill objected, saying that funding sources were already in place for the conference center.
"I don't see the necessity of using this bond issue for funding the project," he said.
The amendment was approved, 4-3, with Sens. Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in favor and Sens. Berry, Hill and Russell voting against.
Jones made a second motion requiring the Public Finance Authority to provide a monthly report to the Legislature on the status of the expenditure of the bonds. Russell objected to this amendment, saying he also was not in favor of the bill. "I don't believe the bond issue we're getting ready to pass is appropriate as it stands," he said.
The amendment also was approved on a 4-3 vote with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting for it and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
Canton made an amendment redirecting $85 million of the proposed bond proceeds — mainly the money the governor had wanted for building the hotel on St. Croix — to other interests. The amendment called for breaking down the $85 million for these capital projects:
– $5 million to finance the Cancer Center on St. Thomas.
– $8.5 million to finance the Cardiac Center on St. Croix.
– $4 million to finance the St. Thomas paid parking lot.
– $20 million to the Government Employees Retirement System to fund its unfunded liability.
– $5 million to finance the Housing Finance Authority.
– $4 million to finance the government's share in a partnership agreement with JS Management for the construction of the Carambola Conference Center and a hotel.
– $4 million to finance a paid parking lot in Christiansted.
– $30 million to finance a government complex in the St. Thomas/St. John district.
– $5 million to finance the Bethlehem Historical Cultural Preservation project on St. Croix.
Hill objected to the amendment, calling it "the height of irresponsibility."
This amendment, too, was approved on a 4-3 vote, once again with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in the affirmative and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
After the three amendments were approved, Dowe's decision to abstain from voting to move the bill to the Senate floor under the closed rule caused it to die in committee.
Dowe said he was unwilling to vote for the measure because Jones had stipulated the closed rule, which meant that the Senate minority would not have been able to make any amendments to the bill.
"I had a problem with that," Dowe, a minority member, said. All six of the other committee members are members of the Senate majority.
Jones said what happened was unfortunate. "The old adage 'When two elephants fight, the grass gets trampled' applies to this situation," he said. "The people who get trampled in this case are the government employees."
The Rules Committee also approved, on a 5-0 vote, a bill that would allot 25 percent of the V.I. Lottery proceeds from private gaming contracts into the Education Impress Fund. Canton and Jones were absent for the vote.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
RULES DEADLOCKS, FAILS TO APPROVE BOND BILL
July 11, 2003 – In a move that surprised the other members of the Rules Committee on Friday, Sen. Carlton Dowe abstained from voting on a motion to move the governor's bond bill onto the full Senate floor, resulting in a 3-3 tie that killed the motion.
Senate President David Jones made the motion to move the amended bill onto the Senate floor under a "closed rule," meaning no further amendments could be made to it.
Sens. Douglas Canton Jr., Roosevelt David and Jones voted in favor of the bill.
Sens. Lorraine Berry, Louis Hill and Ronald Russell voted against it.
Jones said afterward that although his motion failed, that did not mean the end of the bill, because it did not die in a full Senate session. "This doesn't bode well for us, but I'm hopeful," he said.
The bill still can be special-ordered to the Senate floor, and Jones said he would seek to do this at the full Senate session scheduled for Tuesday.
In its original form as submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, the bill would have approved the borrowing of $235 million on the bond market, $100 million of it for working capital, $80 million to develop a 250-room resort on St. Croix, $20 million to finance private economic development initiatives on St. Croix, and $10 million to finance the Carifest theme park on St. Thomas.
Jones moved to amend the bill to allow gross receipts tax revenues to be used as "additional security for the repayment of loan notes" authorized to finance the construction of a conference center on St. Croix and to finance capitalized interest. The motion was seconded but Hill objected, saying that funding sources were already in place for the conference center.
"I don't see the necessity of using this bond issue for funding the project," he said.
The amendment was approved, 4-3, with Sens. Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in favor and Sens. Berry, Hill and Russell voting against.
Jones made a second motion requiring the Public Finance Authority to provide a monthly report to the Legislature on the status of the expenditure of the bonds. Russell objected to this amendment, saying he also was not in favor of the bill. "I don't believe the bond issue we're getting ready to pass is appropriate as it stands," he said.
The amendment also was approved on a 4-3 vote with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting for it and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
Canton made an amendment redirecting $85 million of the proposed bond proceeds — mainly the money the governor had wanted for building the hotel on St. Croix — to other interests. The amendment called for breaking down the $85 million for these capital projects:
– $5 million to finance the Cancer Center on St. Thomas.
– $8.5 million to finance the Cardiac Center on St. Croix.
– $4 million to finance the St. Thomas paid parking lot.
– $20 million to the Government Employees Retirement System to fund its unfunded liability.
– $5 million to finance the Housing Finance Authority.
– $4 million to finance the government's share in a partnership agreement with JS Management for the construction of the Carambola Conference Center and a hotel.
– $4 million to finance a paid parking lot in Christiansted.
– $30 million to finance a government complex in the St. Thomas/St. John district.
– $5 million to finance the Bethlehem Historical Cultural Preservation project on St. Croix.
Hill objected to the amendment, calling it "the height of irresponsibility."
This amendment, too, was approved on a 4-3 vote, once again with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in the affirmative and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
After the three amendments were approved, Dowe's decision to abstain from voting to move the bill to the Senate floor under the closed rule caused it to die in committee.
Dowe said he was unwilling to vote for the measure because Jones had stipulated the closed rule, which meant that the Senate minority would not have been able to make any amendments to the bill.
"I had a problem with that," Dowe, a minority member, said. All six of the other committee members are members of the Senate majority.
Jones said what happened was unfortunate. "The old adage 'When two elephants fight, the grass gets trampled' applies to this situation," he said. "The people who get trampled in this case are the government employees."
The Rules Committee also approved, on a 5-0 vote, a bill that would allot 25 percent of the V.I. Lottery proceeds from private gaming contracts into the Education Impress Fund. Canton and Jones were absent for the vote.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Senate President David Jones made the motion to move the amended bill onto the Senate floor under a "closed rule," meaning no further amendments could be made to it.
Sens. Douglas Canton Jr., Roosevelt David and Jones voted in favor of the bill.
Sens. Lorraine Berry, Louis Hill and Ronald Russell voted against it.
Jones said afterward that although his motion failed, that did not mean the end of the bill, because it did not die in a full Senate session. "This doesn't bode well for us, but I'm hopeful," he said.
The bill still can be special-ordered to the Senate floor, and Jones said he would seek to do this at the full Senate session scheduled for Tuesday.
In its original form as submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, the bill would have approved the borrowing of $235 million on the bond market, $100 million of it for working capital, $80 million to develop a 250-room resort on St. Croix, $20 million to finance private economic development initiatives on St. Croix, and $10 million to finance the Carifest theme park on St. Thomas.
Jones moved to amend the bill to allow gross receipts tax revenues to be used as "additional security for the repayment of loan notes" authorized to finance the construction of a conference center on St. Croix and to finance capitalized interest. The motion was seconded but Hill objected, saying that funding sources were already in place for the conference center.
"I don't see the necessity of using this bond issue for funding the project," he said.
The amendment was approved, 4-3, with Sens. Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in favor and Sens. Berry, Hill and Russell voting against.
Jones made a second motion requiring the Public Finance Authority to provide a monthly report to the Legislature on the status of the expenditure of the bonds. Russell objected to this amendment, saying he also was not in favor of the bill. "I don't believe the bond issue we're getting ready to pass is appropriate as it stands," he said.
The amendment also was approved on a 4-3 vote with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting for it and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
Canton made an amendment redirecting $85 million of the proposed bond proceeds — mainly the money the governor had wanted for building the hotel on St. Croix — to other interests. The amendment called for breaking down the $85 million for these capital projects:
– $5 million to finance the Cancer Center on St. Thomas.
– $8.5 million to finance the Cardiac Center on St. Croix.
– $4 million to finance the St. Thomas paid parking lot.
– $20 million to the Government Employees Retirement System to fund its unfunded liability.
– $5 million to finance the Housing Finance Authority.
– $4 million to finance the government's share in a partnership agreement with JS Management for the construction of the Carambola Conference Center and a hotel.
– $4 million to finance a paid parking lot in Christiansted.
– $30 million to finance a government complex in the St. Thomas/St. John district.
– $5 million to finance the Bethlehem Historical Cultural Preservation project on St. Croix.
Hill objected to the amendment, calling it "the height of irresponsibility."
This amendment, too, was approved on a 4-3 vote, once again with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in the affirmative and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
After the three amendments were approved, Dowe's decision to abstain from voting to move the bill to the Senate floor under the closed rule caused it to die in committee.
Dowe said he was unwilling to vote for the measure because Jones had stipulated the closed rule, which meant that the Senate minority would not have been able to make any amendments to the bill.
"I had a problem with that," Dowe, a minority member, said. All six of the other committee members are members of the Senate majority.
Jones said what happened was unfortunate. "The old adage 'When two elephants fight, the grass gets trampled' applies to this situation," he said. "The people who get trampled in this case are the government employees."
The Rules Committee also approved, on a 5-0 vote, a bill that would allot 25 percent of the V.I. Lottery proceeds from private gaming contracts into the Education Impress Fund. Canton and Jones were absent for the vote.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
RULES DEADLOCKS, FAILS TO APPROVE BOND BILL
July 11, 2003 – In a move that surprised the other members of the Rules Committee on Friday, Sen. Carlton Dowe abstained from voting on a motion to move the governor's bond bill onto the full Senate floor, resulting in a 3-3 tie that killed the motion.
Senate President David Jones made the motion to move the amended bill onto the Senate floor under a "closed rule," meaning no further amendments could be made to it.
Sens. Douglas Canton Jr., Roosevelt David and Jones voted in favor of the bill.
Sens. Lorraine Berry, Louis Hill and Ronald Russell voted against it.
Jones said afterward that although his motion failed, that did not mean the end of the bill, because it did not die in a full Senate session. "This doesn't bode well for us, but I'm hopeful," he said.
The bill still can be special-ordered to the Senate floor, and Jones said he would seek to do this at the full Senate session scheduled for Tuesday.
In its original form as submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, the bill would have approved the borrowing of $235 million on the bond market, $100 million of it for working capital, $80 million to develop a 250-room resort on St. Croix, $20 million to finance private economic development initiatives on St. Croix, and $10 million to finance the Carifest theme park on St. Thomas.
Jones moved to amend the bill to allow gross receipts tax revenues to be used as "additional security for the repayment of loan notes" authorized to finance the construction of a conference center on St. Croix and to finance capitalized interest. The motion was seconded but Hill objected, saying that funding sources were already in place for the conference center.
"I don't see the necessity of using this bond issue for funding the project," he said.
The amendment was approved, 4-3, with Sens. Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in favor and Sens. Berry, Hill and Russell voting against.
Jones made a second motion requiring the Public Finance Authority to provide a monthly report to the Legislature on the status of the expenditure of the bonds. Russell objected to this amendment, saying he also was not in favor of the bill. "I don't believe the bond issue we're getting ready to pass is appropriate as it stands," he said.
The amendment also was approved on a 4-3 vote with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting for it and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
Canton made an amendment redirecting $85 million of the proposed bond proceeds — mainly the money the governor had wanted for building the hotel on St. Croix — to other interests. The amendment called for breaking down the $85 million for these capital projects:
– $5 million to finance the Cancer Center on St. Thomas.
– $8.5 million to finance the Cardiac Center on St. Croix.
– $4 million to finance the St. Thomas paid parking lot.
– $20 million to the Government Employees Retirement System to fund its unfunded liability.
– $5 million to finance the Housing Finance Authority.
– $4 million to finance the government's share in a partnership agreement with JS Management for the construction of the Carambola Conference Center and a hotel.
– $4 million to finance a paid parking lot in Christiansted.
– $30 million to finance a government complex in the St. Thomas/St. John district.
– $5 million to finance the Bethlehem Historical Cultural Preservation project on St. Croix.
Hill objected to the amendment, calling it "the height of irresponsibility."
This amendment, too, was approved on a 4-3 vote, once again with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in the affirmative and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
After the three amendments were approved, Dowe's decision to abstain from voting to move the bill to the Senate floor under the closed rule caused it to die in committee.
Dowe said he was unwilling to vote for the measure because Jones had stipulated the closed rule, which meant that the Senate minority would not have been able to make any amendments to the bill.
"I had a problem with that," Dowe, a minority member, said. All six of the other committee members are members of the Senate majority.
Jones said what happened was unfortunate. "The old adage 'When two elephants fight, the grass gets trampled' applies to this situation," he said. "The people who get trampled in this case are the government employees."
The Rules Committee also approved, on a 5-0 vote, a bill that would allot 25 percent of the V.I. Lottery proceeds from private gaming contracts into the Education Impress Fund. Canton and Jones were absent for the vote.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Senate President David Jones made the motion to move the amended bill onto the Senate floor under a "closed rule," meaning no further amendments could be made to it.
Sens. Douglas Canton Jr., Roosevelt David and Jones voted in favor of the bill.
Sens. Lorraine Berry, Louis Hill and Ronald Russell voted against it.
Jones said afterward that although his motion failed, that did not mean the end of the bill, because it did not die in a full Senate session. "This doesn't bode well for us, but I'm hopeful," he said.
The bill still can be special-ordered to the Senate floor, and Jones said he would seek to do this at the full Senate session scheduled for Tuesday.
In its original form as submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, the bill would have approved the borrowing of $235 million on the bond market, $100 million of it for working capital, $80 million to develop a 250-room resort on St. Croix, $20 million to finance private economic development initiatives on St. Croix, and $10 million to finance the Carifest theme park on St. Thomas.
Jones moved to amend the bill to allow gross receipts tax revenues to be used as "additional security for the repayment of loan notes" authorized to finance the construction of a conference center on St. Croix and to finance capitalized interest. The motion was seconded but Hill objected, saying that funding sources were already in place for the conference center.
"I don't see the necessity of using this bond issue for funding the project," he said.
The amendment was approved, 4-3, with Sens. Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in favor and Sens. Berry, Hill and Russell voting against.
Jones made a second motion requiring the Public Finance Authority to provide a monthly report to the Legislature on the status of the expenditure of the bonds. Russell objected to this amendment, saying he also was not in favor of the bill. "I don't believe the bond issue we're getting ready to pass is appropriate as it stands," he said.
The amendment also was approved on a 4-3 vote with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting for it and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
Canton made an amendment redirecting $85 million of the proposed bond proceeds — mainly the money the governor had wanted for building the hotel on St. Croix — to other interests. The amendment called for breaking down the $85 million for these capital projects:
– $5 million to finance the Cancer Center on St. Thomas.
– $8.5 million to finance the Cardiac Center on St. Croix.
– $4 million to finance the St. Thomas paid parking lot.
– $20 million to the Government Employees Retirement System to fund its unfunded liability.
– $5 million to finance the Housing Finance Authority.
– $4 million to finance the government's share in a partnership agreement with JS Management for the construction of the Carambola Conference Center and a hotel.
– $4 million to finance a paid parking lot in Christiansted.
– $30 million to finance a government complex in the St. Thomas/St. John district.
– $5 million to finance the Bethlehem Historical Cultural Preservation project on St. Croix.
Hill objected to the amendment, calling it "the height of irresponsibility."
This amendment, too, was approved on a 4-3 vote, once again with Canton, David, Dowe and Jones voting in the affirmative and Berry, Hill and Russell voting against it.
After the three amendments were approved, Dowe's decision to abstain from voting to move the bill to the Senate floor under the closed rule caused it to die in committee.
Dowe said he was unwilling to vote for the measure because Jones had stipulated the closed rule, which meant that the Senate minority would not have been able to make any amendments to the bill.
"I had a problem with that," Dowe, a minority member, said. All six of the other committee members are members of the Senate majority.
Jones said what happened was unfortunate. "The old adage 'When two elephants fight, the grass gets trampled' applies to this situation," he said. "The people who get trampled in this case are the government employees."
The Rules Committee also approved, on a 5-0 vote, a bill that would allot 25 percent of the V.I. Lottery proceeds from private gaming contracts into the Education Impress Fund. Canton and Jones were absent for the vote.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
HANSEN SAYS HIS PANEL HAS 'CATCHING UP TO DO'
July 11, 2003 – When the Legislature's Housing Parks and Recreation Committee meets on July 22, it will have a "lengthy" agenda, its chair, Sen. Emmett Hansen II, announced on Friday, because "we have a lot of catching up to do."
The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on St. Croix.
His committee has "lost three consecutive meeting dates" because of the Senate's focus in recent weeks on matters relating to the territory's fiscal crisis, Hansen said in a release. "We have legislation to consider and testimony to receive concerning a number of matters that should begin to take priority at this point," he said.
One of those matters came to a head this week with the arrival in the territory of a top U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department official, Michael Liu, assistant secretary for public and Indian housing.
Liu met on Thursday with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. But before that, he attended Wednesday's meeting of the Housing Parks and Recreation Committee on St. Croix, where he shared concerns HUD has about the V.I. Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002. (See "HUD official huddles with governor over VIHA
In his release, Hansen said that he and his committee welcomed Liu, with whom he "has been in contact." He said Liu came to the hearing to provide "an update of the condition of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority as seen by HUD, the oversight agency."
The release quoted Liu as calling the VIHA situation "serious" and saying that "while we've seen some changes that are positive, there are some other problems which we cannot continue to ignore."
Hansen said there is a need both to "raise the level of service to the residents of the housing communities" and to ensure that the Virgin Islands "doesn't experience yet another decrease in the level of funding to our housing authority."
He added: "Even while I make this statement, I'm also cognizant of the fact that we won't receive more funding if we're unable to account for previous funding."
Further, Hansen said, "It appears that some of the information we received previously may have been in error." Without elaborating, he said that the committee therefore will be moving "to clear up all of those misconceptions in order to get our housing communities to the point where our residents are receiving the best services possible."
Also on the agenda for the July 22 meeting, he said, are consideration of several pieces of legislation and the taking of testimony from Housing Parks and Recreation Department officials regarding plans for the construction of a sports complex in the Virgin Islands.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on St. Croix.
His committee has "lost three consecutive meeting dates" because of the Senate's focus in recent weeks on matters relating to the territory's fiscal crisis, Hansen said in a release. "We have legislation to consider and testimony to receive concerning a number of matters that should begin to take priority at this point," he said.
One of those matters came to a head this week with the arrival in the territory of a top U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department official, Michael Liu, assistant secretary for public and Indian housing.
Liu met on Thursday with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. But before that, he attended Wednesday's meeting of the Housing Parks and Recreation Committee on St. Croix, where he shared concerns HUD has about the V.I. Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002. (See "HUD official huddles with governor over VIHA
In his release, Hansen said that he and his committee welcomed Liu, with whom he "has been in contact." He said Liu came to the hearing to provide "an update of the condition of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority as seen by HUD, the oversight agency."
The release quoted Liu as calling the VIHA situation "serious" and saying that "while we've seen some changes that are positive, there are some other problems which we cannot continue to ignore."
Hansen said there is a need both to "raise the level of service to the residents of the housing communities" and to ensure that the Virgin Islands "doesn't experience yet another decrease in the level of funding to our housing authority."
He added: "Even while I make this statement, I'm also cognizant of the fact that we won't receive more funding if we're unable to account for previous funding."
Further, Hansen said, "It appears that some of the information we received previously may have been in error." Without elaborating, he said that the committee therefore will be moving "to clear up all of those misconceptions in order to get our housing communities to the point where our residents are receiving the best services possible."
Also on the agenda for the July 22 meeting, he said, are consideration of several pieces of legislation and the taking of testimony from Housing Parks and Recreation Department officials regarding plans for the construction of a sports complex in the Virgin Islands.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
HANSEN SAYS HIS PANEL HAS 'CATCHING UP TO DO'
July 11, 2003 – When the Legislature's Housing Parks and Recreation Committee meets on July 22, it will have a "lengthy" agenda, its chair, Sen. Emmett Hansen II, announced on Friday, because "we have a lot of catching up to do."
The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on St. Croix.
His committee has "lost three consecutive meeting dates" because of the Senate's focus in recent weeks on matters relating to the territory's fiscal crisis, Hansen said in a release. "We have legislation to consider and testimony to receive concerning a number of matters that should begin to take priority at this point," he said.
One of those matters came to a head this week with the arrival in the territory of a top U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department official, Michael Liu, assistant secretary for public and Indian housing.
Liu met on Thursday with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. But before that, he attended Wednesday's meeting of the Housing Parks and Recreation Committee on St. Croix, where he shared concerns HUD has about the V.I. Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002. (See "HUD official huddles with governor over VIHA
In his release, Hansen said that he and his committee welcomed Liu, with whom he "has been in contact." He said Liu came to the hearing to provide "an update of the condition of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority as seen by HUD, the oversight agency."
The release quoted Liu as calling the VIHA situation "serious" and saying that "while we've seen some changes that are positive, there are some other problems which we cannot continue to ignore."
Hansen said there is a need both to "raise the level of service to the residents of the housing communities" and to ensure that the Virgin Islands "doesn't experience yet another decrease in the level of funding to our housing authority."
He added: "Even while I make this statement, I'm also cognizant of the fact that we won't receive more funding if we're unable to account for previous funding."
Further, Hansen said, "It appears that some of the information we received previously may have been in error." Without elaborating, he said that the committee therefore will be moving "to clear up all of those misconceptions in order to get our housing communities to the point where our residents are receiving the best services possible."
Also on the agenda for the July 22 meeting, he said, are consideration of several pieces of legislation and the taking of testimony from Housing Parks and Recreation Department officials regarding plans for the construction of a sports complex in the Virgin Islands.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on St. Croix.
His committee has "lost three consecutive meeting dates" because of the Senate's focus in recent weeks on matters relating to the territory's fiscal crisis, Hansen said in a release. "We have legislation to consider and testimony to receive concerning a number of matters that should begin to take priority at this point," he said.
One of those matters came to a head this week with the arrival in the territory of a top U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department official, Michael Liu, assistant secretary for public and Indian housing.
Liu met on Thursday with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. But before that, he attended Wednesday's meeting of the Housing Parks and Recreation Committee on St. Croix, where he shared concerns HUD has about the V.I. Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002. (See "HUD official huddles with governor over VIHA
In his release, Hansen said that he and his committee welcomed Liu, with whom he "has been in contact." He said Liu came to the hearing to provide "an update of the condition of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority as seen by HUD, the oversight agency."
The release quoted Liu as calling the VIHA situation "serious" and saying that "while we've seen some changes that are positive, there are some other problems which we cannot continue to ignore."
Hansen said there is a need both to "raise the level of service to the residents of the housing communities" and to ensure that the Virgin Islands "doesn't experience yet another decrease in the level of funding to our housing authority."
He added: "Even while I make this statement, I'm also cognizant of the fact that we won't receive more funding if we're unable to account for previous funding."
Further, Hansen said, "It appears that some of the information we received previously may have been in error." Without elaborating, he said that the committee therefore will be moving "to clear up all of those misconceptions in order to get our housing communities to the point where our residents are receiving the best services possible."
Also on the agenda for the July 22 meeting, he said, are consideration of several pieces of legislation and the taking of testimony from Housing Parks and Recreation Department officials regarding plans for the construction of a sports complex in the Virgin Islands.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
HANSEN SAYS HIS PANEL HAS 'CATCHING UP TO DO'
July 11, 2003 – When the Legislature's Housing Parks and Recreation Committee meets on July 22, it will have a "lengthy" agenda, its chair, Sen. Emmett Hansen II, announced on Friday, because "we have a lot of catching up to do."
The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on St. Croix.
His committee has "lost three consecutive meeting dates" because of the Senate's focus in recent weeks on matters relating to the territory's fiscal crisis, Hansen said in a release. "We have legislation to consider and testimony to receive concerning a number of matters that should begin to take priority at this point," he said.
One of those matters came to a head this week with the arrival in the territory of a top U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department official, Michael Liu, assistant secretary for public and Indian housing.
Liu met on Thursday with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. But before that, he attended Wednesday's meeting of the Housing Parks and Recreation Committee on St. Croix, where he shared concerns HUD has about the V.I. Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002. (See "HUD official huddles with governor over VIHA
In his release, Hansen said that he and his committee welcomed Liu, with whom he "has been in contact." He said Liu came to the hearing to provide "an update of the condition of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority as seen by HUD, the oversight agency."
The release quoted Liu as calling the VIHA situation "serious" and saying that "while we've seen some changes that are positive, there are some other problems which we cannot continue to ignore."
Hansen said there is a need both to "raise the level of service to the residents of the housing communities" and to ensure that the Virgin Islands "doesn't experience yet another decrease in the level of funding to our housing authority."
He added: "Even while I make this statement, I'm also cognizant of the fact that we won't receive more funding if we're unable to account for previous funding."
Further, Hansen said, "It appears that some of the information we received previously may have been in error." Without elaborating, he said that the committee therefore will be moving "to clear up all of those misconceptions in order to get our housing communities to the point where our residents are receiving the best services possible."
Also on the agenda for the July 22 meeting, he said, are consideration of several pieces of legislation and the taking of testimony from Housing Parks and Recreation Department officials regarding plans for the construction of a sports complex in the Virgin Islands.
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The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on St. Croix.
His committee has "lost three consecutive meeting dates" because of the Senate's focus in recent weeks on matters relating to the territory's fiscal crisis, Hansen said in a release. "We have legislation to consider and testimony to receive concerning a number of matters that should begin to take priority at this point," he said.
One of those matters came to a head this week with the arrival in the territory of a top U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department official, Michael Liu, assistant secretary for public and Indian housing.
Liu met on Thursday with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. But before that, he attended Wednesday's meeting of the Housing Parks and Recreation Committee on St. Croix, where he shared concerns HUD has about the V.I. Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002. (See "HUD official huddles with governor over VIHA
In his release, Hansen said that he and his committee welcomed Liu, with whom he "has been in contact." He said Liu came to the hearing to provide "an update of the condition of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority as seen by HUD, the oversight agency."
The release quoted Liu as calling the VIHA situation "serious" and saying that "while we've seen some changes that are positive, there are some other problems which we cannot continue to ignore."
Hansen said there is a need both to "raise the level of service to the residents of the housing communities" and to ensure that the Virgin Islands "doesn't experience yet another decrease in the level of funding to our housing authority."
He added: "Even while I make this statement, I'm also cognizant of the fact that we won't receive more funding if we're unable to account for previous funding."
Further, Hansen said, "It appears that some of the information we received previously may have been in error." Without elaborating, he said that the committee therefore will be moving "to clear up all of those misconceptions in order to get our housing communities to the point where our residents are receiving the best services possible."
Also on the agenda for the July 22 meeting, he said, are consideration of several pieces of legislation and the taking of testimony from Housing Parks and Recreation Department officials regarding plans for the construction of a sports complex in the Virgin Islands.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
UVI RESEARCHERS RESCUE DUO MISSING AT SEA 2 DAYS
July 11, 2003 – It was the choppy waters churned up by Tropical Storm Claudette that led three University of the Virgin Islands marine science researchers to take the long way home after surveying corals in Botany Bay instead of motoring through the cut at Big Current Hole.
Those same rough seas were responsible for what they found as they came around Salt Cay shortly after noon on Wednesday en route back to the dock at UVI's MacLean Marine Science Center: two men and their Boston Whaler up against the treacherous rocks on the north side of the cay.
Once they figured out that the men were signaling for help and not just waving to be friendly, Center for Marine and Environmental Studies research analyst Steve Herzlieb, research assistant Shaun Kadison and student Alkin Paul maneuvered their dive boat, the Lady of the Islands, as close in as they could get among the rocks and threw a line to the stranded boaters.
With the line secured to the bow of the Whaler, the Lady of the Islands began towing the boat, with the two men inside it, toward the university campus. As they neared Fortuna Bay, a police motor vessel approached them, and it was only then that the UVI trio learned who it was that they had rescued.
The two boaters, cousins Alex Varlack, 21, and Mackiba Faulkner, 19, had set out from their home island of Anegada two days earlier to check their fish traps. The rough seas carried them 50 miles in a direction they didn't want to go, in an open boat that had no marine radio, cellular telephone, life jackets, flares or anchor aboard.
Their families reported them missing on Monday night, and marine authorities had been looking for them ever since.
The police vessel took over the task of towing the Anegadans' boat to safe harbor.
Later, describing the incident, Kadison said the two young men appeared to be in good shape and that "we were really surprised to hear that they had been out for over two days." Paul agreed: "They were strong. By the way they looked, I never would have thought they had been out for so long."
Herzlieb indicated that what the three had done was nothing exceptional. "Out on the water, that's just the way it is," he said. "If you see someone who needs help, you don't even think about it; you just do it."
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Those same rough seas were responsible for what they found as they came around Salt Cay shortly after noon on Wednesday en route back to the dock at UVI's MacLean Marine Science Center: two men and their Boston Whaler up against the treacherous rocks on the north side of the cay.
Once they figured out that the men were signaling for help and not just waving to be friendly, Center for Marine and Environmental Studies research analyst Steve Herzlieb, research assistant Shaun Kadison and student Alkin Paul maneuvered their dive boat, the Lady of the Islands, as close in as they could get among the rocks and threw a line to the stranded boaters.
With the line secured to the bow of the Whaler, the Lady of the Islands began towing the boat, with the two men inside it, toward the university campus. As they neared Fortuna Bay, a police motor vessel approached them, and it was only then that the UVI trio learned who it was that they had rescued.
The two boaters, cousins Alex Varlack, 21, and Mackiba Faulkner, 19, had set out from their home island of Anegada two days earlier to check their fish traps. The rough seas carried them 50 miles in a direction they didn't want to go, in an open boat that had no marine radio, cellular telephone, life jackets, flares or anchor aboard.
Their families reported them missing on Monday night, and marine authorities had been looking for them ever since.
The police vessel took over the task of towing the Anegadans' boat to safe harbor.
Later, describing the incident, Kadison said the two young men appeared to be in good shape and that "we were really surprised to hear that they had been out for over two days." Paul agreed: "They were strong. By the way they looked, I never would have thought they had been out for so long."
Herzlieb indicated that what the three had done was nothing exceptional. "Out on the water, that's just the way it is," he said. "If you see someone who needs help, you don't even think about it; you just do it."
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
DELEGATE TO HOST PRESCRIPTION DRUG MEETING
July 11, 2003 – Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen will host a Town Hall Meeting via teleconference on Saturday, July 19, to discuss Congressional prescription drugs, Medicare and prescription drug card plans.
Utilizing the teleconferencing capability of the University of the Virgin Islands, Christensen invites all senior citizens and those interested in Medicare, prescription drugs and prescription drug cards to discuss the proposals in Congress and their ramifications for seniors in the territory.
Senior citizens on St. Croix are asked to come to the UVI campus Theater Building Room EC 401. Those in the St. Thomas-St. John area are asked to come to the St. Thomas campus’s Chase Auditorium Room B110. The town hall meeting will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Christensen will be in attendance at the St. Croix site. Other invited guests will be announced later.
The event is part of a National Day of Prescription Drug Town Hall Meetings being held across the country by Democratic members of Congress, who are calling attention to the differences between the Republican and Democratic proposals and the pros and cons of each one.
Christensen, who was a family physician before becoming Delegate to Congress, said she has had first-hand experience with what seniors go through when they cannot afford to fill their prescriptions.
"Many seniors struggle to afford the medicines they need to have a comfortable life," she said. "It is time that we end the squeeze on our seniors' meager incomes and seize the opportunity to fix this problem."
She said, "Democrats are fighting for a prescription drug plan that is voluntary, guaranteed, available to all and provided as part of the Medicare program. It is important for people to understand that other plans will leave a gap in coverage. "
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Utilizing the teleconferencing capability of the University of the Virgin Islands, Christensen invites all senior citizens and those interested in Medicare, prescription drugs and prescription drug cards to discuss the proposals in Congress and their ramifications for seniors in the territory.
Senior citizens on St. Croix are asked to come to the UVI campus Theater Building Room EC 401. Those in the St. Thomas-St. John area are asked to come to the St. Thomas campus’s Chase Auditorium Room B110. The town hall meeting will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Christensen will be in attendance at the St. Croix site. Other invited guests will be announced later.
The event is part of a National Day of Prescription Drug Town Hall Meetings being held across the country by Democratic members of Congress, who are calling attention to the differences between the Republican and Democratic proposals and the pros and cons of each one.
Christensen, who was a family physician before becoming Delegate to Congress, said she has had first-hand experience with what seniors go through when they cannot afford to fill their prescriptions.
"Many seniors struggle to afford the medicines they need to have a comfortable life," she said. "It is time that we end the squeeze on our seniors' meager incomes and seize the opportunity to fix this problem."
She said, "Democrats are fighting for a prescription drug plan that is voluntary, guaranteed, available to all and provided as part of the Medicare program. It is important for people to understand that other plans will leave a gap in coverage. "
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
UVI RESEARCHERS RESCUE DUO MISSING AT SEA 2 DAYS
July 11, 2003 – It was the choppy waters churned up by Tropical Storm Claudette that led three University of the Virgin Islands marine science researchers to take the long way home after surveying corals in Botany Bay instead of motoring through the cut at Big Current Hole.
Those same rough seas were responsible for what they found as they came around Salt Cay shortly after noon on Wednesday en route back to the dock at UVI's MacLean Marine Science Center: two men and their Boston Whaler up against the treacherous rocks on the north side of the cay.
Once they figured out that the men were signaling for help and not just waving to be friendly, Center for Marine and Environmental Studies research analyst Steve Herzlieb, research assistant Shaun Kadison and student Alkin Paul maneuvered their dive boat, the Lady of the Islands, as close in as they could get among the rocks and threw a line to the stranded boaters.
With the line secured to the bow of the Whaler, the Lady of the Islands began towing the boat, with the two men inside it, toward the university campus. As they neared Fortuna Bay, a police motor vessel approached them, and it was only then that the UVI trio learned who it was that they had rescued.
The two boaters, cousins Alex Varlack, 21, and Mackiba Faulkner, 19, had set out from their home island of Anegada two days earlier to check their fish traps. The rough seas carried them 50 miles in a direction they didn't want to go, in an open boat that had no marine radio, cellular telephone, life jackets, flares or anchor aboard.
Their families reported them missing on Monday night, and marine authorities had been looking for them ever since.
The police vessel took over the task of towing the Anegadans' boat to safe harbor.
Later, describing the incident, Kadison said the two young men appeared to be in good shape and that "we were really surprised to hear that they had been out for over two days." Paul agreed: "They were strong. By the way they looked, I never would have thought they had been out for so long."
Herzlieb indicated that what the three had done was nothing exceptional. "Out on the water, that's just the way it is," he said. "If you see someone who needs help, you don't even think about it; you just do it."
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Those same rough seas were responsible for what they found as they came around Salt Cay shortly after noon on Wednesday en route back to the dock at UVI's MacLean Marine Science Center: two men and their Boston Whaler up against the treacherous rocks on the north side of the cay.
Once they figured out that the men were signaling for help and not just waving to be friendly, Center for Marine and Environmental Studies research analyst Steve Herzlieb, research assistant Shaun Kadison and student Alkin Paul maneuvered their dive boat, the Lady of the Islands, as close in as they could get among the rocks and threw a line to the stranded boaters.
With the line secured to the bow of the Whaler, the Lady of the Islands began towing the boat, with the two men inside it, toward the university campus. As they neared Fortuna Bay, a police motor vessel approached them, and it was only then that the UVI trio learned who it was that they had rescued.
The two boaters, cousins Alex Varlack, 21, and Mackiba Faulkner, 19, had set out from their home island of Anegada two days earlier to check their fish traps. The rough seas carried them 50 miles in a direction they didn't want to go, in an open boat that had no marine radio, cellular telephone, life jackets, flares or anchor aboard.
Their families reported them missing on Monday night, and marine authorities had been looking for them ever since.
The police vessel took over the task of towing the Anegadans' boat to safe harbor.
Later, describing the incident, Kadison said the two young men appeared to be in good shape and that "we were really surprised to hear that they had been out for over two days." Paul agreed: "They were strong. By the way they looked, I never would have thought they had been out for so long."
Herzlieb indicated that what the three had done was nothing exceptional. "Out on the water, that's just the way it is," he said. "If you see someone who needs help, you don't even think about it; you just do it."
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
DELEGATE TO HOST PRESCRIPTION DRUG MEETING
July 11, 2003 – Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen will host a Town Hall Meeting via teleconference on Saturday, July 19, to discuss Congressional prescription drugs, Medicare and prescription drug card plans.
Utilizing the teleconferencing capability of the University of the Virgin Islands, Christensen invites all senior citizens and those interested in Medicare, prescription drugs and prescription drug cards to discuss the proposals in Congress and their ramifications for seniors in the territory.
Senior citizens on St. Croix are asked to come to the UVI campus Theater Building Room EC 401. Those in the St. Thomas-St. John area are asked to come to the St. Thomas campus’s Chase Auditorium Room B110. The town hall meeting will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Christensen will be in attendance at the St. Croix site. Other invited guests will be announced later.
The event is part of a National Day of Prescription Drug Town Hall Meetings being held across the country by Democratic members of Congress, who are calling attention to the differences between the Republican and Democratic proposals and the pros and cons of each one.
Christensen, who was a family physician before becoming Delegate to Congress, said she has had first-hand experience with what seniors go through when they cannot afford to fill their prescriptions.
"Many seniors struggle to afford the medicines they need to have a comfortable life," she said. "It is time that we end the squeeze on our seniors' meager incomes and seize the opportunity to fix this problem."
She said, "Democrats are fighting for a prescription drug plan that is voluntary, guaranteed, available to all and provided as part of the Medicare program. It is important for people to understand that other plans will leave a gap in coverage. "
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Utilizing the teleconferencing capability of the University of the Virgin Islands, Christensen invites all senior citizens and those interested in Medicare, prescription drugs and prescription drug cards to discuss the proposals in Congress and their ramifications for seniors in the territory.
Senior citizens on St. Croix are asked to come to the UVI campus Theater Building Room EC 401. Those in the St. Thomas-St. John area are asked to come to the St. Thomas campus’s Chase Auditorium Room B110. The town hall meeting will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Christensen will be in attendance at the St. Croix site. Other invited guests will be announced later.
The event is part of a National Day of Prescription Drug Town Hall Meetings being held across the country by Democratic members of Congress, who are calling attention to the differences between the Republican and Democratic proposals and the pros and cons of each one.
Christensen, who was a family physician before becoming Delegate to Congress, said she has had first-hand experience with what seniors go through when they cannot afford to fill their prescriptions.
"Many seniors struggle to afford the medicines they need to have a comfortable life," she said. "It is time that we end the squeeze on our seniors' meager incomes and seize the opportunity to fix this problem."
She said, "Democrats are fighting for a prescription drug plan that is voluntary, guaranteed, available to all and provided as part of the Medicare program. It is important for people to understand that other plans will leave a gap in coverage. "
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
