June 18, 2003 – Protection of marine habitats and conservation of natural resources are widely regarded as integral elements of the territory's future economic and environmental stability. This belief and the issue of sustainability of U.S. coastal resources are the underpinnings of a five-day workshop under way on St. Thomas on the prevention and control of oil spills.
Sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard 7th District, the program is taking place at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort. Its focuses are on proper methods of response to such incidents and on providing information about such topics as the chemicals that may be encountered in a "damage-control" situation.
The workshop, which runs through Friday, has four major components:
– Providing an overview of information and misinformation regarding the function of dispersants – chemical agents designed to enhance the transfer of oil from the water's surface in order to mitigate the environmental impact of oil spills. Dispersants do not remove the oil; rather, they break an oil slick into small particles which then disperse into the water where they are further broken down by natural processes.
– Focusing on ecological risk assessment in tropical/subtropical environments.
– Utilizing the participants' ideas, concerns and recommendations from the first two components to create a dispersant use evaluation "response tool" to guide decision makers in formulating responses to oil spills based upon resource concerns and tradeoffs.
– Presentation of the "response tool" to the Caribbean Regional Response Team and Area Committee for review and adoption or further development.
Monday's program covered dispersants and the consequences of not pre-planning for an oil spill. "There is always a penalty for not pre-planning," Charlie Henry, NOAA site and support coordinator, said. "For example, take a look at the damage done to habitats — more animals are being exposed to lethal and sub-lethal impacts."
The best response, Henry said, will be part of a contingency plan that includes such actions as:
– Looking at the well-being of all living things with a stake in the response, such as birds, shorelines, fisheries, corals and mangroves.
– Investigating such elements as cost and ecosystem recovery.
– Consulting local resource experts.
– Developing scenarios with other members of Area Committees.
Within such scenarios, dispersants play a big part. Applied correctly, these agents make oil less toxic and greatly reduce its concentration so that slicks don't spread as rapidly.
Dispersants work like detergents, Henry explained, reducing surface tension between the water and the oil. This "permits the oil to break into tiny droplets, which then degrade into a more naturally occurring substance," he said.
There is currently pre-approval by federal agencies for the use of dispersants within one-half mile of shore for Puerto Rico and within one mile of shore for the Virgin Islands. Limits may vary due to the proximity of coral reefs, marine habitats, etc.
Dispersants are not always the most reliable option for the treatment of oil spills. "It is generally recommended that dispersants be used when there is a definable, positive environmental benefit," Henry said. He condemned the use of such chemicals in a case in 1967 in which a vessel named the Torrey Canyon hit a reef and spilled six tanks of oil. The dispersants air-dropped onto the spill by Navy pilots turned explosive. "The solvents in this case were more toxic than the oil," Henry said.
He said that a more recently developed chemical dispersant called Corexit 952 has been found to be lethal. First banned in Jamaica, it has since been taken out of production.
For further information on oil spills, pre-planning and damage control, visit the NOAA Response and Restoration Web site and U.S. National Response Team Web sites.
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.
SENATE OKS BUSINESS 'USER FEE' OF 2 CENTS A POUND
June 18, 2003 – In the second day of its full session Wednesday, the Senate got down to the nitty gritty, coming up with measures to reduce, if not bridge, the gap between revenues and expenditures for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2003.
According to Senate projections, a property tax amendment which will allow the territory to send out about $45 million in bills, and a transitional "environmental user fee" – instead of a tax, as proposed by the governor – will bring in $8 million before October.
Senate President David Jones said work will be ongoing – "the jury is still out" – to deal with the larger $152 million annual deficit currently predicted by the administration.
Wednesday's deliberations, which began at 9 a.m. and were still going on at 10 p.m., were punctuated by long recesses and seemingly incessant verbal sparring. None of the senators agreed on all of the measures in each bill, and each made a point of saying so. However, they conceded that only by compromise could they arrive at anything.
None of the minority amendments offered in Tuesday's session were approved. However, several initiatives from the minority's revenue-generating suggestions submitted to the governor earlier have been incorporated into the Senate's overall fiscal recovery plan, including a prepaid parking system, real estate stamp-tax increases, increased marriage license fees and a tire tax.
Sen. Carlton Dowe was still smarting Wednesday from the failure of an amendment he offered Tuesday to fund elementary school summer repairs. He proposed appropriating $623,000 to the Education Department from dividends paid to the Public Finance Authority by The West Indian Co. – $500,000 to expand the cafeteria/auditorium and install central air-conditioning at Ulla Muller School and $123,000 to renovate bathrooms, provide disabled access and build a new classroom at Joseph Sibilly School.
Dowe said on Wednesday that he couldn't support the majority's proposed 14 percent overall budget reduction, saying it would "send people home."
Sen. Lorraine Berry said she was "amazed" at Dowe's statement. She reminded Dowe that he signed the minority's cost-reduction proposals, also submitted to the governor earlier. That proposal, she said, included rolling back salary increases given to non-unionized and exempt government employees and suggested the immediate furlough all individuals hired to fill exempt and non-classified positions since Nov. 1, 2002.
Berry said the governor already has cut the executive branch budget by $45 million. All the Senate is doing is adding another $9 million and a cut to all unnecessary operating expenses, she said. The Senate is estimating a savings of $22 million by the end of FY 2003 on Sept. 30.
"There is no senator who agrees with all these measures," Berry said. "We have to develop an austerity budget in FY 2004. We have to start in FY 2003 so there will be a fixed ceiling in 2004."
Tax decisions as damage control
She continued: "Some issue are more important to some than others. We have removed the gross receipts, hotel taxes, excise tax on foodstuffs and others we felt were more damaging to the overall economy." Her reference was to items among those proposed by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in the six fiscal recovery bills he sent to the Legislature.
"We have set up fees and other policies," Berry said. "We have put back a hiring freeze. We can't compromise with the attrition program; we put it back with certain exemptions in specific departments including Human Services, firefighters, Education and Police."
She said the increase in marriage license fees from $25 to $50 will be lucrative: "There is a large wedding industry here in the V.I., not local people. We can generate an estimated $54,000 in the balance of the fourth quarter."
Although Jones had insisted that he would not tolerate non-germane issues, senators nonetheless worked in pet grievances and unrelated amendments. The chamber timekeeper had her hands full as the lawmakers worked their allotted time to the last possible second, giving one minute or 20 seconds to a colleague as suited their whims, and stretching the afternoon immeasurably.
A radical call for total recall
One senator at one point called for kicking out all government officials, himself presumably included, and starting anew. Another expressed deep misgivings about the decorum, or lack of it, as the session wore on.
Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, who on Tuesday had motioned to reduce senators' salaries by 10 percent, left that notion in the dust Wednesday as he suggested getting rid of the entire government. He was incensed by the marriage licence fee increase and a $1,000 fine for not using seat belts, calling the measures "an attack on the family."
"I suggest we issue a recall of every elected official in this territory and get back to scratch," Baptiste. "Get a new governor and a new lieutenant governor and nine new senators, and put new people in charge." He charged, with regard to the fiscal crisis, that government officials knew what was coming when Banc of America "warned you." There was no way officials "didn't see it coming – no way, Jose," he said.
Jones thanked Baptiste for his "enlightening discourse."
Sen. Louis Hill said at one point: "I've been sitting here listening to the level of debate, and I wonder if a video camera was recording this day for the people who elected us to this august body what our actions would be – and how they would feel about how we express ourselves."
He continued: "I am extremely disappointed with this evening, and I would think we would respect this office more than we have this afternoon. People talk about reducing our salaries to $25,000 or reducing our numbers, and we give them every reason to think that about us by the level of debate and our behavior on this floor."
Hill noted that he had not "seen anyone make a resolution to reduce his (or her) salaries. I haven't seen anyone step up and say 'I want to reduce my salary.' I want to say that I should reduce my salary by $5,000, and it should be given to the Junior Statesmen by the end of the year." Although the freshman senator did not mention it, he took a pay cut to become a member of the 25th Legislature – from $80,000 as St. Thomas-Water Island administrator to $65,000 as senator.
There was quiet after Hill's statement, but it didn't last long. Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. stepped up to interpret Hill's action as reaction to legislation proposed by Baptiste which had just passed – to exempt new St. Croix businesses from business license fees. White and Sen. Roosevelt David had voted against the measure because St. Thomas businesses weren't included.
"Hill is against us because we said that's not fair," White said. "He needs to get mad at the majority and not us."
Jones finally brought some order to the chamber, which had been growing ever more raucous, with one senator overcome by a fit of giggles that almost prevented him utilizing his comment time.
A tax by another name may be more palatable
In the morning, the Senate passed the bill which seemed likely to create the best of all possible worlds. It creates an "environmental infrastructure users fee" which will protect the environment while bringing money into the government coffers.
The measure was proposed by the governor as a tax. Now renamed a "user fee," it still will consist of an assessment of 2 cents per pound imposed on all items produced in or brought into the territory for business purposes. It would exempt equipment imported on a lease basis for a period of not more than 180 days. Also exempted are molasses for rum production and agriculture uses, animal feeds and fertilizers, c ertain construction items, and articles disposed of in the course of trade by exporters and V.I. manufacturers selling items to off-island purchasers.
"Our environment is deteriorating — our waters, our coral reefs, our health," Jones said. "So, by imposing a user fee to pay for environmental infrastructure, it is fair. It cuts across the board. When people see it is for a specific purpose, they won't have many qualms with it."
Hill noted the number of trailers that are transported on a daily basis to St. John for construction projects. "There are multimillion-dollar projects," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of dollars coming in tax free. The government is not collecting a single dime, because they are exempt."
Legal counsel Yvonne Tharpes put some senators' concerns at rest, assuring them the user fee will not affect Hovensa. The governor had proposed a separate environmental tax of 20 cents a barrel on crude oil imported by the refinery – an idea many rejected as illegal.
As of 10 p.m., the Senate had yet to dispose of four other bills on its agenda. The senators had been hedging throughout the day on whether they would approve any further government borrowing. David has said unequivocally that he will approve the $235 million bond issue submitted by the governor. Other senators have indicated they won't approve borrowing without certain conditions. The issue had not been formally addressed as of that hour.
All lawmakers attended the session except Sen. Raymond "Usie" Richards, the minority leader, who is in Mexico with the V.I. Senior Men's Basketball team competing in the 2003 Centro Basketball Tournament. Richards is president of the V.I. Basketball Federation.
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.
According to Senate projections, a property tax amendment which will allow the territory to send out about $45 million in bills, and a transitional "environmental user fee" – instead of a tax, as proposed by the governor – will bring in $8 million before October.
Senate President David Jones said work will be ongoing – "the jury is still out" – to deal with the larger $152 million annual deficit currently predicted by the administration.
Wednesday's deliberations, which began at 9 a.m. and were still going on at 10 p.m., were punctuated by long recesses and seemingly incessant verbal sparring. None of the senators agreed on all of the measures in each bill, and each made a point of saying so. However, they conceded that only by compromise could they arrive at anything.
None of the minority amendments offered in Tuesday's session were approved. However, several initiatives from the minority's revenue-generating suggestions submitted to the governor earlier have been incorporated into the Senate's overall fiscal recovery plan, including a prepaid parking system, real estate stamp-tax increases, increased marriage license fees and a tire tax.
Sen. Carlton Dowe was still smarting Wednesday from the failure of an amendment he offered Tuesday to fund elementary school summer repairs. He proposed appropriating $623,000 to the Education Department from dividends paid to the Public Finance Authority by The West Indian Co. – $500,000 to expand the cafeteria/auditorium and install central air-conditioning at Ulla Muller School and $123,000 to renovate bathrooms, provide disabled access and build a new classroom at Joseph Sibilly School.
Dowe said on Wednesday that he couldn't support the majority's proposed 14 percent overall budget reduction, saying it would "send people home."
Sen. Lorraine Berry said she was "amazed" at Dowe's statement. She reminded Dowe that he signed the minority's cost-reduction proposals, also submitted to the governor earlier. That proposal, she said, included rolling back salary increases given to non-unionized and exempt government employees and suggested the immediate furlough all individuals hired to fill exempt and non-classified positions since Nov. 1, 2002.
Berry said the governor already has cut the executive branch budget by $45 million. All the Senate is doing is adding another $9 million and a cut to all unnecessary operating expenses, she said. The Senate is estimating a savings of $22 million by the end of FY 2003 on Sept. 30.
"There is no senator who agrees with all these measures," Berry said. "We have to develop an austerity budget in FY 2004. We have to start in FY 2003 so there will be a fixed ceiling in 2004."
Tax decisions as damage control
She continued: "Some issue are more important to some than others. We have removed the gross receipts, hotel taxes, excise tax on foodstuffs and others we felt were more damaging to the overall economy." Her reference was to items among those proposed by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in the six fiscal recovery bills he sent to the Legislature.
"We have set up fees and other policies," Berry said. "We have put back a hiring freeze. We can't compromise with the attrition program; we put it back with certain exemptions in specific departments including Human Services, firefighters, Education and Police."
She said the increase in marriage license fees from $25 to $50 will be lucrative: "There is a large wedding industry here in the V.I., not local people. We can generate an estimated $54,000 in the balance of the fourth quarter."
Although Jones had insisted that he would not tolerate non-germane issues, senators nonetheless worked in pet grievances and unrelated amendments. The chamber timekeeper had her hands full as the lawmakers worked their allotted time to the last possible second, giving one minute or 20 seconds to a colleague as suited their whims, and stretching the afternoon immeasurably.
A radical call for total recall
One senator at one point called for kicking out all government officials, himself presumably included, and starting anew. Another expressed deep misgivings about the decorum, or lack of it, as the session wore on.
Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, who on Tuesday had motioned to reduce senators' salaries by 10 percent, left that notion in the dust Wednesday as he suggested getting rid of the entire government. He was incensed by the marriage licence fee increase and a $1,000 fine for not using seat belts, calling the measures "an attack on the family."
"I suggest we issue a recall of every elected official in this territory and get back to scratch," Baptiste. "Get a new governor and a new lieutenant governor and nine new senators, and put new people in charge." He charged, with regard to the fiscal crisis, that government officials knew what was coming when Banc of America "warned you." There was no way officials "didn't see it coming – no way, Jose," he said.
Jones thanked Baptiste for his "enlightening discourse."
Sen. Louis Hill said at one point: "I've been sitting here listening to the level of debate, and I wonder if a video camera was recording this day for the people who elected us to this august body what our actions would be – and how they would feel about how we express ourselves."
He continued: "I am extremely disappointed with this evening, and I would think we would respect this office more than we have this afternoon. People talk about reducing our salaries to $25,000 or reducing our numbers, and we give them every reason to think that about us by the level of debate and our behavior on this floor."
Hill noted that he had not "seen anyone make a resolution to reduce his (or her) salaries. I haven't seen anyone step up and say 'I want to reduce my salary.' I want to say that I should reduce my salary by $5,000, and it should be given to the Junior Statesmen by the end of the year." Although the freshman senator did not mention it, he took a pay cut to become a member of the 25th Legislature – from $80,000 as St. Thomas-Water Island administrator to $65,000 as senator.
There was quiet after Hill's statement, but it didn't last long. Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. stepped up to interpret Hill's action as reaction to legislation proposed by Baptiste which had just passed – to exempt new St. Croix businesses from business license fees. White and Sen. Roosevelt David had voted against the measure because St. Thomas businesses weren't included.
"Hill is against us because we said that's not fair," White said. "He needs to get mad at the majority and not us."
Jones finally brought some order to the chamber, which had been growing ever more raucous, with one senator overcome by a fit of giggles that almost prevented him utilizing his comment time.
A tax by another name may be more palatable
In the morning, the Senate passed the bill which seemed likely to create the best of all possible worlds. It creates an "environmental infrastructure users fee" which will protect the environment while bringing money into the government coffers.
The measure was proposed by the governor as a tax. Now renamed a "user fee," it still will consist of an assessment of 2 cents per pound imposed on all items produced in or brought into the territory for business purposes. It would exempt equipment imported on a lease basis for a period of not more than 180 days. Also exempted are molasses for rum production and agriculture uses, animal feeds and fertilizers, c ertain construction items, and articles disposed of in the course of trade by exporters and V.I. manufacturers selling items to off-island purchasers.
"Our environment is deteriorating — our waters, our coral reefs, our health," Jones said. "So, by imposing a user fee to pay for environmental infrastructure, it is fair. It cuts across the board. When people see it is for a specific purpose, they won't have many qualms with it."
Hill noted the number of trailers that are transported on a daily basis to St. John for construction projects. "There are multimillion-dollar projects," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of dollars coming in tax free. The government is not collecting a single dime, because they are exempt."
Legal counsel Yvonne Tharpes put some senators' concerns at rest, assuring them the user fee will not affect Hovensa. The governor had proposed a separate environmental tax of 20 cents a barrel on crude oil imported by the refinery – an idea many rejected as illegal.
As of 10 p.m., the Senate had yet to dispose of four other bills on its agenda. The senators had been hedging throughout the day on whether they would approve any further government borrowing. David has said unequivocally that he will approve the $235 million bond issue submitted by the governor. Other senators have indicated they won't approve borrowing without certain conditions. The issue had not been formally addressed as of that hour.
All lawmakers attended the session except Sen. Raymond "Usie" Richards, the minority leader, who is in Mexico with the V.I. Senior Men's Basketball team competing in the 2003 Centro Basketball Tournament. Richards is president of the V.I. Basketball Federation.
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 OKS BUSINESS 'USER FEE' OF 2 CENTS A POUND
June 18, 2003 – In the second day of its full session Wednesday, the Senate got down to the nitty gritty, coming up with measures to reduce, if not bridge, the gap between revenues and expenditures for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2003.
According to Senate projections, a property tax amendment which will allow the territory to send out about $45 million in bills, and a transitional "environmental user fee" – instead of a tax, as proposed by the governor – will bring in $8 million before October.
Senate President David Jones said work will be ongoing – "the jury is still out" – to deal with the larger $152 million annual deficit currently predicted by the administration.
Wednesday's deliberations, which began at 9 a.m. and were still going on at 10 p.m., were punctuated by long recesses and seemingly incessant verbal sparring. None of the senators agreed on all of the measures in each bill, and each made a point of saying so. However, they conceded that only by compromise could they arrive at anything.
None of the minority amendments offered in Tuesday's session were approved. However, several initiatives from the minority's revenue-generating suggestions submitted to the governor earlier have been incorporated into the Senate's overall fiscal recovery plan, including a prepaid parking system, real estate stamp-tax increases, increased marriage license fees and a tire tax.
Sen. Carlton Dowe was still smarting Wednesday from the failure of an amendment he offered Tuesday to fund elementary school summer repairs. He proposed appropriating $623,000 to the Education Department from dividends paid to the Public Finance Authority by The West Indian Co. – $500,000 to expand the cafeteria/auditorium and install central air-conditioning at Ulla Muller School and $123,000 to renovate bathrooms, provide disabled access and build a new classroom at Joseph Sibilly School.
Dowe said on Wednesday that he couldn't support the majority's proposed 14 percent overall budget reduction, saying it would "send people home."
Sen. Lorraine Berry said she was "amazed" at Dowe's statement. She reminded Dowe that he signed the minority's cost-reduction proposals, also submitted to the governor earlier. That proposal, she said, included rolling back salary increases given to non-unionized and exempt government employees and suggested the immediate furlough all individuals hired to fill exempt and non-classified positions since Nov. 1, 2002.
Berry said the governor already has cut the executive branch budget by $45 million. All the Senate is doing is adding another $9 million and a cut to all unnecessary operating expenses, she said. The Senate is estimating a savings of $22 million by the end of FY 2003 on Sept. 30.
"There is no senator who agrees with all these measures," Berry said. "We have to develop an austerity budget in FY 2004. We have to start in FY 2003 so there will be a fixed ceiling in 2004."
Tax decisions as damage control
She continued: "Some issue are more important to some than others. We have removed the gross receipts, hotel taxes, excise tax on foodstuffs and others we felt were more damaging to the overall economy." Her reference was to items among those proposed by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in the six fiscal recovery bills he sent to the Legislature.
"We have set up fees and other policies," Berry said. "We have put back a hiring freeze. We can't compromise with the attrition program; we put it back with certain exemptions in specific departments including Human Services, firefighters, Education and Police."
She said the increase in marriage license fees from $25 to $50 will be lucrative: "There is a large wedding industry here in the V.I., not local people. We can generate an estimated $54,000 in the balance of the fourth quarter."
Although Jones had insisted that he would not tolerate non-germane issues, senators nonetheless worked in pet grievances and unrelated amendments. The chamber timekeeper had her hands full as the lawmakers worked their allotted time to the last possible second, giving one minute or 20 seconds to a colleague as suited their whims, and stretching the afternoon immeasurably.
A radical call for total recall
One senator at one point called for kicking out all government officials, himself presumably included, and starting anew. Another expressed deep misgivings about the decorum, or lack of it, as the session wore on.
Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, who on Tuesday had motioned to reduce senators' salaries by 10 percent, left that notion in the dust Wednesday as he suggested getting rid of the entire government. He was incensed by the marriage licence fee increase and a $1,000 fine for not using seat belts, calling the measures "an attack on the family."
"I suggest we issue a recall of every elected official in this territory and get back to scratch," Baptiste. "Get a new governor and a new lieutenant governor and nine new senators, and put new people in charge." He charged, with regard to the fiscal crisis, that government officials knew what was coming when Banc of America "warned you." There was no way officials "didn't see it coming – no way, Jose," he said.
Jones thanked Baptiste for his "enlightening discourse."
Sen. Louis Hill said at one point: "I've been sitting here listening to the level of debate, and I wonder if a video camera was recording this day for the people who elected us to this august body what our actions would be – and how they would feel about how we express ourselves."
He continued: "I am extremely disappointed with this evening, and I would think we would respect this office more than we have this afternoon. People talk about reducing our salaries to $25,000 or reducing our numbers, and we give them every reason to think that about us by the level of debate and our behavior on this floor."
Hill noted that he had not "seen anyone make a resolution to reduce his (or her) salaries. I haven't seen anyone step up and say 'I want to reduce my salary.' I want to say that I should reduce my salary by $5,000, and it should be given to the Junior Statesmen by the end of the year." Although the freshman senator did not mention it, he took a pay cut to become a member of the 25th Legislature – from $80,000 as St. Thomas-Water Island administrator to $65,000 as senator.
There was quiet after Hill's statement, but it didn't last long. Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. stepped up to interpret Hill's action as reaction to legislation proposed by Baptiste which had just passed – to exempt new St. Croix businesses from business license fees. White and Sen. Roosevelt David had voted against the measure because St. Thomas businesses weren't included.
"Hill is against us because we said that's not fair," White said. "He needs to get mad at the majority and not us."
Jones finally brought some order to the chamber, which had been growing ever more raucous, with one senator overcome by a fit of giggles that almost prevented him utilizing his comment time.
A tax by another name may be more palatable
In the morning, the Senate passed the bill which seemed likely to create the best of all possible worlds. It creates an "environmental infrastructure users fee" which will protect the environment while bringing money into the government coffers.
The measure was proposed by the governor as a tax. Now renamed a "user fee," it still will consist of an assessment of 2 cents per pound imposed on all items produced in or brought into the territory for business purposes. It would exempt equipment imported on a lease basis for a period of not more than 180 days. Also exempted are molasses for rum production and agriculture uses, animal feeds and fertilizers, c ertain construction items, and articles disposed of in the course of trade by exporters and V.I. manufacturers selling items to off-island purchasers.
"Our environment is deteriorating — our waters, our coral reefs, our health," Jones said. "So, by imposing a user fee to pay for environmental infrastructure, it is fair. It cuts across the board. When people see it is for a specific purpose, they won't have many qualms with it."
Hill noted the number of trailers that are transported on a daily basis to St. John for construction projects. "There are multimillion-dollar projects," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of dollars coming in tax free. The government is not collecting a single dime, because they are exempt."
Legal counsel Yvonne Tharpes put some senators' concerns at rest, assuring them the user fee will not affect Hovensa. The governor had proposed a separate environmental tax of 20 cents a barrel on crude oil imported by the refinery – an idea many rejected as illegal.
As of 10 p.m., the Senate had yet to dispose of four other bills on its agenda. The senators had been hedging throughout the day on whether they would approve any further government borrowing. David has said unequivocally that he will approve the $235 million bond issue submitted by the governor. Other senators have indicated they won't approve borrowing without certain conditions. The issue had not been formally addressed as of that hour.
All lawmakers attended the session except Sen. Raymond "Usie" Richards, the minority leader, who is in Mexico with the V.I. Senior Men's Basketball team competing in the 2003 Centro Basketball Tournament. Richards is president of the V.I. Basketball Federation.
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.
According to Senate projections, a property tax amendment which will allow the territory to send out about $45 million in bills, and a transitional "environmental user fee" – instead of a tax, as proposed by the governor – will bring in $8 million before October.
Senate President David Jones said work will be ongoing – "the jury is still out" – to deal with the larger $152 million annual deficit currently predicted by the administration.
Wednesday's deliberations, which began at 9 a.m. and were still going on at 10 p.m., were punctuated by long recesses and seemingly incessant verbal sparring. None of the senators agreed on all of the measures in each bill, and each made a point of saying so. However, they conceded that only by compromise could they arrive at anything.
None of the minority amendments offered in Tuesday's session were approved. However, several initiatives from the minority's revenue-generating suggestions submitted to the governor earlier have been incorporated into the Senate's overall fiscal recovery plan, including a prepaid parking system, real estate stamp-tax increases, increased marriage license fees and a tire tax.
Sen. Carlton Dowe was still smarting Wednesday from the failure of an amendment he offered Tuesday to fund elementary school summer repairs. He proposed appropriating $623,000 to the Education Department from dividends paid to the Public Finance Authority by The West Indian Co. – $500,000 to expand the cafeteria/auditorium and install central air-conditioning at Ulla Muller School and $123,000 to renovate bathrooms, provide disabled access and build a new classroom at Joseph Sibilly School.
Dowe said on Wednesday that he couldn't support the majority's proposed 14 percent overall budget reduction, saying it would "send people home."
Sen. Lorraine Berry said she was "amazed" at Dowe's statement. She reminded Dowe that he signed the minority's cost-reduction proposals, also submitted to the governor earlier. That proposal, she said, included rolling back salary increases given to non-unionized and exempt government employees and suggested the immediate furlough all individuals hired to fill exempt and non-classified positions since Nov. 1, 2002.
Berry said the governor already has cut the executive branch budget by $45 million. All the Senate is doing is adding another $9 million and a cut to all unnecessary operating expenses, she said. The Senate is estimating a savings of $22 million by the end of FY 2003 on Sept. 30.
"There is no senator who agrees with all these measures," Berry said. "We have to develop an austerity budget in FY 2004. We have to start in FY 2003 so there will be a fixed ceiling in 2004."
Tax decisions as damage control
She continued: "Some issue are more important to some than others. We have removed the gross receipts, hotel taxes, excise tax on foodstuffs and others we felt were more damaging to the overall economy." Her reference was to items among those proposed by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in the six fiscal recovery bills he sent to the Legislature.
"We have set up fees and other policies," Berry said. "We have put back a hiring freeze. We can't compromise with the attrition program; we put it back with certain exemptions in specific departments including Human Services, firefighters, Education and Police."
She said the increase in marriage license fees from $25 to $50 will be lucrative: "There is a large wedding industry here in the V.I., not local people. We can generate an estimated $54,000 in the balance of the fourth quarter."
Although Jones had insisted that he would not tolerate non-germane issues, senators nonetheless worked in pet grievances and unrelated amendments. The chamber timekeeper had her hands full as the lawmakers worked their allotted time to the last possible second, giving one minute or 20 seconds to a colleague as suited their whims, and stretching the afternoon immeasurably.
A radical call for total recall
One senator at one point called for kicking out all government officials, himself presumably included, and starting anew. Another expressed deep misgivings about the decorum, or lack of it, as the session wore on.
Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, who on Tuesday had motioned to reduce senators' salaries by 10 percent, left that notion in the dust Wednesday as he suggested getting rid of the entire government. He was incensed by the marriage licence fee increase and a $1,000 fine for not using seat belts, calling the measures "an attack on the family."
"I suggest we issue a recall of every elected official in this territory and get back to scratch," Baptiste. "Get a new governor and a new lieutenant governor and nine new senators, and put new people in charge." He charged, with regard to the fiscal crisis, that government officials knew what was coming when Banc of America "warned you." There was no way officials "didn't see it coming – no way, Jose," he said.
Jones thanked Baptiste for his "enlightening discourse."
Sen. Louis Hill said at one point: "I've been sitting here listening to the level of debate, and I wonder if a video camera was recording this day for the people who elected us to this august body what our actions would be – and how they would feel about how we express ourselves."
He continued: "I am extremely disappointed with this evening, and I would think we would respect this office more than we have this afternoon. People talk about reducing our salaries to $25,000 or reducing our numbers, and we give them every reason to think that about us by the level of debate and our behavior on this floor."
Hill noted that he had not "seen anyone make a resolution to reduce his (or her) salaries. I haven't seen anyone step up and say 'I want to reduce my salary.' I want to say that I should reduce my salary by $5,000, and it should be given to the Junior Statesmen by the end of the year." Although the freshman senator did not mention it, he took a pay cut to become a member of the 25th Legislature – from $80,000 as St. Thomas-Water Island administrator to $65,000 as senator.
There was quiet after Hill's statement, but it didn't last long. Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. stepped up to interpret Hill's action as reaction to legislation proposed by Baptiste which had just passed – to exempt new St. Croix businesses from business license fees. White and Sen. Roosevelt David had voted against the measure because St. Thomas businesses weren't included.
"Hill is against us because we said that's not fair," White said. "He needs to get mad at the majority and not us."
Jones finally brought some order to the chamber, which had been growing ever more raucous, with one senator overcome by a fit of giggles that almost prevented him utilizing his comment time.
A tax by another name may be more palatable
In the morning, the Senate passed the bill which seemed likely to create the best of all possible worlds. It creates an "environmental infrastructure users fee" which will protect the environment while bringing money into the government coffers.
The measure was proposed by the governor as a tax. Now renamed a "user fee," it still will consist of an assessment of 2 cents per pound imposed on all items produced in or brought into the territory for business purposes. It would exempt equipment imported on a lease basis for a period of not more than 180 days. Also exempted are molasses for rum production and agriculture uses, animal feeds and fertilizers, c ertain construction items, and articles disposed of in the course of trade by exporters and V.I. manufacturers selling items to off-island purchasers.
"Our environment is deteriorating — our waters, our coral reefs, our health," Jones said. "So, by imposing a user fee to pay for environmental infrastructure, it is fair. It cuts across the board. When people see it is for a specific purpose, they won't have many qualms with it."
Hill noted the number of trailers that are transported on a daily basis to St. John for construction projects. "There are multimillion-dollar projects," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of dollars coming in tax free. The government is not collecting a single dime, because they are exempt."
Legal counsel Yvonne Tharpes put some senators' concerns at rest, assuring them the user fee will not affect Hovensa. The governor had proposed a separate environmental tax of 20 cents a barrel on crude oil imported by the refinery – an idea many rejected as illegal.
As of 10 p.m., the Senate had yet to dispose of four other bills on its agenda. The senators had been hedging throughout the day on whether they would approve any further government borrowing. David has said unequivocally that he will approve the $235 million bond issue submitted by the governor. Other senators have indicated they won't approve borrowing without certain conditions. The issue had not been formally addressed as of that hour.
All lawmakers attended the session except Sen. Raymond "Usie" Richards, the minority leader, who is in Mexico with the V.I. Senior Men's Basketball team competing in the 2003 Centro Basketball Tournament. Richards is president of the V.I. Basketball Federation.
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 OKS BUSINESS 'USER FEE' OF 2 CENTS A POUND
June 18, 2003 – In the second day of its full session Wednesday, the Senate got down to the nitty gritty, coming up with measures intended to reduce, if not bridge, the gap between revenues and expenditures for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2003.
According to Senate projections, a property tax amendment which will allow the territory to send out about $45 million in bills, and a transitional "environmental user fee" – instead of a tax, as proposed by the governor – will bring in $8 million before October.
Senate President David Jones said work will be ongoing – "the jury is still out" – to deal with the larger $152 million annual deficit currently predicted by the administration.
Wednesday's deliberations, which began at 9 a.m. and were still going on at 10 p.m., were punctuated by long recesses and seemingly incessant verbal sparring. None of the senators agreed on all of the measures in each bill, and each made a point of saying so. However, they conceded that only by compromise could they arrive at anything.
None of the minority amendments offered in Tuesday's session were approved. However, several initiatives from the minority's revenue-generating suggestions submitted to the governor earlier have been incorporated into the Senate's overall fiscal recovery plan, including a prepaid parking system, real estate stamp-tax increases, increased marriage license fees and a tire tax.
Sen. Carlton Dowe was still smarting Wednesday from the failure of an amendment he offered Tuesday to fund elementary school summer repairs. He proposed appropriating $623,000 to the Education Department from dividends paid to the Public Finance Authority by The West Indian Co. – $500,000 to expand the cafeteria/auditorium and install central air-conditioning at Ulla Muller School and $123,000 to renovate bathrooms, provide disabled access and build a new classroom at Joseph Sibilly School.
Dowe said on Wednesday that he couldn't support the majority's proposed 14 percent overall budget reduction, saying it would "send people home."
Sen. Lorraine Berry said she was "amazed" at Dowe's statement. She reminded Dowe that he signed the minority's cost-reduction proposals, also submitted to the governor earlier. That proposal, she said, included rolling back salary increases given to non-unionized and exempt government employees and suggested the immediate furlough all individuals hired to fill exempt and non-classified positions since Nov. 1, 2002.
Berry said the governor already has cut the executive branch budget by $45 million. All the Senate is doing is adding another $9 million and a cut to all unnecessary operating expenses, she said. The Senate is estimating a savings of $22 million by the end of FY 2003 on Sept. 30.
"There is no senator who agrees with all these measures," Berry said. "We have to develop an austerity budget in FY 2004. We have to start in FY 2003 so there will be a fixed ceiling in 2004."
Tax decisions as damage control
She continued: "Some issue are more important to some than others. We have removed the gross receipts, hotel taxes, excise tax on foodstuffs and others we felt were more damaging to the overall economy." Her reference was to items among those proposed by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in the six fiscal recovery bills he sent to the Legislature.
"We have set up fees and other policies," Berry said. "We have put back a hiring freeze. We can't compromise with the attrition program; we put it back with certain exemptions in specific departments including Human Services, firefighters, Education and Police."
She said the increase in marriage license fees from $25 to $50 will be lucrative: "There is a large wedding industry here in the V.I., not local people. We can generate an estimated $54,000 in the balance of the fourth quarter."
Although Jones had insisted that he would not tolerate non-germane issues, senators nonetheless worked in pet grievances and unrelated amendments. The chamber timekeeper had her hands full as the lawmakers worked their allotted time to the last possible second, giving one minute or 20 seconds to a colleague as suited their whims, and stretching the afternoon immeasurably.
A radical call for total recall
One senator at one point called for kicking out all government officials, himself presumably included, and starting anew. Another expressed deep misgivings about the decorum, or lack of it, as the session wore on.
Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, who on Tuesday had motioned to reduce senators' salaries by 10 percent, left that notion in the dust Wednesday as he suggested getting rid of the entire government. He was incensed by the marriage licence fee increase and a $1,000 fine for not using seat belts, calling the measures "an attack on the family."
"I suggest we issue a recall of every elected official in this territory and get back to scratch," Baptiste. "Get a new governor and a new lieutenant governor and nine new senators, and put new people in charge." He charged, with regard to the fiscal crisis, that government officials knew what was coming when Banc of America "warned you." There was no way officials "didn't see it coming – no way, Jose," he said.
Jones thanked Baptiste for his "enlightening discourse."
Sen. Louis Hill said at one point: "I've been sitting here listening to the level of debate, and I wonder if a video camera was recording this day for the people who elected us to this august body what our actions would be – and how they would feel about how we express ourselves."
He continued: "I am extremely disappointed with this evening, and I would think we would respect this office more than we have this afternoon. People talk about reducing our salaries to $25,000 or reducing our numbers, and we give them every reason to think that about us by the level of debate and our behavior on this floor."
Hill noted that he had not "seen anyone make a resolution to reduce his (or her) salaries. I haven't seen anyone step up and say 'I want to reduce my salary.' I want to say that I should reduce my salary by $5,000, and it should be given to the Junior Statesmen by the end of the year." Although the freshman senator did not mention it, he took a pay cut to become a member of the 25th Legislature – from $80,000 as St. Thomas-Water Island administrator to $65,000 as senator.
There was quiet after Hill's statement, but it didn't last long. Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. stepped up to interpret Hill's action as reaction to legislation proposed by Baptiste which had just passed – to exempt new St. Croix businesses from business license fees. White and Sen. Roosevelt David had voted against the measure because St. Thomas businesses weren't included.
"Hill is against us because we said that's not fair," White said. "He needs to get mad at the majority and not us."
Jones finally brought some order to the chamber, which had been growing ever more raucous, with one senator overcome by a fit of giggles that almost prevented him utilizing his comment time.
A tax by another name may be more palatable
In the morning, the Senate passed the bill which seemed likely to create the best of all possible worlds. It creates an "environmental infrastructure users fee" which will protect the environment while bringing money into the government coffers.
The measure was proposed by the governor as a tax. Now renamed a "user fee," it still will consist of an assessment of 2 cents per pound imposed on all items produced in or brought into the territory for business purposes. It would exempt equipment imported on a lease basis for a period of not more than 180 days. Also exempted are molasses for rum production and agriculture uses, animal feeds and ferti lizers, certain construction items, and articles disposed of in the course of trade by exporters and V.I. manufacturers selling items to off-island purchasers.
"Our environment is deteriorating — our waters, our coral reefs, our health," Jones said. "So, by imposing a user fee to pay for environmental infrastructure, it is fair. It cuts across the board. When people see it is for a specific purpose, they won't have many qualms with it."
Hill noted the number of trailers that are transported on a daily basis to St. John for construction projects. "There are multimillion-dollar projects," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of dollars coming in tax free. The government is not collecting a single dime, because they are exempt."
Legal counsel Yvonne Tharpes put some senators' concerns at rest, assuring them the user fee will not affect Hovensa. The governor had proposed a separate environmental tax of 20 cents a barrel on crude oil imported by the refinery – an idea many rejected as illegal.
As of 10 p.m., the Senate had yet to dispose of four other bills on its agenda. The senators had been hedging throughout the day on whether they would approve any further government borrowing. David has said unequivocally that he will approve the $235 million bond issue submitted by the governor. Other senators have indicated they won't approve borrowing without certain conditions. The issue had not been formally addressed as of that hour.
All lawmakers attended the session except Sen. Raymond "Usie" Richards, the minority leader, who is in Mexico with the V.I. Senior Men's Basketball team competing in the 2003 Centro Basketball Tournament. Richards is president of the V.I. Basketball Federation.
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.
According to Senate projections, a property tax amendment which will allow the territory to send out about $45 million in bills, and a transitional "environmental user fee" – instead of a tax, as proposed by the governor – will bring in $8 million before October.
Senate President David Jones said work will be ongoing – "the jury is still out" – to deal with the larger $152 million annual deficit currently predicted by the administration.
Wednesday's deliberations, which began at 9 a.m. and were still going on at 10 p.m., were punctuated by long recesses and seemingly incessant verbal sparring. None of the senators agreed on all of the measures in each bill, and each made a point of saying so. However, they conceded that only by compromise could they arrive at anything.
None of the minority amendments offered in Tuesday's session were approved. However, several initiatives from the minority's revenue-generating suggestions submitted to the governor earlier have been incorporated into the Senate's overall fiscal recovery plan, including a prepaid parking system, real estate stamp-tax increases, increased marriage license fees and a tire tax.
Sen. Carlton Dowe was still smarting Wednesday from the failure of an amendment he offered Tuesday to fund elementary school summer repairs. He proposed appropriating $623,000 to the Education Department from dividends paid to the Public Finance Authority by The West Indian Co. – $500,000 to expand the cafeteria/auditorium and install central air-conditioning at Ulla Muller School and $123,000 to renovate bathrooms, provide disabled access and build a new classroom at Joseph Sibilly School.
Dowe said on Wednesday that he couldn't support the majority's proposed 14 percent overall budget reduction, saying it would "send people home."
Sen. Lorraine Berry said she was "amazed" at Dowe's statement. She reminded Dowe that he signed the minority's cost-reduction proposals, also submitted to the governor earlier. That proposal, she said, included rolling back salary increases given to non-unionized and exempt government employees and suggested the immediate furlough all individuals hired to fill exempt and non-classified positions since Nov. 1, 2002.
Berry said the governor already has cut the executive branch budget by $45 million. All the Senate is doing is adding another $9 million and a cut to all unnecessary operating expenses, she said. The Senate is estimating a savings of $22 million by the end of FY 2003 on Sept. 30.
"There is no senator who agrees with all these measures," Berry said. "We have to develop an austerity budget in FY 2004. We have to start in FY 2003 so there will be a fixed ceiling in 2004."
Tax decisions as damage control
She continued: "Some issue are more important to some than others. We have removed the gross receipts, hotel taxes, excise tax on foodstuffs and others we felt were more damaging to the overall economy." Her reference was to items among those proposed by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in the six fiscal recovery bills he sent to the Legislature.
"We have set up fees and other policies," Berry said. "We have put back a hiring freeze. We can't compromise with the attrition program; we put it back with certain exemptions in specific departments including Human Services, firefighters, Education and Police."
She said the increase in marriage license fees from $25 to $50 will be lucrative: "There is a large wedding industry here in the V.I., not local people. We can generate an estimated $54,000 in the balance of the fourth quarter."
Although Jones had insisted that he would not tolerate non-germane issues, senators nonetheless worked in pet grievances and unrelated amendments. The chamber timekeeper had her hands full as the lawmakers worked their allotted time to the last possible second, giving one minute or 20 seconds to a colleague as suited their whims, and stretching the afternoon immeasurably.
A radical call for total recall
One senator at one point called for kicking out all government officials, himself presumably included, and starting anew. Another expressed deep misgivings about the decorum, or lack of it, as the session wore on.
Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, who on Tuesday had motioned to reduce senators' salaries by 10 percent, left that notion in the dust Wednesday as he suggested getting rid of the entire government. He was incensed by the marriage licence fee increase and a $1,000 fine for not using seat belts, calling the measures "an attack on the family."
"I suggest we issue a recall of every elected official in this territory and get back to scratch," Baptiste. "Get a new governor and a new lieutenant governor and nine new senators, and put new people in charge." He charged, with regard to the fiscal crisis, that government officials knew what was coming when Banc of America "warned you." There was no way officials "didn't see it coming – no way, Jose," he said.
Jones thanked Baptiste for his "enlightening discourse."
Sen. Louis Hill said at one point: "I've been sitting here listening to the level of debate, and I wonder if a video camera was recording this day for the people who elected us to this august body what our actions would be – and how they would feel about how we express ourselves."
He continued: "I am extremely disappointed with this evening, and I would think we would respect this office more than we have this afternoon. People talk about reducing our salaries to $25,000 or reducing our numbers, and we give them every reason to think that about us by the level of debate and our behavior on this floor."
Hill noted that he had not "seen anyone make a resolution to reduce his (or her) salaries. I haven't seen anyone step up and say 'I want to reduce my salary.' I want to say that I should reduce my salary by $5,000, and it should be given to the Junior Statesmen by the end of the year." Although the freshman senator did not mention it, he took a pay cut to become a member of the 25th Legislature – from $80,000 as St. Thomas-Water Island administrator to $65,000 as senator.
There was quiet after Hill's statement, but it didn't last long. Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. stepped up to interpret Hill's action as reaction to legislation proposed by Baptiste which had just passed – to exempt new St. Croix businesses from business license fees. White and Sen. Roosevelt David had voted against the measure because St. Thomas businesses weren't included.
"Hill is against us because we said that's not fair," White said. "He needs to get mad at the majority and not us."
Jones finally brought some order to the chamber, which had been growing ever more raucous, with one senator overcome by a fit of giggles that almost prevented him utilizing his comment time.
A tax by another name may be more palatable
In the morning, the Senate passed the bill which seemed likely to create the best of all possible worlds. It creates an "environmental infrastructure users fee" which will protect the environment while bringing money into the government coffers.
The measure was proposed by the governor as a tax. Now renamed a "user fee," it still will consist of an assessment of 2 cents per pound imposed on all items produced in or brought into the territory for business purposes. It would exempt equipment imported on a lease basis for a period of not more than 180 days. Also exempted are molasses for rum production and agriculture uses, animal feeds and ferti lizers, certain construction items, and articles disposed of in the course of trade by exporters and V.I. manufacturers selling items to off-island purchasers.
"Our environment is deteriorating — our waters, our coral reefs, our health," Jones said. "So, by imposing a user fee to pay for environmental infrastructure, it is fair. It cuts across the board. When people see it is for a specific purpose, they won't have many qualms with it."
Hill noted the number of trailers that are transported on a daily basis to St. John for construction projects. "There are multimillion-dollar projects," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of dollars coming in tax free. The government is not collecting a single dime, because they are exempt."
Legal counsel Yvonne Tharpes put some senators' concerns at rest, assuring them the user fee will not affect Hovensa. The governor had proposed a separate environmental tax of 20 cents a barrel on crude oil imported by the refinery – an idea many rejected as illegal.
As of 10 p.m., the Senate had yet to dispose of four other bills on its agenda. The senators had been hedging throughout the day on whether they would approve any further government borrowing. David has said unequivocally that he will approve the $235 million bond issue submitted by the governor. Other senators have indicated they won't approve borrowing without certain conditions. The issue had not been formally addressed as of that hour.
All lawmakers attended the session except Sen. Raymond "Usie" Richards, the minority leader, who is in Mexico with the V.I. Senior Men's Basketball team competing in the 2003 Centro Basketball Tournament. Richards is president of the V.I. Basketball Federation.
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.
EPIPHANY THEATER PRESENTING 'THE SHADOW BOX'
June 18, 2003 – St. John's Epiphany Theater Company opens its summer production, "The Shadow Box," on Thursday at a new venue – Pine Peace School.
The award-winning drama interweaving the lives of three terminally ill patients and their loved ones will be performed through Sunday and then again on the following Thursday through Sunday, June 26-29.
Playwright Michael Cristofer received both the Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Tony Award for best play in 1997. The adult drama has been hailed by critics for its insight, perceptiveness and humor in dealing with controversial themes.
Emotions run the gamut – denial, anger, confrontation, resentment, remorse and reminiscence high among them. But above all else, "this play is about hope," Frank Bartolucci, who's directing the production, says.
"The Shadow Box" has three settings – three hospice cottages. In them, the three stories unfold, at first serially, and then toward the end of each of the play's two acts, simultaneously. In each, the person who is dying is surrounded by loved ones; all are trying to face and make sense of death.
Individually, Bartolucci says, the four patients must "travel through their own personal hell until they emerge out the other side into heaven. When they do, they no longer are characters we are watching but very purposefully break the fourth wall [the edge of the stage] and engage the audience, demanding that we don't live our dying but, rather, live our lives every moment, every day."
First there is Joe, a working-class husband and father who is open about his fate, saddened by what he has not accomplished. His wife, Maggie, is in classic denial, refusing even to enter his cottage; she has not told their teen-age child of Joe's condition.
Second is Brian, a former professor who is brutally forthright about his pending demise, seeking to free himself of emotions and experiences, so as "to not leave anything behind." His family is his intense younger lover, Mark. That is, until Brian's alcoholic and desperately unhappy ex-wife, Beverly, arrives to visit them.
Third is Felicity, a blind, crippled, sometimes confused and cantankerous old lady. Hers has been a colorful life, but she is acutely aware of her own decline and decay. With her is her long-suffering, dutiful daughter, Agnes. Absent in body but very much in their emotional midst is Felicity's other, long-absent daughter, Clare, for whom she yearns.
The other key character of the play is the offstage "interviewer" whose disembodied voice intrudes periodically as the play progresses, eliciting insights into the other characters through questioning.
Reviewers point out the not-quite double entendre of the title: A shadow box is a container for display purposes, opaque on the back and sides with clear glass at the front – not unlike a theater stage, and not unlike the three cottages as the audience views them. But "shadow boxing" is an exercise in discipline with an imaginary opponent.
According to publicity from Epiphany, the brilliance of Cristofer's work and its success at dealing with such subject matter is that "it draws no moral conclusions," but "only offers various perspectives for the audience to ponder without compromising the serious side of terminal illness."
The cast has Tim Jackson as Joe, Ruthellen Mulberg as Maggie, Erin Squibb as Stephanie, Mark Corbeil as Brian, Jason Bartlette as Mark, Liza Mostsinsker as Beverly, Carole DeSenne as Felicity, Cynthia Smith as Agnes, Paul Devine as the interviewer.
The not-for-profit Epiphany Theater Company, now in its fourth season, has previously presented "Bus Stop," "The Tender Trap," "Picnic," "The Fantasticks" and, as a fund-raiser, "Feiffer's People." Most of them were staged at The Marketplace. The company "encourages members of the entire St. John community to participate at all levels of creative expression through the theater arts," a release states.
For more information, call DeSenne at 643-4838.
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.
The award-winning drama interweaving the lives of three terminally ill patients and their loved ones will be performed through Sunday and then again on the following Thursday through Sunday, June 26-29.
Playwright Michael Cristofer received both the Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Tony Award for best play in 1997. The adult drama has been hailed by critics for its insight, perceptiveness and humor in dealing with controversial themes.
Emotions run the gamut – denial, anger, confrontation, resentment, remorse and reminiscence high among them. But above all else, "this play is about hope," Frank Bartolucci, who's directing the production, says.
"The Shadow Box" has three settings – three hospice cottages. In them, the three stories unfold, at first serially, and then toward the end of each of the play's two acts, simultaneously. In each, the person who is dying is surrounded by loved ones; all are trying to face and make sense of death.
Individually, Bartolucci says, the four patients must "travel through their own personal hell until they emerge out the other side into heaven. When they do, they no longer are characters we are watching but very purposefully break the fourth wall [the edge of the stage] and engage the audience, demanding that we don't live our dying but, rather, live our lives every moment, every day."
First there is Joe, a working-class husband and father who is open about his fate, saddened by what he has not accomplished. His wife, Maggie, is in classic denial, refusing even to enter his cottage; she has not told their teen-age child of Joe's condition.
Second is Brian, a former professor who is brutally forthright about his pending demise, seeking to free himself of emotions and experiences, so as "to not leave anything behind." His family is his intense younger lover, Mark. That is, until Brian's alcoholic and desperately unhappy ex-wife, Beverly, arrives to visit them.
Third is Felicity, a blind, crippled, sometimes confused and cantankerous old lady. Hers has been a colorful life, but she is acutely aware of her own decline and decay. With her is her long-suffering, dutiful daughter, Agnes. Absent in body but very much in their emotional midst is Felicity's other, long-absent daughter, Clare, for whom she yearns.
The other key character of the play is the offstage "interviewer" whose disembodied voice intrudes periodically as the play progresses, eliciting insights into the other characters through questioning.
Reviewers point out the not-quite double entendre of the title: A shadow box is a container for display purposes, opaque on the back and sides with clear glass at the front – not unlike a theater stage, and not unlike the three cottages as the audience views them. But "shadow boxing" is an exercise in discipline with an imaginary opponent.
According to publicity from Epiphany, the brilliance of Cristofer's work and its success at dealing with such subject matter is that "it draws no moral conclusions," but "only offers various perspectives for the audience to ponder without compromising the serious side of terminal illness."
The cast has Tim Jackson as Joe, Ruthellen Mulberg as Maggie, Erin Squibb as Stephanie, Mark Corbeil as Brian, Jason Bartlette as Mark, Liza Mostsinsker as Beverly, Carole DeSenne as Felicity, Cynthia Smith as Agnes, Paul Devine as the interviewer.
The not-for-profit Epiphany Theater Company, now in its fourth season, has previously presented "Bus Stop," "The Tender Trap," "Picnic," "The Fantasticks" and, as a fund-raiser, "Feiffer's People." Most of them were staged at The Marketplace. The company "encourages members of the entire St. John community to participate at all levels of creative expression through the theater arts," a release states.
For more information, call DeSenne at 643-4838.
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.
EPIPHANY THEATER PRESENTING 'THE SHADOW BOX'
June 18, 2003 – St. John's Epiphany Theater Company opens its summer production, "The Shadow Box," on Thursday at a new venue – Pine Peace School.
The award-winning drama interweaving the lives of three terminally ill patients and their loved ones will be performed through Sunday and then again on the following Thursday through Sunday, June 26-29.
Playwright Michael Cristofer received both the Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Tony Award for best play in 1997. The adult drama has been hailed by critics for its insight, perceptiveness and humor in dealing with controversial themes.
Emotions run the gamut – denial, anger, confrontation, resentment, remorse and reminiscence high among them. But above all else, "this play is about hope," Frank Bartolucci, who's directing the production, says.
"The Shadow Box" has three settings – three hospice cottages. In them, the three stories unfold, at first serially, and then toward the end of each of the play's two acts, simultaneously. In each, the person who is dying is surrounded by loved ones; all are trying to face and make sense of death.
Individually, Bartolucci says, the four patients must "travel through their own personal hell until they emerge out the other side into heaven. When they do, they no longer are characters we are watching but very purposefully break the fourth wall [the edge of the stage] and engage the audience, demanding that we don't live our dying but, rather, live our lives every moment, every day."
First there is Joe, a working-class husband and father who is open about his fate, saddened by what he has not accomplished. His wife, Maggie, is in classic denial, refusing even to enter his cottage; she has not told their teen-age child of Joe's condition.
Second is Brian, a former professor who is brutally forthright about his pending demise, seeking to free himself of emotions and experiences, so as "to not leave anything behind." His family is his intense younger lover, Mark. That is, until Brian's alcoholic and desperately unhappy ex-wife, Beverly, arrives to visit them.
Third is Felicity, a blind, crippled, sometimes confused and cantankerous old lady. Hers has been a colorful life, but she is acutely aware of her own decline and decay. With her is her long-suffering, dutiful daughter, Agnes. Absent in body but very much in their emotional midst is Felicity's other, long-absent daughter, Clare, for whom she yearns.
The other key character of the play is the offstage "interviewer" whose disembodied voice intrudes periodically as the play progresses, eliciting insights into the other characters through questioning.
Reviewers point out the not-quite double entendre of the title: A shadow box is a container for display purposes, opaque on the back and sides with clear glass at the front – not unlike a theater stage, and not unlike the three cottages as the audience views them. But "shadow boxing" is an exercise in discipline with an imaginary opponent.
According to publicity from Epiphany, the brilliance of Cristofer's work and its success at dealing with such subject matter is that "it draws no moral conclusions," but "only offers various perspectives for the audience to ponder without compromising the serious side of terminal illness."
The cast has Tim Jackson as Joe, Ruthellen Mulberg as Maggie, Erin Squibb as Stephanie, Mark Corbeil as Brian, Jason Bartlette as Mark, Liza Mostsinsker as Beverly, Carole DeSenne as Felicity, Cynthia Smith as Agnes, Paul Devine as the interviewer.
The not-for-profit Epiphany Theater Company, now in its fourth season, has previously presented "Bus Stop," "The Tender Trap," "Picnic," "The Fantasticks" and, as a fund-raiser, "Feiffer's People." Most of them were staged at The Marketplace. The company "encourages members of the entire St. John community to participate at all levels of creative expression through the theater arts," a release states.
For more information, call DeSenne at 643-4838.
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 award-winning drama interweaving the lives of three terminally ill patients and their loved ones will be performed through Sunday and then again on the following Thursday through Sunday, June 26-29.
Playwright Michael Cristofer received both the Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Tony Award for best play in 1997. The adult drama has been hailed by critics for its insight, perceptiveness and humor in dealing with controversial themes.
Emotions run the gamut – denial, anger, confrontation, resentment, remorse and reminiscence high among them. But above all else, "this play is about hope," Frank Bartolucci, who's directing the production, says.
"The Shadow Box" has three settings – three hospice cottages. In them, the three stories unfold, at first serially, and then toward the end of each of the play's two acts, simultaneously. In each, the person who is dying is surrounded by loved ones; all are trying to face and make sense of death.
Individually, Bartolucci says, the four patients must "travel through their own personal hell until they emerge out the other side into heaven. When they do, they no longer are characters we are watching but very purposefully break the fourth wall [the edge of the stage] and engage the audience, demanding that we don't live our dying but, rather, live our lives every moment, every day."
First there is Joe, a working-class husband and father who is open about his fate, saddened by what he has not accomplished. His wife, Maggie, is in classic denial, refusing even to enter his cottage; she has not told their teen-age child of Joe's condition.
Second is Brian, a former professor who is brutally forthright about his pending demise, seeking to free himself of emotions and experiences, so as "to not leave anything behind." His family is his intense younger lover, Mark. That is, until Brian's alcoholic and desperately unhappy ex-wife, Beverly, arrives to visit them.
Third is Felicity, a blind, crippled, sometimes confused and cantankerous old lady. Hers has been a colorful life, but she is acutely aware of her own decline and decay. With her is her long-suffering, dutiful daughter, Agnes. Absent in body but very much in their emotional midst is Felicity's other, long-absent daughter, Clare, for whom she yearns.
The other key character of the play is the offstage "interviewer" whose disembodied voice intrudes periodically as the play progresses, eliciting insights into the other characters through questioning.
Reviewers point out the not-quite double entendre of the title: A shadow box is a container for display purposes, opaque on the back and sides with clear glass at the front – not unlike a theater stage, and not unlike the three cottages as the audience views them. But "shadow boxing" is an exercise in discipline with an imaginary opponent.
According to publicity from Epiphany, the brilliance of Cristofer's work and its success at dealing with such subject matter is that "it draws no moral conclusions," but "only offers various perspectives for the audience to ponder without compromising the serious side of terminal illness."
The cast has Tim Jackson as Joe, Ruthellen Mulberg as Maggie, Erin Squibb as Stephanie, Mark Corbeil as Brian, Jason Bartlette as Mark, Liza Mostsinsker as Beverly, Carole DeSenne as Felicity, Cynthia Smith as Agnes, Paul Devine as the interviewer.
The not-for-profit Epiphany Theater Company, now in its fourth season, has previously presented "Bus Stop," "The Tender Trap," "Picnic," "The Fantasticks" and, as a fund-raiser, "Feiffer's People." Most of them were staged at The Marketplace. The company "encourages members of the entire St. John community to participate at all levels of creative expression through the theater arts," a release states.
For more information, call DeSenne at 643-4838.
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.
ARMY TO ACT ON 2 BOARDWALK PERMITS SEPARATELY
June 18, 2003 – The U.S. Army has agreed to a request from Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards that it evaluate two permit applications separately for construction of the second phase of the Christiansted boardwalk, according to a release.
Edwin Muniz, chief of the Army's Antilles Regulatory Section, acceded to the request for separate evaluation of the proposals for completion of Phase II (a) and Phase II (b) of the walkway, Richards said in the release.
Richards said Muniz concurred with him "that the project has languished on the drawing board for 15 long years and that it is now time to move forward." Further, he said, Muniz also "agreed, by his quick and positive response, that it is an immediate economic stimulus priority that will assist in jump-starting the floundering economy on St. Croix."
According to Richards, the entire St. Croix community "will benefit greatly from the employment opportunities and from the revitalization of the surrounding area."
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.
Edwin Muniz, chief of the Army's Antilles Regulatory Section, acceded to the request for separate evaluation of the proposals for completion of Phase II (a) and Phase II (b) of the walkway, Richards said in the release.
Richards said Muniz concurred with him "that the project has languished on the drawing board for 15 long years and that it is now time to move forward." Further, he said, Muniz also "agreed, by his quick and positive response, that it is an immediate economic stimulus priority that will assist in jump-starting the floundering economy on St. Croix."
According to Richards, the entire St. Croix community "will benefit greatly from the employment opportunities and from the revitalization of the surrounding area."
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.
LOTTERY DRAWING POSTPONED DUE TO POOR SALES
June 18, 2003 – Citing insufficient ticket sales, the V.I. Lottery has rescheduled its Thursday extraordinary drawing to July 10. The drawing carries a $1.1 million grand prize.
"Our ticket sales are down, and we have not generated enough sales to take care of the drawing," Paul Flemming, Lottery acting executive director, said on Wednesday.
Flemming was named to his acting position after the governor fired former executive director Austin Andrews last month amid charges of mismanagement. The V.I. Lottery reportedly owes the V.I. government $4 million.
Flemming said he believes the V.I. Lottery Office should generate sufficient sales by the rescheduled date. Tickets will be sold up to the day before the drawing.
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.
"Our ticket sales are down, and we have not generated enough sales to take care of the drawing," Paul Flemming, Lottery acting executive director, said on Wednesday.
Flemming was named to his acting position after the governor fired former executive director Austin Andrews last month amid charges of mismanagement. The V.I. Lottery reportedly owes the V.I. government $4 million.
Flemming said he believes the V.I. Lottery Office should generate sufficient sales by the rescheduled date. Tickets will be sold up to the day before the drawing.
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.
LOTTERY DRAWING POSTPONED DUE TO POOR SALES
June 18, 2003 – Citing insufficient ticket sales, the V.I. Lottery has rescheduled its Thursday extraordinary drawing to July 10. The drawing carries a $1.1 million grand prize.
"Our ticket sales are down, and we have not generated enough sales to take care of the drawing," Paul Flemming, Lottery acting executive director, said on Wednesday.
Flemming was named to his acting position after the governor fired former executive director Austin Andrews last month amid charges of mismanagement. The V.I. Lottery reportedly owes the V.I. government $4 million.
Flemming said he believes the V.I. Lottery Office should generate sufficient sales by the rescheduled date. Tickets will be sold up to the day before the drawing.
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.
"Our ticket sales are down, and we have not generated enough sales to take care of the drawing," Paul Flemming, Lottery acting executive director, said on Wednesday.
Flemming was named to his acting position after the governor fired former executive director Austin Andrews last month amid charges of mismanagement. The V.I. Lottery reportedly owes the V.I. government $4 million.
Flemming said he believes the V.I. Lottery Office should generate sufficient sales by the rescheduled date. Tickets will be sold up to the day before the drawing.
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.
LOTTERY DRAWING POSTPONED DUE TO POOR SALES
June 18, 2003 – Citing insufficient ticket sales, the V.I. Lottery has rescheduled its Thursday extraordinary drawing to July 10. The drawing carries a $1.1 million grand prize.
"Our ticket sales are down, and we have not generated enough sales to take care of the drawing," Paul Flemming, Lottery acting executive director, said on Wednesday.
Flemming was named to his acting position after the governor fired former executive director Austin Andrews last month amid charges of mismanagement. The V.I. Lottery reportedly owes the V.I. government $4 million.
Flemming said he believes the V.I. Lottery Office should generate sufficient sales by the rescheduled date. Tickets will be sold up to the day before the drawing.
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.
"Our ticket sales are down, and we have not generated enough sales to take care of the drawing," Paul Flemming, Lottery acting executive director, said on Wednesday.
Flemming was named to his acting position after the governor fired former executive director Austin Andrews last month amid charges of mismanagement. The V.I. Lottery reportedly owes the V.I. government $4 million.
Flemming said he believes the V.I. Lottery Office should generate sufficient sales by the rescheduled date. Tickets will be sold up to the day before the drawing.
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.
