June 3, 2003 – Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg extended an open invitation to the public on Tuesday to attend Thursday's meeting of the Senate Finance Committee, which he chairs.
The meeting is to take up the six bills submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull late on the night of May 20 for consideration at a special session he called for May 22 to address the territory's fiscal crisis. At the end of the 11-hour special session, senators voted to refer all of the bills to the Finance Committee.
The proposals call for borrowing another $235 million, spending the money for projects including an $80 million hotel on St. Croix that the government would own, increasing key business taxes and imposing new ones.
Notable for the absence of measures to reduce government spending, the bills have generated strong opposition, especially from the private sector but also from a number of senators, including Donastorg, who commented at the May 22 session that administration officials were "stone crazy" if they thought he was going to sign off on the measures as proposed.
On Tuesday morning, a letter signed by all 15 senators gave the governor an ultimatum. Saying the Legislature "finds it difficult to incur more financial debt by borrowing money without a significant reduction in payroll costs," they called on Turnbull to rescind his November 2001 executive order that paved the way for nearly a thousand exempt and unclassified government employees to receive hefty pay raises a year ago when the governor was running for re-election.
"I know there are many concerned about the implications of these proposals," Donastorg said in a release issued on Tuesday. "I am certain that the business community, government workers and various other groups and individuals directly affected by this legislation will want to offer testimony. All are welcome to attend and take part."
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers on St. Thomas.
At a press conference held jointly by Senate majority and minority members Tuesday morning on St. Croix, Senate President David Jones said that whatever fiscal measures are approved by the Finance Committee on Thursday will be taken up by the full Senate in its regular session scheduled for Monday.
Donastorg's release said those wishing to testify on Thursday should advise his office in advance by calling 693-3517. He also can be contacted by e-mail to Foncie2002. The release also said that those intending to testify should appear with copies of their prepared statements to distribute to the committee members.
The other members of the committee are Sens. Norman Jn Baptiste, Roosevelt David, Louis Hill, Shawn-Michael Malone, Luther Renee and Ronald Russell.

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.

June 3, 2003 – Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg extended an open invitation to the public on Tuesday to attend Thursday's meeting of the Senate Finance Committee, which he chairs.
The meeting is to take up the six bills submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull late on the night of May 20 for consideration at a special session he called for May 22 to address the territory's fiscal crisis. At the end of the 11-hour special session, senators voted to refer all of the bills to the Finance Committee.
The proposals call for borrowing another $235 million, spending the money for projects including an $80 million hotel on St. Croix that the government would own, increasing key business taxes and imposing new ones.
Notable for the absence of measures to reduce government spending, the bills have generated strong opposition, especially from the private sector but also from a number of senators, including Donastorg, who commented at the May 22 session that administration officials were "stone crazy" if they thought he was going to sign off on the measures as proposed.
On Tuesday morning, a letter signed by all 15 senators gave the governor an ultimatum. Saying the Legislature "finds it difficult to incur more financial debt by borrowing money without a significant reduction in payroll costs," they called on Turnbull to rescind his November 2001 executive order that paved the way for nearly a thousand exempt and unclassified government employees to receive hefty pay raises a year ago when the governor was running for re-election.
"I know there are many concerned about the implications of these proposals," Donastorg said in a release issued on Tuesday. "I am certain that the business community, government workers and various other groups and individuals directly affected by this legislation will want to offer testimony. All are welcome to attend and take part."
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers on St. Thomas.
At a press conference held jointly by Senate majority and minority members Tuesday morning on St. Croix, Senate President David Jones said that whatever fiscal measures are approved by the Finance Committee on Thursday will be taken up by the full Senate in its regular session scheduled for Monday.
Donastorg's release said those wishing to testify on Thursday should advise his office in advance by calling 693-3517. He also can be contacted by e-mail to Foncie2002. The release also said that those intending to testify should appear with copies of their prepared statements to distribute to the committee members.
The other members of the committee are Sens. Norman Jn Baptiste, Roosevelt David, Louis Hill, Shawn-Michael Malone, Luther Renee and Ronald Russell.

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.

June 3, 2003 – Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg extended an open invitation to the public on Tuesday to attend Thursday's meeting of the Senate Finance Committee, which he chairs.
The meeting is to take up the six bills submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull late on the night of May 20 for consideration at a special session he called for May 22 to address the territory's fiscal crisis. At the end of the 11-hour special session, senators voted to refer all of the bills to the Finance Committee.
The proposals call for borrowing another $235 million, spending the money for projects including an $80 million hotel on St. Croix that the government would own, increasing key business taxes and imposing new ones.
Notable for the absence of measures to reduce government spending, the bills have generated strong opposition, especially from the private sector but also from a number of senators, including Donastorg, who commented at the May 22 session that administration officials were "stone crazy" if they thought he was going to sign off on the measures as proposed.
On Tuesday morning, a letter signed by all 15 senators gave the governor an ultimatum. Saying the Legislature "finds it difficult to incur more financial debt by borrowing money without a significant reduction in payroll costs," they called on Turnbull to rescind his November 2001 executive order that paved the way for nearly a thousand exempt and unclassified government employees to receive hefty pay raises a year ago when the governor was running for re-election.
"I know there are many concerned about the implications of these proposals," Donastorg said in a release issued on Tuesday. "I am certain that the business community, government workers and various other groups and individuals directly affected by this legislation will want to offer testimony. All are welcome to attend and take part."
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers on St. Thomas.
At a press conference held jointly by Senate majority and minority members Tuesday morning on St. Croix, Senate President David Jones said that whatever fiscal measures are approved by the Finance Committee on Thursday will be taken up by the full Senate in its regular session scheduled for Monday.
Donastorg's release said those wishing to testify on Thursday should advise his office in advance by calling 693-3517. He also can be contacted by e-mail to Foncie2002. The release also said that those intending to testify should appear with copies of their prepared statements to distribute to the committee members.
The other members of the committee are Sens. Norman Jn Baptiste, Roosevelt David, Louis Hill, Shawn-Michael Malone, Luther Renee and Ronald Russell.

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.

June 3, 2003 – Three students were wounded in violence that broke out in a crowd just outside the Charlotte Amalie High School grounds shortly after noon on Tuesday. Police sources said eight minors were detained initially and two of them were charged.
One student was stabbed in the back, another suffered injuries to the knees and the third had several fingers cut, police sources said. The student with the back wound was treated at nearby Roy L. Schneider Hospital.
According to police, a preliminary investigation determined that the stabbing incident and the skirmishes that followed were the result of an ongoing dispute between rival student groups. The situation had been brewing for days, one police source said.
The violence broke out in the area between the main entrance to the school and Barbel Plaza across the street. Police quickly converged on the scene, brought the crowd under control and diffused the situation, authorities said.
The two youths charged in connection with the violence were reported to have been released into the custody of their parents.

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 V.I. Women's Business Center is offering a course in "Working the 'Net for Profit, which will cover introduction, marketing, e-mail and Web site "Nuts and Bolts." It will be held at the Entrepreneur Center on St. Thomas from 6 to 8 p.m. June 24-27.
The registration fee is $10. For information call Joanna Samuel at 773-4995.

The V.I. Women's Business Center is offering a seminar on "Planning for Retirement for Business Owners" from noon to 2 p.m. June 12 at the Women's Business Center office.
Registration fee is $10. Call Joanna Samuel at 773-4995.

The V.I. Women's Business Center is offering a course in "Working the 'Net for Profit, which will cover introduction, marketing, e-mail and Web site "Nuts and Bolts." It will be held at the Women's Business Center office from 6 to 8 p.m. June 17-20.
Registration is $20. For information and to verify dates, call Joanna Samuel at 773-4995.

The V.I. Women's Business Center is offering seminar on "Planning for Retirement for Business Owners" from noon to 2 p.m. June 10 at the Chamber of Commerce Office.
Registration fee is $10. Call Joanna Samuel at 773-4995.

June 3, 2003 — The V.I. Women's Business Center – which offers business training, counseling, mentoring and networking opportunities – has several courses scheduled for June.
Coming right up is a seminar, "Planning for Retirement for Business Owners," which will cover budgeting, types of retirement planning, and the overall importance of early retirement. This course will be held on St. Thomas June 10 at the Chamber of Commerce office from noon to 2 p.m. The seminar will be held on St. Croix from noon to 2 p.m. June 12 at the Women's Business Center. Registration fee is $10.
A course in "Working the 'Net for Profit" will cover introduction to the Internet, marketing the Web site, using e-mail and Web Site "Nuts and Bolts." It will be held on St. Croix from 6 to 8 p.m. June 17 through June 20 at the Women's Business Center. The St. Thomas course, also from 6 to 8 p.m., will be held June 24 through June 27 at the Entrepreneur Center. Registration is $20.
For more information, to verify planned dates, or to register, call Joanna Samuel at 773-4995.

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.

June 3, 2003 — The V.I. Women's Business Center – which offers business training, counseling, mentoring and networking opportunities – has several courses scheduled for June.
Coming right up is a seminar, "Planning for Retirement for Business Owners," which will cover budgeting, types of retirement planning, and the overall importance of early retirement. This course will be held on St. Thomas June 10 at the Chamber of Commerce office from noon to 2 p.m. The seminar will be held on St. Croix from noon to 2 p.m. June 12 at the Women's Business Center. Registration fee is $10.
A course in "Working the 'Net for Profit" will cover introduction to the Internet, marketing the Web site, using e-mail and Web Site "Nuts and Bolts." It will be held on St. Croix from 6 to 8 p.m. June 17 through June 20 at the Women's Business Center. The St. Thomas course, also from 6 to 8 p.m., will be held June 24 through June 27 at the Entrepreneur Center. Registration is $20.
For more information, to verify planned dates, or to register, call Joanna Samuel at 773-4995.

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.