Editor's note: The Source newspapers will publish available information about Virgin Islanders on military duty in the Middle East and across the world.
Please e-mail information about yourself or any family member serving to source@viaccess.net. Provide the individual's full name, age, rank, service branch or organization, home island, immediate family members in the Virgin Islands, brief description of education and training, and, if possible, a description of where the person is based or has been deployed. We welcome photos.
Army Captain Helen Thomas / St. Croix
May 30, 2003 — Army Captain Helen A. Thomas, FC Commanding, reports by e-mail that she is presently serving in the U.S. Army in Korea. She has been in the Army for 13 1/2 years, and plans to retire. With a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's in human resource development, she serves as an officer in Finance.
Thomas, born in Christiansted and a 1984 graduate of Central High School, is the daughter of Edmund Lake of Campo Rico and the late Ireta Lake, who died May 10, 2003.
Navy Seaman Marcus A. Lee / St. Croix
May 28, 2003 (Fleet News) — Navy Seaman Marcus A. Lee, son of Joanna Leon of Frederiksted, recently returned from the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while assigned to Sea Control Squadron 22. The unit was embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, homeported in Norfolk, Va.
Lee was one of more than 8,000 Atlantic Fleet Sailors and Marines assigned to the ships and squadrons of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Battle Group who participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Aviators flew 1,280 sorties off the deck of USS Harry S. Truman, accumulating more than 5,700 flight hours and expending more than one million pounds of ordnance.
Based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., Lee's squadron flies the S-3B Viking, a multi-purpose jet aircraft capable of long-range surveillance of shipping, air-to-air refueling, locating and destroying enemy submarines, and other missions as required.
Navy Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Lake / St. Croix
May 28, 2003 (Fleet News) — Navy Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Lake, son of Delores E. Lake of Christiansted, recently returned from a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, homeported in Norfolk, Va.
Lake joined the Navy in September 1979.
Marine Corps Sgt. Ezekiel Turpin / St. Thomas
May 27, 2003 (Fleet News) — Marine Corps Sgt. Ezekiel S. Turpin, son of Monica Turpin of St. Thomas and Robert Turpin of Prescott, Ariz., recently returned from a deployment to the Arabian Gulf while assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, based at Miramar, Calif. The squadron was embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation, which is homeported in San Diego, Calif.
Turpin was one of more than 8,000 Pacific Fleet Marines and Sailors aboard the ships of the USS Constellation Carrier Battle Group. Aviators flew 1,300 sorties off USS Constellation's flight deck, accumulating more than 4,000 flight hours and expending more than one million pounds of ordnance. Turpin's squadron flies the F/A-18C Hornet, a twin-engine supersonic strike fighter which features an all-weather intercept and ground attack capability.
Turpin, a 1993 graduate of Prescott High School, joined the Marine Corps in March 1999.
Navy Seaman Louise Hanley / St. Croix
May 23, 2003 (Fleet Home Town News) — Navy Seaman Louise C. Hanley, daughter of Alfred and Wendell Hanley of Frederiksted, recently made a port visit to Manama, Bahrain, while on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa, homeported in San Diego.
Hanley is one of more than 4,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group. Prior to the port visit, she was part of a coalition amphibious force that participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sailors and Marines aboard Hanley's ship had the opportunity to shop, go sightseeing, and enjoy the local culture and cuisine.
USS Tarawa supports amphibious operations using landing craft air cushions which are specially designed hovercraft to deliver vehicles and equipment. The ship also has conventional landing craft and helicopters, and is equipped with medical facilities staffed by Navy doctors, dentists, nurses and corpsmen.
Hanley is a 2000 graduate of Freewill Baptist High School of Frederiksted. She joined the Navy in August 2001.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steve A. Hodge / St. Thomas
May 23, 2003 (Fleet News) — Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steve A. Hodge, son of Ola M. Hodge of St. Thomas, recently made a port visit to Manama, Bahrain while on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa.
Hodge is one of more than 4,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group. Prior to the port visit, he was part of a coalition amphibious force that participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Hodge also enjoyed the same shore leave as Hanley, above.
Hodge joined the Navy in January 1990.
Army Pvt. Nicky Titre / St. Thomas
May 19, 2003 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) — Army Pvt. Nicky V. Titre. A 1996 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School has graduated from the utilities equipment repairer advanced individual training course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md.
Titre learned to perform maintenance, test, repair, adjust, and inspect gasoline engine systems, utility equipment and special purpose support systems, including: bottle cleaning/ charging stations, air conditioning electrical and vapor systems, refrigeration unit electrical systems, portable heater fuel/ electrical systems, and fire extinguisher rechargers and valves.
Titre is the brother of Jennifer V. Gabriel of St. Thomas.
Navy Airman Apprentice Benjamin J. Dudley / St. Thomas
May 15, 2003(Fleet News) — Navy Airman Apprentice Benjamin J. Dudley, son of
Adriane J. Dudley of St. Thomas, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Dudley completed a variety of training on naval customs, first aid, fire fighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
The capstone event of boot camp is the "Battle Stations" exercise.
Army Pvt. Angie A. Estien / St. Croix
May 13, 2003 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) — Army Pvt. Angie A. Estien, daughter of Lidia Quinones of St. Croix, has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, Estien studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Navy Seaman Recruit Sherlow Brooks / St. Thomas
May 13, 2003(Fleet News) — Navy Seaman Recruit Sherlow R. Brooks, son of Doreth B. Gumbs of St. Thomas, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Brooks completed a variety of training on naval customs, first aid, fire fighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness. The capstone event of boot camp is the "Battle Stations" exercise.
Navy Senior Chief Leroy Anthony James / St. Croix
May 8, 2003 – LeRoy Anthony James of 142 Strawberry Hill has een promoted
to the rank of Dental Technician Senior Chief. He is currently stationed aboard the USS BlueRidge, homeport Yokosuka, Japan.
He is the husband of Merlene C. James (formerly DeWindt). He has two son: DuJuan, 11, and Brandon, 9. Just wanted everyone to share in our happiness and his success in the United States Navy. (E-mail received from Leroy A. James.)
Marine Corps Pfc. Karl C. A. Brodie / St. Thomas
May 7, 2003 (Fleet Home Town News) – Marine Corps Pfc. Karl C. A. Brodie, a 2001 graduate of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Brodie is one of more than 4,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors and Marines who deployed aboard the ships of the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group.
The majority of Marines and Sailors in Brodie's unit have safely returned to the ships of the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group from Mosul, Iraq, as Operation Iraqi Freedom continues to transition to humanitarian missions.
Brodie's unit is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment. MEUs are divided into an infantry battalion, aircraft squadron, support group and command element. With this combination, Brodie's unit supplies and sustains itself for quick mission accomplishment and for clearing the way for follow-on forces.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ivan McClean Jr. / St. Thomas
May 5, 2003 (Fleet Home Town News) — Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ivan McClean Jr., son of Joan C. McClean and Ivan McClean Sr. of St. Thomas recently reported for duty at Naval Air Facility, Key West, Fla.
McClean joined the Navy in March 1998.
Editor's note: For military news prior to May 2003, see earlier articles in the People section.
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.
MILITARY NEWS OF VIRGIN ISLANDERS – MAY 2003
GOVERNOR, DON'T BURDEN POLICE; WE'LL ALL HELP
Dear Source,
The governor announced a crackdown on the personal use of government vehicles. This rule has been on the books for aeons, but I suppose it's a better-late-than-never situation. It may indicate that the governor is starting to address the problem of spending, after he shocked the territory last week with his shortsighted borrowing and tax increase bail-out plan.
I have some questions with regard to the governor's announcement. Why would Gov. [Charles] Turnbull put the burden of enforcing this rule on an already over-burdened Police Department? Are department and agency heads utterly unaware of the activities of those they supervise? Why aren't government employees checked when leaving the workplace and told to park up the cars they are not authorized to drive?
Our Police Department is dealing with a crime wave on these islands. The police should concentrate on murders, missing persons, robberies and burglaries and not the behavior of government employees. If department heads were doing their jobs, it would be a simple matter. Let's hold them accountable for a change!
I have one more suggestion. Set up a hotline for the public to report the misuse of government vehicles. There are 100,000+ sets of eyes out here that would be glad to assist.
Ann Herche
St. Croix
The governor announced a crackdown on the personal use of government vehicles. This rule has been on the books for aeons, but I suppose it's a better-late-than-never situation. It may indicate that the governor is starting to address the problem of spending, after he shocked the territory last week with his shortsighted borrowing and tax increase bail-out plan.
I have some questions with regard to the governor's announcement. Why would Gov. [Charles] Turnbull put the burden of enforcing this rule on an already over-burdened Police Department? Are department and agency heads utterly unaware of the activities of those they supervise? Why aren't government employees checked when leaving the workplace and told to park up the cars they are not authorized to drive?
Our Police Department is dealing with a crime wave on these islands. The police should concentrate on murders, missing persons, robberies and burglaries and not the behavior of government employees. If department heads were doing their jobs, it would be a simple matter. Let's hold them accountable for a change!
I have one more suggestion. Set up a hotline for the public to report the misuse of government vehicles. There are 100,000+ sets of eyes out here that would be glad to assist.
Ann Herche
St. Croix
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
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.
GOVERNOR, DON'T BURDEN POLICE; WE'LL ALL HELP
Dear Source,
The governor announced a crackdown on the personal use of government vehicles. This rule has been on the books for aeons, but I suppose it's a better-late-than-never situation. It may indicate that the governor is starting to address the problem of spending, after he shocked the territory last week with his shortsighted borrowing and tax increase bail-out plan.
I have some questions with regard to the governor's announcement. Why would Gov. [Charles] Turnbull put the burden of enforcing this rule on an already over-burdened Police Department? Are department and agency heads utterly unaware of the activities of those they supervise? Why aren't government employees checked when leaving the workplace and told to park up the cars they are not authorized to drive?
Our Police Department is dealing with a crime wave on these islands. The police should concentrate on murders, missing persons, robberies and burglaries and not the behavior of government employees. If department heads were doing their jobs, it would be a simple matter. Let's hold them accountable for a change!
I have one more suggestion. Set up a hotline for the public to report the misuse of government vehicles. There are 100,000+ sets of eyes out here that would be glad to assist.
Ann Herche
St. Croix
The governor announced a crackdown on the personal use of government vehicles. This rule has been on the books for aeons, but I suppose it's a better-late-than-never situation. It may indicate that the governor is starting to address the problem of spending, after he shocked the territory last week with his shortsighted borrowing and tax increase bail-out plan.
I have some questions with regard to the governor's announcement. Why would Gov. [Charles] Turnbull put the burden of enforcing this rule on an already over-burdened Police Department? Are department and agency heads utterly unaware of the activities of those they supervise? Why aren't government employees checked when leaving the workplace and told to park up the cars they are not authorized to drive?
Our Police Department is dealing with a crime wave on these islands. The police should concentrate on murders, missing persons, robberies and burglaries and not the behavior of government employees. If department heads were doing their jobs, it would be a simple matter. Let's hold them accountable for a change!
I have one more suggestion. Set up a hotline for the public to report the misuse of government vehicles. There are 100,000+ sets of eyes out here that would be glad to assist.
Ann Herche
St. Croix
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
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.
GOVERNOR, DON'T BURDEN POLICE; WE'LL ALL HELP
Dear Source,
The governor announced a crackdown on the personal use of government vehicles. This rule has been on the books for aeons, but I suppose it's a better-late-than-never situation. It may indicate that the governor is starting to address the problem of spending, after he shocked the territory last week with his shortsighted borrowing and tax increase bail-out plan.
I have some questions with regard to the governor's announcement. Why would Gov. [Charles] Turnbull put the burden of enforcing this rule on an already over-burdened Police Department? Are department and agency heads utterly unaware of the activities of those they supervise? Why aren't government employees checked when leaving the workplace and told to park up the cars they are not authorized to drive?
Our Police Department is dealing with a crime wave on these islands. The police should concentrate on murders, missing persons, robberies and burglaries and not the behavior of government employees. If department heads were doing their jobs, it would be a simple matter. Let's hold them accountable for a change!
I have one more suggestion. Set up a hotline for the public to report the misuse of government vehicles. There are 100,000+ sets of eyes out here that would be glad to assist.
Ann Herche
St. Croix
The governor announced a crackdown on the personal use of government vehicles. This rule has been on the books for aeons, but I suppose it's a better-late-than-never situation. It may indicate that the governor is starting to address the problem of spending, after he shocked the territory last week with his shortsighted borrowing and tax increase bail-out plan.
I have some questions with regard to the governor's announcement. Why would Gov. [Charles] Turnbull put the burden of enforcing this rule on an already over-burdened Police Department? Are department and agency heads utterly unaware of the activities of those they supervise? Why aren't government employees checked when leaving the workplace and told to park up the cars they are not authorized to drive?
Our Police Department is dealing with a crime wave on these islands. The police should concentrate on murders, missing persons, robberies and burglaries and not the behavior of government employees. If department heads were doing their jobs, it would be a simple matter. Let's hold them accountable for a change!
I have one more suggestion. Set up a hotline for the public to report the misuse of government vehicles. There are 100,000+ sets of eyes out here that would be glad to assist.
Ann Herche
St. Croix
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
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.
STUDY: VALUE OF AIR SERVICES TO V.I. UNRECOGNIZED
May 30, 2003 – With the news this week that U.S. Airways is cutting almost all of its service to St. Croix as well as many flights to St. Thomas, public forums held on both islands to discuss the findings of a study on how to increase the volume of air visitors could not have been more timely.
The V.I. government-commissioned study was conducted by Edwards and Kelcey, a Washington, D.C., based consulting firm.
The first forum on the findings of the company's Air Services Marketing and Development study took place Wednesday on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus. The second was Thursday on the St. Croix UVI campus.
In order to come up with possible solutions, the company scrutinized the global state of the airline industry, notably the after-effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the SAR epidemic now affecting travel worldwide.
The draft report issued by E&K stated three problems it observed:
– The economic importance of quality air services to the V.I. economy is not widely understood in the community.
– A comprehensive air services marketing strategy, fundamental to increasing air arrivals to the territory, has not been developed.
– There is no clear mandate from any island organization for the creation and management of an ongoing air services marketing and development program.
Even so, the company's study yielded many suggested solutions to problem of declining air arrivals and air service to the territory.
One was that "the Virgin Islands are three separate markets; let's promote them separately," Douglas Wilson, E&K senior aviation economist, said on Wednesday. "It is a case of one size not fitting all."
Wilson said his company's research found that this is the way airlines feel the Virgin Islands should be marketed.
He also said that while St. Thomas is a "mature destination," St. Croix has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, he said, a lot of things dissuade people from traveling to St. Croix — such as the perception of high crime.
The E&K draft proposal includes a short-term action plan that could be implemented starting as early as one month from now. There is also a six-month plan and a three-year plan. The one-month plan includes seeking federal assistance for a Small Community Air Service Development pilot program and developing incentives for airlines to operate in the territory.
About 20 people — mainly government officials — attended the Wednesday forum. Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards commented that the E&K researchers "were able to come down here, speak to all of us, get us into perspective, and come back and put together a program that pretty much said things we know are true, re-enforced things that we are doing, and brought us up to deal with things that we have to take care of."
UVI was asked by the 24th Legislature to contract a mainland consulting company with expertise in the national transportation field to develop a strategy and plan to increase the territory's airline arrivals. It selected E&K.
The plan presented on both campuses is a draft subject to revision incorporating suggestions from the two forums.
For the views of one longtime St. Croix business leader — who was involved in the selection of the E&K as the consultant — about the study and his island's airlift problems, see the Op-ed article "St. Croix can be marketed, and here's how".)
The draft plan summary, technical report and appendices can be accessed from the UVI Web site's "News Releases" section. Click on the appropriate line in the blue box to the right of the first paragraph of the article to access the portion you want to read.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The V.I. government-commissioned study was conducted by Edwards and Kelcey, a Washington, D.C., based consulting firm.
The first forum on the findings of the company's Air Services Marketing and Development study took place Wednesday on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus. The second was Thursday on the St. Croix UVI campus.
In order to come up with possible solutions, the company scrutinized the global state of the airline industry, notably the after-effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the SAR epidemic now affecting travel worldwide.
The draft report issued by E&K stated three problems it observed:
– The economic importance of quality air services to the V.I. economy is not widely understood in the community.
– A comprehensive air services marketing strategy, fundamental to increasing air arrivals to the territory, has not been developed.
– There is no clear mandate from any island organization for the creation and management of an ongoing air services marketing and development program.
Even so, the company's study yielded many suggested solutions to problem of declining air arrivals and air service to the territory.
One was that "the Virgin Islands are three separate markets; let's promote them separately," Douglas Wilson, E&K senior aviation economist, said on Wednesday. "It is a case of one size not fitting all."
Wilson said his company's research found that this is the way airlines feel the Virgin Islands should be marketed.
He also said that while St. Thomas is a "mature destination," St. Croix has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, he said, a lot of things dissuade people from traveling to St. Croix — such as the perception of high crime.
The E&K draft proposal includes a short-term action plan that could be implemented starting as early as one month from now. There is also a six-month plan and a three-year plan. The one-month plan includes seeking federal assistance for a Small Community Air Service Development pilot program and developing incentives for airlines to operate in the territory.
About 20 people — mainly government officials — attended the Wednesday forum. Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards commented that the E&K researchers "were able to come down here, speak to all of us, get us into perspective, and come back and put together a program that pretty much said things we know are true, re-enforced things that we are doing, and brought us up to deal with things that we have to take care of."
UVI was asked by the 24th Legislature to contract a mainland consulting company with expertise in the national transportation field to develop a strategy and plan to increase the territory's airline arrivals. It selected E&K.
The plan presented on both campuses is a draft subject to revision incorporating suggestions from the two forums.
For the views of one longtime St. Croix business leader — who was involved in the selection of the E&K as the consultant — about the study and his island's airlift problems, see the Op-ed article "St. Croix can be marketed, and here's how".)
The draft plan summary, technical report and appendices can be accessed from the UVI Web site's "News Releases" section. Click on the appropriate line in the blue box to the right of the first paragraph of the article to access the portion you want to read.
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.
STUDY: VALUE OF AIR SERVICES TO V.I. UNRECOGNIZED
May 30, 2003 – With the news this week that U.S. Airways is cutting almost all of its service to St. Croix as well as many flights to St. Thomas, public forums held on both islands to discuss the findings of a study on how to increase the volume of air visitors could not have been more timely.
The V.I. government-commissioned study was conducted by Edwards and Kelcey, a Washington, D.C., based consulting firm.
The first forum on the findings of the company's Air Services Marketing and Development study took place Wednesday on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus. The second was Thursday on the St. Croix UVI campus.
In order to come up with possible solutions, the company scrutinized the global state of the airline industry, notably the after-effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the SAR epidemic now affecting travel worldwide.
The draft report issued by E&K stated three problems it observed:
– The economic importance of quality air services to the V.I. economy is not widely understood in the community.
– A comprehensive air services marketing strategy, fundamental to increasing air arrivals to the territory, has not been developed.
– There is no clear mandate from any island organization for the creation and management of an ongoing air services marketing and development program.
Even so, the company's study yielded many suggested solutions to problem of declining air arrivals and air service to the territory.
One was that "the Virgin Islands are three separate markets; let's promote them separately," Douglas Wilson, E&K senior aviation economist, said on Wednesday. "It is a case of one size not fitting all."
Wilson said his company's research found that this is the way airlines feel the Virgin Islands should be marketed.
He also said that while St. Thomas is a "mature destination," St. Croix has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, he said, a lot of things dissuade people from traveling to St. Croix — such as the perception of high crime.
The E&K draft proposal includes a short-term action plan that could be implemented starting as early as one month from now. There is also a six-month plan and a three-year plan. The one-month plan includes seeking federal assistance for a Small Community Air Service Development pilot program and developing incentives for airlines to operate in the territory.
About 20 people — mainly government officials — attended the Wednesday forum. Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards commented that the E&K researchers "were able to come down here, speak to all of us, get us into perspective, and come back and put together a program that pretty much said things we know are true, re-enforced things that we are doing, and brought us up to deal with things that we have to take care of."
UVI was asked by the 24th Legislature to contract a mainland consulting company with expertise in the national transportation field to develop a strategy and plan to increase the territory's airline arrivals. It selected E&K.
The plan presented on both campuses is a draft subject to revision incorporating suggestions from the two forums.
For the views of one longtime St. Croix business leader — who was involved in the selection of the E&K as the consultant — about the study and his island's airlift problems, see the Op-ed article "St. Croix can be marketed, and here's how".)
The draft plan summary, technical report and appendices can be accessed from the UVI Web site's "News Releases" section. Click on the appropriate line in the blue box to the right of the first paragraph of the article to access the portion you want to read.
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 V.I. government-commissioned study was conducted by Edwards and Kelcey, a Washington, D.C., based consulting firm.
The first forum on the findings of the company's Air Services Marketing and Development study took place Wednesday on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus. The second was Thursday on the St. Croix UVI campus.
In order to come up with possible solutions, the company scrutinized the global state of the airline industry, notably the after-effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the SAR epidemic now affecting travel worldwide.
The draft report issued by E&K stated three problems it observed:
– The economic importance of quality air services to the V.I. economy is not widely understood in the community.
– A comprehensive air services marketing strategy, fundamental to increasing air arrivals to the territory, has not been developed.
– There is no clear mandate from any island organization for the creation and management of an ongoing air services marketing and development program.
Even so, the company's study yielded many suggested solutions to problem of declining air arrivals and air service to the territory.
One was that "the Virgin Islands are three separate markets; let's promote them separately," Douglas Wilson, E&K senior aviation economist, said on Wednesday. "It is a case of one size not fitting all."
Wilson said his company's research found that this is the way airlines feel the Virgin Islands should be marketed.
He also said that while St. Thomas is a "mature destination," St. Croix has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, he said, a lot of things dissuade people from traveling to St. Croix — such as the perception of high crime.
The E&K draft proposal includes a short-term action plan that could be implemented starting as early as one month from now. There is also a six-month plan and a three-year plan. The one-month plan includes seeking federal assistance for a Small Community Air Service Development pilot program and developing incentives for airlines to operate in the territory.
About 20 people — mainly government officials — attended the Wednesday forum. Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards commented that the E&K researchers "were able to come down here, speak to all of us, get us into perspective, and come back and put together a program that pretty much said things we know are true, re-enforced things that we are doing, and brought us up to deal with things that we have to take care of."
UVI was asked by the 24th Legislature to contract a mainland consulting company with expertise in the national transportation field to develop a strategy and plan to increase the territory's airline arrivals. It selected E&K.
The plan presented on both campuses is a draft subject to revision incorporating suggestions from the two forums.
For the views of one longtime St. Croix business leader — who was involved in the selection of the E&K as the consultant — about the study and his island's airlift problems, see the Op-ed article "St. Croix can be marketed, and here's how".)
The draft plan summary, technical report and appendices can be accessed from the UVI Web site's "News Releases" section. Click on the appropriate line in the blue box to the right of the first paragraph of the article to access the portion you want to read.
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.
STUDY: VALUE OF AIR SERVICES TO V.I. UNRECOGNIZED
May 30, 2003 – With the news this week that U.S. Airways is cutting almost all of its service to St. Croix as well as many flights to St. Thomas, public forums held on both islands to discuss the findings of a study on how to increase the volume of air visitors could not have been more timely.
The V.I. government-commissioned study was conducted by Edwards and Kelcey, a Washington, D.C., based consulting firm.
The first forum on the findings of the company's Air Services Marketing and Development study took place Wednesday on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus. The second was Thursday on the St. Croix UVI campus.
In order to come up with possible solutions, the company scrutinized the global state of the airline industry, notably the after-effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the SAR epidemic now affecting travel worldwide.
The draft report issued by E&K stated three problems it observed:
– The economic importance of quality air services to the V.I. economy is not widely understood in the community.
– A comprehensive air services marketing strategy, fundamental to increasing air arrivals to the territory, has not been developed.
– There is no clear mandate from any island organization for the creation and management of an ongoing air services marketing and development program.
Even so, the company's study yielded many suggested solutions to problem of declining air arrivals and air service to the territory.
One was that "the Virgin Islands are three separate markets; let's promote them separately," Douglas Wilson, E&K senior aviation economist, said on Wednesday. "It is a case of one size not fitting all."
Wilson said his company's research found that this is the way airlines feel the Virgin Islands should be marketed.
He also said that while St. Thomas is a "mature destination," St. Croix has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, he said, a lot of things dissuade people from traveling to St. Croix — such as the perception of high crime.
The E&K draft proposal includes a short-term action plan that could be implemented starting as early as one month from now. There is also a six-month plan and a three-year plan. The one-month plan includes seeking federal assistance for a Small Community Air Service Development pilot program and developing incentives for airlines to operate in the territory.
About 20 people — mainly government officials — attended the Wednesday forum. Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards commented that the E&K researchers "were able to come down here, speak to all of us, get us into perspective, and come back and put together a program that pretty much said things we know are true, re-enforced things that we are doing, and brought us up to deal with things that we have to take care of."
UVI was asked by the 24th Legislature to contract a mainland consulting company with expertise in the national transportation field to develop a strategy and plan to increase the territory's airline arrivals. It selected E&K.
The plan presented on both campuses is a draft subject to revision incorporating suggestions from the two forums.
For the views of one longtime St. Croix business leader — who was involved in the selection of the E&K as the consultant — about the study and his island's airlift problems, see the Op-ed article "St. Croix can be marketed, and here's how".)
The draft plan summary, technical report and appendices can be accessed from the UVI Web site's "News Releases" section. Click on the appropriate line in the blue box to the right of the first paragraph of the article to access the portion you want to read.
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. government-commissioned study was conducted by Edwards and Kelcey, a Washington, D.C., based consulting firm.
The first forum on the findings of the company's Air Services Marketing and Development study took place Wednesday on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus. The second was Thursday on the St. Croix UVI campus.
In order to come up with possible solutions, the company scrutinized the global state of the airline industry, notably the after-effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the SAR epidemic now affecting travel worldwide.
The draft report issued by E&K stated three problems it observed:
– The economic importance of quality air services to the V.I. economy is not widely understood in the community.
– A comprehensive air services marketing strategy, fundamental to increasing air arrivals to the territory, has not been developed.
– There is no clear mandate from any island organization for the creation and management of an ongoing air services marketing and development program.
Even so, the company's study yielded many suggested solutions to problem of declining air arrivals and air service to the territory.
One was that "the Virgin Islands are three separate markets; let's promote them separately," Douglas Wilson, E&K senior aviation economist, said on Wednesday. "It is a case of one size not fitting all."
Wilson said his company's research found that this is the way airlines feel the Virgin Islands should be marketed.
He also said that while St. Thomas is a "mature destination," St. Croix has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, he said, a lot of things dissuade people from traveling to St. Croix — such as the perception of high crime.
The E&K draft proposal includes a short-term action plan that could be implemented starting as early as one month from now. There is also a six-month plan and a three-year plan. The one-month plan includes seeking federal assistance for a Small Community Air Service Development pilot program and developing incentives for airlines to operate in the territory.
About 20 people — mainly government officials — attended the Wednesday forum. Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards commented that the E&K researchers "were able to come down here, speak to all of us, get us into perspective, and come back and put together a program that pretty much said things we know are true, re-enforced things that we are doing, and brought us up to deal with things that we have to take care of."
UVI was asked by the 24th Legislature to contract a mainland consulting company with expertise in the national transportation field to develop a strategy and plan to increase the territory's airline arrivals. It selected E&K.
The plan presented on both campuses is a draft subject to revision incorporating suggestions from the two forums.
For the views of one longtime St. Croix business leader — who was involved in the selection of the E&K as the consultant — about the study and his island's airlift problems, see the Op-ed article "St. Croix can be marketed, and here's how".)
The draft plan summary, technical report and appendices can be accessed from the UVI Web site's "News Releases" section. Click on the appropriate line in the blue box to the right of the first paragraph of the article to access the portion you want to read.
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.
RON DE LUGO: THE MAN, AND NOW, THE BUILDING
May 29, 2003 – A day before the federal building on St. Thomas was to be named in his honor, former V.I. Delegate Ron de Lugo pondered the process that brought him — and the building — to this juncture.
"Our delegate introduced legislation and got it though the House, through the Senate," he said, referring to Donna M. Christensen, who now holds the seat in Congress that was his for so many years. She found support among "many, many of my friends whom I had the honor of serving with during my 20 years in the House of Representatives," he added.
"It passed the House and the Senate to President Bush. President Bush signed it into law, and that's how you get a federal building named after you," he said.
But as de Lugo reminisced about his 40 years of public service in elected office — first locally, then in Washington — he admitted the route had been much longer than that. When he first went to the nation's capital in 1969, his title was "representative to Congress." He had no congressional office, and his duties were more like those of a lobbyist than a lawmaker. Folks back home thought that once he went to Washington, they'd never see de Lugo again.
"Part of the plan was just to get me out of the territory, get me out of politics, eventually, because they figured, 'Out of sight, out of mind,' and 'You're not going to get home enough,'" he recounted.
"Well, I did get home. I came home on a regular basis. I served two terms as Washington representative; then I was able to get legislation passed by the House of Representatives giving a seat in the Congress to the people of the Virgin Islands. So I ran for that, and I was elected to it in 1972 and seated in January 1973," he said.
Re-elected regularly every two years, except in 1978 when he chose instead to run — unsuccessfully — for governor, de Lugo spent much of the next two decades winning friends and allies among Washington Democrats, of which he was one, and among Republicans, too. Eventually he parlayed his seniority and the goodwill of his colleagues into an appointment on the House Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
"In that position I had tremendous power because we controlled the Congress," he said. "I was on very good terms with the Speaker and with the Majority Leader and key chairmen. I was in a unique position."
As a newcomer to Washington, de Lugo said, he understood well that he came to the position with no political clout. His goal was to get some. "I understood how to fight for it," he said. "I understood how to stand up and take on the Interior Department, for instance, or other federal agencies when it was necessary. I didn't go and take them on just to have a fight but I certainly took them on when I felt the interest of the territories was not being served."
Nine years after retiring from public life, he says the demands of the office of delegate remain challenging — which he adds is how it ought to be when politicians are working toward any worthwhile goal. His original objective as delegate, to wield power on behalf of the folks back home, is no different for the person in that position today, he said.
In fact, he said, Christensen, now in her fourth term as delegate, "has a serious handicap in that the Congress as it is constituted at the present time is not — nor is the administration, in my judgment — giving the kind of attention to the territories that we demanded back then and got because the situation was different. It is a different time. It's much tougher to do anything for the territories," he said.
For a list of his accomplishments as delegate, see "Federal building to be named for de Lugo"."
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 delegate introduced legislation and got it though the House, through the Senate," he said, referring to Donna M. Christensen, who now holds the seat in Congress that was his for so many years. She found support among "many, many of my friends whom I had the honor of serving with during my 20 years in the House of Representatives," he added.
"It passed the House and the Senate to President Bush. President Bush signed it into law, and that's how you get a federal building named after you," he said.
But as de Lugo reminisced about his 40 years of public service in elected office — first locally, then in Washington — he admitted the route had been much longer than that. When he first went to the nation's capital in 1969, his title was "representative to Congress." He had no congressional office, and his duties were more like those of a lobbyist than a lawmaker. Folks back home thought that once he went to Washington, they'd never see de Lugo again.
"Part of the plan was just to get me out of the territory, get me out of politics, eventually, because they figured, 'Out of sight, out of mind,' and 'You're not going to get home enough,'" he recounted.
"Well, I did get home. I came home on a regular basis. I served two terms as Washington representative; then I was able to get legislation passed by the House of Representatives giving a seat in the Congress to the people of the Virgin Islands. So I ran for that, and I was elected to it in 1972 and seated in January 1973," he said.
Re-elected regularly every two years, except in 1978 when he chose instead to run — unsuccessfully — for governor, de Lugo spent much of the next two decades winning friends and allies among Washington Democrats, of which he was one, and among Republicans, too. Eventually he parlayed his seniority and the goodwill of his colleagues into an appointment on the House Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
"In that position I had tremendous power because we controlled the Congress," he said. "I was on very good terms with the Speaker and with the Majority Leader and key chairmen. I was in a unique position."
As a newcomer to Washington, de Lugo said, he understood well that he came to the position with no political clout. His goal was to get some. "I understood how to fight for it," he said. "I understood how to stand up and take on the Interior Department, for instance, or other federal agencies when it was necessary. I didn't go and take them on just to have a fight but I certainly took them on when I felt the interest of the territories was not being served."
Nine years after retiring from public life, he says the demands of the office of delegate remain challenging — which he adds is how it ought to be when politicians are working toward any worthwhile goal. His original objective as delegate, to wield power on behalf of the folks back home, is no different for the person in that position today, he said.
In fact, he said, Christensen, now in her fourth term as delegate, "has a serious handicap in that the Congress as it is constituted at the present time is not — nor is the administration, in my judgment — giving the kind of attention to the territories that we demanded back then and got because the situation was different. It is a different time. It's much tougher to do anything for the territories," he said.
For a list of his accomplishments as delegate, see "Federal building to be named for de Lugo"."
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.
RON DE LUGO: THE MAN, AND NOW, THE BUILDING
May 29, 2003 – A day before the federal building on St. Thomas was to be named in his honor, former V.I. Delegate Ron de Lugo pondered the process that brought him — and the building — to this juncture.
"Our delegate introduced legislation and got it though the House, through the Senate," he said, referring to Donna M. Christensen, who now holds the seat in Congress that was his for so many years. She found support among "many, many of my friends whom I had the honor of serving with during my 20 years in the House of Representatives," he added.
"It passed the House and the Senate to President Bush. President Bush signed it into law, and that's how you get a federal building named after you," he said.
But as de Lugo reminisced about his 40 years of public service in elected office — first locally, then in Washington — he admitted the route had been much longer than that. When he first went to the nation's capital in 1969, his title was "representative to Congress." He had no congressional office, and his duties were more like those of a lobbyist than a lawmaker. Folks back home thought that once he went to Washington, they'd never see de Lugo again.
"Part of the plan was just to get me out of the territory, get me out of politics, eventually, because they figured, 'Out of sight, out of mind,' and 'You're not going to get home enough,'" he recounted.
"Well, I did get home. I came home on a regular basis. I served two terms as Washington representative; then I was able to get legislation passed by the House of Representatives giving a seat in the Congress to the people of the Virgin Islands. So I ran for that, and I was elected to it in 1972 and seated in January 1973," he said.
Re-elected regularly every two years, except in 1978 when he chose instead to run — unsuccessfully — for governor, de Lugo spent much of the next two decades winning friends and allies among Washington Democrats, of which he was one, and among Republicans, too. Eventually he parlayed his seniority and the goodwill of his colleagues into an appointment on the House Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
"In that position I had tremendous power because we controlled the Congress," he said. "I was on very good terms with the Speaker and with the Majority Leader and key chairmen. I was in a unique position."
As a newcomer to Washington, de Lugo said, he understood well that he came to the position with no political clout. His goal was to get some. "I understood how to fight for it," he said. "I understood how to stand up and take on the Interior Department, for instance, or other federal agencies when it was necessary. I didn't go and take them on just to have a fight but I certainly took them on when I felt the interest of the territories was not being served."
Nine years after retiring from public life, he says the demands of the office of delegate remain challenging — which he adds is how it ought to be when politicians are working toward any worthwhile goal. His original objective as delegate, to wield power on behalf of the folks back home, is no different for the person in that position today, he said.
In fact, he said, Christensen, now in her fourth term as delegate, "has a serious handicap in that the Congress as it is constituted at the present time is not — nor is the administration, in my judgment — giving the kind of attention to the territories that we demanded back then and got because the situation was different. It is a different time. It's much tougher to do anything for the territories," he said.
For a list of his accomplishments as delegate, see "Federal building to be named for de Lugo"."
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 delegate introduced legislation and got it though the House, through the Senate," he said, referring to Donna M. Christensen, who now holds the seat in Congress that was his for so many years. She found support among "many, many of my friends whom I had the honor of serving with during my 20 years in the House of Representatives," he added.
"It passed the House and the Senate to President Bush. President Bush signed it into law, and that's how you get a federal building named after you," he said.
But as de Lugo reminisced about his 40 years of public service in elected office — first locally, then in Washington — he admitted the route had been much longer than that. When he first went to the nation's capital in 1969, his title was "representative to Congress." He had no congressional office, and his duties were more like those of a lobbyist than a lawmaker. Folks back home thought that once he went to Washington, they'd never see de Lugo again.
"Part of the plan was just to get me out of the territory, get me out of politics, eventually, because they figured, 'Out of sight, out of mind,' and 'You're not going to get home enough,'" he recounted.
"Well, I did get home. I came home on a regular basis. I served two terms as Washington representative; then I was able to get legislation passed by the House of Representatives giving a seat in the Congress to the people of the Virgin Islands. So I ran for that, and I was elected to it in 1972 and seated in January 1973," he said.
Re-elected regularly every two years, except in 1978 when he chose instead to run — unsuccessfully — for governor, de Lugo spent much of the next two decades winning friends and allies among Washington Democrats, of which he was one, and among Republicans, too. Eventually he parlayed his seniority and the goodwill of his colleagues into an appointment on the House Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
"In that position I had tremendous power because we controlled the Congress," he said. "I was on very good terms with the Speaker and with the Majority Leader and key chairmen. I was in a unique position."
As a newcomer to Washington, de Lugo said, he understood well that he came to the position with no political clout. His goal was to get some. "I understood how to fight for it," he said. "I understood how to stand up and take on the Interior Department, for instance, or other federal agencies when it was necessary. I didn't go and take them on just to have a fight but I certainly took them on when I felt the interest of the territories was not being served."
Nine years after retiring from public life, he says the demands of the office of delegate remain challenging — which he adds is how it ought to be when politicians are working toward any worthwhile goal. His original objective as delegate, to wield power on behalf of the folks back home, is no different for the person in that position today, he said.
In fact, he said, Christensen, now in her fourth term as delegate, "has a serious handicap in that the Congress as it is constituted at the present time is not — nor is the administration, in my judgment — giving the kind of attention to the territories that we demanded back then and got because the situation was different. It is a different time. It's much tougher to do anything for the territories," he said.
For a list of his accomplishments as delegate, see "Federal building to be named for de Lugo"."
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.
RON DE LUGO: THE MAN, AND NOW, THE BUILDING
May 29, 2003 – A day before the federal building on St. Thomas was to be named in his honor, former V.I. Delegate Ron de Lugo pondered the process that brought him — and the building — to this juncture.
"Our delegate introduced legislation and got it though the House, through the Senate," he said, referring to Donna M. Christensen, who now holds the seat in Congress that was his for so many years. She found support among "many, many of my friends whom I had the honor of serving with during my 20 years in the House of Representatives," he added.
"It passed the House and the Senate to President Bush. President Bush signed it into law, and that's how you get a federal building named after you," he said.
But as de Lugo reminisced about his 40 years of public service in elected office — first locally, then in Washington — he admitted the route had been much longer than that. When he first went to the nation's capital in 1969, his title was "representative to Congress." He had no congressional office, and his duties were more like those of a lobbyist than a lawmaker. Folks back home thought that once he went to Washington, they'd never see de Lugo again.
"Part of the plan was just to get me out of the territory, get me out of politics, eventually, because they figured, 'Out of sight, out of mind,' and 'You're not going to get home enough,'" he recounted.
"Well, I did get home. I came home on a regular basis. I served two terms as Washington representative; then I was able to get legislation passed by the House of Representatives giving a seat in the Congress to the people of the Virgin Islands. So I ran for that, and I was elected to it in 1972 and seated in January 1973," he said.
Re-elected regularly every two years, except in 1978 when he chose instead to run — unsuccessfully — for governor, de Lugo spent much of the next two decades winning friends and allies among Washington Democrats, of which he was one, and among Republicans, too. Eventually he parlayed his seniority and the goodwill of his colleagues into an appointment on the House Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
"In that position I had tremendous power because we controlled the Congress," he said. "I was on very good terms with the Speaker and with the Majority Leader and key chairmen. I was in a unique position."
As a newcomer to Washington, de Lugo said, he understood well that he came to the position with no political clout. His goal was to get some. "I understood how to fight for it," he said. "I understood how to stand up and take on the Interior Department, for instance, or other federal agencies when it was necessary. I didn't go and take them on just to have a fight but I certainly took them on when I felt the interest of the territories was not being served."
Nine years after retiring from public life, he says the demands of the office of delegate remain challenging — which he adds is how it ought to be when politicians are working toward any worthwhile goal. His original objective as delegate, to wield power on behalf of the folks back home, is no different for the person in that position today, he said.
In fact, he said, Christensen, now in her fourth term as delegate, "has a serious handicap in that the Congress as it is constituted at the present time is not — nor is the administration, in my judgment — giving the kind of attention to the territories that we demanded back then and got because the situation was different. It is a different time. It's much tougher to do anything for the territories," he said.
For a list of his accomplishments as delegate, see "Federal building to be named for de Lugo"."
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 delegate introduced legislation and got it though the House, through the Senate," he said, referring to Donna M. Christensen, who now holds the seat in Congress that was his for so many years. She found support among "many, many of my friends whom I had the honor of serving with during my 20 years in the House of Representatives," he added.
"It passed the House and the Senate to President Bush. President Bush signed it into law, and that's how you get a federal building named after you," he said.
But as de Lugo reminisced about his 40 years of public service in elected office — first locally, then in Washington — he admitted the route had been much longer than that. When he first went to the nation's capital in 1969, his title was "representative to Congress." He had no congressional office, and his duties were more like those of a lobbyist than a lawmaker. Folks back home thought that once he went to Washington, they'd never see de Lugo again.
"Part of the plan was just to get me out of the territory, get me out of politics, eventually, because they figured, 'Out of sight, out of mind,' and 'You're not going to get home enough,'" he recounted.
"Well, I did get home. I came home on a regular basis. I served two terms as Washington representative; then I was able to get legislation passed by the House of Representatives giving a seat in the Congress to the people of the Virgin Islands. So I ran for that, and I was elected to it in 1972 and seated in January 1973," he said.
Re-elected regularly every two years, except in 1978 when he chose instead to run — unsuccessfully — for governor, de Lugo spent much of the next two decades winning friends and allies among Washington Democrats, of which he was one, and among Republicans, too. Eventually he parlayed his seniority and the goodwill of his colleagues into an appointment on the House Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
"In that position I had tremendous power because we controlled the Congress," he said. "I was on very good terms with the Speaker and with the Majority Leader and key chairmen. I was in a unique position."
As a newcomer to Washington, de Lugo said, he understood well that he came to the position with no political clout. His goal was to get some. "I understood how to fight for it," he said. "I understood how to stand up and take on the Interior Department, for instance, or other federal agencies when it was necessary. I didn't go and take them on just to have a fight but I certainly took them on when I felt the interest of the territories was not being served."
Nine years after retiring from public life, he says the demands of the office of delegate remain challenging — which he adds is how it ought to be when politicians are working toward any worthwhile goal. His original objective as delegate, to wield power on behalf of the folks back home, is no different for the person in that position today, he said.
In fact, he said, Christensen, now in her fourth term as delegate, "has a serious handicap in that the Congress as it is constituted at the present time is not — nor is the administration, in my judgment — giving the kind of attention to the territories that we demanded back then and got because the situation was different. It is a different time. It's much tougher to do anything for the territories," he said.
For a list of his accomplishments as delegate, see "Federal building to be named for de Lugo"."
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.
