March 21, 2003 – It's the annual massive mammal migration season in the Virgin Islands — meaning there are humpback whales out there in the territory's tropical waters. And the Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John is doing its annual thing, too — sponsoring boat trips to see the animals up close in their natural environment.
Two excursions are scheduled, for Sundays, March 23 and 30, both aboard the 50-foot catamaran Allura, sailing out of the V.I. National Park dock in Vessup Bay. Guides will be aboard to help passengers spot whales, and the captain will be in radio contact with other vessels that will try to assist in locating the animals.
While there are no guarantees that whales will put in an appearance on cue, those going aboard the boat can count on having an opportunity to learn more about sea birds, the region's cays and local environmental issues. The Allura will anchor for lunch, swimming and/or snorkeling.
EAST sponsors the whale-watch daysails each year as both an educational outreach and a fund-raiser. Tickets are $45 for EAST members and $55 for others.
Carla Joseph, EAST president, said conditions for viewing the whales are optimum at the moment. "We've been receiving reports of whale sightings in Tortola and the North Drop," she said. "If they are out there on Sunday, we will find them."
The whales migrate south each winter to give birth to their young in the warm waters, then head back north, accompanied by their offspring.
The boat will depart at 8:30 a.m. and return at about 4 p.m.
Tickets for the excursions are being sold at Dockside Bookshop in Havensight, East End Secretarial Service in Red Hook and Connections in Cruz Bay on St. John. The trips usually sell out in advance, so don't plan on getting tickets just before boarding the boat.
For more information, call 774-8816.
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DELEGATE: IT'S TIME FOR A V.I. CONSTITUTION
March 19, 2003 – Delegate Donna M. Christensen has joined Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and a number of V.I. senators in calling for the Virgin Islands to develop its own constitution.
The comment was prompted, Christensen said in a release issued Thursday, by an editorial in The Avis last weekend calling for St. Croix to secede from the Virgin Islands and become a separate territory. The editorial called on Christensen to ask Congress to change the federal 1954 Revised Organic Act, which governs the territory in the absence of a constitution, to allow St. Croix to secede.
Christensen said the newspaper's further call on Crucians to sign a petition in support of secession reflects "the growing disenchantment of St. Croix residents with the state of the economy and public services."
The delegate, whose home is on St. Croix, said The Avis had captured the mood of residents struggling with dwindling public services and an increasingly smaller share of the economic pie. And, she said, the call for action reflects the willingness of residents to take more responsibility for their own affairs. The territory's leaders "have heard the call to address this issue. We ignore it at our peril," she said.
Turnbull, in his State of the Territory speech on Jan. 13, reiterated what he had stated in his inaugural address a week earlier — that "the Turnbull-Richards administration supports and will advocate convening a fifth constitutional convention to draft a constitution that addresses the future political, social and economic development of the territory."
In the territory's "quest for greater self-determination," Turnbull said, a constitution "will allow for more effective government and a structure that is more responsive to the needs of all residents, while enhancing and empowering local autonomy for the islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas through municipal government." He said the document also should establish a territorial supreme court "to adjudicate all local issues without the need to appeal to the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals."
Turnbull, who took part in all four of the previous constitutional conventions, also called for the convening of a fifth in his first inaugural address, in 1999.
Christensen said Thursday that the territory has outgrown its current political structure, "and the time has come for a change" through the development and adoption of a constitution.
She said several such proposals are in the works and she plans to offer one. However, she called for open dialogue so that all proposals can be heard.
The territory's fourth constitutional convention was in 1980. The document adopted then was approved by two presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and by two Congresses, only to be rejected afterward by V.I. voters.
The territory has also addressed the issue of its status, most recently in a referendum in 1993 in which voters were asked to state their preference among the options of statehood, incorporated territory, free association, independence, commonwealth, compact of federal relations and the status quo of unincorporated territory.
Only 27.5 percent of the territory's 39,046 eligible voters went to the polls. Since none of the options received 50 percent plus one of the votes, the issue was left undecided.
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 comment was prompted, Christensen said in a release issued Thursday, by an editorial in The Avis last weekend calling for St. Croix to secede from the Virgin Islands and become a separate territory. The editorial called on Christensen to ask Congress to change the federal 1954 Revised Organic Act, which governs the territory in the absence of a constitution, to allow St. Croix to secede.
Christensen said the newspaper's further call on Crucians to sign a petition in support of secession reflects "the growing disenchantment of St. Croix residents with the state of the economy and public services."
The delegate, whose home is on St. Croix, said The Avis had captured the mood of residents struggling with dwindling public services and an increasingly smaller share of the economic pie. And, she said, the call for action reflects the willingness of residents to take more responsibility for their own affairs. The territory's leaders "have heard the call to address this issue. We ignore it at our peril," she said.
Turnbull, in his State of the Territory speech on Jan. 13, reiterated what he had stated in his inaugural address a week earlier — that "the Turnbull-Richards administration supports and will advocate convening a fifth constitutional convention to draft a constitution that addresses the future political, social and economic development of the territory."
In the territory's "quest for greater self-determination," Turnbull said, a constitution "will allow for more effective government and a structure that is more responsive to the needs of all residents, while enhancing and empowering local autonomy for the islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas through municipal government." He said the document also should establish a territorial supreme court "to adjudicate all local issues without the need to appeal to the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals."
Turnbull, who took part in all four of the previous constitutional conventions, also called for the convening of a fifth in his first inaugural address, in 1999.
Christensen said Thursday that the territory has outgrown its current political structure, "and the time has come for a change" through the development and adoption of a constitution.
She said several such proposals are in the works and she plans to offer one. However, she called for open dialogue so that all proposals can be heard.
The territory's fourth constitutional convention was in 1980. The document adopted then was approved by two presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and by two Congresses, only to be rejected afterward by V.I. voters.
The territory has also addressed the issue of its status, most recently in a referendum in 1993 in which voters were asked to state their preference among the options of statehood, incorporated territory, free association, independence, commonwealth, compact of federal relations and the status quo of unincorporated territory.
Only 27.5 percent of the territory's 39,046 eligible voters went to the polls. Since none of the options received 50 percent plus one of the votes, the issue was left undecided.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
DELEGATE: IT'S TIME FOR A V.I. CONSTITUTION
March 19, 2003 – Delegate Donna M. Christensen has joined Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and a number of V.I. senators in calling for the Virgin Islands to develop its own constitution.
The comment was prompted, Christensen said in a release issued Thursday, by an editorial in The Avis last weekend calling for St. Croix to secede from the Virgin Islands and become a separate territory. The editorial called on Christensen to ask Congress to change the federal 1954 Revised Organic Act, which governs the territory in the absence of a constitution, to allow St. Croix to secede.
Christensen said the newspaper's further call on Crucians to sign a petition in support of secession reflects "the growing disenchantment of St. Croix residents with the state of the economy and public services."
The delegate, whose home is on St. Croix, said The Avis had captured the mood of residents struggling with dwindling public services and an increasingly smaller share of the economic pie. And, she said, the call for action reflects the willingness of residents to take more responsibility for their own affairs. The territory's leaders "have heard the call to address this issue. We ignore it at our peril," she said.
Turnbull, in his State of the Territory speech on Jan. 13, reiterated what he had stated in his inaugural address a week earlier — that "the Turnbull-Richards administration supports and will advocate convening a fifth constitutional convention to draft a constitution that addresses the future political, social and economic development of the territory."
In the territory's "quest for greater self-determination," Turnbull said, a constitution "will allow for more effective government and a structure that is more responsive to the needs of all residents, while enhancing and empowering local autonomy for the islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas through municipal government." He said the document also should establish a territorial supreme court "to adjudicate all local issues without the need to appeal to the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals."
Turnbull, who took part in all four of the previous constitutional conventions, also called for the convening of a fifth in his first inaugural address, in 1999.
Christensen said Thursday that the territory has outgrown its current political structure, "and the time has come for a change" through the development and adoption of a constitution.
She said several such proposals are in the works and she plans to offer one. However, she called for open dialogue so that all proposals can be heard.
The territory's fourth constitutional convention was in 1980. The document adopted then was approved by two presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and by two Congresses, only to be rejected afterward by V.I. voters.
The territory has also addressed the issue of its status, most recently in a referendum in 1993 in which voters were asked to state their preference among the options of statehood, incorporated territory, free association, independence, commonwealth, compact of federal relations and the status quo of unincorporated territory.
Only 27.5 percent of the territory's 39,046 eligible voters went to the polls. Since none of the options received 50 percent plus one of the votes, the issue was left undecided.
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 comment was prompted, Christensen said in a release issued Thursday, by an editorial in The Avis last weekend calling for St. Croix to secede from the Virgin Islands and become a separate territory. The editorial called on Christensen to ask Congress to change the federal 1954 Revised Organic Act, which governs the territory in the absence of a constitution, to allow St. Croix to secede.
Christensen said the newspaper's further call on Crucians to sign a petition in support of secession reflects "the growing disenchantment of St. Croix residents with the state of the economy and public services."
The delegate, whose home is on St. Croix, said The Avis had captured the mood of residents struggling with dwindling public services and an increasingly smaller share of the economic pie. And, she said, the call for action reflects the willingness of residents to take more responsibility for their own affairs. The territory's leaders "have heard the call to address this issue. We ignore it at our peril," she said.
Turnbull, in his State of the Territory speech on Jan. 13, reiterated what he had stated in his inaugural address a week earlier — that "the Turnbull-Richards administration supports and will advocate convening a fifth constitutional convention to draft a constitution that addresses the future political, social and economic development of the territory."
In the territory's "quest for greater self-determination," Turnbull said, a constitution "will allow for more effective government and a structure that is more responsive to the needs of all residents, while enhancing and empowering local autonomy for the islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas through municipal government." He said the document also should establish a territorial supreme court "to adjudicate all local issues without the need to appeal to the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals."
Turnbull, who took part in all four of the previous constitutional conventions, also called for the convening of a fifth in his first inaugural address, in 1999.
Christensen said Thursday that the territory has outgrown its current political structure, "and the time has come for a change" through the development and adoption of a constitution.
She said several such proposals are in the works and she plans to offer one. However, she called for open dialogue so that all proposals can be heard.
The territory's fourth constitutional convention was in 1980. The document adopted then was approved by two presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and by two Congresses, only to be rejected afterward by V.I. voters.
The territory has also addressed the issue of its status, most recently in a referendum in 1993 in which voters were asked to state their preference among the options of statehood, incorporated territory, free association, independence, commonwealth, compact of federal relations and the status quo of unincorporated territory.
Only 27.5 percent of the territory's 39,046 eligible voters went to the polls. Since none of the options received 50 percent plus one of the votes, the issue was left undecided.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
DELEGATE: IT'S TIME FOR A V.I. CONSTITUTION
March 19, 2003 – Delegate Donna M. Christensen has joined Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and a number of V.I. senators in calling for the Virgin Islands to develop its own constitution.
The comment was prompted, Christensen said in a release issued Thursday, by an editorial in The Avis last weekend calling for St. Croix to secede from the Virgin Islands and become a separate territory. The editorial called on Christensen to ask Congress to change the federal 1954 Revised Organic Act, which governs the territory in the absence of a constitution, to allow St. Croix to secede.
Christensen said the newspaper's further call on Crucians to sign a petition in support of secession reflects "the growing disenchantment of St. Croix residents with the state of the economy and public services."
The delegate, whose home is on St. Croix, said The Avis had captured the mood of residents struggling with dwindling public services and an increasingly smaller share of the economic pie. And, she said, the call for action reflects the willingness of residents to take more responsibility for their own affairs. The territory's leaders "have heard the call to address this issue. We ignore it at our peril," she said.
Turnbull, in his State of the Territory speech on Jan. 13, reiterated what he had stated in his inaugural address a week earlier — that "the Turnbull-Richards administration supports and will advocate convening a fifth constitutional convention to draft a constitution that addresses the future political, social and economic development of the territory."
In the territory's "quest for greater self-determination," Turnbull said, a constitution "will allow for more effective government and a structure that is more responsive to the needs of all residents, while enhancing and empowering local autonomy for the islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas through municipal government." He said the document also should establish a territorial supreme court "to adjudicate all local issues without the need to appeal to the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals."
Turnbull, who took part in all four of the previous constitutional conventions, also called for the convening of a fifth in his first inaugural address, in 1999.
Christensen said Thursday that the territory has outgrown its current political structure, "and the time has come for a change" through the development and adoption of a constitution.
She said several such proposals are in the works and she plans to offer one. However, she called for open dialogue so that all proposals can be heard.
The territory's fourth constitutional convention was in 1980. The document adopted then was approved by two presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and by two Congresses, only to be rejected afterward by V.I. voters.
The territory has also addressed the issue of its status, most recently in a referendum in 1993 in which voters were asked to state their preference among the options of statehood, incorporated territory, free association, independence, commonwealth, compact of federal relations and the status quo of unincorporated territory.
Only 27.5 percent of the territory's 39,046 eligible voters went to the polls. Since none of the options received 50 percent plus one of the votes, the issue was left undecided.
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 comment was prompted, Christensen said in a release issued Thursday, by an editorial in The Avis last weekend calling for St. Croix to secede from the Virgin Islands and become a separate territory. The editorial called on Christensen to ask Congress to change the federal 1954 Revised Organic Act, which governs the territory in the absence of a constitution, to allow St. Croix to secede.
Christensen said the newspaper's further call on Crucians to sign a petition in support of secession reflects "the growing disenchantment of St. Croix residents with the state of the economy and public services."
The delegate, whose home is on St. Croix, said The Avis had captured the mood of residents struggling with dwindling public services and an increasingly smaller share of the economic pie. And, she said, the call for action reflects the willingness of residents to take more responsibility for their own affairs. The territory's leaders "have heard the call to address this issue. We ignore it at our peril," she said.
Turnbull, in his State of the Territory speech on Jan. 13, reiterated what he had stated in his inaugural address a week earlier — that "the Turnbull-Richards administration supports and will advocate convening a fifth constitutional convention to draft a constitution that addresses the future political, social and economic development of the territory."
In the territory's "quest for greater self-determination," Turnbull said, a constitution "will allow for more effective government and a structure that is more responsive to the needs of all residents, while enhancing and empowering local autonomy for the islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas through municipal government." He said the document also should establish a territorial supreme court "to adjudicate all local issues without the need to appeal to the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals."
Turnbull, who took part in all four of the previous constitutional conventions, also called for the convening of a fifth in his first inaugural address, in 1999.
Christensen said Thursday that the territory has outgrown its current political structure, "and the time has come for a change" through the development and adoption of a constitution.
She said several such proposals are in the works and she plans to offer one. However, she called for open dialogue so that all proposals can be heard.
The territory's fourth constitutional convention was in 1980. The document adopted then was approved by two presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and by two Congresses, only to be rejected afterward by V.I. voters.
The territory has also addressed the issue of its status, most recently in a referendum in 1993 in which voters were asked to state their preference among the options of statehood, incorporated territory, free association, independence, commonwealth, compact of federal relations and the status quo of unincorporated territory.
Only 27.5 percent of the territory's 39,046 eligible voters went to the polls. Since none of the options received 50 percent plus one of the votes, the issue was left undecided.
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.
ABSTINENCE SYMPOSIUM MARCH 29 IS FOR PRE-TEENS
March 21, 2003 – Students in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades are invited to take part in the 2003 Abstinence Education Youth Symposiums which will be held Saturday on St. Croix and March 29 on St. Thomas.
The St. Croix program will take place at the Divi Carina Bay Resort; the St. Thomas one will be at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
In both cases, the theme is "Sexual Abstinence: A Healthy Choice." The program begins at 8 a.m. with breakfast and includes lunch as well. It's to end at 4 p.m.
Sen. Douglas Canton and the Health Department are sponsoring the symposiums. Canton said in a release distributed on Thursday that while registering in advance is desirable, no young person just showing up will be turned away. Parental consent is necessary. Patricia O'Reilly in Canton's office said that parents may send a note with their children giving their approval.
Canton chairs the Legislature's Health Hospitals and Human Services Committee. He said the program aims to reach children ages 7-11 so they will learn to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
"By laying a foundation for development of their value systems at an age when our young people are receptive to guidance and adoption of behavioral principles, over time we can help reverse developing trends in our society," Canton said.
Among the topics to be covered in presentations are "Your Body, Purpose and Hygiene" and "Good Touch, Bad Touch." The videos "Girl to Woman," "Boy to Man" and "Be Smart, Don't Start" will be shown. Health Commissioner Mavis Matthew, Health Department staff members Elsie Chinnery and Veronica Phillips, Education Commissioner Noreen Michael and Dilsa Capdeville of KidsCope will be speaking. And there will be poems, skits and prayers.
On St. Croix, to register, call Canton's office at 712-2279. On St. Thomas, call Delta Edney at 713-9925 or 713-9926.
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 St. Croix program will take place at the Divi Carina Bay Resort; the St. Thomas one will be at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
In both cases, the theme is "Sexual Abstinence: A Healthy Choice." The program begins at 8 a.m. with breakfast and includes lunch as well. It's to end at 4 p.m.
Sen. Douglas Canton and the Health Department are sponsoring the symposiums. Canton said in a release distributed on Thursday that while registering in advance is desirable, no young person just showing up will be turned away. Parental consent is necessary. Patricia O'Reilly in Canton's office said that parents may send a note with their children giving their approval.
Canton chairs the Legislature's Health Hospitals and Human Services Committee. He said the program aims to reach children ages 7-11 so they will learn to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
"By laying a foundation for development of their value systems at an age when our young people are receptive to guidance and adoption of behavioral principles, over time we can help reverse developing trends in our society," Canton said.
Among the topics to be covered in presentations are "Your Body, Purpose and Hygiene" and "Good Touch, Bad Touch." The videos "Girl to Woman," "Boy to Man" and "Be Smart, Don't Start" will be shown. Health Commissioner Mavis Matthew, Health Department staff members Elsie Chinnery and Veronica Phillips, Education Commissioner Noreen Michael and Dilsa Capdeville of KidsCope will be speaking. And there will be poems, skits and prayers.
On St. Croix, to register, call Canton's office at 712-2279. On St. Thomas, call Delta Edney at 713-9925 or 713-9926.
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.
ABSTINENCE SYMPOSIUM MARCH 29 IS FOR PRE-TEENS
March 21, 2003 – Students in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades are invited to take part in the 2003 Abstinence Education Youth Symposiums which will be held Saturday on St. Croix and March 29 on St. Thomas.
The St. Croix program will take place at the Divi Carina Bay Resort; the St. Thomas one will be at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
In both cases, the theme is "Sexual Abstinence: A Healthy Choice." The program begins at 8 a.m. with breakfast and includes lunch as well. It's to end at 4 p.m.
Sen. Douglas Canton and the Health Department are sponsoring the symposiums. Canton said in a release distributed on Thursday that while registering in advance is desirable, no young person just showing up will be turned away. Parental consent is necessary. Patricia O'Reilly in Canton's office said that parents may send a note with their children giving their approval.
Canton chairs the Legislature's Health Hospitals and Human Services Committee. He said the program aims to reach children ages 7-11 so they will learn to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
"By laying a foundation for development of their value systems at an age when our young people are receptive to guidance and adoption of behavioral principles, over time we can help reverse developing trends in our society," Canton said.
Among the topics to be covered in presentations are "Your Body, Purpose and Hygiene" and "Good Touch, Bad Touch." The videos "Girl to Woman," "Boy to Man" and "Be Smart, Don't Start" will be shown. Health Commissioner Mavis Matthew, Health Department staff members Elsie Chinnery and Veronica Phillips, Education Commissioner Noreen Michael and Dilsa Capdeville of KidsCope will be speaking. And there will be poems, skits and prayers.
On St. Croix, to register, call Canton's office at 712-2279. On St. Thomas, call Delta Edney at 713-9925 or 713-9926.
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 St. Croix program will take place at the Divi Carina Bay Resort; the St. Thomas one will be at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
In both cases, the theme is "Sexual Abstinence: A Healthy Choice." The program begins at 8 a.m. with breakfast and includes lunch as well. It's to end at 4 p.m.
Sen. Douglas Canton and the Health Department are sponsoring the symposiums. Canton said in a release distributed on Thursday that while registering in advance is desirable, no young person just showing up will be turned away. Parental consent is necessary. Patricia O'Reilly in Canton's office said that parents may send a note with their children giving their approval.
Canton chairs the Legislature's Health Hospitals and Human Services Committee. He said the program aims to reach children ages 7-11 so they will learn to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
"By laying a foundation for development of their value systems at an age when our young people are receptive to guidance and adoption of behavioral principles, over time we can help reverse developing trends in our society," Canton said.
Among the topics to be covered in presentations are "Your Body, Purpose and Hygiene" and "Good Touch, Bad Touch." The videos "Girl to Woman," "Boy to Man" and "Be Smart, Don't Start" will be shown. Health Commissioner Mavis Matthew, Health Department staff members Elsie Chinnery and Veronica Phillips, Education Commissioner Noreen Michael and Dilsa Capdeville of KidsCope will be speaking. And there will be poems, skits and prayers.
On St. Croix, to register, call Canton's office at 712-2279. On St. Thomas, call Delta Edney at 713-9925 or 713-9926.
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.
ABSTINENCE SYMPOSIUM MARCH 22 IS FOR PRE-TEENS
March 21, 2003 – Students in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades are invited to take part in the 2003 Abstinence Education Youth Symposiums which will be held Saturday on St. Croix and March 29 on St. Thomas.
The St. Croix program will take place at the Divi Carina Bay Resort; the St. Thomas one will be at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
In both cases, the theme is "Sexual Abstinence: A Healthy Choice." The program begins at 8 a.m. with breakfast and includes lunch as well. It's to end at 4 p.m.
Sen. Douglas Canton and the Health Department are sponsoring the symposiums. Canton said in a release distributed on Thursday that while registering in advance is desirable, no young person just showing up will be turned away. Parental consent is necessary. Patricia O'Reilly in Canton's office said that parents may send a note with their children giving their approval.
Canton chairs the Legislature's Health Hospitals and Human Services Committee. He said the program aims to reach children ages 7-11 so they will learn to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
"By laying a foundation for development of their value systems at an age when our young people are receptive to guidance and adoption of behavioral principles, over time we can help reverse developing trends in our society," Canton said.
Among the topics to be covered in presentations are "Your Body, Purpose and Hygiene" and "Good Touch, Bad Touch." The videos "Girl to Woman," "Boy to Man" and "Be Smart, Don't Start" will be shown. Health Commissioner Mavis Matthew, Health Department staff members Elsie Chinnery and Veronica Phillips, Education Commissioner Noreen Michael and Dilsa Capdeville of KidsCope will be speaking. And there will be poems, skits and prayers.
On St. Croix, to register, call Canton's office at 712-2279. On St. Thomas, call Delta Edney at 713-9925 or 713-9926.
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 St. Croix program will take place at the Divi Carina Bay Resort; the St. Thomas one will be at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
In both cases, the theme is "Sexual Abstinence: A Healthy Choice." The program begins at 8 a.m. with breakfast and includes lunch as well. It's to end at 4 p.m.
Sen. Douglas Canton and the Health Department are sponsoring the symposiums. Canton said in a release distributed on Thursday that while registering in advance is desirable, no young person just showing up will be turned away. Parental consent is necessary. Patricia O'Reilly in Canton's office said that parents may send a note with their children giving their approval.
Canton chairs the Legislature's Health Hospitals and Human Services Committee. He said the program aims to reach children ages 7-11 so they will learn to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
"By laying a foundation for development of their value systems at an age when our young people are receptive to guidance and adoption of behavioral principles, over time we can help reverse developing trends in our society," Canton said.
Among the topics to be covered in presentations are "Your Body, Purpose and Hygiene" and "Good Touch, Bad Touch." The videos "Girl to Woman," "Boy to Man" and "Be Smart, Don't Start" will be shown. Health Commissioner Mavis Matthew, Health Department staff members Elsie Chinnery and Veronica Phillips, Education Commissioner Noreen Michael and Dilsa Capdeville of KidsCope will be speaking. And there will be poems, skits and prayers.
On St. Croix, to register, call Canton's office at 712-2279. On St. Thomas, call Delta Edney at 713-9925 or 713-9926.
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.
OIL INDUSTRY REPORT: HOVENSA EYED AS TARGET
March 21, 2003 – Statements attributed to top government officials in Aruba have led to heightened security around the Hovensa refinery.
A report published Thursday in the oil industry newsletter Oil Express suggests elements opposed to U.S. military action in Iraq are weighing a possible attack against U.S. refineries in the Caribbean.
"Of specific interest to Islamic fundamentalists: the 495,000 b/d [barrels a day] Hess refinery in the Virgin Islands, and El Paso's 250,000 b/d facility in Aruba," the report said.
Oil Express is a weekly newsletter published by OPIS, a group of New Jersey-based industry specialists who track the price of oil and petroleum products for a confidential client list of top oil companies, distributors, traders and buyers.
An executive at Amerada Hess, the parent company of Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp., the local component of Hovensa, said company officials were aware of the possible threat but could not verify whether the information is reliable. Security measures are, however, being taken.
"Yes, we've seen the story," Carl Tursi, Amerada Hess vice president, said from New York. He said Hess officials "don't know where it came from," but "we have extra security at the refinery. The Coast Guard is there. The National Guard is on alert, as it is around the nation."
Tursi added: "We notified the FBI, but they were already aware of it."
The Oil Express item cited intelligence reports circulating through Aruba's government last week. "The first hint of a plausible threat to the two facilities came from an attorney in Aruba who allegedly received information from the Prime Minister of Aruba, Nelson Oduber," the article said.
Oduber reportedly said that if the United States attacked Iraq, Islamic fundamentalists based in South America would strike the U.S.-held refinery in Aruba.
Intelligence reports obtained by Oil Express pointed to a group of al-Qaida sympathizers in Sudan and a man identified as "Saudi Abu Zahid" who told the group in 2002 that terrorists would attack terminals, pipelines and ships. "He implied possible attacks against the Amerada Hess facility in St. Croix," the article said.
Hovensa spokesman Alexander A. Moorhead said on Friday that the refinery already has procedures in place to follow as the level in the national threat assessment rises. Since U.S. forces began their strike in Iraq, the level has risen to Code Orange, or high alert, which is second only fo Code Red, the highest level.
Moorhead, Hovensa's vice president for government relations and community affairs, said: "We do have steps that we take as the national security level changes, but I wouldn't want to go into any further detail, because we wouldn't want that to become public information."
Security at the St. Croix refinery — the largest in the Western Hemisphere — has been the ongoing subject of talks between Hovensa and the V.I. National Guard since the fall of 2001. The talks were initiated soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the mainland, Moorhead said, and have continued periodically since.
V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency officials also are paying close attention to Hovensa. Harold Baker, VITEMA director, said he has been in dialogue with refinery officials as well as V.I. port operations managers and the Water and Power Authority since national homeland security operations began last fall.
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A report published Thursday in the oil industry newsletter Oil Express suggests elements opposed to U.S. military action in Iraq are weighing a possible attack against U.S. refineries in the Caribbean.
"Of specific interest to Islamic fundamentalists: the 495,000 b/d [barrels a day] Hess refinery in the Virgin Islands, and El Paso's 250,000 b/d facility in Aruba," the report said.
Oil Express is a weekly newsletter published by OPIS, a group of New Jersey-based industry specialists who track the price of oil and petroleum products for a confidential client list of top oil companies, distributors, traders and buyers.
An executive at Amerada Hess, the parent company of Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp., the local component of Hovensa, said company officials were aware of the possible threat but could not verify whether the information is reliable. Security measures are, however, being taken.
"Yes, we've seen the story," Carl Tursi, Amerada Hess vice president, said from New York. He said Hess officials "don't know where it came from," but "we have extra security at the refinery. The Coast Guard is there. The National Guard is on alert, as it is around the nation."
Tursi added: "We notified the FBI, but they were already aware of it."
The Oil Express item cited intelligence reports circulating through Aruba's government last week. "The first hint of a plausible threat to the two facilities came from an attorney in Aruba who allegedly received information from the Prime Minister of Aruba, Nelson Oduber," the article said.
Oduber reportedly said that if the United States attacked Iraq, Islamic fundamentalists based in South America would strike the U.S.-held refinery in Aruba.
Intelligence reports obtained by Oil Express pointed to a group of al-Qaida sympathizers in Sudan and a man identified as "Saudi Abu Zahid" who told the group in 2002 that terrorists would attack terminals, pipelines and ships. "He implied possible attacks against the Amerada Hess facility in St. Croix," the article said.
Hovensa spokesman Alexander A. Moorhead said on Friday that the refinery already has procedures in place to follow as the level in the national threat assessment rises. Since U.S. forces began their strike in Iraq, the level has risen to Code Orange, or high alert, which is second only fo Code Red, the highest level.
Moorhead, Hovensa's vice president for government relations and community affairs, said: "We do have steps that we take as the national security level changes, but I wouldn't want to go into any further detail, because we wouldn't want that to become public information."
Security at the St. Croix refinery — the largest in the Western Hemisphere — has been the ongoing subject of talks between Hovensa and the V.I. National Guard since the fall of 2001. The talks were initiated soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the mainland, Moorhead said, and have continued periodically since.
V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency officials also are paying close attention to Hovensa. Harold Baker, VITEMA director, said he has been in dialogue with refinery officials as well as V.I. port operations managers and the Water and Power Authority since national homeland security operations began last fall.
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.
FISHING PIER YET TO BE CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS
March 21, 2003 – The most recent in a series of dates announced by the Planning and Natural Resources Department for closing the Frederiksted pier for renovations appears to be yet another false alarm to fishermen who launch from the pier, according to the president of the Fish Advisory Council, Robert McAuliffe.
DPNR issued a statement on Friday saying the pier would be closed from Thursday, March 20, to Thursday, May 8. As of Friday afternoon, McAuliffe said, no work had started, and the pier remained open.
"They've been putting that notice out for three months that they're closing the pier, but the contractor hasn't moved forward," McAuliffe said. He said that as far as he knows, equipment necessary to begin construction had not arrived, and "it looks like another couple months' delay."
The entire pier project was supposed to have been completed by March 15, he said, adding with irony that "it doesn't look like they're going to make the deadline."
The pier suffered damage in Hurricane Hugo in 1989 that has been compounded in several other major hurricanes since then. Fishermen in a meeting with several senators last December complained that DPNR had found no alternative site for them to launch their boats, once the work does begin.
When the project was first announced, the plan was to shut down one side of the pier and open a previously unused area for the launching of boats. But because the construction site could present a hazard, DPNR officials said, that plan was scrapped.
"They're saying the entire facility will be shut down and cannot be used for 60 days, and we all know it will be longer than that," McAuliffe said at the December meeting. "You're going to put these people out of business for three or four months by not following the original bid. The fishermen are dumbfounded."
The situation since then has not changed, he said Friday. "They haven't relocated them anywhere," he said, and if and when the facility is closed, fishermen with equipment not big enough to launch from other sites will be in trouble.
A nearby launching location was identified, but McAuliffe said DPNR officials nixed that idea, too, saying the permitting process would take too long.
Renovation of the pier is to include:
– Removal of the existing pier remnants and reconstruction of a concrete pier that can withstand hurricanes.
– Removal of the north and south slab ramps and reconstruction of a ramp encompassing both the north and south sides.
– Installation of adequate lighting.
– Installation of buoys to mark the no-swimming area adjacent to the facility.
The renovation is being funded through a grant from the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Sport Fish Restoration Program's V.I. Boat Access Project.
Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean Plaskett was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.
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DPNR issued a statement on Friday saying the pier would be closed from Thursday, March 20, to Thursday, May 8. As of Friday afternoon, McAuliffe said, no work had started, and the pier remained open.
"They've been putting that notice out for three months that they're closing the pier, but the contractor hasn't moved forward," McAuliffe said. He said that as far as he knows, equipment necessary to begin construction had not arrived, and "it looks like another couple months' delay."
The entire pier project was supposed to have been completed by March 15, he said, adding with irony that "it doesn't look like they're going to make the deadline."
The pier suffered damage in Hurricane Hugo in 1989 that has been compounded in several other major hurricanes since then. Fishermen in a meeting with several senators last December complained that DPNR had found no alternative site for them to launch their boats, once the work does begin.
When the project was first announced, the plan was to shut down one side of the pier and open a previously unused area for the launching of boats. But because the construction site could present a hazard, DPNR officials said, that plan was scrapped.
"They're saying the entire facility will be shut down and cannot be used for 60 days, and we all know it will be longer than that," McAuliffe said at the December meeting. "You're going to put these people out of business for three or four months by not following the original bid. The fishermen are dumbfounded."
The situation since then has not changed, he said Friday. "They haven't relocated them anywhere," he said, and if and when the facility is closed, fishermen with equipment not big enough to launch from other sites will be in trouble.
A nearby launching location was identified, but McAuliffe said DPNR officials nixed that idea, too, saying the permitting process would take too long.
Renovation of the pier is to include:
– Removal of the existing pier remnants and reconstruction of a concrete pier that can withstand hurricanes.
– Removal of the north and south slab ramps and reconstruction of a ramp encompassing both the north and south sides.
– Installation of adequate lighting.
– Installation of buoys to mark the no-swimming area adjacent to the facility.
The renovation is being funded through a grant from the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Sport Fish Restoration Program's V.I. Boat Access Project.
Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean Plaskett was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.
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PUMP STATION FAILURE CAUSES SEWAGE DISCHARGE
March 21, 2003 – St. Croix's sewer system failed again Friday, with the Planning and Natural Resources Department issuing a statement saying that raw sewage was being discharged into the Campo Rico area as a result of a pump station failure.
DPNR's Environmental Protection Division was investigating reports of sewage while Public Works Department personnel worked to get the pump station back on line, the statement said.
The public is being advised to avoid areas of stormwater runoff such as guts, puddles and drainage basins in and around Estate Campo Rico on St. Croix's South Shore. "This includes activities such as fishing and bathing," the statement said.
The advisory also said those persons with compromised immune systems should avoid the area and the nearby beaches, as standing or running water could contain harmful pollutants.
For more information, call 773-1082.
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DPNR's Environmental Protection Division was investigating reports of sewage while Public Works Department personnel worked to get the pump station back on line, the statement said.
The public is being advised to avoid areas of stormwater runoff such as guts, puddles and drainage basins in and around Estate Campo Rico on St. Croix's South Shore. "This includes activities such as fishing and bathing," the statement said.
The advisory also said those persons with compromised immune systems should avoid the area and the nearby beaches, as standing or running water could contain harmful pollutants.
For more information, call 773-1082.
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.
