March 12, 2003 – The first sign that the increased landing fees enacted by the V.I. Port Authority Feb. 1 are having a detrimental impact on the aviation industry here showed up Wednesday when American Airlines announced it will shut down its St. Croix ground operations as of April 15.
Minette Velez, director of American's corporate communications in San Juan, said Wednesday that American will give up its counter space and offices on St. Croix, lay off all its full-time employees, including long-time general manager Lowell Dyer and contract out the servicing of its daily Miami-St. Croix round trip jet flight to American Eagle.
The action means the American employees, some of which have been working for the company more than 20 years, could be forced to the unemployment lines. The employees were notified of the changes in a letter this week.
However, Velez said the employees will each be offered other "employment options on an individual basis." Those options would most likely involve relocation.
Velez said it was no longer viable for America to maintain its service operations on St. Croix when Eagle's agents were available to service the single jet flight into St. Croix.
"As you know the company has been facing a financial crisis and is looking to lower its operational costs," Velez said, adding, "In addition we have increased landing fees, " which came at a time that the company could ill afford them.
Rumors that American was seeking bankruptcy financing circulated in the media this week and the New York Times reported Wednesday that AMR, American's parent company, has been removed from Standard and Poor's 500 index as the company's stock price and market value continue to plummet.
However, even before that the airline made it clear that if the V.I. Port Authority stood by its decision to increase landing fees, it would be forced to cut service. The Port Authority did not back down.
Velez said the decision to shut down the ground operations and "out source" them to American Eagle was the only viable alternative. It was done, she said, instead of cutting the flight altogether
Velez also reiterated that the daily "seasonal flights" from Boston and JFK to St. Thomas "are not going to be extended," beyond the end of season and are, at this point, unlikely to be resumed next season.
"We're evaluating," the outlook for next year, but said she "wouldn't anticipate" the return of those flights.
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SPECIFICS OF GUARD COMPLAINTS UNDISCLOSED
March 12, 2003 – So far, 10 V.I. National Guard members attached to the 610th water supply unit are the only group from the Virgin Islands who have shipped out to take their part in Operation Enduring Freedom/Noble Eagle.
The 10 water specialists reported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to team up with another unit of water specialists from Virginia, VING spokesman Osbert Potter said. He said he had not received any information as to whether they have left Fort Bragg for assignment in the Persian Gulf. Their job is to purify and store water.
National guard troops throughout the United States all get identical training, Potter said, and before they are deployed to a potential combat area they are re-evaluated. "If we sent soldiers who are unprepared, they would be sent home," he said.
A full-page paid advertisement in local print newspapers on March 3 suggested otherwise. The ad, in the form of an open letter to the V.I. government, declared the guard in disarray in the territory.
As the nation moves closer to a major conflict with Iraq, it said, the "loyal guardsmen will soon decide they will not play a part in the defense of this country or these islands if something isn't done soon." The unidentified author or authors also charged that V.I. National Guard has the highest complaint rate nationwide for harassment, discrimination and inequities. It was not clear whether this referred to personnel within the local guard ranks making such complaints or external personnel complaining about the V.I. guard.
No substantiation was provided for the claims made. The names of nine people appeared in the ad, all listed as retirees. Efforts to reach the individuals by telephone were unsuccessful except for former Sgt. 1st Class Patricia Roberts.
Her comment: "I don't have anything to say because I don't know who put my name in the paper." She did not say whether she agreed or not with the sentiments in the ad.
An anonymous caller claiming to be a member of the V.I. National Guard for more than 20 years reported having sought legal advice about a situation involving sexual harassment within the guard. This individual referred queries to the V.I. guard's inspector general, Lt. Col. Arthur Shemwell.
Shemwell said his office functions much like the Inspector General's Office of the V.I. government or the U.S. Interior Department. But as a member of the U.S. Army, he said, he could not comment on complaints within the V.I. National Guard.
"I cannot by regulation or by my position make any comments on that," he said of the published "open letter."
Delegate Donna M. Christensen said her office has "been getting complaints over the last couple of years" concerning the V.I. National Guard. She did not wish to discuss the concerns brought to her attention but said she had passed them on to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Russell C. Davis. However, she said, in the midst of their communications Davis had retired.
Christensen also said that recently, after mulling it over with staff members, she decided to approach Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, who as governor is the commander-in-chief of the V.I. National Guard, about the concerns. But at the time she sought to speak with the governor, she said, he was off island.
Reports aired last week on WVWI Radio said Christensen also has heard concerns expressed about the V.I. guard from off-island military sources. "I don't want to elaborate on that part," she said this week.
The delegate expressed doubt that any internal problems would lead guard members to resign en masse, as the open letter suggested, especially in light of a pending war. "We haven't gotten a barrage of calls from people saying 'We don't want to go,'" she said.
In recent times, Virgin Islands guard members have served in Bosnia with the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo and have responded to natural disasters and other emergencies. "Whenever they're called, they go," Christensen said.
And because they train for duty both at home in the territory and abroad with other guard units, Potter said, they are always ready.
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The 10 water specialists reported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to team up with another unit of water specialists from Virginia, VING spokesman Osbert Potter said. He said he had not received any information as to whether they have left Fort Bragg for assignment in the Persian Gulf. Their job is to purify and store water.
National guard troops throughout the United States all get identical training, Potter said, and before they are deployed to a potential combat area they are re-evaluated. "If we sent soldiers who are unprepared, they would be sent home," he said.
A full-page paid advertisement in local print newspapers on March 3 suggested otherwise. The ad, in the form of an open letter to the V.I. government, declared the guard in disarray in the territory.
As the nation moves closer to a major conflict with Iraq, it said, the "loyal guardsmen will soon decide they will not play a part in the defense of this country or these islands if something isn't done soon." The unidentified author or authors also charged that V.I. National Guard has the highest complaint rate nationwide for harassment, discrimination and inequities. It was not clear whether this referred to personnel within the local guard ranks making such complaints or external personnel complaining about the V.I. guard.
No substantiation was provided for the claims made. The names of nine people appeared in the ad, all listed as retirees. Efforts to reach the individuals by telephone were unsuccessful except for former Sgt. 1st Class Patricia Roberts.
Her comment: "I don't have anything to say because I don't know who put my name in the paper." She did not say whether she agreed or not with the sentiments in the ad.
An anonymous caller claiming to be a member of the V.I. National Guard for more than 20 years reported having sought legal advice about a situation involving sexual harassment within the guard. This individual referred queries to the V.I. guard's inspector general, Lt. Col. Arthur Shemwell.
Shemwell said his office functions much like the Inspector General's Office of the V.I. government or the U.S. Interior Department. But as a member of the U.S. Army, he said, he could not comment on complaints within the V.I. National Guard.
"I cannot by regulation or by my position make any comments on that," he said of the published "open letter."
Delegate Donna M. Christensen said her office has "been getting complaints over the last couple of years" concerning the V.I. National Guard. She did not wish to discuss the concerns brought to her attention but said she had passed them on to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Russell C. Davis. However, she said, in the midst of their communications Davis had retired.
Christensen also said that recently, after mulling it over with staff members, she decided to approach Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, who as governor is the commander-in-chief of the V.I. National Guard, about the concerns. But at the time she sought to speak with the governor, she said, he was off island.
Reports aired last week on WVWI Radio said Christensen also has heard concerns expressed about the V.I. guard from off-island military sources. "I don't want to elaborate on that part," she said this week.
The delegate expressed doubt that any internal problems would lead guard members to resign en masse, as the open letter suggested, especially in light of a pending war. "We haven't gotten a barrage of calls from people saying 'We don't want to go,'" she said.
In recent times, Virgin Islands guard members have served in Bosnia with the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo and have responded to natural disasters and other emergencies. "Whenever they're called, they go," Christensen said.
And because they train for duty both at home in the territory and abroad with other guard units, Potter said, they are always ready.
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V.I. TO APPEAL FEDERAL ORDER ON SEWAGE CONTRACT
March 12, 2003 – The V.I. government will appeal Monday's order by District Judge Thomas K. Moore concerning a contract awarded without competitive bidding for sewer system repairs on St. Croix, according to Attorney General Iver Stridiron.
Meanwhile, a top Public Works Department official says the judge's order doesn't really change much, since the government has been facing federal mandates to fix the system since 1984.
A one-sentence statement released by Government House on Tuesday evening cited Stridiron as saying that the government "will file an appeal of the memorandum and order" by Moore in the case of the United States vs. the territory "involving the terminated contract with Global Resources Management Inc. for emergency repairs of the St. Croix sewage system."
Stridiron could not be reached for comment Tuesday night or during the day on Wednesday. Government House legal counsel Paul Gimenez and an assistant attorney general, Kerry Drue, said that to their knowledge the appeal had not been filed as of Wednesday afternoon.
The appeal would be to the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, the appellate court with jurisdiction for the Virgin Islands.
Moore conducted three days of hearings in connection with the case brought by U.S. Attorney David Nissman in cooperation with the U.S. Justice Department asking that the V.I. government show cause why its contract with Global Resources should not be set aside by the court.
On the final day, Feb. 3, Stridiron had told reporters that he would have "a hell of a lot to say" once the judge issued his ruling.
V.I. Justice Department attorneys argued that under a declaration of emergency by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, the government had the right to award the contract without going through the bidding process. They also contended that the federal court had no jurisdiction in the matter.
In his opinion issued on Monday, Moore declared there was no emergency, in that the sewer system crisis was of long years' standing, and that the federal court did have jurisdiction because the contract concerned repairs ordered by U.S. government and the District Court and agreed to by the territorial government.
Referring to "the reek of politics and political influence, and quite possibly of political corruption," Moore termed the awarding of the contract to Global and its chief executive, Ashley Andrews, as "yet another example of elected and appointed officials of the Virgin Islands government putting crass politics ahead of fiscal responsibility, not to mention the health and safety of the people."
The judge also wrote of "the corrupting political pressure from the Turnbull administration through Ohanio Harris, Gov. Turnbull's special assistant for St. Croix." Harris was the chief executive of Global until a year ago, when Andrews assumed that position.
Moore also wrote that he was most disturbed by "the paucity of evidence that the government was even half-heartedly trying to get these sewer lines repaired" over the years.
His order included a list of actions to be taken by the V.I. government to advance the completion of the federally ordered repairs.
On Wednesday, Sonia Nelthropp, a key official at the Public Works Department, which is largely responsible for overseeing the repairs, said that both Moore's order and a possible appeal are peripheral. Nelthropp is in charge of solid waste and wastewater management, where finding, fixing and/or replacing non-functioning elements of the territory's sewer systems is part of the job description.
Nelthropp said she had not yet seen the actual memorandum and order but that from what she had heard and read, the only change to the status quo is Moore's order that the territory within the next 90 days hire a private contractor to operate and maintain St. Croix's wastewater collection system and pump stations for at least 18 months.
"None of this affects what we're doing. It can't. We're under a consent order. Period," Nelthropp said, referring to an agreement entered into by the V.I. and federal governments in 1984 and revised in 1996 concerning federally mandated repairs and upgrades of the territory's wastewater system.
Nelthropp said she has never viewed Moore's series of orders since 2000 to bring the territory into compliance with the mandates of the consent decree as punitive measures. Rather, she said, she has seen them as a means of keeping the repair process moving forward in a positive direction.
Moore on Monday also ordered the V.I. government not to revive the contract with Global Resources — which Turnbull canceled two days before the show cause hearing was to begin — and to notify the court if it enters into any sewer contracts for more than $250,000.
He also ordered the government to fix any new failures in the sewer system within 120 days, report on the amount of funds set aside in a special bank account to fund the repairs, and make deposits into that account over the next few months to bring the balance to $20 million by Oct. 1.
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Meanwhile, a top Public Works Department official says the judge's order doesn't really change much, since the government has been facing federal mandates to fix the system since 1984.
A one-sentence statement released by Government House on Tuesday evening cited Stridiron as saying that the government "will file an appeal of the memorandum and order" by Moore in the case of the United States vs. the territory "involving the terminated contract with Global Resources Management Inc. for emergency repairs of the St. Croix sewage system."
Stridiron could not be reached for comment Tuesday night or during the day on Wednesday. Government House legal counsel Paul Gimenez and an assistant attorney general, Kerry Drue, said that to their knowledge the appeal had not been filed as of Wednesday afternoon.
The appeal would be to the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, the appellate court with jurisdiction for the Virgin Islands.
Moore conducted three days of hearings in connection with the case brought by U.S. Attorney David Nissman in cooperation with the U.S. Justice Department asking that the V.I. government show cause why its contract with Global Resources should not be set aside by the court.
On the final day, Feb. 3, Stridiron had told reporters that he would have "a hell of a lot to say" once the judge issued his ruling.
V.I. Justice Department attorneys argued that under a declaration of emergency by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, the government had the right to award the contract without going through the bidding process. They also contended that the federal court had no jurisdiction in the matter.
In his opinion issued on Monday, Moore declared there was no emergency, in that the sewer system crisis was of long years' standing, and that the federal court did have jurisdiction because the contract concerned repairs ordered by U.S. government and the District Court and agreed to by the territorial government.
Referring to "the reek of politics and political influence, and quite possibly of political corruption," Moore termed the awarding of the contract to Global and its chief executive, Ashley Andrews, as "yet another example of elected and appointed officials of the Virgin Islands government putting crass politics ahead of fiscal responsibility, not to mention the health and safety of the people."
The judge also wrote of "the corrupting political pressure from the Turnbull administration through Ohanio Harris, Gov. Turnbull's special assistant for St. Croix." Harris was the chief executive of Global until a year ago, when Andrews assumed that position.
Moore also wrote that he was most disturbed by "the paucity of evidence that the government was even half-heartedly trying to get these sewer lines repaired" over the years.
His order included a list of actions to be taken by the V.I. government to advance the completion of the federally ordered repairs.
On Wednesday, Sonia Nelthropp, a key official at the Public Works Department, which is largely responsible for overseeing the repairs, said that both Moore's order and a possible appeal are peripheral. Nelthropp is in charge of solid waste and wastewater management, where finding, fixing and/or replacing non-functioning elements of the territory's sewer systems is part of the job description.
Nelthropp said she had not yet seen the actual memorandum and order but that from what she had heard and read, the only change to the status quo is Moore's order that the territory within the next 90 days hire a private contractor to operate and maintain St. Croix's wastewater collection system and pump stations for at least 18 months.
"None of this affects what we're doing. It can't. We're under a consent order. Period," Nelthropp said, referring to an agreement entered into by the V.I. and federal governments in 1984 and revised in 1996 concerning federally mandated repairs and upgrades of the territory's wastewater system.
Nelthropp said she has never viewed Moore's series of orders since 2000 to bring the territory into compliance with the mandates of the consent decree as punitive measures. Rather, she said, she has seen them as a means of keeping the repair process moving forward in a positive direction.
Moore on Monday also ordered the V.I. government not to revive the contract with Global Resources — which Turnbull canceled two days before the show cause hearing was to begin — and to notify the court if it enters into any sewer contracts for more than $250,000.
He also ordered the government to fix any new failures in the sewer system within 120 days, report on the amount of funds set aside in a special bank account to fund the repairs, and make deposits into that account over the next few months to bring the balance to $20 million by Oct. 1.
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AA TO CONTRACT OUT ST. CROIX GROUND SERVICES
March 12, 2003 – The first sign that the increased landing fees enacted by the V.I. Port Authority Feb. 1 are having a detrimental impact on the aviation industry here showed up Wednesday when American Airlines announced it will shut down its St. Croix ground operations as of April 15.
Minette Velez, director of American's corporate communications in San Juan, said Wednesday that American will give up its counter space and offices on St. Croix, lay off all its full-time employees, including long-time general manager Lowell Dyer and contract out the servicing of its daily Miami-St. Croix round trip jet flight to American Eagle.
The action means the American employees, some of which have been working for the company more than 20 years, could be forced to the unemployment lines. The employees were notified of the changes in a letter this week.
However, Velez said the employees will each be offered other "employment options on an individual basis." Those options would most likely involve relocation.
Velez said it was no longer viable for America to maintain its service operations on St. Croix when Eagle's agents were available to service the single jet flight into St. Croix.
"As you know the company has been facing a financial crisis and is looking to lower its operational costs," Velez said, adding, "In addition we have increased landing fees, " which came at a time that the company could ill afford them.
Rumors that American was seeking bankruptcy financing circulated in the media this week and the New York Times reported Wednesday that AMR, American's parent company, has been removed from Standard and Poor's 500 index as the company's stock price and market value continue to plummet.
However, even before that the airline made it clear that if the V.I. Port Authority stood by its decision to increase landing fees, it would be forced to cut service. The Port Authority did not back down.
Velez said the decision to shut down the ground operations and "out source" them to American Eagle was the only viable alternative. It was done, she said, instead of cutting the flight altogether
Velez also reiterated that the daily "seasonal flights" from Boston and JFK to St. Thomas "are not going to be extended," beyond the end of season and are, at this point, unlikely to be resumed next season.
"We're evaluating," the outlook for next year, but said she "wouldn't anticipate" the return of those flights.
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.
Minette Velez, director of American's corporate communications in San Juan, said Wednesday that American will give up its counter space and offices on St. Croix, lay off all its full-time employees, including long-time general manager Lowell Dyer and contract out the servicing of its daily Miami-St. Croix round trip jet flight to American Eagle.
The action means the American employees, some of which have been working for the company more than 20 years, could be forced to the unemployment lines. The employees were notified of the changes in a letter this week.
However, Velez said the employees will each be offered other "employment options on an individual basis." Those options would most likely involve relocation.
Velez said it was no longer viable for America to maintain its service operations on St. Croix when Eagle's agents were available to service the single jet flight into St. Croix.
"As you know the company has been facing a financial crisis and is looking to lower its operational costs," Velez said, adding, "In addition we have increased landing fees, " which came at a time that the company could ill afford them.
Rumors that American was seeking bankruptcy financing circulated in the media this week and the New York Times reported Wednesday that AMR, American's parent company, has been removed from Standard and Poor's 500 index as the company's stock price and market value continue to plummet.
However, even before that the airline made it clear that if the V.I. Port Authority stood by its decision to increase landing fees, it would be forced to cut service. The Port Authority did not back down.
Velez said the decision to shut down the ground operations and "out source" them to American Eagle was the only viable alternative. It was done, she said, instead of cutting the flight altogether
Velez also reiterated that the daily "seasonal flights" from Boston and JFK to St. Thomas "are not going to be extended," beyond the end of season and are, at this point, unlikely to be resumed next season.
"We're evaluating," the outlook for next year, but said she "wouldn't anticipate" the return of those flights.
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HIKE THE ESTATE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
March 12, 2003 – Ruins Ramble at Estate Wheel of Fortune at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 23. It's an easy walk at Concordia Road, Frederiksted.
The cost is $8 for members, $6 for students, and $12 for non-members.
Wine and cheese refreshments will be served after the hike.
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The cost is $8 for members, $6 for students, and $12 for non-members.
Wine and cheese refreshments will be served after the hike.
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HIKE THE ESTATE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
The St. Croix Landmarks Society will hold a Ruins Ramble at Estate Wheel of Fortune. It is an easy walk on Concordia Road, Frederiksted. The cost is $8 for members, $6 for students and $12 for non-members.j
Wine and Cheese refreshments after the hike. For more information call 772-0598.
Wine and Cheese refreshments after the hike. For more information call 772-0598.
FRIENDS OF FRENCH HAPPY HOUR
Friends of the French Culture weekly Happy Hour will meet at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, at The Pointe-Villa Olga in Frenchtown.
VETERANS MARCH COUNSELING SCHEDULE
March 12, 2003 – Counseling for veterans will be from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, March 14, at the Community Based Clinic located in the Barren Spot Mall.
Counselor Zoraida Diaz of the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico will conduct the sessions and answer questions on all benefits, claims, pensions and compensations.
For more information call the Office of Veterans Affairs at 773-6663.
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Counselor Zoraida Diaz of the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico will conduct the sessions and answer questions on all benefits, claims, pensions and compensations.
For more information call the Office of Veterans Affairs at 773-6663.
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.
100 BLACK MEN MEETING AT LAGRAND PRINCESS
The 100 Black Men of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Inc., will meet at the James Memorial Funeral Home at 6AA LaGrande Princess.
For more information contact Gerard Luz James II at 778-8491.
For more information contact Gerard Luz James II at 778-8491.
LACK OF FUNDING CALLED BIGGEST SECURITY PROBLEM
March 11, 2003 – Since 2000, the Police Department has made arrests in 56 of the 128 homicides in the territory, according to Police Commissioner Franz Christian.
Christian told senators at the first hearing of the Legislature's new Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and Justice Committee on Tuesday that several problems contribute to the high percentage of unsolved crimes. Among them, he said, are a dearth of community assistance in fingering suspects, the lack of a territorial crime lab and inadequate funding of the department.
"It is a community issue," he said. "Once we continue to build confidence in the Police Department, I think citizens will come forward with information. Crimes are incidents of opportunity."
The hearing, on St. Croix, was called to discuss crime and homeland security in the territory.
Christian said several projects are coming down the pike to help improve police capabilities. One, he said, is the implementation of an automatic fingerprinting system on St. Croix that will be linked to the one already in use on St. Thomas and St. John.
Also being implemented or planned, he said, are a ballistics program to help officers more readily identify firearms and link them to crimes; an upgraded communication system on St. Croix including police radios and the erection of a 150-foot tower; the establishment of a crime lab and computerizing of criminal record keeping.
Sen. Louis Hill called the unsolved killings a "major concern" and asked why police have been unable to solve the cases. "The response is simple," Christian said. "We did not have the funding in order to correct the problem. Funding has been, and continues to be, our greatest setback."
Good news, Christian said, is that the Public Finance Authority recently provided some supplemental financial assistance to complete several projects, including the installation of surveillance cameras in the territory's downtown areas.
The committee's St. Croix hearing will continue on Wednesday afternoon and will deal with cruise ship industry officials' concerns about crime on the island, cited as the primary reason that Carnival Cruise Lines stopped visits by two of its vessels to St. Croix last spring.
"No tourist on the planet travels to an unsafe, unhealthy, unwelcoming destination," Sen. Lorraine Berry, the committee chair, told police officials Tuesday. "Tourism and crime, like oil and water, do not mix."
Berry cited recent media headlines about two police officers under scrutiny in shooting incidents. Last week, an officer shot a man in the back at Times Square as he ran from police. Another officer who allegedly killed a man during the commission of a crime in 2001 is under investigation for shooting at a man recently following a car accident.
"Some officers have been linked to criminal activity, but no police officers have been fired," Berry said. She noted that police policy prevents the public from knowing the names of officers accused of wrongdoing. "This does not bear well with the community," she said, "especially when people are concerned with the safety of their own lives."
Hill said the Police Department appears to be "under attack by the press and other members of the community."
"I think it might be out of frustration of your inability to solve these heinous crimes," he said. "Rather than focusing on the criminal element in society, they're turning around and focusing on the police and accusing them of shooting people and whatnot."
Christian, when asked specifically about the two recent shooting incidents involving police officers, would say only that the matter is under investigation and that more information will be disclosed at the "appropriate time."
More police officers are badly needed, Christian said. He said there are 23 positions open on St. Croix and 17 openings in the St. Thomas-St. John district. But it has been hard to recruit new officers, he said, and the government is considering importing officers from Puerto Rico to alleviate the shortage. Puerto Rico has agreed to assist the Virgin Islands in setting up a program modeled on a successful one there.
Sen. Carlton Dowe said that bringing police officers in from Puerto Rico could introduce a new set of problems to St. Croix. Even if new officers are added, he said, a restructuring of the Police Department is needed to comply with a federal mandate to step up homeland security and emergency response preparedness.
Adj. Gen. Cleave McBean, commanding officer of the V.I. National Guard and also executive director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said Christian might consider adding an anti-terrorism unit. He noted that the local National Guard is not a first-response unit in case of a terrorist attack.
In addressing homeland security, McBean also voiced the familiar complaint of low funding. VITEMA oversees the territory's all-hazards emergency management program. Despite the attention on homeland security issues after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he said, very little federal money has made its way to the territory for that purpose.
"The reality is that there is a lack of financial and new technological resources provided to the states and territories to assist with emergency preparedness," McBean said. "This body needs to put money on the side for eventualities, although that's probably a hard concept at this time to grasp."
The Legislature appropriated $300,000 to fund homeland security initiatives, but only $90,000 of that has been released so far, McBean said. The situation, he said, could have an impact on whether the federal government will dole out additional dollars.
In spite of underfunding, McBean said, VITEMA has established a Homeland Security Council, a strategy and an advisory system and has updated the Territorial Emergency Operations Plan.
Sen. Ronald Russell asked how a U.S. war with Iraq could threaten the security of the Virgin Islands.
McBean said the risk of an attack on the territory is minimal, but the Hovensa oil refinery on St. Croix is of "great interest to the Department of Defense." He said Hovensa has its own contingency plan that includes the utilization of active-duty military personnel, rather than the National Guard.
Committee members present at Tuesday's proceedings were Sens. Berry, Dowe, Emmett Hansen II, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Russell. Non-member also present were Sens. Norman Jn Baptiste, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Hill, Raymond "Usie" Richards and Celestino A. White Sr.
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Christian told senators at the first hearing of the Legislature's new Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and Justice Committee on Tuesday that several problems contribute to the high percentage of unsolved crimes. Among them, he said, are a dearth of community assistance in fingering suspects, the lack of a territorial crime lab and inadequate funding of the department.
"It is a community issue," he said. "Once we continue to build confidence in the Police Department, I think citizens will come forward with information. Crimes are incidents of opportunity."
The hearing, on St. Croix, was called to discuss crime and homeland security in the territory.
Christian said several projects are coming down the pike to help improve police capabilities. One, he said, is the implementation of an automatic fingerprinting system on St. Croix that will be linked to the one already in use on St. Thomas and St. John.
Also being implemented or planned, he said, are a ballistics program to help officers more readily identify firearms and link them to crimes; an upgraded communication system on St. Croix including police radios and the erection of a 150-foot tower; the establishment of a crime lab and computerizing of criminal record keeping.
Sen. Louis Hill called the unsolved killings a "major concern" and asked why police have been unable to solve the cases. "The response is simple," Christian said. "We did not have the funding in order to correct the problem. Funding has been, and continues to be, our greatest setback."
Good news, Christian said, is that the Public Finance Authority recently provided some supplemental financial assistance to complete several projects, including the installation of surveillance cameras in the territory's downtown areas.
The committee's St. Croix hearing will continue on Wednesday afternoon and will deal with cruise ship industry officials' concerns about crime on the island, cited as the primary reason that Carnival Cruise Lines stopped visits by two of its vessels to St. Croix last spring.
"No tourist on the planet travels to an unsafe, unhealthy, unwelcoming destination," Sen. Lorraine Berry, the committee chair, told police officials Tuesday. "Tourism and crime, like oil and water, do not mix."
Berry cited recent media headlines about two police officers under scrutiny in shooting incidents. Last week, an officer shot a man in the back at Times Square as he ran from police. Another officer who allegedly killed a man during the commission of a crime in 2001 is under investigation for shooting at a man recently following a car accident.
"Some officers have been linked to criminal activity, but no police officers have been fired," Berry said. She noted that police policy prevents the public from knowing the names of officers accused of wrongdoing. "This does not bear well with the community," she said, "especially when people are concerned with the safety of their own lives."
Hill said the Police Department appears to be "under attack by the press and other members of the community."
"I think it might be out of frustration of your inability to solve these heinous crimes," he said. "Rather than focusing on the criminal element in society, they're turning around and focusing on the police and accusing them of shooting people and whatnot."
Christian, when asked specifically about the two recent shooting incidents involving police officers, would say only that the matter is under investigation and that more information will be disclosed at the "appropriate time."
More police officers are badly needed, Christian said. He said there are 23 positions open on St. Croix and 17 openings in the St. Thomas-St. John district. But it has been hard to recruit new officers, he said, and the government is considering importing officers from Puerto Rico to alleviate the shortage. Puerto Rico has agreed to assist the Virgin Islands in setting up a program modeled on a successful one there.
Sen. Carlton Dowe said that bringing police officers in from Puerto Rico could introduce a new set of problems to St. Croix. Even if new officers are added, he said, a restructuring of the Police Department is needed to comply with a federal mandate to step up homeland security and emergency response preparedness.
Adj. Gen. Cleave McBean, commanding officer of the V.I. National Guard and also executive director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said Christian might consider adding an anti-terrorism unit. He noted that the local National Guard is not a first-response unit in case of a terrorist attack.
In addressing homeland security, McBean also voiced the familiar complaint of low funding. VITEMA oversees the territory's all-hazards emergency management program. Despite the attention on homeland security issues after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he said, very little federal money has made its way to the territory for that purpose.
"The reality is that there is a lack of financial and new technological resources provided to the states and territories to assist with emergency preparedness," McBean said. "This body needs to put money on the side for eventualities, although that's probably a hard concept at this time to grasp."
The Legislature appropriated $300,000 to fund homeland security initiatives, but only $90,000 of that has been released so far, McBean said. The situation, he said, could have an impact on whether the federal government will dole out additional dollars.
In spite of underfunding, McBean said, VITEMA has established a Homeland Security Council, a strategy and an advisory system and has updated the Territorial Emergency Operations Plan.
Sen. Ronald Russell asked how a U.S. war with Iraq could threaten the security of the Virgin Islands.
McBean said the risk of an attack on the territory is minimal, but the Hovensa oil refinery on St. Croix is of "great interest to the Department of Defense." He said Hovensa has its own contingency plan that includes the utilization of active-duty military personnel, rather than the National Guard.
Committee members present at Tuesday's proceedings were Sens. Berry, Dowe, Emmett Hansen II, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Russell. Non-member also present were Sens. Norman Jn Baptiste, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Hill, Raymond "Usie" Richards and Celestino A. White Sr.
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