March 9, 2003 — "Filing Your Business Taxes for 2002" will be presented by the University of the Virgin Islands' Small Business Development Center in seminars on St. Thomas and St. John.
V.I. Internal Revenue Bureau officials will be presenters. They are Roy L. Moorehead, chief of audit, and A. Alonzo Brady, senior revenue agent.
The seminar on St. John will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in the V.I. Legislature conference room in Cruz Bay.
The St. Thomas seminar will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the SBDC training facility on the second floor, east wing, Nisky Center.
Topics to be covered include tax changes for 2002, how to compute and accurately file your taxes, local and federal tax obligations, and how a tax return is selected for audit.
Admission is free, but pre-registration at 776-3206 is requested, by March 11 for the St. John seminar and by March 25 for the St. Thomas seminar.
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.
HAVENSIGHT POSTAL STORE CLOSED MARCH 16
March 9, 2003 — The Havensight Postal Store will be closed on Sunday, March 16, for inventory purposes, according to a release from Postmaster Louis A. Jackson.
The facility will reopen at the regular time on Monday, March 17.
The facility will reopen at the regular time on Monday, March 17.
IRB OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS BUSINESS TAXES
March 9, 2003 — "Filing Your Business Taxes for 2002" will be presented by the University of the Virgin Islands' Small Business Development Center in a seminar from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the SBDC training facility on the second floor, east wing, Nisky Center, St. Thomas.
Admission is free, but pre-registration at 776-3206 is requested by March 25.
V.I. Internal Revenue Bureau officials will be presenters. They are Roy L. Moorehead, chief of audit, and A. Alonzo Brady, senior revenue agent.
Topics to be covered include tax changes for 2002, how to compute and accurately file your taxes, local and federal tax obligations, and how a tax return is selected for audit.
Admission is free, but pre-registration at 776-3206 is requested by March 25.
V.I. Internal Revenue Bureau officials will be presenters. They are Roy L. Moorehead, chief of audit, and A. Alonzo Brady, senior revenue agent.
Topics to be covered include tax changes for 2002, how to compute and accurately file your taxes, local and federal tax obligations, and how a tax return is selected for audit.
IRB OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS BUSINESS TAXES
March 9, 2003 — "Filing Your Business Taxes for 2002" will be presented by the University of the Virgin Islands' Small Business Development Center in seminars on St. Thomas and St. John.
V.I. Internal Revenue Bureau officials will be presenters. They are Roy L. Moorehead, chief of audit, and A. Alonzo Brady, senior revenue agent.
The seminar on St. John will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in the V.I. Legislature conference room in Cruz Bay.
The St. Thomas seminar will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the SBDC training facility on the second floor, east wing, Nisky Center.
Topics to be covered include tax changes for 2002, how to compute and accurately file your taxes, local and federal tax obligations, and how a tax return is selected for audit.
Admission is free, but pre-registration at 776-3206 is requested, by March 11 for the St. John seminar and by March 25 for the St. Thomas seminar.
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.
V.I. Internal Revenue Bureau officials will be presenters. They are Roy L. Moorehead, chief of audit, and A. Alonzo Brady, senior revenue agent.
The seminar on St. John will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in the V.I. Legislature conference room in Cruz Bay.
The St. Thomas seminar will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the SBDC training facility on the second floor, east wing, Nisky Center.
Topics to be covered include tax changes for 2002, how to compute and accurately file your taxes, local and federal tax obligations, and how a tax return is selected for audit.
Admission is free, but pre-registration at 776-3206 is requested, by March 11 for the St. John seminar and by March 25 for the St. Thomas seminar.
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.
HAVENSIGHT POSTAL STORE TO BE CLOSED MARCH 16
March 9, 2003 — The Havensight Postal Store will be closed on Sunday, March 16, for inventory purposes, according to a release from Postmaster Louis A. Jackson.
The facility will reopen at the regular time on Monday, March 17.
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 facility will reopen at the regular time on Monday, March 17.
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.
SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE READY TO ROLL
March 9, 2003 – In its inaugural sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday and later this month, the Legislature's newest standing committee will be wading into wide-ranging concerns that are hot topics in the territory and beyond.
Sen. Lorraine Berry is convening her brand-new Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and Justice Committee on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon on St. Croix, with a "working breakfast" sandwiched in between. Then she'll take much the same agenda to St. Thomas for a hearing scheduled to open on March 26 and continue on April 3.
"Public safety" and "homeland security" are the primary focuses for the meetings, and in connection with the latter, Berry has invited one of the top aides to national Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to come to the territory and, implicitly, to address her committee.
"Our situation and fiscal circumstances are so extraordinary they require direct federal consultation," she told Michael Brown, under-secretary designate. "We need to see that Washington is taking us seriously, and your appearance would go a long way in this direction."
So far, Brown has not scheduled such a visit.
Aside from the two days of hearings on each of the two islands, Berry's committee will meet with six Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives coming to St. Croix at her invitation at the 8 a.m. working breakfast on Wednesday. The topic for discussion is the crime issue that led at least one cruise line, Carnival, to cancel its calls at the island, and to "explore solutions to get them to return to St. Croix," according to a Thursday release from Berry's office.
Homeland security considerations
Last Monday, Berry wrote to Brown citing an exchange which transpired at a conference on anti-terrorism in Washington, D.C. She stated that Harold Baker, VITEMA director, had expressed concern to Ridge about the territory's "175 miles of open borders which are a gateway to the United States" and "that we have come to the point where our accessibility and vulnerability [are] apparently globally recognized."
Ridge's response, Berry told Brown in the letter, was that the new Homeland Security Department has 95,000 miles of borders to be concerned about.
"I believe Mr. Ridge's response would have been different were he apprised of our unique posture," Berry wrote Brown, then citing five specifics:
– The territory is the home of Hovensa, "the largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere, and oil refineries are tops on the list of the department's 'protection priorities.'"
– "On any given day we have 30 to 40 thousand cruise ship passengers in our harbor." (The basis for these figures is not clear; cruise ships typically carry 1,900 to 2,700 passengers; on heavy-traffic days there may be six ships calling at St. Thomas and, rarely, one at St. John or St. Croix.)
– The territory is "perhaps the only jurisdiction where indictments and convictions were obtained against Arab residents for smuggling in Arabs."
– "Muhammad Atta, the ringleader of 9/11, entered the United States from the Virgin Islands, according to reports in The Miami Herald."
– Among the islands, it is said our borders are the easiest to infiltrate."
Berry then issued this challenge to Brown: "Do these circumstances exist in any of the 95,000-mile areas noted by Mr. Ridge? If not, does this not make the Virgin Islands the soft underbelly of the United States and thus in need of far more federal assistance?"
In a release on Tuesday, Berry described Brown as "the point man in dealing with the fiscal needs of states and territories in their compliance with federal anti-terrorism recommendations." She said he "has virtual oversight over the allotment of monies to states and territories from the new department's $5.9 billion budget." Berry said she understands $500,000 has been allotted to the territory, adding, "this is only a fraction of what is required if the Virgin Islands is expected to adequately enact recommended anti-terrorism measures."
The said Brown has "demonstrated a definite interest in coming to the territory," the release stated.
Cruise lines and crime
Berry said on Thursday that she has been in contact with Michele Paige, F-CCA president since January setting up the meeting of cruise industry officials with her committee. Berry intended for the delegation of six representatives headed by Paige to appear before the panel on Wednesday morning at the continuation of Tuesday's hearing.
However, at the request of Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards, the meeting has been changed to a private "working breakfast" of the committee; the cruise industry personnel; Richards; Police Commissioner Franz Christian; Adj. Gen. Cleve McBean, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency director; and Eddy Charles, director of the Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
Berry said the meeting will be closed to the public and news media but the participants will hold a press conference following the breakfast.
Prior to deciding on the breakfast meeting format, Berry had announced in a release that Sen. Luther Renee had agreed to co-chair what was to have been the Wednesday morning portion of the with the cruise industry representatives in his capacity as chair of the Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee.
That same release further specified that testimony was scheduled to be heard from the following private sector representatives: Frank Fox, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce president; Tommy Broadmax, St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association acting president; Simone Palmer, chair of the St. Croix Alive Task Force on Crime and Prevention; Unise Tranberg, director of the Frederiksted Economic Development Association; Kelvin Denni, St. Croix Taxi Federation representative; and Julia Renfro, president of the Christiansted Restaurant and Retailers Association.
Another release from her office stated that Berry was "enormously pleased to observe that her scheduled March 12 committee meeting with cruise ship officials may well have spurred the administration to now meet and discuss acceptable terms with these officials relative to their return to the Virgin Islands." She said meetings "between the administration and cruise lines are not taking place after almost a year of silence in which concerns of cruise ship officials were ignored."
In addition to the crime and other concerns that led three cruise lines to take St. Croix off their itineraries last fall, Berry said her committee also will be examining the status of the Long-Term Operating Agreement finalized in the summer of 2001 between the cruise lines and F-CCA and the Virgin Islands.
The task force that worked out that agreement was co-chaired by John deJongh Jr., representing the private sector, and then-Sen. Vargrave Richards, representing the Legislature. (See "V.I. ignores task force in cruise line pact p.r.".) Various provisions of the agreement are not being observed, with the cruise lines contending that the territory has not held up its end of the agreement regarding the marketing of St. Croix.
Safety and security needs, mandates and strategies
Christian, McBean and Charles, along with Police Chief Novelle Francis, also are among those who are scheduled to testify Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoon on "the overview of all relevant information on the territory's security needs and the mandates of specific offices to implement and coordinate emergency preparedness and response; the plans and strategies to combat crime and other matters impacting on the respective departments."
In addition, Officer Naomi Joseph, president of the St. Croix Police Benevolent Association, and Lt. Romeo Christopher, president of the St. Croix Law Enforcement Supervisors Union, are to testify on "the unions' point of view regarding the [Police Department's] readiness to implement all aspects of public safety mandates."
In a release last Monday, Berry cited as other concerns that her committee needs to address "the appalling escalation of crime, particularly rapes, molestation of children, violent assaults and murder." Witness will be heard "in an attempt to determine solutions to our crime wave," she said.
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.
Sen. Lorraine Berry is convening her brand-new Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and Justice Committee on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon on St. Croix, with a "working breakfast" sandwiched in between. Then she'll take much the same agenda to St. Thomas for a hearing scheduled to open on March 26 and continue on April 3.
"Public safety" and "homeland security" are the primary focuses for the meetings, and in connection with the latter, Berry has invited one of the top aides to national Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to come to the territory and, implicitly, to address her committee.
"Our situation and fiscal circumstances are so extraordinary they require direct federal consultation," she told Michael Brown, under-secretary designate. "We need to see that Washington is taking us seriously, and your appearance would go a long way in this direction."
So far, Brown has not scheduled such a visit.
Aside from the two days of hearings on each of the two islands, Berry's committee will meet with six Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives coming to St. Croix at her invitation at the 8 a.m. working breakfast on Wednesday. The topic for discussion is the crime issue that led at least one cruise line, Carnival, to cancel its calls at the island, and to "explore solutions to get them to return to St. Croix," according to a Thursday release from Berry's office.
Homeland security considerations
Last Monday, Berry wrote to Brown citing an exchange which transpired at a conference on anti-terrorism in Washington, D.C. She stated that Harold Baker, VITEMA director, had expressed concern to Ridge about the territory's "175 miles of open borders which are a gateway to the United States" and "that we have come to the point where our accessibility and vulnerability [are] apparently globally recognized."
Ridge's response, Berry told Brown in the letter, was that the new Homeland Security Department has 95,000 miles of borders to be concerned about.
"I believe Mr. Ridge's response would have been different were he apprised of our unique posture," Berry wrote Brown, then citing five specifics:
– The territory is the home of Hovensa, "the largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere, and oil refineries are tops on the list of the department's 'protection priorities.'"
– "On any given day we have 30 to 40 thousand cruise ship passengers in our harbor." (The basis for these figures is not clear; cruise ships typically carry 1,900 to 2,700 passengers; on heavy-traffic days there may be six ships calling at St. Thomas and, rarely, one at St. John or St. Croix.)
– The territory is "perhaps the only jurisdiction where indictments and convictions were obtained against Arab residents for smuggling in Arabs."
– "Muhammad Atta, the ringleader of 9/11, entered the United States from the Virgin Islands, according to reports in The Miami Herald."
– Among the islands, it is said our borders are the easiest to infiltrate."
Berry then issued this challenge to Brown: "Do these circumstances exist in any of the 95,000-mile areas noted by Mr. Ridge? If not, does this not make the Virgin Islands the soft underbelly of the United States and thus in need of far more federal assistance?"
In a release on Tuesday, Berry described Brown as "the point man in dealing with the fiscal needs of states and territories in their compliance with federal anti-terrorism recommendations." She said he "has virtual oversight over the allotment of monies to states and territories from the new department's $5.9 billion budget." Berry said she understands $500,000 has been allotted to the territory, adding, "this is only a fraction of what is required if the Virgin Islands is expected to adequately enact recommended anti-terrorism measures."
The said Brown has "demonstrated a definite interest in coming to the territory," the release stated.
Cruise lines and crime
Berry said on Thursday that she has been in contact with Michele Paige, F-CCA president since January setting up the meeting of cruise industry officials with her committee. Berry intended for the delegation of six representatives headed by Paige to appear before the panel on Wednesday morning at the continuation of Tuesday's hearing.
However, at the request of Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards, the meeting has been changed to a private "working breakfast" of the committee; the cruise industry personnel; Richards; Police Commissioner Franz Christian; Adj. Gen. Cleve McBean, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency director; and Eddy Charles, director of the Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
Berry said the meeting will be closed to the public and news media but the participants will hold a press conference following the breakfast.
Prior to deciding on the breakfast meeting format, Berry had announced in a release that Sen. Luther Renee had agreed to co-chair what was to have been the Wednesday morning portion of the with the cruise industry representatives in his capacity as chair of the Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee.
That same release further specified that testimony was scheduled to be heard from the following private sector representatives: Frank Fox, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce president; Tommy Broadmax, St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association acting president; Simone Palmer, chair of the St. Croix Alive Task Force on Crime and Prevention; Unise Tranberg, director of the Frederiksted Economic Development Association; Kelvin Denni, St. Croix Taxi Federation representative; and Julia Renfro, president of the Christiansted Restaurant and Retailers Association.
Another release from her office stated that Berry was "enormously pleased to observe that her scheduled March 12 committee meeting with cruise ship officials may well have spurred the administration to now meet and discuss acceptable terms with these officials relative to their return to the Virgin Islands." She said meetings "between the administration and cruise lines are not taking place after almost a year of silence in which concerns of cruise ship officials were ignored."
In addition to the crime and other concerns that led three cruise lines to take St. Croix off their itineraries last fall, Berry said her committee also will be examining the status of the Long-Term Operating Agreement finalized in the summer of 2001 between the cruise lines and F-CCA and the Virgin Islands.
The task force that worked out that agreement was co-chaired by John deJongh Jr., representing the private sector, and then-Sen. Vargrave Richards, representing the Legislature. (See "V.I. ignores task force in cruise line pact p.r.".) Various provisions of the agreement are not being observed, with the cruise lines contending that the territory has not held up its end of the agreement regarding the marketing of St. Croix.
Safety and security needs, mandates and strategies
Christian, McBean and Charles, along with Police Chief Novelle Francis, also are among those who are scheduled to testify Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoon on "the overview of all relevant information on the territory's security needs and the mandates of specific offices to implement and coordinate emergency preparedness and response; the plans and strategies to combat crime and other matters impacting on the respective departments."
In addition, Officer Naomi Joseph, president of the St. Croix Police Benevolent Association, and Lt. Romeo Christopher, president of the St. Croix Law Enforcement Supervisors Union, are to testify on "the unions' point of view regarding the [Police Department's] readiness to implement all aspects of public safety mandates."
In a release last Monday, Berry cited as other concerns that her committee needs to address "the appalling escalation of crime, particularly rapes, molestation of children, violent assaults and murder." Witness will be heard "in an attempt to determine solutions to our crime wave," she said.
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.
SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE READY TO ROLL
March 9, 2003 – In its inaugural sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday and later this month, the Legislature's newest standing committee will be wading into wide-ranging concerns that are hot topics in the territory and beyond.
Sen. Lorraine Berry is convening her brand-new Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and Justice Committee on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon on St. Croix, with a "working breakfast" sandwiched in between. Then she'll take much the same agenda to St. Thomas for a hearing scheduled to open on March 26 and continue on April 3.
"Public safety" and "homeland security" are the primary focuses for the meetings, and in connection with the latter, Berry has invited one of the top aides to national Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to come to the territory and, implicitly, to address her committee.
"Our situation and fiscal circumstances are so extraordinary they require direct federal consultation," she told Michael Brown, under-secretary designate. "We need to see that Washington is taking us seriously, and your appearance would go a long way in this direction."
So far, Brown has not scheduled such a visit.
Aside from the two days of hearings on each of the two islands, Berry's committee will meet with six Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives coming to St. Croix at her invitation at the 8 a.m. working breakfast on Wednesday. The topic for discussion is the crime issue that led at least one cruise line, Carnival, to cancel its calls at the island, and to "explore solutions to get them to return to St. Croix," according to a Thursday release from Berry's office.
Homeland security considerations
Last Monday, Berry wrote to Brown citing an exchange which transpired at a conference on anti-terrorism in Washington, D.C. She stated that Harold Baker, VITEMA director, had expressed concern to Ridge about the territory's "175 miles of open borders which are a gateway to the United States" and "that we have come to the point where our accessibility and vulnerability [are] apparently globally recognized."
Ridge's response, Berry told Brown in the letter, was that the new Homeland Security Department has 95,000 miles of borders to be concerned about.
"I believe Mr. Ridge's response would have been different were he apprised of our unique posture," Berry wrote Brown, then citing five specifics:
– The territory is the home of Hovensa, "the largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere, and oil refineries are tops on the list of the department's 'protection priorities.'"
– "On any given day we have 30 to 40 thousand cruise ship passengers in our harbor." (The basis for these figures is not clear; cruise ships typically carry 1,900 to 2,700 passengers; on heavy-traffic days there may be six ships calling at St. Thomas and, rarely, one at St. John or St. Croix.)
– The territory is "perhaps the only jurisdiction where indictments and convictions were obtained against Arab residents for smuggling in Arabs."
– "Muhammad Atta, the ringleader of 9/11, entered the United States from the Virgin Islands, according to reports in The Miami Herald."
– Among the islands, it is said our borders are the easiest to infiltrate."
Berry then issued this challenge to Brown: "Do these circumstances exist in any of the 95,000-mile areas noted by Mr. Ridge? If not, does this not make the Virgin Islands the soft underbelly of the United States and thus in need of far more federal assistance?"
In a release on Tuesday, Berry described Brown as "the point man in dealing with the fiscal needs of states and territories in their compliance with federal anti-terrorism recommendations." She said he "has virtual oversight over the allotment of monies to states and territories from the new department's $5.9 billion budget." Berry said she understands $500,000 has been allotted to the territory, adding, "this is only a fraction of what is required if the Virgin Islands is expected to adequately enact recommended anti-terrorism measures."
The said Brown has "demonstrated a definite interest in coming to the territory," the release stated.
Cruise lines and crime
Berry said on Thursday that she has been in contact with Michele Paige, F-CCA president since January setting up the meeting of cruise industry officials with her committee. Berry intended for the delegation of six representatives headed by Paige to appear before the panel on Wednesday morning at the continuation of Tuesday's hearing.
However, at the request of Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards, the meeting has been changed to a private "working breakfast" of the committee; the cruise industry personnel; Richards; Police Commissioner Franz Christian; Adj. Gen. Cleve McBean, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency director; and Eddy Charles, director of the Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
Berry said the meeting will be closed to the public and news media but the participants will hold a press conference following the breakfast.
Prior to deciding on the breakfast meeting format, Berry had announced in a release that Sen. Luther Renee had agreed to co-chair what was to have been the Wednesday morning portion of the with the cruise industry representatives in his capacity as chair of the Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee.
That same release further specified that testimony was scheduled to be heard from the following private sector representatives: Frank Fox, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce president; Tommy Broadmax, St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association acting president; Simone Palmer, chair of the St. Croix Alive Task Force on Crime and Prevention; Unise Tranberg, director of the Frederiksted Economic Development Association; Kelvin Denni, St. Croix Taxi Federation representative; and Julia Renfro, president of the Christiansted Restaurant and Retailers Association.
Another release from her office stated that Berry was "enormously pleased to observe that her scheduled March 12 committee meeting with cruise ship officials may well have spurred the administration to now meet and discuss acceptable terms with these officials relative to their return to the Virgin Islands." She said meetings "between the administration and cruise lines are not taking place after almost a year of silence in which concerns of cruise ship officials were ignored."
In addition to the crime and other concerns that led three cruise lines to take St. Croix off their itineraries last fall, Berry said her committee also will be examining the status of the Long-Term Operating Agreement finalized in the summer of 2001 between the cruise lines and F-CCA and the Virgin Islands.
The task force that worked out that agreement was co-chaired by John deJongh Jr., representing the private sector, and then-Sen. Vargrave Richards, representing the Legislature. (See "V.I. ignores task force in cruise line pact p.r.".) Various provisions of the agreement are not being observed, with the cruise lines contending that the territory has not held up its end of the agreement regarding the marketing of St. Croix.
Safety and security needs, mandates and strategies
Christian, McBean and Charles, along with Police Chief Novelle Francis, also are among those who are scheduled to testify Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoon on "the overview of all relevant information on the territory's security needs and the mandates of specific offices to implement and coordinate emergency preparedness and response; the plans and strategies to combat crime and other matters impacting on the respective departments."
In addition, Officer Naomi Joseph, president of the St. Croix Police Benevolent Association, and Lt. Romeo Christopher, president of the St. Croix Law Enforcement Supervisors Union, are to testify on "the unions' point of view regarding the [Police Department's] readiness to implement all aspects of public safety mandates."
In a release last Monday, Berry cited as other concerns that her committee needs to address "the appalling escalation of crime, particularly rapes, molestation of children, violent assaults and murder." Witness will be heard "in an attempt to determine solutions to our crime wave," she said.
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.
Sen. Lorraine Berry is convening her brand-new Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and Justice Committee on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon on St. Croix, with a "working breakfast" sandwiched in between. Then she'll take much the same agenda to St. Thomas for a hearing scheduled to open on March 26 and continue on April 3.
"Public safety" and "homeland security" are the primary focuses for the meetings, and in connection with the latter, Berry has invited one of the top aides to national Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to come to the territory and, implicitly, to address her committee.
"Our situation and fiscal circumstances are so extraordinary they require direct federal consultation," she told Michael Brown, under-secretary designate. "We need to see that Washington is taking us seriously, and your appearance would go a long way in this direction."
So far, Brown has not scheduled such a visit.
Aside from the two days of hearings on each of the two islands, Berry's committee will meet with six Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives coming to St. Croix at her invitation at the 8 a.m. working breakfast on Wednesday. The topic for discussion is the crime issue that led at least one cruise line, Carnival, to cancel its calls at the island, and to "explore solutions to get them to return to St. Croix," according to a Thursday release from Berry's office.
Homeland security considerations
Last Monday, Berry wrote to Brown citing an exchange which transpired at a conference on anti-terrorism in Washington, D.C. She stated that Harold Baker, VITEMA director, had expressed concern to Ridge about the territory's "175 miles of open borders which are a gateway to the United States" and "that we have come to the point where our accessibility and vulnerability [are] apparently globally recognized."
Ridge's response, Berry told Brown in the letter, was that the new Homeland Security Department has 95,000 miles of borders to be concerned about.
"I believe Mr. Ridge's response would have been different were he apprised of our unique posture," Berry wrote Brown, then citing five specifics:
– The territory is the home of Hovensa, "the largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere, and oil refineries are tops on the list of the department's 'protection priorities.'"
– "On any given day we have 30 to 40 thousand cruise ship passengers in our harbor." (The basis for these figures is not clear; cruise ships typically carry 1,900 to 2,700 passengers; on heavy-traffic days there may be six ships calling at St. Thomas and, rarely, one at St. John or St. Croix.)
– The territory is "perhaps the only jurisdiction where indictments and convictions were obtained against Arab residents for smuggling in Arabs."
– "Muhammad Atta, the ringleader of 9/11, entered the United States from the Virgin Islands, according to reports in The Miami Herald."
– Among the islands, it is said our borders are the easiest to infiltrate."
Berry then issued this challenge to Brown: "Do these circumstances exist in any of the 95,000-mile areas noted by Mr. Ridge? If not, does this not make the Virgin Islands the soft underbelly of the United States and thus in need of far more federal assistance?"
In a release on Tuesday, Berry described Brown as "the point man in dealing with the fiscal needs of states and territories in their compliance with federal anti-terrorism recommendations." She said he "has virtual oversight over the allotment of monies to states and territories from the new department's $5.9 billion budget." Berry said she understands $500,000 has been allotted to the territory, adding, "this is only a fraction of what is required if the Virgin Islands is expected to adequately enact recommended anti-terrorism measures."
The said Brown has "demonstrated a definite interest in coming to the territory," the release stated.
Cruise lines and crime
Berry said on Thursday that she has been in contact with Michele Paige, F-CCA president since January setting up the meeting of cruise industry officials with her committee. Berry intended for the delegation of six representatives headed by Paige to appear before the panel on Wednesday morning at the continuation of Tuesday's hearing.
However, at the request of Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards, the meeting has been changed to a private "working breakfast" of the committee; the cruise industry personnel; Richards; Police Commissioner Franz Christian; Adj. Gen. Cleve McBean, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency director; and Eddy Charles, director of the Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
Berry said the meeting will be closed to the public and news media but the participants will hold a press conference following the breakfast.
Prior to deciding on the breakfast meeting format, Berry had announced in a release that Sen. Luther Renee had agreed to co-chair what was to have been the Wednesday morning portion of the with the cruise industry representatives in his capacity as chair of the Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee.
That same release further specified that testimony was scheduled to be heard from the following private sector representatives: Frank Fox, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce president; Tommy Broadmax, St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association acting president; Simone Palmer, chair of the St. Croix Alive Task Force on Crime and Prevention; Unise Tranberg, director of the Frederiksted Economic Development Association; Kelvin Denni, St. Croix Taxi Federation representative; and Julia Renfro, president of the Christiansted Restaurant and Retailers Association.
Another release from her office stated that Berry was "enormously pleased to observe that her scheduled March 12 committee meeting with cruise ship officials may well have spurred the administration to now meet and discuss acceptable terms with these officials relative to their return to the Virgin Islands." She said meetings "between the administration and cruise lines are not taking place after almost a year of silence in which concerns of cruise ship officials were ignored."
In addition to the crime and other concerns that led three cruise lines to take St. Croix off their itineraries last fall, Berry said her committee also will be examining the status of the Long-Term Operating Agreement finalized in the summer of 2001 between the cruise lines and F-CCA and the Virgin Islands.
The task force that worked out that agreement was co-chaired by John deJongh Jr., representing the private sector, and then-Sen. Vargrave Richards, representing the Legislature. (See "V.I. ignores task force in cruise line pact p.r.".) Various provisions of the agreement are not being observed, with the cruise lines contending that the territory has not held up its end of the agreement regarding the marketing of St. Croix.
Safety and security needs, mandates and strategies
Christian, McBean and Charles, along with Police Chief Novelle Francis, also are among those who are scheduled to testify Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoon on "the overview of all relevant information on the territory's security needs and the mandates of specific offices to implement and coordinate emergency preparedness and response; the plans and strategies to combat crime and other matters impacting on the respective departments."
In addition, Officer Naomi Joseph, president of the St. Croix Police Benevolent Association, and Lt. Romeo Christopher, president of the St. Croix Law Enforcement Supervisors Union, are to testify on "the unions' point of view regarding the [Police Department's] readiness to implement all aspects of public safety mandates."
In a release last Monday, Berry cited as other concerns that her committee needs to address "the appalling escalation of crime, particularly rapes, molestation of children, violent assaults and murder." Witness will be heard "in an attempt to determine solutions to our crime wave," she said.
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SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE READY TO ROLL
March 9, 2003 – In its inaugural sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday and later this month, the Legislature's newest standing committee will be wading into wide-ranging concerns that are hot topics in the territory and beyond.
Sen. Lorraine Berry is convening her brand-new Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and Justice Committee on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon on St. Croix, with a "working breakfast" sandwiched in between. Then she'll take much the same agenda to St. Thomas for a hearing scheduled to open on March 26 and continue on April 3.
"Public safety" and "homeland security" are the primary focuses for the meetings, and in connection with the latter, Berry has invited one of the top aides to national Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to come to the territory and, implicitly, to address her committee.
"Our situation and fiscal circumstances are so extraordinary they require direct federal consultation," she told Michael Brown, under-secretary designate. "We need to see that Washington is taking us seriously, and your appearance would go a long way in this direction."
So far, Brown has not scheduled such a visit.
Aside from the two days of hearings on each of the two islands, Berry's committee will meet with six Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives coming to St. Croix at her invitation at the 8 a.m. working breakfast on Wednesday. The topic for discussion is the crime issue that led at least one cruise line, Carnival, to cancel its calls at the island, and to "explore solutions to get them to return to St. Croix," according to a Thursday release from Berry's office.
Homeland security considerations
Last Monday, Berry wrote to Brown citing an exchange which transpired at a conference on anti-terrorism in Washington, D.C. She stated that Harold Baker, VITEMA director, had expressed concern to Ridge about the territory's "175 miles of open borders which are a gateway to the United States" and "that we have come to the point where our accessibility and vulnerability [are] apparently globally recognized."
Ridge's response, Berry told Brown in the letter, was that the new Homeland Security Department has 95,000 miles of borders to be concerned about.
"I believe Mr. Ridge's response would have been different were he apprised of our unique posture," Berry wrote Brown, then citing five specifics:
– The territory is the home of Hovensa, "the largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere, and oil refineries are tops on the list of the department's 'protection priorities.'"
– "On any given day we have 30 to 40 thousand cruise ship passengers in our harbor." (The basis for these figures is not clear; cruise ships typically carry 1,900 to 2,700 passengers; on heavy-traffic days there may be six ships calling at St. Thomas and, rarely, one at St. John or St. Croix.)
– The territory is "perhaps the only jurisdiction where indictments and convictions were obtained against Arab residents for smuggling in Arabs."
– "Muhammad Atta, the ringleader of 9/11, entered the United States from the Virgin Islands, according to reports in The Miami Herald."
– Among the islands, it is said our borders are the easiest to infiltrate."
Berry then issued this challenge to Brown: "Do these circumstances exist in any of the 95,000-mile areas noted by Mr. Ridge? If not, does this not make the Virgin Islands the soft underbelly of the United States and thus in need of far more federal assistance?"
In a release on Tuesday, Berry described Brown as "the point man in dealing with the fiscal needs of states and territories in their compliance with federal anti-terrorism recommendations." She said he "has virtual oversight over the allotment of monies to states and territories from the new department's $5.9 billion budget." Berry said she understands $500,000 has been allotted to the territory, adding, "this is only a fraction of what is required if the Virgin Islands is expected to adequately enact recommended anti-terrorism measures."
The said Brown has "demonstrated a definite interest in coming to the territory," the release stated.
Cruise lines and crime
Berry said on Thursday that she has been in contact with Michele Paige, F-CCA president since January setting up the meeting of cruise industry officials with her committee. Berry intended for the delegation of six representatives headed by Paige to appear before the panel on Wednesday morning at the continuation of Tuesday's hearing.
However, at the request of Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards, the meeting has been changed to a private "working breakfast" of the committee; the cruise industry personnel; Richards; Police Commissioner Franz Christian; Adj. Gen. Cleve McBean, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency director; and Eddy Charles, director of the Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
Berry said the meeting will be closed to the public and news media but the participants will hold a press conference following the breakfast.
Prior to deciding on the breakfast meeting format, Berry had announced in a release that Sen. Luther Renee had agreed to co-chair what was to have been the Wednesday morning portion of the with the cruise industry representatives in his capacity as chair of the Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee.
That same release further specified that testimony was scheduled to be heard from the following private sector representatives: Frank Fox, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce president; Tommy Broadmax, St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association acting president; Simone Palmer, chair of the St. Croix Alive Task Force on Crime and Prevention; Unise Tranberg, director of the Frederiksted Economic Development Association; Kelvin Denni, St. Croix Taxi Federation representative; and Julia Renfro, president of the Christiansted Restaurant and Retailers Association.
Another release from her office stated that Berry was "enormously pleased to observe that her scheduled March 12 committee meeting with cruise ship officials may well have spurred the administration to now meet and discuss acceptable terms with these officials relative to their return to the Virgin Islands." She said meetings "between the administration and cruise lines are not taking place after almost a year of silence in which concerns of cruise ship officials were ignored."
In addition to the crime and other concerns that led three cruise lines to take St. Croix off their itineraries last fall, Berry said her committee also will be examining the status of the Long-Term Operating Agreement finalized in the summer of 2001 between the cruise lines and F-CCA and the Virgin Islands.
The task force that worked out that agreement was co-chaired by John deJongh Jr., representing the private sector, and then-Sen. Vargrave Richards, representing the Legislature. (See "V.I. ignores task force in cruise line pact p.r.".) Various provisions of the agreement are not being observed, with the cruise lines contending that the territory has not held up its end of the agreement regarding the marketing of St. Croix.
Safety and security needs, mandates and strategies
Christian, McBean and Charles, along with Police Chief Novelle Francis, also are among those who are scheduled to testify Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoon on "the overview of all relevant information on the territory's security needs and the mandates of specific offices to implement and coordinate emergency preparedness and response; the plans and strategies to combat crime and other matters impacting on the respective departments."
In addition, Officer Naomi Joseph, president of the St. Croix Police Benevolent Association, and Lt . Romeo Christopher, president of the St. Croix Law Enforcement Supervisors Union, are to testify on "the unions' point of view regarding the [Police Department's] readiness to implement all aspects of public safety mandates."
In a release last Monday, Berry cited as other concerns that her committee needs to address "the appalling escalation of crime, particularly rapes, molestation of children, violent assaults and murder." Witness will be heard "in an attempt to determine solutions to our crime wave," she said.
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.
Sen. Lorraine Berry is convening her brand-new Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and Justice Committee on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon on St. Croix, with a "working breakfast" sandwiched in between. Then she'll take much the same agenda to St. Thomas for a hearing scheduled to open on March 26 and continue on April 3.
"Public safety" and "homeland security" are the primary focuses for the meetings, and in connection with the latter, Berry has invited one of the top aides to national Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to come to the territory and, implicitly, to address her committee.
"Our situation and fiscal circumstances are so extraordinary they require direct federal consultation," she told Michael Brown, under-secretary designate. "We need to see that Washington is taking us seriously, and your appearance would go a long way in this direction."
So far, Brown has not scheduled such a visit.
Aside from the two days of hearings on each of the two islands, Berry's committee will meet with six Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives coming to St. Croix at her invitation at the 8 a.m. working breakfast on Wednesday. The topic for discussion is the crime issue that led at least one cruise line, Carnival, to cancel its calls at the island, and to "explore solutions to get them to return to St. Croix," according to a Thursday release from Berry's office.
Homeland security considerations
Last Monday, Berry wrote to Brown citing an exchange which transpired at a conference on anti-terrorism in Washington, D.C. She stated that Harold Baker, VITEMA director, had expressed concern to Ridge about the territory's "175 miles of open borders which are a gateway to the United States" and "that we have come to the point where our accessibility and vulnerability [are] apparently globally recognized."
Ridge's response, Berry told Brown in the letter, was that the new Homeland Security Department has 95,000 miles of borders to be concerned about.
"I believe Mr. Ridge's response would have been different were he apprised of our unique posture," Berry wrote Brown, then citing five specifics:
– The territory is the home of Hovensa, "the largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere, and oil refineries are tops on the list of the department's 'protection priorities.'"
– "On any given day we have 30 to 40 thousand cruise ship passengers in our harbor." (The basis for these figures is not clear; cruise ships typically carry 1,900 to 2,700 passengers; on heavy-traffic days there may be six ships calling at St. Thomas and, rarely, one at St. John or St. Croix.)
– The territory is "perhaps the only jurisdiction where indictments and convictions were obtained against Arab residents for smuggling in Arabs."
– "Muhammad Atta, the ringleader of 9/11, entered the United States from the Virgin Islands, according to reports in The Miami Herald."
– Among the islands, it is said our borders are the easiest to infiltrate."
Berry then issued this challenge to Brown: "Do these circumstances exist in any of the 95,000-mile areas noted by Mr. Ridge? If not, does this not make the Virgin Islands the soft underbelly of the United States and thus in need of far more federal assistance?"
In a release on Tuesday, Berry described Brown as "the point man in dealing with the fiscal needs of states and territories in their compliance with federal anti-terrorism recommendations." She said he "has virtual oversight over the allotment of monies to states and territories from the new department's $5.9 billion budget." Berry said she understands $500,000 has been allotted to the territory, adding, "this is only a fraction of what is required if the Virgin Islands is expected to adequately enact recommended anti-terrorism measures."
The said Brown has "demonstrated a definite interest in coming to the territory," the release stated.
Cruise lines and crime
Berry said on Thursday that she has been in contact with Michele Paige, F-CCA president since January setting up the meeting of cruise industry officials with her committee. Berry intended for the delegation of six representatives headed by Paige to appear before the panel on Wednesday morning at the continuation of Tuesday's hearing.
However, at the request of Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards, the meeting has been changed to a private "working breakfast" of the committee; the cruise industry personnel; Richards; Police Commissioner Franz Christian; Adj. Gen. Cleve McBean, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency director; and Eddy Charles, director of the Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
Berry said the meeting will be closed to the public and news media but the participants will hold a press conference following the breakfast.
Prior to deciding on the breakfast meeting format, Berry had announced in a release that Sen. Luther Renee had agreed to co-chair what was to have been the Wednesday morning portion of the with the cruise industry representatives in his capacity as chair of the Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee.
That same release further specified that testimony was scheduled to be heard from the following private sector representatives: Frank Fox, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce president; Tommy Broadmax, St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association acting president; Simone Palmer, chair of the St. Croix Alive Task Force on Crime and Prevention; Unise Tranberg, director of the Frederiksted Economic Development Association; Kelvin Denni, St. Croix Taxi Federation representative; and Julia Renfro, president of the Christiansted Restaurant and Retailers Association.
Another release from her office stated that Berry was "enormously pleased to observe that her scheduled March 12 committee meeting with cruise ship officials may well have spurred the administration to now meet and discuss acceptable terms with these officials relative to their return to the Virgin Islands." She said meetings "between the administration and cruise lines are not taking place after almost a year of silence in which concerns of cruise ship officials were ignored."
In addition to the crime and other concerns that led three cruise lines to take St. Croix off their itineraries last fall, Berry said her committee also will be examining the status of the Long-Term Operating Agreement finalized in the summer of 2001 between the cruise lines and F-CCA and the Virgin Islands.
The task force that worked out that agreement was co-chaired by John deJongh Jr., representing the private sector, and then-Sen. Vargrave Richards, representing the Legislature. (See "V.I. ignores task force in cruise line pact p.r.".) Various provisions of the agreement are not being observed, with the cruise lines contending that the territory has not held up its end of the agreement regarding the marketing of St. Croix.
Safety and security needs, mandates and strategies
Christian, McBean and Charles, along with Police Chief Novelle Francis, also are among those who are scheduled to testify Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoon on "the overview of all relevant information on the territory's security needs and the mandates of specific offices to implement and coordinate emergency preparedness and response; the plans and strategies to combat crime and other matters impacting on the respective departments."
In addition, Officer Naomi Joseph, president of the St. Croix Police Benevolent Association, and Lt . Romeo Christopher, president of the St. Croix Law Enforcement Supervisors Union, are to testify on "the unions' point of view regarding the [Police Department's] readiness to implement all aspects of public safety mandates."
In a release last Monday, Berry cited as other concerns that her committee needs to address "the appalling escalation of crime, particularly rapes, molestation of children, violent assaults and murder." Witness will be heard "in an attempt to determine solutions to our crime wave," she said.
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.
OFFICER FATALLY SHOOTS MAN AT VENDORS PLAZA
March 9, 2003 – A 26-year-old man was shot and killed by St. Thomas police officers at Vendors Plaza on Saturday night. Fernando Estinia Diaz was pronounced dead at 9:15 p.m. at Roy L. Schneider Hospital.
Less than an hour earlier, Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said, police had confronted Diaz a distance away from Emancipation Garden and opened fire on him after he failed to drop a knife he was wielding.
Carty said on Sunday morning that police were en route to the Garden Street area in response to a report of a fight in progress. On the way, Carty said, officers came upon Diaz running past the downtown post office and Emancipation Garden toward the Waterfront.
Carty said officers pursued Diaz, ordered him to drop the knife and, when he failed to do so, shot him several times. A large pool of blood on the vendors plaza pavement on Sunday marked the spot where Diaz had fallen on Saturday night.
In the gunfire, an officer, Conrad Gilkes, was shot in the leg, Carty said, describing Gilkes’ condition as stable.
According to Carty, Diaz was attended to by emergency medical technicians and transported by ambulance to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Carty denied accounts by witnesses that Diaz was shot while handcuffed and that officers had use pepper spray to disable him before he was shot.
When the gunfire broke out, the Traditional Indians were just a short distance away practicing their V.I. Carnival routines. At the scene as forensic officers gathered evidence, a number of bystanders were critical of the police officers' haste in shooting Diaz. Many commented openly that the victim had already been disabled and was no longer a threat when officers opened fire.
Carty said on Sunday that the shots were fired by one officer, whom he would not identify.
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.
Less than an hour earlier, Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said, police had confronted Diaz a distance away from Emancipation Garden and opened fire on him after he failed to drop a knife he was wielding.
Carty said on Sunday morning that police were en route to the Garden Street area in response to a report of a fight in progress. On the way, Carty said, officers came upon Diaz running past the downtown post office and Emancipation Garden toward the Waterfront.
Carty said officers pursued Diaz, ordered him to drop the knife and, when he failed to do so, shot him several times. A large pool of blood on the vendors plaza pavement on Sunday marked the spot where Diaz had fallen on Saturday night.
In the gunfire, an officer, Conrad Gilkes, was shot in the leg, Carty said, describing Gilkes’ condition as stable.
According to Carty, Diaz was attended to by emergency medical technicians and transported by ambulance to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Carty denied accounts by witnesses that Diaz was shot while handcuffed and that officers had use pepper spray to disable him before he was shot.
When the gunfire broke out, the Traditional Indians were just a short distance away practicing their V.I. Carnival routines. At the scene as forensic officers gathered evidence, a number of bystanders were critical of the police officers' haste in shooting Diaz. Many commented openly that the victim had already been disabled and was no longer a threat when officers opened fire.
Carty said on Sunday that the shots were fired by one officer, whom he would not identify.
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.
HUNDREDS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HEALTH SCREENING
March 8, 2003 – About 300 persons, young and old alike, turned out Saturday at Tutu Park Mall to take advantage of free health screenings offered at Health/Cultural Exposition 2003.
The event, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., was sponsored by the Lions and Rotary Clubs of St. Thomas, the St. Thomas East End Medical Center, and the mall.
This was the sixth year for the health fair, which offered hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and eyesight testing; pediatrics screening; HIV, prostrate and breast examination; and pap smear procedures.
"There's a great need in the community for events such as this," program chair Sandra Daly said. "Our goal is to educate the public and to raise people's awareness of good health practices for their lives."
Daly said the testing offered an opportunity for health-care givers to direct people to get further help in any areas where a need was indicated. For many who turned out, the free screenings were a welcome alternative to costly tests they may not have been able to afford.
Sally Smith-Adams took the opportunity to get several tests including a blood sugar reading and a breast exam. "I'm a little older and I needed to check on these things," she said. "Plus, it was reasonably priced."
Lawrence Sharpe, who also got tested, said he was pleased with the services. "I'm concerned about my health, and this was a good opportunity to get my body checked," he said.
Louis Ible Jr., calypsonian and publisher of Flair Magazine, also was among those tested. "I'm taking advantage of the free opportunity," he said. "It's a good opportunity for people who don't usually have the resources."
Among the volunteers working at the event were 10 University of the Virgin Islands nursing students who handled various tasks including checking blood pressure and directing individuals to the different stations.
Maxine Plaskett, one of the UVI nursing students, said she volunteered for the health fair because it was a good way to give back to the community. She said she felt that the event "will benefit the public and community as a whole. Some people cannot afford to go the doctor, so this is an opportunity to check on their health."
Besides the health screening services, the fair offered free massages in the mall Center Court courtesy of A Touch of Wellness. Representatives of the law firm Tom Bolt & Associates provided information on living wills, and personnel from the USVI Minority Organ/Tissue Transplant Education Program offered information about organ donation.
And to keep everyone's spirits healthy, too, the Burning Blazers steel orchestra from Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School provided musical entertainment.
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 event, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., was sponsored by the Lions and Rotary Clubs of St. Thomas, the St. Thomas East End Medical Center, and the mall.
This was the sixth year for the health fair, which offered hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and eyesight testing; pediatrics screening; HIV, prostrate and breast examination; and pap smear procedures.
"There's a great need in the community for events such as this," program chair Sandra Daly said. "Our goal is to educate the public and to raise people's awareness of good health practices for their lives."
Daly said the testing offered an opportunity for health-care givers to direct people to get further help in any areas where a need was indicated. For many who turned out, the free screenings were a welcome alternative to costly tests they may not have been able to afford.
Sally Smith-Adams took the opportunity to get several tests including a blood sugar reading and a breast exam. "I'm a little older and I needed to check on these things," she said. "Plus, it was reasonably priced."
Lawrence Sharpe, who also got tested, said he was pleased with the services. "I'm concerned about my health, and this was a good opportunity to get my body checked," he said.
Louis Ible Jr., calypsonian and publisher of Flair Magazine, also was among those tested. "I'm taking advantage of the free opportunity," he said. "It's a good opportunity for people who don't usually have the resources."
Among the volunteers working at the event were 10 University of the Virgin Islands nursing students who handled various tasks including checking blood pressure and directing individuals to the different stations.
Maxine Plaskett, one of the UVI nursing students, said she volunteered for the health fair because it was a good way to give back to the community. She said she felt that the event "will benefit the public and community as a whole. Some people cannot afford to go the doctor, so this is an opportunity to check on their health."
Besides the health screening services, the fair offered free massages in the mall Center Court courtesy of A Touch of Wellness. Representatives of the law firm Tom Bolt & Associates provided information on living wills, and personnel from the USVI Minority Organ/Tissue Transplant Education Program offered information about organ donation.
And to keep everyone's spirits healthy, too, the Burning Blazers steel orchestra from Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School provided musical entertainment.
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.
