Feb. 18, 2003 – The most recent data available from the Universal Service Administrative Company show that the federal subsidies received by Innovative Telephone — formerly V.I. Telephone Corp., or Vitelco — now total more than $33 million a year.
Through a complex federal subsidy program designed to make telephone service available in hard-to-reach areas of the nation, Innovative receives the funding through three programs operated for the Federal Communications Commission: the High Cost Loop and Long Term Support programs and Interstate Common Line monthly support.
The money comes from small monthly surcharges added to virtually all phone bills across the country, including those of Innovative customers, as Universal Service Fund payments. The disbursement of the funds is handled for the FCC by the Universal Service Administrative Company, a not-for-profit entity based in Washington, D.C.
According to Nov. 1, 2002, data, the most recent available from USAC, the expected current annual subsidies for Innovative Telephone come to:
High Cost Loop — $14.4 million.
Long Term Support — $7.6 million.
Interstate Common Line monthly support — $11.6 million.
That adds up, in rounded figures, to $33.6 million.
According to a Feb. 12 report in The V.I. Daily News, a newspaper owned by Innovative Communication Corp. — which also owns Innovative Telephone — the Universal Service Fund subsidies "currently account for about 30 percent of Innovative Telephone's revenue."
The USAC data show that compared to local phone systems in the other insular U.S. territories — all regarded as "rural" by the FCC and none noted for cost-conscious efficiency — Innovative is getting strikingly higher per-line, per-month subsidies:
Innovative — $41.20
American Samoa (government-owned system) — $8.59
Puerto Rico Telephone Co. — $4.80
Guam Telephone Authority — $2.11
No other telephone company of Innovative's scale on the mainland gets anywhere near as much money per line per month from the USF.
The Universal Service Fund subsidies were created for rural areas. The Federal Communications Commission many years ago defined all of the U.S. island territories as rural.
Yet, Innovative's phone line concentration — which averages out to 522 lines on each of the territory's 132 square miles — is more than three times the average of "urban" systems recorded in a recent National Exchange Carrier Association document, and almost 50 times that of the average of other systems designated as "rural" by the FCC. All else being equal, it should be more cost effective to have a tightly concentrated system such as Innovative's, rather than one that is more spread out.
Innovative: Competition could cut into its subsidy
The Daily News report of USC subsidies accounting for 30 percent of Innovative's revenues appeared in an article concerning the most recent meeting of the Public Services Commission, on Feb. 11, where Choice Communications, formerly Wireless World, asked the PSC to grant it status that would make it a publicly regulated utility. (See the section subtitled "Regulation of Choice Communications to be weighed" the Source article "PSC seeks more Donastorg-Innovative data".)
Choice Communications is seeking — as Wireless World did unsuccessfully two years ago — to force Innovative Telephone to provide it the connectivity needed to supply local telephone service, something which would, in effect, end the local-service monopoly historically held by Innovative/Vitelco.
At the Feb. 11 meeting, the PSC voted to open a docket for Choice to investigate whether it qualifies for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier. Having ETC status would make the company a regulated public utility.
The Daily News in its Feb. 12 report quoted Innovative's president, David Sharp, from an interview "after the meeting." According to the report:
"Sharp said that splitting up the territory's federal subsidy could be a drain that would ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically.
"If Choice were allowed to compete with Innovative Telephone, it could go after a significant portion of Innovative Telephone's business customers, which generate higher revenues per line than residential customers. Additionally, it might qualify for federal funds that could cut into the subsidy that keeps local phone bills lower."
In response to the statement attributed to Sharp that the proposed competition would drain ICC, and thus raise rates, Cornelius Prior Jr., chief executive of Choice Communications, said: "If that's true, it would be the first time in the history of the world that competition caused prices to rise."
Sharp's contention that splitting up the territory's USF subsidies could ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically is subject to question. The idea that there is a fixed dollar amount of subsidy available to a particular jurisdiction, in this case the Virgin Islands, runs counter to the views of numerous telephone industry sources.
The complex formula used by USAC does not relate to the income level of those served, the difficulty of extending phone service to them, or any allocation by geography. As spelled out in articles published by the Source last year, it is calculated solely on the basis of costs reported to USAC, an entity created by, and lightly supervised by, the FCC.
Prior said that if the PSC opens the door to local telephone service competition in the Virgin Islands by granting Choice ETC status, Choice will seek USAC subsidies. But he noted that because Choice would have considerably less physical equipment than Innovative Telephone, and thus lower costs, he would expect his company's subsidies to be considerably smaller than those granted to Innovative.
Prior also termed the statement that Innovative, if it lost some customers because of competition from Choice, would raise its rates as "absurd on its face." Nobody does business that way, he said.
Connections and more connections
Choice Communications was formed last year by the merger of Wireless World, VI Access, Cobex and Antilles Digital Television. It is a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network, which is a publicly traded company based on St. Thomas and headed by Prior, the majority shareholder. ATN also has telecommunications holdings in Guyana, Bermuda and Haiti.
ICC, Innovative Telephone's parent company, also owns, in addition to the Daily News, Innovative Cable TV St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John, cable channel TV2, Innovative Wireless, Innovative Long Distance, Innovative Business Systems and VI PowerNet in the territory. The company, which is wholly owned by Jeffrey Prosser, also has telecommunications holdings in the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique and France.
Prosser and Prior came to the Virgin Islands as partners, the co-owners of Atlantic Tele-Network, which purchased the old Vitelco from ITT more than a decade ago. In the late '90s, after lengthy legal maneuvers, they agreed to go their separate ways with Prosser retaining V.I. Telephone Corp. and Prior keeping the company's other major holding, majority interest in the Guyana telephone system.
Both men have in the years since expanded their telecommunications empires, primarily in the Virgin Islands, in what is known as vertical integration — corporate ownership of multiple companies in which some holdings provide support systems for others.
The Federal Communications Commission is chaired by Michael Powell, son of Secretary of State Colin Powell. The senior Powell is a longtime personal friend of Samuel E. Ebbesen, former president and CEO of Innovative Telephone who was promoted last month to senior vice president of ICC with responsibility for all ICC telecommunications operations in the te
rritory. Both had 35-year careers in the U.S. Army, Powell attaining the rank of four-star general and Ebbesen, three-star general, before retiring from the military in the 1990s.
Michael Powell is Ebbesen's godson.
Earlier Source subsidy figures fell short
In a two-part series last year, the Source reported that Innovative Telephone was receiving more than $25 million a year in federal subsidies through two programs operated for the FCC. (See "Phone company spends, gets and makes more" and "Despite high subsidies, phone users pay more".)
The articles cited a combined total for the High Cost Loop (a telephone line is a loop) and Long Term Support subsidies of $31.20 per line per month. They noted that this rate was much higher than those paid to mainland rural telephone systems of the same size, as well as for other island systems.
The statistics were taken from a lengthy USAC printout of financial information on hundreds of phone companies showing 15 columns of data covering several subsidy programs and other information. However, one further column did not fit onto the print-out pages and appeared printed separately on other pages. The data from this column, inadvertently excluded from the earlier Source articles, show a third source of multimillions of dollars in subsidies flowing to Innovative — from the Interstate Common Line program.
Adding in the third source of funds reported in the most recent subsidy data brings the total Innovative federal subsidy to more than $33 million a year.
The Source's $8 million error last year was not corrected by Innovative Telephone or ICC or by the Public Services Commission, which regulates the telephone company but has thus far declined to make its financial reports available to the public as requested by the Source.
As reported by the Source last year, from 1992 to 1997, when Vitelco's finances were published, the size of the phone company's federal subsidy just about equaled the size of the firm's profits.
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.
SEASON'S 'BUSIEST WEEK' COULD BE A LOT BETTER
Feb. 18, 2003 – St. John is booming, St. Thomas is doing well and St. Croix is a mixed bag, say owners of tourism-related businesses as they check their bottom lines this week, which kicked off with the long Presidents Day weekend.
The week is typically the busiest of the winter season in the Virgin Islands. However, the threat of war coupled with economic hard times is making business owners nervous. And even the snowstorms on the East Coast are a mixed blessing, with air transportation interruptions.
"The storm, war, economic uncertainty. It's not an easy time to travel," said Brian Young, general manager of St. John's Caneel Bay Resort.
Young's comments on the war and the nation's economic woes echo those made by many others. While people are still traveling, particularly to St. John and St. Thomas, business owners are reluctant to predict what lies ahead, since many people now book getaways at the last minute.
"Bookings are coming in slowly," said Chris Goodier, spokeswoman for the Buccaneer Hotel on St. Croix.
Those with full houses on Presidents Day week are pleased, of course.
"We're booked up completely and have been for months and months and will be for months and months," said Robin Clair, manager of the three-cottage Estate Zootenvaal on St. John.
Mary Davis, co-owner of the 15-room Danish Chalet Inn on St. Thomas, said her hotel was filled going into this week. One couple was there on their 19th annual visit, she said.
David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said his occupancy is running about 80 percent. A couple of group bookings boosted the figures in recent weeks.
Yamada, who also is president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said the 80 percent figure is typical of most other St. Thomas hotels, too.
He hopes the East Coast blizzards will have many more people making reservations to escape a bad-weather winter. "Hopefully, we'll see some pickup once they shovel out," he said.
Initially, however, the snowstorms' impact on the territory's tourism picture was negative. Young said guests with reservations for 10 rooms at Caneel Bay were stuck at home Monday because airports were closed.
Goodier said this February is not looking as good as last year's was for The Buccaneer. "We still had rooms available last Friday for this week," she said.
Bob Siefert, general manager of the Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino on St. Croix, said bookings for Presidents Day weekend were good. But many of the customers were local residents who flocked to St. Croix from other islands for the Agriculture and Food Fair and who indulged in a getaway special for Valentine's Day — a $153-a-night room for two including dinner.
Until last week, he said, the hotel's occupancy had been running about 60 percent.
Claudia Carrington, owner of Carrington's Inn on St. Croix, had a similar story. She said this is the first winter that she has actively sought local business.
Carrington expressed surprise that a $270 US Airways fare between New York and St. Croix didn't bring more guests.
Siefert said the Divi is running a special of $1,395 per person for seven nights, including airfare from any city on the mainland.
Things are so bad at the Divi, he said, that he had to lay off staff in mid-season. In fact, he laid off so many that he had to resign as president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association because of the demands on his time filling the shoes of laid-off managers.
The government has failed to effectively market St. Croix, Siefert charged, but he also noted that St. Croix doesn't have major chain hotels such as those on St. Thomas and St. John to lure travelers reluctant to book accommodations at a hotel with an unfamiliar name.
"If you're going to spend your money, why take a chance on a non-brand-name hotel?" Siefert said, noting that Marriott has been especially successful at building name-brand loyalty.
Owners of other tourism-related businesses on St. Croix were more upbeat in their assessments of the season.
"We've got to be positive. Things are down all over," said Mark Sperber, owner of Mile Mark Watersports.
Sperber said this week has been booming, especially compared to the last couple of weeks. However, like St. Croix's other visitor-oriented businesses, his took a hit this winter with most of the cruise ships that used to call in Frederiksted abandoning the island.
Robin Catanach at the Coconut Vine clothing store in King's Alley in Christiansted said business has been good. "At least as good as last year," she said.
Frank Pugliese, owner of the Bacchus Restaurant in Christiansted, said he's been doing a bit better than last year. "We don't have the 9-11 issue," he said, referring to last year's tourism fallout from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the mainland.
Al Day, who owns the Charterboat Center on St. Thomas, said he experienced the normal lull after Christmas but things have picked up. "The lull was a little longer and a little luller, though," he said.
There are now more competing businesses on St. Thomas, which is good for the destination but cuts the pie a little finer, Day said.
Many of his guests are also spending less than used to be the case. "They're still coming, but they might just spend one more day sitting on the beach reading a book instead of going out in a boat," he said.
At Caneel Bay Resort, Young said the addition of less-expensive items to the gift shop stock has spurred sales.
Dana Bartlett, who takes guests from both St. John and St. Thomas on Carolina Coral horse rides on St. John, said business has been good. In the midst of difficult times, "lots of families are trying to be as normal as possible," she said, perhaps reflecting a fact that may hold out hope for the remainder of the territory's winter season.
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 week is typically the busiest of the winter season in the Virgin Islands. However, the threat of war coupled with economic hard times is making business owners nervous. And even the snowstorms on the East Coast are a mixed blessing, with air transportation interruptions.
"The storm, war, economic uncertainty. It's not an easy time to travel," said Brian Young, general manager of St. John's Caneel Bay Resort.
Young's comments on the war and the nation's economic woes echo those made by many others. While people are still traveling, particularly to St. John and St. Thomas, business owners are reluctant to predict what lies ahead, since many people now book getaways at the last minute.
"Bookings are coming in slowly," said Chris Goodier, spokeswoman for the Buccaneer Hotel on St. Croix.
Those with full houses on Presidents Day week are pleased, of course.
"We're booked up completely and have been for months and months and will be for months and months," said Robin Clair, manager of the three-cottage Estate Zootenvaal on St. John.
Mary Davis, co-owner of the 15-room Danish Chalet Inn on St. Thomas, said her hotel was filled going into this week. One couple was there on their 19th annual visit, she said.
David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said his occupancy is running about 80 percent. A couple of group bookings boosted the figures in recent weeks.
Yamada, who also is president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said the 80 percent figure is typical of most other St. Thomas hotels, too.
He hopes the East Coast blizzards will have many more people making reservations to escape a bad-weather winter. "Hopefully, we'll see some pickup once they shovel out," he said.
Initially, however, the snowstorms' impact on the territory's tourism picture was negative. Young said guests with reservations for 10 rooms at Caneel Bay were stuck at home Monday because airports were closed.
Goodier said this February is not looking as good as last year's was for The Buccaneer. "We still had rooms available last Friday for this week," she said.
Bob Siefert, general manager of the Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino on St. Croix, said bookings for Presidents Day weekend were good. But many of the customers were local residents who flocked to St. Croix from other islands for the Agriculture and Food Fair and who indulged in a getaway special for Valentine's Day — a $153-a-night room for two including dinner.
Until last week, he said, the hotel's occupancy had been running about 60 percent.
Claudia Carrington, owner of Carrington's Inn on St. Croix, had a similar story. She said this is the first winter that she has actively sought local business.
Carrington expressed surprise that a $270 US Airways fare between New York and St. Croix didn't bring more guests.
Siefert said the Divi is running a special of $1,395 per person for seven nights, including airfare from any city on the mainland.
Things are so bad at the Divi, he said, that he had to lay off staff in mid-season. In fact, he laid off so many that he had to resign as president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association because of the demands on his time filling the shoes of laid-off managers.
The government has failed to effectively market St. Croix, Siefert charged, but he also noted that St. Croix doesn't have major chain hotels such as those on St. Thomas and St. John to lure travelers reluctant to book accommodations at a hotel with an unfamiliar name.
"If you're going to spend your money, why take a chance on a non-brand-name hotel?" Siefert said, noting that Marriott has been especially successful at building name-brand loyalty.
Owners of other tourism-related businesses on St. Croix were more upbeat in their assessments of the season.
"We've got to be positive. Things are down all over," said Mark Sperber, owner of Mile Mark Watersports.
Sperber said this week has been booming, especially compared to the last couple of weeks. However, like St. Croix's other visitor-oriented businesses, his took a hit this winter with most of the cruise ships that used to call in Frederiksted abandoning the island.
Robin Catanach at the Coconut Vine clothing store in King's Alley in Christiansted said business has been good. "At least as good as last year," she said.
Frank Pugliese, owner of the Bacchus Restaurant in Christiansted, said he's been doing a bit better than last year. "We don't have the 9-11 issue," he said, referring to last year's tourism fallout from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the mainland.
Al Day, who owns the Charterboat Center on St. Thomas, said he experienced the normal lull after Christmas but things have picked up. "The lull was a little longer and a little luller, though," he said.
There are now more competing businesses on St. Thomas, which is good for the destination but cuts the pie a little finer, Day said.
Many of his guests are also spending less than used to be the case. "They're still coming, but they might just spend one more day sitting on the beach reading a book instead of going out in a boat," he said.
At Caneel Bay Resort, Young said the addition of less-expensive items to the gift shop stock has spurred sales.
Dana Bartlett, who takes guests from both St. John and St. Thomas on Carolina Coral horse rides on St. John, said business has been good. In the midst of difficult times, "lots of families are trying to be as normal as possible," she said, perhaps reflecting a fact that may hold out hope for the remainder of the territory's winter season.
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.
PHONE COMPANY'S FEDERAL SUBSIDIES EXCEED $33M
Feb. 18, 2003 – The most recent data available from the Universal Service Administrative Company show that the federal subsidies received by Innovative Telephone — formerly V.I. Telephone Corp., or Vitelco — now total more than $33 million a year.
Through a complex federal subsidy program designed to make telephone service available in hard-to-reach areas of the nation, Innovative receives the funding through three programs operated for the Federal Communications Commission: the High Cost Loop and Long Term Support programs and Interstate Common Line monthly support.
The money comes from small monthly surcharges added to virtually all phone bills across the country, including those of Innovative customers, as Universal Service Fund payments. The disbursement of the funds is handled for the FCC by the Universal Service Administrative Company, a not-for-profit entity based in Washington, D.C.
According to Nov. 1, 2002, data, the most recent available from USAC, the expected current annual subsidies for Innovative Telephone come to:
High Cost Loop — $14.4 million.
Long Term Support — $7.6 million.
Interstate Common Line monthly support — $11.6 million.
That adds up, in rounded figures, to $33.6 million.
According to a Feb. 12 report in The V.I. Daily News, a newspaper owned by Innovative Communication Corp. — which also owns Innovative Telephone — the Universal Service Fund subsidies "currently account for about 30 percent of Innovative Telephone's revenue."
The USAC data show that compared to local phone systems in the other insular U.S. territories — all regarded as "rural" by the FCC and none noted for cost-conscious efficiency — Innovative is getting strikingly higher per-line, per-month subsidies:
Innovative — $41.20
American Samoa (government-owned system) — $8.59
Puerto Rico Telephone Co. — $4.80
Guam Telephone Authority — $2.11
No other telephone company of Innovative's scale on the mainland gets anywhere near as much money per line per month from the USF.
The Universal Service Fund subsidies were created for rural areas. The Federal Communications Commission many years ago defined all of the U.S. island territories as rural.
Yet, Innovative's phone line concentration — which averages out to 522 lines on each of the territory's 132 square miles — is more than three times the average of "urban" systems recorded in a recent National Exchange Carrier Association document, and almost 50 times that of the average of other systems designated as "rural" by the FCC. All else being equal, it should be more cost effective to have a tightly concentrated system such as Innovative's, rather than one that is more spread out.
Innovative: Competition could cut into its subsidy
The Daily News report of USC subsidies accounting for 30 percent of Innovative's revenues appeared in an article concerning the most recent meeting of the Public Services Commission, on Feb. 11, where Choice Communications, formerly Wireless World, asked the PSC to grant it status that would make it a publicly regulated utility. (See the section subtitled "Regulation of Choice Communications to be weighed" the Source article "PSC seeks more Donastorg-Innovative data".)
Choice Communications is seeking — as Wireless World did unsuccessfully two years ago — to force Innovative Telephone to provide it the connectivity needed to supply local telephone service, something which would, in effect, end the local-service monopoly historically held by Innovative/Vitelco.
At the Feb. 11 meeting, the PSC voted to open a docket for Choice to investigate whether it qualifies for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier. Having ETC status would make the company a regulated public utility.
The Daily News in its Feb. 12 report quoted Innovative's president, David Sharp, from an interview "after the meeting." According to the report:
"Sharp said that splitting up the territory's federal subsidy could be a drain that would ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically.
"If Choice were allowed to compete with Innovative Telephone, it could go after a significant portion of Innovative Telephone's business customers, which generate higher revenues per line than residential customers. Additionally, it might qualify for federal funds that could cut into the subsidy that keeps local phone bills lower."
In response to the statement attributed to Sharp that the proposed competition would drain ICC, and thus raise rates, Cornelius Prior Jr., chief executive of Choice Communications, said: "If that's true, it would be the first time in the history of the world that competition caused prices to rise."
Sharp's contention that splitting up the territory's USF subsidies could ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically is subject to question. The idea that there is a fixed dollar amount of subsidy available to a particular jurisdiction, in this case the Virgin Islands, runs counter to the views of numerous telephone industry sources.
The complex formula used by USAC does not relate to the income level of those served, the difficulty of extending phone service to them, or any allocation by geography. As spelled out in articles published by the Source last year, it is calculated solely on the basis of costs reported to USAC, an entity created by, and lightly supervised by, the FCC.
Prior said that if the PSC opens the door to local telephone service competition in the Virgin Islands by granting Choice ETC status, Choice will seek USAC subsidies. But he noted that because Choice would have considerably less physical equipment than Innovative Telephone, and thus lower costs, he would expect his company's subsidies to be considerably smaller than those granted to Innovative.
Prior also termed the statement that Innovative, if it lost some customers because of competition from Choice, would raise its rates as "absurd on its face." Nobody does business that way, he said.
Connections and more connections
Choice Communications was formed last year by the merger of Wireless World, VI Access, Cobex and Antilles Digital Television. It is a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network, which is a publicly traded company based on St. Thomas and headed by Prior, the majority shareholder. ATN also has telecommunications holdings in Guyana, Bermuda and Haiti.
ICC, Innovative Telephone's parent company, also owns, in addition to the Daily News, Innovative Cable TV St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John, cable channel TV2, Innovative Wireless, Innovative Long Distance, Innovative Business Systems and VI PowerNet in the territory. The company, which is wholly owned by Jeffrey Prosser, also has telecommunications holdings in the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique and France.
Prosser and Prior came to the Virgin Islands as partners, the co-owners of Atlantic Tele-Network, which purchased the old Vitelco from ITT more than a decade ago. In the late '90s, after lengthy legal maneuvers, they agreed to go their separate ways with Prosser retaining V.I. Telephone Corp. and Prior keeping the company's other major holding, majority interest in the Guyana telephone system.
Both men have in the years since expanded their telecommunications empires, primarily in the Virgin Islands, in what is known as vertical integration — corporate ownership of multiple companies in which some holdings provide support systems for others.
The Federal Communications Commission is chaired by Michael Powell, son of Secretary of State Colin Powell. The senior Powell is a longtime personal friend of Samuel E. Ebbesen, former president and CEO of Innovative Telephone who was promoted last month to senior vice president of ICC with responsibility for all ICC telecommunications operations in the ter ritory. Both had 35-year careers in the U.S. Army, Powell attaining the rank of four-star general and Ebbesen, three-star general, before retiring from the military in the 1990s.
Michael Powell is Ebbesen's godson.
Earlier Source subsidy figures fell short
In a two-part series last year, the Source reported that Innovative Telephone was receiving more than $25 million a year in federal subsidies through two programs operated for the FCC. (See "Phone company spends, gets and makes more" and "Despite high subsidies, phone users pay more".)
The articles cited a combined total for the High Cost Loop (a telephone line is a loop) and Long Term Support subsidies of $31.20 per line per month. They noted that this rate was much higher than those paid to mainland rural telephone systems of the same size, as well as for other island systems.
The statistics were taken from a lengthy USAC printout of financial information on hundreds of phone companies showing 15 columns of data covering several subsidy programs and other information. However, one further column did not fit onto the print-out pages and appeared printed separately on other pages. The data from this column, inadvertently excluded from the earlier Source articles, show a third source of multimillions of dollars in subsidies flowing to Innovative — from the Interstate Common Line program.
Adding in the third source of funds reported in the most recent subsidy data brings the total Innovative federal subsidy to more than $33 million a year.
The Source's $8 million error last year was not corrected by Innovative Telephone or ICC or by the Public Services Commission, which regulates the telephone company but has thus far declined to make its financial reports available to the public as requested by the Source.
As reported by the Source last year, from 1992 to 1997, when Vitelco's finances were published, the size of the phone company's federal subsidy just about equaled the size of the firm's profits.
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.
Through a complex federal subsidy program designed to make telephone service available in hard-to-reach areas of the nation, Innovative receives the funding through three programs operated for the Federal Communications Commission: the High Cost Loop and Long Term Support programs and Interstate Common Line monthly support.
The money comes from small monthly surcharges added to virtually all phone bills across the country, including those of Innovative customers, as Universal Service Fund payments. The disbursement of the funds is handled for the FCC by the Universal Service Administrative Company, a not-for-profit entity based in Washington, D.C.
According to Nov. 1, 2002, data, the most recent available from USAC, the expected current annual subsidies for Innovative Telephone come to:
High Cost Loop — $14.4 million.
Long Term Support — $7.6 million.
Interstate Common Line monthly support — $11.6 million.
That adds up, in rounded figures, to $33.6 million.
According to a Feb. 12 report in The V.I. Daily News, a newspaper owned by Innovative Communication Corp. — which also owns Innovative Telephone — the Universal Service Fund subsidies "currently account for about 30 percent of Innovative Telephone's revenue."
The USAC data show that compared to local phone systems in the other insular U.S. territories — all regarded as "rural" by the FCC and none noted for cost-conscious efficiency — Innovative is getting strikingly higher per-line, per-month subsidies:
Innovative — $41.20
American Samoa (government-owned system) — $8.59
Puerto Rico Telephone Co. — $4.80
Guam Telephone Authority — $2.11
No other telephone company of Innovative's scale on the mainland gets anywhere near as much money per line per month from the USF.
The Universal Service Fund subsidies were created for rural areas. The Federal Communications Commission many years ago defined all of the U.S. island territories as rural.
Yet, Innovative's phone line concentration — which averages out to 522 lines on each of the territory's 132 square miles — is more than three times the average of "urban" systems recorded in a recent National Exchange Carrier Association document, and almost 50 times that of the average of other systems designated as "rural" by the FCC. All else being equal, it should be more cost effective to have a tightly concentrated system such as Innovative's, rather than one that is more spread out.
Innovative: Competition could cut into its subsidy
The Daily News report of USC subsidies accounting for 30 percent of Innovative's revenues appeared in an article concerning the most recent meeting of the Public Services Commission, on Feb. 11, where Choice Communications, formerly Wireless World, asked the PSC to grant it status that would make it a publicly regulated utility. (See the section subtitled "Regulation of Choice Communications to be weighed" the Source article "PSC seeks more Donastorg-Innovative data".)
Choice Communications is seeking — as Wireless World did unsuccessfully two years ago — to force Innovative Telephone to provide it the connectivity needed to supply local telephone service, something which would, in effect, end the local-service monopoly historically held by Innovative/Vitelco.
At the Feb. 11 meeting, the PSC voted to open a docket for Choice to investigate whether it qualifies for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier. Having ETC status would make the company a regulated public utility.
The Daily News in its Feb. 12 report quoted Innovative's president, David Sharp, from an interview "after the meeting." According to the report:
"Sharp said that splitting up the territory's federal subsidy could be a drain that would ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically.
"If Choice were allowed to compete with Innovative Telephone, it could go after a significant portion of Innovative Telephone's business customers, which generate higher revenues per line than residential customers. Additionally, it might qualify for federal funds that could cut into the subsidy that keeps local phone bills lower."
In response to the statement attributed to Sharp that the proposed competition would drain ICC, and thus raise rates, Cornelius Prior Jr., chief executive of Choice Communications, said: "If that's true, it would be the first time in the history of the world that competition caused prices to rise."
Sharp's contention that splitting up the territory's USF subsidies could ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically is subject to question. The idea that there is a fixed dollar amount of subsidy available to a particular jurisdiction, in this case the Virgin Islands, runs counter to the views of numerous telephone industry sources.
The complex formula used by USAC does not relate to the income level of those served, the difficulty of extending phone service to them, or any allocation by geography. As spelled out in articles published by the Source last year, it is calculated solely on the basis of costs reported to USAC, an entity created by, and lightly supervised by, the FCC.
Prior said that if the PSC opens the door to local telephone service competition in the Virgin Islands by granting Choice ETC status, Choice will seek USAC subsidies. But he noted that because Choice would have considerably less physical equipment than Innovative Telephone, and thus lower costs, he would expect his company's subsidies to be considerably smaller than those granted to Innovative.
Prior also termed the statement that Innovative, if it lost some customers because of competition from Choice, would raise its rates as "absurd on its face." Nobody does business that way, he said.
Connections and more connections
Choice Communications was formed last year by the merger of Wireless World, VI Access, Cobex and Antilles Digital Television. It is a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network, which is a publicly traded company based on St. Thomas and headed by Prior, the majority shareholder. ATN also has telecommunications holdings in Guyana, Bermuda and Haiti.
ICC, Innovative Telephone's parent company, also owns, in addition to the Daily News, Innovative Cable TV St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John, cable channel TV2, Innovative Wireless, Innovative Long Distance, Innovative Business Systems and VI PowerNet in the territory. The company, which is wholly owned by Jeffrey Prosser, also has telecommunications holdings in the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique and France.
Prosser and Prior came to the Virgin Islands as partners, the co-owners of Atlantic Tele-Network, which purchased the old Vitelco from ITT more than a decade ago. In the late '90s, after lengthy legal maneuvers, they agreed to go their separate ways with Prosser retaining V.I. Telephone Corp. and Prior keeping the company's other major holding, majority interest in the Guyana telephone system.
Both men have in the years since expanded their telecommunications empires, primarily in the Virgin Islands, in what is known as vertical integration — corporate ownership of multiple companies in which some holdings provide support systems for others.
The Federal Communications Commission is chaired by Michael Powell, son of Secretary of State Colin Powell. The senior Powell is a longtime personal friend of Samuel E. Ebbesen, former president and CEO of Innovative Telephone who was promoted last month to senior vice president of ICC with responsibility for all ICC telecommunications operations in the ter ritory. Both had 35-year careers in the U.S. Army, Powell attaining the rank of four-star general and Ebbesen, three-star general, before retiring from the military in the 1990s.
Michael Powell is Ebbesen's godson.
Earlier Source subsidy figures fell short
In a two-part series last year, the Source reported that Innovative Telephone was receiving more than $25 million a year in federal subsidies through two programs operated for the FCC. (See "Phone company spends, gets and makes more" and "Despite high subsidies, phone users pay more".)
The articles cited a combined total for the High Cost Loop (a telephone line is a loop) and Long Term Support subsidies of $31.20 per line per month. They noted that this rate was much higher than those paid to mainland rural telephone systems of the same size, as well as for other island systems.
The statistics were taken from a lengthy USAC printout of financial information on hundreds of phone companies showing 15 columns of data covering several subsidy programs and other information. However, one further column did not fit onto the print-out pages and appeared printed separately on other pages. The data from this column, inadvertently excluded from the earlier Source articles, show a third source of multimillions of dollars in subsidies flowing to Innovative — from the Interstate Common Line program.
Adding in the third source of funds reported in the most recent subsidy data brings the total Innovative federal subsidy to more than $33 million a year.
The Source's $8 million error last year was not corrected by Innovative Telephone or ICC or by the Public Services Commission, which regulates the telephone company but has thus far declined to make its financial reports available to the public as requested by the Source.
As reported by the Source last year, from 1992 to 1997, when Vitelco's finances were published, the size of the phone company's federal subsidy just about equaled the size of the firm's profits.
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.
PHONE COMPANY'S FEDERAL SUBSIDIES EXCEED $33M
Feb. 18, 2003 – The most recent data available from the Universal Service Administrative Company show that the federal subsidies received by Innovative Telephone — formerly V.I. Telephone Corp., or Vitelco — now total more than $33 million a year.
Through a complex federal subsidy program designed to make telephone service available in hard-to-reach areas of the nation, Innovative receives the funding through three programs operated for the Federal Communications Commission: the High Cost Loop and Long Term Support programs and Interstate Common Line monthly support.
The money comes from small monthly surcharges added to virtually all phone bills across the country, including those of Innovative customers, as Universal Service Fund payments. The disbursement of the funds is handled for the FCC by the Universal Service Administrative Company, a not-for-profit entity based in Washington, D.C.
According to Nov. 1, 2002, data, the most recent available from USAC, the expected current annual subsidies for Innovative Telephone come to:
High Cost Loop — $14.4 million.
Long Term Support — $7.6 million.
Interstate Common Line monthly support — $11.6 million.
That adds up, in rounded figures, to $33.6 million.
According to a Feb. 12 report in The V.I. Daily News, a newspaper owned by Innovative Communication Corp. — which also owns Innovative Telephone — the Universal Service Fund subsidies "currently account for about 30 percent of Innovative Telephone's revenue."
The USAC data show that compared to local phone systems in the other insular U.S. territories — all regarded as "rural" by the FCC and none noted for cost-conscious efficiency — Innovative is getting strikingly higher per-line, per-month subsidies:
Innovative — $41.20
American Samoa (government-owned system) — $8.59
Puerto Rico Telephone Co. — $4.80
Guam Telephone Authority — $2.11
No other telephone company of Innovative's scale on the mainland gets anywhere near as much money per line per month from the USF.
The Universal Service Fund subsidies were created for rural areas. The Federal Communications Commission many years ago defined all of the U.S. island territories as rural.
Yet, Innovative's phone line concentration — which averages out to 522 lines on each of the territory's 132 square miles — is more than three times the average of "urban" systems recorded in a recent National Exchange Carrier Association document, and almost 50 times that of the average of other systems designated as "rural" by the FCC. All else being equal, it should be more cost effective to have a tightly concentrated system such as Innovative's, rather than one that is more spread out.
Innovative: Competition could cut into its subsidy
The Daily News report of USC subsidies accounting for 30 percent of Innovative's revenues appeared in an article concerning the most recent meeting of the Public Services Commission, on Feb. 11, where Choice Communications, formerly Wireless World, asked the PSC to grant it status that would make it a publicly regulated utility. (See the section subtitled "Regulation of Choice Communications to be weighed" the Source article "PSC seeks more Donastorg-Innovative data".)
Choice Communications is seeking — as Wireless World did unsuccessfully two years ago — to force Innovative Telephone to provide it the connectivity needed to supply local telephone service, something which would, in effect, end the local-service monopoly historically held by Innovative/Vitelco.
At the Feb. 11 meeting, the PSC voted to open a docket for Choice to investigate whether it qualifies for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier. Having ETC status would make the company a regulated public utility.
The Daily News in its Feb. 12 report quoted Innovative's president, David Sharp, from an interview "after the meeting." According to the report:
"Sharp said that splitting up the territory's federal subsidy could be a drain that would ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically.
"If Choice were allowed to compete with Innovative Telephone, it could go after a significant portion of Innovative Telephone's business customers, which generate higher revenues per line than residential customers. Additionally, it might qualify for federal funds that could cut into the subsidy that keeps local phone bills lower."
In response to the statement attributed to Sharp that the proposed competition would drain ICC, and thus raise rates, Cornelius Prior Jr., chief executive of Choice Communications, said: "If that's true, it would be the first time in the history of the world that competition caused prices to rise."
Sharp's contention that splitting up the territory's USF subsidies could ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically is subject to question. The idea that there is a fixed dollar amount of subsidy available to a particular jurisdiction, in this case the Virgin Islands, runs counter to the views of numerous telephone industry sources.
The complex formula used by USAC does not relate to the income level of those served, the difficulty of extending phone service to them, or any allocation by geography. As spelled out in articles published by the Source last year, it is calculated solely on the basis of costs reported to USAC, an entity created by, and lightly supervised by, the FCC.
Prior said that if the PSC opens the door to local telephone service competition in the Virgin Islands by granting Choice ETC status, Choice will seek USAC subsidies. But he noted that because Choice would have considerably less physical equipment than Innovative Telephone, and thus lower costs, he would expect his company's subsidies to be considerably smaller than those granted to Innovative.
Prior also termed the statement that Innovative, if it lost some customers because of competition from Choice, would raise its rates as "absurd on its face." Nobody does business that way, he said.
Connections and more connections
Choice Communications was formed last year by the merger of Wireless World, VI Access, Cobex and Antilles Digital Television. It is a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network, which is a publicly traded company based on St. Thomas and headed by Prior, the majority shareholder. ATN also has telecommunications holdings in Guyana, Bermuda and Haiti.
ICC, Innovative Telephone's parent company, also owns, in addition to the Daily News, Innovative Cable TV St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John, cable channel TV2, Innovative Wireless, Innovative Long Distance, Innovative Business Systems and VI PowerNet in the territory. The company, which is wholly owned by Jeffrey Prosser, also has telecommunications holdings in the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique and France.
Prosser and Prior came to the Virgin Islands as partners, the co-owners of Atlantic Tele-Network, which purchased the old Vitelco from ITT more than a decade ago. In the late '90s, after lengthy legal maneuvers, they agreed to go their separate ways with Prosser retaining V.I. Telephone Corp. and Prior keeping the company's other major holding, majority interest in the Guyana telephone system.
Both men have in the years since expanded their telecommunications empires, primarily in the Virgin Islands, in what is known as vertical integration — corporate ownership of multiple companies in which some holdings provide support systems for others.
The Federal Communications Commission is chaired by Michael Powell, son of Secretary of State Colin Powell. The senior Powell is a longtime personal friend of Samuel E. Ebbesen, former president and CEO of Innovative Telephone who was promoted last month to senior vice president of ICC with responsibility for all ICC telecommunications operations in the terr itory. Both had 35-year careers in the U.S. Army, Powell attaining the rank of four-star general and Ebbesen, three-star general, before retiring from the military in the 1990s.
Michael Powell is Ebbesen's godson.
Earlier Source subsidy figures fell short
In a two-part series last year, the Source reported that Innovative Telephone was receiving more than $25 million a year in federal subsidies through two programs operated for the FCC. (See "Phone company spends, gets and makes more" and "Despite high subsidies, phone users pay more".)
The articles cited a combined total for the High Cost Loop (a telephone line is a loop) and Long Term Support subsidies of $31.20 per line per month. They noted that this rate was much higher than those paid to mainland rural telephone systems of the same size, as well as for other island systems.
The statistics were taken from a lengthy USAC printout of financial information on hundreds of phone companies showing 15 columns of data covering several subsidy programs and other information. However, one further column did not fit onto the print-out pages and appeared printed separately on other pages. The data from this column, inadvertently excluded from the earlier Source articles, show a third source of multimillions of dollars in subsidies flowing to Innovative — from the Interstate Common Line program.
Adding in the third source of funds reported in the most recent subsidy data brings the total Innovative federal subsidy to more than $33 million a year.
The Source's $8 million error last year was not corrected by Innovative Telephone or ICC or by the Public Services Commission, which regulates the telephone company but has thus far declined to make its financial reports available to the public as requested by the Source.
As reported by the Source last year, from 1992 to 1997, when Vitelco's finances were published, the size of the phone company's federal subsidy just about equaled the size of the firm's profits.
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.
Through a complex federal subsidy program designed to make telephone service available in hard-to-reach areas of the nation, Innovative receives the funding through three programs operated for the Federal Communications Commission: the High Cost Loop and Long Term Support programs and Interstate Common Line monthly support.
The money comes from small monthly surcharges added to virtually all phone bills across the country, including those of Innovative customers, as Universal Service Fund payments. The disbursement of the funds is handled for the FCC by the Universal Service Administrative Company, a not-for-profit entity based in Washington, D.C.
According to Nov. 1, 2002, data, the most recent available from USAC, the expected current annual subsidies for Innovative Telephone come to:
High Cost Loop — $14.4 million.
Long Term Support — $7.6 million.
Interstate Common Line monthly support — $11.6 million.
That adds up, in rounded figures, to $33.6 million.
According to a Feb. 12 report in The V.I. Daily News, a newspaper owned by Innovative Communication Corp. — which also owns Innovative Telephone — the Universal Service Fund subsidies "currently account for about 30 percent of Innovative Telephone's revenue."
The USAC data show that compared to local phone systems in the other insular U.S. territories — all regarded as "rural" by the FCC and none noted for cost-conscious efficiency — Innovative is getting strikingly higher per-line, per-month subsidies:
Innovative — $41.20
American Samoa (government-owned system) — $8.59
Puerto Rico Telephone Co. — $4.80
Guam Telephone Authority — $2.11
No other telephone company of Innovative's scale on the mainland gets anywhere near as much money per line per month from the USF.
The Universal Service Fund subsidies were created for rural areas. The Federal Communications Commission many years ago defined all of the U.S. island territories as rural.
Yet, Innovative's phone line concentration — which averages out to 522 lines on each of the territory's 132 square miles — is more than three times the average of "urban" systems recorded in a recent National Exchange Carrier Association document, and almost 50 times that of the average of other systems designated as "rural" by the FCC. All else being equal, it should be more cost effective to have a tightly concentrated system such as Innovative's, rather than one that is more spread out.
Innovative: Competition could cut into its subsidy
The Daily News report of USC subsidies accounting for 30 percent of Innovative's revenues appeared in an article concerning the most recent meeting of the Public Services Commission, on Feb. 11, where Choice Communications, formerly Wireless World, asked the PSC to grant it status that would make it a publicly regulated utility. (See the section subtitled "Regulation of Choice Communications to be weighed" the Source article "PSC seeks more Donastorg-Innovative data".)
Choice Communications is seeking — as Wireless World did unsuccessfully two years ago — to force Innovative Telephone to provide it the connectivity needed to supply local telephone service, something which would, in effect, end the local-service monopoly historically held by Innovative/Vitelco.
At the Feb. 11 meeting, the PSC voted to open a docket for Choice to investigate whether it qualifies for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier. Having ETC status would make the company a regulated public utility.
The Daily News in its Feb. 12 report quoted Innovative's president, David Sharp, from an interview "after the meeting." According to the report:
"Sharp said that splitting up the territory's federal subsidy could be a drain that would ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically.
"If Choice were allowed to compete with Innovative Telephone, it could go after a significant portion of Innovative Telephone's business customers, which generate higher revenues per line than residential customers. Additionally, it might qualify for federal funds that could cut into the subsidy that keeps local phone bills lower."
In response to the statement attributed to Sharp that the proposed competition would drain ICC, and thus raise rates, Cornelius Prior Jr., chief executive of Choice Communications, said: "If that's true, it would be the first time in the history of the world that competition caused prices to rise."
Sharp's contention that splitting up the territory's USF subsidies could ultimately cause telephone rates to increase dramatically is subject to question. The idea that there is a fixed dollar amount of subsidy available to a particular jurisdiction, in this case the Virgin Islands, runs counter to the views of numerous telephone industry sources.
The complex formula used by USAC does not relate to the income level of those served, the difficulty of extending phone service to them, or any allocation by geography. As spelled out in articles published by the Source last year, it is calculated solely on the basis of costs reported to USAC, an entity created by, and lightly supervised by, the FCC.
Prior said that if the PSC opens the door to local telephone service competition in the Virgin Islands by granting Choice ETC status, Choice will seek USAC subsidies. But he noted that because Choice would have considerably less physical equipment than Innovative Telephone, and thus lower costs, he would expect his company's subsidies to be considerably smaller than those granted to Innovative.
Prior also termed the statement that Innovative, if it lost some customers because of competition from Choice, would raise its rates as "absurd on its face." Nobody does business that way, he said.
Connections and more connections
Choice Communications was formed last year by the merger of Wireless World, VI Access, Cobex and Antilles Digital Television. It is a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network, which is a publicly traded company based on St. Thomas and headed by Prior, the majority shareholder. ATN also has telecommunications holdings in Guyana, Bermuda and Haiti.
ICC, Innovative Telephone's parent company, also owns, in addition to the Daily News, Innovative Cable TV St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John, cable channel TV2, Innovative Wireless, Innovative Long Distance, Innovative Business Systems and VI PowerNet in the territory. The company, which is wholly owned by Jeffrey Prosser, also has telecommunications holdings in the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique and France.
Prosser and Prior came to the Virgin Islands as partners, the co-owners of Atlantic Tele-Network, which purchased the old Vitelco from ITT more than a decade ago. In the late '90s, after lengthy legal maneuvers, they agreed to go their separate ways with Prosser retaining V.I. Telephone Corp. and Prior keeping the company's other major holding, majority interest in the Guyana telephone system.
Both men have in the years since expanded their telecommunications empires, primarily in the Virgin Islands, in what is known as vertical integration — corporate ownership of multiple companies in which some holdings provide support systems for others.
The Federal Communications Commission is chaired by Michael Powell, son of Secretary of State Colin Powell. The senior Powell is a longtime personal friend of Samuel E. Ebbesen, former president and CEO of Innovative Telephone who was promoted last month to senior vice president of ICC with responsibility for all ICC telecommunications operations in the terr itory. Both had 35-year careers in the U.S. Army, Powell attaining the rank of four-star general and Ebbesen, three-star general, before retiring from the military in the 1990s.
Michael Powell is Ebbesen's godson.
Earlier Source subsidy figures fell short
In a two-part series last year, the Source reported that Innovative Telephone was receiving more than $25 million a year in federal subsidies through two programs operated for the FCC. (See "Phone company spends, gets and makes more" and "Despite high subsidies, phone users pay more".)
The articles cited a combined total for the High Cost Loop (a telephone line is a loop) and Long Term Support subsidies of $31.20 per line per month. They noted that this rate was much higher than those paid to mainland rural telephone systems of the same size, as well as for other island systems.
The statistics were taken from a lengthy USAC printout of financial information on hundreds of phone companies showing 15 columns of data covering several subsidy programs and other information. However, one further column did not fit onto the print-out pages and appeared printed separately on other pages. The data from this column, inadvertently excluded from the earlier Source articles, show a third source of multimillions of dollars in subsidies flowing to Innovative — from the Interstate Common Line program.
Adding in the third source of funds reported in the most recent subsidy data brings the total Innovative federal subsidy to more than $33 million a year.
The Source's $8 million error last year was not corrected by Innovative Telephone or ICC or by the Public Services Commission, which regulates the telephone company but has thus far declined to make its financial reports available to the public as requested by the Source.
As reported by the Source last year, from 1992 to 1997, when Vitelco's finances were published, the size of the phone company's federal subsidy just about equaled the size of the firm's profits.
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.
REMOVAL OF JUNKED VEHICLES MOVING INTO PHASE 2
Feb. 18, 2003 – Cars rusting along the roadsides on St. Croix, once a common sight, are becoming more rare as the Junked and Abandoned Vehicle Joint Task Force enters its second phase.
According to St. Croix Administrator Gregory Francis, about 150 junked vehicles were removed during the first phase of the program over the yearend holidays. The second phase, Francis said, will focus on Christiansted and may expand to other areas throughout the island.
The V.I. Code defines junked vehicles as those that are deemed inoperable or are more than eight years old and are left unattended or illegally parked on public property for more than 48 hours.
"This second phase will include the formal notification to the owners through the placement of a sticker on the abandoned vehicles; formal public notice through the publication of the vehicles' identification numbers, model and type in the newspaper; and finally, removal and processing," Francis said.
Any junked cars and trucks not moved by their owners two days after being tagged for removal will be seized by the Police Department or another authorized agency. Owners will be charged a minimum fine of $75 for towing and $10 per day for storage. Those who do not pay the fines will not be allowed to register any other vehicle in the future until the fines are paid.
Vehicle owners who do not reclaim their property within 15 days after the public notice is posted will relinquish their right from further claim. However, vehicles that have been identified for removal can be claimed by owners before the posted towing date to avoid their being seized.
After 15 days, vehicles that have been towed and remain unclaimed will become items for recycling.
The task force, Francis said, represents a join effort of the Anti-Litter and Beautification Commission on St. Croix, the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development, and the Office of the Governor. For more information, call program coordinator Austin Moorehead at 643-2033.
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.
According to St. Croix Administrator Gregory Francis, about 150 junked vehicles were removed during the first phase of the program over the yearend holidays. The second phase, Francis said, will focus on Christiansted and may expand to other areas throughout the island.
The V.I. Code defines junked vehicles as those that are deemed inoperable or are more than eight years old and are left unattended or illegally parked on public property for more than 48 hours.
"This second phase will include the formal notification to the owners through the placement of a sticker on the abandoned vehicles; formal public notice through the publication of the vehicles' identification numbers, model and type in the newspaper; and finally, removal and processing," Francis said.
Any junked cars and trucks not moved by their owners two days after being tagged for removal will be seized by the Police Department or another authorized agency. Owners will be charged a minimum fine of $75 for towing and $10 per day for storage. Those who do not pay the fines will not be allowed to register any other vehicle in the future until the fines are paid.
Vehicle owners who do not reclaim their property within 15 days after the public notice is posted will relinquish their right from further claim. However, vehicles that have been identified for removal can be claimed by owners before the posted towing date to avoid their being seized.
After 15 days, vehicles that have been towed and remain unclaimed will become items for recycling.
The task force, Francis said, represents a join effort of the Anti-Litter and Beautification Commission on St. Croix, the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development, and the Office of the Governor. For more information, call program coordinator Austin Moorehead at 643-2033.
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.
EVEN ON ST. JOHN, 'BUSIEST WEEK' COULD BE BETTER
Feb. 18, 2003 – St. John is booming, St. Thomas is doing well and St. Croix is a mixed bag, say owners of tourism-related businesses as they check their bottom lines this week, which kicked off with the long Presidents Day weekend.
The week is typically the busiest of the winter season in the Virgin Islands. However, the threat of war coupled with economic hard times is making business owners nervous. And even the snowstorms on the East Coast are a mixed blessing, with air transportation interruptions.
"The storm, war, economic uncertainty. It's not an easy time to travel," said Brian Young, general manager of St. John's Caneel Bay Resort.
Young's comments on the war and the nation's economic woes echo those made by many others. While people are still traveling, particularly to St. John and St. Thomas, business owners are reluctant to predict what lies ahead, since many people now book getaways at the last minute.
"Bookings are coming in slowly," said Chris Goodier, spokeswoman for the Buccaneer Hotel on St. Croix.
Those with full houses on Presidents Day week are pleased, of course.
"We're booked up completely and have been for months and months and will be for months and months," said Robin Clair, manager of the three-cottage Estate Zootenvaal on St. John.
Mary Davis, co-owner of the 15-room Danish Chalet Inn on St. Thomas, said her hotel was filled going into this week. One couple was there on their 19th annual visit, she said.
David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said his occupancy is running about 80 percent. A couple of group bookings boosted the figures in recent weeks.
Yamada, who also is president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said the 80 percent figure is typical of most other St. Thomas hotels, too.
He hopes the East Coast blizzards will have many more people making reservations to escape a bad-weather winter. "Hopefully, we'll see some pickup once they shovel out," he said.
Initially, however, the snowstorms' impact on the territory's tourism picture was negative. Young said guests with reservations for 10 rooms at Caneel Bay were stuck at home Monday because airports were closed.
Goodier said this February is not looking as good as last year's was for The Buccaneer. "We still had rooms available last Friday for this week," she said.
Bob Siefert, general manager of the Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino on St. Croix, said bookings for Presidents Day weekend were good. But many of the customers were local residents who flocked to St. Croix from other islands for the Agriculture and Food Fair and who indulged in a getaway special for Valentine's Day — a $153-a-night room for two including dinner.
Until last week, he said, the hotel's occupancy had been running about 60 percent.
Claudia Carrington, owner of Carrington's Inn on St. Croix, had a similar story. She said this is the first winter that she has actively sought local business.
Carrington expressed surprise that a $270 US Airways fare between New York and St. Croix didn't bring more guests.
Siefert said the Divi is running a special of $1,395 per person for seven nights, including airfare from any city on the mainland.
Things are so bad at the Divi, he said, that he had to lay off staff in mid-season. In fact, he laid off so many that he had to resign as president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association because of the demands on his time filling the shoes of laid-off managers.
The government has failed to effectively market St. Croix, Siefert charged, but he also noted that St. Croix doesn't have major chain hotels such as those on St. Thomas and St. John to lure travelers reluctant to book accommodations at a hotel with an unfamiliar name.
"If you're going to spend your money, why take a chance on a non-brand-name hotel?" Siefert said, noting that Marriott has been especially successful at building name-brand loyalty.
Owners of other tourism-related businesses on St. Croix were more upbeat in their assessments of the season.
"We've got to be positive. Things are down all over," said Mark Sperber, owner of Mile Mark Watersports.
Sperber said this week has been booming, especially compared to the last couple of weeks. However, like St. Croix's other visitor-oriented businesses, his took a hit this winter with most of the cruise ships that used to call in Frederiksted abandoning the island.
Robin Catanach at the Coconut Vine clothing store in King's Alley in Christiansted said business has been good. "At least as good as last year," she said.
Frank Pugliese, owner of the Bacchus Restaurant in Christiansted, said he's been doing a bit better than last year. "We don't have the 9-11 issue," he said, referring to last year's tourism fallout from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the mainland.
Al Day, who owns the Charterboat Center on St. Thomas, said he experienced the normal lull after Christmas but things have picked up. "The lull was a little longer and a little luller, though," he said.
There are now more competing businesses on St. Thomas, which is good for the destination but cuts the pie a little finer, Day said.
Many of his guests are also spending less than used to be the case. "They're still coming, but they might just spend one more day sitting on the beach reading a book instead of going out in a boat," he said.
At Caneel Bay Resort, Young said the addition of less-expensive items to the gift shop stock has spurred sales.
Dana Bartlett, who takes guests from both St. John and St. Thomas on Carolina Coral horse rides on St. John, said business has been good. In the midst of difficult times, "lots of families are trying to be as normal as possible," she said, perhaps reflecting a fact that may hold out hope for the remainder of the territory's winter season.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The week is typically the busiest of the winter season in the Virgin Islands. However, the threat of war coupled with economic hard times is making business owners nervous. And even the snowstorms on the East Coast are a mixed blessing, with air transportation interruptions.
"The storm, war, economic uncertainty. It's not an easy time to travel," said Brian Young, general manager of St. John's Caneel Bay Resort.
Young's comments on the war and the nation's economic woes echo those made by many others. While people are still traveling, particularly to St. John and St. Thomas, business owners are reluctant to predict what lies ahead, since many people now book getaways at the last minute.
"Bookings are coming in slowly," said Chris Goodier, spokeswoman for the Buccaneer Hotel on St. Croix.
Those with full houses on Presidents Day week are pleased, of course.
"We're booked up completely and have been for months and months and will be for months and months," said Robin Clair, manager of the three-cottage Estate Zootenvaal on St. John.
Mary Davis, co-owner of the 15-room Danish Chalet Inn on St. Thomas, said her hotel was filled going into this week. One couple was there on their 19th annual visit, she said.
David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said his occupancy is running about 80 percent. A couple of group bookings boosted the figures in recent weeks.
Yamada, who also is president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said the 80 percent figure is typical of most other St. Thomas hotels, too.
He hopes the East Coast blizzards will have many more people making reservations to escape a bad-weather winter. "Hopefully, we'll see some pickup once they shovel out," he said.
Initially, however, the snowstorms' impact on the territory's tourism picture was negative. Young said guests with reservations for 10 rooms at Caneel Bay were stuck at home Monday because airports were closed.
Goodier said this February is not looking as good as last year's was for The Buccaneer. "We still had rooms available last Friday for this week," she said.
Bob Siefert, general manager of the Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino on St. Croix, said bookings for Presidents Day weekend were good. But many of the customers were local residents who flocked to St. Croix from other islands for the Agriculture and Food Fair and who indulged in a getaway special for Valentine's Day — a $153-a-night room for two including dinner.
Until last week, he said, the hotel's occupancy had been running about 60 percent.
Claudia Carrington, owner of Carrington's Inn on St. Croix, had a similar story. She said this is the first winter that she has actively sought local business.
Carrington expressed surprise that a $270 US Airways fare between New York and St. Croix didn't bring more guests.
Siefert said the Divi is running a special of $1,395 per person for seven nights, including airfare from any city on the mainland.
Things are so bad at the Divi, he said, that he had to lay off staff in mid-season. In fact, he laid off so many that he had to resign as president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association because of the demands on his time filling the shoes of laid-off managers.
The government has failed to effectively market St. Croix, Siefert charged, but he also noted that St. Croix doesn't have major chain hotels such as those on St. Thomas and St. John to lure travelers reluctant to book accommodations at a hotel with an unfamiliar name.
"If you're going to spend your money, why take a chance on a non-brand-name hotel?" Siefert said, noting that Marriott has been especially successful at building name-brand loyalty.
Owners of other tourism-related businesses on St. Croix were more upbeat in their assessments of the season.
"We've got to be positive. Things are down all over," said Mark Sperber, owner of Mile Mark Watersports.
Sperber said this week has been booming, especially compared to the last couple of weeks. However, like St. Croix's other visitor-oriented businesses, his took a hit this winter with most of the cruise ships that used to call in Frederiksted abandoning the island.
Robin Catanach at the Coconut Vine clothing store in King's Alley in Christiansted said business has been good. "At least as good as last year," she said.
Frank Pugliese, owner of the Bacchus Restaurant in Christiansted, said he's been doing a bit better than last year. "We don't have the 9-11 issue," he said, referring to last year's tourism fallout from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the mainland.
Al Day, who owns the Charterboat Center on St. Thomas, said he experienced the normal lull after Christmas but things have picked up. "The lull was a little longer and a little luller, though," he said.
There are now more competing businesses on St. Thomas, which is good for the destination but cuts the pie a little finer, Day said.
Many of his guests are also spending less than used to be the case. "They're still coming, but they might just spend one more day sitting on the beach reading a book instead of going out in a boat," he said.
At Caneel Bay Resort, Young said the addition of less-expensive items to the gift shop stock has spurred sales.
Dana Bartlett, who takes guests from both St. John and St. Thomas on Carolina Coral horse rides on St. John, said business has been good. In the midst of difficult times, "lots of families are trying to be as normal as possible," she said, perhaps reflecting a fact that may hold out hope for the remainder of the territory's winter season.
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.
SEASON'S 'BUSIEST WEEK' COULD BE A LOT BETTER
Feb. 18, 2003 – St. John is booming, St. Thomas is doing well and St. Croix is a mixed bag, say owners of tourism-related businesses as they check their bottom lines this week, which kicked off with the long Presidents Day weekend.
The week is typically the busiest of the winter season in the Virgin Islands. However, the threat of war coupled with economic hard times is making business owners nervous. And even the snowstorms on the East Coast are a mixed blessing, with air transportation interruptions.
"The storm, war, economic uncertainty. It's not an easy time to travel," said Brian Young, general manager of St. John's Caneel Bay Resort.
Young's comments on the war and the nation's economic woes echo those made by many others. While people are still traveling, particularly to St. John and St. Thomas, business owners are reluctant to predict what lies ahead, since many people now book getaways at the last minute.
"Bookings are coming in slowly," said Chris Goodier, spokeswoman for the Buccaneer Hotel on St. Croix.
Those with full houses on Presidents Day week are pleased, of course.
"We're booked up completely and have been for months and months and will be for months and months," said Robin Clair, manager of the three-cottage Estate Zootenvaal on St. John.
Mary Davis, co-owner of the 15-room Danish Chalet Inn on St. Thomas, said her hotel was filled going into this week. One couple was there on their 19th annual visit, she said.
David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said his occupancy is running about 80 percent. A couple of group bookings boosted the figures in recent weeks.
Yamada, who also is president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said the 80 percent figure is typical of most other St. Thomas hotels, too.
He hopes the East Coast blizzards will have many more people making reservations to escape a bad-weather winter. "Hopefully, we'll see some pickup once they shovel out," he said.
Initially, however, the snowstorms' impact on the territory's tourism picture was negative. Young said guests with reservations for 10 rooms at Caneel Bay were stuck at home Monday because airports were closed.
Goodier said this February is not looking as good as last year's was for The Buccaneer. "We still had rooms available last Friday for this week," she said.
Bob Siefert, general manager of the Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino on St. Croix, said bookings for Presidents Day weekend were good. But many of the customers were local residents who flocked to St. Croix from other islands for the Agriculture and Food Fair and who indulged in a getaway special for Valentine's Day — a $153-a-night room for two including dinner.
Until last week, he said, the hotel's occupancy had been running about 60 percent.
Claudia Carrington, owner of Carrington's Inn on St. Croix, had a similar story. She said this is the first winter that she has actively sought local business.
Carrington expressed surprise that a $270 US Airways fare between New York and St. Croix didn't bring more guests.
Siefert said the Divi is running a special of $1,395 per person for seven nights, including airfare from any city on the mainland.
Things are so bad at the Divi, he said, that he had to lay off staff in mid-season. In fact, he laid off so many that he had to resign as president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association because of the demands on his time filling the shoes of laid-off managers.
The government has failed to effectively market St. Croix, Siefert charged, but he also noted that St. Croix doesn't have major chain hotels such as those on St. Thomas and St. John to lure travelers reluctant to book accommodations at a hotel with an unfamiliar name.
"If you're going to spend your money, why take a chance on a non-brand-name hotel?" Siefert said, noting that Marriott has been especially successful at building name-brand loyalty.
Owners of other tourism-related businesses on St. Croix were more upbeat in their assessments of the season.
"We've got to be positive. Things are down all over," said Mark Sperber, owner of Mile Mark Watersports.
Sperber said this week has been booming, especially compared to the last couple of weeks. However, like St. Croix's other visitor-oriented businesses, his took a hit this winter with most of the cruise ships that used to call in Frederiksted abandoning the island.
Robin Catanach at the Coconut Vine clothing store in King's Alley in Christiansted said business has been good. "At least as good as last year," she said.
Frank Pugliese, owner of the Bacchus Restaurant in Christiansted, said he's been doing a bit better than last year. "We don't have the 9-11 issue," he said, referring to last year's tourism fallout from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the mainland.
Al Day, who owns the Charterboat Center on St. Thomas, said he experienced the normal lull after Christmas but things have picked up. "The lull was a little longer and a little luller, though," he said.
There are now more competing businesses on St. Thomas, which is good for the destination but cuts the pie a little finer, Day said.
Many of his guests are also spending less than used to be the case. "They're still coming, but they might just spend one more day sitting on the beach reading a book instead of going out in a boat," he said.
At Caneel Bay Resort, Young said the addition of less-expensive items to the gift shop stock has spurred sales.
Dana Bartlett, who takes guests from both St. John and St. Thomas on Carolina Coral horse rides on St. John, said business has been good. In the midst of difficult times, "lots of families are trying to be as normal as possible," she said, perhaps reflecting a fact that may hold out hope for the remainder of the territory's winter season.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The week is typically the busiest of the winter season in the Virgin Islands. However, the threat of war coupled with economic hard times is making business owners nervous. And even the snowstorms on the East Coast are a mixed blessing, with air transportation interruptions.
"The storm, war, economic uncertainty. It's not an easy time to travel," said Brian Young, general manager of St. John's Caneel Bay Resort.
Young's comments on the war and the nation's economic woes echo those made by many others. While people are still traveling, particularly to St. John and St. Thomas, business owners are reluctant to predict what lies ahead, since many people now book getaways at the last minute.
"Bookings are coming in slowly," said Chris Goodier, spokeswoman for the Buccaneer Hotel on St. Croix.
Those with full houses on Presidents Day week are pleased, of course.
"We're booked up completely and have been for months and months and will be for months and months," said Robin Clair, manager of the three-cottage Estate Zootenvaal on St. John.
Mary Davis, co-owner of the 15-room Danish Chalet Inn on St. Thomas, said her hotel was filled going into this week. One couple was there on their 19th annual visit, she said.
David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said his occupancy is running about 80 percent. A couple of group bookings boosted the figures in recent weeks.
Yamada, who also is president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said the 80 percent figure is typical of most other St. Thomas hotels, too.
He hopes the East Coast blizzards will have many more people making reservations to escape a bad-weather winter. "Hopefully, we'll see some pickup once they shovel out," he said.
Initially, however, the snowstorms' impact on the territory's tourism picture was negative. Young said guests with reservations for 10 rooms at Caneel Bay were stuck at home Monday because airports were closed.
Goodier said this February is not looking as good as last year's was for The Buccaneer. "We still had rooms available last Friday for this week," she said.
Bob Siefert, general manager of the Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino on St. Croix, said bookings for Presidents Day weekend were good. But many of the customers were local residents who flocked to St. Croix from other islands for the Agriculture and Food Fair and who indulged in a getaway special for Valentine's Day — a $153-a-night room for two including dinner.
Until last week, he said, the hotel's occupancy had been running about 60 percent.
Claudia Carrington, owner of Carrington's Inn on St. Croix, had a similar story. She said this is the first winter that she has actively sought local business.
Carrington expressed surprise that a $270 US Airways fare between New York and St. Croix didn't bring more guests.
Siefert said the Divi is running a special of $1,395 per person for seven nights, including airfare from any city on the mainland.
Things are so bad at the Divi, he said, that he had to lay off staff in mid-season. In fact, he laid off so many that he had to resign as president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association because of the demands on his time filling the shoes of laid-off managers.
The government has failed to effectively market St. Croix, Siefert charged, but he also noted that St. Croix doesn't have major chain hotels such as those on St. Thomas and St. John to lure travelers reluctant to book accommodations at a hotel with an unfamiliar name.
"If you're going to spend your money, why take a chance on a non-brand-name hotel?" Siefert said, noting that Marriott has been especially successful at building name-brand loyalty.
Owners of other tourism-related businesses on St. Croix were more upbeat in their assessments of the season.
"We've got to be positive. Things are down all over," said Mark Sperber, owner of Mile Mark Watersports.
Sperber said this week has been booming, especially compared to the last couple of weeks. However, like St. Croix's other visitor-oriented businesses, his took a hit this winter with most of the cruise ships that used to call in Frederiksted abandoning the island.
Robin Catanach at the Coconut Vine clothing store in King's Alley in Christiansted said business has been good. "At least as good as last year," she said.
Frank Pugliese, owner of the Bacchus Restaurant in Christiansted, said he's been doing a bit better than last year. "We don't have the 9-11 issue," he said, referring to last year's tourism fallout from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the mainland.
Al Day, who owns the Charterboat Center on St. Thomas, said he experienced the normal lull after Christmas but things have picked up. "The lull was a little longer and a little luller, though," he said.
There are now more competing businesses on St. Thomas, which is good for the destination but cuts the pie a little finer, Day said.
Many of his guests are also spending less than used to be the case. "They're still coming, but they might just spend one more day sitting on the beach reading a book instead of going out in a boat," he said.
At Caneel Bay Resort, Young said the addition of less-expensive items to the gift shop stock has spurred sales.
Dana Bartlett, who takes guests from both St. John and St. Thomas on Carolina Coral horse rides on St. John, said business has been good. In the midst of difficult times, "lots of families are trying to be as normal as possible," she said, perhaps reflecting a fact that may hold out hope for the remainder of the territory's winter season.
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.
DIRECTORY OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES
This directory is updated as of Aug. 1, 2003. Changes occur frequently. Please notify the Source of changes by email source@viaccess.net or fax 777-8136.
Contents:
—-Virgin Islands Executive Branch
—-Office of the Governor
—-Office of the Lieutenant Governor
—-Executive Branch Departments
—-Other Executive Branch Offices
—-Executive Agencies with Boards
—-Island Administrators
—- United States Congress–V.I. Delegate
—-District Court (federal)
—-Virgin Islands Judiciary Branch
—-Virgin Islands Legislative Branch
Virgin Islands Executive Branch
Governor
Charles W. Turnbull—774-0001/773-1404
Fax 774-1361/713-9805 No email yet
Lieutenant Governor
Vargrave Richards—774-2991 / 773-6449
Fax 774-6953 / 773-0330
Office of the Governor: Senior Staff
Chief of Staff—Juel T. R. Molloy—774-0001 Fax 774-1361
Deputy Chief of Staff—Alric V. Simmonds—774-0001 Fax 693-4374
Assistant to the Governor for Economic Affairs—Kent Bernier—
774-0001 Fax 774-1361
Assistant to the Governor for Public Policy—George F.
Goodwin774-0294 Fax 774-4988
Legal Counsel—Queen Terry—774-0001 Fax 774-5379
Confidential Assistant to the Governor—Horace T. Brooks—
774-0001 Fax 776-4912 / 693-4374
Office of Fiscal & Economic Recovery Implementation
Director—Nathan Simmonds—774-0001 Fax 693-4374
Office of Information and Technology
Special Assistant to the Governor for Information and Technology—
Angel A. Turnbull—774-1013 Fax 774-1490
Assistant to the Governor—Gloria H.C. Waterman—773-1404
Fax 713-9806
Assistant to the Governor—Keith Richards—693-4366
Special Assistant to the Governor—Ianthe Fahie—774-0001
Fax 693-4374
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Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Web site: www.ltg.gov.vi
Administration—774-2991 Fax 774-6951
Banking & Insurance—Deverita Carty Sturdivant—774-7166
Fax 774-9458
Corporations & Trademarks—Lorna Webster—776-8515
Fax 776-4612
Passport Office—Nydia Burt—774-4024 Fax 774-9458
Recorder of Deeds—Wilma Hart-Smith—774-9906 Fax 776-4612
Tax Assessor's Office—Roy Martin—776-8505 Fax 776-4612
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Executive Branch Departments
Department of Agriculture
Commissioner—Lawrence Lewis—778-0997 / 774-5182
Fax 778-3101 / 774-1823
Asst. Commissioner—Elvette Elliott—774-5182 Fax 774-1823
Department of Education
Commissioner—Noreen Michael—774-2810 / 774-0100
Fax 779-7153
Asst. Commissioner—Rita Howard—774-7832
Insular Superintendent of Schools for St. Thomas-St. John District–
William Frett
Deputy Insular Superintendent of Schools for the St. Thomas-St.
John District—Emily Carter
Insular Superintendent of Schools for St. Croix–(vacant)
Deputy Commissioner for Curriculum and Instruction—
Lauren Larsen—773-1650
Department of Finance
Commissioner—Bernice Turnbull—774-1553 / 774-4750 / 773-1105
Fax 776-4028
Asst. Commissioner—Valencio Jackson—773-1105 Fax 778-5002
Department of Health
Commissioner—Mavis Matthew—774-0117 / 776-8311
Fax 774-1758
Asst. Commissioner—(vacant)—713-9924 / 773-1376
Department of Housing, Parks & Recreation
Commissioner—Ira M. Hobson—774-0255 / 773-0160
Fax 774-4600 / 773-3150
Asst. Commissioner, St. Thomas—Stanley Smith—774-0255
Fax 774-4600
Asst. Commissioner, St. Croix—St. Claire N. Williams—773-0271
Fax 773-3150
Department of Human Services
Commissioner—Sedonie Halbert—774-0930 / 773-2980
Fax 774-3466 / 773-6121
Asst. Commr., St. Croix—Ferryneisa Benjamin—773-2980
Fax 773-6121
Asst. Commr., St. Thomas—Angela Krigger—774-0930
Fax 774-3466
Department of Justice
Attorney General—Iver Stridiron—774-5666 / 773-0295
Fax 774-9710 / 773-3236
Chief Deputy Attorney General—Alva A. Swan—774-5666
Fax 774-9710
Deputy Attorney General—Cornelius Evans—773-0295
Fax 773-3236
Bureau of Corrections
Director—John L. Trawick (effective July 14, 2003)—774-2880 /
778-0400
Department of Labor
Web site: www.vidol.org
Commissioner—Cecil R. Benjamin—773-1994 / 776-3700
Fax 773-0094 / 774-5908
Asst. Commissioner for Employment and Training—Eleuteria
Roberts—773-1994 Fax 773-0094
Executive Asst. Commissioner—John L. Sheen—776-3700
Fax 774-5908
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Web site: www.dlca.gov.vi
Commissioner—Andrew Rutnik—774-3130 / 773-2226
Fax 776-8303
Asst. Commissioner—Grace Fahie—774-3130
Department of Planning and Natural Resources
Web site: www.dpnr.gov.vi
Commissioner—Dean Plaskett—774-3320/773-1082
Fax 775-5706 / 773-3343
Exec. Asst. Commissioner/Operations—Claudette C. Lewis—
774-3320 / 773-1082 Fax 775-5706 / 773-3343
Police Department
Web site: www.vipd.gov.vi
Commissioner—Elton Lewis—778-2211 Fax 778-2373
Asst. Commissioner—(vacant; Bruce B. Hamlin retired June 30, 2003)—774-2310 Fax 715-5517
Territorial Chief—Novelle Francis—774-3868 / 778-2211
Deputy Chief, St. Croix—Herminio Velazquez—778-2211 Fax 778-2373
Deputy Chief, St. John—Angelo Hill—693-8880 Fax 693-8226
Deputy Chief, St. Thomas—Elvin Fahie Sr.—774-3868
Fax 715-5517
Department of Property and Procurement
Commissioner—Marc Biggs—774-0828 / 773-1561
Fax 777-9587 / 773-0986
Asst. Commissioner—Randolph Latimer 774-0828 / 773-1561
Fax 777-9587 / 773-0986
Department of Public Works
Commissioner—Wayne D. Callwood—776-4844 / 773-1290
Fax 774-5869 / 773-0670
Deputy Commissioner for Engineering—Eduardo O'Neal 774-4844
Fax 774-5869
Deputy Commissioner for Operations, St. Croix—Randy Germain–
773-1290 Fax 773-0670
Deputy Commissioner for St. John—Ira Wade—776-6346
Fax 693-8001
Deputy Commissioner for Transportation—Verne Callwood Jr.—
776-4844 Fax 774-5869
Department of Tourism
Web site: www.usvitourism.vi
Commissioner—Pamela C. Richards—774-8784 / 773-0495
Fax 774-4390 / 773-5074
Asst. Commissioner—Monique Sibilly-Hodge—774-8784
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Other Executive Branch Offices
Division of Personnel
Director—Joanne U. Barry—774-8588 / 773-0341
Fax 714-5040 / 773-5669
Asst. Director, St. Thomas—Kevin Rodriquez—774-8588
Fax 714-5040
Asst. Director, St. Croix—(vacant)—773-0341
Fax 773-5669
Bureau of Audit and Control
Inspector General—Steven G. van Beverhoudt—774-6426 /
772-3936 F ax 774-6431 / 772-3956
Acting Deputy Inspector General—Delia Thomas—774-3381
Bureau of Internal Revenue
Director—Louis M. Willis—774-5865 / 773-1040
Fax 714-9345 / 773-1006
Deputy Director, St. Thomas—Ervin Dorsett 774-5865
Fax 714-9345
Deputy Director, St. Croix—Gizette Canegata—773-1040
Fax 773-1006
Office of Collective Bargaining
Chief Negotiator—Karen Moolenaar Andrews—774-6450 /
713-0735 Fax 777-4622 / 713-0757
Office of Management and Budget
Web site: (installed and managed by OMB for tracking federal education funds) www.gov.vi/doe
Director—Ira Mills—774-0750 / 778-8925 Fax 776-0069 / 773-1763
Deputy Director—Debora Gottlieb—774-0750 Fax 886-0069
Office of Veterans Affairs
Director—Justin Harrigan Sr.—773-6663 Fax 692-9563
Assistant Director's office—774-6100 Fax 714-0589
Virgin Islands Fire Service
Director—Ian E. Williams Sr.—774-7610 / 773-8050
Fax 774-4630 / 773-8032
Assistant to the Director—Donald Charles—774-7610
District Chief, St. Croix—Ovaldo Graham—773-8050
Fax 773-8032
District Chief, St. Thomas—Merwin Potter—774-7610
Virgin Islands National Guard
Adjutant General—Maj. Gen. (V.I.) Cleave Antonio McBean
712-7711 Fax 712-7782
Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
Executive Director—Maj. Gen. (V.I.) Cleave Antonio McBean—
774-2244 / 712-7711 Fax 774-2935 / 712-7709
Territorial Director—Harold Baker—774-2244 Fax 774-1491
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Executive Agencies With Boards
Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center, St. Croix
Chief Executive Officer (Interim)—Michael Potts—778-7993
Fax 778-4643
Roy Lester Schneider Hospital, St. Thomas
Chief Executive Officer—Rodney Miller—776-8311 x2286
Fax 777-8421
Economic Development Authority
Chief Executive Officer—Frank Schulterbrandt—714-1700
Fax 774-8106
Assistant Chief Executive Officer—Nadine T. Marchena—714-1700
Bureau of Economic Research
Director—Lauritz Mills—714-1700 Fax 774-8106
Development Bank—714-1700 Fax 774-8106
Industrial Development Commission—774-8104 Fax 774-8106
Small Business Development Agency—714-1700
Fax 774-8106
St. Croix Office—773-6499 Fax 773-7701
Public Finance Authority
Director of Finance and Administration—Kenneth Mapp—
714-1635 Fax 714-1636
University of the Virgin Islands
Web site: www.uvi.edu
President—LaVerne Ragster—693-1000 Fax 693-1005
Provost—Gwen-Marie Moolenaar—693-1200 Fax 693-1205
Chancellor, St. Croix Campus—Jennifer Jackson—692-4000
Fax 692-4005
Chancellor, St. Thomas Campus—John Leipzig—693-1140
Fax 693-1175
Virgin Islands Housing Authority
Interim Executive Director—Lorelei Farrington—775-2741 /
778-8442 Fax 775-0832 / 773-3054
Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
Executive Director—Clifford Graham—774-4481 / 772-3180
Fax 775-7913 / 772-4002
Virgin Islands Lottery
Acting Executive Director)—Paul L. Flemming—774-2502 / 778-6360
Fax 776-4730 / 778-0683
Virgin Islands Port Authority
Web site: www.viport.com
Executive Director—Darlan Brin—774-1629 / 778-1012
Fax 774-0025 / 779-3020
Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority
Executive Director—Alberto Bruno-Vega—774-3552 / 773-2250
Fax 774-3422 / 778-8444
West Indian Company Limited
President and Chief Executive Officer—Edward E. Thomas—
774-1780 Fax 776-4785
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Island Administrators
St. Croix Administrator—Gregory Francis—773-1404 / 772-1000
Fax 772-0333 / 713-9806
St. John Administrator—Julien Harley—776-6484 Fax 776-6992
St. Thomas/Water Island Administrator—James O'Bryan Jr.
—774-0001 Fax 774-0151
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United States Congress
Virgin Islands Delegate to the United States House of
Representatives
Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen
In the Virgin Islands 774-4408 / 778-5900 Fax 774-8033 / 778-5111
In Washington, D.C.: (202)225-1790 Fax (202)225-5517
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District Court (federal)
Web site: www.vid/uscourts.gov
District of St. Croix—773-1130 Fax 773-1563
Chief Judge—Raymond L. Finch—773-5021
Judge—Jeffery L. Resnick
District of St. Thomas/St. John—774-0640 Fax 774-1293
District Judge—Thomas K. Moore—774-1800
U.S. Magistrate Judge—Geoffrey W. Barnard
Bankruptcy Division—774-8310 Fax 776-5615
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Virgin Islands Judiciary Branch
Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands
Presiding Judge—Maria M. Cabret
Division of St. Croix—778-9750 Fax 778-4044
Judge—Patricia D. Steele
Judge–Edgar D. Ross
Judge–Daryl Dean Donahue
Division of St. Thomas/St. John—774-6680 Fax 776-9889
Judge—vacant (since Ishmael Meyers retired end February 2003; Leon Kendall nominated by Governor July 11, 2003)
Judge—Ive Arlington Swan
Judge—Rhys S. Hodge
Judge—Brenda Hollar
Judge—Audrey Thomas-Francis
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Virgin Islands Legislative Branch
Web site: www.senate.gov.vi
Officers of the 25th Legislature
President — David Jones
Vice President — Lorraine Berry
Legislative Secretary — Shawn-Michael Malone
Majority Leader — Douglas Canton Jr.
Minority Leader — Usie R. Richards
Secretary for Intergovernmental and Territorial Affairs — Louis Hill
Liaison to the White House — Douglas Canton Jr.
Liaison to the U.S. Congress — Adlah Donastorg Jr.
Democrat Chargé d'Affaires of Washington — Ronald Russell
Executive Director — Simon K. Caines — 693-3537 Fax 693-3660
Legislature telephones:
St. Croix — 773-2424
St. John — 776-6285
St. Thomas — 774-0880
Individual office/telephone assignments not finalized as of February, 2003.
Contact Senators through 774-0880.
Lorraine Berry lberry19@hotmail.com
Douglas Canton senator@canton2k.com
Roosevelt David rooseveltdavid@hotmail.com
Adlah Donastorg foncie2002@hotmail.com
Carlton Dowe mhodge@senate.gov.vi
Emmett Hansen II No information available
Louis Hill No email address yet Fax: 693-3635
Norman Jn Baptiste normally_J@hotmail.com
David Jones senatorjones_@hotmail.com
Almando Liburd rockyatlarge@vitelcom.net
Shaun Michael Malone smmalone@yahoo.com
Luther Renee No email yet Fax: 693-3633
Usie R. Richards usierichards@hotmail.com
Ronald Russell rrussell@senate.gov.vi
Celestino White Sr. cwhite@senate.gov.vi
Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee
Luther Renee, chair
Lorraine Berry, vice chair
Douglas Canton Jr.
Roosevelt David
Emmett Hansen II
Almando Liburd
Celestino White Sr.
Education and Youth Committee
Ronald Russell, chair
Shawn-Michael Malone, vice chair
Roosevelt David
Louis Hill
Norman Jn Baptiste
Luther Renee
Usie R. Richards
Finance Committee
Adlah Donastorg, chair
Luther Renee, vice chair
Roosevelt David
Louis Hill
Norman Jn Baptiste
Shawn-Michael Malone
Ronald Russell
Government Operations Committee
Shawn-Michael Malone, chair
Emmett Hansen II, vice chair
Lorraine Berry
Douglas Canton Jr.
Carlton Dowe
Louis Hill
Celestino White Sr.
Health, Hospitals and Human Services Committee
Douglas Canton Jr., chair
Lorraine Berry, vice chair
Adlah Donastorg
Emmett Hansen II
Norman Jn Baptiste
Luther Renee
Usie R. Richards
Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee
Emmett Hansen II, chair
Luther Renee, vice chair
David Jones
Raymond Richards
Celestino White Sr.
Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee
Norman Jn Baptiste, chair
Louis Hill, vice chair
Douglas Canton Jr.
Usie R. Richards
Celestino White Sr.
Planning and Environmental Protection Committee
Louis Hill, chair
Ronald Russell, vice chair
Roosevelt David
Adlah Donastorg
Carlton Dowe
Almando Liburd
Shawn-Michael Malone
Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and
Justice Committee
Lorraine Berry, chair
Emmett Hansen II, vice chair
David Jones
Almando Liburd
Shawn-Michael Malone
Ronald Russell
Celestino White Sr.
Rules Committee
Roosevelt David, chair
Ronald Russell, vice chair
Lorraine Berry
Douglas Canton Jr.
Carlton Dowe
Louis Hill
David Jones
Back to top
Contents:
—-Virgin Islands Executive Branch
—-Office of the Governor
—-Office of the Lieutenant Governor
—-Executive Branch Departments
—-Other Executive Branch Offices
—-Executive Agencies with Boards
—-Island Administrators
—- United States Congress–V.I. Delegate
—-District Court (federal)
—-Virgin Islands Judiciary Branch
—-Virgin Islands Legislative Branch
Virgin Islands Executive Branch
Governor
Charles W. Turnbull—774-0001/773-1404
Fax 774-1361/713-9805 No email yet
Lieutenant Governor
Vargrave Richards—774-2991 / 773-6449
Fax 774-6953 / 773-0330
Office of the Governor: Senior Staff
Chief of Staff—Juel T. R. Molloy—774-0001 Fax 774-1361
Deputy Chief of Staff—Alric V. Simmonds—774-0001 Fax 693-4374
Assistant to the Governor for Economic Affairs—Kent Bernier—
774-0001 Fax 774-1361
Assistant to the Governor for Public Policy—George F.
Goodwin774-0294 Fax 774-4988
Legal Counsel—Queen Terry—774-0001 Fax 774-5379
Confidential Assistant to the Governor—Horace T. Brooks—
774-0001 Fax 776-4912 / 693-4374
Office of Fiscal & Economic Recovery Implementation
Director—Nathan Simmonds—774-0001 Fax 693-4374
Office of Information and Technology
Special Assistant to the Governor for Information and Technology—
Angel A. Turnbull—774-1013 Fax 774-1490
Assistant to the Governor—Gloria H.C. Waterman—773-1404
Fax 713-9806
Assistant to the Governor—Keith Richards—693-4366
Special Assistant to the Governor—Ianthe Fahie—774-0001
Fax 693-4374
Back to top
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Web site: www.ltg.gov.vi
Administration—774-2991 Fax 774-6951
Banking & Insurance—Deverita Carty Sturdivant—774-7166
Fax 774-9458
Corporations & Trademarks—Lorna Webster—776-8515
Fax 776-4612
Passport Office—Nydia Burt—774-4024 Fax 774-9458
Recorder of Deeds—Wilma Hart-Smith—774-9906 Fax 776-4612
Tax Assessor's Office—Roy Martin—776-8505 Fax 776-4612
Back to top
Executive Branch Departments
Department of Agriculture
Commissioner—Lawrence Lewis—778-0997 / 774-5182
Fax 778-3101 / 774-1823
Asst. Commissioner—Elvette Elliott—774-5182 Fax 774-1823
Department of Education
Commissioner—Noreen Michael—774-2810 / 774-0100
Fax 779-7153
Asst. Commissioner—Rita Howard—774-7832
Insular Superintendent of Schools for St. Thomas-St. John District–
William Frett
Deputy Insular Superintendent of Schools for the St. Thomas-St.
John District—Emily Carter
Insular Superintendent of Schools for St. Croix–(vacant)
Deputy Commissioner for Curriculum and Instruction—
Lauren Larsen—773-1650
Department of Finance
Commissioner—Bernice Turnbull—774-1553 / 774-4750 / 773-1105
Fax 776-4028
Asst. Commissioner—Valencio Jackson—773-1105 Fax 778-5002
Department of Health
Commissioner—Mavis Matthew—774-0117 / 776-8311
Fax 774-1758
Asst. Commissioner—(vacant)—713-9924 / 773-1376
Department of Housing, Parks & Recreation
Commissioner—Ira M. Hobson—774-0255 / 773-0160
Fax 774-4600 / 773-3150
Asst. Commissioner, St. Thomas—Stanley Smith—774-0255
Fax 774-4600
Asst. Commissioner, St. Croix—St. Claire N. Williams—773-0271
Fax 773-3150
Department of Human Services
Commissioner—Sedonie Halbert—774-0930 / 773-2980
Fax 774-3466 / 773-6121
Asst. Commr., St. Croix—Ferryneisa Benjamin—773-2980
Fax 773-6121
Asst. Commr., St. Thomas—Angela Krigger—774-0930
Fax 774-3466
Department of Justice
Attorney General—Iver Stridiron—774-5666 / 773-0295
Fax 774-9710 / 773-3236
Chief Deputy Attorney General—Alva A. Swan—774-5666
Fax 774-9710
Deputy Attorney General—Cornelius Evans—773-0295
Fax 773-3236
Bureau of Corrections
Director—John L. Trawick (effective July 14, 2003)—774-2880 /
778-0400
Department of Labor
Web site: www.vidol.org
Commissioner—Cecil R. Benjamin—773-1994 / 776-3700
Fax 773-0094 / 774-5908
Asst. Commissioner for Employment and Training—Eleuteria
Roberts—773-1994 Fax 773-0094
Executive Asst. Commissioner—John L. Sheen—776-3700
Fax 774-5908
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Web site: www.dlca.gov.vi
Commissioner—Andrew Rutnik—774-3130 / 773-2226
Fax 776-8303
Asst. Commissioner—Grace Fahie—774-3130
Department of Planning and Natural Resources
Web site: www.dpnr.gov.vi
Commissioner—Dean Plaskett—774-3320/773-1082
Fax 775-5706 / 773-3343
Exec. Asst. Commissioner/Operations—Claudette C. Lewis—
774-3320 / 773-1082 Fax 775-5706 / 773-3343
Police Department
Web site: www.vipd.gov.vi
Commissioner—Elton Lewis—778-2211 Fax 778-2373
Asst. Commissioner—(vacant; Bruce B. Hamlin retired June 30, 2003)—774-2310 Fax 715-5517
Territorial Chief—Novelle Francis—774-3868 / 778-2211
Deputy Chief, St. Croix—Herminio Velazquez—778-2211 Fax 778-2373
Deputy Chief, St. John—Angelo Hill—693-8880 Fax 693-8226
Deputy Chief, St. Thomas—Elvin Fahie Sr.—774-3868
Fax 715-5517
Department of Property and Procurement
Commissioner—Marc Biggs—774-0828 / 773-1561
Fax 777-9587 / 773-0986
Asst. Commissioner—Randolph Latimer 774-0828 / 773-1561
Fax 777-9587 / 773-0986
Department of Public Works
Commissioner—Wayne D. Callwood—776-4844 / 773-1290
Fax 774-5869 / 773-0670
Deputy Commissioner for Engineering—Eduardo O'Neal 774-4844
Fax 774-5869
Deputy Commissioner for Operations, St. Croix—Randy Germain–
773-1290 Fax 773-0670
Deputy Commissioner for St. John—Ira Wade—776-6346
Fax 693-8001
Deputy Commissioner for Transportation—Verne Callwood Jr.—
776-4844 Fax 774-5869
Department of Tourism
Web site: www.usvitourism.vi
Commissioner—Pamela C. Richards—774-8784 / 773-0495
Fax 774-4390 / 773-5074
Asst. Commissioner—Monique Sibilly-Hodge—774-8784
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Other Executive Branch Offices
Division of Personnel
Director—Joanne U. Barry—774-8588 / 773-0341
Fax 714-5040 / 773-5669
Asst. Director, St. Thomas—Kevin Rodriquez—774-8588
Fax 714-5040
Asst. Director, St. Croix—(vacant)—773-0341
Fax 773-5669
Bureau of Audit and Control
Inspector General—Steven G. van Beverhoudt—774-6426 /
772-3936 F ax 774-6431 / 772-3956
Acting Deputy Inspector General—Delia Thomas—774-3381
Bureau of Internal Revenue
Director—Louis M. Willis—774-5865 / 773-1040
Fax 714-9345 / 773-1006
Deputy Director, St. Thomas—Ervin Dorsett 774-5865
Fax 714-9345
Deputy Director, St. Croix—Gizette Canegata—773-1040
Fax 773-1006
Office of Collective Bargaining
Chief Negotiator—Karen Moolenaar Andrews—774-6450 /
713-0735 Fax 777-4622 / 713-0757
Office of Management and Budget
Web site: (installed and managed by OMB for tracking federal education funds) www.gov.vi/doe
Director—Ira Mills—774-0750 / 778-8925 Fax 776-0069 / 773-1763
Deputy Director—Debora Gottlieb—774-0750 Fax 886-0069
Office of Veterans Affairs
Director—Justin Harrigan Sr.—773-6663 Fax 692-9563
Assistant Director's office—774-6100 Fax 714-0589
Virgin Islands Fire Service
Director—Ian E. Williams Sr.—774-7610 / 773-8050
Fax 774-4630 / 773-8032
Assistant to the Director—Donald Charles—774-7610
District Chief, St. Croix—Ovaldo Graham—773-8050
Fax 773-8032
District Chief, St. Thomas—Merwin Potter—774-7610
Virgin Islands National Guard
Adjutant General—Maj. Gen. (V.I.) Cleave Antonio McBean
712-7711 Fax 712-7782
Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
Executive Director—Maj. Gen. (V.I.) Cleave Antonio McBean—
774-2244 / 712-7711 Fax 774-2935 / 712-7709
Territorial Director—Harold Baker—774-2244 Fax 774-1491
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Executive Agencies With Boards
Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center, St. Croix
Chief Executive Officer (Interim)—Michael Potts—778-7993
Fax 778-4643
Roy Lester Schneider Hospital, St. Thomas
Chief Executive Officer—Rodney Miller—776-8311 x2286
Fax 777-8421
Economic Development Authority
Chief Executive Officer—Frank Schulterbrandt—714-1700
Fax 774-8106
Assistant Chief Executive Officer—Nadine T. Marchena—714-1700
Bureau of Economic Research
Director—Lauritz Mills—714-1700 Fax 774-8106
Development Bank—714-1700 Fax 774-8106
Industrial Development Commission—774-8104 Fax 774-8106
Small Business Development Agency—714-1700
Fax 774-8106
St. Croix Office—773-6499 Fax 773-7701
Public Finance Authority
Director of Finance and Administration—Kenneth Mapp—
714-1635 Fax 714-1636
University of the Virgin Islands
Web site: www.uvi.edu
President—LaVerne Ragster—693-1000 Fax 693-1005
Provost—Gwen-Marie Moolenaar—693-1200 Fax 693-1205
Chancellor, St. Croix Campus—Jennifer Jackson—692-4000
Fax 692-4005
Chancellor, St. Thomas Campus—John Leipzig—693-1140
Fax 693-1175
Virgin Islands Housing Authority
Interim Executive Director—Lorelei Farrington—775-2741 /
778-8442 Fax 775-0832 / 773-3054
Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
Executive Director—Clifford Graham—774-4481 / 772-3180
Fax 775-7913 / 772-4002
Virgin Islands Lottery
Acting Executive Director)—Paul L. Flemming—774-2502 / 778-6360
Fax 776-4730 / 778-0683
Virgin Islands Port Authority
Web site: www.viport.com
Executive Director—Darlan Brin—774-1629 / 778-1012
Fax 774-0025 / 779-3020
Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority
Executive Director—Alberto Bruno-Vega—774-3552 / 773-2250
Fax 774-3422 / 778-8444
West Indian Company Limited
President and Chief Executive Officer—Edward E. Thomas—
774-1780 Fax 776-4785
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Island Administrators
St. Croix Administrator—Gregory Francis—773-1404 / 772-1000
Fax 772-0333 / 713-9806
St. John Administrator—Julien Harley—776-6484 Fax 776-6992
St. Thomas/Water Island Administrator—James O'Bryan Jr.
—774-0001 Fax 774-0151
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United States Congress
Virgin Islands Delegate to the United States House of
Representatives
Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen
In the Virgin Islands 774-4408 / 778-5900 Fax 774-8033 / 778-5111
In Washington, D.C.: (202)225-1790 Fax (202)225-5517
Back to top
District Court (federal)
Web site: www.vid/uscourts.gov
District of St. Croix—773-1130 Fax 773-1563
Chief Judge—Raymond L. Finch—773-5021
Judge—Jeffery L. Resnick
District of St. Thomas/St. John—774-0640 Fax 774-1293
District Judge—Thomas K. Moore—774-1800
U.S. Magistrate Judge—Geoffrey W. Barnard
Bankruptcy Division—774-8310 Fax 776-5615
Back to top
Virgin Islands Judiciary Branch
Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands
Presiding Judge—Maria M. Cabret
Division of St. Croix—778-9750 Fax 778-4044
Judge—Patricia D. Steele
Judge–Edgar D. Ross
Judge–Daryl Dean Donahue
Division of St. Thomas/St. John—774-6680 Fax 776-9889
Judge—vacant (since Ishmael Meyers retired end February 2003; Leon Kendall nominated by Governor July 11, 2003)
Judge—Ive Arlington Swan
Judge—Rhys S. Hodge
Judge—Brenda Hollar
Judge—Audrey Thomas-Francis
Back to top
Virgin Islands Legislative Branch
Web site: www.senate.gov.vi
Officers of the 25th Legislature
President — David Jones
Vice President — Lorraine Berry
Legislative Secretary — Shawn-Michael Malone
Majority Leader — Douglas Canton Jr.
Minority Leader — Usie R. Richards
Secretary for Intergovernmental and Territorial Affairs — Louis Hill
Liaison to the White House — Douglas Canton Jr.
Liaison to the U.S. Congress — Adlah Donastorg Jr.
Democrat Chargé d'Affaires of Washington — Ronald Russell
Executive Director — Simon K. Caines — 693-3537 Fax 693-3660
Legislature telephones:
St. Croix — 773-2424
St. John — 776-6285
St. Thomas — 774-0880
Individual office/telephone assignments not finalized as of February, 2003.
Contact Senators through 774-0880.
Lorraine Berry lberry19@hotmail.com
Douglas Canton senator@canton2k.com
Roosevelt David rooseveltdavid@hotmail.com
Adlah Donastorg foncie2002@hotmail.com
Carlton Dowe mhodge@senate.gov.vi
Emmett Hansen II No information available
Louis Hill No email address yet Fax: 693-3635
Norman Jn Baptiste normally_J@hotmail.com
David Jones senatorjones_@hotmail.com
Almando Liburd rockyatlarge@vitelcom.net
Shaun Michael Malone smmalone@yahoo.com
Luther Renee No email yet Fax: 693-3633
Usie R. Richards usierichards@hotmail.com
Ronald Russell rrussell@senate.gov.vi
Celestino White Sr. cwhite@senate.gov.vi
Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee
Luther Renee, chair
Lorraine Berry, vice chair
Douglas Canton Jr.
Roosevelt David
Emmett Hansen II
Almando Liburd
Celestino White Sr.
Education and Youth Committee
Ronald Russell, chair
Shawn-Michael Malone, vice chair
Roosevelt David
Louis Hill
Norman Jn Baptiste
Luther Renee
Usie R. Richards
Finance Committee
Adlah Donastorg, chair
Luther Renee, vice chair
Roosevelt David
Louis Hill
Norman Jn Baptiste
Shawn-Michael Malone
Ronald Russell
Government Operations Committee
Shawn-Michael Malone, chair
Emmett Hansen II, vice chair
Lorraine Berry
Douglas Canton Jr.
Carlton Dowe
Louis Hill
Celestino White Sr.
Health, Hospitals and Human Services Committee
Douglas Canton Jr., chair
Lorraine Berry, vice chair
Adlah Donastorg
Emmett Hansen II
Norman Jn Baptiste
Luther Renee
Usie R. Richards
Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee
Emmett Hansen II, chair
Luther Renee, vice chair
David Jones
Raymond Richards
Celestino White Sr.
Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee
Norman Jn Baptiste, chair
Louis Hill, vice chair
Douglas Canton Jr.
Usie R. Richards
Celestino White Sr.
Planning and Environmental Protection Committee
Louis Hill, chair
Ronald Russell, vice chair
Roosevelt David
Adlah Donastorg
Carlton Dowe
Almando Liburd
Shawn-Michael Malone
Public Safety, Judiciary, Homeland Security and
Justice Committee
Lorraine Berry, chair
Emmett Hansen II, vice chair
David Jones
Almando Liburd
Shawn-Michael Malone
Ronald Russell
Celestino White Sr.
Rules Committee
Roosevelt David, chair
Ronald Russell, vice chair
Lorraine Berry
Douglas Canton Jr.
Carlton Dowe
Louis Hill
David Jones
Back to top
'TRAVELING HORN PLAYER' ENTHRALLS THE READER
The Traveling Horn Player
Barbara Trapido
Viking, 245 pp., $ 24.95
Feb. 11, 2003 – Rarely, once in a long while, a book can change the time in which we live, the space we occupy. "The Traveling Horn Player" is one of those books. Fifteen minutes is allotted, just to read a few pages, and suddenly an hour has passed. A spell is spun, a magic act performed, all through the delightful pages of Barbara Trapido's story about beautiful Stella.
Our locales are England, Scotland and Ireland — specifically, the intellectual scene, where learned professors and dons do their thing, and how charmed we are to find it all vastly interesting and not stuffy or over our heads. One would not dream that one of the brightest mathematical minds in Britain could be so eccentric (to put it gently), or that women would find him irresistible.
Which leads us to warn the flappable: The language is totally free and easy; that is to say four-letter Anglo-Saxon words abound but sound perfectly placed. All will be forgiven when you go along on the wings of the author's prose to all the bright places where so many fierce things are happening.
Lydia and Ellen are sisters, quite near the same age and also dearest friends. The story begins and ends, twisted and entwined, around about them. Perhaps their closeness in age led to their oneness; but whatever the cause, they never knew a lonesome moment growing up.
Jonathan and Roger Goldman are brothers, family friends of Lydia and Ellen who are much older and play major parts in the drama. The Goldman brothers are not close at all, and their complex personalities bring a lot of static electricity into play.
Stella, the diva, is the daughter of Jonathan Goldman, and although the tale becomes enmeshed in their lives and those of others on the edges of this world, it remains within a small circle.
The action of one touches another, and the resulting reaction thereby touches still another, until, at the last page, it all comes full circle. Like the stone that, when tossed into the pond, sends ripples outward, we are reminded that one's simplest act can move and shake other beings like an earthquake, leaving them changed forever. Ms. Trapido shows us how totally unaware the mover and shaker can be.
This is not a recently published book; it has been out several years. It's in print, though, and I recommend it heartily. Paying it the ultimate tribute, "The Traveling Horn Player" takes over the reader's life for a span of time; it saddens the heart, but in many places makes one laugh out loud.
"The Traveling Horn Player" is on order at Dockside Bookshop in Havensight Mall on St. Thomas and is expected to arrive next week. To check out other Dockside favorites, click here.
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.
Barbara Trapido
Viking, 245 pp., $ 24.95
Feb. 11, 2003 – Rarely, once in a long while, a book can change the time in which we live, the space we occupy. "The Traveling Horn Player" is one of those books. Fifteen minutes is allotted, just to read a few pages, and suddenly an hour has passed. A spell is spun, a magic act performed, all through the delightful pages of Barbara Trapido's story about beautiful Stella.
Our locales are England, Scotland and Ireland — specifically, the intellectual scene, where learned professors and dons do their thing, and how charmed we are to find it all vastly interesting and not stuffy or over our heads. One would not dream that one of the brightest mathematical minds in Britain could be so eccentric (to put it gently), or that women would find him irresistible.
Which leads us to warn the flappable: The language is totally free and easy; that is to say four-letter Anglo-Saxon words abound but sound perfectly placed. All will be forgiven when you go along on the wings of the author's prose to all the bright places where so many fierce things are happening.
Lydia and Ellen are sisters, quite near the same age and also dearest friends. The story begins and ends, twisted and entwined, around about them. Perhaps their closeness in age led to their oneness; but whatever the cause, they never knew a lonesome moment growing up.
Jonathan and Roger Goldman are brothers, family friends of Lydia and Ellen who are much older and play major parts in the drama. The Goldman brothers are not close at all, and their complex personalities bring a lot of static electricity into play.
Stella, the diva, is the daughter of Jonathan Goldman, and although the tale becomes enmeshed in their lives and those of others on the edges of this world, it remains within a small circle.
The action of one touches another, and the resulting reaction thereby touches still another, until, at the last page, it all comes full circle. Like the stone that, when tossed into the pond, sends ripples outward, we are reminded that one's simplest act can move and shake other beings like an earthquake, leaving them changed forever. Ms. Trapido shows us how totally unaware the mover and shaker can be.
This is not a recently published book; it has been out several years. It's in print, though, and I recommend it heartily. Paying it the ultimate tribute, "The Traveling Horn Player" takes over the reader's life for a span of time; it saddens the heart, but in many places makes one laugh out loud.
"The Traveling Horn Player" is on order at Dockside Bookshop in Havensight Mall on St. Thomas and is expected to arrive next week. To check out other Dockside favorites, click here.
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.
'TRAVELING HORN PLAYER' ENTHRALLS THE READER
The Traveling Horn Player
Barbara Trapido
Viking, 245 pp., $ 24.95
Feb. 18, 2003 – Rarely, once in a long while, a book can change the time in which we live, the space we occupy. "The Traveling Horn Player" is one of those books. Fifteen minutes is allotted, just to read a few pages, and suddenly an hour has passed. A spell is spun, a magic act performed, all through the delightful pages of Barbara Trapido's story about beautiful Stella.
Our locales are England, Scotland and Ireland — specifically, the intellectual scene, where learned professors and dons do their thing, and how charmed we are to find it all vastly interesting and not stuffy or over our heads. One would not dream that one of the brightest mathematical minds in Britain could be so eccentric (to put it gently), or that women would find him irresistible.
Which leads us to warn the flappable: The language is totally free and easy; that is to say four-letter Anglo-Saxon words abound but sound perfectly placed. All will be forgiven when you go along on the wings of the author's prose to all the bright places where so many fierce things are happening.
Lydia and Ellen are sisters, quite near the same age and also dearest friends. The story begins and ends, twisted and entwined, around about them. Perhaps their closeness in age led to their oneness; but whatever the cause, they never knew a lonesome moment growing up.
Jonathan and Roger Goldman are brothers, family friends of Lydia and Ellen who are much older and play major parts in the drama. The Goldman brothers are not close at all, and their complex personalities bring a lot of static electricity into play.
Stella, the diva, is the daughter of Jonathan Goldman, and although the tale becomes enmeshed in their lives and those of others on the edges of this world, it remains within a small circle.
The action of one touches another, and the resulting reaction thereby touches still another, until, at the last page, it all comes full circle. Like the stone that, when tossed into the pond, sends ripples outward, we are reminded that one's simplest act can move and shake other beings like an earthquake, leaving them changed forever. Ms. Trapido shows us how totally unaware the mover and shaker can be.
This is not a recently published book; it has been out several years. It's in print, though, and I recommend it heartily. Paying it the ultimate tribute, "The Traveling Horn Player" takes over the reader's life for a span of time; it saddens the heart, but in many places makes one laugh out loud.
"The Traveling Horn Player" is on order at Dockside Bookshop in Havensight Mall on St. Thomas and is expected to arrive next week. To check out other Dockside favorites, click here.
I>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.
Barbara Trapido
Viking, 245 pp., $ 24.95
Feb. 18, 2003 – Rarely, once in a long while, a book can change the time in which we live, the space we occupy. "The Traveling Horn Player" is one of those books. Fifteen minutes is allotted, just to read a few pages, and suddenly an hour has passed. A spell is spun, a magic act performed, all through the delightful pages of Barbara Trapido's story about beautiful Stella.
Our locales are England, Scotland and Ireland — specifically, the intellectual scene, where learned professors and dons do their thing, and how charmed we are to find it all vastly interesting and not stuffy or over our heads. One would not dream that one of the brightest mathematical minds in Britain could be so eccentric (to put it gently), or that women would find him irresistible.
Which leads us to warn the flappable: The language is totally free and easy; that is to say four-letter Anglo-Saxon words abound but sound perfectly placed. All will be forgiven when you go along on the wings of the author's prose to all the bright places where so many fierce things are happening.
Lydia and Ellen are sisters, quite near the same age and also dearest friends. The story begins and ends, twisted and entwined, around about them. Perhaps their closeness in age led to their oneness; but whatever the cause, they never knew a lonesome moment growing up.
Jonathan and Roger Goldman are brothers, family friends of Lydia and Ellen who are much older and play major parts in the drama. The Goldman brothers are not close at all, and their complex personalities bring a lot of static electricity into play.
Stella, the diva, is the daughter of Jonathan Goldman, and although the tale becomes enmeshed in their lives and those of others on the edges of this world, it remains within a small circle.
The action of one touches another, and the resulting reaction thereby touches still another, until, at the last page, it all comes full circle. Like the stone that, when tossed into the pond, sends ripples outward, we are reminded that one's simplest act can move and shake other beings like an earthquake, leaving them changed forever. Ms. Trapido shows us how totally unaware the mover and shaker can be.
This is not a recently published book; it has been out several years. It's in print, though, and I recommend it heartily. Paying it the ultimate tribute, "The Traveling Horn Player" takes over the reader's life for a span of time; it saddens the heart, but in many places makes one laugh out loud.
"The Traveling Horn Player" is on order at Dockside Bookshop in Havensight Mall on St. Thomas and is expected to arrive next week. To check out other Dockside favorites, click here.
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