Oct. 31, 2002 – Resurfacing work is under way on outdoor Housing Parks and Recreation Department sports courts at six recreational centers on St. Thomas and St. John.
Work has begun at Savan Park and the Alvin McBean Center and will follow shortly at the Winston Raymo Center, Smith Bay Ballpark and Tutu Valley Park on St. Thomas and at Pine Peace Park on St. John, according to a Government House release. Better Roads has been contracted for the projects.
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6 REC CENTER OUTDOOR COURTS BEING RESURFACED
Oct. 31, 2002 – Resurfacing work is under way on outdoor Housing Parks and Recreation Department sports courts at six recreational centers on St. Thomas and St. John.
Work has begun at Savan Park and the Alvin McBean Center and will follow shortly at the Winston Raymo Center, Smith Bay Ballpark and Tutu Valley Park on St. Thomas and at Pine Peace Park on St. John, according to a Government House release. Better Roads has been contracted for the projects.
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.
Work has begun at Savan Park and the Alvin McBean Center and will follow shortly at the Winston Raymo Center, Smith Bay Ballpark and Tutu Valley Park on St. Thomas and at Pine Peace Park on St. John, according to a Government House release. Better Roads has been contracted for the projects.
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.
REGISTRATION NOT THE ONLY QUALIFICATION TO VOTE
Oct. 31, 2002 – Registered U.S. Virgin Islands voters living in the British Virgin Islands are being urged in a radio commercial to come to St. Thomas and vote on Nov. 5, but John Abramson Jr., elections supervisor, said on Wednesday that it's not that cut and dried.
Listeners to Tortola radio station ZBVI have been hearing the appeal from the campaign organization of Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and Vargrave Richards to join hundreds of fellow "eligible voters" in the BVI in crossing the channel and casting their ballots for the Democratic Party slate on Tuesday.
The commercial pledges that for those making the trip by ferry, surface transportation will be provided to take them to the polls.
Taking the political campaign out of the territory is not viewed as unusual in Tortola. "It's the same thing that happens here for our elections," Sandra Potter, ZBVI operations and sales manager, said. "Boatloads of people come from St. Thomas to vote in our elections."
According to the paid political ad, as many as 2,000 U.S.-registered voters in the BVI are eligible to make the reverse trip on Tuesday.
Abramson doubts that, saying his evidence suggests there are about 200 persons in the BVI who are registered voters in the USVI. Plus, he said, those who take Turnbull/Richards up on their offer would have to meet the qualifications to vote in the United States. "It is a crime to do otherwise," he said.
Those qualifications include not having voted in any other jurisdiction while registered to vote in the USVI. "When you sign up as a registered voter in the [U.S.] Virgin Islands, you forsake your right to be registered anywhere else in the world," Abramson said.
There is a 90-day residency requirement, but this applies at the time the person registers to vote, Abramson said, not when the person appears at the polling place.
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.
Listeners to Tortola radio station ZBVI have been hearing the appeal from the campaign organization of Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and Vargrave Richards to join hundreds of fellow "eligible voters" in the BVI in crossing the channel and casting their ballots for the Democratic Party slate on Tuesday.
The commercial pledges that for those making the trip by ferry, surface transportation will be provided to take them to the polls.
Taking the political campaign out of the territory is not viewed as unusual in Tortola. "It's the same thing that happens here for our elections," Sandra Potter, ZBVI operations and sales manager, said. "Boatloads of people come from St. Thomas to vote in our elections."
According to the paid political ad, as many as 2,000 U.S.-registered voters in the BVI are eligible to make the reverse trip on Tuesday.
Abramson doubts that, saying his evidence suggests there are about 200 persons in the BVI who are registered voters in the USVI. Plus, he said, those who take Turnbull/Richards up on their offer would have to meet the qualifications to vote in the United States. "It is a crime to do otherwise," he said.
Those qualifications include not having voted in any other jurisdiction while registered to vote in the USVI. "When you sign up as a registered voter in the [U.S.] Virgin Islands, you forsake your right to be registered anywhere else in the world," Abramson said.
There is a 90-day residency requirement, but this applies at the time the person registers to vote, Abramson said, not when the person appears at the polling place.
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.
REGISTRATION NOT THE ONLY QUALIFICATION TO VOTE
Oct. 31, 2002 – Registered U.S. Virgin Islands voters living in the British Virgin Islands are being urged in a radio commercial to come to St. Thomas and vote on Nov. 5, but John Abramson Jr., elections supervisor, said on Wednesday that it's not that cut and dried.
Listeners to Tortola radio station ZBVI have been hearing the appeal from the campaign organization of Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and Vargrave Richards to join hundreds of fellow "eligible voters" in the BVI in crossing the channel and casting their ballots for the Democratic Party slate on Tuesday.
The commercial pledges that for those making the trip by ferry, surface transportation will be provided to take them to the polls.
Taking the political campaign out of the territory is not viewed as unusual in Tortola. "It's the same thing that happens here for our elections," Sandra Potter, ZBVI operations and sales manager, said. "Boatloads of people come from St. Thomas to vote in our elections."
According to the paid political ad, as many as 2,000 U.S.-registered voters in the BVI are eligible to make the reverse trip on Tuesday.
Abramson doubts that, saying his evidence suggests there are about 200 persons in the BVI who are registered voters in the USVI. Plus, he said, those who take Turnbull/Richards up on their offer would have to meet the qualifications to vote in the United States. "It is a crime to do otherwise," he said.
Those qualifications include not having voted in any other jurisdiction while registered to vote in the USVI. "When you sign up as a registered voter in the [U.S.] Virgin Islands, you forsake your right to be registered anywhere else in the world," Abramson said.
There is a 90-day residency requirement, but this applies at the time the person registers to vote, Abramson said, not when the person appears at the polling place.
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.
Listeners to Tortola radio station ZBVI have been hearing the appeal from the campaign organization of Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and Vargrave Richards to join hundreds of fellow "eligible voters" in the BVI in crossing the channel and casting their ballots for the Democratic Party slate on Tuesday.
The commercial pledges that for those making the trip by ferry, surface transportation will be provided to take them to the polls.
Taking the political campaign out of the territory is not viewed as unusual in Tortola. "It's the same thing that happens here for our elections," Sandra Potter, ZBVI operations and sales manager, said. "Boatloads of people come from St. Thomas to vote in our elections."
According to the paid political ad, as many as 2,000 U.S.-registered voters in the BVI are eligible to make the reverse trip on Tuesday.
Abramson doubts that, saying his evidence suggests there are about 200 persons in the BVI who are registered voters in the USVI. Plus, he said, those who take Turnbull/Richards up on their offer would have to meet the qualifications to vote in the United States. "It is a crime to do otherwise," he said.
Those qualifications include not having voted in any other jurisdiction while registered to vote in the USVI. "When you sign up as a registered voter in the [U.S.] Virgin Islands, you forsake your right to be registered anywhere else in the world," Abramson said.
There is a 90-day residency requirement, but this applies at the time the person registers to vote, Abramson said, not when the person appears at the polling place.
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.
INNOVATIVE SAYS SENATE PROBE INAPPROPRIATE
Oct. 31, 2002 – Attorneys for Innovative Telephone informed Sen. Adelbert Bryan on Wednesday that the company would not be sending its president or anyone else to testify today and tomorrow at meetings of the Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, which the senator chairs. Both sessions have the same agenda.
The company president, Samuel Ebbesen, and attorney J'Ada Finch Sheen, general counsel to Innovative Communication Corp., were among 18 persons "invited" by Bryan to appear before the committee at the Thursday session on St. Croix and the Friday session on St. Thomas. All the others represent government agencies or the United Steelworkers union.
In the letter, on ICC letterhead dated Oct. 30 and faxed to the Source on Thursday morning, attorneys Julio Brady of St. Croix and Jeffrey J. Fraser of the mainland noted that Bryan had described the purpose of the hearings in a press release as being "to conduct an investigation on issues surrounding the circumstances which led up to the labor dispute and subsequent federal mediation impasse."
However, they wrote, "this is not mentioned in your Notice of Committee Meeting" received by Innovative. Instead, they said, the notice stated the purpose as being "to conduct a complete investigation of the IDC [Industrial Development Commission, now Economic Development Commission] benefits issued to Innovative Telephone (Vitelco) in 1998 and to determine if this company is in full compliance with its IDC certificate."
Releases from the Legislature over the last two weeks have cited both purposes for the hearings.
Fraser has been representing Innovative in talks with the Steelworkers aimed at reaching agreement on a new contract and ending the union's four-week-old strike against the phone company and Innovative Cable TV. He and Brady said it was clear that Bryan's actual agenda "is to attempt to participate in the labor negotiations — or to be involved in them." This, they said, is inappropriate and, indeed, illegal, because "the resolution of labor-management disputes and/or negotiations are subjects dealt with by federal law" through the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Federal mediators were, in fact, called in two weeks ago and tried without success to bring about an agreement.
The ICC letter to Bryan further stated, "The fact that these 'emergency' meetings are taking place shortly before Election Day on Nov. 5 is also disturbing."
It called the hearings "an attempt to politicize" the impasse between Innovative and the union, adding that "various senators and members within the Department of Labor have attempted to use your emergency committee meetings as 'leverage' to resolve the labor dispute impasse."
ICC also suggested that Bryan might better "use your position to try to get people to stop breaking the law so that real progress can be made" in resolving the dispute.
Included with the two-page letter was a third page listing a number of criminal acts said to have been committed against the company since the strike began: the theft of a tool bag, attacks on a contractor and a customer, theft of keys from vehicles, assault of an employee, puncture of a tire, blocking of a warehouse entrance, disturbances in the St. Thomas cable television office, threats to various individuals including one to shoot and three to kill contractors, verbal abuse, striking a vehicle with an umbrella, placing a placard on the windshield and trying to open the driver's door of a moving vehicle, and entering company premises and a dispatch yard.
On Thursday morning, Bryan proceeded with the hearing on St. Croix, calling on those witnesses present to testify. A report of the hearing will be posted later Thursday.
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 company president, Samuel Ebbesen, and attorney J'Ada Finch Sheen, general counsel to Innovative Communication Corp., were among 18 persons "invited" by Bryan to appear before the committee at the Thursday session on St. Croix and the Friday session on St. Thomas. All the others represent government agencies or the United Steelworkers union.
In the letter, on ICC letterhead dated Oct. 30 and faxed to the Source on Thursday morning, attorneys Julio Brady of St. Croix and Jeffrey J. Fraser of the mainland noted that Bryan had described the purpose of the hearings in a press release as being "to conduct an investigation on issues surrounding the circumstances which led up to the labor dispute and subsequent federal mediation impasse."
However, they wrote, "this is not mentioned in your Notice of Committee Meeting" received by Innovative. Instead, they said, the notice stated the purpose as being "to conduct a complete investigation of the IDC [Industrial Development Commission, now Economic Development Commission] benefits issued to Innovative Telephone (Vitelco) in 1998 and to determine if this company is in full compliance with its IDC certificate."
Releases from the Legislature over the last two weeks have cited both purposes for the hearings.
Fraser has been representing Innovative in talks with the Steelworkers aimed at reaching agreement on a new contract and ending the union's four-week-old strike against the phone company and Innovative Cable TV. He and Brady said it was clear that Bryan's actual agenda "is to attempt to participate in the labor negotiations — or to be involved in them." This, they said, is inappropriate and, indeed, illegal, because "the resolution of labor-management disputes and/or negotiations are subjects dealt with by federal law" through the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Federal mediators were, in fact, called in two weeks ago and tried without success to bring about an agreement.
The ICC letter to Bryan further stated, "The fact that these 'emergency' meetings are taking place shortly before Election Day on Nov. 5 is also disturbing."
It called the hearings "an attempt to politicize" the impasse between Innovative and the union, adding that "various senators and members within the Department of Labor have attempted to use your emergency committee meetings as 'leverage' to resolve the labor dispute impasse."
ICC also suggested that Bryan might better "use your position to try to get people to stop breaking the law so that real progress can be made" in resolving the dispute.
Included with the two-page letter was a third page listing a number of criminal acts said to have been committed against the company since the strike began: the theft of a tool bag, attacks on a contractor and a customer, theft of keys from vehicles, assault of an employee, puncture of a tire, blocking of a warehouse entrance, disturbances in the St. Thomas cable television office, threats to various individuals including one to shoot and three to kill contractors, verbal abuse, striking a vehicle with an umbrella, placing a placard on the windshield and trying to open the driver's door of a moving vehicle, and entering company premises and a dispatch yard.
On Thursday morning, Bryan proceeded with the hearing on St. Croix, calling on those witnesses present to testify. A report of the hearing will be posted later Thursday.
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.
INNOVATIVE SAYS SENATE PROBE INAPPROPRIATE
Oct. 31, 2002 – Attorneys for Innovative Telephone informed Sen. Adelbert Bryan on Wednesday that the company would not be sending its president or anyone else to testify today and tomorrow at meetings of the Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, which the senator chairs. Both sessions have the same agenda.
The company president, Samuel Ebbesen, and attorney J'Ada Finch Sheen, general counsel to Innovative Communication Corp., were among 18 persons "invited" by Bryan to appear before the committee at the Thursday session on St. Croix and the Friday session on St. Thomas. All the others represent government agencies or the United Steelworkers union.
In the letter, on ICC letterhead dated Oct. 30 and faxed to the Source on Thursday morning, attorneys Julio Brady of St. Croix and Jeffrey J. Fraser of the mainland noted that Bryan had described the purpose of the hearings in a press release as being "to conduct an investigation on issues surrounding the circumstances which led up to the labor dispute and subsequent federal mediation impasse."
However, they wrote, "this is not mentioned in your Notice of Committee Meeting" received by Innovative. Instead, they said, the notice stated the purpose as being "to conduct a complete investigation of the IDC [Industrial Development Commission, now Economic Development Commission] benefits issued to Innovative Telephone (Vitelco) in 1998 and to determine if this company is in full compliance with its IDC certificate."
Releases from the Legislature over the last two weeks have cited both purposes for the hearings.
Fraser has been representing Innovative in talks with the Steelworkers aimed at reaching agreement on a new contract and ending the union's four-week-old strike against the phone company and Innovative Cable TV. He and Brady said it was clear that Bryan's actual agenda "is to attempt to participate in the labor negotiations — or to be involved in them." This, they said, is inappropriate and, indeed, illegal, because "the resolution of labor-management disputes and/or negotiations are subjects dealt with by federal law" through the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Federal mediators were, in fact, called in two weeks ago and tried without success to bring about an agreement.
The ICC letter to Bryan further stated, "The fact that these 'emergency' meetings are taking place shortly before Election Day on Nov. 5 is also disturbing."
It called the hearings "an attempt to politicize" the impasse between Innovative and the union, adding that "various senators and members within the Department of Labor have attempted to use your emergency committee meetings as 'leverage' to resolve the labor dispute impasse."
ICC also suggested that Bryan might better "use your position to try to get people to stop breaking the law so that real progress can be made" in resolving the dispute.
Included with the two-page letter was a third page listing a number of criminal acts said to have been committed against the company since the strike began: the theft of a tool bag, attacks on a contractor and a customer, theft of keys from vehicles, assault of an employee, puncture of a tire, blocking of a warehouse entrance, disturbances in the St. Thomas cable television office, threats to various individuals including one to shoot and three to kill contractors, verbal abuse, striking a vehicle with an umbrella, placing a placard on the windshield and trying to open the driver's door of a moving vehicle, and entering company premises and a dispatch yard.
On Thursday morning, Bryan proceeded with the hearing on St. Croix, calling on those witnesses present to testify. A report of the hearing will be posted later Thursday.
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 company president, Samuel Ebbesen, and attorney J'Ada Finch Sheen, general counsel to Innovative Communication Corp., were among 18 persons "invited" by Bryan to appear before the committee at the Thursday session on St. Croix and the Friday session on St. Thomas. All the others represent government agencies or the United Steelworkers union.
In the letter, on ICC letterhead dated Oct. 30 and faxed to the Source on Thursday morning, attorneys Julio Brady of St. Croix and Jeffrey J. Fraser of the mainland noted that Bryan had described the purpose of the hearings in a press release as being "to conduct an investigation on issues surrounding the circumstances which led up to the labor dispute and subsequent federal mediation impasse."
However, they wrote, "this is not mentioned in your Notice of Committee Meeting" received by Innovative. Instead, they said, the notice stated the purpose as being "to conduct a complete investigation of the IDC [Industrial Development Commission, now Economic Development Commission] benefits issued to Innovative Telephone (Vitelco) in 1998 and to determine if this company is in full compliance with its IDC certificate."
Releases from the Legislature over the last two weeks have cited both purposes for the hearings.
Fraser has been representing Innovative in talks with the Steelworkers aimed at reaching agreement on a new contract and ending the union's four-week-old strike against the phone company and Innovative Cable TV. He and Brady said it was clear that Bryan's actual agenda "is to attempt to participate in the labor negotiations — or to be involved in them." This, they said, is inappropriate and, indeed, illegal, because "the resolution of labor-management disputes and/or negotiations are subjects dealt with by federal law" through the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Federal mediators were, in fact, called in two weeks ago and tried without success to bring about an agreement.
The ICC letter to Bryan further stated, "The fact that these 'emergency' meetings are taking place shortly before Election Day on Nov. 5 is also disturbing."
It called the hearings "an attempt to politicize" the impasse between Innovative and the union, adding that "various senators and members within the Department of Labor have attempted to use your emergency committee meetings as 'leverage' to resolve the labor dispute impasse."
ICC also suggested that Bryan might better "use your position to try to get people to stop breaking the law so that real progress can be made" in resolving the dispute.
Included with the two-page letter was a third page listing a number of criminal acts said to have been committed against the company since the strike began: the theft of a tool bag, attacks on a contractor and a customer, theft of keys from vehicles, assault of an employee, puncture of a tire, blocking of a warehouse entrance, disturbances in the St. Thomas cable television office, threats to various individuals including one to shoot and three to kill contractors, verbal abuse, striking a vehicle with an umbrella, placing a placard on the windshield and trying to open the driver's door of a moving vehicle, and entering company premises and a dispatch yard.
On Thursday morning, Bryan proceeded with the hearing on St. Croix, calling on those witnesses present to testify. A report of the hearing will be posted later Thursday.
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.
INNOVATIVE SAYS SENATE PROBE INAPPROPRIATE
Oct. 31, 2002 – Attorneys for Innovative Telephone informed Sen. Adelbert Bryan on Wednesday that the company would not be sending its president or anyone else to testify today and tomorrow at meetings of the Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, which the senator chairs. Both sessions have the same agenda.
The company president, Samuel Ebbesen, and attorney J'Ada Finch Sheen, general counsel to Innovative Communication Corp., were among 18 persons "invited" by Bryan to appear before the committee at the Thursday session on St. Croix and the Friday session on St. Thomas. All the others represent government agencies or the United Steelworkers union.
In the letter, on ICC letterhead dated Oct. 30 and faxed to the Source on Thursday morning, attorneys Julio Brady of St. Croix and Jeffrey J. Fraser of the mainland noted that Bryan had described the purpose of the hearings in a press release as being "to conduct an investigation on issues surrounding the circumstances which led up to the labor dispute and subsequent federal mediation impasse."
However, they wrote, "this is not mentioned in your Notice of Committee Meeting" received by Innovative. Instead, they said, the notice stated the purpose as being "to conduct a complete investigation of the IDC [Industrial Development Commission, now Economic Development Commission] benefits issued to Innovative Telephone (Vitelco) in 1998 and to determine if this company is in full compliance with its IDC certificate."
Releases from the Legislature over the last two weeks have cited both purposes for the hearings.
Fraser has been representing Innovative in talks with the Steelworkers aimed at reaching agreement on a new contract and ending the union's four-week-old strike against the phone company and Innovative Cable TV. He and Brady said it was clear that Bryan's actual agenda "is to attempt to participate in the labor negotiations — or to be involved in them." This, they said, is inappropriate and, indeed, illegal, because "the resolution of labor-management disputes and/or negotiations are subjects dealt with by federal law" through the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Federal mediators were, in fact, called in two weeks ago and tried without success to bring about an agreement.
The ICC letter to Bryan further stated, "The fact that these 'emergency' meetings are taking place shortly before Election Day on Nov. 5 is also disturbing."
It called the hearings "an attempt to politicize" the impasse between Innovative and the union, adding that "various senators and members within the Department of Labor have attempted to use your emergency committee meetings as 'leverage' to resolve the labor dispute impasse."
ICC also suggested that Bryan might better "use your position to try to get people to stop breaking the law so that real progress can be made" in resolving the dispute.
Included with the two-page letter was a third page listing a number of criminal acts said to have been committed against the company since the strike began: the theft of a tool bag, attacks on a contractor and a customer, theft of keys from vehicles, assault of an employee, puncture of a tire, blocking of a warehouse entrance, disturbances in the St. Thomas cable television office, threats to various individuals including one to shoot and three to kill contractors, verbal abuse, striking a vehicle with an umbrella, placing a placard on the windshield and trying to open the driver's door of a moving vehicle, and entering company premises and a dispatch yard.
On Thursday morning, Bryan proceeded with the hearing on St. Croix, calling on those witnesses present to testify. A report of the hearing will be posted later Thursday.
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 company president, Samuel Ebbesen, and attorney J'Ada Finch Sheen, general counsel to Innovative Communication Corp., were among 18 persons "invited" by Bryan to appear before the committee at the Thursday session on St. Croix and the Friday session on St. Thomas. All the others represent government agencies or the United Steelworkers union.
In the letter, on ICC letterhead dated Oct. 30 and faxed to the Source on Thursday morning, attorneys Julio Brady of St. Croix and Jeffrey J. Fraser of the mainland noted that Bryan had described the purpose of the hearings in a press release as being "to conduct an investigation on issues surrounding the circumstances which led up to the labor dispute and subsequent federal mediation impasse."
However, they wrote, "this is not mentioned in your Notice of Committee Meeting" received by Innovative. Instead, they said, the notice stated the purpose as being "to conduct a complete investigation of the IDC [Industrial Development Commission, now Economic Development Commission] benefits issued to Innovative Telephone (Vitelco) in 1998 and to determine if this company is in full compliance with its IDC certificate."
Releases from the Legislature over the last two weeks have cited both purposes for the hearings.
Fraser has been representing Innovative in talks with the Steelworkers aimed at reaching agreement on a new contract and ending the union's four-week-old strike against the phone company and Innovative Cable TV. He and Brady said it was clear that Bryan's actual agenda "is to attempt to participate in the labor negotiations — or to be involved in them." This, they said, is inappropriate and, indeed, illegal, because "the resolution of labor-management disputes and/or negotiations are subjects dealt with by federal law" through the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Federal mediators were, in fact, called in two weeks ago and tried without success to bring about an agreement.
The ICC letter to Bryan further stated, "The fact that these 'emergency' meetings are taking place shortly before Election Day on Nov. 5 is also disturbing."
It called the hearings "an attempt to politicize" the impasse between Innovative and the union, adding that "various senators and members within the Department of Labor have attempted to use your emergency committee meetings as 'leverage' to resolve the labor dispute impasse."
ICC also suggested that Bryan might better "use your position to try to get people to stop breaking the law so that real progress can be made" in resolving the dispute.
Included with the two-page letter was a third page listing a number of criminal acts said to have been committed against the company since the strike began: the theft of a tool bag, attacks on a contractor and a customer, theft of keys from vehicles, assault of an employee, puncture of a tire, blocking of a warehouse entrance, disturbances in the St. Thomas cable television office, threats to various individuals including one to shoot and three to kill contractors, verbal abuse, striking a vehicle with an umbrella, placing a placard on the windshield and trying to open the driver's door of a moving vehicle, and entering company premises and a dispatch yard.
On Thursday morning, Bryan proceeded with the hearing on St. Croix, calling on those witnesses present to testify. A report of the hearing will be posted later Thursday.
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.
'FRIDAY NIGHT ALTERNATIVE' IS A 'REGULARS' THING
Oct. 31, 2002 – This weekend's "Friday Night Alternative" will feature the music of "the regulars" — and part of its appeal is that you never know which "regulars" will show up to jam on jazz, pop, blues, rock, reggae, old favorites and whatever with house keyboard and vocals artist Sally Smith.
It all happens from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday on the broad Marlin Deck overlooking the marina at American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook.
Along with music by Sally Smith, Marty Beechler and Friends, the evening will feature complimentary cheese and crackers plus wine for $2 and non-alcoholic beverages for $1.
The AYH organizers tout another aspect of the event, too: They say it brings out "the best audience in the islands."
The location on St. Thomas's East End just a few of minutes' walk away from the ferry dock and the barge landing makes it an easy stop for those heading to St. John at the end of the work week, too.
For more information, call Smith or Jennifer Schubert in the AYH office at 775-6454.
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.
It all happens from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday on the broad Marlin Deck overlooking the marina at American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook.
Along with music by Sally Smith, Marty Beechler and Friends, the evening will feature complimentary cheese and crackers plus wine for $2 and non-alcoholic beverages for $1.
The AYH organizers tout another aspect of the event, too: They say it brings out "the best audience in the islands."
The location on St. Thomas's East End just a few of minutes' walk away from the ferry dock and the barge landing makes it an easy stop for those heading to St. John at the end of the work week, too.
For more information, call Smith or Jennifer Schubert in the AYH office at 775-6454.
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.
'FRIDAY NIGHT ALTERNATIVE' IS A 'REGULARS' THING
Oct. 31, 2002 – This weekend's "Friday Night Alternative" will feature the music of "the regulars" — and part of its appeal is that you never know which "regulars" will show up to jam on jazz, pop, blues, rock, reggae, old favorites and whatever with house keyboard and vocals artist Sally Smith.
It all happens from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday on the broad Marlin Deck overlooking the marina at American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook.
Along with music by Sally Smith, Marty Beechler and Friends, the evening will feature complimentary cheese and crackers plus wine for $2 and non-alcoholic beverages for $1.
The AYH organizers tout another aspect of the event, too: They say it brings out "the best audience in the islands."
The location on St. Thomas's East End just a few of minutes' walk away from the ferry dock and the barge landing makes it an easy stop for those heading to St. John at the end of the work week, too.
For more information, call Smith or Jennifer Schubert in the AYH office at 775-6454.
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.
It all happens from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday on the broad Marlin Deck overlooking the marina at American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook.
Along with music by Sally Smith, Marty Beechler and Friends, the evening will feature complimentary cheese and crackers plus wine for $2 and non-alcoholic beverages for $1.
The AYH organizers tout another aspect of the event, too: They say it brings out "the best audience in the islands."
The location on St. Thomas's East End just a few of minutes' walk away from the ferry dock and the barge landing makes it an easy stop for those heading to St. John at the end of the work week, too.
For more information, call Smith or Jennifer Schubert in the AYH office at 775-6454.
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 SOURCE ENDORSES DE JONGH FOR GOVERNOR
If the Virgin Islands has any hope of pulling itself out of its current morass of financial devastation, rampant corruption, an embarrassingly deficient infrastructure and a failing public education system, John de Jongh Jr. is the clear and necessary choice to be our next governor.
De Jongh's record, his intelligence, his commitment to public service and his broad experience are unmatched by any other candidate running for governor this year.
At 44, de Jongh has proven himself in all areas of public and private life. He has done it quietly and without a lot of fanfare. In fact, that may have worked to his disadvantage. When he entered the race, a surprising number of people didn't really know who John de Jongh was. We think they do now, and we think they like what they see.
John de Jongh is a breath of fresh air. First of all, he doesn't need this job. He is not a lifelong government employee, unable to make a living other than on the government dole, although he has lent his talent and time -– pro bono in many instances -– to the last several administrations. He’s also willing to take a risk. He did not take the safe course of waiting out the Turnbull administration's second term before making a run for governor. He saw what we see -– and fear: that another four years of draining the treasury, of apathy and self-interest, of blatant corruption, of unaccredited schools and spiraling crime, would destroy the islands’ future economic viability and social stability. So he left a secure, high-paying job in the private sector to offer his skill, experience and commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands.
In our view, de Jongh stands out among the candidates for governor this year on many fronts, but none more so than financial management.
De Jongh has the experience and expertise -– as no other candidate does -– to begin to address the Virgin Islands’ terrible fiscal condition.
He served two terms on the Industrial Development Commission, now the Economic Development Commission, during the Juan Luis administration. He was the youngest person ever to serve as Finance commissioner, which he did during the Alexander Farrelly administration. As Finance commissioner, de Jongh was also named executive director of the newly formed Public Finance Authority. He was 31 at the time. It was an unpaid position that he handled in addition to his Finance Department responsibilities.
Along with his experience locally, de Jongh, while working as a senior management consultant for a private-public finance advisory firm, helped develop five-year plans for Philadelphia; New Haven, Connecticut; and Washington, D.C. In fact, de Jongh authored most of the current administration's Five-Year Operating and Strategic Financial Plan at the behest of Charles W. Turnbull.
Unfortunately, Turnbull chose to ignore much of what his own plan recommended to solve the territory’s economic problems. And despite Turnbull's ongoing self-congratulations for paying long-overdue step increases, tax refunds and vendors’ bills — all positive actions — the reality behind that achievement is that Turnbull cashed in on one-time tax windfalls and borrowed more money — a lot more money — to accomplish that. So, with the V.I. debt at an all-time high and the attractiveness of V.I. government bonds extremely low, the chances of Turnbull being able to borrow enough to see us through another four years of waste, corruption, mismanagement and abuse are slim.
As for the rest of the competition, some very qualified people are running for governor this year. But de Jongh’s breadth and depth of experience in and out of government make him a standout choice. As a past president of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, for example, he understands the complex issues facing the children and families of these islands, most especially a failing public education system and the intractable poverty that is the lot of too many of our citizens. As a past president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, de Jongh understands the need for a healthy business climate, and for businesses to operate fairly and responsibly.
For all these reasons, we endorse John de Jongh for governor without reservation. He offers the hope of new leadership, new approaches and new solutions to old, entrenched problems. And the beauty of his candidacy is that, for the first time in recent memory, we can vote for someone instead of just against someone else.
De Jongh's record, his intelligence, his commitment to public service and his broad experience are unmatched by any other candidate running for governor this year.
At 44, de Jongh has proven himself in all areas of public and private life. He has done it quietly and without a lot of fanfare. In fact, that may have worked to his disadvantage. When he entered the race, a surprising number of people didn't really know who John de Jongh was. We think they do now, and we think they like what they see.
John de Jongh is a breath of fresh air. First of all, he doesn't need this job. He is not a lifelong government employee, unable to make a living other than on the government dole, although he has lent his talent and time -– pro bono in many instances -– to the last several administrations. He’s also willing to take a risk. He did not take the safe course of waiting out the Turnbull administration's second term before making a run for governor. He saw what we see -– and fear: that another four years of draining the treasury, of apathy and self-interest, of blatant corruption, of unaccredited schools and spiraling crime, would destroy the islands’ future economic viability and social stability. So he left a secure, high-paying job in the private sector to offer his skill, experience and commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands.
In our view, de Jongh stands out among the candidates for governor this year on many fronts, but none more so than financial management.
De Jongh has the experience and expertise -– as no other candidate does -– to begin to address the Virgin Islands’ terrible fiscal condition.
He served two terms on the Industrial Development Commission, now the Economic Development Commission, during the Juan Luis administration. He was the youngest person ever to serve as Finance commissioner, which he did during the Alexander Farrelly administration. As Finance commissioner, de Jongh was also named executive director of the newly formed Public Finance Authority. He was 31 at the time. It was an unpaid position that he handled in addition to his Finance Department responsibilities.
Along with his experience locally, de Jongh, while working as a senior management consultant for a private-public finance advisory firm, helped develop five-year plans for Philadelphia; New Haven, Connecticut; and Washington, D.C. In fact, de Jongh authored most of the current administration's Five-Year Operating and Strategic Financial Plan at the behest of Charles W. Turnbull.
Unfortunately, Turnbull chose to ignore much of what his own plan recommended to solve the territory’s economic problems. And despite Turnbull's ongoing self-congratulations for paying long-overdue step increases, tax refunds and vendors’ bills — all positive actions — the reality behind that achievement is that Turnbull cashed in on one-time tax windfalls and borrowed more money — a lot more money — to accomplish that. So, with the V.I. debt at an all-time high and the attractiveness of V.I. government bonds extremely low, the chances of Turnbull being able to borrow enough to see us through another four years of waste, corruption, mismanagement and abuse are slim.
As for the rest of the competition, some very qualified people are running for governor this year. But de Jongh’s breadth and depth of experience in and out of government make him a standout choice. As a past president of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, for example, he understands the complex issues facing the children and families of these islands, most especially a failing public education system and the intractable poverty that is the lot of too many of our citizens. As a past president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, de Jongh understands the need for a healthy business climate, and for businesses to operate fairly and responsibly.
For all these reasons, we endorse John de Jongh for governor without reservation. He offers the hope of new leadership, new approaches and new solutions to old, entrenched problems. And the beauty of his candidacy is that, for the first time in recent memory, we can vote for someone instead of just against someone else.
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