Oct. 18, 2002 – The count is on at the Board of Elections where a last-minute rush of absentee ballot applications made it into the hands of officials Thursday, the last day to file.
"We have a significant number of applications for absentee ballots," Supervisor of Elections John Abramson Jr. said. "Today was the last day. We had a good flurry around the time of the 5 p.m. deadline. We got 50 applications in the last 15 minutes."
Most of the 11th-hour arrivals were by fax, Abramson said, but there also were "quite a few people" who showed up at the door of the Board of Elections offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Clerical personnel spent Thursday evening counting the applications. Final figures will be available after the process is completed sometime Friday, Abramson said.
Absentee ballots allow registered V.I. voters to cast their votes without appearing at their polling places — whether they are traveling on election day, stationed abroad in the military, away at school or in physical circumstances that will not allow them to get to the polls.
In past elections, absentee votes have played a significant role in a number of races, especially for seats in the Legislature. In each district, the top seven voter-getters win the Senate races. It has not been unusual for the seventh-place position — and in one case the fifth through seventh positions — to shift from the election-day tally once the count of absentee ballots was added 10 days after an election.
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.
TURNBULL, DE JONGH CAMPS DUEL IN MASS MEDIA
Oct. 17, 2002 – In an escalation of the first contentious media clash between two of the leading candidates for governor, the chair of the political party led by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull lashed out Thursday afternoon at challenger John de Jongh Jr.
Newly re-elected Democratic State chair James O’Bryan Jr., who also is an aide to Turnbull, reacted in a press release to full-page advertisements placed in the territory's two print daily newspapers on Thursday by the de Jongh campaign.
Titled "The Truth about WICO," the ads featured a letter written by former Gov. Alexander A. Farrelly in which the late chief executive debunked what he called "untrue and malicious rumors" concerning de Jongh's role in the government's purchase of The West Indian Co. a decade ago.
The ads were in response to comments made by Turnbull in a radio address earlier this month questioning what the governor called de Jongh's departure from a position of importance "during the height of the critical negotiations surrounding the purchase" of the Danish company.
It was Turnbull's first such public accusation, and de Jongh's ad described it as a "fabrication" that the governor's "political operatives had been trying to peddle for some time."
O'Bryan, who like de Jongh served in the Farrelly administration, called the de Jongh ad "a desperate use of a very questionable letter signed by our late governor and national committeeman designed to pardon his duplicitous and self-serving actions relative to the sale of WICO." O’Bryan questioned the legitimacy of the former governor's signature and whether Farrelly had any part in writing it.
Farrelly named de Jongh Finance commissioner 1987 and executive assistant in 1990. In the latter position, de Jongh opened talks to explore the government's acquisition of the Danish company that had had a presence in the Virgin Islands since 1912.
O'Bryan served as Farrelly's press secretary from 1991 until Farrelly left office four years later.
In response to O'Bryan's attack, de Jongh, speaking to WVWI Radio late Thursday, brushed aside the Democratic leader's comments. He said he had kept Farrelly's letter, written last Jan. 16, private until Turnbull's on-the-record charge in a political broadcast two weeks ago. "I only released this letter because, for almost eight months, the governor's political operatives and some of his henchmen have had this at rumor level in the territory," de Jongh said. "I responded only when the governor had the words come out of his mouth in an Oct. 4 radio broadcast."
In the published letter, the former governor told de Jongh that "you have my permission to make such use of this letter as you see fit." In it, Farrelly bemoaned what he termed "the attempts by others to tarnish your [de Jongh's] role in my administration in a misguided effort to undermine your pursuit of elective office."
O'Bryan's statement concluded with the pledge that the "real truth of Mr. de Jongh's role in the WICO acquisition will be revealed, and the voting public will then have to make their decisions based on trust and character."
O'Bryan issued the statement in the name of all of the officers of the Democratic Party — himself, Elmo Adams, Julien Harley and Terence Joseph. Noting that all four are employed by the Turnbull administration in high-level capacities, de Jongh said, "There is not a disconnect between the administration and the campaign."
There is one viewpoint the two candidates have in common, de Jongh told WVWI: "I will agree that this campaign is about trust and character."
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.
Newly re-elected Democratic State chair James O’Bryan Jr., who also is an aide to Turnbull, reacted in a press release to full-page advertisements placed in the territory's two print daily newspapers on Thursday by the de Jongh campaign.
Titled "The Truth about WICO," the ads featured a letter written by former Gov. Alexander A. Farrelly in which the late chief executive debunked what he called "untrue and malicious rumors" concerning de Jongh's role in the government's purchase of The West Indian Co. a decade ago.
The ads were in response to comments made by Turnbull in a radio address earlier this month questioning what the governor called de Jongh's departure from a position of importance "during the height of the critical negotiations surrounding the purchase" of the Danish company.
It was Turnbull's first such public accusation, and de Jongh's ad described it as a "fabrication" that the governor's "political operatives had been trying to peddle for some time."
O'Bryan, who like de Jongh served in the Farrelly administration, called the de Jongh ad "a desperate use of a very questionable letter signed by our late governor and national committeeman designed to pardon his duplicitous and self-serving actions relative to the sale of WICO." O’Bryan questioned the legitimacy of the former governor's signature and whether Farrelly had any part in writing it.
Farrelly named de Jongh Finance commissioner 1987 and executive assistant in 1990. In the latter position, de Jongh opened talks to explore the government's acquisition of the Danish company that had had a presence in the Virgin Islands since 1912.
O'Bryan served as Farrelly's press secretary from 1991 until Farrelly left office four years later.
In response to O'Bryan's attack, de Jongh, speaking to WVWI Radio late Thursday, brushed aside the Democratic leader's comments. He said he had kept Farrelly's letter, written last Jan. 16, private until Turnbull's on-the-record charge in a political broadcast two weeks ago. "I only released this letter because, for almost eight months, the governor's political operatives and some of his henchmen have had this at rumor level in the territory," de Jongh said. "I responded only when the governor had the words come out of his mouth in an Oct. 4 radio broadcast."
In the published letter, the former governor told de Jongh that "you have my permission to make such use of this letter as you see fit." In it, Farrelly bemoaned what he termed "the attempts by others to tarnish your [de Jongh's] role in my administration in a misguided effort to undermine your pursuit of elective office."
O'Bryan's statement concluded with the pledge that the "real truth of Mr. de Jongh's role in the WICO acquisition will be revealed, and the voting public will then have to make their decisions based on trust and character."
O'Bryan issued the statement in the name of all of the officers of the Democratic Party — himself, Elmo Adams, Julien Harley and Terence Joseph. Noting that all four are employed by the Turnbull administration in high-level capacities, de Jongh said, "There is not a disconnect between the administration and the campaign."
There is one viewpoint the two candidates have in common, de Jongh told WVWI: "I will agree that this campaign is about trust and character."
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.
MEDIATION EFFORTS FAIL; PICKETING TO RESUME
Oct. 17, 2002 – Negotiations between the United Steelworkers and Innovative Telephone hit a wall Thursday when company officials refused to back down on their earlier final offer, bringing to a halt two days of talks with federal mediators.
A leader of the striking workers, now into the third week of their job action, said they would be back on the picket lines Friday.
And Attorney General Iver Stridiron said the strike could go on indefinitely, and the local government does not have the authority to intervene.
"The union still demands that the company move from its final offer in order to resolve the current economic strike," Innovative Telephone's chief executive officer, Samuel Ebbesen, said in a release. "Unfortunately, the company has already offered a fair and reasonable final offer. That offer is still available for the union to accept. The company has no intention to move from its final offer."
Steelworkers representative Randolph Allen said the stalemate signifies an ulterior motive on Innovative's part. "They are definitely negotiating in bad faith; they had no intention of reaching an agreement," he said. "They've gotten some other motive — they're probably trying to bust up the union."
Innovative's final offer, which was rejected by the union membership on Oct. 1, included the choice of wage increases of 10 percent over three years and an increase in pension benefits of 3.7 percent, or wage increases of 6 percent over three years and an increase in pension benefits of 7.41 percent.
During Wednesday and Thursday's talks, Allen said, the Steelworkers said they would prefer to take no wage increases over the next three years if the company would put the entire 10 percent that would have gone toward pay hikes into the pension fund.
"We asked them to put it into the pension, but they have a problem with funding our pension," Allen said.
The union's offer did not constitute a move toward resolution, according to Ebbesen. "Although the union will proclaim that they modified their proposal during mediation and the company did not," he said, "movement from one unacceptable proposal to another unacceptable proposal is really no movement at all."
Ebbesen added, "We did not make a pretend final offer at the end of negotiations so we could add to it during mediation. From the time our final offer was presented to the Steelworkers, it was explained that this was our final offer."
Pension fund payments questioned
In a radio interview Thursday after talks broke down, St. Croix Steelworkers representative Frederick Joseph said that Innovative has not made a single payment to its pension plan fund since 1998 — a claim Ebbesen called "incorrect and irresponsible."
"We are disappointed that Mr. Joseph would make these statements," Ebbesen said. "We confirmed to him our appropriate funding of the plan several times during negotiations."
But Allen said the company would not show union members any actuarial figures outlining the details of the pension fund. "They're determined they're not moving their position. We're telling them we don't want a [wage] increase, and it wouldn't cost them more money. But they wouldn't want to touch our pension overall. Apparently there's something wrong with our pension, but we don't know what it is."
Union members also were incensed at a portion of Innovative's proposal that would double the deductible workers and their families would pay for health care and prescription drugs.
Despite the efforts of federal mediator Ken Kowalski and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services commissioner Carlos Tatte, the 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers will be back on picket lines Friday, Allen said.
"That guy [Kowalski] try to do what he can do," Allen said. "He couldn't make them move; he's just wasting his time. We'll be on the picket line until something comes up."
The strikers are into their third week without pay, but strike benefits will start next week, Allen said. "It's looking pretty bleak now, but a resolution will be made one day," he said.
The last time telephone employees went on strike was in 1977 when the business was called the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp., or Vitelco. That work stoppage spanned seven weeks, and Allen said union members are ready for a similar long haul if necessary.
Government has no authority to intervene
Stridiron said the Organic Act does not give Gov. Charles W. Turnbull the authority to step in and order the employees back to work, in contrast to the situation on the mainland West Coast, where President Bush recently ordered dock workers to return to their jobs during a "cooling-off" period.
The attorney general said he was disappointed the talks broke down. "Mediation has been successful in the Virgin Islands about 95 to 98 percent of the time," he said. "The government really does not have a role to play other than of the facilitator trying to get both sides together."
That role, Stridiron said, was taken by Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin in inviting the federal mediators to the territory. "Unfortunately, this is going to be played out between the company and its workers," he added.
"The governor would be relegated to the role, at some point I assume, of trying to see if he can mediate between the parties if professional mediators fail," Stridiron said.
Meanwhile, as far as Ebbesen is concerned, "The ball is in the union's court at this point."
Since the strike began on Oct. 2, vandalism to phone and cable lines has cut service to well over 5,000 customers. Innovative has hired outside help to make the repairs needed to restore service.
Stridiron and U.S. Attorney David Nissman issued a statement on Wednesday pointing out that tampering with the lines is a federal crime.
"We wanted to alert everyone in the community that we expect that sort of vandalism will cease," Stridiron said. "It has a devastating effect on the elderly and infirm. That is their lifeline to the police, ambulances and outside world as well. We cannot afford to have our telephone lines being sabotaged."
Stridiron said neither his office nor that of the U.S. Attorney has taken a position in the labor-management dispute. He said anyone caught committing such sabotage will be prosecuted, and that the offense carries a prison penalty upwards of five years.
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.
A leader of the striking workers, now into the third week of their job action, said they would be back on the picket lines Friday.
And Attorney General Iver Stridiron said the strike could go on indefinitely, and the local government does not have the authority to intervene.
"The union still demands that the company move from its final offer in order to resolve the current economic strike," Innovative Telephone's chief executive officer, Samuel Ebbesen, said in a release. "Unfortunately, the company has already offered a fair and reasonable final offer. That offer is still available for the union to accept. The company has no intention to move from its final offer."
Steelworkers representative Randolph Allen said the stalemate signifies an ulterior motive on Innovative's part. "They are definitely negotiating in bad faith; they had no intention of reaching an agreement," he said. "They've gotten some other motive — they're probably trying to bust up the union."
Innovative's final offer, which was rejected by the union membership on Oct. 1, included the choice of wage increases of 10 percent over three years and an increase in pension benefits of 3.7 percent, or wage increases of 6 percent over three years and an increase in pension benefits of 7.41 percent.
During Wednesday and Thursday's talks, Allen said, the Steelworkers said they would prefer to take no wage increases over the next three years if the company would put the entire 10 percent that would have gone toward pay hikes into the pension fund.
"We asked them to put it into the pension, but they have a problem with funding our pension," Allen said.
The union's offer did not constitute a move toward resolution, according to Ebbesen. "Although the union will proclaim that they modified their proposal during mediation and the company did not," he said, "movement from one unacceptable proposal to another unacceptable proposal is really no movement at all."
Ebbesen added, "We did not make a pretend final offer at the end of negotiations so we could add to it during mediation. From the time our final offer was presented to the Steelworkers, it was explained that this was our final offer."
Pension fund payments questioned
In a radio interview Thursday after talks broke down, St. Croix Steelworkers representative Frederick Joseph said that Innovative has not made a single payment to its pension plan fund since 1998 — a claim Ebbesen called "incorrect and irresponsible."
"We are disappointed that Mr. Joseph would make these statements," Ebbesen said. "We confirmed to him our appropriate funding of the plan several times during negotiations."
But Allen said the company would not show union members any actuarial figures outlining the details of the pension fund. "They're determined they're not moving their position. We're telling them we don't want a [wage] increase, and it wouldn't cost them more money. But they wouldn't want to touch our pension overall. Apparently there's something wrong with our pension, but we don't know what it is."
Union members also were incensed at a portion of Innovative's proposal that would double the deductible workers and their families would pay for health care and prescription drugs.
Despite the efforts of federal mediator Ken Kowalski and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services commissioner Carlos Tatte, the 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers will be back on picket lines Friday, Allen said.
"That guy [Kowalski] try to do what he can do," Allen said. "He couldn't make them move; he's just wasting his time. We'll be on the picket line until something comes up."
The strikers are into their third week without pay, but strike benefits will start next week, Allen said. "It's looking pretty bleak now, but a resolution will be made one day," he said.
The last time telephone employees went on strike was in 1977 when the business was called the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp., or Vitelco. That work stoppage spanned seven weeks, and Allen said union members are ready for a similar long haul if necessary.
Government has no authority to intervene
Stridiron said the Organic Act does not give Gov. Charles W. Turnbull the authority to step in and order the employees back to work, in contrast to the situation on the mainland West Coast, where President Bush recently ordered dock workers to return to their jobs during a "cooling-off" period.
The attorney general said he was disappointed the talks broke down. "Mediation has been successful in the Virgin Islands about 95 to 98 percent of the time," he said. "The government really does not have a role to play other than of the facilitator trying to get both sides together."
That role, Stridiron said, was taken by Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin in inviting the federal mediators to the territory. "Unfortunately, this is going to be played out between the company and its workers," he added.
"The governor would be relegated to the role, at some point I assume, of trying to see if he can mediate between the parties if professional mediators fail," Stridiron said.
Meanwhile, as far as Ebbesen is concerned, "The ball is in the union's court at this point."
Since the strike began on Oct. 2, vandalism to phone and cable lines has cut service to well over 5,000 customers. Innovative has hired outside help to make the repairs needed to restore service.
Stridiron and U.S. Attorney David Nissman issued a statement on Wednesday pointing out that tampering with the lines is a federal crime.
"We wanted to alert everyone in the community that we expect that sort of vandalism will cease," Stridiron said. "It has a devastating effect on the elderly and infirm. That is their lifeline to the police, ambulances and outside world as well. We cannot afford to have our telephone lines being sabotaged."
Stridiron said neither his office nor that of the U.S. Attorney has taken a position in the labor-management dispute. He said anyone caught committing such sabotage will be prosecuted, and that the offense carries a prison penalty upwards of five years.
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.
LOCAL FIRM, PARTNER GET ENIGHED POND CONTRACT
Oct. 17, 2002 – A partnership of the St. Thomas firm of Custom Builders and the Pennsylvania-based American Bridge Co. has won the contract to build the long-awaited Enighed Pond commercial port.
Custom Builders will construct the land side of the project, with American Bridge doing the marine work. "It's a perfect fit," said Steve Lammens, Custom Builders president.
The partners, with a $12.8 million bid, beat out three other finalists, Port Authority spokeswoman Shirley Smith said – Cashman Contractors of Boston, Meisener Marine Construction of Tampa, and Devcon International of Deerfield Beach, Florida.
An evaluation committee consisting of Port Authority staff and Public Works Department and Government House representatives recommended Custom Builders/American Bridge, and their choice was ratified on Wednesday at a meeting of the Port Authority governing board.
Smith said 30 percent of the design work on the project is complete.
Lammens said his company has not yet received official notification of its selection but that the partners will have 455 days after the contract is signed to complete the job.
Smith said a formal Notice of Award will be issued to the principals in the joint venture, asking them to submit insurance papers and other documents within 30 days of the notice.
The project will be funded through GARVEE (for Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle) bonds. The GARVEE bonds allow the government to start the project without the money in hand because it will pay the principal and associated costs of the bonds out of the yearly $12.5 million the government gets from the Federal Highway Administration.
Smith said the money has not yet been received.
Sen. Roosevelt David, who worked to get the GARVEE bond legislation approved, said he was unsure of the status of the bonds.
Kenneth Mapp, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, was not available Thursday to answer questions on the subject.
Lammens said Custom Builders has been working in the Virgin Islands since 1986. He said the company built the swimming pool at the Westin Resort and did renovations at Caneel Bay Resort.
American Bridge, founded in 1900, has completed marine projects all over the world, including the Disney cruise ship berth at the island of Abaco in the Bahamas and the Lloyd Werft cruise ship repair facility in Freeport, Bahamas. The company has its home office in Coraopolis, Penn., but this project is out of its Orlando, Fla., office.
The Public Finance Authority has been working on floating up to $16 million dollars worth of GARVEE bonds for the St. John port project. Port Authority executives keeping tabs on the funding efforts say the PFA is hoping to have the bonds in place by next month.
It's been close to 30 years since the Enighed Pond port was proposed. The last 10 years have seen efforts by Government House, the Legislature, the Port Authority and private interests to try to get permits and funding in place to build the port, part of an effort to reduce traffic from private and commercial vehicles loading and unloading onto barges in the heart of Cruz Bay.
Judi Shimel contributed to this report.
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Custom Builders will construct the land side of the project, with American Bridge doing the marine work. "It's a perfect fit," said Steve Lammens, Custom Builders president.
The partners, with a $12.8 million bid, beat out three other finalists, Port Authority spokeswoman Shirley Smith said – Cashman Contractors of Boston, Meisener Marine Construction of Tampa, and Devcon International of Deerfield Beach, Florida.
An evaluation committee consisting of Port Authority staff and Public Works Department and Government House representatives recommended Custom Builders/American Bridge, and their choice was ratified on Wednesday at a meeting of the Port Authority governing board.
Smith said 30 percent of the design work on the project is complete.
Lammens said his company has not yet received official notification of its selection but that the partners will have 455 days after the contract is signed to complete the job.
Smith said a formal Notice of Award will be issued to the principals in the joint venture, asking them to submit insurance papers and other documents within 30 days of the notice.
The project will be funded through GARVEE (for Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle) bonds. The GARVEE bonds allow the government to start the project without the money in hand because it will pay the principal and associated costs of the bonds out of the yearly $12.5 million the government gets from the Federal Highway Administration.
Smith said the money has not yet been received.
Sen. Roosevelt David, who worked to get the GARVEE bond legislation approved, said he was unsure of the status of the bonds.
Kenneth Mapp, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, was not available Thursday to answer questions on the subject.
Lammens said Custom Builders has been working in the Virgin Islands since 1986. He said the company built the swimming pool at the Westin Resort and did renovations at Caneel Bay Resort.
American Bridge, founded in 1900, has completed marine projects all over the world, including the Disney cruise ship berth at the island of Abaco in the Bahamas and the Lloyd Werft cruise ship repair facility in Freeport, Bahamas. The company has its home office in Coraopolis, Penn., but this project is out of its Orlando, Fla., office.
The Public Finance Authority has been working on floating up to $16 million dollars worth of GARVEE bonds for the St. John port project. Port Authority executives keeping tabs on the funding efforts say the PFA is hoping to have the bonds in place by next month.
It's been close to 30 years since the Enighed Pond port was proposed. The last 10 years have seen efforts by Government House, the Legislature, the Port Authority and private interests to try to get permits and funding in place to build the port, part of an effort to reduce traffic from private and commercial vehicles loading and unloading onto barges in the heart of Cruz Bay.
Judi Shimel contributed to this report.
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.
NUMBER SEEKING ABSENTEE BALLOTS 'SIGNIFICANT'
Oct. 18, 2002 – The count is on at the Board of Elections where a last-minute rush of absentee ballot applications made it into the hands of officials Thursday, the last day to file.
"We have a significant number of applications for absentee ballots," Supervisor of Elections John Abramson Jr. said. "Today was the last day. We had a good flurry around the time of the 5 p.m. deadline. We got 50 applications in the last 15 minutes."
Most of the 11th-hour arrivals were by fax, Abramson said, but there also were "quite a few people" who showed up at the door of the Board of Elections offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Clerical personnel spent Thursday evening counting the applications. Final figures will be available after the process is completed sometime Friday, Abramson said.
Absentee ballots allow registered V.I. voters to cast their votes without appearing at their polling places — whether they are traveling on election day, stationed abroad in the military, away at school or in physical circumstances that will not allow them to get to the polls.
In past elections, absentee votes have played a significant role in a number of races, especially for seats in the Legislature. In each district, the top seven voter-getters win the Senate races. It has not been unusual for the seventh-place position — and in one case the fifth through seventh positions — to shift from the election-day tally once the count of absentee ballots was added 10 days after an election.
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.
"We have a significant number of applications for absentee ballots," Supervisor of Elections John Abramson Jr. said. "Today was the last day. We had a good flurry around the time of the 5 p.m. deadline. We got 50 applications in the last 15 minutes."
Most of the 11th-hour arrivals were by fax, Abramson said, but there also were "quite a few people" who showed up at the door of the Board of Elections offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Clerical personnel spent Thursday evening counting the applications. Final figures will be available after the process is completed sometime Friday, Abramson said.
Absentee ballots allow registered V.I. voters to cast their votes without appearing at their polling places — whether they are traveling on election day, stationed abroad in the military, away at school or in physical circumstances that will not allow them to get to the polls.
In past elections, absentee votes have played a significant role in a number of races, especially for seats in the Legislature. In each district, the top seven voter-getters win the Senate races. It has not been unusual for the seventh-place position — and in one case the fifth through seventh positions — to shift from the election-day tally once the count of absentee ballots was added 10 days after an election.
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.
TURNBULL, DE JONGH CAMPS DUEL IN MASS MEDIA
Oct. 17, 2002 – In an escalation of the first contentious media clash between two of the leading candidates for governor, the chair of the political party that Gov. Charles W. Turnbull leads lashed out Thursday afternoon at challenger John de Jongh Jr.
Newly re-elected Democratic State chair James O’Bryan Jr., who also is an aide to Turnbull, reacted in a press release to full-page advertisements placed in the territory's two print daily newspapers on Thursday by the de Jongh campaign.
Titled "The Truth about WICO," the ads featured a letter written by former Gov. Alexander A. Farrelly in which the late chief executive debunked what he called "untrue and malicious rumors" concerning de Jongh's role in the government's purchase of The West Indian Co. a decade ago.
The ads were in response to comments made by Turnbull in a radio address earlier this month questioning what the governor called de Jongh's departure from a position of importance "during the height of the critical negotiations surrounding the purchase" of the Danish company.
It was Turnbull's first such public accusation, and de Jongh's ad described it as a "fabrication" that the governor's "political operatives had been trying to peddle for some time."
O'Bryan, who like de Jongh served in the Farrelly administration, called the de Jongh ad "a desperate use of a very questionable letter signed by our late governor and national committeeman designed to pardon his duplicitous and self-serving actions relative to the sale of WICO." O’Bryan questioned the legitimacy of the former governor's signature and whether Farrelly had any part in writing it.
Farrelly named de Jongh Finance commissioner 1987 and executive assistant in 1990. In the latter position, de Jongh opened talks to explore the government's acquisition of the Danish company that had had a presence in the Virgin Islands since 1912.
O'Bryan served as Farrelly's press secretary from 1991 until Farrelly left office four years later.
In response to O'Bryan's attack, de Jongh, speaking to WVWI Radio late Thursday, brushed aside the Democratic leader's comments. He said he had kept Farrelly's letter, written last Jan. 16, private until Turnbull's on-the-record charge in a political broadcast two weeks ago. "I only released this letter because, for almost eight months, the governor's political operatives and some of his henchmen have had this at rumor level in the territory," de Jongh said. "I responded only when the governor had the words come out of his mouth in an Oct. 4 radio broadcast."
In the published letter, the former governor told de Jongh that "you have my permission to make such use of this letter as you see fit." In it, Farrelly bemoaned what he termed "the attempts by others to tarnish your [de Jongh's] role in my administration in a misguided effort to undermine your pursuit of elective office."
O'Bryan's statement concluded with the pledge that the "real truth of Mr. de Jongh's role in the WICO acquisition will be revealed, and the voting public will then have to make their decisions based on trust and character."
The O'Bryan issued the statement in the name of all of the officers of the Democratic Party — himself, Elmo Adams, Julien Harley and Terence Joseph. Noting that all four are employed by the Turnbull administration in high-level capacities, de Jongh said, "There is not a disconnect between the administration and the campaign."
There is one viewpoint the two candidates have in common, de Jongh told WVWI: "I will agree that this campaign is about trust and character."
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.
Newly re-elected Democratic State chair James O’Bryan Jr., who also is an aide to Turnbull, reacted in a press release to full-page advertisements placed in the territory's two print daily newspapers on Thursday by the de Jongh campaign.
Titled "The Truth about WICO," the ads featured a letter written by former Gov. Alexander A. Farrelly in which the late chief executive debunked what he called "untrue and malicious rumors" concerning de Jongh's role in the government's purchase of The West Indian Co. a decade ago.
The ads were in response to comments made by Turnbull in a radio address earlier this month questioning what the governor called de Jongh's departure from a position of importance "during the height of the critical negotiations surrounding the purchase" of the Danish company.
It was Turnbull's first such public accusation, and de Jongh's ad described it as a "fabrication" that the governor's "political operatives had been trying to peddle for some time."
O'Bryan, who like de Jongh served in the Farrelly administration, called the de Jongh ad "a desperate use of a very questionable letter signed by our late governor and national committeeman designed to pardon his duplicitous and self-serving actions relative to the sale of WICO." O’Bryan questioned the legitimacy of the former governor's signature and whether Farrelly had any part in writing it.
Farrelly named de Jongh Finance commissioner 1987 and executive assistant in 1990. In the latter position, de Jongh opened talks to explore the government's acquisition of the Danish company that had had a presence in the Virgin Islands since 1912.
O'Bryan served as Farrelly's press secretary from 1991 until Farrelly left office four years later.
In response to O'Bryan's attack, de Jongh, speaking to WVWI Radio late Thursday, brushed aside the Democratic leader's comments. He said he had kept Farrelly's letter, written last Jan. 16, private until Turnbull's on-the-record charge in a political broadcast two weeks ago. "I only released this letter because, for almost eight months, the governor's political operatives and some of his henchmen have had this at rumor level in the territory," de Jongh said. "I responded only when the governor had the words come out of his mouth in an Oct. 4 radio broadcast."
In the published letter, the former governor told de Jongh that "you have my permission to make such use of this letter as you see fit." In it, Farrelly bemoaned what he termed "the attempts by others to tarnish your [de Jongh's] role in my administration in a misguided effort to undermine your pursuit of elective office."
O'Bryan's statement concluded with the pledge that the "real truth of Mr. de Jongh's role in the WICO acquisition will be revealed, and the voting public will then have to make their decisions based on trust and character."
The O'Bryan issued the statement in the name of all of the officers of the Democratic Party — himself, Elmo Adams, Julien Harley and Terence Joseph. Noting that all four are employed by the Turnbull administration in high-level capacities, de Jongh said, "There is not a disconnect between the administration and the campaign."
There is one viewpoint the two candidates have in common, de Jongh told WVWI: "I will agree that this campaign is about trust and character."
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MEDIATION EFFORTS FAIL; PICKETING TO RESUME
Oct. 17, 2002 – Negotiations between the United Steelworkers and Innovative Telephone hit a wall Thursday when company officials refused to back down on their earlier final offer, bringing to a halt two days of talks with federal mediators.
A leader of the striking workers, now into the third week of their job action, said they would be back on the picket lines Friday.
And Attorney General Iver Stridiron said the strike could go on indefinitely, and the local government does not have the authority to intervene.
"The union still demands that the company move from its final offer in order to resolve the current economic strike," Innovative Telephone's chief executive officer, Samuel Ebbesen, said in a release. "Unfortunately, the company has already offered a fair and reasonable final offer. That offer is still available for the union to accept. The company has no intention to move from its final offer."
Steelworkers representative Randolph Allen said the stalemate signifies an ulterior motive on Innovative's part. "They are definitely negotiating in bad faith; they had no intention of reaching an agreement," he said. "They've gotten some other motive — they're probably trying to bust up the union."
Innovative's final offer, which was rejected by the union membership on Oct. 1, included the choice of wage increases of 10 percent over three years and an increase in pension benefits of 3.7 percent, or wage increases of 6 percent over three years and an increase in pension benefits of 7.41 percent.
During Wednesday and Thursday's talks, Allen said, the Steelworkers said they would prefer to take no wage increases over the next three years if the company would put the entire 10 percent that would have gone toward pay hikes into the pension fund.
"We asked them to put it into the pension, but they have a problem with funding our pension," Allen said.
The union's offer did not constitute a move toward resolution, according to Ebbesen. "Although the union will proclaim that they modified their proposal during mediation and the company did not," he said, "movement from one unacceptable proposal to another unacceptable proposal is really no movement at all."
Ebbesen added, "We did not make a pretend final offer at the end of negotiations so we could add to it during mediation. From the time our final offer was presented to the Steelworkers, it was explained that this was our final offer."
Pension fund payments questioned
In a radio interview Thursday after talks broke down, St. Croix Steelworkers representative Frederick Joseph said that Innovative has not made a single payment to its pension plan fund since 1998 — a claim Ebbesen called "incorrect and irresponsible."
"We are disappointed that Mr. Joseph would make these statements," Ebbesen said. "We confirmed to him our appropriate funding of the plan several times during negotiations."
But Allen said the company would not show union members any actuarial figures outlining the details of the pension fund. "They're determined they're not moving their position. We're telling them we don't want a [wage] increase, and it wouldn't cost them more money. But they wouldn't want to touch our pension overall. Apparently there's something wrong with our pension, but we don't know what it is."
Union members also were incensed at a portion of Innovative's proposal that would double the deductible workers and their families would pay for health care and prescription drugs.
Despite the efforts of federal mediator Ken Kowalski and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services commissioner Carlos Tatte, the 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers will be back on picket lines Friday, Allen said.
"That guy [Kowalski] try to do what he can do," Allen said. "He couldn't make them move; he's just wasting his time. We'll be on the picket line until something comes up."
The strikers are into their third week without pay, but strike benefits will start next week, Allen said. "It's looking pretty bleak now, but a resolution will be made one day," he said.
The last time telephone employees went on strike was in 1977 when the business was called the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp., or Vitelco. That work stoppage spanned seven weeks, and Allen said union members are ready for a similar long haul if necessary.
Government has no authority to intervene
Stridiron said the Organic Act does not give Gov. Charles W. Turnbull the authority to step in and order the employees back to work, in contrast to the situation on the mainland West Coast, where President Bush recently ordered dock workers to return to their jobs during a "cooling-off" period.
The attorney general said he was disappointed the talks broke down. "Mediation has been successful in the Virgin Islands about 95 to 98 percent of the time," he said. "The government really does not have a role to play other than of the facilitator trying to get both sides together."
That role, Stridiron said, was taken by Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin in inviting the federal mediators to the territory. "Unfortunately, this is going to be played out between the company and its workers," he added.
"The governor would be relegated to the role, at some point I assume, of trying to see if he can mediate between the parties if professional mediators fail," Stridiron said.
Meanwhile, as far as Ebbesen is concerned, "The ball is in the union's court at this point."
Since the strike began on Oct. 2, vandalism to phone and cable lines has cut service to well over 5,000 customers. Innovative has hired outside help to make the repairs needed to restore service.
Stridiron and U.S. Attorney David Nissman issued a statement on Wednesday pointing out that tampering with the lines is a federal crime.
"We wanted to alert everyone in the community that we expect that sort of vandalism will cease," Stridiron said. "It has a devastating effect on the elderly and infirm. That is their lifeline to the police, ambulances and outside world as well. We cannot afford to have our telephone lines being sabotaged."
Stridiron said neither his office nor that of the U.S. Attorney has taken a position in the labor-management dispute. He said anyone caught committing such sabotage will be prosecuted, and that the offense carries a prison penalty upwards of five years.
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A leader of the striking workers, now into the third week of their job action, said they would be back on the picket lines Friday.
And Attorney General Iver Stridiron said the strike could go on indefinitely, and the local government does not have the authority to intervene.
"The union still demands that the company move from its final offer in order to resolve the current economic strike," Innovative Telephone's chief executive officer, Samuel Ebbesen, said in a release. "Unfortunately, the company has already offered a fair and reasonable final offer. That offer is still available for the union to accept. The company has no intention to move from its final offer."
Steelworkers representative Randolph Allen said the stalemate signifies an ulterior motive on Innovative's part. "They are definitely negotiating in bad faith; they had no intention of reaching an agreement," he said. "They've gotten some other motive — they're probably trying to bust up the union."
Innovative's final offer, which was rejected by the union membership on Oct. 1, included the choice of wage increases of 10 percent over three years and an increase in pension benefits of 3.7 percent, or wage increases of 6 percent over three years and an increase in pension benefits of 7.41 percent.
During Wednesday and Thursday's talks, Allen said, the Steelworkers said they would prefer to take no wage increases over the next three years if the company would put the entire 10 percent that would have gone toward pay hikes into the pension fund.
"We asked them to put it into the pension, but they have a problem with funding our pension," Allen said.
The union's offer did not constitute a move toward resolution, according to Ebbesen. "Although the union will proclaim that they modified their proposal during mediation and the company did not," he said, "movement from one unacceptable proposal to another unacceptable proposal is really no movement at all."
Ebbesen added, "We did not make a pretend final offer at the end of negotiations so we could add to it during mediation. From the time our final offer was presented to the Steelworkers, it was explained that this was our final offer."
Pension fund payments questioned
In a radio interview Thursday after talks broke down, St. Croix Steelworkers representative Frederick Joseph said that Innovative has not made a single payment to its pension plan fund since 1998 — a claim Ebbesen called "incorrect and irresponsible."
"We are disappointed that Mr. Joseph would make these statements," Ebbesen said. "We confirmed to him our appropriate funding of the plan several times during negotiations."
But Allen said the company would not show union members any actuarial figures outlining the details of the pension fund. "They're determined they're not moving their position. We're telling them we don't want a [wage] increase, and it wouldn't cost them more money. But they wouldn't want to touch our pension overall. Apparently there's something wrong with our pension, but we don't know what it is."
Union members also were incensed at a portion of Innovative's proposal that would double the deductible workers and their families would pay for health care and prescription drugs.
Despite the efforts of federal mediator Ken Kowalski and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services commissioner Carlos Tatte, the 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers will be back on picket lines Friday, Allen said.
"That guy [Kowalski] try to do what he can do," Allen said. "He couldn't make them move; he's just wasting his time. We'll be on the picket line until something comes up."
The strikers are into their third week without pay, but strike benefits will start next week, Allen said. "It's looking pretty bleak now, but a resolution will be made one day," he said.
The last time telephone employees went on strike was in 1977 when the business was called the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp., or Vitelco. That work stoppage spanned seven weeks, and Allen said union members are ready for a similar long haul if necessary.
Government has no authority to intervene
Stridiron said the Organic Act does not give Gov. Charles W. Turnbull the authority to step in and order the employees back to work, in contrast to the situation on the mainland West Coast, where President Bush recently ordered dock workers to return to their jobs during a "cooling-off" period.
The attorney general said he was disappointed the talks broke down. "Mediation has been successful in the Virgin Islands about 95 to 98 percent of the time," he said. "The government really does not have a role to play other than of the facilitator trying to get both sides together."
That role, Stridiron said, was taken by Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin in inviting the federal mediators to the territory. "Unfortunately, this is going to be played out between the company and its workers," he added.
"The governor would be relegated to the role, at some point I assume, of trying to see if he can mediate between the parties if professional mediators fail," Stridiron said.
Meanwhile, as far as Ebbesen is concerned, "The ball is in the union's court at this point."
Since the strike began on Oct. 2, vandalism to phone and cable lines has cut service to well over 5,000 customers. Innovative has hired outside help to make the repairs needed to restore service.
Stridiron and U.S. Attorney David Nissman issued a statement on Wednesday pointing out that tampering with the lines is a federal crime.
"We wanted to alert everyone in the community that we expect that sort of vandalism will cease," Stridiron said. "It has a devastating effect on the elderly and infirm. That is their lifeline to the police, ambulances and outside world as well. We cannot afford to have our telephone lines being sabotaged."
Stridiron said neither his office nor that of the U.S. Attorney has taken a position in the labor-management dispute. He said anyone caught committing such sabotage will be prosecuted, and that the offense carries a prison penalty upwards of five years.
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NUMBER SEEKING ABSENTEE BALLOTS 'SIGNIFICANT'
Oct. 18, 2002 – The count is on at the Board of Elections where a last-minute rush of absentee ballot applications made it into the hands of officials Thursday, the last day to file.
"We have a significant number of applications for absentee ballots," Supervisor of Elections John Abramson Jr. said. "Today was the last day. We had a good flurry around the time of the 5 p.m. deadline. We got 50 applications in the last 15 minutes."
Most of the 11th-hour arrivals were by fax, Abramson said, but there also were "quite a few people" who showed up at the door of the Board of Elections offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Clerical personnel spent Thursday evening counting the applications. Final figures will be available after the process is completed sometime Friday, Abramson said.
Absentee ballots allow registered V.I. voters to cast their votes without appearing at their polling places — whether they are traveling on election day, stationed abroad in the military, away at school or in physical circumstances that will not allow them to get to the polls.
In past elections, absentee votes have played a significant role in a number of races, especially for seats in the Legislature. In each district, the top seven voter-getters win the Senate races. It has not been unusual for the seventh-place position — and in one case the fifth through seventh positions — to shift from the election-day tally once the count of absentee ballots was added 10 days after an election.
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"We have a significant number of applications for absentee ballots," Supervisor of Elections John Abramson Jr. said. "Today was the last day. We had a good flurry around the time of the 5 p.m. deadline. We got 50 applications in the last 15 minutes."
Most of the 11th-hour arrivals were by fax, Abramson said, but there also were "quite a few people" who showed up at the door of the Board of Elections offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Clerical personnel spent Thursday evening counting the applications. Final figures will be available after the process is completed sometime Friday, Abramson said.
Absentee ballots allow registered V.I. voters to cast their votes without appearing at their polling places — whether they are traveling on election day, stationed abroad in the military, away at school or in physical circumstances that will not allow them to get to the polls.
In past elections, absentee votes have played a significant role in a number of races, especially for seats in the Legislature. In each district, the top seven voter-getters win the Senate races. It has not been unusual for the seventh-place position — and in one case the fifth through seventh positions — to shift from the election-day tally once the count of absentee ballots was added 10 days after an election.
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TURNBULL, DE JONGH CAMPS DUEL IN MASS MEDIA
Oct. 17, 2002 – In an escalation of the first contentious media clash between two of the leading candidates for governor, the chair of the political party that Gov. Charles W. Turnbull leads lashed out Thursday afternoon at challenger John de Jongh Jr.
Newly re-elected Democratic State chair James O’Bryan Jr., who also is an aide to Turnbull, reacted in a press release to full-page advertisements placed Thursday in the territory's two print daily newspapers by the de Jongh campaign.
Titled "The Truth about WICO," the ads featured a letter written by former Gov. Alexander A. Farrelly in which the late chief executive debunked what he called "untrue and malicious rumors" concerning de Jongh's role in the government's purchase of The West Indian Co. a decade ago.
The ads were in response to Turnbull's comments in a radio address earlier this month questioning what the governor called de Jongh's departure from a position of importance "during the height of the critical negotiations surrounding the purchase" of the Danish company.
It was Turnbull's first such public accusation, and de Jongh's ad described it as a "fabrication" that the governor's "political operatives had been trying to peddle for some time."
O'Bryan, who like de Jongh served in the Farrelly administration, called the de Jongh ad "a desperate use of a very questionable letter signed by our late governor and national committeeman designed to pardon his duplicitous and self-serving actions relative to the sale of WICO." O’Bryan questioned the legitimacy of the former governor's signature and whether Farrelly had any part in writing it.
Farrelly named de Jongh Finance commissioner in 1987 and executive assistant in 1990. In the latter position, de Jongh opened talks to explore the government's acquisition of the Danish company that had had a presence in the Virgin Islands since 1912.
O'Bryan served as Farrelly's press secretary from 1991 until Farrelly left office four years later.
In response to O'Bryan's attack, de Jongh, speaking to WVWI Radio late Thursday, brushed aside the Democratic leader's comments. He said he had kept Farrelly's letter, written last Jan. 16, private until Turnbull's on-the-record charge in a political broadcast two weeks ago. "I only released this letter because, for almost eight months, the governor's political operatives and some of his henchmen have had this at rumor level in the territory," de Jongh said. "I responded only when the governor had the words come out of his mouth in an Oct. 4 radio broadcast."
In the published letter, the former governor told de Jongh that "you have my permission to make such use of this letter as you see fit." In it, Farrelly bemoaned what he termed "the attempts by others to tarnish your [de Jongh's] role in my administration in a misguided effort to undermine your pursuit of elective office."
O'Bryan's statement concluded with the pledge that the "real truth of Mr. de Jongh's role in the WICO acquisition will be revealed, and the voting public will then have to make their decisions based on trust and character."
O'Bryan issued the statement in the name of all of the officers of the Democratic Party — himself, Elmo Adams, Julien Harley and Terence Joseph. Noting that all four are employed by the Turnbull administration in high-level capacities, de Jongh said, "There is not a disconnect between the administration and the campaign."
The two candidates are in accord on one thing, de Jongh told WVWI: "I will agree that this campaign is about trust and character."
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Newly re-elected Democratic State chair James O’Bryan Jr., who also is an aide to Turnbull, reacted in a press release to full-page advertisements placed Thursday in the territory's two print daily newspapers by the de Jongh campaign.
Titled "The Truth about WICO," the ads featured a letter written by former Gov. Alexander A. Farrelly in which the late chief executive debunked what he called "untrue and malicious rumors" concerning de Jongh's role in the government's purchase of The West Indian Co. a decade ago.
The ads were in response to Turnbull's comments in a radio address earlier this month questioning what the governor called de Jongh's departure from a position of importance "during the height of the critical negotiations surrounding the purchase" of the Danish company.
It was Turnbull's first such public accusation, and de Jongh's ad described it as a "fabrication" that the governor's "political operatives had been trying to peddle for some time."
O'Bryan, who like de Jongh served in the Farrelly administration, called the de Jongh ad "a desperate use of a very questionable letter signed by our late governor and national committeeman designed to pardon his duplicitous and self-serving actions relative to the sale of WICO." O’Bryan questioned the legitimacy of the former governor's signature and whether Farrelly had any part in writing it.
Farrelly named de Jongh Finance commissioner in 1987 and executive assistant in 1990. In the latter position, de Jongh opened talks to explore the government's acquisition of the Danish company that had had a presence in the Virgin Islands since 1912.
O'Bryan served as Farrelly's press secretary from 1991 until Farrelly left office four years later.
In response to O'Bryan's attack, de Jongh, speaking to WVWI Radio late Thursday, brushed aside the Democratic leader's comments. He said he had kept Farrelly's letter, written last Jan. 16, private until Turnbull's on-the-record charge in a political broadcast two weeks ago. "I only released this letter because, for almost eight months, the governor's political operatives and some of his henchmen have had this at rumor level in the territory," de Jongh said. "I responded only when the governor had the words come out of his mouth in an Oct. 4 radio broadcast."
In the published letter, the former governor told de Jongh that "you have my permission to make such use of this letter as you see fit." In it, Farrelly bemoaned what he termed "the attempts by others to tarnish your [de Jongh's] role in my administration in a misguided effort to undermine your pursuit of elective office."
O'Bryan's statement concluded with the pledge that the "real truth of Mr. de Jongh's role in the WICO acquisition will be revealed, and the voting public will then have to make their decisions based on trust and character."
O'Bryan issued the statement in the name of all of the officers of the Democratic Party — himself, Elmo Adams, Julien Harley and Terence Joseph. Noting that all four are employed by the Turnbull administration in high-level capacities, de Jongh said, "There is not a disconnect between the administration and the campaign."
The two candidates are in accord on one thing, de Jongh told WVWI: "I will agree that this campaign is about trust and character."
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WEED AND SEED NEEDS TUTORS FOR KIDS, ADULTS
Oct. 18, 2002 – Administrators of a federally funded program designed to curb crime and improve the quality of life in crime-ridden areas are looking for tutors to help schoolchildren in Bovoni with their homework and to help school dropouts obtain their high school diplomas.
Zelda Williams, program manager for the Weed and Seed program at the Housing Authority's Estate Bovoni office, says she wants the homework tutors in place on Nov. 4 and those to work with students enrolled in the program's GED classes at the first of next year.
"For some reason, tutors are hard to hold onto," she said.
Nonetheless, Williams said she will continue seeking out those able and willing to help students who live at the Bovoni housing community and the surrounding area from the Nadir Esso gas station to Bolongo and want to take advantage of the free tutorial assistance. "In this community, we have a large population of children," she said, "and a homework-assistance program is essential because we have a lot of single-parent families."
Up to 500 elementary school-age children are believed to live in the area. Williams said most of them go home after school to empty apartments where they are expected to finish their homework by the time their parents get home from work. She said if she can recruit enough tutors to prod the youngsters into meeting their parents' expectations, it would do a lot to relieve stress in the family.
After-school programs providing homework help have been around in Bovoni since the mid-1990s, when the Boys and Girls Club opened a center there. Last year, with the help of the U.S. Justice Department, which sponsors Weed and Seed programs nationally, high school student volunteers from the Peer Helpers Tutorial Monitoring Program added their efforts.
Williams noted that the time student tutors put in can count toward meeting the community service component needed for graduation in the public school system.
The program also is getting assistance from members of Rotary Club East.
Tutoring sessions are held from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. So far, 35 youngsters have signed up for help, Williams said.
Two instructors have signed on for the Weed and Seed GED program that is to start in January, and more are needed. The program will accommodate up to 30 persons seeking their high-school equivalency degrees. Three courses will be offered: GED test preparation, computer training, and successful job seeking Classes will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Anyone interested in becoming a Weed and Seed tutor for either program is asked to call Williams or Petra Phipps at 714-0812.
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Zelda Williams, program manager for the Weed and Seed program at the Housing Authority's Estate Bovoni office, says she wants the homework tutors in place on Nov. 4 and those to work with students enrolled in the program's GED classes at the first of next year.
"For some reason, tutors are hard to hold onto," she said.
Nonetheless, Williams said she will continue seeking out those able and willing to help students who live at the Bovoni housing community and the surrounding area from the Nadir Esso gas station to Bolongo and want to take advantage of the free tutorial assistance. "In this community, we have a large population of children," she said, "and a homework-assistance program is essential because we have a lot of single-parent families."
Up to 500 elementary school-age children are believed to live in the area. Williams said most of them go home after school to empty apartments where they are expected to finish their homework by the time their parents get home from work. She said if she can recruit enough tutors to prod the youngsters into meeting their parents' expectations, it would do a lot to relieve stress in the family.
After-school programs providing homework help have been around in Bovoni since the mid-1990s, when the Boys and Girls Club opened a center there. Last year, with the help of the U.S. Justice Department, which sponsors Weed and Seed programs nationally, high school student volunteers from the Peer Helpers Tutorial Monitoring Program added their efforts.
Williams noted that the time student tutors put in can count toward meeting the community service component needed for graduation in the public school system.
The program also is getting assistance from members of Rotary Club East.
Tutoring sessions are held from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. So far, 35 youngsters have signed up for help, Williams said.
Two instructors have signed on for the Weed and Seed GED program that is to start in January, and more are needed. The program will accommodate up to 30 persons seeking their high-school equivalency degrees. Three courses will be offered: GED test preparation, computer training, and successful job seeking Classes will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Anyone interested in becoming a Weed and Seed tutor for either program is asked to call Williams or Petra Phipps at 714-0812.
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.
