Candidates: Answer each numbered question in 100 words or less. For brevity, an outline format is encouraged. You are welcome to the questions of your choice if you do not wish to respond to them all. You may click on the printer icon in the upper left corner of your screen above the menu and copy and paste the questions to your own word processor to answer them. Then, once you have answered the questions, please simply copy and paste the entire document on to an e-mail and send it to source@viaccess.net. Please include at the top of your e-mail a phone number where we can verify who sent the e-mail. We ask this to avoid any possibility of a candidate being misrepresented.
1. How important is a comprehensive land and water use plan, and why has the territory been unable in more than 20 years of effort to enact one? What will it take to change this, and what, if anything, will you do bring about such change?
2. How important is private and public sector partnering, and how can such partnering best be accomplished in order to be most effective in addressing economic and social problems in the territory?
3. What are the biggest problems in the public education system, and what will it take to solve them? What will you do toward getting them solved?
4. How do you feel about floating future bonds to finance government initiatives, given the territory's present bond indebtedness of more than $1 billion? What will you do to persuade others of your views?
5. What is the most viable solution to the territory's solid-waste disposal problems? What will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
6. What is the most viable solution to the territory's sewage disposal problems? What will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
7. How do you assess the economy of the Virgin Islands at this time, and what do you see as its best hope for growth? What will you do to foster that growth?
8. How pervasive is corruption within the local government, and how should this problem, if you consider it to be a problem, best be addressed?
9. What is the most viable solution to Government Employees Retirement System payouts exceeding revenues, and what will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
10. What is the most viable solution to government spending exceeding revenues, and what will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
11. How do alignments between majority and minority blocs in the Legislature and adversarial relationships between the legislative and executive branches of government serve the best interests of the people of the Virgin Islands?
SENATORIAL/GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE QUESTIONS
Candidates: Please answer each numbered question in 100 words or less. For brevity, an outline format is encouraged. You are welcome to answer only the questions of your choice if you do not wish to respond to them all.
To submit your answers, please follow this procedure: Copy and paste the questions to your own computer. Then, after each numbered question, type in your response. Once you have answered the questions, copy and paste the entire document onto an e-mail and send it to source@viaccess.net. Please include at the top of your e-mail a telephone number where we can verify who sent the e-mail. We ask this to avoid any possibility of a candidate being misrepresented.
Responses will be posted in the Open Forum section within 24 hours of the time they are received. Those from territorywide candidates will be posted on all three Source newspapers; those from candidates running for district office will be posted on the appropriate Source publications.
1. How important is a comprehensive land and water use plan, and why has the territory been unable in more than 20 years of effort to enact one? What will it take to change this, and what, if anything, will you do bring about such change?
2. How important is private and public sector partnering, and how can such partnering best be accomplished in order to be most effective in addressing economic and social problems in the territory?
3. What are the biggest problems in the public education system, and what will it take to solve them? What will you do toward getting them solved?
4. How do you feel about floating future bonds to finance government initiatives, given the territory's present bond indebtedness of more than $1 billion? What will you do to persuade others of your views?
5. What is the most viable solution to the territory's solid-waste disposal problems? What will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
6. What is the most viable solution to the territory's sewage disposal problems? What will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
7. How do you assess the economy of the Virgin Islands at this time, and what do you see as its best hope for growth? What will you do to foster that growth?
8. How pervasive is corruption within the local government, and how should this problem, if you consider it to be a problem, best be addressed?
9. What is the most viable solution to Government Employees Retirement System payouts exceeding revenues, and what will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
10. What is the most viable solution to government spending exceeding revenues, and what will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
11. How do alignments between majority and minority blocs in the Legislature and adversarial relationships between the legislative and executive branches of government serve the best interests of the people of the Virgin Islands?
To submit your answers, please follow this procedure: Copy and paste the questions to your own computer. Then, after each numbered question, type in your response. Once you have answered the questions, copy and paste the entire document onto an e-mail and send it to source@viaccess.net. Please include at the top of your e-mail a telephone number where we can verify who sent the e-mail. We ask this to avoid any possibility of a candidate being misrepresented.
Responses will be posted in the Open Forum section within 24 hours of the time they are received. Those from territorywide candidates will be posted on all three Source newspapers; those from candidates running for district office will be posted on the appropriate Source publications.
1. How important is a comprehensive land and water use plan, and why has the territory been unable in more than 20 years of effort to enact one? What will it take to change this, and what, if anything, will you do bring about such change?
2. How important is private and public sector partnering, and how can such partnering best be accomplished in order to be most effective in addressing economic and social problems in the territory?
3. What are the biggest problems in the public education system, and what will it take to solve them? What will you do toward getting them solved?
4. How do you feel about floating future bonds to finance government initiatives, given the territory's present bond indebtedness of more than $1 billion? What will you do to persuade others of your views?
5. What is the most viable solution to the territory's solid-waste disposal problems? What will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
6. What is the most viable solution to the territory's sewage disposal problems? What will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
7. How do you assess the economy of the Virgin Islands at this time, and what do you see as its best hope for growth? What will you do to foster that growth?
8. How pervasive is corruption within the local government, and how should this problem, if you consider it to be a problem, best be addressed?
9. What is the most viable solution to Government Employees Retirement System payouts exceeding revenues, and what will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
10. What is the most viable solution to government spending exceeding revenues, and what will you do to advance the implementation of this solution?
11. How do alignments between majority and minority blocs in the Legislature and adversarial relationships between the legislative and executive branches of government serve the best interests of the people of the Virgin Islands?
DELEGATE TO CONGRESS CANDIDATE QUESTIONS
Candidates: Please answer each numbered question in 100 words or less. For brevity, an outline format is encouraged. You are welcome to answer only the questions of your choice if you do not wish to respond to them all.
To submit your answers, please follow this procedure: Copy and paste the questions to your own computer. Then, after each numbered question, type in your response. Once you have answered the questions, copy and paste the entire document onto an e-mail and send it to source@viaccess.net. Please include at the top of your e-mail a telephone number where we can verify who sent the e-mail. We ask this to avoid any possibility of a candidate being misrepresented.
Responses will be posted in the Open Forum section within 24 hours of the time they are received. Those from territorywide candidates will be posted on all three Source newspapers; those from candidates running for district office will be posted on the appropriate Source publications.
1. What should be the primary role of the Virgin Islands delegate in Congress, and how can the delegate be more effective in playing that role?
2. How do you believe the Virgin Islands is perceived generally in Congress, and how do you believe that image should be changed, if at all? How will you seek to effect any such change of image that you believe would better serve the territory?
3. For the foreseeable future, what do you believe the dynamics of the relationship between the federal government and the territory will be; and in the best interests of the Virgin Islands, what do you believe they should be?
4. What are the three most important things you hope to accomplish as delegate in the next two years, and what leads you to believe that you will be able to accomplish them?
To submit your answers, please follow this procedure: Copy and paste the questions to your own computer. Then, after each numbered question, type in your response. Once you have answered the questions, copy and paste the entire document onto an e-mail and send it to source@viaccess.net. Please include at the top of your e-mail a telephone number where we can verify who sent the e-mail. We ask this to avoid any possibility of a candidate being misrepresented.
Responses will be posted in the Open Forum section within 24 hours of the time they are received. Those from territorywide candidates will be posted on all three Source newspapers; those from candidates running for district office will be posted on the appropriate Source publications.
1. What should be the primary role of the Virgin Islands delegate in Congress, and how can the delegate be more effective in playing that role?
2. How do you believe the Virgin Islands is perceived generally in Congress, and how do you believe that image should be changed, if at all? How will you seek to effect any such change of image that you believe would better serve the territory?
3. For the foreseeable future, what do you believe the dynamics of the relationship between the federal government and the territory will be; and in the best interests of the Virgin Islands, what do you believe they should be?
4. What are the three most important things you hope to accomplish as delegate in the next two years, and what leads you to believe that you will be able to accomplish them?
'ONE HOUR PHOTO' COMES INTO FRIGHTENING FOCUS
Oct. 8, 2002 – At first glance, Robin Williams in "One Hour Photo" appears as a mild-mannered film-processing clerk, which, of course, he is anything but.
Behind the persona of Seymour Parrish, the friendly photo guy in a huge suburban SavMart, lurks the makings of a true monster, and a very lonely one.
Williams nurses his character along gently, giving us little nudges that all may not be quite right inside. Sy is a creature of habit, dining alone at a dismal café each evening and returning to his equally dismal apartment. Dismal and plain — that is, except for one wall covered in photographs.
Sy knows all about his customers: the lady who just takes pictures of her cats, the amateur porn artist — but especially the all-American family, the Yorkins, in whom he takes a more than proprietary interest. In fact, it is the Yorkin family's pictures that are all over his wall.
He begins to fancy himself spending holidays with them; he is dear old "Uncle Sy," and they adore him. As his secret fantasy unfolds, Sy begins to lose touch with reality. The lines begin to blur, and he begins, in fact, to insinuate himself into the lives of Nina Yorkin (Connie Nielsen), her husband, Will (Michael Vartan), and their young son, Jakob (Dylan Smith).
It's hard to dislike Williams, and it can take a while to accept him as a person who wasn't made with the right parts inside, such as compassion.
Several film critics comment on director Mark Romanek's use of cinematography. The first part of the picture is in muted tones; the visuals become more vibrant as Williams' character becomes more menacing. "Much of the film's atmosphere forms through the cinematography," Roger Ebert says.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ponders the act of people taking pictures of one another. Is it, she wonders, because someone then can say, "I was here once, I was somebody"? She calls Romanek's work "a sobering meditation on why we take pictures."
Ebert says the movie "has been compared to 'American Beauty,' another film where resentment, lankiness and lust fester beneath the surface of suburban affluence." However, there's a difference between the two, he says. He describes Kevin Spacey's character in "American Beauty" as being haunted by needs that may be "frowned upon and even illegal," but are nonetheless "within the range of emotions we understand." In contrast, he says, Sy Parrish is "outside that range."
The 1 hour and 38 minute movie is rated R for sexual content and language.
It is playing at Market Square East on St. Thomas.
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.
Behind the persona of Seymour Parrish, the friendly photo guy in a huge suburban SavMart, lurks the makings of a true monster, and a very lonely one.
Williams nurses his character along gently, giving us little nudges that all may not be quite right inside. Sy is a creature of habit, dining alone at a dismal café each evening and returning to his equally dismal apartment. Dismal and plain — that is, except for one wall covered in photographs.
Sy knows all about his customers: the lady who just takes pictures of her cats, the amateur porn artist — but especially the all-American family, the Yorkins, in whom he takes a more than proprietary interest. In fact, it is the Yorkin family's pictures that are all over his wall.
He begins to fancy himself spending holidays with them; he is dear old "Uncle Sy," and they adore him. As his secret fantasy unfolds, Sy begins to lose touch with reality. The lines begin to blur, and he begins, in fact, to insinuate himself into the lives of Nina Yorkin (Connie Nielsen), her husband, Will (Michael Vartan), and their young son, Jakob (Dylan Smith).
It's hard to dislike Williams, and it can take a while to accept him as a person who wasn't made with the right parts inside, such as compassion.
Several film critics comment on director Mark Romanek's use of cinematography. The first part of the picture is in muted tones; the visuals become more vibrant as Williams' character becomes more menacing. "Much of the film's atmosphere forms through the cinematography," Roger Ebert says.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ponders the act of people taking pictures of one another. Is it, she wonders, because someone then can say, "I was here once, I was somebody"? She calls Romanek's work "a sobering meditation on why we take pictures."
Ebert says the movie "has been compared to 'American Beauty,' another film where resentment, lankiness and lust fester beneath the surface of suburban affluence." However, there's a difference between the two, he says. He describes Kevin Spacey's character in "American Beauty" as being haunted by needs that may be "frowned upon and even illegal," but are nonetheless "within the range of emotions we understand." In contrast, he says, Sy Parrish is "outside that range."
The 1 hour and 38 minute movie is rated R for sexual content and language.
It is playing at Market Square East on St. Thomas.
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.
'ONE HOUR PHOTO' COMES INTO FRIGHTENING FOCUS
Oct. 8, 2002 – At first glance, Robin Williams in "One Hour Photo" appears as a mild-mannered film-processing clerk, which, of course, he is anything but.
Behind the persona of Seymour Parrish, the friendly photo guy in a huge suburban SavMart, lurks the makings of a true monster, and a very lonely one.
Williams nurses his character along gently, giving us little nudges that all may not be quite right inside. Sy is a creature of habit, dining alone at a dismal café each evening and returning to his equally dismal apartment. Dismal and plain — that is, except for one wall covered in photographs.
Sy knows all about his customers: the lady who just takes pictures of her cats, the amateur porn artist — but especially the all-American family, the Yorkins, in whom he takes a more than proprietary interest. In fact, it is the Yorkin family's pictures that are all over his wall.
He begins to fancy himself spending holidays with them; he is dear old "Uncle Sy," and they adore him. As his secret fantasy unfolds, Sy begins to lose touch with reality. The lines begin to blur, and he begins, in fact, to insinuate himself into the lives of Nina Yorkin (Connie Nielsen), her husband, Will (Michael Vartan), and their young son, Jakob (Dylan Smith).
It's hard to dislike Williams, and it can take a while to accept him as a person who wasn't made with the right parts inside, such as compassion.
Several film critics comment on director Mark Romanek's use of cinematography. The first part of the picture is in muted tones; the visuals become more vibrant as Williams' character becomes more menacing. "Much of the film's atmosphere forms through the cinematography," Roger Ebert says.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ponders the act of people taking pictures of one another. Is it, she wonders, because someone then can say, "I was here once, I was somebody"? She calls Romanek's work "a sobering meditation on why we take pictures."
Ebert says the movie "has been compared to 'American Beauty,' another film where resentment, lankiness and lust fester beneath the surface of suburban affluence." However, there's a difference between the two, he says. He describes Kevin Spacey's character in "American Beauty" as being haunted by needs that may be "frowned upon and even illegal," but are nonetheless "within the range of emotions we understand." In contrast, he says, Sy Parrish is "outside that range."
The 1 hour and 38 minute movie is rated R for sexual content and language.
It is playing at Market Square East.
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.
Behind the persona of Seymour Parrish, the friendly photo guy in a huge suburban SavMart, lurks the makings of a true monster, and a very lonely one.
Williams nurses his character along gently, giving us little nudges that all may not be quite right inside. Sy is a creature of habit, dining alone at a dismal café each evening and returning to his equally dismal apartment. Dismal and plain — that is, except for one wall covered in photographs.
Sy knows all about his customers: the lady who just takes pictures of her cats, the amateur porn artist — but especially the all-American family, the Yorkins, in whom he takes a more than proprietary interest. In fact, it is the Yorkin family's pictures that are all over his wall.
He begins to fancy himself spending holidays with them; he is dear old "Uncle Sy," and they adore him. As his secret fantasy unfolds, Sy begins to lose touch with reality. The lines begin to blur, and he begins, in fact, to insinuate himself into the lives of Nina Yorkin (Connie Nielsen), her husband, Will (Michael Vartan), and their young son, Jakob (Dylan Smith).
It's hard to dislike Williams, and it can take a while to accept him as a person who wasn't made with the right parts inside, such as compassion.
Several film critics comment on director Mark Romanek's use of cinematography. The first part of the picture is in muted tones; the visuals become more vibrant as Williams' character becomes more menacing. "Much of the film's atmosphere forms through the cinematography," Roger Ebert says.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ponders the act of people taking pictures of one another. Is it, she wonders, because someone then can say, "I was here once, I was somebody"? She calls Romanek's work "a sobering meditation on why we take pictures."
Ebert says the movie "has been compared to 'American Beauty,' another film where resentment, lankiness and lust fester beneath the surface of suburban affluence." However, there's a difference between the two, he says. He describes Kevin Spacey's character in "American Beauty" as being haunted by needs that may be "frowned upon and even illegal," but are nonetheless "within the range of emotions we understand." In contrast, he says, Sy Parrish is "outside that range."
The 1 hour and 38 minute movie is rated R for sexual content and language.
It is playing at Market Square East.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
PHONE/CABLE MEDIATION TALKS SET FOR NEXT WEEK
Oct. 8, 2002 – Mediation aimed at settling the impasse between Innovative Telephone/Innovative Cable-TV and their unionized employees got off to a slow start on Tuesday, as the walkout by workers of the two companies reached its seventh day.
ICC and United Steelworkers of America negotiators met by way of a conference phone call Tuesday afternoon with a representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service who was supposed to have arrived in the territory on Monday. By the end of the session, they agreed to meet for face-to-face discussions in the Virgin Islands next week.
Frederick Joseph, Steelworkers local president on St. Croix, said he left the meeting with a sense of satisfaction. "It went good. We scheduled two days next week, Oct. 16 and 17. Once you're talking, there is hope," he said.
But other developments on Tuesday in the strike by some 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers were less conciliatory. Joseph said Innovative Telephone offered its striking employees their current period paychecks in exchange for their identity cards. He said when he heard about this, he called Beverly Chongasing, the head of human resources, "and asked her what it was all about."
According to Joseph, Chongasing "said it was her idea, because the badges are company property. I asked, 'Are you terminating them, or are you locking them out?' She told me if I had any further questions, I should ask their attorney."
Innovative Telephone spokesman Thomas J. Dunn said he had not heard about any such provision for distributing the payroll to striking workers and could not comment. Dunn said he also couldn't comment on reports that the company had brought in non-union contract workers to work with company supervisors in repairing and maintaining the cable and telephone distribution systems.
And late Tuesday afternoon, Innovative Telephone put out a release offering a reward of $50,000 "for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for cutting telephone and cable TV lines." The release said that the phone and cable companies "have been experiencing criminal sabotage of their system since Oct. 3" — last Thursday.
The release asked those with information to call 777-8345.
Union workers said last Friday that ICC brought in outside technicians on Thursday on St. Croix. Responding to charges of vandalism and sabotage on both St. Croix and St. Thomas levied by Innovative officials since then, Joseph said he didn't know who was responsible for the acts and suggested the contract workers may have been involved.
On St. Croix, "We saw trucks and people working out there, so we know they are bringing in contractors," he said. "We also know they are bringing in managers."
Meanwhile, thousands of telephone customers were still without service on Tuesday. According to the Innovative release, "more than 4,000 residents and businesses have been affected" by "senseless acts of vandalism" to the phone and cable-TV systems.
The union is seeking improved benefits, notably in the area of retirement. The current three-year contract expired at midnight Sept. 30, and the union membership walked out 24 hours later after rejecting ratification of Innovative's final offer. The contract covers telephone and cable line workers and installers, key system technicians, cable splicers, operators, cashiers, service representatives and janitors.
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.
ICC and United Steelworkers of America negotiators met by way of a conference phone call Tuesday afternoon with a representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service who was supposed to have arrived in the territory on Monday. By the end of the session, they agreed to meet for face-to-face discussions in the Virgin Islands next week.
Frederick Joseph, Steelworkers local president on St. Croix, said he left the meeting with a sense of satisfaction. "It went good. We scheduled two days next week, Oct. 16 and 17. Once you're talking, there is hope," he said.
But other developments on Tuesday in the strike by some 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers were less conciliatory. Joseph said Innovative Telephone offered its striking employees their current period paychecks in exchange for their identity cards. He said when he heard about this, he called Beverly Chongasing, the head of human resources, "and asked her what it was all about."
According to Joseph, Chongasing "said it was her idea, because the badges are company property. I asked, 'Are you terminating them, or are you locking them out?' She told me if I had any further questions, I should ask their attorney."
Innovative Telephone spokesman Thomas J. Dunn said he had not heard about any such provision for distributing the payroll to striking workers and could not comment. Dunn said he also couldn't comment on reports that the company had brought in non-union contract workers to work with company supervisors in repairing and maintaining the cable and telephone distribution systems.
And late Tuesday afternoon, Innovative Telephone put out a release offering a reward of $50,000 "for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for cutting telephone and cable TV lines." The release said that the phone and cable companies "have been experiencing criminal sabotage of their system since Oct. 3" — last Thursday.
The release asked those with information to call 777-8345.
Union workers said last Friday that ICC brought in outside technicians on Thursday on St. Croix. Responding to charges of vandalism and sabotage on both St. Croix and St. Thomas levied by Innovative officials since then, Joseph said he didn't know who was responsible for the acts and suggested the contract workers may have been involved.
On St. Croix, "We saw trucks and people working out there, so we know they are bringing in contractors," he said. "We also know they are bringing in managers."
Meanwhile, thousands of telephone customers were still without service on Tuesday. According to the Innovative release, "more than 4,000 residents and businesses have been affected" by "senseless acts of vandalism" to the phone and cable-TV systems.
The union is seeking improved benefits, notably in the area of retirement. The current three-year contract expired at midnight Sept. 30, and the union membership walked out 24 hours later after rejecting ratification of Innovative's final offer. The contract covers telephone and cable line workers and installers, key system technicians, cable splicers, operators, cashiers, service representatives and janitors.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
PHONE/CABLE MEDIATION TALKS SET FOR NEXT WEEK
Oct. 8, 2002 – Mediation aimed at settling the impasse between Innovative Telephone/Innovative Cable-TV and their unionized employees got off to a slow start on Tuesday, as the walkout by workers of the two companies reached its seventh day.
ICC and United Steelworkers of America negotiators met by way of a conference phone call Tuesday afternoon with a representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service who was supposed to have arrived in the territory on Monday. By the end of the session, they agreed to meet for face-to-face discussions in the Virgin Islands next week.
Frederick Joseph, Steelworkers local president on St. Croix, said he left the meeting with a sense of satisfaction. "It went good. We scheduled two days next week, Oct. 16 and 17. Once you're talking, there is hope," he said.
But other developments on Tuesday in the strike by some 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers were less conciliatory. Joseph said Innovative Telephone offered its striking employees their current period paychecks in exchange for their identity cards. He said when he heard about this, he called Beverly Chongasing, the head of human resources, "and asked her what it was all about."
According to Joseph, Chongasing "said it was her idea, because the badges are company property. I asked, 'Are you terminating them, or are you locking them out?' She told me if I had any further questions, I should ask their attorney."
Innovative Telephone spokesman Thomas J. Dunn said he had not heard about any such provision for distributing the payroll to striking workers and could not comment. Dunn said he also couldn't comment on reports that the company had brought in non-union contract workers to work with company supervisors in repairing and maintaining the cable and telephone distribution systems.
And late Tuesday afternoon, Innovative Telephone put out a release offering a reward of $50,000 "for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for cutting telephone and cable TV lines." The release said that the phone and cable companies "have been experiencing criminal sabotage of their system since Oct. 3" — last Thursday.
The release asked those with information to call 777-8345.
Union workers said last Friday that ICC brought in outside technicians on Thursday on St. Croix. Responding to charges of vandalism and sabotage on both St. Croix and St. Thomas levied by Innovative officials since then, Joseph said he didn't know who was responsible for the acts and suggested the contract workers may have been involved.
On St. Croix, "We saw trucks and people working out there, so we know they are bringing in contractors," he said. "We also know they are bringing in managers."
Meanwhile, thousands of telephone customers were still without service on Tuesday. According to the Innovative release, "more than 4,000 residents and businesses have been affected" by "senseless acts of vandalism" to the phone and cable-TV systems.
The union is seeking improved benefits, notably in the area of retirement. The current three-year contract expired at midnight Sept. 30, and the union membership walked out 24 hours later after rejecting ratification of Innovative's final offer. The contract covers telephone and cable line workers and installers, key system technicians, cable splicers, operators, cashiers, service representatives and janitors.
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>.
ICC and United Steelworkers of America negotiators met by way of a conference phone call Tuesday afternoon with a representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service who was supposed to have arrived in the territory on Monday. By the end of the session, they agreed to meet for face-to-face discussions in the Virgin Islands next week.
Frederick Joseph, Steelworkers local president on St. Croix, said he left the meeting with a sense of satisfaction. "It went good. We scheduled two days next week, Oct. 16 and 17. Once you're talking, there is hope," he said.
But other developments on Tuesday in the strike by some 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers were less conciliatory. Joseph said Innovative Telephone offered its striking employees their current period paychecks in exchange for their identity cards. He said when he heard about this, he called Beverly Chongasing, the head of human resources, "and asked her what it was all about."
According to Joseph, Chongasing "said it was her idea, because the badges are company property. I asked, 'Are you terminating them, or are you locking them out?' She told me if I had any further questions, I should ask their attorney."
Innovative Telephone spokesman Thomas J. Dunn said he had not heard about any such provision for distributing the payroll to striking workers and could not comment. Dunn said he also couldn't comment on reports that the company had brought in non-union contract workers to work with company supervisors in repairing and maintaining the cable and telephone distribution systems.
And late Tuesday afternoon, Innovative Telephone put out a release offering a reward of $50,000 "for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for cutting telephone and cable TV lines." The release said that the phone and cable companies "have been experiencing criminal sabotage of their system since Oct. 3" — last Thursday.
The release asked those with information to call 777-8345.
Union workers said last Friday that ICC brought in outside technicians on Thursday on St. Croix. Responding to charges of vandalism and sabotage on both St. Croix and St. Thomas levied by Innovative officials since then, Joseph said he didn't know who was responsible for the acts and suggested the contract workers may have been involved.
On St. Croix, "We saw trucks and people working out there, so we know they are bringing in contractors," he said. "We also know they are bringing in managers."
Meanwhile, thousands of telephone customers were still without service on Tuesday. According to the Innovative release, "more than 4,000 residents and businesses have been affected" by "senseless acts of vandalism" to the phone and cable-TV systems.
The union is seeking improved benefits, notably in the area of retirement. The current three-year contract expired at midnight Sept. 30, and the union membership walked out 24 hours later after rejecting ratification of Innovative's final offer. The contract covers telephone and cable line workers and installers, key system technicians, cable splicers, operators, cashiers, service representatives and janitors.
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>.
PHONE/CABLE MEDIATION TALKS SET FOR NEXT WEEK
Oct. 8, 2002 – Mediation aimed at settling the impasse between Innovative Telephone/Innovative Cable-TV and their unionized employees got off to a slow start on Tuesday, as the walkout by workers of the two companies reached its seventh day.
ICC and United Steelworkers of America negotiators met by way of a conference phone call Tuesday afternoon with a representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service who was supposed to have arrived in the territory on Monday. By the end of the session, they agreed to meet for face-to-face discussions in the Virgin Islands next week.
Frederick Joseph, Steelworkers local president on St. Croix, said he left the meeting with a sense of satisfaction. "It went good. We scheduled two days next week, Oct. 16 and 17. Once you're talking, there is hope," he said.
But other developments on Tuesday in the strike by some 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers were less conciliatory. Joseph said Innovative Telephone offered its striking employees their current period paychecks in exchange for their identity cards. He said when he heard about this, he called Beverly Chongasing, the head of human resources, "and asked her what it was all about."
According to Joseph, Chongasing "said it was her idea, because the badges are company property. I asked, 'Are you terminating them, or are you locking them out?' She told me if I had any further questions, I should ask their attorney."
Innovative Telephone spokesman Thomas J. Dunn said he had not heard about any such provision for distributing the payroll to striking workers and could not comment. Dunn said he also couldn't comment on reports that the company had brought in non-union contract workers to work with company supervisors in repairing and maintaining the cable and telephone distribution systems.
And late Tuesday afternoon, Innovative Telephone put out a release offering a reward of $50,000 "for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for cutting telephone and cable TV lines." The release said that the phone and cable companies "have been experiencing criminal sabotage of their system since Oct. 3" — last Thursday.
The release asked those with information to call 777-8345.
Union workers said last Friday that ICC brought in outside technicians on Thursday on St. Croix. Responding to charges of vandalism and sabotage on both St. Croix and St. Thomas levied by Innovative officials since then, Joseph said he didn't know who was responsible for the acts and suggested the contract workers may have been involved.
On St. Croix, "We saw trucks and people working out there, so we know they are bringing in contractors," he said. "We also know they are bringing in managers."
Meanwhile, thousands of telephone customers were still without service on Tuesday. According to the Innovative release, "more than 4,000 residents and businesses have been affected" by "senseless acts of vandalism" to the phone and cable-TV systems.
The union is seeking improved benefits, notably in the area of retirement. The current three-year contract expired at midnight Sept. 30, and the union membership walked out 24 hours later after rejecting ratification of Innovative's final offer. The contract covers telephone and cable line workers and installers, key system technicians, cable splicers, operators, cashiers, service representatives and janitors.
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ICC and United Steelworkers of America negotiators met by way of a conference phone call Tuesday afternoon with a representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service who was supposed to have arrived in the territory on Monday. By the end of the session, they agreed to meet for face-to-face discussions in the Virgin Islands next week.
Frederick Joseph, Steelworkers local president on St. Croix, said he left the meeting with a sense of satisfaction. "It went good. We scheduled two days next week, Oct. 16 and 17. Once you're talking, there is hope," he said.
But other developments on Tuesday in the strike by some 310 Innovative Telephone and Innovative Cable-TV workers were less conciliatory. Joseph said Innovative Telephone offered its striking employees their current period paychecks in exchange for their identity cards. He said when he heard about this, he called Beverly Chongasing, the head of human resources, "and asked her what it was all about."
According to Joseph, Chongasing "said it was her idea, because the badges are company property. I asked, 'Are you terminating them, or are you locking them out?' She told me if I had any further questions, I should ask their attorney."
Innovative Telephone spokesman Thomas J. Dunn said he had not heard about any such provision for distributing the payroll to striking workers and could not comment. Dunn said he also couldn't comment on reports that the company had brought in non-union contract workers to work with company supervisors in repairing and maintaining the cable and telephone distribution systems.
And late Tuesday afternoon, Innovative Telephone put out a release offering a reward of $50,000 "for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for cutting telephone and cable TV lines." The release said that the phone and cable companies "have been experiencing criminal sabotage of their system since Oct. 3" — last Thursday.
The release asked those with information to call 777-8345.
Union workers said last Friday that ICC brought in outside technicians on Thursday on St. Croix. Responding to charges of vandalism and sabotage on both St. Croix and St. Thomas levied by Innovative officials since then, Joseph said he didn't know who was responsible for the acts and suggested the contract workers may have been involved.
On St. Croix, "We saw trucks and people working out there, so we know they are bringing in contractors," he said. "We also know they are bringing in managers."
Meanwhile, thousands of telephone customers were still without service on Tuesday. According to the Innovative release, "more than 4,000 residents and businesses have been affected" by "senseless acts of vandalism" to the phone and cable-TV systems.
The union is seeking improved benefits, notably in the area of retirement. The current three-year contract expired at midnight Sept. 30, and the union membership walked out 24 hours later after rejecting ratification of Innovative's final offer. The contract covers telephone and cable line workers and installers, key system technicians, cable splicers, operators, cashiers, service representatives and janitors.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
V.I. TO GET EXTRA TIME TO MEET SCHOOL MANDATES
Oct. 8, 2002 – A recent compliance agreement entered into by the federal government and the territory will buy the Education Department an additional three years to fulfill the mandates of the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind Act, signed into law last January, V.I. lawmakers were told on Tuesday.
The Senate Education Committee members also were told, however, that in the St. Thomas-St. John district, teachers have yet to receive new textbooks for this academic year.
Although the Senate Education Committee hearing began with wary comments from a pessimistic Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, committee chair, acting Education Commissioner Noreen Michael nonetheless presented an upbeat report on progress and plans to improve the territory's embattled public school system.
"Before having heard anything, I have to tell you, I am not optimistic," Baptiste said, noting that Education issues dating as far back as 1994 remain unresolved.
The No Child Left Behind Act seeks to hinge the federal education funding going into states and territories on results, linking those dollars to specific goals while rewarding success and sanctioning failure. Michael said the territory can expect an additional $2 million in U.S. education funding this year, $500,000 of it designated to establish scholastic assessment tests.
She said the compliance agreement focuses on program planning, design and evaluation; financial management; property management and procurement; and human capital. She said the agreement will help set the foundation for fulfilling the No Child Left Behind requirements in three years.
Preparing, training and recruiting high-quality teachers and principals is a major component of the act, and one that will have a significant impact on the territory, Michael said.
Of the 160 paraprofessionals employed by the Education Department, only 16 are registered as having college credits, she said. The new law requires that such employees have at least two years of college, hold an associates of arts degree, or pass an assessment test.
Also, Michael said, more than 40 percent of V.I. public school teachers are teaching outside their area of specialization, and more than half do not meet Board of Education certification requirements.
She said a new Education task force will help bring those teachers into compliance with standards and that the department has stepped up efforts to recruit new teachers from the University of the Virgin Islands and on the mainland.
Meantime, there were published reports on Tuesday of several new teachers complaining that they have yet to receive a Notice of Personnel Action, or NOPA, much less a paycheck. Education officials responding to the complaints said the teachers may have failed to submit required documentation.
The No Child Left Behind Act also deals with improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged through assessment testing and setting up of report cards for each school, district and state or territory, with the assessments to be available to parents and other stakeholders.
"I am concerned with how we are going to meet the mandates of this law in three, four or even five years," Baptiste said. "I am concerned that we can't even supply kids with basic resources like textbooks." On standardized tests, he added, "How can we expect them to do better?"
On St. Croix, most of the textbooks for this school year have arrived, but the district science coordinator, Rosa White, said elementary school science books have not been replaced since 1989 because of funding constraints. The St. Thomas-St. John District is still awaiting the arrival of new schoolbooks for this year, the senators were told.
Michael said efforts toward regaining accreditation for three of the territory's four public high schools are progressing and that deadlines agreed to with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the territory's accrediting institution, have been met.
Middle States withdrew the accreditation of Central, Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean High Schools last year, citing high teacher and student absenteeism, a lack of substitute teachers and site-management problems. St. Croix's Educational Complex has never been accredited, but the territory is now seeking accreditation for that school as well as the three others.
Michael also said that all of the $32 million in federal education grants received for Fiscal Year 2001 has been expended or obligated.
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 Senate Education Committee members also were told, however, that in the St. Thomas-St. John district, teachers have yet to receive new textbooks for this academic year.
Although the Senate Education Committee hearing began with wary comments from a pessimistic Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, committee chair, acting Education Commissioner Noreen Michael nonetheless presented an upbeat report on progress and plans to improve the territory's embattled public school system.
"Before having heard anything, I have to tell you, I am not optimistic," Baptiste said, noting that Education issues dating as far back as 1994 remain unresolved.
The No Child Left Behind Act seeks to hinge the federal education funding going into states and territories on results, linking those dollars to specific goals while rewarding success and sanctioning failure. Michael said the territory can expect an additional $2 million in U.S. education funding this year, $500,000 of it designated to establish scholastic assessment tests.
She said the compliance agreement focuses on program planning, design and evaluation; financial management; property management and procurement; and human capital. She said the agreement will help set the foundation for fulfilling the No Child Left Behind requirements in three years.
Preparing, training and recruiting high-quality teachers and principals is a major component of the act, and one that will have a significant impact on the territory, Michael said.
Of the 160 paraprofessionals employed by the Education Department, only 16 are registered as having college credits, she said. The new law requires that such employees have at least two years of college, hold an associates of arts degree, or pass an assessment test.
Also, Michael said, more than 40 percent of V.I. public school teachers are teaching outside their area of specialization, and more than half do not meet Board of Education certification requirements.
She said a new Education task force will help bring those teachers into compliance with standards and that the department has stepped up efforts to recruit new teachers from the University of the Virgin Islands and on the mainland.
Meantime, there were published reports on Tuesday of several new teachers complaining that they have yet to receive a Notice of Personnel Action, or NOPA, much less a paycheck. Education officials responding to the complaints said the teachers may have failed to submit required documentation.
The No Child Left Behind Act also deals with improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged through assessment testing and setting up of report cards for each school, district and state or territory, with the assessments to be available to parents and other stakeholders.
"I am concerned with how we are going to meet the mandates of this law in three, four or even five years," Baptiste said. "I am concerned that we can't even supply kids with basic resources like textbooks." On standardized tests, he added, "How can we expect them to do better?"
On St. Croix, most of the textbooks for this school year have arrived, but the district science coordinator, Rosa White, said elementary school science books have not been replaced since 1989 because of funding constraints. The St. Thomas-St. John District is still awaiting the arrival of new schoolbooks for this year, the senators were told.
Michael said efforts toward regaining accreditation for three of the territory's four public high schools are progressing and that deadlines agreed to with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the territory's accrediting institution, have been met.
Middle States withdrew the accreditation of Central, Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean High Schools last year, citing high teacher and student absenteeism, a lack of substitute teachers and site-management problems. St. Croix's Educational Complex has never been accredited, but the territory is now seeking accreditation for that school as well as the three others.
Michael also said that all of the $32 million in federal education grants received for Fiscal Year 2001 has been expended or obligated.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
V.I. TO GET EXTRA TIME TO MEET SCHOOL MANDATES
Oct. 8, 2002 – A recent compliance agreement entered into by the federal government and the territory will buy the Education Department an additional three years to fulfill the mandates of the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind Act, signed into law last January, V.I. lawmakers were told on Tuesday.
The Senate Education Committee members also were told, however, that in the St. Thomas-St. John district, teachers have yet to receive new textbooks for this academic year.
Although the Senate Education Committee hearing began with wary comments from a pessimistic Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, committee chair, acting Education Commissioner Noreen Michael nonetheless presented an upbeat report on progress and plans to improve the territory's embattled public school system.
"Before having heard anything, I have to tell you, I am not optimistic," Baptiste said, noting that Education issues dating as far back as 1994 remain unresolved.
The No Child Left Behind Act seeks to hinge the federal education funding going into states and territories on results, linking those dollars to specific goals while rewarding success and sanctioning failure. Michael said the territory can expect an additional $2 million in U.S. education funding this year, $500,000 of it designated to establish scholastic assessment tests.
She said the compliance agreement focuses on program planning, design and evaluation; financial management; property management and procurement; and human capital. She said the agreement will help set the foundation for fulfilling the No Child Left Behind requirements in three years.
Preparing, training and recruiting high-quality teachers and principals is a major component of the act, and one that will have a significant impact on the territory, Michael said.
Of the 160 paraprofessionals employed by the Education Department, only 16 are registered as having college credits, she said. The new law requires that such employees have at least two years of college, hold an associates of arts degree, or pass an assessment test.
Also, Michael said, more than 40 percent of V.I. public school teachers are teaching outside their area of specialization, and more than half do not meet Board of Education certification requirements.
She said a new Education task force will help bring those teachers into compliance with standards and that the department has stepped up efforts to recruit new teachers from the University of the Virgin Islands and on the mainland.
Meantime, there were published reports on Tuesday of several new teachers complaining that they have yet to receive a Notice of Personnel Action, or NOPA, much less a paycheck. Education officials responding to the complaints said the teachers may have failed to submit required documentation.
The No Child Left Behind Act also deals with improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged through assessment testing and setting up of report cards for each school, district and state or territory, with the assessments to be available to parents and other stakeholders.
"I am concerned with how we are going to meet the mandates of this law in three, four or even five years," Baptiste said. "I am concerned that we can't even supply kids with basic resources like textbooks." On standardized tests, he added, "How can we expect them to do better?"
On St. Croix, most of the textbooks for this school year have arrived, but the district science coordinator, Rosa White, said elementary school science books have not been replaced since 1989 because of funding constraints. The St. Thomas-St. John District is still awaiting the arrival of new schoolbooks for this year, the senators were told.
Michael said efforts toward regaining accreditation for three of the territory's four public high schools are progressing and that deadlines agreed to with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the territory's accrediting institution, have been met.
Middle States withdrew the accreditation of Central, Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean High Schools last year, citing high teacher and student absenteeism, a lack of substitute teachers and site-management problems. St. Croix's Educational Complex has never been accredited, but the territory is now seeking accreditation for that school as well as the three others.
Michael also said that all of the $32 million in federal education grants received for Fiscal Year 2001 has been expended or obligated.
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 Senate Education Committee members also were told, however, that in the St. Thomas-St. John district, teachers have yet to receive new textbooks for this academic year.
Although the Senate Education Committee hearing began with wary comments from a pessimistic Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, committee chair, acting Education Commissioner Noreen Michael nonetheless presented an upbeat report on progress and plans to improve the territory's embattled public school system.
"Before having heard anything, I have to tell you, I am not optimistic," Baptiste said, noting that Education issues dating as far back as 1994 remain unresolved.
The No Child Left Behind Act seeks to hinge the federal education funding going into states and territories on results, linking those dollars to specific goals while rewarding success and sanctioning failure. Michael said the territory can expect an additional $2 million in U.S. education funding this year, $500,000 of it designated to establish scholastic assessment tests.
She said the compliance agreement focuses on program planning, design and evaluation; financial management; property management and procurement; and human capital. She said the agreement will help set the foundation for fulfilling the No Child Left Behind requirements in three years.
Preparing, training and recruiting high-quality teachers and principals is a major component of the act, and one that will have a significant impact on the territory, Michael said.
Of the 160 paraprofessionals employed by the Education Department, only 16 are registered as having college credits, she said. The new law requires that such employees have at least two years of college, hold an associates of arts degree, or pass an assessment test.
Also, Michael said, more than 40 percent of V.I. public school teachers are teaching outside their area of specialization, and more than half do not meet Board of Education certification requirements.
She said a new Education task force will help bring those teachers into compliance with standards and that the department has stepped up efforts to recruit new teachers from the University of the Virgin Islands and on the mainland.
Meantime, there were published reports on Tuesday of several new teachers complaining that they have yet to receive a Notice of Personnel Action, or NOPA, much less a paycheck. Education officials responding to the complaints said the teachers may have failed to submit required documentation.
The No Child Left Behind Act also deals with improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged through assessment testing and setting up of report cards for each school, district and state or territory, with the assessments to be available to parents and other stakeholders.
"I am concerned with how we are going to meet the mandates of this law in three, four or even five years," Baptiste said. "I am concerned that we can't even supply kids with basic resources like textbooks." On standardized tests, he added, "How can we expect them to do better?"
On St. Croix, most of the textbooks for this school year have arrived, but the district science coordinator, Rosa White, said elementary school science books have not been replaced since 1989 because of funding constraints. The St. Thomas-St. John District is still awaiting the arrival of new schoolbooks for this year, the senators were told.
Michael said efforts toward regaining accreditation for three of the territory's four public high schools are progressing and that deadlines agreed to with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the territory's accrediting institution, have been met.
Middle States withdrew the accreditation of Central, Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean High Schools last year, citing high teacher and student absenteeism, a lack of substitute teachers and site-management problems. St. Croix's Educational Complex has never been accredited, but the territory is now seeking accreditation for that school as well as the three others.
Michael also said that all of the $32 million in federal education grants received for Fiscal Year 2001 has been expended or obligated.
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.
