Sept. 25, 2002 – Yes, there was a Da Da Wine Down last Friday, even though it wasn't the final one of the month, when the art-viewing and wine-tasting events are regularly held. And yes, there will be another one this Friday, which is the last one in September.
No, there isn't a blue moon — that is, a second full moon — this month. But yes, this week's get-together is being billed as a "Blue Moon Da Da Wine Down." Works by four artists represented by the Camille Pissarro Gallery and wines by Wente will be featured.
Steven Fox, a partner in Café Amici, which hosts the usually-monthly events, explains:
Some floor repairs at the open-air restaurant in Riise's Alley had been scheduled for the last week of September, "so we decided to hold the month's Wine Down a week early." Then the repair work was were delayed, "so we decided to have a second event."
The restaurant will close on Sunday for the floor work to get under way, and it will probably take two or three weeks, he said.
As for the "blue moon" designation, "it's just a marketing thing," Fox said. "We actually did have two events a couple of years ago when there was a blue moon."
The artists whose work will be on display Friday are Martha Bryce, C.J. Crawford, Jan Dunn and Sarah Weyler.
Bryce, originally from Amelia Island, Florida, now divides her time between St. Thomas and South Carolina. She works primarily in oil but occasionally in watercolor. Her paintings capture a broad range of subjects — still life, architecture, landscapes, seascapes and pets.
Crawford paints in various media and creates monoprints, ceramic tiles and mobiles. A Texas native, she moved to the Virgin Islands in 1984 and now lives in New Mexico, where she and her husband operate an art school. Inspired by dreams, still life, nature and life experience, her colorful works reveal the islands' influence.
Dunn, born and educated in New York City, has lived in the Caribbean most of her life. She teaches at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and studies oil painting with Tom St. Vincent di Coio. She enjoys painting the imagery of the islands in a style reminiscent of the 19th and 20th century American Impressionists.
Weyler, a nature photographer born in Kentucky, has lived in the Virgin Islands since 1992. Long captivated by the effect of water on the refraction of light, she seeks in her photographs to interpret the natural beauty of the ocean environment, transmitting her own sense of awe and wonderment to the viewer.
Da Da hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available, and door prizes of dining certificates, artwork and wine will be awarded at the end of the evening. There's a $10 fee for the optional wine-tasting and seminar, which is ongoing throughout the evening as long as supplies last. This week, it's being conducted by West Indies Corp.
For more information call 776-5670.
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.
SEPTEMBER'S SECOND 'DA DA' DO IS FRIDAY
Sept. 25, 2002 – Yes, there was a Da Da Wine Down last Friday, even though it wasn't the final one of the month, when the art-viewing and wine-tasting events are regularly held. And yes, there will be another one this Friday, which is the last one in September.
No, there isn't a blue moon — that is, a second full moon — this month. But yes, this week's get-together is being billed as a "Blue Moon Da Da Wine Down." Works by four artists represented by the Camille Pissarro Gallery and wines by Wente will be featured.
Steven Fox, a partner in Café Amici, which hosts the usually-monthly events, explains:
Some floor repairs at the open-air restaurant in Riise's Alley had been scheduled for the last week of September, "so we decided to hold the month's Wine Down a week early." Then the repair work was were delayed, "so we decided to have a second event."
The restaurant will close on Sunday for the floor work to get under way, and it will probably take two or three weeks, he said.
As for the "blue moon" designation, "it's just a marketing thing," Fox said. "We actually did have two events a couple of years ago when there was a blue moon."
The artists whose work will be on display Friday are Martha Bryce, C.J. Crawford, Jan Dunn and Sarah Weyler.
Bryce, originally from Amelia Island, Florida, now divides her time between St. Thomas and South Carolina. She works primarily in oil but occasionally in watercolor. Her paintings capture a broad range of subjects — still life, architecture, landscapes, seascapes and pets.
Crawford paints in various media and creates monoprints, ceramic tiles and mobiles. A Texas native, she moved to the Virgin Islands in 1984 and now lives in New Mexico, where she and her husband operate an art school. Inspired by dreams, still life, nature and life experience, her colorful works reveal the islands' influence.
Dunn, born and educated in New York City, has lived in the Caribbean most of her life. She teaches at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and studies oil painting with Tom St. Vincent di Coio. She enjoys painting the imagery of the islands in a style reminiscent of the 19th and 20th century American Impressionists.
Weyler, a nature photographer born in Kentucky, has lived in the Virgin Islands since 1992. Long captivated by the effect of water on the refraction of light, she seeks in her photographs to interpret the natural beauty of the ocean environment, transmitting her own sense of awe and wonderment to the viewer.
Da Da hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available, and door prizes of dining certificates, artwork and wine will be awarded at the end of the evening. There's a $10 fee for the optional wine-tasting and seminar, which is ongoing throughout the evening as long as supplies last. This week, it's being conducted by West Indies Corp.
For more information call 776-5670.
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.
No, there isn't a blue moon — that is, a second full moon — this month. But yes, this week's get-together is being billed as a "Blue Moon Da Da Wine Down." Works by four artists represented by the Camille Pissarro Gallery and wines by Wente will be featured.
Steven Fox, a partner in Café Amici, which hosts the usually-monthly events, explains:
Some floor repairs at the open-air restaurant in Riise's Alley had been scheduled for the last week of September, "so we decided to hold the month's Wine Down a week early." Then the repair work was were delayed, "so we decided to have a second event."
The restaurant will close on Sunday for the floor work to get under way, and it will probably take two or three weeks, he said.
As for the "blue moon" designation, "it's just a marketing thing," Fox said. "We actually did have two events a couple of years ago when there was a blue moon."
The artists whose work will be on display Friday are Martha Bryce, C.J. Crawford, Jan Dunn and Sarah Weyler.
Bryce, originally from Amelia Island, Florida, now divides her time between St. Thomas and South Carolina. She works primarily in oil but occasionally in watercolor. Her paintings capture a broad range of subjects — still life, architecture, landscapes, seascapes and pets.
Crawford paints in various media and creates monoprints, ceramic tiles and mobiles. A Texas native, she moved to the Virgin Islands in 1984 and now lives in New Mexico, where she and her husband operate an art school. Inspired by dreams, still life, nature and life experience, her colorful works reveal the islands' influence.
Dunn, born and educated in New York City, has lived in the Caribbean most of her life. She teaches at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and studies oil painting with Tom St. Vincent di Coio. She enjoys painting the imagery of the islands in a style reminiscent of the 19th and 20th century American Impressionists.
Weyler, a nature photographer born in Kentucky, has lived in the Virgin Islands since 1992. Long captivated by the effect of water on the refraction of light, she seeks in her photographs to interpret the natural beauty of the ocean environment, transmitting her own sense of awe and wonderment to the viewer.
Da Da hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available, and door prizes of dining certificates, artwork and wine will be awarded at the end of the evening. There's a $10 fee for the optional wine-tasting and seminar, which is ongoing throughout the evening as long as supplies last. This week, it's being conducted by West Indies Corp.
For more information call 776-5670.
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.
UNITED WAY SETS $650,000 CAMPAIGN GOAL
Sept. 26, 2002 – The board of directors of the United Way of St. Thomas-St. John has set a goal of $650,000 for the 2002-2003 fund-raising campaign. Stephen Jones, Caribbean Manager of the Pharmed Group, will head up the 2002-2003 campaign.
The United Way’s traditional kickoff and appreciation breakfast will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. This event will highlight early contributions and pledges toward the campaign, as well as honoring volunteers and contributors from the previous campaign.
Jones has gathered a strong group of volunteers to manage this year’s United Way campaign. Committee members include Shirley Quetel Hendricks, Jacquelyn Fredericks, Steve Baker, Micol Morgan, Dr. Christine Lloyd, Terri Todman, Eugene Farrell, Maudlyn Howard, Patricia Blake Simmonds, Carol DeSenne, Muriel Fenton, Angelika Balkarran and Marion Lynch-Esannason. Each committee member will target his efforts and the efforts of volunteers to specific segments of the community. Assisting the committee are Susan MacFarland Helton, chair of the United Way’s leadership giving group, The Pacesetters and Cheryl George-Chance, the Employee Campaign Coordinator.
The monies raised by this year’s campaign will support the following St. Thomas and St. John human service agencies: American Red Cross, Carabana Ensemble Theater Company, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People’s Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Fair Haven Camp, Friends of Volunteers in Public Schools, Girl Scout Council, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, Shaky Acres, Victim Advocate Program, V.I. Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning.
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 United Way’s traditional kickoff and appreciation breakfast will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. This event will highlight early contributions and pledges toward the campaign, as well as honoring volunteers and contributors from the previous campaign.
Jones has gathered a strong group of volunteers to manage this year’s United Way campaign. Committee members include Shirley Quetel Hendricks, Jacquelyn Fredericks, Steve Baker, Micol Morgan, Dr. Christine Lloyd, Terri Todman, Eugene Farrell, Maudlyn Howard, Patricia Blake Simmonds, Carol DeSenne, Muriel Fenton, Angelika Balkarran and Marion Lynch-Esannason. Each committee member will target his efforts and the efforts of volunteers to specific segments of the community. Assisting the committee are Susan MacFarland Helton, chair of the United Way’s leadership giving group, The Pacesetters and Cheryl George-Chance, the Employee Campaign Coordinator.
The monies raised by this year’s campaign will support the following St. Thomas and St. John human service agencies: American Red Cross, Carabana Ensemble Theater Company, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People’s Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Fair Haven Camp, Friends of Volunteers in Public Schools, Girl Scout Council, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, Shaky Acres, Victim Advocate Program, V.I. Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning.
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.
UNITED WAY SETS $650,000 CAMPAIGN GOAL
Sept. 26, 2002 – The board of directors of the United Way of St. Thomas-St. John has set a goal of $650,000 for the 2002-2003 fund-raising campaign. Stephen Jones, Caribbean Manager of the Pharmed Group, will head up the 2002-2003 campaign.
The United Way’s traditional kickoff and appreciation breakfast will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. This event will highlight early contributions and pledges toward the campaign, as well as honoring volunteers and contributors from the previous campaign.
Jones has gathered a strong group of volunteers to manage this year’s United Way campaign. Committee members include Shirley Quetel Hendricks, Jacquelyn Fredericks, Steve Baker, Micol Morgan, Dr. Christine Lloyd, Terri Todman, Eugene Farrell, Maudlyn Howard, Patricia Blake Simmonds, Carol DeSenne, Muriel Fenton, Angelika Balkarran and Marion Lynch-Esannason.
Each committee member will target his efforts and the efforts of volunteers to specific segments of the community. Assisting the committee are Susan MacFarland Helton, chair of the United Way’s leadership giving group, The Pacesetters and Cheryl George-Chance, the Employee Campaign Coordinator.
The monies raised by this year’s campaign will support the following St. Thomas and St. John human service agencies: American Red Cross, Carabana Ensemble Theater Company, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People’s Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Fair Haven Camp, Friends of Volunteers in Public Schools, Girl Scout Council, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, Shaky Acres, Victim Advocate Program, V.I. Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning.
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 United Way’s traditional kickoff and appreciation breakfast will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. This event will highlight early contributions and pledges toward the campaign, as well as honoring volunteers and contributors from the previous campaign.
Jones has gathered a strong group of volunteers to manage this year’s United Way campaign. Committee members include Shirley Quetel Hendricks, Jacquelyn Fredericks, Steve Baker, Micol Morgan, Dr. Christine Lloyd, Terri Todman, Eugene Farrell, Maudlyn Howard, Patricia Blake Simmonds, Carol DeSenne, Muriel Fenton, Angelika Balkarran and Marion Lynch-Esannason.
Each committee member will target his efforts and the efforts of volunteers to specific segments of the community. Assisting the committee are Susan MacFarland Helton, chair of the United Way’s leadership giving group, The Pacesetters and Cheryl George-Chance, the Employee Campaign Coordinator.
The monies raised by this year’s campaign will support the following St. Thomas and St. John human service agencies: American Red Cross, Carabana Ensemble Theater Company, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People’s Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Fair Haven Camp, Friends of Volunteers in Public Schools, Girl Scout Council, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, Shaky Acres, Victim Advocate Program, V.I. Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning.
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.
UNITED WAY SETS CAMPAIGN GOAL AT $650,000
Sept. 26, 2002 – The board of directors of the United Way of St. Thomas-St. John has set a goal of $650,000 for the 2002-2003 fund-raising campaign. Stephen Jones, Caribbean Manager of the Pharmed Group, will head up the 2002-2003 campaign.
The United Way’s traditional kickoff and appreciation breakfast will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. This event will highlight early contributions and pledges toward the campaign, as well as honoring volunteers and contributors from the previous campaign.
Jones has gathered a strong group of volunteers to manage this year’s United Way campaign. Committee members include Shirley Quetel Hendricks, Jacquelyn Fredericks, Steve Baker, Micol Morgan, Dr. Christine Lloyd, Terri Todman, Eugene Farrell, Maudlyn Howard, Patricia Blake Simmonds, Carol DeSenne, Muriel Fenton, Angelika Balkarran and Marion Lynch-Esannason.
Each committee member will target his efforts and the efforts of volunteers to specific segments of the community. Assisting the committee are Susan MacFarland Helton, chair of the United Way’s leadership giving group, The Pacesetters and Cheryl George-Chance, the Employee Campaign Coordinator.
The monies raised by this year’s campaign will support the following St. Thomas and St. John human service agencies: American Red Cross, Carabana Ensemble Theater Company, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People’s Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Fair Haven Camp, Friends of Volunteers in Public Schools, Girl Scout Council, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, Shaky Acres, Victim Advocate Program, V.I. Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning.
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 United Way’s traditional kickoff and appreciation breakfast will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. This event will highlight early contributions and pledges toward the campaign, as well as honoring volunteers and contributors from the previous campaign.
Jones has gathered a strong group of volunteers to manage this year’s United Way campaign. Committee members include Shirley Quetel Hendricks, Jacquelyn Fredericks, Steve Baker, Micol Morgan, Dr. Christine Lloyd, Terri Todman, Eugene Farrell, Maudlyn Howard, Patricia Blake Simmonds, Carol DeSenne, Muriel Fenton, Angelika Balkarran and Marion Lynch-Esannason.
Each committee member will target his efforts and the efforts of volunteers to specific segments of the community. Assisting the committee are Susan MacFarland Helton, chair of the United Way’s leadership giving group, The Pacesetters and Cheryl George-Chance, the Employee Campaign Coordinator.
The monies raised by this year’s campaign will support the following St. Thomas and St. John human service agencies: American Red Cross, Carabana Ensemble Theater Company, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People’s Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Fair Haven Camp, Friends of Volunteers in Public Schools, Girl Scout Council, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, Shaky Acres, Victim Advocate Program, V.I. Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning.
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. BONDED DEBT SOARS TO MORE THAN $1 BILLION
Sept. 25, 2002 – The territory's bonded indebtedness, which has more than doubled in the last few years, now exceeds $1 billion. And this total does not include at least $400 million in unbonded debt.
Assuming a Virgin Islands population of 110,000, the bonded debt of $1,069,664,000 works out to about $9,724 for every man, woman and child in the territory. Despite the fact that the islands have a smaller tax base — and thus a lesser ability to repay the debt — than mainland jurisdictions, the average per-capita debt in the territory is more than twice that in the 50 states.
The comparison is between apples and apples: between state and local debts combined on the mainland, and the territory's debt (with the Virgin Islands having no local political jurisdictions).
The most recent information in the "Statistical Abstract of the United States" shows that mainland residents carry about $4,285 per person in state and local debt. In some jurisdictions near to the Virgin Islands in the alphabet, the load is lower: $3,799 in Vermont and $3,523 in Virginia. These numbers are derived by dividing the total state and local debt in a state by the population of that state.
The territorial government has not in recent years disclosed the size of its bonded debt. However, the information is readily available to anyone willing to do rudimentary research: The figures can be found in the most recent annual report on state and municipal bonds published by Mergent, the financial reporting institution that replaced Moody's. These reports are available in every good-sized public library on the mainland.
Mergent's 2001 report showed $1,047,955,000 in issued and outstanding bonds for the U.S. Virgin Islands. To this is added the recently floated bond issue against future tobacco revenues of $21,709,000, giving the $1,069,664,000 total cited above.
This total is more than twice the amount shown by the Moody's 1998 report, which apparently covered bonds issued through the last part of 1997. It showed a bonded debt for the territory at that time of $510,255,000.
PFA bond debt largest and fastest growing
The largest — and the fastest growing — portion of the territory's bonded debts relates to the Public Finance Authority. In the 1998 report, Moody's recorded $238,390,000 in PFA bonds; by the 2001 report, this total had blossomed to $735,870,000.
The U.S. Interior Department's Office of the Inspector General completed an audit of the PFA last summer. A preliminary draft was given to Kenneth Mapp, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, for discussion purposes and the final draft is now undergoing review by the Washington office.
The territory's other, more specialized bonded debts at the end of 2001 as reported by Mergent were:
Housing Authority – $28,000,000
Port Authority – $25,110,000
Public Works Department – $64,975,000
Water and Power Authority – $155,100,000
Special tax (Hurricane Hugo) – $13,900,000
University of the Virgin Islands – $25,000,000
These bonded debts total $312,085,000
This kind of debt — as opposed to that of the PFA — has been growing relatively slowly in recent years. At the end of 1997, bonds in this grouping totaled $271,865,000.
In addition, and not included in any of the above figures, WAPA plans to issue $50 million in bonds next year (See "WAPA to seek electricity base rate increase".)
The outstanding Virgin Islands bonds are only part of the territory's long-term financial obligations. In addition, there are debts to the federal government, the under-funded pension system, not-yet-paid raises for government employees and past-due vendor payments. There may be additional obligations expressed in some vehicle other than bonds.
The total amount of these non-bonded obligations is not known. But it is known that, as of last month, there was $386 million owed in retroactive pay increases to classified government workers, with the lion's share of that amount, perhaps as much as $100 million, owed to teachers. An estimated $50 million to $100 million is owed to vendors.
While classified — that is, civil servant — workers are waiting for their retroactive raises, the governor by executive order last spring granted often-hefty increases to nearly 900 exempt employees — that is, political appointees — that add some $8.7 million a year to public payroll and benefits costs. (See "Proposed exempt employee pay hikes total $8.7 million".)
Efforts on Wednesday afternoon to obtain information from top government fiscal authorities about the territory's bonded indebtedness were unsuccessful. Messages were left for Ira Mills, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Mapp. An aide to Kent Bernier, assistant to the governor for economic affairs, said he is off island until Friday.
The response of Nathan Simmonds, director of the Office of Fiscal and Economic Recovery Implementation, to the question of how much the territory's bonded debt is was: "Have you tried the PFA or the OMB? I would have to call them to get it."
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.
Assuming a Virgin Islands population of 110,000, the bonded debt of $1,069,664,000 works out to about $9,724 for every man, woman and child in the territory. Despite the fact that the islands have a smaller tax base — and thus a lesser ability to repay the debt — than mainland jurisdictions, the average per-capita debt in the territory is more than twice that in the 50 states.
The comparison is between apples and apples: between state and local debts combined on the mainland, and the territory's debt (with the Virgin Islands having no local political jurisdictions).
The most recent information in the "Statistical Abstract of the United States" shows that mainland residents carry about $4,285 per person in state and local debt. In some jurisdictions near to the Virgin Islands in the alphabet, the load is lower: $3,799 in Vermont and $3,523 in Virginia. These numbers are derived by dividing the total state and local debt in a state by the population of that state.
The territorial government has not in recent years disclosed the size of its bonded debt. However, the information is readily available to anyone willing to do rudimentary research: The figures can be found in the most recent annual report on state and municipal bonds published by Mergent, the financial reporting institution that replaced Moody's. These reports are available in every good-sized public library on the mainland.
Mergent's 2001 report showed $1,047,955,000 in issued and outstanding bonds for the U.S. Virgin Islands. To this is added the recently floated bond issue against future tobacco revenues of $21,709,000, giving the $1,069,664,000 total cited above.
This total is more than twice the amount shown by the Moody's 1998 report, which apparently covered bonds issued through the last part of 1997. It showed a bonded debt for the territory at that time of $510,255,000.
PFA bond debt largest and fastest growing
The largest — and the fastest growing — portion of the territory's bonded debts relates to the Public Finance Authority. In the 1998 report, Moody's recorded $238,390,000 in PFA bonds; by the 2001 report, this total had blossomed to $735,870,000.
The U.S. Interior Department's Office of the Inspector General completed an audit of the PFA last summer. A preliminary draft was given to Kenneth Mapp, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, for discussion purposes and the final draft is now undergoing review by the Washington office.
The territory's other, more specialized bonded debts at the end of 2001 as reported by Mergent were:
Housing Authority – $28,000,000
Port Authority – $25,110,000
Public Works Department – $64,975,000
Water and Power Authority – $155,100,000
Special tax (Hurricane Hugo) – $13,900,000
University of the Virgin Islands – $25,000,000
These bonded debts total $312,085,000
This kind of debt — as opposed to that of the PFA — has been growing relatively slowly in recent years. At the end of 1997, bonds in this grouping totaled $271,865,000.
In addition, and not included in any of the above figures, WAPA plans to issue $50 million in bonds next year (See "WAPA to seek electricity base rate increase".)
The outstanding Virgin Islands bonds are only part of the territory's long-term financial obligations. In addition, there are debts to the federal government, the under-funded pension system, not-yet-paid raises for government employees and past-due vendor payments. There may be additional obligations expressed in some vehicle other than bonds.
The total amount of these non-bonded obligations is not known. But it is known that, as of last month, there was $386 million owed in retroactive pay increases to classified government workers, with the lion's share of that amount, perhaps as much as $100 million, owed to teachers. An estimated $50 million to $100 million is owed to vendors.
While classified — that is, civil servant — workers are waiting for their retroactive raises, the governor by executive order last spring granted often-hefty increases to nearly 900 exempt employees — that is, political appointees — that add some $8.7 million a year to public payroll and benefits costs. (See "Proposed exempt employee pay hikes total $8.7 million".)
Efforts on Wednesday afternoon to obtain information from top government fiscal authorities about the territory's bonded indebtedness were unsuccessful. Messages were left for Ira Mills, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Mapp. An aide to Kent Bernier, assistant to the governor for economic affairs, said he is off island until Friday.
The response of Nathan Simmonds, director of the Office of Fiscal and Economic Recovery Implementation, to the question of how much the territory's bonded debt is was: "Have you tried the PFA or the OMB? I would have to call them to get it."
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. BONDED DEBT SOARS TO MORE THAN $1 BILLION
Sept. 25, 2002 – The territory's bonded indebtedness, which has more than doubled in the last few years, now exceeds $1 billion. And this total does not include at least $400 million in unbonded debt.
Assuming a Virgin Islands population of 110,000, the bonded debt of $1,069,664,000 works out to about $9,724 for every man, woman and child in the territory. Despite the fact that the islands have a smaller tax base — and thus a lesser ability to repay the debt — than mainland jurisdictions, the average per-capita debt in the territory is more than twice that in the 50 states.
The comparison is between apples and apples: between state and local debts combined on the mainland, and the territory's debt (with the Virgin Islands having no local political jurisdictions).
The most recent information in the "Statistical Abstract of the United States" shows that mainland residents carry about $4,285 per person in state and local debt. In some jurisdictions near to the Virgin Islands in the alphabet, the load is lower: $3,799 in Vermont and $3,523 in Virginia. These numbers are derived by dividing the total state and local debt in a state by the population of that state.
The territorial government has not in recent years disclosed the size of its bonded debt. However, the information is readily available to anyone willing to do rudimentary research: The figures can be found in the most recent annual report on state and municipal bonds published by Mergent, the financial reporting institution that replaced Moody's. These reports are available in every good-sized public library on the mainland.
Mergent's 2001 report showed $1,047,955,000 in issued and outstanding bonds for the U.S. Virgin Islands. To this is added the recently floated bond issue against future tobacco revenues of $21,709,000, giving the $1,069,664,000 total cited above.
This total is more than twice the amount shown by the Moody's 1998 report, which apparently covered bonds issued through the last part of 1997. It showed a bonded debt for the territory at that time of $510,255,000.
PFA bond debt largest and fastest growing
The largest — and the fastest growing — portion of the territory's bonded debts relates to the Public Finance Authority. In the 1998 report, Moody's recorded $238,390,000 in PFA bonds; by the 2001 report, this total had blossomed to $735,870,000.
The U.S. Interior Department's Office of the Inspector General completed an audit of the PFA last summer. A preliminary draft was given to Kenneth Mapp, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, for discussion purposes and the final draft is now undergoing review by the Washington office.
The territory's other, more specialized bonded debts at the end of 2001 as reported by Mergent were:
Housing Authority – $28,000,000
Port Authority – $25,110,000
Public Works Department – $64,975,000
Water and Power Authority – $155,100,000
Special tax (Hurricane Hugo) – $13,900,000
University of the Virgin Islands – $25,000,000
These bonded debts total $312,085,000
This kind of debt — as opposed to that of the PFA — has been growing relatively slowly in recent years. At the end of 1997, bonds in this grouping totaled $271,865,000.
In addition, and not included in any of the above figures, WAPA plans to issue $50 million in bonds next year (See "WAPA to seek electricity base rate increase".)
The outstanding Virgin Islands bonds are only part of the territory's long-term financial obligations. In addition, there are debts to the federal government, the under-funded pension system, not-yet-paid raises for government employees and past-due vendor payments. There may be additional obligations expressed in some vehicle other than bonds.
The total amount of these non-bonded obligations is not known. But it is known that, as of last month, there was $386 million owed in retroactive pay increases to classified government workers, with the lion's share of that amount, perhaps as much as $100 million, owed to teachers. An estimated $50 million to $100 million is owed to vendors.
While classified — that is, civil servant — workers are waiting for their retroactive raises, the governor by executive order last spring granted often-hefty increases to nearly 900 exempt employees — that is, political appointees — that add some $8.7 million a year to public payroll and benefits costs. (See "Proposed exempt employee pay hikes total $8.7 million".)
Efforts on Wednesday afternoon to obtain information from top government fiscal authorities about the territory's bonded indebtedness were unsuccessful. Messages were left for Ira Mills, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Mapp.
An aide to Kent Bernier, assistant to the governor for economic affairs, said he is off island until Friday.
The response of Nathan Simmonds, director of the Office of Fiscal and Economic Recovery Implementation, to the question of how much the territory's bonded debt is was: "Have you tried the PFA or the OMB? I would have to call them to get it."
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.
Assuming a Virgin Islands population of 110,000, the bonded debt of $1,069,664,000 works out to about $9,724 for every man, woman and child in the territory. Despite the fact that the islands have a smaller tax base — and thus a lesser ability to repay the debt — than mainland jurisdictions, the average per-capita debt in the territory is more than twice that in the 50 states.
The comparison is between apples and apples: between state and local debts combined on the mainland, and the territory's debt (with the Virgin Islands having no local political jurisdictions).
The most recent information in the "Statistical Abstract of the United States" shows that mainland residents carry about $4,285 per person in state and local debt. In some jurisdictions near to the Virgin Islands in the alphabet, the load is lower: $3,799 in Vermont and $3,523 in Virginia. These numbers are derived by dividing the total state and local debt in a state by the population of that state.
The territorial government has not in recent years disclosed the size of its bonded debt. However, the information is readily available to anyone willing to do rudimentary research: The figures can be found in the most recent annual report on state and municipal bonds published by Mergent, the financial reporting institution that replaced Moody's. These reports are available in every good-sized public library on the mainland.
Mergent's 2001 report showed $1,047,955,000 in issued and outstanding bonds for the U.S. Virgin Islands. To this is added the recently floated bond issue against future tobacco revenues of $21,709,000, giving the $1,069,664,000 total cited above.
This total is more than twice the amount shown by the Moody's 1998 report, which apparently covered bonds issued through the last part of 1997. It showed a bonded debt for the territory at that time of $510,255,000.
PFA bond debt largest and fastest growing
The largest — and the fastest growing — portion of the territory's bonded debts relates to the Public Finance Authority. In the 1998 report, Moody's recorded $238,390,000 in PFA bonds; by the 2001 report, this total had blossomed to $735,870,000.
The U.S. Interior Department's Office of the Inspector General completed an audit of the PFA last summer. A preliminary draft was given to Kenneth Mapp, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, for discussion purposes and the final draft is now undergoing review by the Washington office.
The territory's other, more specialized bonded debts at the end of 2001 as reported by Mergent were:
Housing Authority – $28,000,000
Port Authority – $25,110,000
Public Works Department – $64,975,000
Water and Power Authority – $155,100,000
Special tax (Hurricane Hugo) – $13,900,000
University of the Virgin Islands – $25,000,000
These bonded debts total $312,085,000
This kind of debt — as opposed to that of the PFA — has been growing relatively slowly in recent years. At the end of 1997, bonds in this grouping totaled $271,865,000.
In addition, and not included in any of the above figures, WAPA plans to issue $50 million in bonds next year (See "WAPA to seek electricity base rate increase".)
The outstanding Virgin Islands bonds are only part of the territory's long-term financial obligations. In addition, there are debts to the federal government, the under-funded pension system, not-yet-paid raises for government employees and past-due vendor payments. There may be additional obligations expressed in some vehicle other than bonds.
The total amount of these non-bonded obligations is not known. But it is known that, as of last month, there was $386 million owed in retroactive pay increases to classified government workers, with the lion's share of that amount, perhaps as much as $100 million, owed to teachers. An estimated $50 million to $100 million is owed to vendors.
While classified — that is, civil servant — workers are waiting for their retroactive raises, the governor by executive order last spring granted often-hefty increases to nearly 900 exempt employees — that is, political appointees — that add some $8.7 million a year to public payroll and benefits costs. (See "Proposed exempt employee pay hikes total $8.7 million".)
Efforts on Wednesday afternoon to obtain information from top government fiscal authorities about the territory's bonded indebtedness were unsuccessful. Messages were left for Ira Mills, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Mapp.
An aide to Kent Bernier, assistant to the governor for economic affairs, said he is off island until Friday.
The response of Nathan Simmonds, director of the Office of Fiscal and Economic Recovery Implementation, to the question of how much the territory's bonded debt is was: "Have you tried the PFA or the OMB? I would have to call them to get it."
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.
RICHARDS SAYS LILI LED HER TO SKIP CONFERENCE
Sept. 25, 2002 – Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards is back on St. Croix this week after deciding not to go to Cancun, Mexico, to attend the 9th annual conference of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association this week.
Richards said on Wednesday that she was attending an airport management conference in Tampa, Florida, last weekend and planned to head to Cancun from there, when she got news of Tropical Storm Lili being headed for the Virgin Islands.
In Tampa, "We were monitoring Isidore," the hurricane then attacking Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula coastline, she said, "when we heard another storm was approaching the V.I. So I called VITEMA [the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency] to find out about the storm in the territory — and decided to return to the V.I., since I am part of the governor's cabinet."
Richards said reports at the time about Isidore were confusing. "The airlines would tell us one thing, that flights were operating, and then CNN said the storm was heading for Cancun, and it was being evacuated," she said.
At the weeklong F-CCA conference, Richards was scheduled to participate in a panel discussing cruise ship "conversion" programs, which refers to turning cruise visitors into returning overnight hotel guests. She said the panel could go on without her, since there five other members.
A Tuesday report in a print newspaper said Richards was attending the conference to present the Tourism Department's plan to persuade cruise lines to send their ships back to St. Croix. Richards said on Wednesday that she submitted that report in August, and her planned appearance at the F-CCA conference had "nothing to do with trying to lure cruise ships to the territory." The newspaper said she was "scheduled to lobby major cruise lines about a possible return to St. Croix."
Richards said it had been her intent as a panelist to explain the Tourism Department's "Free Stay Caribbean" program wherein hotel guests who book a five-night stay get two extra nights free. And, Richards said, "We have gone one step further, and included the Charter Yacht League in the program."
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.
Richards said on Wednesday that she was attending an airport management conference in Tampa, Florida, last weekend and planned to head to Cancun from there, when she got news of Tropical Storm Lili being headed for the Virgin Islands.
In Tampa, "We were monitoring Isidore," the hurricane then attacking Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula coastline, she said, "when we heard another storm was approaching the V.I. So I called VITEMA [the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency] to find out about the storm in the territory — and decided to return to the V.I., since I am part of the governor's cabinet."
Richards said reports at the time about Isidore were confusing. "The airlines would tell us one thing, that flights were operating, and then CNN said the storm was heading for Cancun, and it was being evacuated," she said.
At the weeklong F-CCA conference, Richards was scheduled to participate in a panel discussing cruise ship "conversion" programs, which refers to turning cruise visitors into returning overnight hotel guests. She said the panel could go on without her, since there five other members.
A Tuesday report in a print newspaper said Richards was attending the conference to present the Tourism Department's plan to persuade cruise lines to send their ships back to St. Croix. Richards said on Wednesday that she submitted that report in August, and her planned appearance at the F-CCA conference had "nothing to do with trying to lure cruise ships to the territory." The newspaper said she was "scheduled to lobby major cruise lines about a possible return to St. Croix."
Richards said it had been her intent as a panelist to explain the Tourism Department's "Free Stay Caribbean" program wherein hotel guests who book a five-night stay get two extra nights free. And, Richards said, "We have gone one step further, and included the Charter Yacht League in the program."
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.
V.I. BONDED DEBT SOARS TO MORE THAN $1 BILLION
Sept. 25, 2002 – The territory's bonded indebtedness, which has more than doubled in the last few years, now exceeds $1 billion. And this total does not include at least $400 million in unbonded debt.
Assuming a Virgin Islands population of 110,000, the bonded debt of $1,069,664,000 works out to about $9,724 for every man, woman and child in the territory. Despite the fact that the islands have a smaller tax base — and thus a lesser ability to repay the debt — than mainland jurisdictions, the average per-capita debt in the territory is more than twice that in the 50 states.
The comparison is between apples and apples: between state and local debts combined on the mainland, and the territory's debt (with the Virgin Islands having no local political jurisdictions).
The most recent information in the "Statistical Abstract of the United States" shows that mainland residents carry about $4,285 per person in state and local debt. In some jurisdictions near to the Virgin Islands in the alphabet, the load is lower: $3,799 in Vermont and $3,523 in Virginia. These numbers are derived by dividing the total state and local debt in a state by the population of that state.
The territorial government has not in recent years disclosed the size of its bonded debt. However, the information is readily available to anyone willing to do rudimentary research: The figures can be found in the most recent annual report on state and municipal bonds published by Mergent, the financial reporting institution that replaced Moody's. These reports are available in every good-sized public library on the mainland.
Mergent's 2001 report showed $1,047,955,000 in issued and outstanding bonds for the U.S. Virgin Islands. To this is added the recently floated bond issue against future tobacco revenues of $21,709,000, giving the $1,069,664,000 total cited above.
This total is more than twice the amount shown by the Moody's 1998 report, which apparently covered bonds issued through the last part of 1997. It showed a bonded debt for the territory at that time of $510,255,000.
PFA bond debt largest and fastest growing
The largest — and the fastest growing — portion of the territory's bonded debts relates to the Public Finance Authority. In the 1998 report, Moody's recorded $238,390,000 in PFA bonds; by the 2001 report, this total had blossomed to $735,870,000.
The U.S. Interior Department's Office of the Inspector General completed an audit of the PFA last summer. A preliminary draft was given to Kenneth Mapp, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, for discussion purposes and the final draft is now undergoing review by the Washington office.
The territory's other, more specialized bonded debts at the end of 2001 as reported by Mergent were:
Housing Authority – $28,000,000
Port Authority – $25,110,000
Public Works Department – $64,975,000
Water and Power Authority – $155,100,000
Special tax (Hurricane Hugo) – $13,900,000
University of the Virgin Islands – $25,000,000
These bonded debts total $312,085,000
This kind of debt — as opposed to that of the PFA — has been growing relatively slowly in recent years. At the end of 1997, bonds in this grouping totaled $271,865,000.
In addition, and not included in any of the above figures, WAPA plans to issue $50 million in bonds next year (See "WAPA to seek electricity base rate increase".)
The outstanding Virgin Islands bonds are only part of the territory's long-term financial obligations. In addition, there are debts to the federal government, the under-funded pension system, not-yet-paid raises for government employees and past-due vendor payments. There may be additional obligations expressed in some vehicle other than bonds.
The total amount of these non-bonded obligations is not known. But it is known that, as of last month, there was $386 million owed in retroactive pay increases to classified government workers, with the lion's share of that amount, perhaps as much as $100 million, owed to teachers. An estimated $50 million to $100 million is owed to vendors.
While classified — that is, civil servant — workers are waiting for their retroactive raises, the governor by executive order last spring granted often-hefty increases to nearly 900 exempt employees — that is, political appointees — that add some $8.7 million a year to public payroll and benefits costs. (See "Proposed exempt employee pay hikes total $8.7 million".)
Efforts on Wednesday afternoon to obtain information from top government fiscal authorities about the territory's bonded indebtedness were unsuccessful. Messages were left for Ira Mills and Mapp. An aide to Kent Bernier, assistant to the governor for economic affairs, said he is off island until Friday.
The response of Nathan Simmonds, director of the Office of Fiscal and Economic Recovery Implementation, to the question of how much the territory's bonded debt is was: "Have you tried the PFA or the OMB? I would have to call them to get it."
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.
Assuming a Virgin Islands population of 110,000, the bonded debt of $1,069,664,000 works out to about $9,724 for every man, woman and child in the territory. Despite the fact that the islands have a smaller tax base — and thus a lesser ability to repay the debt — than mainland jurisdictions, the average per-capita debt in the territory is more than twice that in the 50 states.
The comparison is between apples and apples: between state and local debts combined on the mainland, and the territory's debt (with the Virgin Islands having no local political jurisdictions).
The most recent information in the "Statistical Abstract of the United States" shows that mainland residents carry about $4,285 per person in state and local debt. In some jurisdictions near to the Virgin Islands in the alphabet, the load is lower: $3,799 in Vermont and $3,523 in Virginia. These numbers are derived by dividing the total state and local debt in a state by the population of that state.
The territorial government has not in recent years disclosed the size of its bonded debt. However, the information is readily available to anyone willing to do rudimentary research: The figures can be found in the most recent annual report on state and municipal bonds published by Mergent, the financial reporting institution that replaced Moody's. These reports are available in every good-sized public library on the mainland.
Mergent's 2001 report showed $1,047,955,000 in issued and outstanding bonds for the U.S. Virgin Islands. To this is added the recently floated bond issue against future tobacco revenues of $21,709,000, giving the $1,069,664,000 total cited above.
This total is more than twice the amount shown by the Moody's 1998 report, which apparently covered bonds issued through the last part of 1997. It showed a bonded debt for the territory at that time of $510,255,000.
PFA bond debt largest and fastest growing
The largest — and the fastest growing — portion of the territory's bonded debts relates to the Public Finance Authority. In the 1998 report, Moody's recorded $238,390,000 in PFA bonds; by the 2001 report, this total had blossomed to $735,870,000.
The U.S. Interior Department's Office of the Inspector General completed an audit of the PFA last summer. A preliminary draft was given to Kenneth Mapp, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority, for discussion purposes and the final draft is now undergoing review by the Washington office.
The territory's other, more specialized bonded debts at the end of 2001 as reported by Mergent were:
Housing Authority – $28,000,000
Port Authority – $25,110,000
Public Works Department – $64,975,000
Water and Power Authority – $155,100,000
Special tax (Hurricane Hugo) – $13,900,000
University of the Virgin Islands – $25,000,000
These bonded debts total $312,085,000
This kind of debt — as opposed to that of the PFA — has been growing relatively slowly in recent years. At the end of 1997, bonds in this grouping totaled $271,865,000.
In addition, and not included in any of the above figures, WAPA plans to issue $50 million in bonds next year (See "WAPA to seek electricity base rate increase".)
The outstanding Virgin Islands bonds are only part of the territory's long-term financial obligations. In addition, there are debts to the federal government, the under-funded pension system, not-yet-paid raises for government employees and past-due vendor payments. There may be additional obligations expressed in some vehicle other than bonds.
The total amount of these non-bonded obligations is not known. But it is known that, as of last month, there was $386 million owed in retroactive pay increases to classified government workers, with the lion's share of that amount, perhaps as much as $100 million, owed to teachers. An estimated $50 million to $100 million is owed to vendors.
While classified — that is, civil servant — workers are waiting for their retroactive raises, the governor by executive order last spring granted often-hefty increases to nearly 900 exempt employees — that is, political appointees — that add some $8.7 million a year to public payroll and benefits costs. (See "Proposed exempt employee pay hikes total $8.7 million".)
Efforts on Wednesday afternoon to obtain information from top government fiscal authorities about the territory's bonded indebtedness were unsuccessful. Messages were left for Ira Mills and Mapp. An aide to Kent Bernier, assistant to the governor for economic affairs, said he is off island until Friday.
The response of Nathan Simmonds, director of the Office of Fiscal and Economic Recovery Implementation, to the question of how much the territory's bonded debt is was: "Have you tried the PFA or the OMB? I would have to call them to get it."
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.
JFL BOARD AGAIN VOTES TO LET DOCTOR RETURN
Sept. 25, 2002 – The Juan F. Luis Hospital Board of Trustees voted on Wednesday to reinstate a controversial kidney specialist's privileges to work in the hospital's hemodialysis unit.
The unanimous decision came during a six-hour meeting where the reinstatement of Dr. Walter H. Gardiner was the primary topic. "There was an executive meeting. They did call in some of the staff, some of the patients, to discuss the situation," hospital spokeswoman Carol Lee said afterward.
"A decision was made that there would be a transition to have Dr. Gardiner working in the dialysis unit by Oct. 25 at 5 p.m.," Lee said.
For the hospital board chair, Pastor Lester White, reinstating Gardiner's privileges came down to his qualifications and the right of his patients to be treated by the physician of their choice. "I don't think the issue for us was whether or not he would be reinstated … We just wanted to bring the adrenaline level down," White said. "The adrenaline was running pretty high, both in the JFL family and in the community."
Lee and White did not elaborate but both made reference to a situation in 1995, when Gardiner, a nephrologist, or kidney disease specialists, was on staff at the dialysis unit.
The hospital suspended Gardiner's privileges in 1997, but the board recently voted to reinstate them. When word of that decision reached the dialysis unit a few weeks ago, the head nurse submitted her resignation, which the board declined to accept, and there were other protests, resulting in the unit being shut down temporarily. At that time, the board agreed to put its decision on hold until Wednesday's meeting.
Last week, the hospital medical staff publicly endorsed the reinstatement of Gardiner's privileges to practice in the unit. (See "Medical staff supports dialysis doctor".)
Prior to the vote on Wednesday, White said, the board gave a number of dialysis patients and unit staff members the chance to express their feelings. He said some were in favor and others were opposed to the doctor's return. He said some of Gardiner's patients appeared fearful about saying they wanted him to come back, because of some of the other sentiments expressed at the meeting.
Lee said the board wanted it understood that Gardiner's return will not mean that patients must receive care from him if that is not their desire. "The board never meant to imply that patients would have to see any doctor that they did not want to see," she said.
White said the hospital's other certified kidney specialist and the director of the dialysis unit, Dr. Charles Perez, will continue to care for patients not being seen by Gardiner. Some 70 patients currently are receiving dialysis treatments at the hospital.
White also said he hopes Perez will be a harmonizing presence in the dialysis unit, and help make it possible for everyone who works there to work together.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The unanimous decision came during a six-hour meeting where the reinstatement of Dr. Walter H. Gardiner was the primary topic. "There was an executive meeting. They did call in some of the staff, some of the patients, to discuss the situation," hospital spokeswoman Carol Lee said afterward.
"A decision was made that there would be a transition to have Dr. Gardiner working in the dialysis unit by Oct. 25 at 5 p.m.," Lee said.
For the hospital board chair, Pastor Lester White, reinstating Gardiner's privileges came down to his qualifications and the right of his patients to be treated by the physician of their choice. "I don't think the issue for us was whether or not he would be reinstated … We just wanted to bring the adrenaline level down," White said. "The adrenaline was running pretty high, both in the JFL family and in the community."
Lee and White did not elaborate but both made reference to a situation in 1995, when Gardiner, a nephrologist, or kidney disease specialists, was on staff at the dialysis unit.
The hospital suspended Gardiner's privileges in 1997, but the board recently voted to reinstate them. When word of that decision reached the dialysis unit a few weeks ago, the head nurse submitted her resignation, which the board declined to accept, and there were other protests, resulting in the unit being shut down temporarily. At that time, the board agreed to put its decision on hold until Wednesday's meeting.
Last week, the hospital medical staff publicly endorsed the reinstatement of Gardiner's privileges to practice in the unit. (See "Medical staff supports dialysis doctor".)
Prior to the vote on Wednesday, White said, the board gave a number of dialysis patients and unit staff members the chance to express their feelings. He said some were in favor and others were opposed to the doctor's return. He said some of Gardiner's patients appeared fearful about saying they wanted him to come back, because of some of the other sentiments expressed at the meeting.
Lee said the board wanted it understood that Gardiner's return will not mean that patients must receive care from him if that is not their desire. "The board never meant to imply that patients would have to see any doctor that they did not want to see," she said.
White said the hospital's other certified kidney specialist and the director of the dialysis unit, Dr. Charles Perez, will continue to care for patients not being seen by Gardiner. Some 70 patients currently are receiving dialysis treatments at the hospital.
White also said he hopes Perez will be a harmonizing presence in the dialysis unit, and help make it possible for everyone who works there to work together.
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.
