Sept. 14, 2002 – The Public Services Commission spent about two hours on Thursday listening to arguments concerning the Legislature's bid to get live cable television coverage of its St. Croix sessions, just as it has for the St. Thomas proceedings. In the end, the parties involved could not reach a decision but agreed to get back to the PSC within two months.
Innovative Communication Corp. owns both of the territory's cable TV companies. The V.I. government has been allocated a channel, which is operated on behalf of the administration by the Education Department.
Sen. Adelbert Bryan, chair of the Senate Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, has been aggressively prodding both the administration and ICC for years to agree to provide the same live coverage of St. Croix Senate proceedings that cable viewers get of the St. Thomas sessions.
Bryan did not attend Thursday's session. Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd was there to represent the Legislature.
At a Senate committee hearing last November, James O'Bryan, the governor's public affairs assistant, told lawmakers that the Turnbull administration was not about to share its cable TV government-access channel, but that it was willing to assist the Legislature in getting its own channel on both the St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix cable systems.
The Senate would like the PSC to designate the cable companies' "public access" channel as the legislative-coverage channel, but that involves legal authority. Public access channels are widely known to carry a mishmash of programming — literally anything "the public" wants to air. Commission chair Desmond Maynard called the channels "an embarrassment."
A decision in the matter has been dumped on the PSC, which is still awaiting input from the key players. J'Ada Finch-Sheen, Innovated Communication Corp. vice president for legal affairs, made it clear that ICC would cooperate, although it is "under no regulation to do so."
After arguing for more than an hour about the definition of "production costs" and legal matters on Thursday, Liburd, Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen and Innovative Communication Corp. lawyers were instructed by Maynard to leave the meeting room and return with some solution to providing a TV channel for the Legislature to air its St. Croix meetings. This proved impossible and agreement was reached that the parties would get back to the PSC within the next two months.
In other action, the PSC agreed to send a letter to the Federal Communications Commission certifying that Innovative Telephone is using a $33 million annual federal subsidy in a manner that is in keeping with FCC regulations.
Across the nation, telephone companies assess customers a monthly fee that goes into a Universal Service Fund; the money is redistributed to jurisdictions under the U.S. flag that have demonstrated a need for funds in order to provide affordable telephone service. Innovative itself collects $1 a month from subscribers that goes into the fund. Innovative officers said on Thursday that the Virgin Islands as a whole benefits from the multimillion-dollar USF subsidy the phone company receives, because otherwise the company would have to raise phone rates.
The FCC requires that the utility regulatory agency for each USF beneficiary certify on an annual basis that the telephone company in question is utilizing the money it receives properly.
PSC member Jerris Browne asked Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen, "How are we sure the money gets back to us?" Ebbesen said the company's goal is to serve everyone, based on how much it costs for a single line.
Ebbesen said a single line costs Innovative $63.70 per month, and the company bills its customers $18.55. Therefore, he said, the company has a shortfall of $685,000 a month to cover, which is what the subsidy funds are used for. (See "Local phone bills differ from mainland".)
Responding to a query from PSC member Verne David, Innovative officers said the company's Economic Development Commission (formerly Industrial Development Commission) tax benefits are not taken into consideration in calculating rates.
Also during the day's proceedings, Innovative Telephone rate investigation hearing examiner Frederick Watts said he would probably submit his report on Friday of the phone company investigation undertaken with AUS Consultants. He subsequently did present the 55-page report on Friday.
The PSC meeting began at 10 a.m. and then went into executive session for an hour, leaving clearly disgruntled personnel present to testify on matters on the agenda, as well as news media representatives, standing outside the meeting room.
No reason was given for the closed session, and commissioner members would not disclose what transpired. There was speculation that it is was to discuss Maynard's recent hiring of Georgetown Consulting Group, which was done without a public commission vote. Maynard made clear on Thursday that the PSC still has AUS Consultants under contract for Innovative Telephone matters. Georgetown has been hired to conduct Water and Power Authority investigations, he said.
In 1998, the PSC terminated a prior relationship of many years standing with Georgetown and hired AUS to conduct rate investigations of WAPA and Innovative Telephone.
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.
SENATE CABLE COVERAGE ON ST. CROIX STILL UP IN AIR
Sept. 14, 2002 – The Public Services Commission spent about two hours on Thursday listening to arguments concerning the Legislature's bid to get live cable television coverage of its St. Croix sessions, just as it has for the St. Thomas proceedings. In the end, the parties involved could not reach a decision but agreed to get back to the PSC within two months.
Innovative Communication Corp. owns both of the territory's cable TV companies. The V.I. government has been allocated a channel, which is operated on behalf of the administration by the Education Department.
Sen. Adelbert Bryan, chair of the Senate Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, has been aggressively prodding both the administration and ICC for years to agree to provide the same live coverage of St. Croix Senate proceedings that cable viewers get of the St. Thomas sessions.
Bryan did not attend Thursday's session. Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd was there to represent the Legislature.
At a Senate committee hearing last November, James O'Bryan, the governor's public affairs assistant, told lawmakers that the Turnbull administration was not about to share its cable TV government-access channel, but that it was willing to assist the Legislature in getting its own channel on both the St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix cable systems.
The Senate would like the PSC to designate the cable companies' "public access" channel as the legislative-coverage channel, but that involves legal authority. Public access channels are widely known to carry a mishmash of programming — literally anything "the public" wants to air. Commission chair Desmond Maynard called the channels "an embarrassment."
A decision in the matter has been dumped on the PSC, which is still awaiting input from the key players. J'Ada Finch-Sheen, Innovated Communication Corp. vice president for legal affairs, made it clear that ICC would cooperate, although it is "under no regulation to do so."
After arguing for more than an hour about the definition of "production costs" and legal matters on Thursday, Liburd, Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen and Innovative Communication Corp. lawyers were instructed by Maynard to leave the meeting room and return with some solution to providing a TV channel for the Legislature to air its St. Croix meetings. This proved impossible and agreement was reached that the parties would get back to the PSC within the next two months.
In other action, the PSC agreed to send a letter to the Federal Communications Commission certifying that Innovative Telephone is using a $33 million annual federal subsidy in a manner that is in keeping with FCC regulations.
Across the nation, telephone companies assess customers a monthly fee that goes into a Universal Service Fund; the money is redistributed to jurisdictions under the U.S. flag that have demonstrated a need for funds in order to provide affordable telephone service. Innovative itself collects $1 a month from subscribers that goes into the fund. Innovative officers said on Thursday that the Virgin Islands as a whole benefits from the multimillion-dollar USF subsidy the phone company receives, because otherwise the company would have to raise phone rates.
The FCC requires that the utility regulatory agency for each USF beneficiary certify on an annual basis that the telephone company in question is utilizing the money it receives properly.
PSC member Jerris Browne asked Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen, "How are we sure the money gets back to us?" Ebbesen said the company's goal is to serve everyone, based on how much it costs for a single line.
Ebbesen said a single line costs Innovative $63.70 per month, and the company bills its customers $18.55. Therefore, he said, the company has a shortfall of $685,000 a month to cover, which is what the subsidy funds are used for. (See "Local phone bills differ from mainland".)
Responding to a query from PSC member Verne David, Innovative officers said the company's Economic Development Commission (formerly Industrial Development Commission) tax benefits are not taken into consideration in calculating rates.
Also during the day's proceedings, Innovative Telephone rate investigation hearing examiner Frederick Watts said he would probably submit his report on Friday of the phone company investigation undertaken with AUS Consultants. He subsequently did present the 55-page report on Friday.
The PSC meeting began at 10 a.m. and then went into executive session for an hour, leaving clearly disgruntled personnel present to testify on matters on the agenda, as well as news media representatives, standing outside the meeting room.
No reason was given for the closed session, and commissioner members would not disclose what transpired. There was speculation that it is was to discuss Maynard's recent hiring of Georgetown Consulting Group, which was done without a public commission vote. Maynard made clear on Thursday that the PSC still has AUS Consultants under contract for Innovative Telephone matters. Georgetown has been hired to conduct Water and Power Authority investigations, he said.
In 1998, the PSC terminated a prior relationship of many years standing with Georgetown and hired AUS to conduct rate investigations of WAPA and Innovative Telephone.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Innovative Communication Corp. owns both of the territory's cable TV companies. The V.I. government has been allocated a channel, which is operated on behalf of the administration by the Education Department.
Sen. Adelbert Bryan, chair of the Senate Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, has been aggressively prodding both the administration and ICC for years to agree to provide the same live coverage of St. Croix Senate proceedings that cable viewers get of the St. Thomas sessions.
Bryan did not attend Thursday's session. Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd was there to represent the Legislature.
At a Senate committee hearing last November, James O'Bryan, the governor's public affairs assistant, told lawmakers that the Turnbull administration was not about to share its cable TV government-access channel, but that it was willing to assist the Legislature in getting its own channel on both the St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix cable systems.
The Senate would like the PSC to designate the cable companies' "public access" channel as the legislative-coverage channel, but that involves legal authority. Public access channels are widely known to carry a mishmash of programming — literally anything "the public" wants to air. Commission chair Desmond Maynard called the channels "an embarrassment."
A decision in the matter has been dumped on the PSC, which is still awaiting input from the key players. J'Ada Finch-Sheen, Innovated Communication Corp. vice president for legal affairs, made it clear that ICC would cooperate, although it is "under no regulation to do so."
After arguing for more than an hour about the definition of "production costs" and legal matters on Thursday, Liburd, Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen and Innovative Communication Corp. lawyers were instructed by Maynard to leave the meeting room and return with some solution to providing a TV channel for the Legislature to air its St. Croix meetings. This proved impossible and agreement was reached that the parties would get back to the PSC within the next two months.
In other action, the PSC agreed to send a letter to the Federal Communications Commission certifying that Innovative Telephone is using a $33 million annual federal subsidy in a manner that is in keeping with FCC regulations.
Across the nation, telephone companies assess customers a monthly fee that goes into a Universal Service Fund; the money is redistributed to jurisdictions under the U.S. flag that have demonstrated a need for funds in order to provide affordable telephone service. Innovative itself collects $1 a month from subscribers that goes into the fund. Innovative officers said on Thursday that the Virgin Islands as a whole benefits from the multimillion-dollar USF subsidy the phone company receives, because otherwise the company would have to raise phone rates.
The FCC requires that the utility regulatory agency for each USF beneficiary certify on an annual basis that the telephone company in question is utilizing the money it receives properly.
PSC member Jerris Browne asked Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen, "How are we sure the money gets back to us?" Ebbesen said the company's goal is to serve everyone, based on how much it costs for a single line.
Ebbesen said a single line costs Innovative $63.70 per month, and the company bills its customers $18.55. Therefore, he said, the company has a shortfall of $685,000 a month to cover, which is what the subsidy funds are used for. (See "Local phone bills differ from mainland".)
Responding to a query from PSC member Verne David, Innovative officers said the company's Economic Development Commission (formerly Industrial Development Commission) tax benefits are not taken into consideration in calculating rates.
Also during the day's proceedings, Innovative Telephone rate investigation hearing examiner Frederick Watts said he would probably submit his report on Friday of the phone company investigation undertaken with AUS Consultants. He subsequently did present the 55-page report on Friday.
The PSC meeting began at 10 a.m. and then went into executive session for an hour, leaving clearly disgruntled personnel present to testify on matters on the agenda, as well as news media representatives, standing outside the meeting room.
No reason was given for the closed session, and commissioner members would not disclose what transpired. There was speculation that it is was to discuss Maynard's recent hiring of Georgetown Consulting Group, which was done without a public commission vote. Maynard made clear on Thursday that the PSC still has AUS Consultants under contract for Innovative Telephone matters. Georgetown has been hired to conduct Water and Power Authority investigations, he said.
In 1998, the PSC terminated a prior relationship of many years standing with Georgetown and hired AUS to conduct rate investigations of WAPA and Innovative Telephone.
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.
SENATE CABLE COVERAGE ON ST. CROIX STILL UP IN AIR
Sept. 14, 2002 – The Public Services Commission spent about two hours on Thursday listening to arguments concerning the Legislature's bid to get live cable television coverage of its St. Croix sessions, just as it has for the St. Thomas proceedings. In the end, the parties involved could not reach a decision but agreed to get back to the PSC within two months.
Innovative Communication Corp. owns both of the territory's cable TV companies. The V.I. government has been allocated a channel, which is operated on behalf of the administration by the Education Department.
Sen. Adelbert Bryan, chair of the Senate Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, has been aggressively prodding both the administration and ICC for years to agree to provide the same live coverage of St. Croix Senate proceedings that cable viewers get of the St. Thomas sessions.
Bryan did not attend Thursday's session. Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd was there to represent the Legislature.
At a Senate committee hearing last November, James O'Bryan, the governor's public affairs assistant, told lawmakers that the Turnbull administration was not about to share its cable TV government-access channel, but that it was willing to assist the Legislature in getting its own channel on both the St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix cable systems.
The Senate would like the PSC to designate the cable companies' "public access" channel as the legislative-coverage channel, but that involves legal authority. Public access channels are widely known to carry a mishmash of programming — literally anything "the public" wants to air. Commission chair Desmond Maynard called the channels "an embarrassment."
A decision in the matter has been dumped on the PSC, which is still awaiting input from the key players. J'Ada Finch-Sheen, Innovated Communication Corp. vice president for legal affairs, made it clear that ICC would cooperate, although it is "under no regulation to do so."
After arguing for more than an hour about the definition of "production costs" and legal matters on Thursday, Liburd, Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen and Innovative Communication Corp. lawyers were instructed by Maynard to leave the meeting room and return with some solution to providing a TV channel for the Legislature to air its St. Croix meetings. This proved impossible and agreement was reached that the parties would get back to the PSC within the next two months.
In other action, the PSC agreed to send a letter to the Federal Communications Commission certifying that Innovative Telephone is using a $33 million annual federal subsidy in a manner that is in keeping with FCC regulations.
Across the nation, telephone companies assess customers a monthly fee that goes into a Universal Service Fund; the money is redistributed to jurisdictions under the U.S. flag that have demonstrated a need for funds in order to provide affordable telephone service. Innovative itself collects $1 a month from subscribers that goes into the fund. Innovative officers said on Thursday that the Virgin Islands as a whole benefits from the multimillion-dollar USF subsidy the phone company receives, because otherwise the company would have to raise phone rates.
The FCC requires that the utility regulatory agency for each USF beneficiary certify on an annual basis that the telephone company in question is utilizing the money it receives properly.
PSC member Jerris Browne asked Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen, "How are we sure the money gets back to us?" Ebbesen said the company's goal is to serve everyone, based on how much it costs for a single line.
Ebbesen said a single line costs Innovative $63.70 per month, and the company bills its customers $18.55. Therefore, he said, the company has a shortfall of $685,000 a month to cover, which is what the subsidy funds are used for. (See "Local phone bills differ from mainland".)
Responding to a query from PSC member Verne David, Innovative officers said the company's Economic Development Commission (formerly Industrial Development Commission) tax benefits are not taken into consideration in calculating rates.
Also during the day's proceedings, Innovative Telephone rate investigation hearing examiner Frederick Watts said he would probably submit his report on Friday of the phone company investigation undertaken with AUS Consultants. He subsequently did present the 55-page report on Friday.
The PSC meeting began at 10 a.m. and then went into executive session for an hour, leaving clearly disgruntled personnel present to testify on matters on the agenda, as well as news media representatives, standing outside the meeting room.
No reason was given for the closed session, and commissioner members would not disclose what transpired. There was speculation that it is was to discuss Maynard's recent hiring of Georgetown Consulting Group, which was done without a public commission vote. Maynard made clear on Thursday that the PSC still has AUS Consultants under contract for Innovative Telephone matters. Georgetown has been hired to conduct Water and Power Authority investigations, he said.
In 1998, the PSC terminated a prior relationship of many years standing with Georgetown and hired AUS to conduct rate investigations of WAPA and Innovative Telephone.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Innovative Communication Corp. owns both of the territory's cable TV companies. The V.I. government has been allocated a channel, which is operated on behalf of the administration by the Education Department.
Sen. Adelbert Bryan, chair of the Senate Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, has been aggressively prodding both the administration and ICC for years to agree to provide the same live coverage of St. Croix Senate proceedings that cable viewers get of the St. Thomas sessions.
Bryan did not attend Thursday's session. Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd was there to represent the Legislature.
At a Senate committee hearing last November, James O'Bryan, the governor's public affairs assistant, told lawmakers that the Turnbull administration was not about to share its cable TV government-access channel, but that it was willing to assist the Legislature in getting its own channel on both the St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix cable systems.
The Senate would like the PSC to designate the cable companies' "public access" channel as the legislative-coverage channel, but that involves legal authority. Public access channels are widely known to carry a mishmash of programming — literally anything "the public" wants to air. Commission chair Desmond Maynard called the channels "an embarrassment."
A decision in the matter has been dumped on the PSC, which is still awaiting input from the key players. J'Ada Finch-Sheen, Innovated Communication Corp. vice president for legal affairs, made it clear that ICC would cooperate, although it is "under no regulation to do so."
After arguing for more than an hour about the definition of "production costs" and legal matters on Thursday, Liburd, Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen and Innovative Communication Corp. lawyers were instructed by Maynard to leave the meeting room and return with some solution to providing a TV channel for the Legislature to air its St. Croix meetings. This proved impossible and agreement was reached that the parties would get back to the PSC within the next two months.
In other action, the PSC agreed to send a letter to the Federal Communications Commission certifying that Innovative Telephone is using a $33 million annual federal subsidy in a manner that is in keeping with FCC regulations.
Across the nation, telephone companies assess customers a monthly fee that goes into a Universal Service Fund; the money is redistributed to jurisdictions under the U.S. flag that have demonstrated a need for funds in order to provide affordable telephone service. Innovative itself collects $1 a month from subscribers that goes into the fund. Innovative officers said on Thursday that the Virgin Islands as a whole benefits from the multimillion-dollar USF subsidy the phone company receives, because otherwise the company would have to raise phone rates.
The FCC requires that the utility regulatory agency for each USF beneficiary certify on an annual basis that the telephone company in question is utilizing the money it receives properly.
PSC member Jerris Browne asked Innovative Telephone President Samuel Ebbesen, "How are we sure the money gets back to us?" Ebbesen said the company's goal is to serve everyone, based on how much it costs for a single line.
Ebbesen said a single line costs Innovative $63.70 per month, and the company bills its customers $18.55. Therefore, he said, the company has a shortfall of $685,000 a month to cover, which is what the subsidy funds are used for. (See "Local phone bills differ from mainland".)
Responding to a query from PSC member Verne David, Innovative officers said the company's Economic Development Commission (formerly Industrial Development Commission) tax benefits are not taken into consideration in calculating rates.
Also during the day's proceedings, Innovative Telephone rate investigation hearing examiner Frederick Watts said he would probably submit his report on Friday of the phone company investigation undertaken with AUS Consultants. He subsequently did present the 55-page report on Friday.
The PSC meeting began at 10 a.m. and then went into executive session for an hour, leaving clearly disgruntled personnel present to testify on matters on the agenda, as well as news media representatives, standing outside the meeting room.
No reason was given for the closed session, and commissioner members would not disclose what transpired. There was speculation that it is was to discuss Maynard's recent hiring of Georgetown Consulting Group, which was done without a public commission vote. Maynard made clear on Thursday that the PSC still has AUS Consultants under contract for Innovative Telephone matters. Georgetown has been hired to conduct Water and Power Authority investigations, he said.
In 1998, the PSC terminated a prior relationship of many years standing with Georgetown and hired AUS to conduct rate investigations of WAPA and Innovative Telephone.
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.
WATER ISLAND CHEMICAL WEAPONS CLEANUP PLANNED
Sept. 13, 2002 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is formulating a plan to inspect Water Island for any vestiges of a chemical weapons testing program that took place there more than 50 years ago.
Authorities that have been conducting surveys of the former Fort Segarra test site for more than a decade presented some of their findings on Thursday to residents on Water Island and St. Thomas. They said making sure Water Island is free of chemical warfare remains is part of a nationwide program of cleaning up old military test sites.
Robert Bridgers, one of the engineers who has been working on the surveys since 1991, said the study is also an aspect of incorporating Water Island into the Virgin Islands territory, a process which formally began in 1996. Bridgers is the Defense Environmental Restoration Program manager for the Army Corps in Jacksonville, Florida.
The study was undertaken by the Army Corps St. Louis Division after researchers discovered the "San Jose Project" was never completed and that all of the weapons brought to the island in 1948 were not accounted for when the project ended two years later.
The San Jose Project was designed to test the storage of chemical munitions under tropical conditions. But engineers on Thursday also described a field test where phosgene gas, a choking agent, was released near a cave with specially constructed doors.
Fort Segarra was constructed on Water Island during World War II, when German submarines were active in the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Barracks and other facilities were set up, but Army officials later changed their mind and abandoned the site.
Rumors of derelict bombs left on island after the Army pulled out were substantiated in 1966 when, Bridgers said, Water Island developers discovered two devices of about 500 and 250 pounds filled with cyanogen chloride. The weapons were subsequently removed by a crew from the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico.
Two years ago, in an Ordnance and Explosives Project Management Plan, the Army Corps survey team called for the development of a contingency plan to remove a 500-pound cyanogen bomb from the Flamingo Bay area off Water Island. But after the meeting Thursday on St. Thomas, Bridgers said that was only a scenario required by the Army to lay out all possibilities that a clean-up crew might face.
After a thorough document review, the Army Corps officials said, they believe there may be some derelict bombs on or around the island. But they think either the weapons are empty shells vented several years ago, or their contents have been rendered harmless by changes of composition inside the casings. According to Roger Fitzpatrick, an engineer attached to the Army Corps division in Huntsville, Alabama, "It's impossible or unlikely that an intact munition can be found."
A draft plan for the next step of the Water Island chemical weapons cleanup is now being reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If it is approved, an investigation of specific sites on the island will be carried out by a private contractor using a specialized crew of former explosive ordnance personnel. Their work will involve digging test pits and trenches and collecting soil samples to test them for chemical traces.
The chemical agents they will be looking for include cyanogen chloride and phosgene. The cleanup is expected to cost $1 million, officials said.
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.
Authorities that have been conducting surveys of the former Fort Segarra test site for more than a decade presented some of their findings on Thursday to residents on Water Island and St. Thomas. They said making sure Water Island is free of chemical warfare remains is part of a nationwide program of cleaning up old military test sites.
Robert Bridgers, one of the engineers who has been working on the surveys since 1991, said the study is also an aspect of incorporating Water Island into the Virgin Islands territory, a process which formally began in 1996. Bridgers is the Defense Environmental Restoration Program manager for the Army Corps in Jacksonville, Florida.
The study was undertaken by the Army Corps St. Louis Division after researchers discovered the "San Jose Project" was never completed and that all of the weapons brought to the island in 1948 were not accounted for when the project ended two years later.
The San Jose Project was designed to test the storage of chemical munitions under tropical conditions. But engineers on Thursday also described a field test where phosgene gas, a choking agent, was released near a cave with specially constructed doors.
Fort Segarra was constructed on Water Island during World War II, when German submarines were active in the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Barracks and other facilities were set up, but Army officials later changed their mind and abandoned the site.
Rumors of derelict bombs left on island after the Army pulled out were substantiated in 1966 when, Bridgers said, Water Island developers discovered two devices of about 500 and 250 pounds filled with cyanogen chloride. The weapons were subsequently removed by a crew from the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico.
Two years ago, in an Ordnance and Explosives Project Management Plan, the Army Corps survey team called for the development of a contingency plan to remove a 500-pound cyanogen bomb from the Flamingo Bay area off Water Island. But after the meeting Thursday on St. Thomas, Bridgers said that was only a scenario required by the Army to lay out all possibilities that a clean-up crew might face.
After a thorough document review, the Army Corps officials said, they believe there may be some derelict bombs on or around the island. But they think either the weapons are empty shells vented several years ago, or their contents have been rendered harmless by changes of composition inside the casings. According to Roger Fitzpatrick, an engineer attached to the Army Corps division in Huntsville, Alabama, "It's impossible or unlikely that an intact munition can be found."
A draft plan for the next step of the Water Island chemical weapons cleanup is now being reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If it is approved, an investigation of specific sites on the island will be carried out by a private contractor using a specialized crew of former explosive ordnance personnel. Their work will involve digging test pits and trenches and collecting soil samples to test them for chemical traces.
The chemical agents they will be looking for include cyanogen chloride and phosgene. The cleanup is expected to cost $1 million, officials said.
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.
VOTERS TO GET 1,000 FEET FREE OF ELECTIONEERING
Sept. 13, 2002 – Thanks to a policy decision made by the Joint Boards of Elections in July, when voters go to the polls on Saturday for the primary balloting, they'll need binoculars to read the campaign posters.
Elections supervisor John Abramson Jr. said the boards decided that campaign supporters bent on trying to convince voters to cast ballots for their candidates must stand at least 1,000 feet away from polling places. The old rule specified 25 feet.
"We received so many complaints about their aggressive posture," Abramson said.
To put this in perspective, he said that for anyone seeking to influence those voting at Charlotte Amalie High School, the 1,000-foot rule would put them by the entrance to Roy L. Schneider Hospital.
A law passed by the 24th Legislature and signed by the governor called for a cutoff of all campaigning at 2 a.m. on election days. A District Court challenge led to that law being voided last month.
Abramson said the boards acted within their rights in making this 1,000-foot decision.
At least one candidate disagrees. St. Croix Democratic senatorial hopeful Ronald E. Russell, who is running in Saturday's primary, said despite the rule, he plans to have his supporters closer to the polling place, although he didn't know how close they would get. In a letter to Abramson, he said the 1,000-foot decision "lacks constitutional basis."
"As you must be aware, a local regulation does not supersede a constitutional provision," Russell, a lawyer, wrote in the letter, which he faxed to the Source. He said he would file for a temporary restraining order if Abramson enforces the long-distance decision.
However, since Territorial Court is closed on Saturday, Russell said he would wait until Monday to take action. He said a campaign-free zone of 125 to 150 feet would be reasonable. "One thousand feet takes you out of the perimeter of being close to the polling place," he said.
Abramson said he plans to proceed as planned with the 1,000-foot no-campaigning zone.
Polling times and places
The polls will be open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only registered party members will be able to vote, and only for the races within their respective parties. For a listing of races and candidates, see "Revised list of candidates for primary election".
In a departure from past primaries, when all of the polling places utilized in general elections were open, there will be three polling places each on St. Thomas and St. Croix, along with the usual two on St. John.
On St. Thomas, voting will be at:
Charlotte Amalie High School — for those who customarily vote at Winston Raymo Recreation Center, Oswald Harris Court, Joseph Sibilly School and CAHS.
Joseph Gomez Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at E. Benjamin Oliver, Ivanna Eudora Kean, Bertha C. Boschulte and Gomez Schools and the Anna's Retreat Center.
Addelita Cancryn Junior High School — for those who customarily vote at Dober, Michael J. Kirwan, Ulla F. Muller and Cancryn Schools.
On St. Croix, voting will be at:
Alexander Henderson Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at Claude O. Markoe, Evelyn Williams and Alexander Henderson Schools and St. Gerard's Hall.
Central High School — for those who customarily vote at Lew Muckle, Charles Emanuel, Eulalie Rivera, Ricardo Richards and Central High Schools.
Juanita Gardine Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at Florence Williams Library, Jackson Terrace, John F. Kennedy, and Elena Christian, Juanita Gardine and Pearl B. Larsen Schools.
On St. John, voting will be at Julius E. Sprauve and Guy Benjamin Schools.
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.
Elections supervisor John Abramson Jr. said the boards decided that campaign supporters bent on trying to convince voters to cast ballots for their candidates must stand at least 1,000 feet away from polling places. The old rule specified 25 feet.
"We received so many complaints about their aggressive posture," Abramson said.
To put this in perspective, he said that for anyone seeking to influence those voting at Charlotte Amalie High School, the 1,000-foot rule would put them by the entrance to Roy L. Schneider Hospital.
A law passed by the 24th Legislature and signed by the governor called for a cutoff of all campaigning at 2 a.m. on election days. A District Court challenge led to that law being voided last month.
Abramson said the boards acted within their rights in making this 1,000-foot decision.
At least one candidate disagrees. St. Croix Democratic senatorial hopeful Ronald E. Russell, who is running in Saturday's primary, said despite the rule, he plans to have his supporters closer to the polling place, although he didn't know how close they would get. In a letter to Abramson, he said the 1,000-foot decision "lacks constitutional basis."
"As you must be aware, a local regulation does not supersede a constitutional provision," Russell, a lawyer, wrote in the letter, which he faxed to the Source. He said he would file for a temporary restraining order if Abramson enforces the long-distance decision.
However, since Territorial Court is closed on Saturday, Russell said he would wait until Monday to take action. He said a campaign-free zone of 125 to 150 feet would be reasonable. "One thousand feet takes you out of the perimeter of being close to the polling place," he said.
Abramson said he plans to proceed as planned with the 1,000-foot no-campaigning zone.
Polling times and places
The polls will be open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only registered party members will be able to vote, and only for the races within their respective parties. For a listing of races and candidates, see "Revised list of candidates for primary election".
In a departure from past primaries, when all of the polling places utilized in general elections were open, there will be three polling places each on St. Thomas and St. Croix, along with the usual two on St. John.
On St. Thomas, voting will be at:
Charlotte Amalie High School — for those who customarily vote at Winston Raymo Recreation Center, Oswald Harris Court, Joseph Sibilly School and CAHS.
Joseph Gomez Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at E. Benjamin Oliver, Ivanna Eudora Kean, Bertha C. Boschulte and Gomez Schools and the Anna's Retreat Center.
Addelita Cancryn Junior High School — for those who customarily vote at Dober, Michael J. Kirwan, Ulla F. Muller and Cancryn Schools.
On St. Croix, voting will be at:
Alexander Henderson Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at Claude O. Markoe, Evelyn Williams and Alexander Henderson Schools and St. Gerard's Hall.
Central High School — for those who customarily vote at Lew Muckle, Charles Emanuel, Eulalie Rivera, Ricardo Richards and Central High Schools.
Juanita Gardine Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at Florence Williams Library, Jackson Terrace, John F. Kennedy, and Elena Christian, Juanita Gardine and Pearl B. Larsen Schools.
On St. John, voting will be at Julius E. Sprauve and Guy Benjamin Schools.
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.
VOTERS TO GET 1,000 FEET FREE OF ELECTIONEERING
Sept. 13, 2002 – Thanks to a policy decision made by the Joint Boards of Elections in July, when voters go to the polls on Saturday for the primary balloting, they'll need binoculars to read the campaign posters.
Elections supervisor John Abramson Jr. said the boards decided that campaign supporters bent on trying to convince voters to cast ballots for their candidates must stand at least 1,000 feet away from polling places. The old rule specified 25 feet.
"We received so many complaints about their aggressive posture," Abramson said.
To put this in perspective, he said that for anyone seeking to influence those voting at Charlotte Amalie High School, the 1,000-foot rule would put them by the entrance to Roy L. Schneider Hospital.
A law passed by the 24th Legislature and signed by the governor called for a cutoff of all campaigning at 2 a.m. on election days. A District Court challenge led to that law being voided last month.
Abramson said the boards acted within their rights in making this 1,000-foot decision.
At least one candidate disagrees. St. Croix Democratic senatorial hopeful Ronald E. Russell, who is running in Saturday's primary, said despite the rule, he plans to have his supporters closer to the polling place, although he didn't know how close they would get. In a letter to Abramson, he said the 1,000-foot decision "lacks constitutional basis."
"As you must be aware, a local regulation does not supersede a constitutional provision," Russell, a lawyer, wrote in the letter, which he faxed to the Source. He said he would file for a temporary restraining order if Abramson enforces the long-distance decision.
However, since Territorial Court is closed on Saturday, Russell said he would wait until Monday to take action. He said a campaign-free zone of 125 to 150 feet would be reasonable. "One thousand feet takes you out of the perimeter of being close to the polling place," he said.
Abramson said he plans to proceed as planned with the 1,000-foot no-campaigning zone.
Polling times and places
The polls will be open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only registered party members will be able to vote, and only for the races within their respective parties. For a listing of races and candidates, see "Revised list of candidates for primary election".
In a departure from past primaries, when all of the polling places utilized in general elections were open, there will be three polling places each on St. Thomas and St. Croix, along with the usual two on St. John.
On St. Thomas, voting will be at:
Charlotte Amalie High School — for those who customarily vote at Winston Raymo Recreation Center, Oswald Harris Court, Joseph Sibilly School and CAHS.
Joseph Gomez Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at E. Benjamin Oliver, Ivanna Eudora Kean, Bertha C. Boschulte and Gomez Schools and the Anna's Retreat Center.
Addelita Cancryn Junior High School — for those who customarily vote at Dober, Michael J. Kirwan, Ulla F. Muller and Cancryn Schools.
On St. Croix, voting will be at:
Alexander Henderson Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at Claude O. Markoe, Evelyn Williams and Alexander Henderson Schools and St. Gerard's Hall.
Central High School — for those who customarily vote at Lew Muckle, Charles Emanuel, Eulalie Rivera, Ricardo Richards and Central High Schools.
Juanita Gardine Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at Florence Williams Library, Jackson Terrace, John F. Kennedy, and Elena Christian, Juanita Gardine and Pearl B. Larsen Schools.
On St. John, voting will be at Julius E. Sprauve and Guy Benjamin Schools.
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.
Elections supervisor John Abramson Jr. said the boards decided that campaign supporters bent on trying to convince voters to cast ballots for their candidates must stand at least 1,000 feet away from polling places. The old rule specified 25 feet.
"We received so many complaints about their aggressive posture," Abramson said.
To put this in perspective, he said that for anyone seeking to influence those voting at Charlotte Amalie High School, the 1,000-foot rule would put them by the entrance to Roy L. Schneider Hospital.
A law passed by the 24th Legislature and signed by the governor called for a cutoff of all campaigning at 2 a.m. on election days. A District Court challenge led to that law being voided last month.
Abramson said the boards acted within their rights in making this 1,000-foot decision.
At least one candidate disagrees. St. Croix Democratic senatorial hopeful Ronald E. Russell, who is running in Saturday's primary, said despite the rule, he plans to have his supporters closer to the polling place, although he didn't know how close they would get. In a letter to Abramson, he said the 1,000-foot decision "lacks constitutional basis."
"As you must be aware, a local regulation does not supersede a constitutional provision," Russell, a lawyer, wrote in the letter, which he faxed to the Source. He said he would file for a temporary restraining order if Abramson enforces the long-distance decision.
However, since Territorial Court is closed on Saturday, Russell said he would wait until Monday to take action. He said a campaign-free zone of 125 to 150 feet would be reasonable. "One thousand feet takes you out of the perimeter of being close to the polling place," he said.
Abramson said he plans to proceed as planned with the 1,000-foot no-campaigning zone.
Polling times and places
The polls will be open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only registered party members will be able to vote, and only for the races within their respective parties. For a listing of races and candidates, see "Revised list of candidates for primary election".
In a departure from past primaries, when all of the polling places utilized in general elections were open, there will be three polling places each on St. Thomas and St. Croix, along with the usual two on St. John.
On St. Thomas, voting will be at:
Charlotte Amalie High School — for those who customarily vote at Winston Raymo Recreation Center, Oswald Harris Court, Joseph Sibilly School and CAHS.
Joseph Gomez Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at E. Benjamin Oliver, Ivanna Eudora Kean, Bertha C. Boschulte and Gomez Schools and the Anna's Retreat Center.
Addelita Cancryn Junior High School — for those who customarily vote at Dober, Michael J. Kirwan, Ulla F. Muller and Cancryn Schools.
On St. Croix, voting will be at:
Alexander Henderson Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at Claude O. Markoe, Evelyn Williams and Alexander Henderson Schools and St. Gerard's Hall.
Central High School — for those who customarily vote at Lew Muckle, Charles Emanuel, Eulalie Rivera, Ricardo Richards and Central High Schools.
Juanita Gardine Elementary School — for those who customarily vote at Florence Williams Library, Jackson Terrace, John F. Kennedy, and Elena Christian, Juanita Gardine and Pearl B. Larsen Schools.
On St. John, voting will be at Julius E. Sprauve and Guy Benjamin Schools.
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.
WITHOUT TORT REFORM V.I. COULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE
Sept. 13, 2002 – In an unusual move, two St. Croix insurance executives have spoken out publicly about the layoff of 800 Hovensa workers due to the refinery's inability to secure personal injury liability insurance for seven of its maintenance contractors.
Insurance people tend to be conservative about talking with the press for fear of incurring the ire of regulators. But the two industry leaders went on the record Friday to offer warnings about the need for legislative reform.
"We need tort reform," Tom Fitzsimmons, president of St. Croix Insurance, said. David C. Ridgway, president of Marshall & Sterling Insurance, agreed.
"We have reached the point that few insurance companies are interested in writing in the Virgin Islands," Ridgway said in a release from his office. "Eight hundred people could not report to work today … as the direct result of the inability to attract carriers to the V.I."
The crux of the problem, according to Fitzsimmons and Ridgway, is the monumental jury awards given for minor injuries in the Virgin Islands. "For every $1 million collected in premiums, $10 million is paid out in settlements," Fitzsimmons said. "The thing is — it's time for the Senate to address tort reform."
In neighboring Puerto Rico, Fitzsimmons said, awards are determined by a panel of judges.
In the Virgin Islands, he said, insurance companies make excessive payments to avoid going to court.
"Our juries are not necessarily sophisticated," Fitzsimmons said on Friday, and yet the degree of negligence as well as the seriousness of the injury is left to them to decide. "If we don't get some kind of tort reform, the Virgin Islands is done."
Fitzsimmons added, "If we charge our businesses five times more for liability insurance," it won't be long before they start going elsewhere — like the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or "even Cuba when it opens up."
At a public meeting in June, Richard Doumeng, general manager of Bolongo Bay Beach Club and Villas, gave a graphic example of what Fitzsimmons was referring to. Doumeng said he had watched his liability policy premium at the hotel go "from $60,000 to $90,000 to $118,000," and that was without "one claim until this year."
That one claim, he said, involved a "slip and fall" which resulted in a "simple broken arm — no compound fractures" or other complications. The claimants "had an attorney in the states and were asking for $75,000," he said. "They got a local attorney, and they are now asking for $600,000." (See "Insurance crisis seen as big threat to economy".)
In the early '80s, auto insurance companies began an exodus from the territory, citing the same type of extreme jury awards as the reason. Those who remained greatly reduced their coverage caps, leaving property and business owners to scramble to protect themselves from lawsuits where jury awards could greatly exceed their policy limits.
Ridgway recalled a similar crisis "15 years ago when physicians in the Virgin Islands could not get insurance."
On Friday, he said, "The next time someone is on a jury, maybe they will realize that they are not just giving way someone else's money; this has direct consequences at home. There is no free lunch. Ultimately, we all end up paying for it."
In a release from his office late Friday, Lt. Gov. Gerald Luz James II, who is running for governor, announced he will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Croix's Government House to "discuss the recent insurance coverage issue encountered by contractors at Hovensa."
James, who serves as Insurance commissioner by virtue of his position as lieutenant governor, and Maryleen Thomas, his director of Banking and Insurance and his running mate, have both said local carriers and agents are portraying an insurance crisis as a way to push for requested rate increases. James and Thomas have insisted there are new insurance companies waiting to come to the territory.
Fitzsimmons differs. "I have been amazed that carriers are found to do it," he said, referring to the writing of insurance coverage in the Virgin Islands.
Hovensa officials declined to identify the company whose liability policy expired Thursday at midnight, but it was not a local company. "Nobody on island could handle losses of that magnitude," Fitzsimmons said.
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.
Insurance people tend to be conservative about talking with the press for fear of incurring the ire of regulators. But the two industry leaders went on the record Friday to offer warnings about the need for legislative reform.
"We need tort reform," Tom Fitzsimmons, president of St. Croix Insurance, said. David C. Ridgway, president of Marshall & Sterling Insurance, agreed.
"We have reached the point that few insurance companies are interested in writing in the Virgin Islands," Ridgway said in a release from his office. "Eight hundred people could not report to work today … as the direct result of the inability to attract carriers to the V.I."
The crux of the problem, according to Fitzsimmons and Ridgway, is the monumental jury awards given for minor injuries in the Virgin Islands. "For every $1 million collected in premiums, $10 million is paid out in settlements," Fitzsimmons said. "The thing is — it's time for the Senate to address tort reform."
In neighboring Puerto Rico, Fitzsimmons said, awards are determined by a panel of judges.
In the Virgin Islands, he said, insurance companies make excessive payments to avoid going to court.
"Our juries are not necessarily sophisticated," Fitzsimmons said on Friday, and yet the degree of negligence as well as the seriousness of the injury is left to them to decide. "If we don't get some kind of tort reform, the Virgin Islands is done."
Fitzsimmons added, "If we charge our businesses five times more for liability insurance," it won't be long before they start going elsewhere — like the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or "even Cuba when it opens up."
At a public meeting in June, Richard Doumeng, general manager of Bolongo Bay Beach Club and Villas, gave a graphic example of what Fitzsimmons was referring to. Doumeng said he had watched his liability policy premium at the hotel go "from $60,000 to $90,000 to $118,000," and that was without "one claim until this year."
That one claim, he said, involved a "slip and fall" which resulted in a "simple broken arm — no compound fractures" or other complications. The claimants "had an attorney in the states and were asking for $75,000," he said. "They got a local attorney, and they are now asking for $600,000." (See "Insurance crisis seen as big threat to economy".)
In the early '80s, auto insurance companies began an exodus from the territory, citing the same type of extreme jury awards as the reason. Those who remained greatly reduced their coverage caps, leaving property and business owners to scramble to protect themselves from lawsuits where jury awards could greatly exceed their policy limits.
Ridgway recalled a similar crisis "15 years ago when physicians in the Virgin Islands could not get insurance."
On Friday, he said, "The next time someone is on a jury, maybe they will realize that they are not just giving way someone else's money; this has direct consequences at home. There is no free lunch. Ultimately, we all end up paying for it."
In a release from his office late Friday, Lt. Gov. Gerald Luz James II, who is running for governor, announced he will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Croix's Government House to "discuss the recent insurance coverage issue encountered by contractors at Hovensa."
James, who serves as Insurance commissioner by virtue of his position as lieutenant governor, and Maryleen Thomas, his director of Banking and Insurance and his running mate, have both said local carriers and agents are portraying an insurance crisis as a way to push for requested rate increases. James and Thomas have insisted there are new insurance companies waiting to come to the territory.
Fitzsimmons differs. "I have been amazed that carriers are found to do it," he said, referring to the writing of insurance coverage in the Virgin Islands.
Hovensa officials declined to identify the company whose liability policy expired Thursday at midnight, but it was not a local company. "Nobody on island could handle losses of that magnitude," Fitzsimmons said.
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.
WITHOUT TORT REFORM V.I. COULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE
Sept. 13, 2002 – In an unusual move, two St. Croix insurance executives have spoken out publicly about the layoff of 800 Hovensa workers due to the refinery's inability to secure personal injury liability insurance for seven of its maintenance contractors.
Insurance people tend to be conservative about talking with the press for fear of incurring the ire of regulators. But the two industry leaders went on the record Friday to offer warnings about the need for legislative reform.
"We need tort reform," Tom Fitzsimmons, president of St. Croix Insurance, said. David C. Ridgway, president of Marshall & Sterling Insurance, agreed.
"We have reached the point that few insurance companies are interested in writing in the Virgin Islands," Ridgway said in a release from his office. "Eight hundred people could not report to work today … as the direct result of the inability to attract carriers to the V.I."
The crux of the problem, according to Fitzsimmons and Ridgway, is the monumental jury awards given for minor injuries in the Virgin Islands. "For every $1 million collected in premiums, $10 million is paid out in settlements," Fitzsimmons said. "The thing is — it's time for the Senate to address tort reform."
In neighboring Puerto Rico, Fitzsimmons said, awards are determined by a panel of judges.
In the Virgin Islands, he said, insurance companies make excessive payments to avoid going to court.
"Our juries are not necessarily sophisticated," Fitzsimmons said on Friday, and yet the degree of negligence as well as the seriousness of the injury is left to them to decide. "If we don't get some kind of tort reform, the Virgin Islands is done."
Fitzsimmons added, "If we charge our businesses five times more for liability insurance," it won't be long before they start going elsewhere — like the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or "even Cuba when it opens up."
At a public meeting in June, Richard Doumeng, general manager of Bolongo Bay Beach Club and Villas, gave a graphic example of what Fitzsimmons was referring to. Doumeng said he had watched his liability policy premium at the hotel go "from $60,000 to $90,000 to $118,000," and that was without "one claim until this year."
That one claim, he said, involved a "slip and fall" which resulted in a "simple broken arm — no compound fractures" or other complications. The claimants "had an attorney in the states and were asking for $75,000," he said. "They got a local attorney, and they are now asking for $600,000." (See "Insurance crisis seen as big threat to economy".)
In the early '80s, auto insurance companies began an exodus from the territory, citing the same type of extreme jury awards as the reason. Those who remained greatly reduced their coverage caps, leaving property and business owners to scramble to protect themselves from lawsuits where jury awards could greatly exceed their policy limits.
Ridgway recalled a similar crisis "15 years ago when physicians in the Virgin Islands could not get insurance."
On Friday, he said, "The next time someone is on a jury, maybe they will realize that they are not just giving way someone else's money; this has direct consequences at home. There is no free lunch. Ultimately, we all end up paying for it."
In a release from his office late Friday, Lt. Gov. Gerald Luz James II, who is running for governor, announced he will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Croix's Government House to "discuss the recent insurance coverage issue encountered by contractors at Hovensa."
James, who serves as Insurance commissioner by virtue of his position as lieutenant governor, and Maryleen Thomas, his director of Banking and Insurance and his running mate, have both said local carriers and agents are portraying an insurance crisis as a way to push for requested rate increases. James and Thomas have insisted there are new insurance companies waiting to come to the territory.
Fitzsimmons differs. "I have been amazed that carriers are found to do it," he said, referring to the writing of insurance coverage in the Virgin Islands.
Hovensa officials declined to identify the company whose liability policy expired Thursday at midnight, but it was not a local company. "Nobody on island could handle losses of that magnitude," Fitzsimmons said.
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.
Insurance people tend to be conservative about talking with the press for fear of incurring the ire of regulators. But the two industry leaders went on the record Friday to offer warnings about the need for legislative reform.
"We need tort reform," Tom Fitzsimmons, president of St. Croix Insurance, said. David C. Ridgway, president of Marshall & Sterling Insurance, agreed.
"We have reached the point that few insurance companies are interested in writing in the Virgin Islands," Ridgway said in a release from his office. "Eight hundred people could not report to work today … as the direct result of the inability to attract carriers to the V.I."
The crux of the problem, according to Fitzsimmons and Ridgway, is the monumental jury awards given for minor injuries in the Virgin Islands. "For every $1 million collected in premiums, $10 million is paid out in settlements," Fitzsimmons said. "The thing is — it's time for the Senate to address tort reform."
In neighboring Puerto Rico, Fitzsimmons said, awards are determined by a panel of judges.
In the Virgin Islands, he said, insurance companies make excessive payments to avoid going to court.
"Our juries are not necessarily sophisticated," Fitzsimmons said on Friday, and yet the degree of negligence as well as the seriousness of the injury is left to them to decide. "If we don't get some kind of tort reform, the Virgin Islands is done."
Fitzsimmons added, "If we charge our businesses five times more for liability insurance," it won't be long before they start going elsewhere — like the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or "even Cuba when it opens up."
At a public meeting in June, Richard Doumeng, general manager of Bolongo Bay Beach Club and Villas, gave a graphic example of what Fitzsimmons was referring to. Doumeng said he had watched his liability policy premium at the hotel go "from $60,000 to $90,000 to $118,000," and that was without "one claim until this year."
That one claim, he said, involved a "slip and fall" which resulted in a "simple broken arm — no compound fractures" or other complications. The claimants "had an attorney in the states and were asking for $75,000," he said. "They got a local attorney, and they are now asking for $600,000." (See "Insurance crisis seen as big threat to economy".)
In the early '80s, auto insurance companies began an exodus from the territory, citing the same type of extreme jury awards as the reason. Those who remained greatly reduced their coverage caps, leaving property and business owners to scramble to protect themselves from lawsuits where jury awards could greatly exceed their policy limits.
Ridgway recalled a similar crisis "15 years ago when physicians in the Virgin Islands could not get insurance."
On Friday, he said, "The next time someone is on a jury, maybe they will realize that they are not just giving way someone else's money; this has direct consequences at home. There is no free lunch. Ultimately, we all end up paying for it."
In a release from his office late Friday, Lt. Gov. Gerald Luz James II, who is running for governor, announced he will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Croix's Government House to "discuss the recent insurance coverage issue encountered by contractors at Hovensa."
James, who serves as Insurance commissioner by virtue of his position as lieutenant governor, and Maryleen Thomas, his director of Banking and Insurance and his running mate, have both said local carriers and agents are portraying an insurance crisis as a way to push for requested rate increases. James and Thomas have insisted there are new insurance companies waiting to come to the territory.
Fitzsimmons differs. "I have been amazed that carriers are found to do it," he said, referring to the writing of insurance coverage in the Virgin Islands.
Hovensa officials declined to identify the company whose liability policy expired Thursday at midnight, but it was not a local company. "Nobody on island could handle losses of that magnitude," Fitzsimmons said.
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.
WITHOUT TORT REFORM V.I. COULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE
Sept. 13, 2002 – In an unusual move, two St. Croix insurance executives have spoken out publicly about the layoff of 800 Hovensa workers due to the refinery's inability to secure personal injury liability insurance for seven of its maintenance contractors.
Insurance people tend to be conservative about talking with the press for fear of incurring the ire of regulators. But the two industry leaders went on the record Friday to offer warnings about the need for legislative reform.
"We need tort reform," Tom Fitzsimmons, president of St. Croix Insurance, said. David C. Ridgway, president of Marshall & Sterling Insurance, agreed.
"We have reached the point that few insurance companies are interested in writing in the Virgin Islands," Ridgway said in a release from his office. "Eight hundred people could not report to work today … as the direct result of the inability to attract carriers to the V.I."
The crux of the problem, according to Fitzsimmons and Ridgway, is the monumental jury awards given for minor injuries in the Virgin Islands. "For every $1 million collected in premiums, $10 million is paid out in settlements," Fitzsimmons said. "The thing is — it's time for the Senate to address tort reform."
In neighboring Puerto Rico, Fitzsimmons said, awards are determined by a panel of judges.
In the Virgin Islands, he said, insurance companies make excessive payments to avoid going to court.
"Our juries are not necessarily sophisticated," Fitzsimmons said on Friday, and yet the degree of negligence as well as the seriousness of the injury is left to them to decide. "If we don't get some kind of tort reform, the Virgin Islands is done."
Fitzsimmons added, "If we charge our businesses five times more for liability insurance," it won't be long before they start going elsewhere — like the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or "even Cuba when it opens up."
At a public meeting in June, Richard Doumeng, general manager of Bolongo Bay Beach Club and Villas, gave a graphic example of what Fitzsimmons was referring to. Doumeng said he had watched his liability policy premium at the hotel go "from $60,000 to $90,000 to $118,000," and that was without "one claim until this year."
That one claim, he said, involved a "slip and fall" which resulted in a "simple broken arm — no compound fractures" or other complications. The claimants "had an attorney in the states and were asking for $75,000," he said. "They got a local attorney, and they are now asking for $600,000." (See "Insurance crisis seen as big threat to economy".)
In the early '80s, auto insurance companies began an exodus from the territory, citing the same type of extreme jury awards as the reason. Those who remained greatly reduced their coverage caps, leaving property and business owners to scramble to protect themselves from lawsuits where jury awards could greatly exceed their policy limits.
Ridgway recalled a similar crisis "15 years ago when physicians in the Virgin Islands could not get insurance."
On Friday, he said, "The next time someone is on a jury, maybe they will realize that they are not just giving way someone else's money; this has direct consequences at home. There is no free lunch. Ultimately, we all end up paying for it."
In a release from his office late Friday, Lt. Gov. Gerald Luz James II, who is running for governor, announced he will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Croix's Government House to "discuss the recent insurance coverage issue encountered by contractors at Hovensa."
James, who serves as Insurance commissioner by virtue of his position as lieutenant governor, and Maryleen Thomas, his director of Banking and Insurance and his running mate, have both said local carriers and agents are portraying an insurance crisis as a way to push for requested rate increases. James and Thomas have insisted there are new insurance companies waiting to come to the territory.
Fitzsimmons differs. "I have been amazed that carriers are found to do it," he said, referring to the writing of insurance coverage in the Virgin Islands.
Hovensa officials declined to identify the company whose liability policy expired Thursday at midnight, but it was not a local company. "Nobody on island could handle losses of that magnitude," Fitzsimmons said.
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.
Insurance people tend to be conservative about talking with the press for fear of incurring the ire of regulators. But the two industry leaders went on the record Friday to offer warnings about the need for legislative reform.
"We need tort reform," Tom Fitzsimmons, president of St. Croix Insurance, said. David C. Ridgway, president of Marshall & Sterling Insurance, agreed.
"We have reached the point that few insurance companies are interested in writing in the Virgin Islands," Ridgway said in a release from his office. "Eight hundred people could not report to work today … as the direct result of the inability to attract carriers to the V.I."
The crux of the problem, according to Fitzsimmons and Ridgway, is the monumental jury awards given for minor injuries in the Virgin Islands. "For every $1 million collected in premiums, $10 million is paid out in settlements," Fitzsimmons said. "The thing is — it's time for the Senate to address tort reform."
In neighboring Puerto Rico, Fitzsimmons said, awards are determined by a panel of judges.
In the Virgin Islands, he said, insurance companies make excessive payments to avoid going to court.
"Our juries are not necessarily sophisticated," Fitzsimmons said on Friday, and yet the degree of negligence as well as the seriousness of the injury is left to them to decide. "If we don't get some kind of tort reform, the Virgin Islands is done."
Fitzsimmons added, "If we charge our businesses five times more for liability insurance," it won't be long before they start going elsewhere — like the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or "even Cuba when it opens up."
At a public meeting in June, Richard Doumeng, general manager of Bolongo Bay Beach Club and Villas, gave a graphic example of what Fitzsimmons was referring to. Doumeng said he had watched his liability policy premium at the hotel go "from $60,000 to $90,000 to $118,000," and that was without "one claim until this year."
That one claim, he said, involved a "slip and fall" which resulted in a "simple broken arm — no compound fractures" or other complications. The claimants "had an attorney in the states and were asking for $75,000," he said. "They got a local attorney, and they are now asking for $600,000." (See "Insurance crisis seen as big threat to economy".)
In the early '80s, auto insurance companies began an exodus from the territory, citing the same type of extreme jury awards as the reason. Those who remained greatly reduced their coverage caps, leaving property and business owners to scramble to protect themselves from lawsuits where jury awards could greatly exceed their policy limits.
Ridgway recalled a similar crisis "15 years ago when physicians in the Virgin Islands could not get insurance."
On Friday, he said, "The next time someone is on a jury, maybe they will realize that they are not just giving way someone else's money; this has direct consequences at home. There is no free lunch. Ultimately, we all end up paying for it."
In a release from his office late Friday, Lt. Gov. Gerald Luz James II, who is running for governor, announced he will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Croix's Government House to "discuss the recent insurance coverage issue encountered by contractors at Hovensa."
James, who serves as Insurance commissioner by virtue of his position as lieutenant governor, and Maryleen Thomas, his director of Banking and Insurance and his running mate, have both said local carriers and agents are portraying an insurance crisis as a way to push for requested rate increases. James and Thomas have insisted there are new insurance companies waiting to come to the territory.
Fitzsimmons differs. "I have been amazed that carriers are found to do it," he said, referring to the writing of insurance coverage in the Virgin Islands.
Hovensa officials declined to identify the company whose liability policy expired Thursday at midnight, but it was not a local company. "Nobody on island could handle losses of that magnitude," Fitzsimmons said.
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.
TRASH HAULERS WAITING FOR TWO MONTHS' PAY
Sept. 13, 2002 – St. Croix's four contracted trash haulers who didn't get paid for their August work and don't expect to get paid anytime soon for September are in a wait-and-see mode before they go on strike, Lloyd Daniel of Dan's Trucking said on Friday.
"We're waiting for a response from the government," he said.
Daniel said he and the owners of Bates Trucking and Removal, Fergutrax Heavy Equipment and Paradise Waste Systems were told that the government doesn't have the money to pay them. "They didn't pay us for August, and they're saying the funds are not there for September," he said.
The total money owed stands at about $470,000, he said.
According to Daniel, the haulers don't want to strike and hope the situation can be resolved. Since the territory is nearing the end of its fiscal year, it is running out of money, he said.
"How would you feel if the boss said he wasn't going to pay you for the next few months?" Daniel said.
Public Works Commissioner Wayne Callwood could not be reached for comment.
On Sept. 4, the Senate Finance Committee turned down Callwood's request to have $911,588 in funds now earmarked for utilities transferred to pay the waste haulers. He told the senators he needed the transfer to cover the cost of carnival cleanup activities and to pay trash haulers' overdue accounts.
After the meeting, according to published reports, Callwood warned that "trash is going to start piling up."
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 /A>.
"We're waiting for a response from the government," he said.
Daniel said he and the owners of Bates Trucking and Removal, Fergutrax Heavy Equipment and Paradise Waste Systems were told that the government doesn't have the money to pay them. "They didn't pay us for August, and they're saying the funds are not there for September," he said.
The total money owed stands at about $470,000, he said.
According to Daniel, the haulers don't want to strike and hope the situation can be resolved. Since the territory is nearing the end of its fiscal year, it is running out of money, he said.
"How would you feel if the boss said he wasn't going to pay you for the next few months?" Daniel said.
Public Works Commissioner Wayne Callwood could not be reached for comment.
On Sept. 4, the Senate Finance Committee turned down Callwood's request to have $911,588 in funds now earmarked for utilities transferred to pay the waste haulers. He told the senators he needed the transfer to cover the cost of carnival cleanup activities and to pay trash haulers' overdue accounts.
After the meeting, according to published reports, Callwood warned that "trash is going to start piling up."
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 /A>.
