Aug. 25, 2002 – In the mainland telephone industry they pronounce it "slick."
"SLC" are the initials of the subscriber line charge that recently increased in the Virgin Islands from $5 a month per line to $6 per line. The half-page explanation of the additional $1 a month, sent out with its bills recently by Innovative Telephone, conflicts sharply with other information about the subject. SLC, incidentally, is not to be confused with the dollar-a-month charge for 911 services that Innovative does not want to collect any more. (See Plan to Have WAPA Collect 911 Fee Riles Critics.)
Quotations from the Innovative SLC explanation are shown in bold, and other comments in regular type.
"SLC … is a charge mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)."
The SLC fee is not mandated by the FCC, according to both an FCC spokesman and a source at AT&T, the long distance carrier. It is permitted by FCC, and a local carrier, like Innovative, may or may not impose the charge as it sees fit.
"As a result of new FCC regulations the SLC for residential and single line business customers will increase from $5 to $6 per line effective July 1, 2002."
What happened on July 1 was that the FCC increased the cap it allowed local phone companies to charge from $5 to $6. It did not mandate the increase.
"The increase does not increase the revenues of the Local Telephone Company (Innovative Telephone)."
The FCC Website says of the SLC: "It is not a tax or a fee charged by the government. The money received from the subscriber line charge goes directly [Source emphasis] to local telephone companies."
The Source asked a knowledgeable person in AT&T and got the same answer: "AT&T does not get the money, it goes to the local carrier."
"As a result of the $1.00 increase in the Subscriber Line Charge, the rates charged by the Long Distance Telephone Companies should decrease."
That's a little more complicated. The most recent SLC increase is part of a larger, long-term FCC plan to place more of the costs of phone service on the local user, and less on long-distance rates, a system sought by the long distance carriers, which have been for decades the subsidizers of local phone service.
"At the start of this process, a couple of years ago, the long distance carriers reduced their rates immediately," according to the AT&T lobbyist, "but no further reductions are in the cards at the moment."
A comparison between the Innovative phone bills and those received by this reporter for his home phone in Virginia is instructive. The Innovative bill received by a colleague at the Source carries two separate line items for:
Mainline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18.55
End User Access (the SLC by another name) . . $6.00
as well as some lesser charges.
Verizon, apparently recognizing where the money is going, sends out a bill to the Virginia customer including the SLC in the main phone bill, without making any distinctions. There is no effort made by Verizon to suggest that SLC funds goes anywhere but to the local phone company.
Verizon, incidentally, charges $6 monthly for the primary phone line SLC fee, and $6.62 a month for the SLC on a secondary line in the reporter's house.
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COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAXES ON HOLD FOR A FEW
Aug. 26, 2002 — Property tax payments may be due in less than a week, but not for the commercial property owners who have a suit pending against the government. District Court Judge Thomas Moore ruled Friday that the plaintiffs do not have to pay taxes by Aug. 30, pending their receipt of tax bills and the Court's determination of whether those bills are proper.
Moore's rulings in previous, similar cases are expected to cost the government millions of dollars in past and future collections.
The crux of the issue is that the government has been assessing property on replacement value rather than on actual or market value. The tax due is a percentage of the value the government assesses. The law says there are nine different criteria that should be considered in making assessments. Replacement value isn't one of them.
The current case, a consolidated action involving about 25 property owners, follows a landmark 2000 suit brought by Gary Berne in which he charged that the government was overvaluing his commercial property.
The ruling Friday was narrow and came out of a status conference, according to David Bornn, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction that would prevent the government from collecting their property taxes until the Court determined whether they were being properly assessed. In effect, Moore signaled that it is too early to rule on that motion.
By law, taxes are due Aug. 30. Bills are supposed to go out in June.
But, the administration says it hasn't issued all the tax bills yet. Although technically the Aug. 30 deadline is the law, regardless of when a taxpayer receives his bill, historically the government has frequently extended the deadline for payment when it has issued bills late. There are reports that Gov. Charles Turnbull will order a last-minute extension next week and that would apply to all taxpayers. But whether he does or not, the commercial property owners who are plaintiffs in the consolidated suit will not have to meet the Aug. 30 deadline.
Bornn said it is not too late for commercial property owners to join the suit.
Not many residential property owners have come forward to challenge the government. Apparently, in most cases, the dollar difference in the types of assessment for residential owners isn't large enough to warrant the legal fees, Bornn said.
But for commercial property owners, "it's no small matter." And it is no small matter for the government either.
When Berne first brought his case, he said the average independent appraisal he had on his Charlotte Amalie property was $1.3 million, in contrast to the government's $6 million assessment.
In 2000, the government assessed the three hotel properties of Equivest St. Thomas, Inc. – Bluebeard's Castle, Bluebeard's Beach Club and the Elysian Resort – at $98.4 million. But the property had been appraised independently in 1999 for $38.2 million and actually sold that year for just $22.5 million. Equivest took its case to court, and in June Moore ruled largely in favor of Equivest.
In testimony at a July legislative budget hearing, tax assessor Roy Martin said recent Court determinations about the assessment process could cost the government about $3 million in collections. That presumably, referred only to the cases already settled or concluded.
Meanwhile, the government is relying on what appear to be inflated projections of property tax collections to help balance the budget. In 2001, collections were $50.7 million. The administration's projection for 2003 is $62.4 million.
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.
Moore's rulings in previous, similar cases are expected to cost the government millions of dollars in past and future collections.
The crux of the issue is that the government has been assessing property on replacement value rather than on actual or market value. The tax due is a percentage of the value the government assesses. The law says there are nine different criteria that should be considered in making assessments. Replacement value isn't one of them.
The current case, a consolidated action involving about 25 property owners, follows a landmark 2000 suit brought by Gary Berne in which he charged that the government was overvaluing his commercial property.
The ruling Friday was narrow and came out of a status conference, according to David Bornn, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction that would prevent the government from collecting their property taxes until the Court determined whether they were being properly assessed. In effect, Moore signaled that it is too early to rule on that motion.
By law, taxes are due Aug. 30. Bills are supposed to go out in June.
But, the administration says it hasn't issued all the tax bills yet. Although technically the Aug. 30 deadline is the law, regardless of when a taxpayer receives his bill, historically the government has frequently extended the deadline for payment when it has issued bills late. There are reports that Gov. Charles Turnbull will order a last-minute extension next week and that would apply to all taxpayers. But whether he does or not, the commercial property owners who are plaintiffs in the consolidated suit will not have to meet the Aug. 30 deadline.
Bornn said it is not too late for commercial property owners to join the suit.
Not many residential property owners have come forward to challenge the government. Apparently, in most cases, the dollar difference in the types of assessment for residential owners isn't large enough to warrant the legal fees, Bornn said.
But for commercial property owners, "it's no small matter." And it is no small matter for the government either.
When Berne first brought his case, he said the average independent appraisal he had on his Charlotte Amalie property was $1.3 million, in contrast to the government's $6 million assessment.
In 2000, the government assessed the three hotel properties of Equivest St. Thomas, Inc. – Bluebeard's Castle, Bluebeard's Beach Club and the Elysian Resort – at $98.4 million. But the property had been appraised independently in 1999 for $38.2 million and actually sold that year for just $22.5 million. Equivest took its case to court, and in June Moore ruled largely in favor of Equivest.
In testimony at a July legislative budget hearing, tax assessor Roy Martin said recent Court determinations about the assessment process could cost the government about $3 million in collections. That presumably, referred only to the cases already settled or concluded.
Meanwhile, the government is relying on what appear to be inflated projections of property tax collections to help balance the budget. In 2001, collections were $50.7 million. The administration's projection for 2003 is $62.4 million.
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.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAXES ON HOLD FOR A FEW
Aug. 26, 2002 — Property tax payments may be due in less than a week, but not for the commercial property owners who have a suit pending against the government. District Court Judge Thomas Moore ruled Friday that the plaintiffs do not have to pay taxes by Aug. 30, pending their receipt of tax bills and the Court's determination of whether those bills are proper.
Moore's rulings in previous, similar cases are expected to cost the government millions of dollars in past and future collections.
The crux of the issue is that the government has been assessing property on replacement value rather than on actual or market value. The tax due is a percentage of the value the government assesses. The law says there are nine different criteria that should be considered in making assessments. Replacement value isn't one of them.
The current case, a consolidated action involving about 25 property owners, follows a landmark 2000 suit brought by Gary Berne in which he charged that the government was overvaluing his commercial property.
The ruling Friday was narrow and came out of a status conference, according to David Bornn, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction that would prevent the government from collecting their property taxes until the Court determined whether they were being properly assessed. In effect, Moore signaled that it is too early to rule on that motion.
By law, taxes are due Aug. 30. Bills are supposed to go out in June.
But, the administration says it hasn't issued all the tax bills yet. Although technically the Aug. 30 deadline is the law, regardless of when a taxpayer receives his bill, historically the government has frequently extended the deadline for payment when it has issued bills late. There are reports that Gov. Charles Turnbull will order a last-minute extension next week and that would apply to all taxpayers. But whether he does or not, the commercial property owners who are plaintiffs in the consolidated suit will not have to meet the Aug. 30 deadline.
Bornn said it is not too late for commercial property owners to join the suit.
Not many residential property owners have come forward to challenge the government. Apparently, in most cases, the dollar difference in the types of assessment for residential owners isn't large enough to warrant the legal fees, Bornn said.
But for commercial property owners, "it's no small matter." And it is no small matter for the government either.
When Berne first brought his case, he said the average independent appraisal he had on his Charlotte Amalie property was $1.3 million, in contrast to the government's $6 million assessment.
In 2000, the government assessed the three hotel properties of Equivest St. Thomas, Inc. – Bluebeard's Castle, Bluebeard's Beach Club and the Elysian Resort – at $98.4 million. But the property had been appraised independently in 1999 for $38.2 million and actually sold that year for just $22.5 million. Equivest took its case to court, and in June Moore ruled largely in favor of Equivest.
In testimony at a July legislative budget hearing, tax assessor Roy Martin said recent Court determinations about the assessment process could cost the government about $3 million in collections. That presumably, referred only to the cases already settled or concluded.
Meanwhile, the government is relying on what appear to be inflated projections of property tax collections to help balance the budget. In 2001, collections were $50.7 million. The administration's projection for 2003 is $62.4 million.
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.
Moore's rulings in previous, similar cases are expected to cost the government millions of dollars in past and future collections.
The crux of the issue is that the government has been assessing property on replacement value rather than on actual or market value. The tax due is a percentage of the value the government assesses. The law says there are nine different criteria that should be considered in making assessments. Replacement value isn't one of them.
The current case, a consolidated action involving about 25 property owners, follows a landmark 2000 suit brought by Gary Berne in which he charged that the government was overvaluing his commercial property.
The ruling Friday was narrow and came out of a status conference, according to David Bornn, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction that would prevent the government from collecting their property taxes until the Court determined whether they were being properly assessed. In effect, Moore signaled that it is too early to rule on that motion.
By law, taxes are due Aug. 30. Bills are supposed to go out in June.
But, the administration says it hasn't issued all the tax bills yet. Although technically the Aug. 30 deadline is the law, regardless of when a taxpayer receives his bill, historically the government has frequently extended the deadline for payment when it has issued bills late. There are reports that Gov. Charles Turnbull will order a last-minute extension next week and that would apply to all taxpayers. But whether he does or not, the commercial property owners who are plaintiffs in the consolidated suit will not have to meet the Aug. 30 deadline.
Bornn said it is not too late for commercial property owners to join the suit.
Not many residential property owners have come forward to challenge the government. Apparently, in most cases, the dollar difference in the types of assessment for residential owners isn't large enough to warrant the legal fees, Bornn said.
But for commercial property owners, "it's no small matter." And it is no small matter for the government either.
When Berne first brought his case, he said the average independent appraisal he had on his Charlotte Amalie property was $1.3 million, in contrast to the government's $6 million assessment.
In 2000, the government assessed the three hotel properties of Equivest St. Thomas, Inc. – Bluebeard's Castle, Bluebeard's Beach Club and the Elysian Resort – at $98.4 million. But the property had been appraised independently in 1999 for $38.2 million and actually sold that year for just $22.5 million. Equivest took its case to court, and in June Moore ruled largely in favor of Equivest.
In testimony at a July legislative budget hearing, tax assessor Roy Martin said recent Court determinations about the assessment process could cost the government about $3 million in collections. That presumably, referred only to the cases already settled or concluded.
Meanwhile, the government is relying on what appear to be inflated projections of property tax collections to help balance the budget. In 2001, collections were $50.7 million. The administration's projection for 2003 is $62.4 million.
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.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAXES ON HOLD FOR A FEW
Aug. 26, 2002 — Property tax payments may be due in less than a week, but not for the commercial property owners who have a suit pending against the government. District Court Judge Thomas Moore ruled Friday that the plaintiffs do not have to pay taxes by Aug. 30, pending their receipt of tax bills and the Court's determination of whether those bills are proper.
Moore's rulings in previous, similar cases are expected to cost the government millions of dollars in past and future collections.
The crux of the issue is that the government has been assessing property on replacement value rather than on actual or market value. The tax due is a percentage of the value the government assesses. The law says there are nine different criteria that should be considered in making assessments. Replacement value isn't one of them.
The current case, a consolidated action involving about 25 property owners, follows a landmark 2000 suit brought by Gary Berne in which he charged that the government was overvaluing his commercial property.
The ruling Friday was narrow and came out of a status conference, according to David Bornn, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction that would prevent the government from collecting their property taxes until the Court determined whether they were being properly assessed. In effect, Moore signaled that it is too early to rule on that motion.
By law, taxes are due Aug. 30. Bills are supposed to go out in June.
But, the administration says it hasn't issued all the tax bills yet. Although technically the Aug. 30 deadline is the law, regardless of when a taxpayer receives his bill, historically the government has frequently extended the deadline for payment when it has issued bills late. There are reports that Gov. Charles Turnbull will order a last-minute extension next week and that would apply to all taxpayers. But whether he does or not, the commercial property owners who are plaintiffs in the consolidated suit will not have to meet the Aug. 30 deadline.
Bornn said it is not too late for commercial property owners to join the suit.
Not many residential property owners have come forward to challenge the government. Apparently, in most cases, the dollar difference in the types of assessment for residential owners isn't large enough to warrant the legal fees, Bornn said.
But for commercial property owners, "it's no small matter." And it is no small matter for the government either.
When Berne first brought his case, he said the average independent appraisal he had on his Charlotte Amalie property was $1.3 million, in contrast to the government's $6 million assessment.
In 2000, the government assessed the three hotel properties of Equivest St. Thomas, Inc. – Bluebeard's Castle, Bluebeard's Beach Club and the Elysian Resort – at $98.4 million. But the property had been appraised independently in 1999 for $38.2 million and actually sold that year for just $22.5 million. Equivest took its case to court, and in June Moore ruled largely in favor of Equivest.
In testimony at a July legislative budget hearing, tax assessor Roy Martin said recent Court determinations about the assessment process could cost the government about $3 million in collections. That presumably, referred only to the cases already settled or concluded.
Meanwhile, the government is relying on what appear to be inflated projections of property tax collections to help balance the budget. In 2001, collections were $50.7 million. The administration's projection for 2003 is $62.4 million.
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.
Moore's rulings in previous, similar cases are expected to cost the government millions of dollars in past and future collections.
The crux of the issue is that the government has been assessing property on replacement value rather than on actual or market value. The tax due is a percentage of the value the government assesses. The law says there are nine different criteria that should be considered in making assessments. Replacement value isn't one of them.
The current case, a consolidated action involving about 25 property owners, follows a landmark 2000 suit brought by Gary Berne in which he charged that the government was overvaluing his commercial property.
The ruling Friday was narrow and came out of a status conference, according to David Bornn, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction that would prevent the government from collecting their property taxes until the Court determined whether they were being properly assessed. In effect, Moore signaled that it is too early to rule on that motion.
By law, taxes are due Aug. 30. Bills are supposed to go out in June.
But, the administration says it hasn't issued all the tax bills yet. Although technically the Aug. 30 deadline is the law, regardless of when a taxpayer receives his bill, historically the government has frequently extended the deadline for payment when it has issued bills late. There are reports that Gov. Charles Turnbull will order a last-minute extension next week and that would apply to all taxpayers. But whether he does or not, the commercial property owners who are plaintiffs in the consolidated suit will not have to meet the Aug. 30 deadline.
Bornn said it is not too late for commercial property owners to join the suit.
Not many residential property owners have come forward to challenge the government. Apparently, in most cases, the dollar difference in the types of assessment for residential owners isn't large enough to warrant the legal fees, Bornn said.
But for commercial property owners, "it's no small matter." And it is no small matter for the government either.
When Berne first brought his case, he said the average independent appraisal he had on his Charlotte Amalie property was $1.3 million, in contrast to the government's $6 million assessment.
In 2000, the government assessed the three hotel properties of Equivest St. Thomas, Inc. – Bluebeard's Castle, Bluebeard's Beach Club and the Elysian Resort – at $98.4 million. But the property had been appraised independently in 1999 for $38.2 million and actually sold that year for just $22.5 million. Equivest took its case to court, and in June Moore ruled largely in favor of Equivest.
In testimony at a July legislative budget hearing, tax assessor Roy Martin said recent Court determinations about the assessment process could cost the government about $3 million in collections. That presumably, referred only to the cases already settled or concluded.
Meanwhile, the government is relying on what appear to be inflated projections of property tax collections to help balance the budget. In 2001, collections were $50.7 million. The administration's projection for 2003 is $62.4 million.
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.
AWARENESS, INSURANCE ARE KEY DISASTER HELP
Aug. 26, 2002 – Organizers of a forum designed to raise public awareness about the danger of natural disasters drew about 60 emergency planners and emergency service volunteers to Frenchman's Reef Resort Friday.
The heightened hurricane activity seen in the Virgin Islands in the past decade led officials from V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency to team up with the University of the Virgin Islands's Small Business Development Center to bring the latest advice on protecting homes and businesses from hurricanes and floods.
Until the first of a string of catastrophic storms started showing up in the territory, the concern about hurricanes in the Virgin Islands was only one of passing interest, Roy Watlington, science professor, said. Watlington was one of a dozen panel speakers addressing the forum. A native Virgin Islander growing up in the '40s and '50s, Watlington said, "I really thought nothing natural happened here that was interesting."
But then Hurricane Hugo showed up in 1989, followed by Luis and Marilyn in 1995, Bertha and Hortense in 1996, Georges in 1998 and Hurricane Lenny in 1999. These storms brought hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the territory. Since then the V.I. government has taken several steps to increase safety and reduce the risk of property damage.
But this year, VITEMA Deputy Director Clayton Sutton said, changing times had added new hazards to consider — earthquakes and tsunamis, also referred to as tidal waves. Presenters also addressed the possibility of man-made disasters brought on by acts of terrorism.
"I think [that because of] the cross section of information we got, everyone was able to get something. That was the intent of this particular forum. This year we wanted to make it an all-hazards forum," Sutton said.
VITEMA first started a campaign about four years ago to heighten public awareness about the chance that an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or higher would strike the territory. The last one of that magnitude occurred in 1867 and, scientists say, with an estimated cycle of 100 years, the next big one is now close to 40 years overdue.
Because earthquakes occur suddenly, public awareness is the best form of emergency management, Watlington said. "The person who saves the day when you have an earthquake or a tsunami, unlike a hurricane, is the individual."
The Small Business Center helps put on the forums because, when disasters roll around, it's the SBDC that administers the local emergency disaster loan program, center director Warren Bush said. Among the topics of greatest interest is insurance.
Industry officials speaking at the forum said business and home owners who have proper insurance of the right types can recover quickly after a major storm or other disaster. But the cost of coverage makes the task of keeping insurance ever challenging, with rates increasing up to 200 percent since Hugo.
"Since Hurricane Hugo devastated the Virgin Islands … the cost of homeowners and commercial, home owners and property insurance has increased at an escalating pace," said attorney Glendina Matthew, a representative of the V.I. Office of Banking and Insurance. "The majority of insurance consumers, if not all consumers in the territory, find insurance unaffordable; thus many are unable to protect their properties, their home and businesses against hurricanes and earthquakes."
But this year, Matthew said property and casualty insurance is available and those who still want to buy policies can. Liability, property and casualty insurance are available, said David Ridgeway from the V.I. Insurance Association; but, he said, many businesses fail to take out the one kind of insurance that can help them recover quickly after a disaster.
"Businesses who don't buy business interruption coverage have the insurance to rebuild the building or repurchase the contents, but they don't have the funds to provide for the cash flow to retain their key employees and get through the bridge of the reconstruction period," he said.
Those who stand the greatest chance of recovery are those who can come to work the morning after, turn on the generator and open for business, and Rigdeway said insurance makes that possible.
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 heightened hurricane activity seen in the Virgin Islands in the past decade led officials from V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency to team up with the University of the Virgin Islands's Small Business Development Center to bring the latest advice on protecting homes and businesses from hurricanes and floods.
Until the first of a string of catastrophic storms started showing up in the territory, the concern about hurricanes in the Virgin Islands was only one of passing interest, Roy Watlington, science professor, said. Watlington was one of a dozen panel speakers addressing the forum. A native Virgin Islander growing up in the '40s and '50s, Watlington said, "I really thought nothing natural happened here that was interesting."
But then Hurricane Hugo showed up in 1989, followed by Luis and Marilyn in 1995, Bertha and Hortense in 1996, Georges in 1998 and Hurricane Lenny in 1999. These storms brought hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the territory. Since then the V.I. government has taken several steps to increase safety and reduce the risk of property damage.
But this year, VITEMA Deputy Director Clayton Sutton said, changing times had added new hazards to consider — earthquakes and tsunamis, also referred to as tidal waves. Presenters also addressed the possibility of man-made disasters brought on by acts of terrorism.
"I think [that because of] the cross section of information we got, everyone was able to get something. That was the intent of this particular forum. This year we wanted to make it an all-hazards forum," Sutton said.
VITEMA first started a campaign about four years ago to heighten public awareness about the chance that an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or higher would strike the territory. The last one of that magnitude occurred in 1867 and, scientists say, with an estimated cycle of 100 years, the next big one is now close to 40 years overdue.
Because earthquakes occur suddenly, public awareness is the best form of emergency management, Watlington said. "The person who saves the day when you have an earthquake or a tsunami, unlike a hurricane, is the individual."
The Small Business Center helps put on the forums because, when disasters roll around, it's the SBDC that administers the local emergency disaster loan program, center director Warren Bush said. Among the topics of greatest interest is insurance.
Industry officials speaking at the forum said business and home owners who have proper insurance of the right types can recover quickly after a major storm or other disaster. But the cost of coverage makes the task of keeping insurance ever challenging, with rates increasing up to 200 percent since Hugo.
"Since Hurricane Hugo devastated the Virgin Islands … the cost of homeowners and commercial, home owners and property insurance has increased at an escalating pace," said attorney Glendina Matthew, a representative of the V.I. Office of Banking and Insurance. "The majority of insurance consumers, if not all consumers in the territory, find insurance unaffordable; thus many are unable to protect their properties, their home and businesses against hurricanes and earthquakes."
But this year, Matthew said property and casualty insurance is available and those who still want to buy policies can. Liability, property and casualty insurance are available, said David Ridgeway from the V.I. Insurance Association; but, he said, many businesses fail to take out the one kind of insurance that can help them recover quickly after a disaster.
"Businesses who don't buy business interruption coverage have the insurance to rebuild the building or repurchase the contents, but they don't have the funds to provide for the cash flow to retain their key employees and get through the bridge of the reconstruction period," he said.
Those who stand the greatest chance of recovery are those who can come to work the morning after, turn on the generator and open for business, and Rigdeway said insurance makes that possible.
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.
AWARENESS, INSURANCE ARE KEY DISASTER HELP
Aug. 26, 2002 – Organizers of a forum designed to raise public awareness about the danger of natural disasters drew about 60 emergency planners and emergency service volunteers to Frenchman's Reef Resort Friday.
The heightened hurricane activity seen in the Virgin Islands in the past decade led officials from V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency to team up with the University of the Virgin Islands's Small Business Development Center to bring the latest advice on protecting homes and businesses from hurricanes and floods.
Until the first of a string of catastrophic storms started showing up in the territory, the concern about hurricanes in the Virgin Islands was only one of passing interest, Roy Watlington, science professor, said. Watlington was one of a dozen panel speakers addressing the forum. A native Virgin Islander growing up in the '40s and '50s, Watlington said, "I really thought nothing natural happened here that was interesting."
But then Hurricane Hugo showed up in 1989, followed by Luis and Marilyn in 1995, Bertha and Hortense in 1996, Georges in 1998 and Hurricane Lenny in 1999. These storms brought hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the territory. Since then the V.I. government has taken several steps to increase safety and reduce the risk of property damage.
But this year, VITEMA Deputy Director Clayton Sutton said, changing times had added new hazards to consider — earthquakes and tsunamis, also referred to as tidal waves. Presenters also addressed the possibility of man-made disasters brought on by acts of terrorism.
"I think [that because of] the cross section of information we got, everyone was able to get something. That was the intent of this particular forum. This year we wanted to make it an all-hazards forum," Sutton said.
VITEMA first started a campaign about four years ago to heighten public awareness about the chance that an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or higher would strike the territory. The last one of that magnitude occurred in 1867 and, scientists say, with an estimated cycle of 100 years, the next big one is now close to 40 years overdue.
Because earthquakes occur suddenly, public awareness is the best form of emergency management, Watlington said. "The person who saves the day when you have an earthquake or a tsunami, unlike a hurricane, is the individual."
The Small Business Center helps put on the forums because, when disasters roll around, it's the SBDC that administers the local emergency disaster loan program, center director Warren Bush said. Among the topics of greatest interest is insurance.
Industry officials speaking at the forum said business and home owners who have proper insurance of the right types can recover quickly after a major storm or other disaster. But the cost of coverage makes the task of keeping insurance ever challenging, with rates increasing up to 200 percent since Hugo.
"Since Hurricane Hugo devastated the Virgin Islands … the cost of homeowners and commercial, home owners and property insurance has increased at an escalating pace," said attorney Glendina Matthew, a representative of the V.I. Office of Banking and Insurance. "The majority of insurance consumers, if not all consumers in the territory, find insurance unaffordable; thus many are unable to protect their properties, their home and businesses against hurricanes and earthquakes."
But this year, Matthew said property and casualty insurance is available and those who still want to buy policies can. Liability, property and casualty insurance are available, said David Ridgeway from the V.I. Insurance Association; but, he said, many businesses fail to take out the one kind of insurance that can help them recover quickly after a disaster.
"Businesses who don't buy business interruption coverage have the insurance to rebuild the building or repurchase the contents, but they don't have the funds to provide for the cash flow to retain their key employees and get through the bridge of the reconstruction period," he said.
Those who stand the greatest chance of recovery are those who can come to work the morning after, turn on the generator and open for business, and Rigdeway said insurance makes that possible.
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 heightened hurricane activity seen in the Virgin Islands in the past decade led officials from V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency to team up with the University of the Virgin Islands's Small Business Development Center to bring the latest advice on protecting homes and businesses from hurricanes and floods.
Until the first of a string of catastrophic storms started showing up in the territory, the concern about hurricanes in the Virgin Islands was only one of passing interest, Roy Watlington, science professor, said. Watlington was one of a dozen panel speakers addressing the forum. A native Virgin Islander growing up in the '40s and '50s, Watlington said, "I really thought nothing natural happened here that was interesting."
But then Hurricane Hugo showed up in 1989, followed by Luis and Marilyn in 1995, Bertha and Hortense in 1996, Georges in 1998 and Hurricane Lenny in 1999. These storms brought hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the territory. Since then the V.I. government has taken several steps to increase safety and reduce the risk of property damage.
But this year, VITEMA Deputy Director Clayton Sutton said, changing times had added new hazards to consider — earthquakes and tsunamis, also referred to as tidal waves. Presenters also addressed the possibility of man-made disasters brought on by acts of terrorism.
"I think [that because of] the cross section of information we got, everyone was able to get something. That was the intent of this particular forum. This year we wanted to make it an all-hazards forum," Sutton said.
VITEMA first started a campaign about four years ago to heighten public awareness about the chance that an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or higher would strike the territory. The last one of that magnitude occurred in 1867 and, scientists say, with an estimated cycle of 100 years, the next big one is now close to 40 years overdue.
Because earthquakes occur suddenly, public awareness is the best form of emergency management, Watlington said. "The person who saves the day when you have an earthquake or a tsunami, unlike a hurricane, is the individual."
The Small Business Center helps put on the forums because, when disasters roll around, it's the SBDC that administers the local emergency disaster loan program, center director Warren Bush said. Among the topics of greatest interest is insurance.
Industry officials speaking at the forum said business and home owners who have proper insurance of the right types can recover quickly after a major storm or other disaster. But the cost of coverage makes the task of keeping insurance ever challenging, with rates increasing up to 200 percent since Hugo.
"Since Hurricane Hugo devastated the Virgin Islands … the cost of homeowners and commercial, home owners and property insurance has increased at an escalating pace," said attorney Glendina Matthew, a representative of the V.I. Office of Banking and Insurance. "The majority of insurance consumers, if not all consumers in the territory, find insurance unaffordable; thus many are unable to protect their properties, their home and businesses against hurricanes and earthquakes."
But this year, Matthew said property and casualty insurance is available and those who still want to buy policies can. Liability, property and casualty insurance are available, said David Ridgeway from the V.I. Insurance Association; but, he said, many businesses fail to take out the one kind of insurance that can help them recover quickly after a disaster.
"Businesses who don't buy business interruption coverage have the insurance to rebuild the building or repurchase the contents, but they don't have the funds to provide for the cash flow to retain their key employees and get through the bridge of the reconstruction period," he said.
Those who stand the greatest chance of recovery are those who can come to work the morning after, turn on the generator and open for business, and Rigdeway said insurance makes that possible.
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AWARENESS, INSURANCE ARE KEY DISASTER HELP
Aug. 26, 2002 – Organizers of a forum designed to raise public awareness about the danger of natural disasters drew about 60 emergency planners and emergency service volunteers to Frenchman's Reef Resort Friday.
The heightened hurricane activity seen in the Virgin Islands in the past decade led officials from V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency to team up with the University of the Virgin Islands's Small Business Development Center to bring the latest advice on protecting homes and businesses from hurricanes and floods.
Until the first of a string of catastrophic storms started showing up in the territory, the concern about hurricanes in the Virgin Islands was only one of passing interest, Roy Watlington, science professor, said. Watlington was one of a dozen panel speakers addressing the forum. A native Virgin Islander growing up in the '40s and '50s, Watlington said, "I really thought nothing natural happened here that was interesting."
But then Hurricane Hugo showed up in 1989, followed by Luis and Marilyn in 1995, Bertha and Hortense in 1996, Georges in 1998 and Hurricane Lenny in 1999. These storms brought hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the territory. Since then the V.I. government has taken several steps to increase safety and reduce the risk of property damage.
But this year, VITEMA Deputy Director Clayton Sutton said, changing times had added new hazards to consider — earthquakes and tsunamis, also referred to as tidal waves. Presenters also addressed the possibility of man-made disasters brought on by acts of terrorism.
"I think [that because of] the cross section of information we got, everyone was able to get something. That was the intent of this particular forum. This year we wanted to make it an all-hazards forum," Sutton said.
VITEMA first started a campaign about four years ago to heighten public awareness about the chance that an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or higher would strike the territory. The last one of that magnitude occurred in 1867 and, scientists say, with an estimated cycle of 100 years, the next big one is now close to 40 years overdue.
Because earthquakes occur suddenly, public awareness is the best form of emergency management, Watlington said. "The person who saves the day when you have an earthquake or a tsunami, unlike a hurricane, is the individual."
The Small Business Center helps put on the forums because, when disasters roll around, it's the SBDC that administers the local emergency disaster loan program, center director Warren Bush said. Among the topics of greatest interest is insurance.
Industry officials speaking at the forum said business and home owners who have proper insurance of the right types can recover quickly after a major storm or other disaster. But the cost of coverage makes the task of keeping insurance ever challenging, with rates increasing up to 200 percent since Hugo.
"Since Hurricane Hugo devastated the Virgin Islands … the cost of homeowners and commercial, home owners and property insurance has increased at an escalating pace," said attorney Glendina Matthew, a representative of the V.I. Office of Banking and Insurance. "The majority of insurance consumers, if not all consumers in the territory, find insurance unaffordable; thus many are unable to protect their properties, their home and businesses against hurricanes and earthquakes."
But this year, Matthew said property and casualty insurance is available and those who still want to buy policies can. Liability, property and casualty insurance are available, said David Ridgeway from the V.I. Insurance Association; but, he said, many businesses fail to take out the one kind of insurance that can help them recover quickly after a disaster.
"Businesses who don't buy business interruption coverage have the insurance to rebuild the building or repurchase the contents, but they don't have the funds to provide for the cash flow to retain their key employees and get through the bridge of the reconstruction period," he said.
Those who stand the greatest chance of recovery are those who can come to work the morning after, turn on the generator and open for business, and Rigdeway said insurance makes that possible.
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 heightened hurricane activity seen in the Virgin Islands in the past decade led officials from V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency to team up with the University of the Virgin Islands's Small Business Development Center to bring the latest advice on protecting homes and businesses from hurricanes and floods.
Until the first of a string of catastrophic storms started showing up in the territory, the concern about hurricanes in the Virgin Islands was only one of passing interest, Roy Watlington, science professor, said. Watlington was one of a dozen panel speakers addressing the forum. A native Virgin Islander growing up in the '40s and '50s, Watlington said, "I really thought nothing natural happened here that was interesting."
But then Hurricane Hugo showed up in 1989, followed by Luis and Marilyn in 1995, Bertha and Hortense in 1996, Georges in 1998 and Hurricane Lenny in 1999. These storms brought hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the territory. Since then the V.I. government has taken several steps to increase safety and reduce the risk of property damage.
But this year, VITEMA Deputy Director Clayton Sutton said, changing times had added new hazards to consider — earthquakes and tsunamis, also referred to as tidal waves. Presenters also addressed the possibility of man-made disasters brought on by acts of terrorism.
"I think [that because of] the cross section of information we got, everyone was able to get something. That was the intent of this particular forum. This year we wanted to make it an all-hazards forum," Sutton said.
VITEMA first started a campaign about four years ago to heighten public awareness about the chance that an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or higher would strike the territory. The last one of that magnitude occurred in 1867 and, scientists say, with an estimated cycle of 100 years, the next big one is now close to 40 years overdue.
Because earthquakes occur suddenly, public awareness is the best form of emergency management, Watlington said. "The person who saves the day when you have an earthquake or a tsunami, unlike a hurricane, is the individual."
The Small Business Center helps put on the forums because, when disasters roll around, it's the SBDC that administers the local emergency disaster loan program, center director Warren Bush said. Among the topics of greatest interest is insurance.
Industry officials speaking at the forum said business and home owners who have proper insurance of the right types can recover quickly after a major storm or other disaster. But the cost of coverage makes the task of keeping insurance ever challenging, with rates increasing up to 200 percent since Hugo.
"Since Hurricane Hugo devastated the Virgin Islands … the cost of homeowners and commercial, home owners and property insurance has increased at an escalating pace," said attorney Glendina Matthew, a representative of the V.I. Office of Banking and Insurance. "The majority of insurance consumers, if not all consumers in the territory, find insurance unaffordable; thus many are unable to protect their properties, their home and businesses against hurricanes and earthquakes."
But this year, Matthew said property and casualty insurance is available and those who still want to buy policies can. Liability, property and casualty insurance are available, said David Ridgeway from the V.I. Insurance Association; but, he said, many businesses fail to take out the one kind of insurance that can help them recover quickly after a disaster.
"Businesses who don't buy business interruption coverage have the insurance to rebuild the building or repurchase the contents, but they don't have the funds to provide for the cash flow to retain their key employees and get through the bridge of the reconstruction period," he said.
Those who stand the greatest chance of recovery are those who can come to work the morning after, turn on the generator and open for business, and Rigdeway said insurance makes that possible.
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3 GRADUATES GET $1,000 FROM MATCHED BOSTIC GIFT
Aug. 25, 2002 – Three St. Croix high school graduates have received financial assistance through the Colgate-Palmolive Company's matching gift program. The gift originated from Raphael T. Bostic, a Colgate employee whose donation of $1,375 to the school district was matched by the company for a total of $2,000.
Bostic, a senior production manager at Colgate, was on St. Croix recently to participate in his Christiansted High School Class of 1952 golden anniversary celebration. In his gift, he stipulates that three graduating seniors, other than the valedictorian and salutatorian, get $1,000 each to further their education, a release said.
The recipients are: Monica Tyson, a St. Croix Central High School graduate, who will attend Savannah State University; Neverson Bannis, St. Croix Educational Complex Vocational High School graduate, who will attend a DeVry University campus in the United States; and Nikisha Jn Baptiste, of St. Croix Educational Complex Academic High School, who will further her education at Xavier University.
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Bostic, a senior production manager at Colgate, was on St. Croix recently to participate in his Christiansted High School Class of 1952 golden anniversary celebration. In his gift, he stipulates that three graduating seniors, other than the valedictorian and salutatorian, get $1,000 each to further their education, a release said.
The recipients are: Monica Tyson, a St. Croix Central High School graduate, who will attend Savannah State University; Neverson Bannis, St. Croix Educational Complex Vocational High School graduate, who will attend a DeVry University campus in the United States; and Nikisha Jn Baptiste, of St. Croix Educational Complex Academic High School, who will further her education at Xavier University.
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TAMRA OLIVE SEES CAPITOL HILL IN ACTION
Aug. 25, 2002 – Tamra Olive comes to her senior year at Charlotte Amalie High School with a lot of new knowledge about what goes on in Washington, D.C. She spent 10 days in August at the National Young Leaders Conference, along with high school students from throughout the United States, interacting, working through issues, meeting Congressional members and staff, and seeing what happens in D.C. apart from Capitol Hill.
The students spent several hours with journalists from Fox News Channel, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, and CNN, hearing a panel and then discussing current events, journalistic ethics, news prioritization, and the inside scoop on careers in journalism.
"More young people should attend, it's exciting, and I really learned a lot," Tamra said
On the Hill, the students were welcomed to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, an honor usually reserved for members of Congress and their special guests, said a release.
In the chamber where the State of the Union Address takes place, the students were told by Tim Kennedy, staff member to U.S. Representative William Thornberry of Texas, in this room "our government has shaped the history of this country. Many pieces of legislation have been crafted and deals have been struck that have changed the course of our nation in this very room."
Kennedy concluded, "There is not a doubt in my mind that some of you here will take up the challenge of elected office."
Tamra, daughter of Laverne and Thomas Olive of St. Thomas, said she most enjoyed Capitol Hill, visiting the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the Delegate's office and staff. Her future lies, however, she believes, in working in the criminal justice system, and she plans to start college studies after she graduates.
Sponsoring organization of the conference, Congressional Youth Leadership Council, was founded in 1985. Each year 7,000 outstanding select youth participate in 24 sessions of the conference.
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 students spent several hours with journalists from Fox News Channel, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, and CNN, hearing a panel and then discussing current events, journalistic ethics, news prioritization, and the inside scoop on careers in journalism.
"More young people should attend, it's exciting, and I really learned a lot," Tamra said
On the Hill, the students were welcomed to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, an honor usually reserved for members of Congress and their special guests, said a release.
In the chamber where the State of the Union Address takes place, the students were told by Tim Kennedy, staff member to U.S. Representative William Thornberry of Texas, in this room "our government has shaped the history of this country. Many pieces of legislation have been crafted and deals have been struck that have changed the course of our nation in this very room."
Kennedy concluded, "There is not a doubt in my mind that some of you here will take up the challenge of elected office."
Tamra, daughter of Laverne and Thomas Olive of St. Thomas, said she most enjoyed Capitol Hill, visiting the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the Delegate's office and staff. Her future lies, however, she believes, in working in the criminal justice system, and she plans to start college studies after she graduates.
Sponsoring organization of the conference, Congressional Youth Leadership Council, was founded in 1985. Each year 7,000 outstanding select youth participate in 24 sessions of the conference.
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SWEDISH CITIZENS CAN VOTE AT THE V.I. CONSULATE
Aug. 25, 2002 – Swedish citizens in the Virgin Islands are advised that Swedish elections will be conducted between Aug. 16 and Sept. 1, 2002, according to a release from Honorary Swedish Consul Maria Tankenson Hodge.
Any Swedish citizen is entitled to vote in an election to the Swedish or European Parliament, as well as in a nationwide referendum, as long as he or she is at least 18 years of age on Election Day and has ever been entered in the Swedish population register. In addition, the citizen must be entered in the electoral roll. A Swedish citizen living abroad is automatically entered in the electoral roll if he or she has left the country within the past 10 years. Otherwise, the Tax Authority must be notified at least 30 days prior to the election that the citizen wishes to be entered in the roll.
Election material for eligible voters is available in the Virgin Islands at the offices of the Consul, 1340 Taarneberg, St. Thomas. This location is near the corner where Innovative Cable and Innovative Telephone are located.
Citizens may vote by mail, or in person at the consulate between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 30. Any Swedish citizen may feel free to call the Consul 774-6845 with any questions regarding these matters.
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Any Swedish citizen is entitled to vote in an election to the Swedish or European Parliament, as well as in a nationwide referendum, as long as he or she is at least 18 years of age on Election Day and has ever been entered in the Swedish population register. In addition, the citizen must be entered in the electoral roll. A Swedish citizen living abroad is automatically entered in the electoral roll if he or she has left the country within the past 10 years. Otherwise, the Tax Authority must be notified at least 30 days prior to the election that the citizen wishes to be entered in the roll.
Election material for eligible voters is available in the Virgin Islands at the offices of the Consul, 1340 Taarneberg, St. Thomas. This location is near the corner where Innovative Cable and Innovative Telephone are located.
Citizens may vote by mail, or in person at the consulate between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 30. Any Swedish citizen may feel free to call the Consul 774-6845 with any questions regarding these matters.
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.
