Dear Source,
It finally sounds like the voters of the Virgin Islands have the chance to elect a governor who understands the basic issues facing the territory. I have always read John de Jongh's articles in the Source with great interest and admiration for his straightforward approach and ability to cut to the heart of the problems that plague our islands. I hope he will receive the support of the voters, I hope people will listen to what he has to say and not turn a deaf ear simply because he is perceived as pro-business and one of the "haves." It is precisely that way of thinking that put the islands in the dire predicament they now face. We need his pro-active approach and we need it now.
Best of luck to you, Mr. deJongh. I wish I could vote for you personally, but will do my best to support you!
Sue Seibel
Chicago, Ill./St. Croix

Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net
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Dear Source,
It finally sounds like the voters of the Virgin Islands have the chance to elect a governor who understands the basic issues facing the territory. I have always read John de Jongh's articles in the Source with great interest and admiration for his straightforward approach and ability to cut to the heart of the problems that plague our islands. I hope he will receive the support of the voters, I hope people will listen to what he has to say and not turn a deaf ear simply because he is perceived as pro-business and one of the "haves." It is precisely that way of thinking that put the islands in the dire predicament they now face. We need his pro-active approach and we need it now.
Best of luck to you, Mr. deJongh. I wish I could vote for you personally, but will do my best to support you!
Sue Seibel
Chicago, Ill./St. Croix

Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net
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.

July 9, 2002 – Youngsters will have an opportunity to get their digital pictures taken with a big blue and yellow parrot named Rummi at his birthday party from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Lindbergh Bay children's park. And then at least some of the images will be posted on Rummi's web site for the world to see.
The birthday bash, according to Rummi representative David Phillip, is the first in what will be a series of Saturday parties this summer for preschool tots. Rummi, a Caribbean vacation web site which has been on St. Thomas for about a year, wants to provide opportunities for young children "to learn something, along with having fun," Phillip said.
You can see an animated Rummi bouncing around his namesake web site, which is where pictures from Saturday's party will be displayed.
The birthday bash will feature free cake, soft drinks, games and prizes. The learning angle will come via a demonstration by University of the Virgin Islands Marine Science Department personnel of where pollution comes from and what damage it does. Myra Suarez, who's with the V.I. Marine Advisory Service, said there will be a model showing how runoff occurs and how pollution happens. She said coffee grounds are used to track the pollution as the runoff flows down to the sea.
Sponsoring the event along with Rummi are the UVI Marine Science Department, Coca-Cola, Kids Co., PriceSmart and Atlantis Submarine. Phillip asked that anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or getting more information visit the Rummi web site.

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July 9, 2002 – The Public Services Commission's mandatory rate investigation of the two companies that hold exclusive franchises for ferry service between St. Thomas and St. John is way behind schedule, according to the hearing examiner in charge of the probe.
More than a year ago, the PSC assigned attorney Stylish Willis the task of overseeing the investigation of Transportation Services of St. John and Varlack Ventures. Now, Willis says, the investigation is on hold because the commission needs to look for a new financial analyst.
However, Keithley Joseph, PSC executive director, said on Tuesday that Willis has not officially informed him that there is a problem. "To the best of my knowledge, everything is on hold" until the commission addresses the situation at its next meeting, Joseph said. That meeting is scheduled for July 19 on St. Croix.
In the PSC's public utility rate investigations, mandated biannually under legislation enacted last year, financial investigators review a company's accounting practices. Willis said a thorough investigation is needed in the case of the ferry franchisees because both companies have multiple businesses, some of which are non-regulated but may be operated using funds that shift from one enterprise to another.
The accountant originally retained to oversee that portion of the investigation was supposed to present the PSC with a plan outlining how the financial review would be carried out, but that never happened, Willis said. The commission is now scheduled to discuss the situation at a meeting on July 19. "They have to hire a new accountant," Willis said.
He said he has no idea how long it will take to complete the financial review or the rest of the ferry service rate investigation.
The bill passed by the 24th Legislature last year requires rate investigations of all regulated public service providers — Innovative Telephone, the Water and Power Authority and the two ferry franchise holders — every two years.
In the first round of investigations since the law took effect, the Innovative probe, with attorney Frederick Watts as hearing examiner, is nearing completion. The WAPA review is on hold since the designated examiner, attorney Ronald E. Russell, asked to withdraw from the case last week and was excused, according to Desmond Maynard, PSC chair. Russell cited conflicts with the utility; WAPA officials had objected to his being in charge of the probe, alleging a conflict of interest because he represents a client suing the authority.
Efforts by the Source to obtain the current ferry franchise agreements, which are public records, have been unsuccessful. Joseph said he did not have copies and referred the request to Willis. Willis said he did not have copies and that they would be on file with the PSC. Joseph then said a request would need to be submitted in writing to the commission asking to see the documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The Source has such a request pending with the PSC concerning financial records submitted to the PSC by Innovative Telephone in connection with the commission's phone rate investigation.

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July 9, 2002 – The Public Services Commission's mandatory rate investigation of the two companies that hold exclusive franchises for ferry service between St. Thomas and St. John is way behind schedule, according to the hearing examiner in charge of the probe.
More than a year ago, the PSC assigned attorney Stylish Willis the task of overseeing the investigation of Transportation Services of St. John and Varlack Ventures. Now, Willis says, the investigation is on hold because the commission needs to look for a new financial analyst.
However, Keithley Joseph, PSC executive director, said on Tuesday that Willis has not officially informed him that there is a problem. "To the best of my knowledge, everything is on hold" until the commission addresses the situation at its next meeting, Joseph said. That meeting is scheduled for July 19 on St. Croix.
In the PSC's public utility rate investigations, mandated biannually under legislation enacted last year, financial investigators review a company's accounting practices. Willis said a thorough investigation is needed in the case of the ferry franchisees because both companies have multiple businesses, some of which are non-regulated but may be operated using funds that shift from one enterprise to another.
The accountant originally retained to oversee that portion of the investigation was supposed to present the PSC with a plan outlining how the financial review would be carried out, but that never happened, Willis said. The commission is now scheduled to discuss the situation at a meeting on July 19. "They have to hire a new accountant," Willis said.
He said he has no idea how long it will take to complete the financial review or the rest of the ferry service rate investigation.
The bill passed by the 24th Legislature last year requires rate investigations of all regulated public service providers — Innovative Telephone, the Water and Power Authority and the two ferry franchise holders — every two years.
In the first round of investigations since the law took effect, the Innovative probe, with attorney Frederick Watts as hearing examiner, is nearing completion. The WAPA review is on hold since the designated examiner, attorney Ronald E. Russell, asked to withdraw from the case last week and was excused, according to Desmond Maynard, PSC chair. Russell cited conflicts with the utility; WAPA officials had objected to his being in charge of the probe, alleging a conflict of interest because he represents a client suing the authority.
Efforts by the Source to obtain the current ferry franchise agreements, which are public records, have been unsuccessful. Joseph said he did not have copies and referred the request to Willis. Willis said he did not have copies and that they would be on file with the PSC. Joseph then said a request would need to be submitted in writing to the commission asking to see the documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The Source has such a request pending with the PSC concerning financial records submitted to the PSC by Innovative Telephone in connection with the commission's phone rate investigation.

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July 5, 2002 – "From the Water's Edge" is the title of the art exhibition that will open Friday at Alexander's Cafe. It's a showing of new work by St. Thomas fine art photograper Gary Felton.
The public is invited to the opening champagne reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Frenchtown restaurant. Felton will be on hand to discuss his work, and the door prize winner will receive a reproduction of his image titled "The Calm."
This collection of custom Giclee prints highlights a world that many people seldom get to see.
Felton's show represents the latest in museum-quality digital reproduction technology — Giclee printing. The computerized technique offers some of the finest richness of color and fidelity of imagery available in printing today. Felton has personally printed all of the works to be exhibited, on canvas and watercolor paper that ensure the archival quality of the images.
Felton grew up in Southern California but for the last 12 years has called St. Thomas home. An avid sailor and scuba diver, he has photographed a varied picture of the world in architectural, travel, sailing and underwater imagery.
Camera art has been his calling from his formative years. He is a graduate of the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he won numerous awards and was represented in national student exhibitions. After working in advertising and architectural photography for 13 years on the West Coast, he set off to sail the world, his camera always with him.
Felton's photography has won numerous awards and has appeared in such magazines as Cruising World, Yachting, Sailing, aloha, U.S. News & World Report, and Sport Diver; on Cruising World's calendars; and in the book "Wooden Boats, From Skulls to Yachts."
"From the Water's Edge" will hang through Aug. 8. All works are available for purchase on opening night and for the duration of the show.
For dinner at Alexander's following the reception, reservations are requiested. Call 774-4349.

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July 9, 2002 – Spiny lobster larvae, the beginnings of the local delicacy known commonly as langouste, came under the scrutiny of the Senate Planning and Environmental Protection Committee on Monday.
The Planning and Natural Resources Department's Fish and Wildlife Division was seeking a minor Coastal Zone Management permit — which the committee approved. Barbara Kojis, division director, explained that the permit was needed to conduct a study to determine whether there have been any changes in the replenishment patterns of the spiny lobsters. Similar studies were done in 1992-1994 and 1997-1998, she said.
Speaking from her office Tuesday morning, Kojis said the permit also allows the division to set up spiny lobster habitats the size of concrete blocks in an area south of the island of Little St. James off St. Thomas's East End. There are no natural habitats at the site, Kojis said, but she believes food resources there could attract juvenile lobsters and thus augment the present population.
The habitats will be in 60 feet of water, she said, so "nobody will see them unless they know they are there."
To study "larval recruitment," as the scientists call the delivery of larvae that replenish adult populations on reefs, adult lobster tracking devices will be set up at five sites in the Southeast St. Thomas Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuaries. These will be monitored biweekly, Kojis said, and she hopes the study will provide insights into population changes in the crustaceans.
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole, the committee chair, and Sen. Carlton Dowe showed videos to illustrate another CZM permit application and a lease request on the day's agenda.
After much legal sparring between Yvonne Tharpes, legislative legal counsel, and CZM attorney Julita De Leon, the committee voted to hold a minor CZM permit sought by Barbara Harris and heirs of the Israel Blumenberg family to rebuild a dock at Chocolate Hole on St. John. Tharpes said the application was not properly signed, while De Leon said, "We are simply renewing the permit, and it only allows for the occupancy of the submerged land, nothing else."
The committee decided to give the applicants until its next meeting, set for July 25, to get the needed signatures in place.
The lease-related video showed government property at Crown Bay where Amalia Car Rental Inc. had applied for a 10-year lease to build a car-rental agency. The property is now in disrepair and will be cleaned up, the senators were told. They approved the lease.
The committee also approved a 20-year government lease to Tip Top Construction of St. Croix of land where the company plans to build a staging area and offices.
Committee members attending the meeting were Sens. Cole, Roosevelt David, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Dowe. Sens. Adelbert Bryan and Celestino A. White Sr. were absent; Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen was excused.

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.

July 9, 2002 – Spiny lobster larvae, the beginnings of the local delicacy known commonly as langouste, came under the scrutiny of the Senate Planning and Environmental Protection Committee on Monday.
The Planning and Natural Resources Department's Fish and Wildlife Division was seeking a minor Coastal Zone Management permit — which the committee approved. Barbara Kojis, division director, explained that the permit was needed to conduct a study to determine whether there have been any changes in the replenishment patterns of the spiny lobsters. Similar studies were done in 1992-1994 and 1997-1998, she said.
Speaking from her office Tuesday morning, Kojis said the permit also allows the division to set up spiny lobster habitats the size of concrete blocks in an area south of the island of Little St. James off St. Thomas's East End. There are no natural habitats at the site, Kojis said, but she believes food resources there could attract juvenile lobsters and thus augment the present population.
The habitats will be in 60 feet of water, she said, so "nobody will see them unless they know they are there."
To study "larval recruitment," as the scientists call the delivery of larvae that replenish adult populations on reefs, adult lobster tracking devices will be set up at five sites in the Southeast St. Thomas Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuaries. These will be monitored biweekly, Kojis said, and she hopes the study will provide insights into population changes in the crustaceans.
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole, the committee chair, and Sen. Carlton Dowe showed videos to illustrate another CZM permit application and a lease request on the day's agenda.
After much legal sparring between Yvonne Tharpes, legislative legal counsel, and CZM attorney Julita De Leon, the committee voted to hold a minor CZM permit sought by Barbara Harris and heirs of the Israel Blumenberg family to rebuild a dock at Chocolate Hole on St. John. Tharpes said the application was not properly signed, while De Leon said, "We are simply renewing the permit, and it only allows for the occupancy of the submerged land, nothing else."
The committee decided to give the applicants until its next meeting, set for July 25, to get the needed signatures in place.
The lease-related video showed government property at Crown Bay where Amalia Car Rental Inc. had applied for a 10-year lease to build a car-rental agency. The property is now in disrepair and will be cleaned up, the senators were told. They approved the lease.
The committee also approved a 20-year government lease to Tip Top Construction of St. Croix of land where the company plans to build a staging area and offices.
Committee members attending the meeting were Sens. Cole, Roosevelt David, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Dowe. Sens. Adelbert Bryan and Celestino A. White Sr. were absent; Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen was excused.

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.

July 9, 2002 – Spiny lobster larvae, the beginnings of the local delicacy known commonly as langouste, came under the scrutiny of the Senate Planning and Environmental Protection Committee on Monday.
The Planning and Natural Resources Department's Fish and Wildlife Division was seeking a minor Coastal Zone Management permit — which the committee approved. Barbara Kojis, division director, explained that the permit was needed to conduct a study to determine whether there have been any changes in the replenishment patterns of the spiny lobsters. Similar studies were done in 1992-1994 and 1997-1998, she said.
Speaking from her office Tuesday morning, Kojis said the permit also allows the division to set up spiny lobster habitats the size of concrete blocks in an area south of the island of Little St. James off St. Thomas's East End. There are no natural habitats at the site, Kojis said, but she believes food resources there could attract juvenile lobsters and thus augment the present population.
The habitats will be in 60 feet of water, she said, so "nobody will see them unless they know they are there."
To study "larval recruitment," as the scientists call the delivery of larvae that replenish adult populations on reefs, adult lobster tracking devices will be set up at five sites in the Southeast St. Thomas Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuaries. These will be monitored biweekly, Kojis said, and she hopes the study will provide insights into population changes in the crustaceans.
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole, the committee chair, and Sen. Carlton Dowe showed videos to illustrate another CZM permit application and a lease request on the day's agenda.
After much legal sparring between Yvonne Tharpes, legislative legal counsel, and CZM attorney Julita De Leon, the committee voted to hold a minor CZM permit sought by Barbara Harris and heirs of the Israel Blumenberg family to rebuild a dock at Chocolate Hole on St. John. Tharpes said the application was not properly signed, while De Leon said, "We are simply renewing the permit, and it only allows for the occupancy of the submerged land, nothing else."
The committee decided to give the applicants until its next meeting, set for July 25, to get the needed signatures in place.
The lease-related video showed government property at Crown Bay where Amalia Car Rental Inc. had applied for a 10-year lease to build a car-rental agency. The property is now in disrepair and will be cleaned up, the senators were told. They approved the lease.
The committee also approved a 20-year government lease to Tip Top Construction of St. Croix of land where the company plans to build a staging area and offices.
Committee members attending the meeting were Sens. Cole, Roosevelt David, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Dowe. Sens. Adelbert Bryan and Celestino A. White Sr. were absent; Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen was excused.

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July 9, 2002 – While fire raged at the Anguilla Landfill on Monday, the Public Works Department advised St. Croix residents of another problem with public health implications — a sewage spill at the Golden Grove gut area.
A Government House advisory issued Monday afternoon urged the public to avoid the area "until further notice." Also, it said, persons who have livestock should keep their animals away from the area.
Public Works was "working on a sewage spill problem from a manhole in that area," it 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.