Parade applications, which have been available from the Committee office since March 12, are due by 5 p.m. Friday, April 12, at theCommittee office.
For more information call the office or parade committee chairman Lesmore Howard evenings at 776-8819.
SPRINT OFFERING CELLULAR PHONE SERVICE IN V.I.
March 7, 2002 – Sprint, one of the territory's long-distance carriers, announced Thursday that it now is providing cellular telephone service throughout the Virgin Islands.
"This is a whole new value proposition for businesses and consumers on the islands," said John Garcia, Sprint senior vice president for sales and distribution.
The company's basic "Free and Clear Plans" range from $29.99 a month for 3,000 minutes to $59.99 a month for 6,000 minutes. There are customized packages available at various prices, covering long-distance service, local phone calls only, and anytime use and/or off-peak minutes. The company also is offering voice-activated Internet access via cell phone, voice mail, numerical messaging, caller ID, call waiting, conference calling and automated accounted information.
"There's all different bells and whistles," Nanci Schwartz, the company's Sunrise, Florida-based spokeswoman, said. Some services carry an additional charge.
Anyone wishing to sign up for a Sprint calling plan can do so by visiting an Office Max or Radio Shack store on St. Thomas or St. Croix, Schwartz said. The two outlets are the local distributors for Audiovox, Kyecera, LGInfocom, Motorola, Samsung and Sanyo cellular phones. Schwartz said more brands will be added later. Phone prices start at $99.99.
Most packages require a one-year contract, but non-contract service is available for an extra $10 per month
Customers also can shop for the new services in the territory at the Sprint PCS web site.
Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 23 million business and residential customers in more than 70 countries.
"This is a whole new value proposition for businesses and consumers on the islands," said John Garcia, Sprint senior vice president for sales and distribution.
The company's basic "Free and Clear Plans" range from $29.99 a month for 3,000 minutes to $59.99 a month for 6,000 minutes. There are customized packages available at various prices, covering long-distance service, local phone calls only, and anytime use and/or off-peak minutes. The company also is offering voice-activated Internet access via cell phone, voice mail, numerical messaging, caller ID, call waiting, conference calling and automated accounted information.
"There's all different bells and whistles," Nanci Schwartz, the company's Sunrise, Florida-based spokeswoman, said. Some services carry an additional charge.
Anyone wishing to sign up for a Sprint calling plan can do so by visiting an Office Max or Radio Shack store on St. Thomas or St. Croix, Schwartz said. The two outlets are the local distributors for Audiovox, Kyecera, LGInfocom, Motorola, Samsung and Sanyo cellular phones. Schwartz said more brands will be added later. Phone prices start at $99.99.
Most packages require a one-year contract, but non-contract service is available for an extra $10 per month
Customers also can shop for the new services in the territory at the Sprint PCS web site.
Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 23 million business and residential customers in more than 70 countries.
EXTENDING V.I. RUM TAX BENEFIT WINS HOUSE OK
March 7, 2002 – The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill on Thursday to extend the territory's rum tax "cover-over" of $13.25 per proof gallon for two more years. This is the law that sends the V.I. government most of the federal taxes paid by mainland buyers of rum made in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Since 1997, the territory has been receiving $13.25 of the $13.50 in federal taxes paid per proof gallon on rum sold on the mainland. Most of it is sold in bulk to companies that bottle the V.I. product under their own labels. Puerto Rico has similar benefits.
The cover-over as originally enacted by Congress was $10.50 per proof gallon; later, it was increased to $11.30. In 1997, it was raised to the current level.
In recent years, the program has been pumping nearly $75 million a year into the territory's coffers, according to Brian Modeste, an aide to Delegate Donna Christian Christensen. He said most of the territory's rum tax revenues go to pay for bonds floated by the government, while a small portion goes into the General Fund. He did not have a breakdown.
The $13.25 cover-over expired last Dec. 31, but the House bill makes its extension retroactive to Jan. 1. If a the measure does not win approval by the Senate and the White House, the territory's cover-over will revert to $10.50 per proof gallon, costing the territory $15 million to $20 million a year in revenues.
Modeste said the rum-tax extension is attached to the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, a bill to extend federal unemployment benefits by 13 weeks for people whose jobless benefits have run out. "This is part of a carefully orchestrated negotiation," he said of pairing the rum measure with the benefits bill. He said he did not know when the Senate would vote on the proposal.
Christensen said she was pleased that her House colleagues made good on their pledge to extend the rum-tax legislation. "It was an important victory for us to get the Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico rum cover-over accepted as part of the annual package of non-controversial expiring tax provisions," she said.
Since 1997, the territory has been receiving $13.25 of the $13.50 in federal taxes paid per proof gallon on rum sold on the mainland. Most of it is sold in bulk to companies that bottle the V.I. product under their own labels. Puerto Rico has similar benefits.
The cover-over as originally enacted by Congress was $10.50 per proof gallon; later, it was increased to $11.30. In 1997, it was raised to the current level.
In recent years, the program has been pumping nearly $75 million a year into the territory's coffers, according to Brian Modeste, an aide to Delegate Donna Christian Christensen. He said most of the territory's rum tax revenues go to pay for bonds floated by the government, while a small portion goes into the General Fund. He did not have a breakdown.
The $13.25 cover-over expired last Dec. 31, but the House bill makes its extension retroactive to Jan. 1. If a the measure does not win approval by the Senate and the White House, the territory's cover-over will revert to $10.50 per proof gallon, costing the territory $15 million to $20 million a year in revenues.
Modeste said the rum-tax extension is attached to the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, a bill to extend federal unemployment benefits by 13 weeks for people whose jobless benefits have run out. "This is part of a carefully orchestrated negotiation," he said of pairing the rum measure with the benefits bill. He said he did not know when the Senate would vote on the proposal.
Christensen said she was pleased that her House colleagues made good on their pledge to extend the rum-tax legislation. "It was an important victory for us to get the Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico rum cover-over accepted as part of the annual package of non-controversial expiring tax provisions," she said.
EXTENDING V.I. RUM TAX BENEFIT WINS HOUSE OK
March 7, 2002 – The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill on Thursday to extend the territory's expired rum tax "cover-over" of $13.25 per proof gallon for two more years. This is the law that sends the V.I. government most of the federal taxes paid by mainland buyers of rum made in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Since 1997, the territory has been receiving $13.25 of the $13.50 in federal taxes paid per proof gallon on rum sold on the mainland. Most of it is sold in bulk to companies that bottle the V.I. product under their own labels. Puerto Rico has similar benefits.
The cover-over as originally enacted by Congress was $10.50 per proof gallon; later, it was increased to $11.30. In 1997, it was raised to the current level.
In recent years, the program has been pumping nearly $75 million a year into the territory's coffers, according to Brian Modeste, an aide to Delegate Donna Christian Christensen. He said most of the territory's rum tax revenues go to pay for bonds floated by the government, while a small portion goes into the General Fund. He did not have a breakdown.
The $13.25 cover-over expired last Dec. 31, but the House bill makes its extension retroactive to Jan. 1. If a the measure does not win approval by the Senate and the White House, the territory's cover-over will revert to $10.50 per proof gallon, costing the territory $15 million to $20 million a year in revenues.
Modeste said the rum-tax extension is attached to the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, a bill to extend federal unemployment benefits by 13 weeks for people whose jobless benefits have run out. "This is part of a carefully orchestrated negotiation," he said of pairing the rum measure with the benefits bill. He said he did not know when the Senate would vote on the proposal.
Christensen said she was pleased that her House colleagues made good on their pledge to extend the rum-tax legislation. "It was an important victory for us to get the Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico rum cover-over accepted as part of the annual package of non-controversial expiring tax provisions," she said.
Since 1997, the territory has been receiving $13.25 of the $13.50 in federal taxes paid per proof gallon on rum sold on the mainland. Most of it is sold in bulk to companies that bottle the V.I. product under their own labels. Puerto Rico has similar benefits.
The cover-over as originally enacted by Congress was $10.50 per proof gallon; later, it was increased to $11.30. In 1997, it was raised to the current level.
In recent years, the program has been pumping nearly $75 million a year into the territory's coffers, according to Brian Modeste, an aide to Delegate Donna Christian Christensen. He said most of the territory's rum tax revenues go to pay for bonds floated by the government, while a small portion goes into the General Fund. He did not have a breakdown.
The $13.25 cover-over expired last Dec. 31, but the House bill makes its extension retroactive to Jan. 1. If a the measure does not win approval by the Senate and the White House, the territory's cover-over will revert to $10.50 per proof gallon, costing the territory $15 million to $20 million a year in revenues.
Modeste said the rum-tax extension is attached to the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, a bill to extend federal unemployment benefits by 13 weeks for people whose jobless benefits have run out. "This is part of a carefully orchestrated negotiation," he said of pairing the rum measure with the benefits bill. He said he did not know when the Senate would vote on the proposal.
Christensen said she was pleased that her House colleagues made good on their pledge to extend the rum-tax legislation. "It was an important victory for us to get the Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico rum cover-over accepted as part of the annual package of non-controversial expiring tax provisions," she said.
ANNUAL CARIBBEAN COLORS EXHIBITION
The 14th Annual Caribbean Colors Exhibition is going to be at The Grand Hotel in Charlotte Amalie from April 20 through May 4. Entry forms need to be submitted by April 1. For information call 774-8900.
MEET THE ARTIST AT KARIBA
At Kariba Designer Jewelry in Mongoos Junction, there will be a "meet the artist" featuring the new works by goldsmith Michael Banzhaf.
For information call 693-9380.
For information call 693-9380.
ANNUAL CARIBBEAN COLOR EXHIBITION STARTS IN APRIL
The 14th Annual Caribbean Colors exhibition is going to be at The Grand Hotel in Charlotte Amalie from April 10 through May 4.Entry forms need to be submitted by April 1. Call 774-8900 for information.
APHRODITE WORKS AT FRAMES OF MIND
New art by Aphrodite will be at Frames of Mind "Mo" show at the Lumberyard complex.
For information call 693-8560.
For information call 693-8560.
PINE PEACE AUCTION COMING SOON
The Pine Peace auction will take place with many works by local artists up for bid.
For more information call 776-6595.
For more information call 776-6595.
