Nov. 6, 2001 – Saying he wanted to ensure that top government officials would be paid more than their subordinates, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull set new salary ceilings Monday for upper echelon appointees, called exempt employees in government parlance.
In a press release distributed late Monday night, Turnbull said that "equity and sound managerial practices" call for salary levels such that top administrators do not make less money than the people they supervise.
The governor set a ceiling of $97,000 a year for commissioners, directors of the Management and Budget Office and of Personnel and "people in similar authority." This represents an increase of $32,000 from the current ceiling.
The new ceiling for assistant commissioners and people with similar jobs is $92,000 a year. That for deputy commissioners and similar officials is $87,000.
The administration's chief union negotiator, Karen Andrews, said the governor will set the salaries for each of these appointed employees. "He's working on it now," she said.
Commissioners are now paid a maximum of $65,000 a year and so could be looking at a 50 percent increase in salary. Andrews said assistant and deputy commissioners' salaries vary by department, so it is not possible to quantify their raises.
The governor also gave raises to the non-union rank and file employees at the Inspector General's Office, the Internal Revenue Bureau and the Management and Budget Office. Those employees, who had not received raises since 1991, bringing them on step.
According to James O'Bryan, assistant to the governor for public affairs and policy initiatives, this means that the workers have just gotten a 7 percent increase for every year since 1991. He said this brings those employees up to par with unionized employees who got raised to their step on Sept. 23.
Andrews said the money for all the raises was listed to the tune of $44 million in the Fiscal Year 2002 budget and $10 million in the F.Y. 2001 budget.
Neither the union nor the non-union workers received lump-sum retroactive payments for the years they went without raises. The unions had negotiated increases, but the perennially cash-strapped government did not have the money to pay them.
Andrews said the government owes about $300 million in retroactive pay. She said there are fewer than 100 rank-and-file people affected by the non-union raises and that commissioners and other top managers account for about 9 percent of the workforce.
The disparity between the salaries of commissioners and those of their top management staff came about on Oct. 18, when the government paid raises due in 13 union contracts, Andrews said. "The highest-paid captain in the Police Department now made $84,523," she said. Police Commissioner Franz Christian's salary was $65,000 a year, nearly $20,000 less than his subordinate. She cited a similar example in the Education Department, where the highest-paid principal will make $80,517 a year once a contract is finalized. Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds makes $65,000.
"Morale is affected by this," Andrews said.
She said the people who got the hefty raises were career employees who had worked their way up the ranks to managerial positions. This is the first salary increase they have had since former Gov. Alexander Farrelly gave them a raise in 1990.
However, some high-ranking government employees benefited from a policy instituted under former Gov. Roy L. Schneider of paying what Andrews termed a "stipend" in addition to their salaries.
Andrews said that although the V.I. economy is facing hard times, the raises were justified, given the high cost of living in the territory. She said that the problem of low salaries is apparent in places such as the Justice Department, which has had trouble hiring attorneys to prosecute cases. If a contract with the Seafarers International Union goes through, the most senior attorneys in that department — those with more than 15 years of experience — will be paid $84,600. Without the new salary level for the attorney general, the new contract would have had those attorneys making nearly $20,000 more than their boss.
O'Bryan said that there is no truth to rumors that Turnbull also was raising the salary of the governor to $150,000 a year from the current $80,000. By law, O'Bryan said, the Senate must approve salary increases for the governor and lieutenant governor.
DAY'S OUTAGES EXTEND INTO NIGHT FOR SOME
Nov. 6, 2001 – Water and Power Authority officials said late Tuesday afternoon that power was expected to be fully restored by 6 p.m., ending island-wide outages affecting some 25,000 customers on St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island that started around noon when a transformer caught fire.
But some customers were still without electricity as of 7:45 p.m. No one could be reached at WAPA at that hour for updated information.
"The fire is out and no one was hurt," WAPA spokeswoman Laurie Christian had said soon after the midday incident. She said WAPA personnel had "rearranged the system" in an effort to restore power, which began returning in some areas about half an hour after the outage.
As of about 3:30 p.m., Christian said, about one-third of the customers on St. Thomas were still without power, including those served by feeders 6, 7A, 8A, 9A and 10A, which cover downtown Charlotte Amalie, Sub Base, Frenchtown, Savan, Hospital Ground, Anna's Retreat, Solberg and northwest sections of the island.
Christian said then that the outages had affected 25,000 customers but that WAPA officials expected to have all power back on by 6 p.m.
St. John was fully restored late in the afternoon, but power went off again at 6:15 p.m. and was still out at 7:45 p.m.
Christian said the fire started when the transformer at the power plant failed. She said Fire Services was called to the scene but that WAPA's own firefighters extinguished the fire.
Royal Caribbean manager Vivek Daswani was about at the end of his rope on Tuesday afternoon. While power came back on in some locations after a power outage shortly after noon, his Main Street store in Charlotte Amalie remained in the dark.
When the power went out, so did his air conditioner. "People don't want to walk into the store," he said, adding that the heat made the lens of his security camera fog up, rendering it useless.
At The Grill in Frenchtown, manager Donald Johnson said that without air conditioning, the kitchen got very hot. "I just did the grill and salads for lunch," he said.
Daswani complained that his shop has experienced constant ups and downs with the power supply. "I wish they would do something," he said.
But some customers were still without electricity as of 7:45 p.m. No one could be reached at WAPA at that hour for updated information.
"The fire is out and no one was hurt," WAPA spokeswoman Laurie Christian had said soon after the midday incident. She said WAPA personnel had "rearranged the system" in an effort to restore power, which began returning in some areas about half an hour after the outage.
As of about 3:30 p.m., Christian said, about one-third of the customers on St. Thomas were still without power, including those served by feeders 6, 7A, 8A, 9A and 10A, which cover downtown Charlotte Amalie, Sub Base, Frenchtown, Savan, Hospital Ground, Anna's Retreat, Solberg and northwest sections of the island.
Christian said then that the outages had affected 25,000 customers but that WAPA officials expected to have all power back on by 6 p.m.
St. John was fully restored late in the afternoon, but power went off again at 6:15 p.m. and was still out at 7:45 p.m.
Christian said the fire started when the transformer at the power plant failed. She said Fire Services was called to the scene but that WAPA's own firefighters extinguished the fire.
Royal Caribbean manager Vivek Daswani was about at the end of his rope on Tuesday afternoon. While power came back on in some locations after a power outage shortly after noon, his Main Street store in Charlotte Amalie remained in the dark.
When the power went out, so did his air conditioner. "People don't want to walk into the store," he said, adding that the heat made the lens of his security camera fog up, rendering it useless.
At The Grill in Frenchtown, manager Donald Johnson said that without air conditioning, the kitchen got very hot. "I just did the grill and salads for lunch," he said.
Daswani complained that his shop has experienced constant ups and downs with the power supply. "I wish they would do something," he said.
DAY'S OUTAGES EXTEND INTO NIGHT FOR SOME
Nov. 6, 2001 – Water and Power Authority officials said late Tuesday afternoon that power was expected to be fully restored by 6 p.m., ending island-wide outages affecting some 25,000 customers on St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island that started around noon when a transformer caught fire.
But some customers were still without electricity as of 7:45 p.m. No one could be reached at WAPA at that hour for updated information.
"The fire is out and no one was hurt," WAPA spokeswoman Laurie Christian said soon after the midday incident. She said WAPA personnel had "rearranged the system" in an effort to restore power, which began returning in some areas about half an hour after the outage.
As of about 3:30 p.m., Christian said, about one-third of the customers on St. Thomas were still without power, including those served by feeders 6, 7A, 8A, 9A and 10A, which cover downtown Charlotte Amalie, Sub Base, Frenchtown, Savan, Hospital Ground, Anna's Retreat, Solberg and northwest sections of the island.
Christian said then that the outages had affected 25,000 customers but that WAPA officials expected to have all power back on by 6 p.m.
St. John was fully restored late in the afternoon, but power went off again at 6:15 p.m. and was still out at 7:45 p.m.
Christian said the fire started when the transformer at the power plant failed. She said that Fire Services was called to the scene but that WAPA's own firefighters extinguished the fire.
Royal Caribbean manager Vivek Daswani was about at the end of his rope on Tuesday afternoon. While power came back on in some locations after a power outage shortly after noon, his Main Street store in Charlotte Amalie remained in the dark.
When the power went out, so did his air conditioner. "People don't want to walk into the store," he said, adding that the heat made the lens of his security camera fog up, rendering it useless.
At The Grill in Frenchtown, manager Donald Johnson said that without air conditioning, the kitchen got very hot. "I just did the grill and salads for lunch," he said.
Daswani complained that his shop has experienced constant ups and downs with the power supply. "I wish they would do something," he said.
But some customers were still without electricity as of 7:45 p.m. No one could be reached at WAPA at that hour for updated information.
"The fire is out and no one was hurt," WAPA spokeswoman Laurie Christian said soon after the midday incident. She said WAPA personnel had "rearranged the system" in an effort to restore power, which began returning in some areas about half an hour after the outage.
As of about 3:30 p.m., Christian said, about one-third of the customers on St. Thomas were still without power, including those served by feeders 6, 7A, 8A, 9A and 10A, which cover downtown Charlotte Amalie, Sub Base, Frenchtown, Savan, Hospital Ground, Anna's Retreat, Solberg and northwest sections of the island.
Christian said then that the outages had affected 25,000 customers but that WAPA officials expected to have all power back on by 6 p.m.
St. John was fully restored late in the afternoon, but power went off again at 6:15 p.m. and was still out at 7:45 p.m.
Christian said the fire started when the transformer at the power plant failed. She said that Fire Services was called to the scene but that WAPA's own firefighters extinguished the fire.
Royal Caribbean manager Vivek Daswani was about at the end of his rope on Tuesday afternoon. While power came back on in some locations after a power outage shortly after noon, his Main Street store in Charlotte Amalie remained in the dark.
When the power went out, so did his air conditioner. "People don't want to walk into the store," he said, adding that the heat made the lens of his security camera fog up, rendering it useless.
At The Grill in Frenchtown, manager Donald Johnson said that without air conditioning, the kitchen got very hot. "I just did the grill and salads for lunch," he said.
Daswani complained that his shop has experienced constant ups and downs with the power supply. "I wish they would do something," he said.
PHILOMEN JOHN FUNERAL SERVICES
Philomen John, age 88, formerly of Laborie, St. Lucia, last resided at Mahogany Welcome, passed away Sunday, Nov. 4, in Puerto Rico. Her funeral will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9, at St. Patricks Catholic Church. Viewing will begin at 12 noon. Internment will follow at the Kingshill Cemetery.
She is survived by her daughter Angela Bertina John-Renee; sons Harris, Frank, Johnie, David, Albert, Julian and Mervin John; 20 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; sisters Dorothy Popo and Norma Plumber; brother Hymie Joseph, other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
She is survived by her daughter Angela Bertina John-Renee; sons Harris, Frank, Johnie, David, Albert, Julian and Mervin John; 20 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; sisters Dorothy Popo and Norma Plumber; brother Hymie Joseph, other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
COAST GUARD PROMOTES ST. THOMIAN MARVIN WELLS
Nov. 6, 2001 – U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Marvin Wells, a 1978 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, has transferred with promotion to the Coast Guard Air Station at Clearwater, Fla.
Ranked No. 1 on the promotion list, he was promoted to Aviation Technician Master Chief on September 1, 2001, making him the first Virgin Islander to achieve this rank within the aviation field in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Wells enlisted in the Coast Guard in September 1978. After completing basic training at Cape May, N.J., Wells served as Seaman onboard the cutter Cape Gull in Miami, Fla. He has since been in the aviation field, serving at Coast Guard stations in Kodiak, Alaska and Sacramento, Calif. before this new assignment.
Wells "has seen the world, and then some," said the Good News release. "I have traveled as a C-130 Hercules Navigator throughout the United States, Central and South America, South East Asia, including Hong Kong, China and other Pacific rim nations," Wells was quoted as saying.
On reporting to Clearwater, Wells assumed the position of Command Master Chief. His responsibilities include monitoring the health and well-being of all 650 enlisted personnel assigned to the air station. The Clearwater station is one of the largest and busiest in the Coast Guard with 13 HH-60J Jayhawk helicopters and seven HC-130H Hercules planes, said the release.
The air station’s operational area stretches from the Southeastern United States to the southern end of South America. It includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean basin, and the Bahamas, where it conducts anti-drug and migrant smuggling patrols, search and rescue operations, and logistics support for Coast Guard units in the region.
"In my current position," said Wells, "I am able to accomplish a lot of good for my people and their families. This is what it is all about."
Earlier this year, Wells, son of Marcia Wheatley and stepson of Calvin Wheatley of St. Thomas, visited several high schools in the Virgin Islands, including his alma mater, to raise the visibility of the Coast Guard and promote recruiting.
He has been awarded Coast Guard Achievement Medals, Humanitarian Medal, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations and three Special Operations ribbons.
He holds a bachelor's degree in science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is currently completing a master's degree in aeronautical science.
Ranked No. 1 on the promotion list, he was promoted to Aviation Technician Master Chief on September 1, 2001, making him the first Virgin Islander to achieve this rank within the aviation field in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Wells enlisted in the Coast Guard in September 1978. After completing basic training at Cape May, N.J., Wells served as Seaman onboard the cutter Cape Gull in Miami, Fla. He has since been in the aviation field, serving at Coast Guard stations in Kodiak, Alaska and Sacramento, Calif. before this new assignment.
Wells "has seen the world, and then some," said the Good News release. "I have traveled as a C-130 Hercules Navigator throughout the United States, Central and South America, South East Asia, including Hong Kong, China and other Pacific rim nations," Wells was quoted as saying.
On reporting to Clearwater, Wells assumed the position of Command Master Chief. His responsibilities include monitoring the health and well-being of all 650 enlisted personnel assigned to the air station. The Clearwater station is one of the largest and busiest in the Coast Guard with 13 HH-60J Jayhawk helicopters and seven HC-130H Hercules planes, said the release.
The air station’s operational area stretches from the Southeastern United States to the southern end of South America. It includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean basin, and the Bahamas, where it conducts anti-drug and migrant smuggling patrols, search and rescue operations, and logistics support for Coast Guard units in the region.
"In my current position," said Wells, "I am able to accomplish a lot of good for my people and their families. This is what it is all about."
Earlier this year, Wells, son of Marcia Wheatley and stepson of Calvin Wheatley of St. Thomas, visited several high schools in the Virgin Islands, including his alma mater, to raise the visibility of the Coast Guard and promote recruiting.
He has been awarded Coast Guard Achievement Medals, Humanitarian Medal, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations and three Special Operations ribbons.
He holds a bachelor's degree in science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is currently completing a master's degree in aeronautical science.
TRANSFORMER FIRE CAUSES 3-ISLAND POWER OUTAGE
Nov. 6, 2001 – A transformer fire at the Water and Power Authority shut down power to St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island at midday Tuesday.
Electricity was restored in some of the affected areas within about half an hour, but other sections were still without power at mid-afternoon.
"The fire is out and no one was hurt," WAPA spokeswoman Laurie Christian said shortly after electricity returned to some areas. She said WAPA "rearranged the system" to restore power as quickly as possible.
Christian said the fire started when the transformer failed, and power went out around 12:15 p.m. Fire Services was called to the scene, she said.
Electricity was restored in some of the affected areas within about half an hour, but other sections were still without power at mid-afternoon.
"The fire is out and no one was hurt," WAPA spokeswoman Laurie Christian said shortly after electricity returned to some areas. She said WAPA "rearranged the system" to restore power as quickly as possible.
Christian said the fire started when the transformer failed, and power went out around 12:15 p.m. Fire Services was called to the scene, she said.
BOMB THREAT EVACUATES CANCRYN SCHOOL
Nov. 6, 2001 – A thousand Addelita Cancryn Junior High School students were evacuated from the school campus shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday as the school received what its principal said was its first bomb threat.
Half of the students were sent to the Joseph Aubain Ball Park in neighboring Frenchtown, and the other half went to the athletic field at the western end of the school grounds.
Assistant Principal Selassie Francis, shepherding the students in the ball park, explained the separation of students is part of the school's crisis management plan. It took the students about five minutes in an orderly march from the school to get to the ball park. Francis said the school had received a call from a 911 operator at about 8:05 a.m. reporting a bomb threat.
Principal Yvonne Pilgrim remained at the school awaiting the Police Department bomb squad, which had not yet arrived at 8:45 a.m. Pilgrim said school resource officers had received the call from the 911 operator.
With Pilgrim was Leon Powell, Fire Services deputy inspector, who said he was nearby when the call came in and went to the campus immediately. Powell and fire inspector Richard Lindo joined Pilgrim in awaiting the police bomb squad, which Powell said he believes consists of two officers.
Standing guard at the Cancryn main entrance, Powell said it is his responsibility in the event of a bomb threat to make sure the school is evacuated, to secure the grounds and to ready the school afterwards for reoccupancy. "Nobody gets in or out after we get here," he said.
Powell said he wasn't able to call out to try to locate the bomb squad because the frequency of a cellular phone or a radio could set off a bomb.
Standing with folded arms and gazing at her empty school, Pilgrim was upset. She said this was the school's first threat. "They ought to find and expose the people doing these things," she said. "The students are missing out on their education. At least they have a place to go, but I hope to have them back in school shortly."
The students seemed to take it in stride, sitting in the ball park bleachers as if awaiting the first pitch. Special education teacher Madelyn Lake-Thomas wasn't quite as accepting of the situation, as she sat huddled among the chattering students. "I think they're searching the school now," she said, obviously worried. "We want to get back in class."
Police Chief Jose Garcia and his St. Thomas-St. John Deputy Chief Theodore Carty were out of their offices and could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning.
Half of the students were sent to the Joseph Aubain Ball Park in neighboring Frenchtown, and the other half went to the athletic field at the western end of the school grounds.
Assistant Principal Selassie Francis, shepherding the students in the ball park, explained the separation of students is part of the school's crisis management plan. It took the students about five minutes in an orderly march from the school to get to the ball park. Francis said the school had received a call from a 911 operator at about 8:05 a.m. reporting a bomb threat.
Principal Yvonne Pilgrim remained at the school awaiting the Police Department bomb squad, which had not yet arrived at 8:45 a.m. Pilgrim said school resource officers had received the call from the 911 operator.
With Pilgrim was Leon Powell, Fire Services deputy inspector, who said he was nearby when the call came in and went to the campus immediately. Powell and fire inspector Richard Lindo joined Pilgrim in awaiting the police bomb squad, which Powell said he believes consists of two officers.
Standing guard at the Cancryn main entrance, Powell said it is his responsibility in the event of a bomb threat to make sure the school is evacuated, to secure the grounds and to ready the school afterwards for reoccupancy. "Nobody gets in or out after we get here," he said.
Powell said he wasn't able to call out to try to locate the bomb squad because the frequency of a cellular phone or a radio could set off a bomb.
Standing with folded arms and gazing at her empty school, Pilgrim was upset. She said this was the school's first threat. "They ought to find and expose the people doing these things," she said. "The students are missing out on their education. At least they have a place to go, but I hope to have them back in school shortly."
The students seemed to take it in stride, sitting in the ball park bleachers as if awaiting the first pitch. Special education teacher Madelyn Lake-Thomas wasn't quite as accepting of the situation, as she sat huddled among the chattering students. "I think they're searching the school now," she said, obviously worried. "We want to get back in class."
Police Chief Jose Garcia and his St. Thomas-St. John Deputy Chief Theodore Carty were out of their offices and could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning.
NO MEETING OF MINDS AT PARK TOUR FEES HEARING
by Lynda Lohr Nov. 5, 2001 – "Improve your communication with St. John residents" some legislators advised V.I. National Park Supt. John King and National Park Service deputy Southeast Region director Patricia Hooks Monday evening.
The advice was handed out at a Senate Committee of the Whole meeting held in Cruz Bay to discuss taxi drivers' objections to new park tour operator fees and related matters.
But there were St. Johnians present who said taxi drivers had no one but themselves to blame for things they were complaining about.
More than a hundred people crowded into the Legislature Building for the hearing on the park plan to charge land-based tour operators and taxi associations permit fees starting Jan. 1. King was present for a discussion of the same topic on Oct. 25 at a meeting with taxi drivers organized by Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd.
Many taxi drivers at both meetings said they were incensed about the plan to require them to pay an annual fee to conduct tours through the park. All other operators of tours within the park already pay fees.
Responding to criticism that the park did not reach out to the community when formulating the new commercial services plan that calls for the fees, King said park officials had held numerous public meetings. He said they were well covered by the news media and that he had taken to the airwaves himself with information about the implementation of the plan. But some senators said he didn't reach the people affected.
"It's really troubling that you did not get out of the office and get to the streets," Sen. Carlton Dowe said.
Harry Daniel, who worked as the park's chief of enforcement following his retirement from the Police Department, had a different response. "The park had plenty of public meetings, but quite a lot of us did not show up," he said.
Only when things reached crisis proportions did St. John residents come out, Daniel said. He also said he had told the taxi drivers as far back as 1992 that of all the national parks, only the Virgin Islands one allowed taxi drivers to operate without a permit. He said he told them then to form an organization to work out a deal with park officials on permits and fees.
King later said that taxi drivers declined to do so, even though park authorities pointed out that it would help them make more money from the tour companies.
Several taxi drivers complained about a provision of the commercial services plan that limits the number of visitors who can frequent popular places within the park such as Trunk Bay at any given time. "When people come, how are you going to tell them they can't go?" Calvin Hill asked. He said the restriction would drive people away from St. John.
However, Elvis Marsh said Trunk Bay was overused even 20 years ago, when he worked for the park as a beach supervisor. "Trunk Bay is still being devastated. The underwater snorkel trail looks like a ruin," he said, referring to one of the beach's main visitor attractions.
Numerous people also complained about the $4 admission fee currently charged at Trunk Bay, but Marsh said if the fee wasn't charged, Trunk Bay would look even worse.
Taxi driver Elvis Sprauve, who also is a police officer, called on the senators to work with the drivers to fight implementation of the permit fees. "All of the people of St. John are behind the taxi drivers," he claimed.
Sprauve also said: "I will not pay no user fees to go onto national park property. If they put a gate up there, we're going to tear it down."
King said the park was willing to negotiate on the cited $750 annual fee for taxi associations and tour companies, as well as the $300 fee for independent operators and association members who moonlight by taking people on tours. Taxi drivers who only transport people from point A to point B within the park are not required to have permits.
King also said he was willing to discuss whether stopping at an overlooking for a "photo opportunity" while driving passengers from point A to point B constituted a tour, an issue that has been a sticking point for the drivers.
King said these matters could be discussed in a small working group.
While the meeting was at various times raucous, it turned downright ugly during Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel's time at the microphone. She stated that the National Park Service should give land back to the people of St. John. She said there were too few black people at a park public meeting she attended at the Ritz-Carlton on St. Thomas. Then she claimed that Hooks was smirking.
When Hooks sought to respond to that remark, Pickard-Samuel would not let her do so. Hooks turned to King with an aside, which prompted Pickard-Samuel to criticize her for talking while she, Pickard-Samuel, was at the microphone. "You don't respect us," Pickard-Samuel said.
Hooks later said she was at the meeting to listen, not to respond to personal comments.
A number of people at the meeting said that park fees should be paid only by visitors, not by residents. "You cannot deny us what is rightfully ours," Lorenzo Liburd said.
All legislators but Sens. Norman Jn. Baptiste, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen attended the meeting.
The advice was handed out at a Senate Committee of the Whole meeting held in Cruz Bay to discuss taxi drivers' objections to new park tour operator fees and related matters.
But there were St. Johnians present who said taxi drivers had no one but themselves to blame for things they were complaining about.
More than a hundred people crowded into the Legislature Building for the hearing on the park plan to charge land-based tour operators and taxi associations permit fees starting Jan. 1. King was present for a discussion of the same topic on Oct. 25 at a meeting with taxi drivers organized by Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd.
Many taxi drivers at both meetings said they were incensed about the plan to require them to pay an annual fee to conduct tours through the park. All other operators of tours within the park already pay fees.
Responding to criticism that the park did not reach out to the community when formulating the new commercial services plan that calls for the fees, King said park officials had held numerous public meetings. He said they were well covered by the news media and that he had taken to the airwaves himself with information about the implementation of the plan. But some senators said he didn't reach the people affected.
"It's really troubling that you did not get out of the office and get to the streets," Sen. Carlton Dowe said.
Harry Daniel, who worked as the park's chief of enforcement following his retirement from the Police Department, had a different response. "The park had plenty of public meetings, but quite a lot of us did not show up," he said.
Only when things reached crisis proportions did St. John residents come out, Daniel said. He also said he had told the taxi drivers as far back as 1992 that of all the national parks, only the Virgin Islands one allowed taxi drivers to operate without a permit. He said he told them then to form an organization to work out a deal with park officials on permits and fees.
King later said that taxi drivers declined to do so, even though park authorities pointed out that it would help them make more money from the tour companies.
Several taxi drivers complained about a provision of the commercial services plan that limits the number of visitors who can frequent popular places within the park such as Trunk Bay at any given time. "When people come, how are you going to tell them they can't go?" Calvin Hill asked. He said the restriction would drive people away from St. John.
However, Elvis Marsh said Trunk Bay was overused even 20 years ago, when he worked for the park as a beach supervisor. "Trunk Bay is still being devastated. The underwater snorkel trail looks like a ruin," he said, referring to one of the beach's main visitor attractions.
Numerous people also complained about the $4 admission fee currently charged at Trunk Bay, but Marsh said if the fee wasn't charged, Trunk Bay would look even worse.
Taxi driver Elvis Sprauve, who also is a police officer, called on the senators to work with the drivers to fight implementation of the permit fees. "All of the people of St. John are behind the taxi drivers," he claimed.
Sprauve also said: "I will not pay no user fees to go onto national park property. If they put a gate up there, we're going to tear it down."
King said the park was willing to negotiate on the cited $750 annual fee for taxi associations and tour companies, as well as the $300 fee for independent operators and association members who moonlight by taking people on tours. Taxi drivers who only transport people from point A to point B within the park are not required to have permits.
King also said he was willing to discuss whether stopping at an overlooking for a "photo opportunity" while driving passengers from point A to point B constituted a tour, an issue that has been a sticking point for the drivers.
King said these matters could be discussed in a small working group.
While the meeting was at various times raucous, it turned downright ugly during Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel's time at the microphone. She stated that the National Park Service should give land back to the people of St. John. She said there were too few black people at a park public meeting she attended at the Ritz-Carlton on St. Thomas. Then she claimed that Hooks was smirking.
When Hooks sought to respond to that remark, Pickard-Samuel would not let her do so. Hooks turned to King with an aside, which prompted Pickard-Samuel to criticize her for talking while she, Pickard-Samuel, was at the microphone. "You don't respect us," Pickard-Samuel said.
Hooks later said she was at the meeting to listen, not to respond to personal comments.
A number of people at the meeting said that park fees should be paid only by visitors, not by residents. "You cannot deny us what is rightfully ours," Lorenzo Liburd said.
All legislators but Sens. Norman Jn. Baptiste, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen attended the meeting.
NO MEETING OF MINDS AT PARK TOUR FEES HEARING
Nov. 5, 2001 – "Improve your communication with St. John residents" some legislators advised V.I. National Park Supt. John King and National Park Service deputy Southeast Region director Patricia Hooks Monday evening.
The advice was handed out at a Senate Committee of the Whole meeting held in Cruz Bay to discuss taxi drivers' objections to new park tour operator fees and related matters.
But there were St. Johnians present who said taxi drivers had no one but themselves to blame for things they were complaining about.
More than a hundred people crowded into the Legislature Building for the hearing on the park plan to charge land-based tour operators and taxi associations permit fees starting Jan. 1. King was present for a discussion of the same topic on Oct. 25 at a meeting with taxi drivers organized by Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd.
Many taxi drivers at both meetings said they were incensed about the plan to require them to pay an annual fee to conduct tours through the park. All other operators of tours within the park already pay fees.
Responding to criticism that the park did not reach out to the community when formulating the new commercial services plan that calls for the fees, King said park officials had held numerous public meetings. He said they were well covered by the news media and that he had taken to the airwaves himself with information about the implementation of the plan. But some senators said he didn't reach the people affected.
"It's really troubling that you did not get out of the office and get to the streets," Sen. Carlton Dowe said.
Harry Daniel, who worked as the park's chief of enforcement following his retirement from the Police Department, had a different response. "The park had plenty of public meetings, but quite a lot of us did not show up," he said.
Only when things reached crisis proportions did St. John residents come out, Daniel said. He also said he had told the taxi drivers as far back as 1992 that of all the national parks, only the Virgin Islands one allowed taxi drivers to operate without a permit. He said he told them then to form an organization to work out a deal with park officials on permits and fees.
King later said that taxi drivers declined to do so, even though park authorities pointed out that it would help them make more money from the tour companies.
Several taxi drivers complained about a provision of the commercial services plan that limits the number of visitors who can frequent popular places within the park such as Trunk Bay at any given time. "When people come, how are you going to tell them they can't go?" Calvin Hill asked. He said the restriction would drive people away from St. John.
However, Elvis Marsh said Trunk Bay was overused even 20 years ago, when he worked for the park as a beach supervisor. "Trunk Bay is still being devastated. The underwater snorkel trail looks like a ruin," he said, referring to one of the beach's main visitor attractions.
Numerous people also complained about the $4 admission fee currently charged at Trunk Bay, but Marsh said if the fee wasn't charged, Trunk Bay would look even worse.
Taxi driver Elvis Sprauve, who also is a police officer, called on the senators to work with the drivers to fight implementation of the permit fees. "All of the people of St. John are behind the taxi drivers," he claimed.
Sprauve also said: "I will not pay no user fees to go onto national park property. If they put a gate up there, we're going to tear it down."
King said the park was willing to negotiate on the cited $750 annual fee for taxi associations and tour companies, as well as the $300 fee for independent operators and association members who moonlight by taking people on tours. Taxi drivers who only transport people from point A to point B within the park are not required to have permits.
King also said he was willing to discuss whether stopping at an overlooking for a "photo opportunity" while driving passengers from point A to point B constituted a tour, an issue that has been a sticking point for the drivers.
King said these matters could be discussed in a small working group.
While the meeting was at various times raucous, it turned downright ugly during Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel's time at the microphone. She stated that the National Park Service should give land back to the people of St. John. She said there were too few black people at a park public meeting she attended at the Ritz-Carlton on St. Thomas. Then she claimed that Hooks was smirking.
When Hooks sought to respond to that remark, Pickard-Samuel would not let her do so. Hooks turned to King with an aside, which prompted Pickard-Samuel to criticize her for talking while she, Pickard-Samuel, was at the microphone. "You don't respect us," Pickard-Samuel said.
Hooks later said she was at the meeting to listen, not to respond to personal comments.
A number of people at the meeting said that park fees should be paid only by visitors, not by residents. "You cannot deny us what is rightfully ours," Lorenzo Liburd said.
All legislators but Sens. Norman Jn. Baptiste, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen attended the meeting.
The advice was handed out at a Senate Committee of the Whole meeting held in Cruz Bay to discuss taxi drivers' objections to new park tour operator fees and related matters.
But there were St. Johnians present who said taxi drivers had no one but themselves to blame for things they were complaining about.
More than a hundred people crowded into the Legislature Building for the hearing on the park plan to charge land-based tour operators and taxi associations permit fees starting Jan. 1. King was present for a discussion of the same topic on Oct. 25 at a meeting with taxi drivers organized by Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd.
Many taxi drivers at both meetings said they were incensed about the plan to require them to pay an annual fee to conduct tours through the park. All other operators of tours within the park already pay fees.
Responding to criticism that the park did not reach out to the community when formulating the new commercial services plan that calls for the fees, King said park officials had held numerous public meetings. He said they were well covered by the news media and that he had taken to the airwaves himself with information about the implementation of the plan. But some senators said he didn't reach the people affected.
"It's really troubling that you did not get out of the office and get to the streets," Sen. Carlton Dowe said.
Harry Daniel, who worked as the park's chief of enforcement following his retirement from the Police Department, had a different response. "The park had plenty of public meetings, but quite a lot of us did not show up," he said.
Only when things reached crisis proportions did St. John residents come out, Daniel said. He also said he had told the taxi drivers as far back as 1992 that of all the national parks, only the Virgin Islands one allowed taxi drivers to operate without a permit. He said he told them then to form an organization to work out a deal with park officials on permits and fees.
King later said that taxi drivers declined to do so, even though park authorities pointed out that it would help them make more money from the tour companies.
Several taxi drivers complained about a provision of the commercial services plan that limits the number of visitors who can frequent popular places within the park such as Trunk Bay at any given time. "When people come, how are you going to tell them they can't go?" Calvin Hill asked. He said the restriction would drive people away from St. John.
However, Elvis Marsh said Trunk Bay was overused even 20 years ago, when he worked for the park as a beach supervisor. "Trunk Bay is still being devastated. The underwater snorkel trail looks like a ruin," he said, referring to one of the beach's main visitor attractions.
Numerous people also complained about the $4 admission fee currently charged at Trunk Bay, but Marsh said if the fee wasn't charged, Trunk Bay would look even worse.
Taxi driver Elvis Sprauve, who also is a police officer, called on the senators to work with the drivers to fight implementation of the permit fees. "All of the people of St. John are behind the taxi drivers," he claimed.
Sprauve also said: "I will not pay no user fees to go onto national park property. If they put a gate up there, we're going to tear it down."
King said the park was willing to negotiate on the cited $750 annual fee for taxi associations and tour companies, as well as the $300 fee for independent operators and association members who moonlight by taking people on tours. Taxi drivers who only transport people from point A to point B within the park are not required to have permits.
King also said he was willing to discuss whether stopping at an overlooking for a "photo opportunity" while driving passengers from point A to point B constituted a tour, an issue that has been a sticking point for the drivers.
King said these matters could be discussed in a small working group.
While the meeting was at various times raucous, it turned downright ugly during Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel's time at the microphone. She stated that the National Park Service should give land back to the people of St. John. She said there were too few black people at a park public meeting she attended at the Ritz-Carlton on St. Thomas. Then she claimed that Hooks was smirking.
When Hooks sought to respond to that remark, Pickard-Samuel would not let her do so. Hooks turned to King with an aside, which prompted Pickard-Samuel to criticize her for talking while she, Pickard-Samuel, was at the microphone. "You don't respect us," Pickard-Samuel said.
Hooks later said she was at the meeting to listen, not to respond to personal comments.
A number of people at the meeting said that park fees should be paid only by visitors, not by residents. "You cannot deny us what is rightfully ours," Lorenzo Liburd said.
All legislators but Sens. Norman Jn. Baptiste, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen attended the meeting.
SOME SHIPS GO WEST, OTHERS EAST TO MISS MICHELLE
Nov. 5, 2001 – Although Hurricane Michelle has not threatened the Virgin Islands, it has cost St. Thomas two regularly scheduled cruise ship calls this week — but has brought two others that had not been planned.
The Carnival Paradise, which had been expected to pull into St. Thomas on Wednesday, and Carnival's Victory, previously scheduled to arrive on Thursday, both have been diverted from Eastern to Western Caribbean itineraries this week and so will not visit the Virgin Islands.
Meantime, Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises' Mercury were to have cruised the Western Caribbean but have been diverted to the Eastern Caribbean. Both are now to call at St. Thomas on Thursday, tying up at The West Indian Co. dock.
The hurricane out of the Gulf of Mexico slammed into Cuba on Saturday and then headed northeastward toward the Bahamas. Carnival Cruise Lines repositioned its two ships, which both sail out of Miami on Sundays, for the Western Caribbean runs. At the same time, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity moved their two vessels, both of which depart Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Sundays, out of the Western Caribbean into the Eastern Caribbean.
Local losses: The Victory has a standard capacity of 2,758 passengers and 1,150 crew. The Paradise, which is on charter this week, has 2,040 and 920, respectively.
Local gains: The Enchantment of the Seas normally carries 1,950 passengers and 760 crew, while the luxury liner Mercury carries 1,870 and 935, respectively.
With the call by the Paradise canceled, The West Indian Co. also announced Monday that on Wednesday the Zaandam will tie up at the WICO dock instead of anchoring in the inner harbor, as it had been scheduled to do.
The Carnival Paradise, which had been expected to pull into St. Thomas on Wednesday, and Carnival's Victory, previously scheduled to arrive on Thursday, both have been diverted from Eastern to Western Caribbean itineraries this week and so will not visit the Virgin Islands.
Meantime, Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises' Mercury were to have cruised the Western Caribbean but have been diverted to the Eastern Caribbean. Both are now to call at St. Thomas on Thursday, tying up at The West Indian Co. dock.
The hurricane out of the Gulf of Mexico slammed into Cuba on Saturday and then headed northeastward toward the Bahamas. Carnival Cruise Lines repositioned its two ships, which both sail out of Miami on Sundays, for the Western Caribbean runs. At the same time, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity moved their two vessels, both of which depart Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Sundays, out of the Western Caribbean into the Eastern Caribbean.
Local losses: The Victory has a standard capacity of 2,758 passengers and 1,150 crew. The Paradise, which is on charter this week, has 2,040 and 920, respectively.
Local gains: The Enchantment of the Seas normally carries 1,950 passengers and 760 crew, while the luxury liner Mercury carries 1,870 and 935, respectively.
With the call by the Paradise canceled, The West Indian Co. also announced Monday that on Wednesday the Zaandam will tie up at the WICO dock instead of anchoring in the inner harbor, as it had been scheduled to do.
