Sept. 26, 2001 — The territory’s only known victim in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon, Army Staff Sgt. Maudlyn White, was buried Wednesday with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
White, 38, of St. Thomas, was among the 186 people killed when a hijacked passenger jet was crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11. Funeral services in the chapel at Fort Myers in Arlington, Va., were brief but well attended, Delegate Donna Christian Christensen said.
After the playing of taps and the military gun salute, the flag, the Purple Heart medal and a badge of meritorious service were presented to White’s 5-year-old daughter.
"It was a very sad day," Christensen said. "I conveyed the condolences of the entire Virgin Islands community to her family and friends. Sgt. White will be remembered as one of our country's heroes who lost their lives in the tragic terrorist attack."
The ceremony was attended by the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, along with White’s mother, Priscilla Irish; close friend Master Sgt. Jerraine Wynter of St. Croix; daughter, siblings and other family members, co-workers and friends.
5 FIREFIGHTERS TAKE DONATIONS TO NEW YORK
Sept. 27, 2001 – As acting governor Tuesday and Wednesday while Gov. Charles W. Turnbull was in New York City, Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II sent his own message to that city and followed up by sending five ambassadors of goodwill.
On Tuesday, according to a Government House release, James wrote to the comptroller of New York "updating him of the territory's efforts to support the national relief drive for the victims of the terrorist attack." He said the Virgin Islands' people "stand ready to render unwavering support and pledge to assist the people of New York in its recovery."
Further, he wrote, "In a collaborative effort with local private and public agencies, all financial resources will be pooled together to support recovery efforts." And, he said, telephone calls would be made to the V.I. Tourism office in New York "as well as local companies who also occupy office space in New York" to "accommodate many companies who have lost their offices and need operations on a temporary or long-term basis."
The release concluded with James saying, "With the assistance of the people of the United States Virgin Islands, New York will continue to play a vital role in keeping America proud, free and prosperous."
The "assistance," the letter explained, of V.I. firefighters collecting donations to assist fellow firefighters involved in rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center. By the end of Tuesday, $30,000 had been raised, he said, and five firefighters would be "traveling from the Virgin Islands to New York to present a check to the New York Fire Department, Local 94."
On Wednesday, in another release, James said the donations had reached $40,000. He also announced that he had granted administrative leave for the five firefighters to go to New York "to participate in recovery efforts" and to delivery the money to the union local. The trip is being financed by the V.I. Firefighters Union, the release stated.
Those making the trip are David Hodge, Eustace Grant and Luen Anthony of St. Thomas and Angel Torres and Davidson Charlemagne of St. Croix. They were to leave Wednesday and are expected to return "after Oct. 1," the release said.
On Tuesday, according to a Government House release, James wrote to the comptroller of New York "updating him of the territory's efforts to support the national relief drive for the victims of the terrorist attack." He said the Virgin Islands' people "stand ready to render unwavering support and pledge to assist the people of New York in its recovery."
Further, he wrote, "In a collaborative effort with local private and public agencies, all financial resources will be pooled together to support recovery efforts." And, he said, telephone calls would be made to the V.I. Tourism office in New York "as well as local companies who also occupy office space in New York" to "accommodate many companies who have lost their offices and need operations on a temporary or long-term basis."
The release concluded with James saying, "With the assistance of the people of the United States Virgin Islands, New York will continue to play a vital role in keeping America proud, free and prosperous."
The "assistance," the letter explained, of V.I. firefighters collecting donations to assist fellow firefighters involved in rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center. By the end of Tuesday, $30,000 had been raised, he said, and five firefighters would be "traveling from the Virgin Islands to New York to present a check to the New York Fire Department, Local 94."
On Wednesday, in another release, James said the donations had reached $40,000. He also announced that he had granted administrative leave for the five firefighters to go to New York "to participate in recovery efforts" and to delivery the money to the union local. The trip is being financed by the V.I. Firefighters Union, the release stated.
Those making the trip are David Hodge, Eustace Grant and Luen Anthony of St. Thomas and Angel Torres and Davidson Charlemagne of St. Croix. They were to leave Wednesday and are expected to return "after Oct. 1," the release said.
5 FIREFIGHTERS TAKE DONATIONS TO NEW YORK
Sept. 27, 2001 – As acting governor Tuesday and Wednesday while Gov. Charles W. Turnbull was in New York City, Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II sent his own message to that city and followed up by sending five ambassadors of goodwill.
On Tuesday, according to a Government House release, James wrote to the comptroller of New York "updating him of the territory's efforts to support the national relief drive for the victims of the terrorist attack." He said the Virgin Islands' people "stand ready to render unwavering support and pledge to assist the people of New York in its recovery."
Further, he wrote, "In a collaborative effort with local private and public agencies, all financial resources will be pooled together to support recovery efforts." And, he said, telephone calls would be made to the V.I. Tourism office in New York "as well as local companies who also occupy office space in New York" to "accommodate many companies who have lost their offices and need operations on a temporary or long-term basis."
The release concluded with James saying, "With the assistance of the people of the United States Virgin Islands, New York will continue to play a vital role in keeping America proud, free and prosperous."
The "assistance," the letter explained, includes V.I. firefighters collecting donations to assist fellow firefighters involved in rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center. By the end of Tuesday, $30,000 had been raised, he said, and five firefighters would be "traveling from the Virgin Islands to New York to present a check to the New York Fire Department, Local 94."
On Wednesday, in another release, James said the donations had reached $40,000. He also announced that he had granted administrative leave for the five firefighters to go to New York "to participate in recovery efforts" and to deliver the money to the union local. The trip is being financed by the V.I. Firefighters Union, the release stated.
Those making the trip are David Hodge, Eustace Grant and Luen Anthony of St. Thomas and Angel Torres and Davidson Charlemagne of St. Croix. They were to leave Wednesday and are expected to return "after Oct. 1," the release said.
On Tuesday, according to a Government House release, James wrote to the comptroller of New York "updating him of the territory's efforts to support the national relief drive for the victims of the terrorist attack." He said the Virgin Islands' people "stand ready to render unwavering support and pledge to assist the people of New York in its recovery."
Further, he wrote, "In a collaborative effort with local private and public agencies, all financial resources will be pooled together to support recovery efforts." And, he said, telephone calls would be made to the V.I. Tourism office in New York "as well as local companies who also occupy office space in New York" to "accommodate many companies who have lost their offices and need operations on a temporary or long-term basis."
The release concluded with James saying, "With the assistance of the people of the United States Virgin Islands, New York will continue to play a vital role in keeping America proud, free and prosperous."
The "assistance," the letter explained, includes V.I. firefighters collecting donations to assist fellow firefighters involved in rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center. By the end of Tuesday, $30,000 had been raised, he said, and five firefighters would be "traveling from the Virgin Islands to New York to present a check to the New York Fire Department, Local 94."
On Wednesday, in another release, James said the donations had reached $40,000. He also announced that he had granted administrative leave for the five firefighters to go to New York "to participate in recovery efforts" and to deliver the money to the union local. The trip is being financed by the V.I. Firefighters Union, the release stated.
Those making the trip are David Hodge, Eustace Grant and Luen Anthony of St. Thomas and Angel Torres and Davidson Charlemagne of St. Croix. They were to leave Wednesday and are expected to return "after Oct. 1," the release said.
DELTA CUTS WON'T AFFECT SERVICE TO V.I.
Sept. 27, 2001 – The news nationwide Wednesday was that Delta Air Lines plans to cut 13,000 jobs and reduce its flight schedule by 15 percent starting Nov. 1.
The news in the territory was that the cutbacks would not affect service to the Virgin Islands.
A call by the Source to Delta's corporate offices in Atlanta Wednesday afternoon brought word that St. Thomas will not be losing any flights. Airline representative Alicia Watson said the current daily service between Atlanta and the island will remain in place, and the company will add a second daily flight Nov. 1 — a usual move at the start of the winter tourist season in years past.
Other Caribbean destinations will be suffering cuts, Watson said. "We've had to eliminate flights to the Turks and Caicos Islands," she said, and service to San Juan has been cut back from five daily flights to four.
The information was conveyed to Richard Doumeng, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel Association, at a Rotary II luncheon where he was the guest speaker. After delivering a state-of-the-industry address that found little cause for optimism in the current tourism picture, he brightened at hearing the news. "Now that's a good thing," he said. In the next breath, he added that he was not without compassion for the Turks and Caicos' loss of service. "It will hurt," he said.
The overall service cuts announced by Delta, the nation's third largest airline, include a 50 percent slash in its Delta Express operation, which primarily serves the Florida vacation market. The employee layoffs represent 16 percent of the airline's total work force. According to CNN, the airline "is hopeful that most but not all of the reduction will be accomplished through a series of voluntary departure programs, including buyouts, early retirement and long-term leaves" of one to five years.
Delta officials said the airline will be discounting tickets in an effort to attract customers back aboard its planes. On its currently reduced schedule, the airline is flying at about 33 percent to 35 percent of its passenger capacity, about half of what's needed to break even, Delta CEO Leon Mullin said Wednesday.
Besides cutting prices, Mullin said, the company in considering offering 10,000 free or "extremely low-priced" tickets to get people to visit New York.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks, Delta became the last of the nation's six major airlines to announce staff cuts that now approach 100,000 industry-wide. Seventh-ranked Southwest Airlines, rated as the industry's most profitable company before Sept. 11, is the only major carrier that has not announced a personnel reduction.
As of Wednesday, the announced layoffs by U.S. carriers were: American, TWA and American Eagle (jointly owned) 20,000, United 20,000, Delta 13,000, Continental 12,000, US Air 11,000, Northwest 10,000, America West 2,0000 and other, smaller airlines 1,600. That put the total at 97,800.
Jean Etsinger contributed to this report.
The news in the territory was that the cutbacks would not affect service to the Virgin Islands.
A call by the Source to Delta's corporate offices in Atlanta Wednesday afternoon brought word that St. Thomas will not be losing any flights. Airline representative Alicia Watson said the current daily service between Atlanta and the island will remain in place, and the company will add a second daily flight Nov. 1 — a usual move at the start of the winter tourist season in years past.
Other Caribbean destinations will be suffering cuts, Watson said. "We've had to eliminate flights to the Turks and Caicos Islands," she said, and service to San Juan has been cut back from five daily flights to four.
The information was conveyed to Richard Doumeng, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel Association, at a Rotary II luncheon where he was the guest speaker. After delivering a state-of-the-industry address that found little cause for optimism in the current tourism picture, he brightened at hearing the news. "Now that's a good thing," he said. In the next breath, he added that he was not without compassion for the Turks and Caicos' loss of service. "It will hurt," he said.
The overall service cuts announced by Delta, the nation's third largest airline, include a 50 percent slash in its Delta Express operation, which primarily serves the Florida vacation market. The employee layoffs represent 16 percent of the airline's total work force. According to CNN, the airline "is hopeful that most but not all of the reduction will be accomplished through a series of voluntary departure programs, including buyouts, early retirement and long-term leaves" of one to five years.
Delta officials said the airline will be discounting tickets in an effort to attract customers back aboard its planes. On its currently reduced schedule, the airline is flying at about 33 percent to 35 percent of its passenger capacity, about half of what's needed to break even, Delta CEO Leon Mullin said Wednesday.
Besides cutting prices, Mullin said, the company in considering offering 10,000 free or "extremely low-priced" tickets to get people to visit New York.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks, Delta became the last of the nation's six major airlines to announce staff cuts that now approach 100,000 industry-wide. Seventh-ranked Southwest Airlines, rated as the industry's most profitable company before Sept. 11, is the only major carrier that has not announced a personnel reduction.
As of Wednesday, the announced layoffs by U.S. carriers were: American, TWA and American Eagle (jointly owned) 20,000, United 20,000, Delta 13,000, Continental 12,000, US Air 11,000, Northwest 10,000, America West 2,0000 and other, smaller airlines 1,600. That put the total at 97,800.
Jean Etsinger contributed to this report.
BENJAMIN PLEDGES PROBE OF SUSPICIOUS LAYOFFS
Sept. 26, 2001 – Nearly 200 workers laid off on St. Thomas and St. John in the two weeks since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., have filed for unemployment compensation, Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin said Wednesday night at a meeting hosted by the Labor Department.
"We have been inundated with these workers coming into our small offices, filling the place," he said at a forum held in the Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel on St. Thomas to disseminate information to hospitality workers. About 40 people were in attendance, including a number of Labor officials whose presentations took about an hour and a half at the start of the meeting.
Benjamin told the gathering that his department has "deep concerns about the effects of the tragedy. We will be affected, but we don't know how far, if it will be temporary or not." H added that it is his feeling "that people will fly again, but we don't know when."
He also said Labor will seek to determine whether some hotels have used the terrorism as an excuse to cut back their labor forces. He said his suspicions were aroused by evidence of "one or more" hotels advertising vacant job positions while also laying people off.
But he also said that most hotels have been cooperating with his department to weather the crisis and that the investigations are not meant to put his department in an adversarial relationship with the hotels.
In the first two hours of the forum, no one attending claimed to have been laid off under questionable circumstances.
Most of those who have filed unemployment claims in the last two weeks worked in the hotel industry, Benjamin said, and so far, there has not been a rush of applicants from other tourism-related sectors such as retail and restaurants.
David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said Wednesday that the resort has not laid anyone off but that employees have been encouraged to take their vacations now to trim back on staff size.
Booking of reservations has slowed down dramatically, but "we hope it will rebound," Yamada said. "Layoffs are the last thing we want to do."
Beverly Nicholson, executive director of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said member hotels recorded a grand total of 80 bookings in the week of Sept. 18-25, compared with 389 in the same time period last year.
Because of fear of flying, the downturn in the economy and uncertainty of what is going to happen if America begins a military campaign, "People are just not making the commitment to travel," she said. "We're not seeing people's confidence returning yet."
Benjamin indicated that the Labor Department would be able to handle all claims for unemployment benefits and that the department had enough funds to cover the increase in claims.
In fact, the pool for jobless payouts, V.I. Unemployment Trust Fund, into which employers pay taxes annually, is considered excessively large by federal standards. It was recently calculated at $61 million, enough money to pay 3.71 years of benefit checks under normal circumstances. The federal Labor Department regards a 2-year cushion as adequate. The maximum payout is $233 a week.
At Wednesday night's meeting, Benjamin and Nicholson gave no public indication of the verbal blows they had traded earlier. Tuesday's V.I. Daily News carried a letter from Nicholson criticizing the Labor commissioner for having "recently stated to the press that the hotel industry had used Sept. 11 as a means to get rid of employees" and calling his comments "irresponsible." She posed the question, "Is it possible that Mr. Benjamin has not read a newspaper or turned on a television in the past 11 days?"
She then cited statistics: "More than 100,000 individuals in the U.S. airline industry, 10,000 at Boeing and a half-million hotel employees nationwide have lost their jobs … A recent poll indicated that only 30 percent of Americans would fly if necessary. And only 7 percent would do so willingly." St. Thomas and St. John hotels, she said, "have lost 18,000 room nights over the next 60 days, resulting in more than $4 million in lost business. In September of 2000 hotel occupancy for St. Thomas and St. John was 42 percent; we would be surprised if occupancy this September reaches 15 percent."
Her letter also stated that the hotel association "contacted that department to see how we could be of assistance" with the forum. But "instead of conversing with us to determine how we could work together to get through this very difficult period, the commissioner found it more expedient to set up an adversarial situation," she wrote. "This is so pointless at a time when we should be working together."
In response, Benjamin issued a press release Wednesday afternoon saying he was "appalled at the unwarranted personal attack on his character and integrity." Nicholson, he charged, "did not even have the common decency or respect to contact me with her concerns. And to further indicate that I was oblivious to the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, is downright absurd …"
In the release, Benjamin noted that the meeting had been planned months earlier as part of an ongoing series. It was, he said, intended as a forum for sharing information with all hospitality industry employees "and not only with those that are affected by layoff or reduced hours."
Addressing his earlier accusation that hoteliers were using the terrorist situation as an excuse to lay off workers, he said, "We suspect that there are some businesses that have taken advantage of this sad situation, and our department can validate this."
"We in no way intend to cause an affront to any business," he stated in the release. "The Virgin Islands Department of Labor is Business Friendly." He said he plans to work closely with the private sector "in our mission to promote economic stability and protect and develop the territory's workforce through establishing partnerships with businesses."
Jean Etsinger also contributed to this report.
"We have been inundated with these workers coming into our small offices, filling the place," he said at a forum held in the Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel on St. Thomas to disseminate information to hospitality workers. About 40 people were in attendance, including a number of Labor officials whose presentations took about an hour and a half at the start of the meeting.
Benjamin told the gathering that his department has "deep concerns about the effects of the tragedy. We will be affected, but we don't know how far, if it will be temporary or not." H added that it is his feeling "that people will fly again, but we don't know when."
He also said Labor will seek to determine whether some hotels have used the terrorism as an excuse to cut back their labor forces. He said his suspicions were aroused by evidence of "one or more" hotels advertising vacant job positions while also laying people off.
But he also said that most hotels have been cooperating with his department to weather the crisis and that the investigations are not meant to put his department in an adversarial relationship with the hotels.
In the first two hours of the forum, no one attending claimed to have been laid off under questionable circumstances.
Most of those who have filed unemployment claims in the last two weeks worked in the hotel industry, Benjamin said, and so far, there has not been a rush of applicants from other tourism-related sectors such as retail and restaurants.
David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said Wednesday that the resort has not laid anyone off but that employees have been encouraged to take their vacations now to trim back on staff size.
Booking of reservations has slowed down dramatically, but "we hope it will rebound," Yamada said. "Layoffs are the last thing we want to do."
Beverly Nicholson, executive director of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said member hotels recorded a grand total of 80 bookings in the week of Sept. 18-25, compared with 389 in the same time period last year.
Because of fear of flying, the downturn in the economy and uncertainty of what is going to happen if America begins a military campaign, "People are just not making the commitment to travel," she said. "We're not seeing people's confidence returning yet."
Benjamin indicated that the Labor Department would be able to handle all claims for unemployment benefits and that the department had enough funds to cover the increase in claims.
In fact, the pool for jobless payouts, V.I. Unemployment Trust Fund, into which employers pay taxes annually, is considered excessively large by federal standards. It was recently calculated at $61 million, enough money to pay 3.71 years of benefit checks under normal circumstances. The federal Labor Department regards a 2-year cushion as adequate. The maximum payout is $233 a week.
At Wednesday night's meeting, Benjamin and Nicholson gave no public indication of the verbal blows they had traded earlier. Tuesday's V.I. Daily News carried a letter from Nicholson criticizing the Labor commissioner for having "recently stated to the press that the hotel industry had used Sept. 11 as a means to get rid of employees" and calling his comments "irresponsible." She posed the question, "Is it possible that Mr. Benjamin has not read a newspaper or turned on a television in the past 11 days?"
She then cited statistics: "More than 100,000 individuals in the U.S. airline industry, 10,000 at Boeing and a half-million hotel employees nationwide have lost their jobs … A recent poll indicated that only 30 percent of Americans would fly if necessary. And only 7 percent would do so willingly." St. Thomas and St. John hotels, she said, "have lost 18,000 room nights over the next 60 days, resulting in more than $4 million in lost business. In September of 2000 hotel occupancy for St. Thomas and St. John was 42 percent; we would be surprised if occupancy this September reaches 15 percent."
Her letter also stated that the hotel association "contacted that department to see how we could be of assistance" with the forum. But "instead of conversing with us to determine how we could work together to get through this very difficult period, the commissioner found it more expedient to set up an adversarial situation," she wrote. "This is so pointless at a time when we should be working together."
In response, Benjamin issued a press release Wednesday afternoon saying he was "appalled at the unwarranted personal attack on his character and integrity." Nicholson, he charged, "did not even have the common decency or respect to contact me with her concerns. And to further indicate that I was oblivious to the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, is downright absurd …"
In the release, Benjamin noted that the meeting had been planned months earlier as part of an ongoing series. It was, he said, intended as a forum for sharing information with all hospitality industry employees "and not only with those that are affected by layoff or reduced hours."
Addressing his earlier accusation that hoteliers were using the terrorist situation as an excuse to lay off workers, he said, "We suspect that there are some businesses that have taken advantage of this sad situation, and our department can validate this."
"We in no way intend to cause an affront to any business," he stated in the release. "The Virgin Islands Department of Labor is Business Friendly." He said he plans to work closely with the private sector "in our mission to promote economic stability and protect and develop the territory's workforce through establishing partnerships with businesses."
Jean Etsinger also contributed to this report.
ERIC CHRISTIAN IS DEAD AT 71
Sept. 26, 2001 – Eric Christian, known by residents and visitors as "Mr. Eric," died Tuesday. He was 71.
Christian was well-known as the onetime proprietor of Eric's Hilltop Restaurant, located in Cruz Bay at what is now the Legislature Building. The restaurant operated in the 1960s and early 1970s.
"Conch is what people came for," St. John resident Rosa Samuel recalled. In recent years, Christian cooked up his specialties for West Indian Night at the Inn at Tamarind Court.
"I'll always remember him smiling out the kitchen window," owner Betty Berlin said. She said that his heart was as big as his smile.
Christian's brother, Lambert Christian, said he was a "very nice fellow" who always tried to help everybody.
He is survived by his children Eric Jr., Ellis, Roane, Alvis Sr. and Joan Christian; his brothers Lambert, Randolph and John Christian; and his sisters Delphine Boynes, Ina Christian Sullivan, Charlotte Harley and Louisa Encarnacion.
Information on services was not immediately available. Arrangements are by Creque's Funeral Home.
Christian was well-known as the onetime proprietor of Eric's Hilltop Restaurant, located in Cruz Bay at what is now the Legislature Building. The restaurant operated in the 1960s and early 1970s.
"Conch is what people came for," St. John resident Rosa Samuel recalled. In recent years, Christian cooked up his specialties for West Indian Night at the Inn at Tamarind Court.
"I'll always remember him smiling out the kitchen window," owner Betty Berlin said. She said that his heart was as big as his smile.
Christian's brother, Lambert Christian, said he was a "very nice fellow" who always tried to help everybody.
He is survived by his children Eric Jr., Ellis, Roane, Alvis Sr. and Joan Christian; his brothers Lambert, Randolph and John Christian; and his sisters Delphine Boynes, Ina Christian Sullivan, Charlotte Harley and Louisa Encarnacion.
Information on services was not immediately available. Arrangements are by Creque's Funeral Home.
CRUISE INDUSTRY PAINTING AN OPTIMISTIC PICTURE
Sept. 26, 2001 — Two weeks after the terrorist attacks on the mainland, cruise line industry officials are keeping an optimistic eye on the start of the cruise season in November.
The International Council of Cruise Lines is a non-profit trade association based in Virginia that represents the interests of 16 cruise lines in the North American market. Its president, Michael Crye, told the British Broadcasting Company on Wednesday that despite terrorism's crippling effects on mass travel, he doesn’t believe Caribbean cruises will be severely impacted in the coming months.
"We anticipate that the ships that will be going from South Florida and San Juan to the Caribbean destinations should not be affected substantially," Crye said.
Because of the perception that the Caribbean is a traditionally friendly region, Crye said, American vacationers won’t be as averse to leaving home to go that route. And to circumvent the new fear of flying and the logistical complications of doing so, he said, two major cruise lines, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, will be setting sail from new "drive-up markets," such as Galveston and Houston in Texas, New Orleans and Tampa.
This approach, Crye said, will not only ease the need for cruise passengers to fly to their embarkation points and back, but also reduce the overall cost of a cruise because no airfare will be involved.
The Caribbean "will be one of the best vacations," Crye said.
Adding to the industry’s rosy picture for the region are recent capacity reports from major cruise lines. For departures Sept. 19-23, Carnival Corp. ships operated at an occupancy level of 97.7 percent, according to the company. During this period, the company's six fleets — Carnival, Holland America, Windstar, Seabourn, Costa and Cunard — carried a total of 58,718 guests.
"The strengthening in occupancy levels is very encouraging and clearly indicates that consumers are resuming their vacation plans, including returning to the airways," Carnival Corp. chairman Micky Arison said in a release. Despite the increased security at airports and seaports, he said, delays have been less than anticipated, and consumers are demonstrating a desire to begin traveling again.
"It's apparent that, based on these numbers, Americans are heeding the advice of our elected officials and returning to their normal activities, which includes taking vacations," Arison said.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced that occupancy on its Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises ships was 92 percent for Sept. 20-24. And it was 97 percent for the company’s seven-night Caribbean cruises, according to a company release.
"Concerns regarding the safety of traveling are easing on a daily basis," Richard Fain, chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises, said. "We will do whatever we can as a company to speed that recovery."
That recovery is crucial to the Virgin Islands, particularly the St. Thomas-St. John district, where earlier projections envisioned 1.9 million passengers visiting this calendar year, with two million expected in 2002. Those passengers and the ships' crew pump $1.2 billion into the islands' economy, mainly in the retail and tour sectors.
On Tuesday, one cruise line halted all operations and filed for federal bankruptcy protection — but it was a company offering itineraries in the Mediterranean and the South Pacific, not in the Caribbean. Renaissance Cruises, a privately held firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., operated eight ships.
It was the second indication this week that the Mediterranean and Asia's loss as a result of heightened security concerns may be the Caribbean's gain. On Monday, it was announced locally that the Norway, which had been scheduled to leave the Eastern Caribbean after two decades to begin service in Asia this winter, will instead return to the region for at least another year, continuing to call weekly at St. Thomas and St. John.
There are 719 cruise ship calls scheduled for St. Thomas-St. John this coming season, while St. Croix is expected to see about 110.
The International Council of Cruise Lines is a non-profit trade association based in Virginia that represents the interests of 16 cruise lines in the North American market. Its president, Michael Crye, told the British Broadcasting Company on Wednesday that despite terrorism's crippling effects on mass travel, he doesn’t believe Caribbean cruises will be severely impacted in the coming months.
"We anticipate that the ships that will be going from South Florida and San Juan to the Caribbean destinations should not be affected substantially," Crye said.
Because of the perception that the Caribbean is a traditionally friendly region, Crye said, American vacationers won’t be as averse to leaving home to go that route. And to circumvent the new fear of flying and the logistical complications of doing so, he said, two major cruise lines, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, will be setting sail from new "drive-up markets," such as Galveston and Houston in Texas, New Orleans and Tampa.
This approach, Crye said, will not only ease the need for cruise passengers to fly to their embarkation points and back, but also reduce the overall cost of a cruise because no airfare will be involved.
The Caribbean "will be one of the best vacations," Crye said.
Adding to the industry’s rosy picture for the region are recent capacity reports from major cruise lines. For departures Sept. 19-23, Carnival Corp. ships operated at an occupancy level of 97.7 percent, according to the company. During this period, the company's six fleets — Carnival, Holland America, Windstar, Seabourn, Costa and Cunard — carried a total of 58,718 guests.
"The strengthening in occupancy levels is very encouraging and clearly indicates that consumers are resuming their vacation plans, including returning to the airways," Carnival Corp. chairman Micky Arison said in a release. Despite the increased security at airports and seaports, he said, delays have been less than anticipated, and consumers are demonstrating a desire to begin traveling again.
"It's apparent that, based on these numbers, Americans are heeding the advice of our elected officials and returning to their normal activities, which includes taking vacations," Arison said.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced that occupancy on its Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises ships was 92 percent for Sept. 20-24. And it was 97 percent for the company’s seven-night Caribbean cruises, according to a company release.
"Concerns regarding the safety of traveling are easing on a daily basis," Richard Fain, chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises, said. "We will do whatever we can as a company to speed that recovery."
That recovery is crucial to the Virgin Islands, particularly the St. Thomas-St. John district, where earlier projections envisioned 1.9 million passengers visiting this calendar year, with two million expected in 2002. Those passengers and the ships' crew pump $1.2 billion into the islands' economy, mainly in the retail and tour sectors.
On Tuesday, one cruise line halted all operations and filed for federal bankruptcy protection — but it was a company offering itineraries in the Mediterranean and the South Pacific, not in the Caribbean. Renaissance Cruises, a privately held firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., operated eight ships.
It was the second indication this week that the Mediterranean and Asia's loss as a result of heightened security concerns may be the Caribbean's gain. On Monday, it was announced locally that the Norway, which had been scheduled to leave the Eastern Caribbean after two decades to begin service in Asia this winter, will instead return to the region for at least another year, continuing to call weekly at St. Thomas and St. John.
There are 719 cruise ship calls scheduled for St. Thomas-St. John this coming season, while St. Croix is expected to see about 110.
DOUMENG: HOTEL CANCELLATIONS ARE STAGGERING
Sept. 26, 2001 – A subdued and attentive luncheon crowd listened Wednesday as Richard Doumeng, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, told them the stark facts of the territory's current tourism crisis.
"My talk was originally scheduled before Sept. 11 — and even at that time the situation was grim," Doumeng said. "I was prepared then to say we were experiencing the worst September and October in our history." The months are traditionally the slowest time of year for tourism in the territory.
"Today," he told his audience, the weekly meeting of Rotary II at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, "you could take all the tourists on St. Thomas and St. John and put them into the Reef's 500 rooms and probably have rooms left over."
Graphically describing the territory's plummeting economy since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. mainland, Doumeng said, "It's worse than a hurricane. It's devastating, but you can't see the devastation yet." Then, he added, "There are some who seem to refuse to admit there's something wrong.
"There is something wrong."
Doumeng said the emphasis right now within the territory's hospitality sector is on surviving the next 90 days. From an occupancy standpoint, "No hotel in the territory should be open now, but what would the message be if it got out that the V.I. hotels were closing?" he said.
In the last two weeks, at his property alone, he said, "We've had 500 room nights of cancellations. That's $60,000." He is the general manager of Bolongo Bay Beach Club and Villas, which is owned by his family. He and they have been in the hotel business on St. Thomas for more than two decades.
All told, "St. Thomas and St. John have received 23,000 room cancellations for September and October," he said. "That's 11,500 taxi rides, if the guests just use a taxi every other day." He added, "Some major properties on the island [of St. Thomas] could close."
And on St. Croix, he continued, the Divi Carina Bay Resort "had nine guests last night, out of 150 rooms."
Even in such dire straits, however, Doumeng was not without hope or suggested solutions. "The answer is partnering with the airlines and getting some temporary economic relief from the government," he said.
Last Friday, representatives of the territory's four major business associations, the two Chambers of Commerce and the two Hotel and Tourism Associations, took an emergency disaster relief proposal to the executive branch. On Wednesday morning, Doumeng told the Rotarians, representatives of the four groups had a follow-up meeting with Tourism Department officials and the administration's top financial officers. "It was a good cross-section," he said. "I'm more encouraged today than I was yesterday."
To date, no statements solidarity with or proposals of assistance for the territory's hospitality industry have been forthcoming from Government House, the Tourism Department or the Legislature. Gov. Charles W. Turnbull did not attend Friday's meeting and is in New York City this week.
Doumeng said those at Wednesday morning's meeting discussed getting some kind of a relief package from the government for the hotel industry. "We need some kind of tax relief, or a moratorium on WAPA payments," he said. "We're looking to people who hold our insurance policies and the banks who hold our mortgages."
On Friday, the business leaders proposed a four-month postponement on the payment WAPA bills and gross receipts taxes.
However, he noted, the government is bound by the $300 million bond indebtedness the administration took on two years ago to bail the territory out of an economic crisis. "Because of that, we can't waive taxes," he said.
"I'm not a finance guy," Doumeng continued, "but everything is tied up in the bond issue of the past. We have leveraged our future. It's trickier to do something now because of our bond obligations."
He expressed dismay at actions in the Legislature this week. On Tuesday, the body added an extra $2.8 million to the record $551 million Fiscal Year 2002 budget through overrides of earlier Turnbull vetoes. "Where do they think the money is coming from? When are they going to look at the numbers and see what they're doing?" he asked.
"Look at other governments all around the country. They're cutting back. And they're working together."
For the local private sector, working with the airlines to get people to the territory is "what we have to do," Doumeng said. "We have to locally find ways to help American Airlines and others to keep the flights we have coming into the territory."
It's still too soon after the terrorist attacks to start an aggressive marketing campaign, he said. But "when the time is appropriate, we will extend an offer to the rescue workers in New York to come to the territory. We will work with airline partners to try to finance 500 hotel rooms with 1,000 paid airline tickets."
While other Caribbean islands such as St. Kitts and Nevis have already announced such free stays to New York and Washington firefighters and police officers and their families, he said, they "aren't offering airfare. The difficulty is absorbing that cost. But we will do this, somehow."
Another initiative under consideration, he said, is an idea borrowed from the cruise lines, which offer passengers free airfare to their ports of embarkation. "They're great promotions," he said. "We'll do something similar. Say, if you book two passengers, the second one flies free, with the second one paid for by the government."
He said he has established a "dialogue" with Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, and he hopes she will be receptive to the private sector's ideas.
"We've got to promote the infrastructure in the V.I.," Doumeng said. "There was a time when I got sick of hearing constantly 'America's Caribbean.' Now, we've got to use it. We have to show that the infrastructure is in place, we have the U.S. Coast Guard, we are a safe American destination."
After his speech, Doumeng was asked about Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin's public remarks to the effect of the hotels laying people off to take advantage of the mainland tragedy. Doumeng almost couldn't answer. "That is so profoundly beyond what is going on," he said. "Don't these people look around? The hotels are empty. It's certainly not a political move."
"My talk was originally scheduled before Sept. 11 — and even at that time the situation was grim," Doumeng said. "I was prepared then to say we were experiencing the worst September and October in our history." The months are traditionally the slowest time of year for tourism in the territory.
"Today," he told his audience, the weekly meeting of Rotary II at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, "you could take all the tourists on St. Thomas and St. John and put them into the Reef's 500 rooms and probably have rooms left over."
Graphically describing the territory's plummeting economy since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. mainland, Doumeng said, "It's worse than a hurricane. It's devastating, but you can't see the devastation yet." Then, he added, "There are some who seem to refuse to admit there's something wrong.
"There is something wrong."
Doumeng said the emphasis right now within the territory's hospitality sector is on surviving the next 90 days. From an occupancy standpoint, "No hotel in the territory should be open now, but what would the message be if it got out that the V.I. hotels were closing?" he said.
In the last two weeks, at his property alone, he said, "We've had 500 room nights of cancellations. That's $60,000." He is the general manager of Bolongo Bay Beach Club and Villas, which is owned by his family. He and they have been in the hotel business on St. Thomas for more than two decades.
All told, "St. Thomas and St. John have received 23,000 room cancellations for September and October," he said. "That's 11,500 taxi rides, if the guests just use a taxi every other day." He added, "Some major properties on the island [of St. Thomas] could close."
And on St. Croix, he continued, the Divi Carina Bay Resort "had nine guests last night, out of 150 rooms."
Even in such dire straits, however, Doumeng was not without hope or suggested solutions. "The answer is partnering with the airlines and getting some temporary economic relief from the government," he said.
Last Friday, representatives of the territory's four major business associations, the two Chambers of Commerce and the two Hotel and Tourism Associations, took an emergency disaster relief proposal to the executive branch. On Wednesday morning, Doumeng told the Rotarians, representatives of the four groups had a follow-up meeting with Tourism Department officials and the administration's top financial officers. "It was a good cross-section," he said. "I'm more encouraged today than I was yesterday."
To date, no statements solidarity with or proposals of assistance for the territory's hospitality industry have been forthcoming from Government House, the Tourism Department or the Legislature. Gov. Charles W. Turnbull did not attend Friday's meeting and is in New York City this week.
Doumeng said those at Wednesday morning's meeting discussed getting some kind of a relief package from the government for the hotel industry. "We need some kind of tax relief, or a moratorium on WAPA payments," he said. "We're looking to people who hold our insurance policies and the banks who hold our mortgages."
On Friday, the business leaders proposed a four-month postponement on the payment WAPA bills and gross receipts taxes.
However, he noted, the government is bound by the $300 million bond indebtedness the administration took on two years ago to bail the territory out of an economic crisis. "Because of that, we can't waive taxes," he said.
"I'm not a finance guy," Doumeng continued, "but everything is tied up in the bond issue of the past. We have leveraged our future. It's trickier to do something now because of our bond obligations."
He expressed dismay at actions in the Legislature this week. On Tuesday, the body added an extra $2.8 million to the record $551 million Fiscal Year 2002 budget through overrides of earlier Turnbull vetoes. "Where do they think the money is coming from? When are they going to look at the numbers and see what they're doing?" he asked.
"Look at other governments all around the country. They're cutting back. And they're working together."
For the local private sector, working with the airlines to get people to the territory is "what we have to do," Doumeng said. "We have to locally find ways to help American Airlines and others to keep the flights we have coming into the territory."
It's still too soon after the terrorist attacks to start an aggressive marketing campaign, he said. But "when the time is appropriate, we will extend an offer to the rescue workers in New York to come to the territory. We will work with airline partners to try to finance 500 hotel rooms with 1,000 paid airline tickets."
While other Caribbean islands such as St. Kitts and Nevis have already announced such free stays to New York and Washington firefighters and police officers and their families, he said, they "aren't offering airfare. The difficulty is absorbing that cost. But we will do this, somehow."
Another initiative under consideration, he said, is an idea borrowed from the cruise lines, which offer passengers free airfare to their ports of embarkation. "They're great promotions," he said. "We'll do something similar. Say, if you book two passengers, the second one flies free, with the second one paid for by the government."
He said he has established a "dialogue" with Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, and he hopes she will be receptive to the private sector's ideas.
"We've got to promote the infrastructure in the V.I.," Doumeng said. "There was a time when I got sick of hearing constantly 'America's Caribbean.' Now, we've got to use it. We have to show that the infrastructure is in place, we have the U.S. Coast Guard, we are a safe American destination."
After his speech, Doumeng was asked about Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin's public remarks to the effect of the hotels laying people off to take advantage of the mainland tragedy. Doumeng almost couldn't answer. "That is so profoundly beyond what is going on," he said. "Don't these people look around? The hotels are empty. It's certainly not a political move."
CALVERT C. MARSH DIES ON ST. JOHN
Sept. 26. 2001 – Funeral arrangements are pending for Calvert C. Marsh, who died Monday on St. John. A native St. Johnian, he was 55.
Marsh, a building appraiser with the Tax Assessor's Office, started work in that agency in the 1970s. Before that, he worked as a police officer. "He was a dedicated worker. He was very soft spoken but firm," Tax Assessor Roy Martin said from his St. Thomas office.
Marsh's sister, Eglah Clendinen, said that her brother was always willing to bring the family together and to help people." He was a good, kind-hearted person," she said.
St. John resident Robert O'Connor recalled Marsh as a "regular guy." He said the two of them played baseball together and that Marsh served several times as president of the St. John Lions Club.
Longtime friend J. Brion Morrisette said that Marsh was a person who made the transition from the old St. John to the new. Born in Coral Bay, he grew up in a time when horses were the only land transportation from there to Cruz Bay.
"He had his feet in both worlds," Morrisette said, adding that his friend had the social graces typical of old-time St. Johnians, but the business skills needed for today's world.
As St. John moved into a tourism-based economy, Marsh became an entrepreneur, opening a restaurant called The Still on the Coral Bay waterfront. When the establishment closed, he leased the property, and Morrisette said he had recently converted part of it to short-term rental apartments. "He had wonderful business vision," Morrisette said.
Marsh is survived by his wife, Augusta Marsh; son David Marsh; daughter Liz Yvonne Tanner Marsh; brothers Kenneth and Meredith Marsh; sisters Eglah Clendenin, Myrine Hodge, Minerva Marsh Jacobs and Joan Marsh Krigger; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral arrangements are by Creque's Funeral Home.
Marsh, a building appraiser with the Tax Assessor's Office, started work in that agency in the 1970s. Before that, he worked as a police officer. "He was a dedicated worker. He was very soft spoken but firm," Tax Assessor Roy Martin said from his St. Thomas office.
Marsh's sister, Eglah Clendinen, said that her brother was always willing to bring the family together and to help people." He was a good, kind-hearted person," she said.
St. John resident Robert O'Connor recalled Marsh as a "regular guy." He said the two of them played baseball together and that Marsh served several times as president of the St. John Lions Club.
Longtime friend J. Brion Morrisette said that Marsh was a person who made the transition from the old St. John to the new. Born in Coral Bay, he grew up in a time when horses were the only land transportation from there to Cruz Bay.
"He had his feet in both worlds," Morrisette said, adding that his friend had the social graces typical of old-time St. Johnians, but the business skills needed for today's world.
As St. John moved into a tourism-based economy, Marsh became an entrepreneur, opening a restaurant called The Still on the Coral Bay waterfront. When the establishment closed, he leased the property, and Morrisette said he had recently converted part of it to short-term rental apartments. "He had wonderful business vision," Morrisette said.
Marsh is survived by his wife, Augusta Marsh; son David Marsh; daughter Liz Yvonne Tanner Marsh; brothers Kenneth and Meredith Marsh; sisters Eglah Clendenin, Myrine Hodge, Minerva Marsh Jacobs and Joan Marsh Krigger; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral arrangements are by Creque's Funeral Home.
TOURISM'S UNRETURNED CALLS MAY BE COSTLY
Sept. 26, 2001 – When her telephone rings with messages about exposure opportunities for the territory, Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards doesn't call back, say two people who have been frustrated in their efforts to set up events on St. Thomas that could reach a wide audience of potential visitors.
"We need the enthusiastic endorsement of the Tourism Department," said Mike Gautreaux, who didn't get it.
Gautreaux hoped to film a segment of the Billfishing Xtreme Release League tournament here in August. But when Richards failed to call him back with a decision on the Tourism Department's help, he moved the segment to Tortola.
The tournament, filmed on location at five different sites, is in the midst of airing on ESPN. Each show lasts a half hour.
"The real benefit is that it repeats over and over," said Michael Bornn, a former acting Tourism commissioner, who made the initial contact with Gautreaux. Bornn said the people who watch such television shows come from all walks of life, and they are people who might book a trip to the Virgin Islands after seeing footage on television. "It lights their fire," he said.
Gautreaux said he started trying to work with Tourism in January on plans for the fishing tournament. He met once with Assistant Commissioner Monique Sibilly-Hodge in May, but when Richards failed to follow through with a decision by July, he changed the locale.
"I couldn't wait any more," he said, adding that the British Virgin Islands government was very receptive to his proposal.
He said that when he learned about the Tourism Department's dire financial straits from other sources, he was willing to cut a deal that called for three shows to air this year and three next year. While he needed $40,000 from the department to make it happen, the money could be paid after the start of the next fiscal year on Oct. 1. He said the money was needed for airline transportation and tournament expenses.
Gautreaux said he would love to shoot a fishing tournament segment on St. Thomas, but it will take cooperation from the Tourism Department to make it happen.
Nels Hawkinson is going ahead with plans to hold the University of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, but he's doing it with no help from the Tourism Department.
"They haven't even bothered to return one phone call," he said, adding that he called Richards at least six times.
He said this was especially bothersome given the state of the tourism industry since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The tournaments will run Nov. 17-26. Eleven women's teams and six men's teams, all from mainland colleges, will play at the new UVI Sports and Fitness Center. Hawkinson said that video coverage of the games will air on television stations in the hometowns of the 17 teams. The areas include major markets from the East Coast to the central states.
"This is unbelievable advertising for the Virgin Islands," he said, adding that ESPN is touting the tournament.
Hawkinson said he wanted to do joint local marketing with Tourism in order to sell local tickets to the tournament games. And he hoped the department would help with finding donors of goods and services to help defray expenses.
Richards' response to the comments made by Hawkinson and Gautreaux would not surprise them. She didn't return a phone call to the Source, either.
"We need the enthusiastic endorsement of the Tourism Department," said Mike Gautreaux, who didn't get it.
Gautreaux hoped to film a segment of the Billfishing Xtreme Release League tournament here in August. But when Richards failed to call him back with a decision on the Tourism Department's help, he moved the segment to Tortola.
The tournament, filmed on location at five different sites, is in the midst of airing on ESPN. Each show lasts a half hour.
"The real benefit is that it repeats over and over," said Michael Bornn, a former acting Tourism commissioner, who made the initial contact with Gautreaux. Bornn said the people who watch such television shows come from all walks of life, and they are people who might book a trip to the Virgin Islands after seeing footage on television. "It lights their fire," he said.
Gautreaux said he started trying to work with Tourism in January on plans for the fishing tournament. He met once with Assistant Commissioner Monique Sibilly-Hodge in May, but when Richards failed to follow through with a decision by July, he changed the locale.
"I couldn't wait any more," he said, adding that the British Virgin Islands government was very receptive to his proposal.
He said that when he learned about the Tourism Department's dire financial straits from other sources, he was willing to cut a deal that called for three shows to air this year and three next year. While he needed $40,000 from the department to make it happen, the money could be paid after the start of the next fiscal year on Oct. 1. He said the money was needed for airline transportation and tournament expenses.
Gautreaux said he would love to shoot a fishing tournament segment on St. Thomas, but it will take cooperation from the Tourism Department to make it happen.
Nels Hawkinson is going ahead with plans to hold the University of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, but he's doing it with no help from the Tourism Department.
"They haven't even bothered to return one phone call," he said, adding that he called Richards at least six times.
He said this was especially bothersome given the state of the tourism industry since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The tournaments will run Nov. 17-26. Eleven women's teams and six men's teams, all from mainland colleges, will play at the new UVI Sports and Fitness Center. Hawkinson said that video coverage of the games will air on television stations in the hometowns of the 17 teams. The areas include major markets from the East Coast to the central states.
"This is unbelievable advertising for the Virgin Islands," he said, adding that ESPN is touting the tournament.
Hawkinson said he wanted to do joint local marketing with Tourism in order to sell local tickets to the tournament games. And he hoped the department would help with finding donors of goods and services to help defray expenses.
Richards' response to the comments made by Hawkinson and Gautreaux would not surprise them. She didn't return a phone call to the Source, either.
