Sylvanita Carty died Sept. 24. her funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at Christ Church Methodist. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. prior to the service.
She is survived by her stepmother Mildred Gordon; adopted son Tyrone Paul; brothers Stanley, Julian and Wesley Gordon; sisters Lillett & Ruth Gordon, Louise Lettsome and Naomi Gordon-Smith.
Arrangements by Creque Funeral Home.
ALETA ADELA FRETT-LETTSOME FUNERAL
Adeta Adela Frett-Lettsome, age 85, died at Peebles Hospital, Tortola, on Sept. 19. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at E E SOA Church. Viewing will be from 12 noon to 1 p.m. preceding the service. Internment will be in Greenland Cemetery.
She is survived by sons Darwin, Eddie, Jonah, and James Lettsome; daughters Marjorie Lettsome-Frett, Esmie Lettsome George, Yvonne Lettsome George, Ruby Lettsome Cain, Lydia Lettsome Jackson, Rosa Lettsome Turnbull and Virisks Lettsome Allen; 34 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.
She is survived by sons Darwin, Eddie, Jonah, and James Lettsome; daughters Marjorie Lettsome-Frett, Esmie Lettsome George, Yvonne Lettsome George, Ruby Lettsome Cain, Lydia Lettsome Jackson, Rosa Lettsome Turnbull and Virisks Lettsome Allen; 34 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.
SEPTEMBER 2001 BRAINSTORM
Here, a little later than usual because I have been on Skyros for a month,
is our monthly bulletin. I scrapped the original in favor of this shorter
version because I felt something different was appropriate in light of the
events of September 11.
PUT ASIDE SOME TIME FOR CREATING OUR FUTURE
In Skyros I was leading a workshop called Create Your Future when news came
in of the terrible events in the United States. Suddenly we were reminded of
the degree to which others also create our collective future, and also how
puny some of our selfish goals seem in this larger context. Maybe there are
no grand gestures to make, but we can spend a bit of time every week thinking
of small changes or actions that might collectively help to make this more
the kind of world that offers a better future for everyone. Among these are:
Donating time and money to organizations that make life less miserable for
the poor.
Taking more care in terms of how we treat the environment.
Taking the time to let our elected representatives know what response we
want them to make.
Finding ways to help children retain their natural creativity and joy and
openness.
Letting the people we care about know how we feel.
Making the effort to find what unites us rather than what divides us.
Convincing those in power that when what we have done in the past does not
work, it is time to do something different.
I am aware that all of these sound prosaic, yet if enough people did these
very ordinary things, the world would change.
HOW TO BE EXCEPTIONAL
Bernie Siegel is a surgeon and author of several books, including "Love,
Medicine and Miracles." In an interview, he talked about the qualities of
patients who do well in their battle with cancer. He said:
"My wife came up with the term exceptional cancer patients. We realized that
a minority of people really participate fully; it is not about dying, it is
about living. They are not afraid to take on challenges. So this is what I
began to teach. There is a personality to survivors. This is true of any
activity you go into. If you said what makes a great athlete, actor,
statesman, whatever, you would find they have certain qualities. These
qualities are: action in terms of expressing emotion and doing things,
willingness to change your life, seeking wisdom and knowledge, and the
spiritual, devotional aspect. What I (also) found with one hundred percent
of these patients, if what they were doing did not work they would then have
alternatives.
You have to look at your life, because you could live seven years and say, I
have done all I came to do, or you may live 97 years and still not have done
what you were sent here to do. People need to say, What am I here for, what
is the purpose of my existence?"
A HEALING STORY
Martin Bronfman was diagnosed as having terminal cancer, but he healed
himself of it. I think what he wrote applies to healing an individual, a
family, a society, the world:
"When there has been a recognition of the path to health, nothing must
interfere with that path. The development and maintenance of a positive
mental attitude is imperative. Nothing else must be more important.
It is imperative that we keep our hearts open and replace judgement with
acceptance. It is vital that we learn to love once more, and to allow
ourselves to be loved. We must relate in our relationships and use
communication to clear misunderstandings and disagreements.
With our hearts open to the love all round us, and fully accepting
ourselves,we can heal anything. Anything can be healed."
Until next time, Jurgen
is our monthly bulletin. I scrapped the original in favor of this shorter
version because I felt something different was appropriate in light of the
events of September 11.
PUT ASIDE SOME TIME FOR CREATING OUR FUTURE
In Skyros I was leading a workshop called Create Your Future when news came
in of the terrible events in the United States. Suddenly we were reminded of
the degree to which others also create our collective future, and also how
puny some of our selfish goals seem in this larger context. Maybe there are
no grand gestures to make, but we can spend a bit of time every week thinking
of small changes or actions that might collectively help to make this more
the kind of world that offers a better future for everyone. Among these are:
Donating time and money to organizations that make life less miserable for
the poor.
Taking more care in terms of how we treat the environment.
Taking the time to let our elected representatives know what response we
want them to make.
Finding ways to help children retain their natural creativity and joy and
openness.
Letting the people we care about know how we feel.
Making the effort to find what unites us rather than what divides us.
Convincing those in power that when what we have done in the past does not
work, it is time to do something different.
I am aware that all of these sound prosaic, yet if enough people did these
very ordinary things, the world would change.
HOW TO BE EXCEPTIONAL
Bernie Siegel is a surgeon and author of several books, including "Love,
Medicine and Miracles." In an interview, he talked about the qualities of
patients who do well in their battle with cancer. He said:
"My wife came up with the term exceptional cancer patients. We realized that
a minority of people really participate fully; it is not about dying, it is
about living. They are not afraid to take on challenges. So this is what I
began to teach. There is a personality to survivors. This is true of any
activity you go into. If you said what makes a great athlete, actor,
statesman, whatever, you would find they have certain qualities. These
qualities are: action in terms of expressing emotion and doing things,
willingness to change your life, seeking wisdom and knowledge, and the
spiritual, devotional aspect. What I (also) found with one hundred percent
of these patients, if what they were doing did not work they would then have
alternatives.
You have to look at your life, because you could live seven years and say, I
have done all I came to do, or you may live 97 years and still not have done
what you were sent here to do. People need to say, What am I here for, what
is the purpose of my existence?"
A HEALING STORY
Martin Bronfman was diagnosed as having terminal cancer, but he healed
himself of it. I think what he wrote applies to healing an individual, a
family, a society, the world:
"When there has been a recognition of the path to health, nothing must
interfere with that path. The development and maintenance of a positive
mental attitude is imperative. Nothing else must be more important.
It is imperative that we keep our hearts open and replace judgement with
acceptance. It is vital that we learn to love once more, and to allow
ourselves to be loved. We must relate in our relationships and use
communication to clear misunderstandings and disagreements.
With our hearts open to the love all round us, and fully accepting
ourselves,we can heal anything. Anything can be healed."
Until next time, Jurgen
Editor's note: Requests to subscribe (or unsubscribe) should be sent to BstormUK@aol.com. We also welcome your comments and suggestions, and we do not sell or share our mailing lists. (Contents copyright 2001, Jurgen Wolff)
POLICE, GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS BREAK DOWN
Sept. 27, 2001 — With the breakdown of contract negotiations between the Turnbull administration and the territory’s two rank and file police unions, both sides are resorting to press conferences to air their positions.
Negotiations between the St. Croix and St. Thomas Police Benevolent Associations and the administration’s Office of Collective Bargaining ended Friday after union officials declared an impasse. The issue will now go before a three-member arbitration panel.
On Tuesday, union officials held a press conference and blasted the administration, particularly chief negotiator Karen Andrews, for what they termed the government’s flaunting of negotiation ground rules, rejection of union bargaining points and paltry wage increase proposals.
In response to the PBA press conference, Andrews, Attorney General Iver Stridiron and Police Commissioner Franz Christian have scheduled one of their own for Thursday on St. Croix.
The St. Croix PBA pPresident, Naomi Joseph, ripped Andrews on Tuesday for starting negotiations eight hours late on one day and for comments that the territory’s police officers are already being paid comparable to officers on the mainland.
Joseph scoffed at that notion and said that even with the government’s plan to pay government workers their step increases by Oct. 16, police officers would still be getting paid at 1998 levels. She said the government offered officers, whose last contract expired in September 1999, raises of 3 percent for 2001, 2 percent for 2002, and 1.5 percent for 2003. No salary increases were proposed for 1999 and 2000.
Joseph said the increases total about 33 cents an hour for the approximately 300 police officers in the two districts.
"That ain’t no money to offer an officer," she said. "That is an insult."
Because of that, Joseph said, the unions declared an impasse. That means an arbitration panel will decide the issue. Because police officers are Class III employees, their union and the government do not have to agree mutually to go through normal impasse procedures such as mediation, said Andrews. "Class III can declare impasse at any time," she said. "Frankly, I think there was room to continue discussions."
According to the PBA’s collective bargaining agreement and the Public Employees Labor Relations Act, Class III employees are prohibited from striking due to public safety issues. But that hasn’t kept officers from staging sick-outs in the past. About a year ago, a Territorial Court judge ordered officers to report to work after they staged such an action over low pay and working conditions.
Andrews said she would respond to the unions’ allegations at the government’s press conference on Thursday. She said that since the unions went public with specific bargaining points, the government must answer in kind. But it is not out of disrespect for the officers, she said.
"I always say these are our employees first," Andrews said. "I highly respect our men and women in blue. I’m not here to incite them."
The government press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Patrick Sweeney Headquarters on St. Croix.
Negotiations between the St. Croix and St. Thomas Police Benevolent Associations and the administration’s Office of Collective Bargaining ended Friday after union officials declared an impasse. The issue will now go before a three-member arbitration panel.
On Tuesday, union officials held a press conference and blasted the administration, particularly chief negotiator Karen Andrews, for what they termed the government’s flaunting of negotiation ground rules, rejection of union bargaining points and paltry wage increase proposals.
In response to the PBA press conference, Andrews, Attorney General Iver Stridiron and Police Commissioner Franz Christian have scheduled one of their own for Thursday on St. Croix.
The St. Croix PBA pPresident, Naomi Joseph, ripped Andrews on Tuesday for starting negotiations eight hours late on one day and for comments that the territory’s police officers are already being paid comparable to officers on the mainland.
Joseph scoffed at that notion and said that even with the government’s plan to pay government workers their step increases by Oct. 16, police officers would still be getting paid at 1998 levels. She said the government offered officers, whose last contract expired in September 1999, raises of 3 percent for 2001, 2 percent for 2002, and 1.5 percent for 2003. No salary increases were proposed for 1999 and 2000.
Joseph said the increases total about 33 cents an hour for the approximately 300 police officers in the two districts.
"That ain’t no money to offer an officer," she said. "That is an insult."
Because of that, Joseph said, the unions declared an impasse. That means an arbitration panel will decide the issue. Because police officers are Class III employees, their union and the government do not have to agree mutually to go through normal impasse procedures such as mediation, said Andrews. "Class III can declare impasse at any time," she said. "Frankly, I think there was room to continue discussions."
According to the PBA’s collective bargaining agreement and the Public Employees Labor Relations Act, Class III employees are prohibited from striking due to public safety issues. But that hasn’t kept officers from staging sick-outs in the past. About a year ago, a Territorial Court judge ordered officers to report to work after they staged such an action over low pay and working conditions.
Andrews said she would respond to the unions’ allegations at the government’s press conference on Thursday. She said that since the unions went public with specific bargaining points, the government must answer in kind. But it is not out of disrespect for the officers, she said.
"I always say these are our employees first," Andrews said. "I highly respect our men and women in blue. I’m not here to incite them."
The government press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Patrick Sweeney Headquarters on St. Croix.
V.I. TERRORIST ATTACK VICTIM BURIED AT ARLINGTON
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.
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.
