Sept. 19, 2001 – V.I. Fire Services on St. Thomas will hold a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Emancipation Garden to pay tribute to those firefighters and police officers who lost their lives in responding to the terrorist attacks in New York City on Sept. 11.
Ian Williams Sr., Fire Services director, is asking police personnel, other emergency workers and the public "to join us in honoring these fallen American heroes."
FLAGS TO STAY AT HALF-STAFF THROUGH SATURDAY
Sept. 19, 2001 – In keeping with President George W. Bush's extending of the period of national mourning until sunset Saturday, all American and U.S. Virgin Islands flags are to fly at half-staff in the territory until that time, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull announced Tuesday in a release.
The Government House release points out that, when the flag of the United States is flown at half-staff, flags of other nations should not be flown at all. This is established flag etiquette, according to the reference work "Protocol: The Complete Handbook of Diplomatic, Official and Social Usage" by Mary Jane McCaffree and Pauline Innis.
Ships in U.S. waters are similarly expected to fly the American flag at half-mast until Saturday evening.
The Government House release points out that, when the flag of the United States is flown at half-staff, flags of other nations should not be flown at all. This is established flag etiquette, according to the reference work "Protocol: The Complete Handbook of Diplomatic, Official and Social Usage" by Mary Jane McCaffree and Pauline Innis.
Ships in U.S. waters are similarly expected to fly the American flag at half-mast until Saturday evening.
PLANS FOR 7 NAVY SHIPS TO VISIT NOW REMOTE
Sept. 19, 2001 – Ten days ago, working plans to welcome seven visiting U.S. Navy warships — including an aircraft carrier — to the territory by the end of September had local service providers and suppliers looking forward to a much-needed infusion of visitor spending.
Now, with the Navy on war alert in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, those plans have been put on indefinite hold, according to local residents in the know, and Navy communications reflect a stark change of policy with regard to saying anything about plans at all.
On Sept. 9, Frank Farmer, a member of the United Service Organization (USO) board on St. Thomas, had put out a call for volunteers and donations of food, drink and paper products for naval personnel who would be aboard "ships in the territory later this month."
The next day, Farmer told the Source the ships were from the USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group, including the Kennedy aircraft carrier itself. He had just asked James O'Bryan at Government House for help getting the USO building on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront ready to receive visitors and was about to call AT&T "to get extra phones put in."
He noted that the visit plans were tentative. "It's always tentative with the Navy," he explained, "and then, a week prior to their arrival, we know for sure."
Navy League national director Norma Kennedy confirmed on Sept. 10 that the USS Kennedy would be visiting Sept. 25-29. She knew because her "good friend Mo," the carrier's commanding officer, Capt. Maurice Joyce, was planning to stay at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, where Kennedy works, and "I made his room reservation."
In fact, she said, there already were 40 reservations at the Reef from Navy personnel who would be in port. She added that plans to leave on Sept. 13 for a vacation in Europe would keep her from greeting her many friends among the "typical ship's compliment of 5,800 military personnel."
Also on Sept. 10, Cmdr. John Kirby, Second Fleet public affairs officer in Norfolk, Va., said Navy ships would be visiting the islands "later this month" and that the visit would be "in conjunction with some of our exercises."
According to published reports, the Navy had notified Puerto Rican officials on Sept. 7 that a new round of Navy bombing exercises off Vieques "could begin as soon as Sept. 24" and could last 23 days. Under a 1983 agreement, the Navy is required to give the Puerto Rico government 15 days' notice before the start of exercises.
Kirby added, "We make it a policy not to discuss specific ships, ports or dates, but these are ships of the USS John F. Kennedy's Battle Group, and they will be visiting some ports down there."
That same afternoon, Linda Oliver of the Navy's agent in the territory, C&C Port Services, said the USS Kennedy and six as yet unnamed warships from the carrier's Battle Group were expected. She said plans were being made with the Port Authority for two of the vessels to berth at the Crown Bay dock Sept. 20-24, while two others would anchor off St. John in Pillsbury Sound and another was scheduled to visit St. Croix.
On Sept. 25-29, Oliver said, the Kennedy was scheduled to anchor south of Hassel Island and begin tendering "over 5,000" crew to and from the Coast Guard dock at King's Wharf. At the same time, she said, the seventh ship would be visiting St. Croix.
A day later, all plans were put on hold by the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. National reports late that day, Sept. 11, said the USS Kennedy had been ordered to the New York area.
Sindi Coombs, owner of C&C Port Services, said later that her mainland Navy contacts had "not heard from the ships either for a cancellation or a confirmation" of the planned Virgin Islands calls. "It could be nothing more than the ships are so busy doing whatever they're doing that they haven't had time to respond," she said. But "if they're needed in other parts of the world, that's fine," she added, because "they'll come back."
On Sept. 12, Kennedy said she hadn't heard anything but felt sure that the aircraft carrier was "not coming in," because of the reports that it had been deployed to New York.
An e-mail to Kirby on Friday asking for an update on whether Navy ships would be visiting local ports as planned brought the terse response on Saturday that "For security purposes, I am not going to discuss the future movements of our ships."
Also on Saturday, Coombs said she still had received no word from the Navy. But, having advised suppliers that the visits might be off, she "had not had one complaint from a vendor" about the potential loss of revenues. "If the Navy ships come," she said, "we are going to be hosting men and women who will probably be going to war for us in the near future." As such, she said, they should be "treated with as much respect and patriotism as we can muster."
On Sunday, Frank Farmer's wife, Cynthia, said they now do not expect to see the USS Kennedy this month, because of the Navy being put on war readiness. When next the carrier does call in the islands, "We will have to be more than ready to show them how much they are appreciated," she said. "We should greet them with a round of applause," she said, "no matter what."
Now, with the Navy on war alert in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, those plans have been put on indefinite hold, according to local residents in the know, and Navy communications reflect a stark change of policy with regard to saying anything about plans at all.
On Sept. 9, Frank Farmer, a member of the United Service Organization (USO) board on St. Thomas, had put out a call for volunteers and donations of food, drink and paper products for naval personnel who would be aboard "ships in the territory later this month."
The next day, Farmer told the Source the ships were from the USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group, including the Kennedy aircraft carrier itself. He had just asked James O'Bryan at Government House for help getting the USO building on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront ready to receive visitors and was about to call AT&T "to get extra phones put in."
He noted that the visit plans were tentative. "It's always tentative with the Navy," he explained, "and then, a week prior to their arrival, we know for sure."
Navy League national director Norma Kennedy confirmed on Sept. 10 that the USS Kennedy would be visiting Sept. 25-29. She knew because her "good friend Mo," the carrier's commanding officer, Capt. Maurice Joyce, was planning to stay at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, where Kennedy works, and "I made his room reservation."
In fact, she said, there already were 40 reservations at the Reef from Navy personnel who would be in port. She added that plans to leave on Sept. 13 for a vacation in Europe would keep her from greeting her many friends among the "typical ship's compliment of 5,800 military personnel."
Also on Sept. 10, Cmdr. John Kirby, Second Fleet public affairs officer in Norfolk, Va., said Navy ships would be visiting the islands "later this month" and that the visit would be "in conjunction with some of our exercises."
According to published reports, the Navy had notified Puerto Rican officials on Sept. 7 that a new round of Navy bombing exercises off Vieques "could begin as soon as Sept. 24" and could last 23 days. Under a 1983 agreement, the Navy is required to give the Puerto Rico government 15 days' notice before the start of exercises.
Kirby added, "We make it a policy not to discuss specific ships, ports or dates, but these are ships of the USS John F. Kennedy's Battle Group, and they will be visiting some ports down there."
That same afternoon, Linda Oliver of the Navy's agent in the territory, C&C Port Services, said the USS Kennedy and six as yet unnamed warships from the carrier's Battle Group were expected. She said plans were being made with the Port Authority for two of the vessels to berth at the Crown Bay dock Sept. 20-24, while two others would anchor off St. John in Pillsbury Sound and another was scheduled to visit St. Croix.
On Sept. 25-29, Oliver said, the Kennedy was scheduled to anchor south of Hassel Island and begin tendering "over 5,000" crew to and from the Coast Guard dock at King's Wharf. At the same time, she said, the seventh ship would be visiting St. Croix.
A day later, all plans were put on hold by the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. National reports late that day, Sept. 11, said the USS Kennedy had been ordered to the New York area.
Sindi Coombs, owner of C&C Port Services, said later that her mainland Navy contacts had "not heard from the ships either for a cancellation or a confirmation" of the planned Virgin Islands calls. "It could be nothing more than the ships are so busy doing whatever they're doing that they haven't had time to respond," she said. But "if they're needed in other parts of the world, that's fine," she added, because "they'll come back."
On Sept. 12, Kennedy said she hadn't heard anything but felt sure that the aircraft carrier was "not coming in," because of the reports that it had been deployed to New York.
An e-mail to Kirby on Friday asking for an update on whether Navy ships would be visiting local ports as planned brought the terse response on Saturday that "For security purposes, I am not going to discuss the future movements of our ships."
Also on Saturday, Coombs said she still had received no word from the Navy. But, having advised suppliers that the visits might be off, she "had not had one complaint from a vendor" about the potential loss of revenues. "If the Navy ships come," she said, "we are going to be hosting men and women who will probably be going to war for us in the near future." As such, she said, they should be "treated with as much respect and patriotism as we can muster."
On Sunday, Frank Farmer's wife, Cynthia, said they now do not expect to see the USS Kennedy this month, because of the Navy being put on war readiness. When next the carrier does call in the islands, "We will have to be more than ready to show them how much they are appreciated," she said. "We should greet them with a round of applause," she said, "no matter what."
MARCHENA EXPECTS $4 MILLION FROM SENATE
Sept, 19, 2001 – Nadine Marchena, acting chief executive officer for the Economic Development Authority, said Tuesday night she is confident the Legislature will give her the $4.07 million she has asked for to run the authority properly.
After the tragic, economically disastrous events of last week, Marchena said, "What senator would not want to fund this program," which many hope will offset some of the expected financial losses in the tourism market after terrorist attacks Sept. 11 on New York and Washington, D.C.
Marchena had asked the Legislature to appropriate the money before the attacks, she said.
The EDA's initiatives in bringing diverse companies to the territory, especially financial management firms, has been credited for an extra $100 million "found" by the government and used to fund, among other things, step increases for government workers.
"If they are serious, they will give us those monies," Marchena said. "If they don't, we won't be able to offer the benefits we've been talking about."
Those benefits include funding and assisting small businesses in the Virgin Islands.
Marchena was speaking to a group of about 18 business owners at an open house held to "continue the dialogue" between EDA staff and the business people it serves. It was the second such event and was called to discuss the newly approved micro-loan program for small businesses and the new small business program.
The Senate appropriated $500,000 from the general fund to finance the loans. Marchena said she had just been told about the new loan program "yesterday or the day before," and did not yet have a process in place for loan applications. However, she said it would be a "low document" process since the program is not federally funded.
The small business program lowers the amount of investment to $20,000 and the number of employees to two in order to be eligible for benefits. In order to qualify for the program, the business must be 50 percent locally owned. "Locally" is defined as being born in the Virgin Islands and living here for five consecutive years or being a resident for 10 consecutive years.
New programs notwithstanding, Marchena repeated what she has said several times in public forums: To carry out the work mandated for the authority, she will need more money and staff. The authority now has 16 employees for both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Despite funding woes and staff shortages, Marchena reported 72 companies have been processed for benefits or loans this year, leaving eight pending public hearings and eight others awaiting loan approval.
The other good news, she said, is that the EDA — an umbrella agency for the Economic Development Commission, the Government Development Bank, the Small Business Development Agency and the Industrial Park Development Agency — finally has a full board of directors. The board has been meeting at least every two weeks, sometimes until midnight, to clean up the backlog of applications for economic development benefits and loans, she said.
The board members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, chair; Kent Bernier, the governor's adviser on fiscal affairs; Willis Todman of the Government Employees Retirement System; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Service director; and Randolph Allen, Malcolm Plaskett and former Sen. Mary Ann Pickard, who serve on behalf of the private sector.
The open house was held on St. Thomas at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
After the tragic, economically disastrous events of last week, Marchena said, "What senator would not want to fund this program," which many hope will offset some of the expected financial losses in the tourism market after terrorist attacks Sept. 11 on New York and Washington, D.C.
Marchena had asked the Legislature to appropriate the money before the attacks, she said.
The EDA's initiatives in bringing diverse companies to the territory, especially financial management firms, has been credited for an extra $100 million "found" by the government and used to fund, among other things, step increases for government workers.
"If they are serious, they will give us those monies," Marchena said. "If they don't, we won't be able to offer the benefits we've been talking about."
Those benefits include funding and assisting small businesses in the Virgin Islands.
Marchena was speaking to a group of about 18 business owners at an open house held to "continue the dialogue" between EDA staff and the business people it serves. It was the second such event and was called to discuss the newly approved micro-loan program for small businesses and the new small business program.
The Senate appropriated $500,000 from the general fund to finance the loans. Marchena said she had just been told about the new loan program "yesterday or the day before," and did not yet have a process in place for loan applications. However, she said it would be a "low document" process since the program is not federally funded.
The small business program lowers the amount of investment to $20,000 and the number of employees to two in order to be eligible for benefits. In order to qualify for the program, the business must be 50 percent locally owned. "Locally" is defined as being born in the Virgin Islands and living here for five consecutive years or being a resident for 10 consecutive years.
New programs notwithstanding, Marchena repeated what she has said several times in public forums: To carry out the work mandated for the authority, she will need more money and staff. The authority now has 16 employees for both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Despite funding woes and staff shortages, Marchena reported 72 companies have been processed for benefits or loans this year, leaving eight pending public hearings and eight others awaiting loan approval.
The other good news, she said, is that the EDA — an umbrella agency for the Economic Development Commission, the Government Development Bank, the Small Business Development Agency and the Industrial Park Development Agency — finally has a full board of directors. The board has been meeting at least every two weeks, sometimes until midnight, to clean up the backlog of applications for economic development benefits and loans, she said.
The board members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, chair; Kent Bernier, the governor's adviser on fiscal affairs; Willis Todman of the Government Employees Retirement System; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Service director; and Randolph Allen, Malcolm Plaskett and former Sen. Mary Ann Pickard, who serve on behalf of the private sector.
The open house was held on St. Thomas at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
MARCHENA EXPECTS $4 MILLION FROM SENATE
Sept, 19, 2001 – Nadine Marchena, acting chief executive officer for the Economic Development Authority, said Tuesday night she is confident the Legislature will give her the $4.07 million she has asked for to run the authority properly.
After the tragic, economically disastrous events of last week, Marchena said, "What senator would not want to fund this program," which many hope will offset some of the expected financial losses in the tourism market after terrorist attacks Sept. 11 on New York and Washington, D.C.
Marchena had asked the Legislature to appropriate the money before the attacks, she said.
The EDA's initiatives in bringing diverse companies to the territory, especially financial management firms, has been credited for an extra $100 million "found" by the government and used to fund, among other things, step increases for government workers.
"If they are serious, they will give us those monies," Marchena said. "If they don't, we won't be able to offer the benefits we've been talking about."
Those benefits include funding and assisting small businesses in the Virgin Islands.
Marchena was speaking to a group of about 18 business owners at an open house held to "continue the dialogue" between EDA staff and the business people it serves. It was the second such event and was called to discuss the newly approved micro-loan program for small businesses and the new small business program.
The Senate appropriated $500,000 from the general fund to finance the loans. Marchena said she had just been told about the new loan program "yesterday or the day before," and did not yet have a process in place for loan applications. However, she said it would be a "low document" process since the program is not federally funded.
The small business program lowers the amount of investment to $20,000 and the number of employees to two in order to be eligible for benefits. In order to qualify for the program, the business must be 50 percent locally owned. "Locally" is defined as being born in the Virgin Islands and living here for five consecutive years or being a resident for 10 consecutive years.
New programs notwithstanding, Marchena repeated what she has said several times in public forums: To carry out the work mandated for the authority, she will need more money and staff. The authority now has 16 employees for both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Despite funding woes and staff shortages, Marchena reported 72 companies have been processed for benefits or loans this year, leaving eight pending public hearings and eight others awaiting loan approval.
The other good news, she said, is that the EDA — an umbrella agency for the Economic Development Commission, the Government Development Bank, the Small Business Development Agency and the Industrial Park Development Agency — finally has a full board of directors. The board has been meeting at least every two weeks, sometimes until midnight, to clean up the backlog of applications for economic development benefits and loans, she said.
The board members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, chair; Kent Bernier, the governor's adviser on fiscal affairs; Willis Todman of the Government Employees Retirement System; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Service director; and Randolph Allen, Malcolm Plaskett and former Sen. Mary Ann Pickard, who serve on behalf of the private sector.
The open house was held on St. Thomas at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
After the tragic, economically disastrous events of last week, Marchena said, "What senator would not want to fund this program," which many hope will offset some of the expected financial losses in the tourism market after terrorist attacks Sept. 11 on New York and Washington, D.C.
Marchena had asked the Legislature to appropriate the money before the attacks, she said.
The EDA's initiatives in bringing diverse companies to the territory, especially financial management firms, has been credited for an extra $100 million "found" by the government and used to fund, among other things, step increases for government workers.
"If they are serious, they will give us those monies," Marchena said. "If they don't, we won't be able to offer the benefits we've been talking about."
Those benefits include funding and assisting small businesses in the Virgin Islands.
Marchena was speaking to a group of about 18 business owners at an open house held to "continue the dialogue" between EDA staff and the business people it serves. It was the second such event and was called to discuss the newly approved micro-loan program for small businesses and the new small business program.
The Senate appropriated $500,000 from the general fund to finance the loans. Marchena said she had just been told about the new loan program "yesterday or the day before," and did not yet have a process in place for loan applications. However, she said it would be a "low document" process since the program is not federally funded.
The small business program lowers the amount of investment to $20,000 and the number of employees to two in order to be eligible for benefits. In order to qualify for the program, the business must be 50 percent locally owned. "Locally" is defined as being born in the Virgin Islands and living here for five consecutive years or being a resident for 10 consecutive years.
New programs notwithstanding, Marchena repeated what she has said several times in public forums: To carry out the work mandated for the authority, she will need more money and staff. The authority now has 16 employees for both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Despite funding woes and staff shortages, Marchena reported 72 companies have been processed for benefits or loans this year, leaving eight pending public hearings and eight others awaiting loan approval.
The other good news, she said, is that the EDA — an umbrella agency for the Economic Development Commission, the Government Development Bank, the Small Business Development Agency and the Industrial Park Development Agency — finally has a full board of directors. The board has been meeting at least every two weeks, sometimes until midnight, to clean up the backlog of applications for economic development benefits and loans, she said.
The board members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, chair; Kent Bernier, the governor's adviser on fiscal affairs; Willis Todman of the Government Employees Retirement System; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Service director; and Randolph Allen, Malcolm Plaskett and former Sen. Mary Ann Pickard, who serve on behalf of the private sector.
The open house was held on St. Thomas at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
MARCHENA EXPECTS $4 MILLION FROM SENATE
Sept, 19, 2001 – Nadine Marchena, acting chief executive officer for the Economic Development Authority, said Tuesday night she is confident the Legislature will give her the $4.07 million she has asked for to run the authority properly.
After the tragic, economically disastrous events of last week, Marchena said, "What senator would not want to fund this program," which many hope will offset some of the expected financial losses in the tourism market after terrorist attacks Sept. 11 on New York and Washington, D.C.
Marchena had asked the Legislature to appropriate the money before the attacks, she said.
The EDA's initiatives in bringing diverse companies to the territory, especially financial management firms, has been credited for an extra $100 million "found" by the government and used to fund, among other things, step increases for government workers.
"If they are serious, they will give us those monies," Marchena said. "If they don't, we won't be able to offer the benefits we've been talking about."
Those benefits include funding and assisting small businesses in the Virgin Islands.
Marchena was speaking to a group of about 18 business owners at an open house held to "continue the dialogue" between EDA staff and the business people it serves. It was the second such event and was called to discuss the newly approved micro-loan program for small businesses and the new small business program.
The Senate appropriated $500,000 from the general fund to finance the loans. Marchena said she had just been told about the new loan program "yesterday or the day before," and did not yet have a process in place for loan applications. However, she said it would be a "low document" process since the program is not federally funded.
The small business program lowers the amount of investment to $20,000 and the number of employees to two in order to be eligible for benefits. In order to qualify for the program, the business must be 50 percent locally owned. "Locally" is defined as being born in the Virgin Islands and living here for five consecutive years or being a resident for 10 consecutive years.
New programs notwithstanding, Marchena repeated what she has said several times in public forums: To carry out the work mandated for the authority, she will need more money and staff. The authority now has 16 employees for both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Despite funding woes and staff shortages, Marchena reported 72 companies have been processed for benefits or loans this year, leaving eight pending public hearings and eight others awaiting loan approval.
The other good news, she said, is that the EDA — an umbrella agency for the Economic Development Commission, the Government Development Bank, the Small Business Development Agency and the Industrial Park Development Agency — finally has a full board of directors. The board has been meeting at least every two weeks, sometimes until midnight, to clean up the backlog of applications for economic development benefits and loans, she said.
The board members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, chair; Kent Bernier, the governor's adviser on fiscal affairs; Willis Todman of the Government Employees Retirement System; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Service director; and Randolph Allen, Malcolm Plaskett and former Sen. Mary Ann Pickard, who serve on behalf of the private sector.
The open house was held on St. Thomas at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
After the tragic, economically disastrous events of last week, Marchena said, "What senator would not want to fund this program," which many hope will offset some of the expected financial losses in the tourism market after terrorist attacks Sept. 11 on New York and Washington, D.C.
Marchena had asked the Legislature to appropriate the money before the attacks, she said.
The EDA's initiatives in bringing diverse companies to the territory, especially financial management firms, has been credited for an extra $100 million "found" by the government and used to fund, among other things, step increases for government workers.
"If they are serious, they will give us those monies," Marchena said. "If they don't, we won't be able to offer the benefits we've been talking about."
Those benefits include funding and assisting small businesses in the Virgin Islands.
Marchena was speaking to a group of about 18 business owners at an open house held to "continue the dialogue" between EDA staff and the business people it serves. It was the second such event and was called to discuss the newly approved micro-loan program for small businesses and the new small business program.
The Senate appropriated $500,000 from the general fund to finance the loans. Marchena said she had just been told about the new loan program "yesterday or the day before," and did not yet have a process in place for loan applications. However, she said it would be a "low document" process since the program is not federally funded.
The small business program lowers the amount of investment to $20,000 and the number of employees to two in order to be eligible for benefits. In order to qualify for the program, the business must be 50 percent locally owned. "Locally" is defined as being born in the Virgin Islands and living here for five consecutive years or being a resident for 10 consecutive years.
New programs notwithstanding, Marchena repeated what she has said several times in public forums: To carry out the work mandated for the authority, she will need more money and staff. The authority now has 16 employees for both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Despite funding woes and staff shortages, Marchena reported 72 companies have been processed for benefits or loans this year, leaving eight pending public hearings and eight others awaiting loan approval.
The other good news, she said, is that the EDA — an umbrella agency for the Economic Development Commission, the Government Development Bank, the Small Business Development Agency and the Industrial Park Development Agency — finally has a full board of directors. The board has been meeting at least every two weeks, sometimes until midnight, to clean up the backlog of applications for economic development benefits and loans, she said.
The board members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, chair; Kent Bernier, the governor's adviser on fiscal affairs; Willis Todman of the Government Employees Retirement System; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Service director; and Randolph Allen, Malcolm Plaskett and former Sen. Mary Ann Pickard, who serve on behalf of the private sector.
The open house was held on St. Thomas at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
BOTH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS GET BOMB THREAT CALLS
Sept. 18, 2001 – A bomb threat was telephoned Tuesday morning to Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and another was called in to Charlotte Amalie High School around noon. Eudora Kean closed for the day after the threat was received there. Bomb threats were also called in to the ScotiaBank branch on Veterans Drive.
A anonymous caller had told police Monday night, "There will be numerous bombs planted in each of the schools tomorrow."
Education Department officials said Eudora Kean closed for the day after the bomb threat was received there about 10 a.m. Tuesday. Classes continued at CAHS.
Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds called the threats "unconscionable" in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the mainland last week. "This is not a time for pranks," she said, adding that students were losing valuable learning time because of the calls, and that they would not be able to make up for the missed lessons. School officials have to take any threat to the children seriously, she added.
A spate of other bomb threats and resulting evacuations have been made in the territory since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., a week ago:
– On Monday, the Human Services Department offices in the Knud-Hansen complex on St. Thomas received a threat.
– On Sunday, the Pueblo supermarket in Sub Base received a threat.
– On Saturday night, the Capt. Vic car barge was forced to end a Jam Band boat ride because of a bomb threat, law-enforcement officials reported.
– Last Wednesday, the Guy Benjamin Elementary School on St. John and the ScotiaBank branch in Tutu Park Mall received bomb threats.
No explosions have occurred, and no bombs have been found at the sites.
On Monday, FBI agents on St. Croix arrested Norman Rampersad Jr. and charged him with making a bomb threat to a subcontractor at the Hovensa oil refinery last week. If convicted, Rampersad could face up to 10 years in prison on the charge of calling in a bomb threat.
Police Commissioner Franz Christian has said that he considers any bomb threat a threat to human life, and cases will be treated as such.
A anonymous caller had told police Monday night, "There will be numerous bombs planted in each of the schools tomorrow."
Education Department officials said Eudora Kean closed for the day after the bomb threat was received there about 10 a.m. Tuesday. Classes continued at CAHS.
Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds called the threats "unconscionable" in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the mainland last week. "This is not a time for pranks," she said, adding that students were losing valuable learning time because of the calls, and that they would not be able to make up for the missed lessons. School officials have to take any threat to the children seriously, she added.
A spate of other bomb threats and resulting evacuations have been made in the territory since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., a week ago:
– On Monday, the Human Services Department offices in the Knud-Hansen complex on St. Thomas received a threat.
– On Sunday, the Pueblo supermarket in Sub Base received a threat.
– On Saturday night, the Capt. Vic car barge was forced to end a Jam Band boat ride because of a bomb threat, law-enforcement officials reported.
– Last Wednesday, the Guy Benjamin Elementary School on St. John and the ScotiaBank branch in Tutu Park Mall received bomb threats.
No explosions have occurred, and no bombs have been found at the sites.
On Monday, FBI agents on St. Croix arrested Norman Rampersad Jr. and charged him with making a bomb threat to a subcontractor at the Hovensa oil refinery last week. If convicted, Rampersad could face up to 10 years in prison on the charge of calling in a bomb threat.
Police Commissioner Franz Christian has said that he considers any bomb threat a threat to human life, and cases will be treated as such.
'HELMET DRIVE' TO BENEFIT FIREFIGHTERS' FAMILIES
Sept. 18, 2001 – Firefighters territorywide launched a "helmet drive" Tuesday morning to collect donations for the families of New York firefighters who lost their lives in responding to the terrorist attacks a week ago.
"We have firefighters in front of each station holding out their helmets to collect whatever anyone wants to give," Lt. Neil Berry said.
On Sunday, Berry said, "A small delegation of V.I. firefighters is going to New York to give a check to the New York firefighters' families. There is a memorial service for the firefighters on Sunday, and we want to be there."
Firefighter David Hodge got the drive going. "We came up with this within the last 48 hours," he said. "They are our fallen comrades."
Berry and Hodge said all of the V.I. firefighters feel a strong bond with their New York colleagues. "They always come to the station to say hi when they are here on vacation," one said. "We all have NYFD T-shirts." They agreed that "we had to do it; we all feel the tragedy."
Members of both the firefighters union and the fire supervisors union are holding out their helmets, Hodge said. Cash and checks are accepted. Checks should be made out to Firefighters Local 2125, he said.
Response so far has been good, Hodge said. "The people have been really appreciative — even the tourists are giving us a little dollar or so." He stressed that any amount is fine, "25 cents, anything. And we want to make it absolutely clear that every penny is going into the check to give to the families."
"We have firefighters in front of each station holding out their helmets to collect whatever anyone wants to give," Lt. Neil Berry said.
On Sunday, Berry said, "A small delegation of V.I. firefighters is going to New York to give a check to the New York firefighters' families. There is a memorial service for the firefighters on Sunday, and we want to be there."
Firefighter David Hodge got the drive going. "We came up with this within the last 48 hours," he said. "They are our fallen comrades."
Berry and Hodge said all of the V.I. firefighters feel a strong bond with their New York colleagues. "They always come to the station to say hi when they are here on vacation," one said. "We all have NYFD T-shirts." They agreed that "we had to do it; we all feel the tragedy."
Members of both the firefighters union and the fire supervisors union are holding out their helmets, Hodge said. Cash and checks are accepted. Checks should be made out to Firefighters Local 2125, he said.
Response so far has been good, Hodge said. "The people have been really appreciative — even the tourists are giving us a little dollar or so." He stressed that any amount is fine, "25 cents, anything. And we want to make it absolutely clear that every penny is going into the check to give to the families."
JN. BAPTISTE IMPLIES HE'LL SUBPOENA SIMMONDS
Sept. 18, 2001 – Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds said Tuesday that her announced refusal to appear at a Senate Education Committee hearing scheduled for Friday on St. Croix stems from Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's general directive to his department heads not to attend Senate meetings unless he gives the okay.
Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, the committee chair, circulated copies of a letter he sent to Simmonds on Tuesday to the news media. In it, he told Simmonds that he was "duty bound to issue subpoenas to ensure that the people's business is conducted."
Later Tuesday, Simmonds called Jn. Baptiste's actions "politicking." "Politicians are good at stirring up the pot," she said.
Simmonds said that, according to a policy implemented by Turnbull in an Aug. 1 letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd, the senator needed to write to the governor to request her presence. She said Jn. Baptiste failed to do so. "All he has to do is make a request," she said.
In his written reply to Simmonds' letter of refusal, Jn. Baptiste noted that, despite the governor's mandate, other commissioners and agency heads have appeared to testify at Senate hearings. He said the policy has never been enforced. "What is your motive here?" he asked Simmonds, noting that she had committed to attend a Finance Committee meeting on Saturday.
Simmonds' explanation is that all agency heads were told by the governor to attend budget hearings, which is what the Finance Committee session on Saturday is. "We're defending the budget," she said.
Jn. Baptiste said he scheduled the Education Committee session to get information about Education Department procurement practices, including contracts, staffing and equipment and supply needs. He also wants to know about projects financed under the Youth, Education and Training Endowment Fund. In his letter to Simmonds Tuesday, he said the meeting will be "geared towards righting the wrongs of our education system."
Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, the committee chair, circulated copies of a letter he sent to Simmonds on Tuesday to the news media. In it, he told Simmonds that he was "duty bound to issue subpoenas to ensure that the people's business is conducted."
Later Tuesday, Simmonds called Jn. Baptiste's actions "politicking." "Politicians are good at stirring up the pot," she said.
Simmonds said that, according to a policy implemented by Turnbull in an Aug. 1 letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd, the senator needed to write to the governor to request her presence. She said Jn. Baptiste failed to do so. "All he has to do is make a request," she said.
In his written reply to Simmonds' letter of refusal, Jn. Baptiste noted that, despite the governor's mandate, other commissioners and agency heads have appeared to testify at Senate hearings. He said the policy has never been enforced. "What is your motive here?" he asked Simmonds, noting that she had committed to attend a Finance Committee meeting on Saturday.
Simmonds' explanation is that all agency heads were told by the governor to attend budget hearings, which is what the Finance Committee session on Saturday is. "We're defending the budget," she said.
Jn. Baptiste said he scheduled the Education Committee session to get information about Education Department procurement practices, including contracts, staffing and equipment and supply needs. He also wants to know about projects financed under the Youth, Education and Training Endowment Fund. In his letter to Simmonds Tuesday, he said the meeting will be "geared towards righting the wrongs of our education system."
ZONING VARIANCE PROMPTS RESIDENT'S PROTEST
Sept. 18, 2001 – What's being billed as a meeting of Smith Bay residents to organize in protest of the special zoning of a warehouse construction project in their neighborhood has been scheduled for Wednesday evening.
Retired contractor Horace M. Lewis wants neighboring homeowners to join him in legal action aimed at keeping Merchant's Market, a local food wholesaler, from building a warehouse next to their residences in rural Smith Bay. He has announced an "organizational meeting of concerned residents of the Smith Bay area" for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tau Club.
"The agenda," Lewis said, "includes a status report on the action against a use variance for a wholesale and warehouse business in an area zoned R-3 in Smith Bay." He noted that "warehouses are not allowed" in areas zoned R-3 and said he has engaged attorney Rosalie Ballantine to pursue the matter in court if necessary.
The Legislature has the authority — which it has from time to time exercised — to grant "variances," or exceptions, to zoning regulations on a case-by-case basis.
Heavy machinery has already cleared much of the disputed 3.5- acre lot at 8A and 8A-1 Smith Bay. Posted at the site is a Planning and Natural Resources Department Coastal Zone Management earth change permit issued to Merchant's Market for a project described as a "warehouse."
Lewis said he has invited government officials to attend the meeting. For further information, he can be reached by calling 643-0741.
Retired contractor Horace M. Lewis wants neighboring homeowners to join him in legal action aimed at keeping Merchant's Market, a local food wholesaler, from building a warehouse next to their residences in rural Smith Bay. He has announced an "organizational meeting of concerned residents of the Smith Bay area" for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tau Club.
"The agenda," Lewis said, "includes a status report on the action against a use variance for a wholesale and warehouse business in an area zoned R-3 in Smith Bay." He noted that "warehouses are not allowed" in areas zoned R-3 and said he has engaged attorney Rosalie Ballantine to pursue the matter in court if necessary.
The Legislature has the authority — which it has from time to time exercised — to grant "variances," or exceptions, to zoning regulations on a case-by-case basis.
Heavy machinery has already cleared much of the disputed 3.5- acre lot at 8A and 8A-1 Smith Bay. Posted at the site is a Planning and Natural Resources Department Coastal Zone Management earth change permit issued to Merchant's Market for a project described as a "warehouse."
Lewis said he has invited government officials to attend the meeting. For further information, he can be reached by calling 643-0741.
