Sept. 13, 2001 – Cars heading to Cyril E. King Airport Thursday morning were met by a Port Authority Police van blocking the road. Although a provisional green light had been given by the federal government for the nation's airports to resume traffic at 11 a.m. Thursday, the St. Thomas facility remained closed at noon, pending implementation of newly mandated security measures.
Port Authority Police Sgt. Merlin Christian had been given instructions to turn traffic back.
In the meantime, Ben Grimes, St. Thomas air traffic controller, said in answer to questions about when the airport would re-open, "I wish we knew. We want to open, but the onus is on each airport and each airline to implement security measures, and St. Thomas's aren't ready to go yet."
Only airline and airport employees were being allowed to enter the airport. A perplexed individual turned back by Christian said he just wanted to go to the Planning and Natural Resources Department offices on the upper floor of the airport terminal to get a permit which a DPNR staff member had just told him to come and pick up.
Representatives of the Avis and Hertz rental car companies stood at the airport entrance, telling their customers to return their cars to the company's maintenance facilities nearby.
Christian said only employees of Rush It and other businesses with offices at the airport were being allowed to enter. Customers will have to wait until the airport officially reopens, she said, patiently explaining to car after car that she didn't know when that would be.
CYRIL E. KING AIRPORT NOT READY TO OPEN
Sept. 13, 2001 – Cars heading to Cyril E. King Airport on Thursday morning were met by a Port Authority police van blocking the road. Although a provisional green light had been given by the federal government for the nation's airports to resume traffic at 11 a.m. Thursday, the St. Thomas facility remained closed at noon, pending implementation of newly mandated security measures.
Port Authority Police Sgt. Merlin Christian had been given instructions to turn traffic back.
In the meantime, Ben Grimes, St. Thomas air traffic controller, said in answer to questions about when the airport would re-open, "I wish we knew. We want to open, but the onus is on each airport and each airline to implement security measures, and St. Thomas's aren't ready to go yet."
Only airline and airport employees were being allowed to enter the airport. A perplexed individual turned back by Christian said he just wanted to go to the Planning and Natural Resources Department offices on the upper floor of the airport terminal to get a permit which a DPNR staff member had just told him to come and pick up.
Representatives of the Avis and Hertz rental car companies stood at the airport entrance, telling their customers to return their cars to the company's maintenance facilities nearby.
Christian said only employees of Rush It and other businesses with offices at the airport were being allowed to enter. Customers will have to wait until the airport officially reopens, she said, patiently explaining to car after car that she didn't know when that would be.
Port Authority Police Sgt. Merlin Christian had been given instructions to turn traffic back.
In the meantime, Ben Grimes, St. Thomas air traffic controller, said in answer to questions about when the airport would re-open, "I wish we knew. We want to open, but the onus is on each airport and each airline to implement security measures, and St. Thomas's aren't ready to go yet."
Only airline and airport employees were being allowed to enter the airport. A perplexed individual turned back by Christian said he just wanted to go to the Planning and Natural Resources Department offices on the upper floor of the airport terminal to get a permit which a DPNR staff member had just told him to come and pick up.
Representatives of the Avis and Hertz rental car companies stood at the airport entrance, telling their customers to return their cars to the company's maintenance facilities nearby.
Christian said only employees of Rush It and other businesses with offices at the airport were being allowed to enter. Customers will have to wait until the airport officially reopens, she said, patiently explaining to car after car that she didn't know when that would be.
REPUBLICAN PARTY FOOD SALE
The St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island Branch of the Republican Party will hold a food sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, in the Fort Christian Parking Lot.
Tickets can be obtained at Jimmie Bee's Restaurant, V.I. Rum Cake Shop or from Republican members.
Native dishes will be served and the public is cordially invited.
Tickets can be obtained at Jimmie Bee's Restaurant, V.I. Rum Cake Shop or from Republican members.
Native dishes will be served and the public is cordially invited.
REPUBLICAN PARTY FOOD SALE
The St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island Branch of the Republican Party will hold a food sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Fort Christian Parking Lot.
Tickets can be obtained at Jimmie Bee's Restaurant, V. I. Rum Cake Shop or from Republican members.
Native dishes will be served and the public is cordially invited.
Tickets can be obtained at Jimmie Bee's Restaurant, V. I. Rum Cake Shop or from Republican members.
Native dishes will be served and the public is cordially invited.
CHAMBER AFTER HOURS AT UVI
The University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Campus, will host the St. croix Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Student Center.
The UVI's Divisions of Business Administration and Institutional Advancement will be featured. There will be door prizes and cash bar.
For more information call 773-1435.
The UVI's Divisions of Business Administration and Institutional Advancement will be featured. There will be door prizes and cash bar.
For more information call 773-1435.
CHAMBER AFTER HOURS AT UVI CAMPUS
The University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Campus, will host the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m on Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Student Center.
The UVI's Division of Business Administration and Institutional Advancement will be featured. There will be door prizes and a cash bar.
For more informaiton call 773-1435.
The UVI's Division of Business Administration and Institutional Advancement will be featured. There will be door prizes and a cash bar.
For more informaiton call 773-1435.
REPUBLICAN PARTY FOOD SALE
The St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island Branch of the Republican Party is holding a food sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, in the Fort Christian Parking Lot.
Tickets can be obtained at Jimmie Bee's Restaurant, V.I. Rum Shop or from Republican members.
Native dishes will be served and the public is cordially invited.
Tickets can be obtained at Jimmie Bee's Restaurant, V.I. Rum Shop or from Republican members.
Native dishes will be served and the public is cordially invited.
REPUBLICAN PARTY FOOD SALE
The St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island Branch of the V.I. Republican Party is holding a food sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, in the Fort Christian Parking Lot.
Tickets can be obtained at Jimmie Bee's Restaurant, V.I. Rum Cake Shop or from Republican members. Native dishes will be served and the public is cordially invitd.
Tickets can be obtained at Jimmie Bee's Restaurant, V.I. Rum Cake Shop or from Republican members. Native dishes will be served and the public is cordially invitd.
LIMITED CIVILIAN FLIGHTS RESUMING TODAY
Sept. 13, 2001 – Regularly scheduled civilian air traffic across the nation began resuming at 11 a.m. Thursday, but it was clear that the number of flights would be limited, and the timeline for a return to full operations remained uncertain.
No specific information concerning flights into or out of the Virgin Islands was immediately available.
As of 9 a.m., David Mapp, Port Authority assistant director, had no word on when flights in and out of the territory's two airports would resume. He said that the Federal Aviation Administrator advised him that he would receive more information near noon.
Two airplanes were stranded at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas when the FAA closed all airports on Tuesday, Mapp said. One is the American Airlines plane that left New York's Kennedy Airport around 8 a.m. that day. The other is an American Eagle plane.
Mapp said Cape Air officials told him they are ready to resume flights between St. Thomas and St. Croix. He said many local residents, including himself, have not been able to get back to their home island. He said there were cars lined up outside Cyril E. King Airport filled with people hoping for flights out Thursday.
Shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced that some airports would reopen at that hour. Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, he had announced authorization for the aircraft diverted on Tuesday for emergency landing to reboard passengers from those flights and transport them to their ticketed destinations. Those flights began taking place Wednesday night. Many had been diverted to Canada.
Some officials indicated it would be "several days" before all airports reopened; others suggested it might be longer than that. There also have been repeated advisories that passengers should expect check-in to take up to two hours, even for domestic flights.
Anyone wanting specific information about flights scheduled to depart and arrive in the Virgin Islands should try to contact the airlines directly. Toll-free numbers are given below.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft stated Thursday morning that the top priority of the federal government with regard to resuming flights was "to secure airports and airplanes."
According to media reports, the beefed-up security will include such things as these:
– No more use of electronic ticketing (by computer, with purchasers issued ticket numbers and other information to print out for themselves).
– No more curbside check-in of baggage.
– No more access to boarding areas by non-passengers.
– No more allowing of passengers to carry aboard small knives, including plastic knives.
– Requirement of certified, uniformed personnel to operate scanners and other security check-point operations.
– Random identification checks at airports.
– Close monitoring of all vehicles arriving at airports.
– Use of dogs for security.
In the Virgin Islands, the ban imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration applies to inter-island flights, including those by seaplane, as well as flights from outside the territory.
Toll-free passenger information numbers for off-island airlines serving the territory are:
American 1-800-474-4884
Continental 1-787-793-7373
Delta 1-800-325-1999, 1-800-221-1212
United 1-800-241-6522
USAir 1-800-622-1015
No specific information concerning flights into or out of the Virgin Islands was immediately available.
As of 9 a.m., David Mapp, Port Authority assistant director, had no word on when flights in and out of the territory's two airports would resume. He said that the Federal Aviation Administrator advised him that he would receive more information near noon.
Two airplanes were stranded at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas when the FAA closed all airports on Tuesday, Mapp said. One is the American Airlines plane that left New York's Kennedy Airport around 8 a.m. that day. The other is an American Eagle plane.
Mapp said Cape Air officials told him they are ready to resume flights between St. Thomas and St. Croix. He said many local residents, including himself, have not been able to get back to their home island. He said there were cars lined up outside Cyril E. King Airport filled with people hoping for flights out Thursday.
Shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced that some airports would reopen at that hour. Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, he had announced authorization for the aircraft diverted on Tuesday for emergency landing to reboard passengers from those flights and transport them to their ticketed destinations. Those flights began taking place Wednesday night. Many had been diverted to Canada.
Some officials indicated it would be "several days" before all airports reopened; others suggested it might be longer than that. There also have been repeated advisories that passengers should expect check-in to take up to two hours, even for domestic flights.
Anyone wanting specific information about flights scheduled to depart and arrive in the Virgin Islands should try to contact the airlines directly. Toll-free numbers are given below.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft stated Thursday morning that the top priority of the federal government with regard to resuming flights was "to secure airports and airplanes."
According to media reports, the beefed-up security will include such things as these:
– No more use of electronic ticketing (by computer, with purchasers issued ticket numbers and other information to print out for themselves).
– No more curbside check-in of baggage.
– No more access to boarding areas by non-passengers.
– No more allowing of passengers to carry aboard small knives, including plastic knives.
– Requirement of certified, uniformed personnel to operate scanners and other security check-point operations.
– Random identification checks at airports.
– Close monitoring of all vehicles arriving at airports.
– Use of dogs for security.
In the Virgin Islands, the ban imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration applies to inter-island flights, including those by seaplane, as well as flights from outside the territory.
Toll-free passenger information numbers for off-island airlines serving the territory are:
American 1-800-474-4884
Continental 1-787-793-7373
Delta 1-800-325-1999, 1-800-221-1212
United 1-800-241-6522
USAir 1-800-622-1015
V.I. INFORMATION RELATING TO TERRORIST ATTACKS
Sept. 13, 2001 – On Day 3, here are reports concerning local activities and operations relating to the terrorist attacks on the U.S. mainland Tuesday. This posting is being updated throughout the day as additional information is received.
Notices may be e-mailed to source@viaccess.net. They may be faxed to 777-8136 or to (509) 267-3448.
Community-relations disaster training postponed
A two-day training course in "Community Relations During Disasters" that had been scheduled for Sept. 17 and 18 at the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency headquarters on St. Croix has been postponed.
Trainers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were scheduled to conduct the training session, for VITEMA staff and government public information officers. It will be rescheduled for a date to be announced, Elroy Harrison, VITEMA deputy director for St. Croix, said. For more information, call 773-2244.
Call for a million points of light
An e-mail circulating nationally calls for all Americans and their supporters to take a small but concerted action Friday at 7 p.m. — local time, from zone to zone, apparently — in response to Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
"Step outside the door of your home, stop your car and get out, or step out from your workplace, and light a candle," the message said. "We will send the world a message: We stand united. We will not tolerate terrorism."
DPNR offices to resume normal hours
The St. Thomas offices of the Planning and Natural Resources Department, located on the second floor of the Cyril E. King Airport terminal, will resume normal hours Friday. Commissioner Dean Plaskett advised all department employees that they should have proper identification visible at all times.
The offices were off limits to the public because the airport was shut down in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the mainland.
Forum on election reform postponed
A public forum to discuss election reform that had been scheduled for Saturday at the Holiday Inn/Windward Passage Hotel has been postponed to Sept. 22. The event is being presented by the Virgin Islanders for Democratic Action. Sen. Lorraine Berry issued an advisory Thursday afternoon about the postponement.
Among those who have been scheduled to speak and offer proposals to create an election system with more accountability are John Abramson, supervisor of elections; Arturo Watlington, V.I. Democratic Party chair; Woodrow Green, Caribbean Democratic Alliance Club chair; Delia Smith, assistant attorney general; former senator Arnold Golden; attorney Maxwell MacIntosh; and political scientists Paul Leary and Malik Sekou.
Pistarckle function postponed
Pistarckle Theater has postponed its season-announcement and wine-tasting party that had been scheduled for Friday evening at the Offshore Bar and Cyber Cafe in Havensight. The event has been rescheduled for Sept. 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
It will include music by Lynette Oliver and a tasting of Caliterra wines, along with information about the theater children's program and the coming season. Admission is $15. For more information, call 775-7877.
Message calls for dressing to show pride
An e-mail making the rounds nationwide is asking that Americans and their supporters observe Friday as U.S. Color Day by dressing in red, white and blue in honor of those who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks — the passengers and crews aboard the airplanes, the workers in the New York buildings and the Pentagon, the emergency crews who went to their rescue, and the bystanders on the streets.
"Jeans are blue, and everyone owns a white T-shirt," the message notes. "The goal is to get the whole nation to participate. Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased." It says wearing red, white and blue will signal "pride in the United States and the freedom it represents … Let's get the whole country into it."
Beware of e-mails asking for money
Internet ScamBusters, an online consumer publication on Internet fraud, advised the public Wednesday to beware of e-mail scams related to Tuesday's terrorist attacks. For those moved to "reach out to the victims and their families and help in whatever way you can," the publication advised: "Make sure your help goes where you intend it."
Publishers Audri and Jim Lanford said they have "received reports of spammers sending out calls for assistance for 'emergency relief funds' and directing the recipients to 'contribute money to the Red Cross' — through the spammers' web sites. Many of these spammers are trying to steal money and credit card numbers. Do not respond to these emails!"
The Lanfords recommended that anyone wishing to contribute money to assist victims of the terrorist attacks do so through a major disaster-response organization, and "directly through the organization's site, or to a local chapter." (Telephone and online contact information for such organizations are provided in the Source story "Resources to get information, offer help.
The ScamBusters item also noted, "Amazon.com has set up a channel through which you can donate to the Red Cross, which may be a better choice for online donations. The Red Cross donations page has been swamped all day, and Amazon makes it very easy to donate from $1 to $100."
To access the donation channel, go to Amazon.com. As of mid-afternoon Thursday, the Amazon site had recorded nearly $3 million in donations to the Red Cross since Tuesday.
Calls out to show flag on Friday
E-mails are being circulated on the Internet with this message:
"To show those terrorists that we Americans stick together, Friday is going to be Flags Across America day. All Americans are asked to display the American flag in their homes and on their cars. Let's keep the meaning of United in United States. Pass this onto as many people as you know. Thank you."
Senate Rules Committee postponed
The Senate Rules Committee meeting that had been scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday on St. Thomas has been postponed to Saturday, Sept. 22, Luis Sylvester, chief of staff to the committee chairm, Sen. Carlton Dowe, announced Thursday morning.
Because airlines are not yet flying, Jerris Browne, a nominee for the Public Services Commission who was scheduled to be considered Thursday, cannot get to St. Thomas, nor can two committee members who are on St. Croix, Sylvester said. He said the new Saturday date was set so that the committee can vote on Browne and another PSC nominees, Verne C. David, before two full Senate sessions scheduled for Sept. 24 and 25.
Notices may be e-mailed to source@viaccess.net. They may be faxed to 777-8136 or to (509) 267-3448.
Community-relations disaster training postponed
A two-day training course in "Community Relations During Disasters" that had been scheduled for Sept. 17 and 18 at the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency headquarters on St. Croix has been postponed.
Trainers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were scheduled to conduct the training session, for VITEMA staff and government public information officers. It will be rescheduled for a date to be announced, Elroy Harrison, VITEMA deputy director for St. Croix, said. For more information, call 773-2244.
Call for a million points of light
An e-mail circulating nationally calls for all Americans and their supporters to take a small but concerted action Friday at 7 p.m. — local time, from zone to zone, apparently — in response to Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
"Step outside the door of your home, stop your car and get out, or step out from your workplace, and light a candle," the message said. "We will send the world a message: We stand united. We will not tolerate terrorism."
DPNR offices to resume normal hours
The St. Thomas offices of the Planning and Natural Resources Department, located on the second floor of the Cyril E. King Airport terminal, will resume normal hours Friday. Commissioner Dean Plaskett advised all department employees that they should have proper identification visible at all times.
The offices were off limits to the public because the airport was shut down in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the mainland.
Forum on election reform postponed
A public forum to discuss election reform that had been scheduled for Saturday at the Holiday Inn/Windward Passage Hotel has been postponed to Sept. 22. The event is being presented by the Virgin Islanders for Democratic Action. Sen. Lorraine Berry issued an advisory Thursday afternoon about the postponement.
Among those who have been scheduled to speak and offer proposals to create an election system with more accountability are John Abramson, supervisor of elections; Arturo Watlington, V.I. Democratic Party chair; Woodrow Green, Caribbean Democratic Alliance Club chair; Delia Smith, assistant attorney general; former senator Arnold Golden; attorney Maxwell MacIntosh; and political scientists Paul Leary and Malik Sekou.
Pistarckle function postponed
Pistarckle Theater has postponed its season-announcement and wine-tasting party that had been scheduled for Friday evening at the Offshore Bar and Cyber Cafe in Havensight. The event has been rescheduled for Sept. 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
It will include music by Lynette Oliver and a tasting of Caliterra wines, along with information about the theater children's program and the coming season. Admission is $15. For more information, call 775-7877.
Message calls for dressing to show pride
An e-mail making the rounds nationwide is asking that Americans and their supporters observe Friday as U.S. Color Day by dressing in red, white and blue in honor of those who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks — the passengers and crews aboard the airplanes, the workers in the New York buildings and the Pentagon, the emergency crews who went to their rescue, and the bystanders on the streets.
"Jeans are blue, and everyone owns a white T-shirt," the message notes. "The goal is to get the whole nation to participate. Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased." It says wearing red, white and blue will signal "pride in the United States and the freedom it represents … Let's get the whole country into it."
Beware of e-mails asking for money
Internet ScamBusters, an online consumer publication on Internet fraud, advised the public Wednesday to beware of e-mail scams related to Tuesday's terrorist attacks. For those moved to "reach out to the victims and their families and help in whatever way you can," the publication advised: "Make sure your help goes where you intend it."
Publishers Audri and Jim Lanford said they have "received reports of spammers sending out calls for assistance for 'emergency relief funds' and directing the recipients to 'contribute money to the Red Cross' — through the spammers' web sites. Many of these spammers are trying to steal money and credit card numbers. Do not respond to these emails!"
The Lanfords recommended that anyone wishing to contribute money to assist victims of the terrorist attacks do so through a major disaster-response organization, and "directly through the organization's site, or to a local chapter." (Telephone and online contact information for such organizations are provided in the Source story "Resources to get information, offer help.
The ScamBusters item also noted, "Amazon.com has set up a channel through which you can donate to the Red Cross, which may be a better choice for online donations. The Red Cross donations page has been swamped all day, and Amazon makes it very easy to donate from $1 to $100."
To access the donation channel, go to Amazon.com. As of mid-afternoon Thursday, the Amazon site had recorded nearly $3 million in donations to the Red Cross since Tuesday.
Calls out to show flag on Friday
E-mails are being circulated on the Internet with this message:
"To show those terrorists that we Americans stick together, Friday is going to be Flags Across America day. All Americans are asked to display the American flag in their homes and on their cars. Let's keep the meaning of United in United States. Pass this onto as many people as you know. Thank you."
Senate Rules Committee postponed
The Senate Rules Committee meeting that had been scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday on St. Thomas has been postponed to Saturday, Sept. 22, Luis Sylvester, chief of staff to the committee chairm, Sen. Carlton Dowe, announced Thursday morning.
Because airlines are not yet flying, Jerris Browne, a nominee for the Public Services Commission who was scheduled to be considered Thursday, cannot get to St. Thomas, nor can two committee members who are on St. Croix, Sylvester said. He said the new Saturday date was set so that the committee can vote on Browne and another PSC nominees, Verne C. David, before two full Senate sessions scheduled for Sept. 24 and 25.
