The University of the Virgin Islands lost $2.2 million in federal grant reimbursements due to lack of personnel training, improper supervision and monitoring, failure to follow up on reimbursement requests and failure to provide local matching funds.
According to a federal Interior Department audit released Friday, UVI lost $1.2 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds, $550,000 in Health and Human Services Department grant money and $490,000 in Interior funds because it failed to file required documentation in a proper and timely manner.
The audit covered fiscal years 1998 and 1999.
The $2.2 million that should have been reimbursed by the federal agencies had to be absorbed by the university's operating accounts.
The Legislature gave UVI a $25 million budget appropriation in 1999 to cover mostly salaries and operating costs. As of March 1999, the university had 76 ongoing projects funded by federal grants amounting to $10.9 million.
In one instance, Interior terminated a $156,500 grant and UVI subsequently spent $129,596 of its own budget because financial status reports and requests for reimbursements were not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget on time and the local matching portion of the grant was never appropriated or paid.
In response to the audit findings, Malcolm Kirwan, UVI vice president for administration and finance, said the university had made several attempts to collect the grant funds awarded through the V.I. government, without success.
"Since then the university has adopted a policy of not continuing any federal program administered through the Virgin Islands government for which reimbursements are in arrears for more than one quarter," he said.
In another instance, the university ended up paying $16,000 in interest on a $1.6 million payout that was in excess of what was required and sat in a UVI bank account for five months. By law, grantees must pay interest if "federal funds are in a state fund prior to the day the state pays out funds for program purposes."
Kirwan defended the university's record with regard to its timeliness in filing reports. "Although there are cases in which reporting deadlines are missed," he said, "the university has a good record of meeting more than 90 percent of the deadlines for the filing of financial status reports on grants."
Of 11 recommendations made by Interior in the audit report, nine were considered resolved and implemented. Additional information was requested in the other two cases.

The University of the Virgin Islands lost $2.2 million in federal grant reimbursements due to lack of personnel training, improper supervision and monitoring, failure to follow up on reimbursement requests and failure to provide local matching funds.
According to a federal Interior Department audit released Friday, UVI lost $1.2 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds, $550,000 in Health and Human Services Department grant money and $490,000 in Interior funds because it failed to file required documentation in a proper and timely manner.
The audit covered fiscal years 1998 and 1999.
The $2.2 million that should have been reimbursed by the federal agencies had to be absorbed by the university's operating accounts.
The Legislature gave UVI a $25 million budget appropriation in 1999 to cover mostly salaries and operating costs. As of March 1999, the university had 76 ongoing projects funded by federal grants amounting to $10.9 million.
In one instance, Interior terminated a $156,500 grant and UVI subsequently spent $129,596 of its own budget because financial status reports and requests for reimbursements were not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget on time and the local matching portion of the grant was never appropriated or paid.
In response to the audit findings, Malcolm Kirwan, UVI vice president for administration and finance, said the university had made several attempts to collect the grant funds awarded through the V.I. government, without success.
"Since then the university has adopted a policy of not continuing any federal program administered through the Virgin Islands government for which reimbursements are in arrears for more than one quarter," he said.
In another instance, the university ended up paying $16,000 in interest on a $1.6 million payout that was in excess of what was required and sat in a UVI bank account for five months. By law, grantees must pay interest if "federal funds are in a state fund prior to the day the state pays out funds for program purposes."
Kirwan defended the university's record with regard to its timeliness in filing reports. "Although there are cases in which reporting deadlines are missed," he said, "the university has a good record of meeting more than 90 percent of the deadlines for the filing of financial status reports on grants."
Of 11 recommendations made by Interior in the audit report, nine were considered resolved and implemented. Additional information was requested in the other two cases.

Observances were held Friday morning to commemorate the life of Cyril Emmanuel King, the territory's second elected governor, on what would have been his 79th birthday. A wreath-laying ceremony at the flagpoles and monument at the airport named in his honor followed a memorial service at Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, where he had been a lay reader.
King lost a battle with cancer in 1978, just shy of completing his first term in office.
At the airport ceremony, members of the Independent Citizens Movement, King's party, lauded him as a giant of a man who set the stage for the development of the Virgin Islands. Levron "Pops" Sarauw, a lifelong ICM stalwart, said, "There is no doubt that Cyril E. King was a man for the people. He was very instrumental in getting this airport up and running."
The ICM president on St. Thomas, former senator Stephen "Smokey" Frett, promised to "keep Governor King's torch burning." Frett said King's contributions were testimony that "through hard work and determination, much can be accomplished."
Gov. Charles Turnbull said King "recognized the importance of sacrifice and discipline in order to bring about a new order of things. . . We honor the things he stood for and the energy and demand for excellence he brought to government."
The governor called King "a giant of a native son" who "left a legacy of unselfish public service."
The airport on St. Thomas, formerly named for President Harry S Truman, was renamed in King's honor in October 1990, when a modern, new terminal replaced the World War II hangar that had served the purpose for decades. King was credited with initiating the project and then moving it along despite legal entanglements with the then-contractor, Rogge International.
Neither King's widow, Agnes, nor his daughter, Lillia, attended the memorial service or the wreath-laying ceremony.

Observances were held Friday morning to commemorate the life of Cyril Emmanuel King, the territory's second elected governor, on what would have been his 79th birthday. A wreath-laying ceremony at the flagpoles and monument at the airport named in his honor followed a memorial service at Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, where he had been a lay reader.
King lost a battle with cancer in 1978, just shy of completing his first term in office.
At the airport ceremony, members of the Independent Citizens Movement, King's party, lauded him as a giant of a man who set the stage for the development of the Virgin Islands. Levron "Pops" Sarauw, a lifelong ICM stalwart, said, "There is no doubt that Cyril E. King was a man for the people. He was very instrumental in getting this airport up and running."
The ICM president on St. Thomas, former senator Stephen "Smokey" Frett, promised to "keep Governor King's torch burning." Frett said King's contributions were testimony that "through hard work and determination, much can be accomplished."
Gov. Charles Turnbull said King "recognized the importance of sacrifice and discipline in order to bring about a new order of things. . . We honor the things he stood for and the energy and demand for excellence he brought to government."
The governor called King "a giant of a native son" who "left a legacy of unselfish public service."
The airport on St. Thomas, formerly named for President Harry S Truman, was renamed in King's honor in October 1990, when a modern, new terminal replaced the World War II hangar that had served the purpose for decades. King was credited with initiating the project and then moving it along despite legal entanglements with the then-contractor, Rogge International.
Neither King's widow, Agnes, nor his daughter, Lillia, attended the memorial service or the wreath-laying ceremony.

Telling all about a "Political Prossertoot," Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg's debut CD album, "Foncie 2000," is hot off the press, released this week.
Donastorg may be better known in the Senate, but he has a strong calypso following as "The Mighty Foncie." The album features 10 new songs, along with two from V.I. Carnival last year, when he was one of the top 10 calypsonian finalists.
The songs are fun, of course, but they contain serious messages about youth and community problems. Donastorg said that calypso is one of the best ways to involve the community. The calypso form has long been known as one of the most direct ways into the heart and mind and funny bone.
"I can express my concerns through music," Donastorg said. "It has become a hobby for me. I'm very excited about this CD." Proceeds from the sale of the album will go toward recreational equipment for St. Thomas and St. John senior citizens, as well as to the senator's campaign committee.
Donastorg noted that May is Senior Citizen Month and said he wanted to do "something special" for the territory's older folks.
As far as the campaign contributions, "This is my own style of campaign finance reform," he said. He emphasized his belief that all elected officials should find more creative fund-raising efforts. (And not be a "Political Prossertoot"?)
"Foncie 2000" is available at music outlets throughout the territory.

Telling all about a "Political Prossertoot," Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg's debut CD album, "Foncie 2000," is hot off the press, released this week.
Donastorg may be more well known in the Senate, but he has a strong calypso following as "The Mighty Foncie." The album features 10 new songs, along with two from carnival last year when he was one of the top 10 calypsonian finalists.
The songs are fun, of course, but they contain serious messages about youth and community problems. Donastorg said that calypso is one of the best ways to involve the community. The calypso form has long been known as one of the most direct ways into the heart and mind, (and funnybone).
"I can express my concerns through music," Donastorg said. "It has become a hobby for me – I'm very excited about this CD." Proceeds from the sale of the CD will go toward recreational equipment for St. Thomas and St. John senior citizens, as well as to the senator's campaign committee.
Donastorg noted that May is Senior Citizen month, and said he wanted to do "something special" for the territory's older folks.
As far as the campaign contributions, "This is my own style of campaign finance reform," he said. He emphasized his belief that all elected officials should find more creative fund-raising efforts. (And not be a "Political Prossertoot"?)
"Foncie 2000 is available at music outlets throughout the territory.

After a day of meetings with local and national teachers union leaders, Gov. Charles Turnbull said Friday he is prepared to declare a state of emergency in the Education Department, as he did last month with the Public Works Department.
But he went no further than that, and no additional information was available from Government House as to when and on what basis he might proceed from preparation into action.
The main effect of such a declaration would apparently be to enable the department to bypass certain time-consuming procedures such as putting jobs out for bid.
The two factors impelling Turnbull toward the emergency declaration are reports of a planned large exodus of teachers from the public school system at the end of the academic year and the continual deterioration in the physical condition of the schools.
At the lengthy meeting the governor had Thursday with American Federation of Teachers leaders, an emergency declaration "was one of the items on the AFT agenda," he said Friday. He said his administration hopes to dissuade teachers from leaving by paying attention to their concerns.
"We must have teachers in the classrooms when the 2000-2001 school year opens in August," he said.
"We are mandated because of this situation to take action to give teachers and education our undivided attention. . . Our children's futures are at stake," Turnbull said.
Cecil Benjamin, St. Croix Federation of Teachers president, welcomed the news that the governor is leaning towards an emergency declaration. Noting that the crisis "has existed for some time," he said the problems are being compounded by "the awful conditions and the planned departure of teachers in a couple of months."
He added, "The administration cannot continue to say education is a top priority without taking some prudent action."

After a day of meetings with local and national teachers union leaders, Gov. Charles Turnbull said Friday he is prepared to declare a state of emergency in the Education Department, as he did last month with the Public Works Department.
But he went no further than that, and no additional information was available from Government House as to when and on what basis he might proceed from preparation into action.
The main effect of such a declaration would apparently be to enable the department to bypass certain time-consuming procedures such as putting jobs out for bid.
The two factors impelling Turnbull toward the emergency declaration are reports of a planned large exodus of teachers from the public school system at the end of the academic year and the continual deterioration in the physical condition of the schools.
At the lengthy meeting the governor had Thursday with American Federation of Teachers leaders, an emergency declaration "was one of the items on the AFT agenda," he said Friday. He said his administration hopes to dissuade teachers from leaving by paying attention to their concerns.
"We must have teachers in the classrooms when the 2000-2001 school year opens in August," he said.
"We are mandated because of this situation to take action to give teachers and education our undivided attention. . . Our children's futures are at stake," Turnbull said.
Cecil Benjamin, St. Croix Federation of Teachers president, welcomed the news that the governor is leaning towards an emergency declaration. Noting that the crisis "has existed for some time," he said the problems are being compounded by "the awful conditions and the planned departure of teachers in a couple of months."
He added, "The administration cannot continue to say education is a top priority without taking some prudent action."

After a day of meetings with local and national teachers union leaders, Gov. Charles Turnbull said Friday he is prepared to declare a state of emergency in the Education Department, as he did last month with the Public Works Department.
But he went no further than that, and no additional information was available from Government House as to when and on what basis he might proceed from preparation into action.
The main effect of such a declaration would apparently be to enable the department to bypass certain time-consuming procedures such as putting jobs out for bid.
The two factors impelling Turnbull toward the emergency declaration are reports of a planned large exodus of teachers from the public school system at the end of the academic year and the continual deterioration in the physical condition of the schools.
At the lengthy meeting the governor had Thursday with American Federation of Teachers leaders, an emergency declaration "was one of the items on the AFT agenda," he said Friday. He said his administration hopes to dissuade teachers from leaving by paying attention to their concerns.
"We must have teachers in the classrooms when the 2000-2001 school year opens in August," he said.
"We are mandated because of this situation to take action to give teachers and education our undivided attention. . . Our children's futures are at stake," Turnbull said.
Cecil Benjamin, St. Croix Federation of Teachers president, welcomed the news that the governor is leaning towards an emergency declaration. Noting that the crisis "has existed for some time," he said the problems are being compounded by "the awful conditions and the planned departure of teachers in a couple of months."
He added, "The administration cannot continue to say education is a top priority without taking some prudent action."

Donors who have provided more than $100,000 paving the way for the University of the Virgin Islands to become a "truly global institution, a virtual Caribbean university," were thanked by UVI President Orville Kean at a reception at the Reichhold Center for the Arts.
Thanking both individual and corporate scholarship sponsors, Kean said, "You are the ones who open the doors of opportunity for young people." He told the audience, "your investments in education give the best returns yet."
"We want a metamorphosis to take place here," Kean said, sharing a bit of UVI's vision for the 21st century. "We want to be a leader in creating a virtual Caribbean university."
He noted UVI will be transformed by the increasing use of information technology, expanded course offerings and collaborations with other universities and research institutions. These innovations will all contribute toward making UVI a "global institution," Kean said.
Among donors attending the Wednesday reception were representatives of the Alumni Scholarship Fund of St. Thomas-St. John, the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Jones-Holloway-Bryan Foundation and the India Association.
The scholarships are distributed to the students through more than 70 programs and endowments.