Aug. 23, 2001 – Tropical Storm Dean left a fair degree of inconvenience in its wake locally as it moved northwestward into oblivion Thursday, but no major damage.
For the most part, St. Croix wasn't much worse for the wear. Minor flooding was reported around the island, particularly in Estates William's Delight and Mon Bijou, where yards and roads were awash in standing water.
There were intermittent power and telephone outages across the island. According to the Water and Power Authority, Dean knocked down a power line coming from Feeder 4, but it was repaired in about an hour. Feeders 9 and 10 also were knocked out, and Feeder 1 suffered a partial outage.
Innovative Telephone issued a release Thursday reporting damage to a power source due to a power surge in the Mon Bijou office Wednesday evening. Phones were out in Mon Bijou, Frederiksted, Mount Pleasant and the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport from about 9 p.m. Wednesday until crews restored service around 3 a.m. Thursday, it said.
On St. John, Ira Wade, deputy Public Works commissioner, said that the worst problem reported was a wash on Bordeaux Road at the intersection of Route 107. There already had been deep ruts that made the section of road barely passable in a car, he said, but the rains made the road usable only by four-wheel-drive vehicles. The debris, mostly mud and sand, ran into Route 107, he said.
Wade advised drivers to use Gerda Marsh Estate Road, which runs past Savers Store and the V.I. Agriculture Department, as an alternative route to reach homes on Bordeaux Road.
Mud also ran onto portions of Route 107 at Calabash Boom and Chicago Hill. "I call these the flash points. Every time it rains, the mud flows," Wade said. He said rocks tumbled down the hillsides onto Centerline Road between King Hill Road and Coral Bay — again a common occurrence when there is heavy rain.
Kathy Demar, who owns Vacation Homes, said she had to move one set of guests out of a North Shore villa because it had no power. "No power means no water, and people can't deal with that," she said.
V.I. National Park Supt. John King said the storm caused a few trees to lose limbs. The worst problem was along the Reef Bay Trail, he said, but a contractor was on the job Thursday morning clearing the popular hiking trail.
On St. Thomas, Wireless World customers experienced a few problems Thursday. According to a company spokesman, lightening strikes at the top of Crown Mountain — which had not been visible because of the dense cloud cover Wednesday — caused some equipment failure, but it was quickly repaired.
Boulders that had tumbled down hillsides remained on roads around the island, one near a set of trash bins on the North Side.
From both St. John and St. Thomas came reports of one of the common unpleasant aftermaths of a rainstorm: invasions of winged termites.
At 11 a.m. Thursday, what little was left of Dean was 85 miles northeast of Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Reports from an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicated that Dean no longer had a closed wind circulation and that sustained winds had dwindled to 35 mph.
The Virgin Islands forecast calls for partly sunny but hazy skies Friday with a 20 percent chance of showers. Friday night is expected to be cloudy, Saturday partly sunny, Saturday night partly cloudy, and Sunday variably cloudy. Scattered showers are forecast through the weekend. According to the marine forecast, another tropical wave is projected to move north-northwest into the Eastern Caribbean Sunday night and could pass across the local area Monday or Monday night.
HANSEN: IF YOU WANT MONEY, BE HERE
Aug. 23, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has pulled in some legislative reins, but Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen is not about to be bridled.
During Wednesday's Senate Finance Committee hearing, Hansen, who chairs the panel, expressed indignation at an edict issued by Turnbull stating that he alone will determine which of his executive branch employees may testify at the Legislature.
Turnbull said in a letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd that effective immediately he will determine which of his officials will appear at hearings. And, he said, senators must submit written requests to have executive branch officers or employees testify before them.
"I shall carefully consider all requests, and in my sole discretion exercise my prerogative to manage and control the executive branch officers and employees appropriately," the governor said, adding that he would do so in a timely manner.
Turnbull told Liburd that having groups of cabinet members and other high-ranking executive branch officers "sitting in the Legislature chambers for countless hours removes these important people from performing their required functions." He said the procedure was "extremely disruptive and counterproductive to efficient government."
At the end of each week, the Legislature issues its calendar of committee hearings and other sessions for the coming week. The schedules often contain long lists of department heads and other administration officials who have been invited as "testifiers." On rare occasions, the Legislature has issued subpoenas for officials who have declined such invitations.
The looming battle of wills between the first and second branches of government may require intervention by the third branch for resolution.
Liburd responded to Turnbull that his action was "at the least, very highly disrespectful … and, at the most, it is unconstitutional, illegal and in violation of sections of the Revised Organic Act of 1954."
Liburd added that he was open to reaching an amicable solution "to avoid a time-consuming and costly court battle."
In their exchange of letters, both officials cited legal precedent for their positions. Liburd said Turnbull's policy violates the Separation of Powers clause of the U.S. Constitution and will limit the Legislature's ability to function. He wrote, "I am truly taken aback by your decision to try and circumvent the Legislative process … "
The situation developed soon after the 24th Legislature took office, as senators would call official after official to testify and leave them sitting ignored in the Senate chambers for hours while the lawmakers conducted other business. Once called to testify, they would sometimes have only minutes to state their views because of time constraints due to the lateness of the day.
On one occasion in July, Hansen called more than 20 executive agency officials to testify on Turnbull's supplemental appropriations proposal. As they sat waiting, the majority bloc abandoned the chambers to caucus, leaving the officials not-so-silently steaming for about two hours. Hansen said at the time that any agency representatives who didn't wait to testify could lose their Fiscal Year 2002 appropriations.
Although the consideration of nominations to boards and commissions is usually scheduled before other deliberations on a day's agenda, nominees many times are left sitting while the senators deal with other matters. One commissioner was called to the Senate three times in one week, and was repeatedly left sitting from morning until afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, Hansen made her views clear. "I will not have our authority tramped on," she said, telling Office of Management and Budget Director Ira Mills, "If you want to protect your budget, you have to be here." She added: "I want to put on record that no commissioner fails to attend these budget hearings … I am not accepting any second or third person to come and represent any department."
Hansen said she was speaking for her Finance Committee, not saying what other committees should do. If the top officials who are called to appear before her committee fail to do so, she said, the committee will issue a subpoena for them or it may dismiss any lower-ranking representatives who appear and then decide that agency's budget without its input.
Turnbull's letter to Liburd was dated Aug. 1. Liburd's reply was dated Aug. 10. Rina Jacobs McBrowne, Government House spokeswoman, said Thursday that the governor had not responded to Liburd's letter as far as she knew.
During Wednesday's Senate Finance Committee hearing, Hansen, who chairs the panel, expressed indignation at an edict issued by Turnbull stating that he alone will determine which of his executive branch employees may testify at the Legislature.
Turnbull said in a letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd that effective immediately he will determine which of his officials will appear at hearings. And, he said, senators must submit written requests to have executive branch officers or employees testify before them.
"I shall carefully consider all requests, and in my sole discretion exercise my prerogative to manage and control the executive branch officers and employees appropriately," the governor said, adding that he would do so in a timely manner.
Turnbull told Liburd that having groups of cabinet members and other high-ranking executive branch officers "sitting in the Legislature chambers for countless hours removes these important people from performing their required functions." He said the procedure was "extremely disruptive and counterproductive to efficient government."
At the end of each week, the Legislature issues its calendar of committee hearings and other sessions for the coming week. The schedules often contain long lists of department heads and other administration officials who have been invited as "testifiers." On rare occasions, the Legislature has issued subpoenas for officials who have declined such invitations.
The looming battle of wills between the first and second branches of government may require intervention by the third branch for resolution.
Liburd responded to Turnbull that his action was "at the least, very highly disrespectful … and, at the most, it is unconstitutional, illegal and in violation of sections of the Revised Organic Act of 1954."
Liburd added that he was open to reaching an amicable solution "to avoid a time-consuming and costly court battle."
In their exchange of letters, both officials cited legal precedent for their positions. Liburd said Turnbull's policy violates the Separation of Powers clause of the U.S. Constitution and will limit the Legislature's ability to function. He wrote, "I am truly taken aback by your decision to try and circumvent the Legislative process … "
The situation developed soon after the 24th Legislature took office, as senators would call official after official to testify and leave them sitting ignored in the Senate chambers for hours while the lawmakers conducted other business. Once called to testify, they would sometimes have only minutes to state their views because of time constraints due to the lateness of the day.
On one occasion in July, Hansen called more than 20 executive agency officials to testify on Turnbull's supplemental appropriations proposal. As they sat waiting, the majority bloc abandoned the chambers to caucus, leaving the officials not-so-silently steaming for about two hours. Hansen said at the time that any agency representatives who didn't wait to testify could lose their Fiscal Year 2002 appropriations.
Although the consideration of nominations to boards and commissions is usually scheduled before other deliberations on a day's agenda, nominees many times are left sitting while the senators deal with other matters. One commissioner was called to the Senate three times in one week, and was repeatedly left sitting from morning until afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, Hansen made her views clear. "I will not have our authority tramped on," she said, telling Office of Management and Budget Director Ira Mills, "If you want to protect your budget, you have to be here." She added: "I want to put on record that no commissioner fails to attend these budget hearings … I am not accepting any second or third person to come and represent any department."
Hansen said she was speaking for her Finance Committee, not saying what other committees should do. If the top officials who are called to appear before her committee fail to do so, she said, the committee will issue a subpoena for them or it may dismiss any lower-ranking representatives who appear and then decide that agency's budget without its input.
Turnbull's letter to Liburd was dated Aug. 1. Liburd's reply was dated Aug. 10. Rina Jacobs McBrowne, Government House spokeswoman, said Thursday that the governor had not responded to Liburd's letter as far as she knew.
TWO DOWN, TWO TO GO
Aug. 23, 2001 — With the two tropical systems that rolled through the Caribbean region this week no longer a threat, hurricane forecasters have focused their attention on two other westward moving tropical waves in the far eastern tropical Atlantic.
Hurricane forecaster Jack Beven at the National Hurricane Center noted Thursday that a tropical wave moving westward off the west coast of Africa was located several hundred miles southeast of the Cape Verde Islands. The wave does have potential for development over the next few days as it moves off to the west at 15 to 20 miles per hour.
"At the present time, it is poorly organized but does bear watching over the next few days," said Knight Quality Stations meteorologist Alan Archer.
He said that while the wave looked a bit more impressive Thursday morning on satellite photos when compared to images later in the day, there is an upper level high to the north of the wave that could accelerate its development.
By late Thursday, National Hurricane Center forecasters were describing the wave as "poorly organized," but cautioned that slow development remains possible over the next few days.
Archer said the wave, some six to eight days away from the local area, sits presently at 21 degrees west longitude. "It is elongated in its shape which causes it to extend from 4 to 18 degrees north latitude," Archer said.
Also in the tropical Atlantic, a wave located along 47 degrees west longitude is moving west at 10-15 knots. The wave became a bit better organized Thursday and by early afternoon contained a weak low-level center. While the wave did not show signs of development, satellite photos did reflect a developing area of scattered to moderate showers and thundershowers that extended from 11-13 degrees north latitude to 44-47 degrees west longitude.
A few other westward moving tropical waves showed no signs of development Thursday.
Hurricane forecaster Jack Beven at the National Hurricane Center noted Thursday that a tropical wave moving westward off the west coast of Africa was located several hundred miles southeast of the Cape Verde Islands. The wave does have potential for development over the next few days as it moves off to the west at 15 to 20 miles per hour.
"At the present time, it is poorly organized but does bear watching over the next few days," said Knight Quality Stations meteorologist Alan Archer.
He said that while the wave looked a bit more impressive Thursday morning on satellite photos when compared to images later in the day, there is an upper level high to the north of the wave that could accelerate its development.
By late Thursday, National Hurricane Center forecasters were describing the wave as "poorly organized," but cautioned that slow development remains possible over the next few days.
Archer said the wave, some six to eight days away from the local area, sits presently at 21 degrees west longitude. "It is elongated in its shape which causes it to extend from 4 to 18 degrees north latitude," Archer said.
Also in the tropical Atlantic, a wave located along 47 degrees west longitude is moving west at 10-15 knots. The wave became a bit better organized Thursday and by early afternoon contained a weak low-level center. While the wave did not show signs of development, satellite photos did reflect a developing area of scattered to moderate showers and thundershowers that extended from 11-13 degrees north latitude to 44-47 degrees west longitude.
A few other westward moving tropical waves showed no signs of development Thursday.
MOORING SYSTEM PLANNED FOR HURRICANE HOLE
Aug. 23, 2001 – While the territory's Planning and Natural Resources Department previously controlled hurricane anchoring activities in St. John's Hurricane Hole, that responsibility now belongs to the V.I. National Park, according to park planner Jim Owens.
Although regulations have not been finalized, Hurricane Hole is now part of the V.I. Coral Reef National Monument. As a result, Owens said, this is the last hurricane season that random anchoring will be allowed in Hurricane Hole.
"We're converting from do-it-yourself mooring," he said.
The National Park Service, which oversees activities in the national monument, plans to install hurricane mooring systems similar to the ones used at Tortola's Paraquita Bay and St. Martin's Simpson Bay Lagoon. Work is expected to begin after this hurricane season ends on Nov. 30, Owens said.
Rafe Boulon, the park's chief of environmental protection, said the hurricane moorings will initially be installed in Princess Bay and Borck Creek, which are the innermost fingers of Hurricane Hole. As funding permits, he said, such systems also will go into Otter Creek and Water Creek, which are smaller fingers to the right as one enters Hurricane Hole.
The hurricane mooring system consists of two heavy chains laid about 100 feet apart and attached to the ocean floor with sand screws about every 20 feet along their length. To use them, boat crew members will dive down to secure their own chains or lines to the heavy chains. The bow of a vessel will be affixed to one length of chain and the stern to the other.
Boulon said grants totaling about $100,000 from the Friends of the V.I. National Park and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will pay for the initial installations. Under monument regulations, he said, no anchoring will be allowed in Hurricane Hole at any time of year.
However, boaters will be able to use the hurricane mooring system throughout the year. To make it easier in fair weather, he said, the National Park Service may attach lines with floating mooring buoys to the hurricane chains. Boater would be able to tie up to the buoys without having to dive down to access the chain.
Should all of Hurricane Hole's fingers not have hurricane mooring systems installed by next hurricane season, Boulon said, anchoring will be permitted when a storm threatens. "We will not do anything to jeopardize people's boats or safety," he said, "but we will encourage them to use the hurricane moorings."
In preparation for the hurricane mooring installation, boaters who have installed sand screws to create secure moorings in Hurricane Hole will be required to remove them once hurricane season. Boaters are allowed to leave their ground tackle in place through Nov. 30 but must label it with name, telephone number and boat registration number. If they fail to do so, park staff will remove the ground tackle.
While boaters may set up their ground tackle at any time now, they cannot take their boats into Hurricane Hole until five days before a storm is projected to strike. They must leave within two days after such a storm passes.
The hurricane mooring system will protect the ocean floor from anchor damage, but the mangroves that fringe the edges remain under siege, Boulon said. Many of the trees have huge gouges where boaters have tied up. "If we lose these mangroves, we lose what makes Hurricane Hole special," he said.
To prevent further damage, the National Park Service does not allow boaters to tie up to the mangroves in either Hurricane Hole or Mary's Creek, located west of Leinster Bay.
Another environmental problem, Boulon said, is that some boaters apparently don't take their trash with them when they leave Hurricane Hole. He said the fingers of the inlet are lined with what appears to be debris, including oil filters, left behind by boaters.
Repeated telephone requests to the Planning and Natural Resources Department requesting copies of local hurricane rules and regulations received no response.
Although regulations have not been finalized, Hurricane Hole is now part of the V.I. Coral Reef National Monument. As a result, Owens said, this is the last hurricane season that random anchoring will be allowed in Hurricane Hole.
"We're converting from do-it-yourself mooring," he said.
The National Park Service, which oversees activities in the national monument, plans to install hurricane mooring systems similar to the ones used at Tortola's Paraquita Bay and St. Martin's Simpson Bay Lagoon. Work is expected to begin after this hurricane season ends on Nov. 30, Owens said.
Rafe Boulon, the park's chief of environmental protection, said the hurricane moorings will initially be installed in Princess Bay and Borck Creek, which are the innermost fingers of Hurricane Hole. As funding permits, he said, such systems also will go into Otter Creek and Water Creek, which are smaller fingers to the right as one enters Hurricane Hole.
The hurricane mooring system consists of two heavy chains laid about 100 feet apart and attached to the ocean floor with sand screws about every 20 feet along their length. To use them, boat crew members will dive down to secure their own chains or lines to the heavy chains. The bow of a vessel will be affixed to one length of chain and the stern to the other.
Boulon said grants totaling about $100,000 from the Friends of the V.I. National Park and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will pay for the initial installations. Under monument regulations, he said, no anchoring will be allowed in Hurricane Hole at any time of year.
However, boaters will be able to use the hurricane mooring system throughout the year. To make it easier in fair weather, he said, the National Park Service may attach lines with floating mooring buoys to the hurricane chains. Boater would be able to tie up to the buoys without having to dive down to access the chain.
Should all of Hurricane Hole's fingers not have hurricane mooring systems installed by next hurricane season, Boulon said, anchoring will be permitted when a storm threatens. "We will not do anything to jeopardize people's boats or safety," he said, "but we will encourage them to use the hurricane moorings."
In preparation for the hurricane mooring installation, boaters who have installed sand screws to create secure moorings in Hurricane Hole will be required to remove them once hurricane season. Boaters are allowed to leave their ground tackle in place through Nov. 30 but must label it with name, telephone number and boat registration number. If they fail to do so, park staff will remove the ground tackle.
While boaters may set up their ground tackle at any time now, they cannot take their boats into Hurricane Hole until five days before a storm is projected to strike. They must leave within two days after such a storm passes.
The hurricane mooring system will protect the ocean floor from anchor damage, but the mangroves that fringe the edges remain under siege, Boulon said. Many of the trees have huge gouges where boaters have tied up. "If we lose these mangroves, we lose what makes Hurricane Hole special," he said.
To prevent further damage, the National Park Service does not allow boaters to tie up to the mangroves in either Hurricane Hole or Mary's Creek, located west of Leinster Bay.
Another environmental problem, Boulon said, is that some boaters apparently don't take their trash with them when they leave Hurricane Hole. He said the fingers of the inlet are lined with what appears to be debris, including oil filters, left behind by boaters.
Repeated telephone requests to the Planning and Natural Resources Department requesting copies of local hurricane rules and regulations received no response.
HANSEN: IF YOU WANT MONEY, BE HERE
Aug. 23, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has pulled in some legislative reins, but Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen is not about to be bridled.
During Wednesday's Senate Finance Committee hearing, Hansen, who chairs the panel, expressed indignation at an edict issued by Turnbull stating that he alone will determine which of his executive branch employees may testify at the Legislature.
Turnbull said in a letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd that effective immediately he will determine which of his officials will appear at hearings. And, he said, senators must submit written requests to have executive branch officers or employees testify before them.
"I shall carefully consider all requests, and in my sole discretion exercise my prerogative to manage and control the executive branch officers and employees appropriately," the governor said, adding that he would do so in a timely manner.
Turnbull told Liburd that having groups of cabinet members and other high-ranking executive branch officers "sitting in the Legislature chambers for countless hours removes these important people from performing their required functions." He said the procedure was "extremely disruptive and counterproductive to efficient government."
At the end of each week, the Legislature issues its calendar of committee hearings and other sessions for the coming week. The schedules often contain long lists of department heads and other administration officials who have been invited as "testifiers." On rare occasions, the Legislature has issued subpoenas for officials who have declined such invitations.
The looming battle of wills between the first and second branches of government may require intervention by the third branch for resolution.
Liburd responded to Turnbull that his action was "at the least, very highly disrespectful … and, at the most, it is unconstitutional, illegal and in violation of sections of the Revised Organic Act of 1954."
Liburd added that he was open to reaching an amicable solution "to avoid a time-consuming and costly court battle."
In their exchange of letters, both officials cited legal precedent for their positions. Liburd said Turnbull's policy violates the Separation of Powers clause of the U.S. Constitution and will limit the Legislature's ability to function. He wrote, "I am truly taken aback by your decision to try and circumvent the Legislative process … "
The situation developed soon after the 24th Legislature took office, as senators would call official after official to testify and leave them sitting ignored in the Senate chambers for hours while the lawmakers conducted other business. Once called to testify, they would sometimes have only minutes to state their views because of time constraints due to the lateness of the day.
On one occasion in July, Hansen had called more than 20 executive agency officials to testify on Turnbull's supplemental appropriations proposal. As the sat waiting, the majority bloc abandoned the chambers to caucus, leaving the officials not-so-silently steaming for about two hours. Hansen said at the time said that any agency representatives who didn't wait to testify could lose their Fiscal Year 2002 appropriations.
Although the consideration of nominations to boards and commissions is usually scheduled before other deliberations on a day's agenda, nominees many times are left sitting while the senators deal with other matters. One commissioner was called to the Senate three times in one week, and was repeatedly left sitting from morning until afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, Hansen made her views clear. "I will not have our authority tramped on," she said, telling Office of Management and Budget Director Ira Mills, "If you want to protect your budget, you have to be here." She added: "I want to put on record that no commissioner fails to attend these budget hearings … I am not accepting any second or third person to come and represent any department."
Hansen said she was speaking for her Finance Committee, not saying what other committees should do. If the top officials who are called to appear before her committee fail to do so, she said, either the committee will issue a subpoena for them, or it may dismiss any lower-ranking representatives who appear and then decide that agency's budget without its input.
Turnbull's letter to Liburd was dated Aug. 1. Liburd's reply was dated Aug. 10. Rina Jacobs McBrowne, Government House spokeswoman, said Thursday that the governor had not responded to Liburd's letter as far as she knew.
During Wednesday's Senate Finance Committee hearing, Hansen, who chairs the panel, expressed indignation at an edict issued by Turnbull stating that he alone will determine which of his executive branch employees may testify at the Legislature.
Turnbull said in a letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd that effective immediately he will determine which of his officials will appear at hearings. And, he said, senators must submit written requests to have executive branch officers or employees testify before them.
"I shall carefully consider all requests, and in my sole discretion exercise my prerogative to manage and control the executive branch officers and employees appropriately," the governor said, adding that he would do so in a timely manner.
Turnbull told Liburd that having groups of cabinet members and other high-ranking executive branch officers "sitting in the Legislature chambers for countless hours removes these important people from performing their required functions." He said the procedure was "extremely disruptive and counterproductive to efficient government."
At the end of each week, the Legislature issues its calendar of committee hearings and other sessions for the coming week. The schedules often contain long lists of department heads and other administration officials who have been invited as "testifiers." On rare occasions, the Legislature has issued subpoenas for officials who have declined such invitations.
The looming battle of wills between the first and second branches of government may require intervention by the third branch for resolution.
Liburd responded to Turnbull that his action was "at the least, very highly disrespectful … and, at the most, it is unconstitutional, illegal and in violation of sections of the Revised Organic Act of 1954."
Liburd added that he was open to reaching an amicable solution "to avoid a time-consuming and costly court battle."
In their exchange of letters, both officials cited legal precedent for their positions. Liburd said Turnbull's policy violates the Separation of Powers clause of the U.S. Constitution and will limit the Legislature's ability to function. He wrote, "I am truly taken aback by your decision to try and circumvent the Legislative process … "
The situation developed soon after the 24th Legislature took office, as senators would call official after official to testify and leave them sitting ignored in the Senate chambers for hours while the lawmakers conducted other business. Once called to testify, they would sometimes have only minutes to state their views because of time constraints due to the lateness of the day.
On one occasion in July, Hansen had called more than 20 executive agency officials to testify on Turnbull's supplemental appropriations proposal. As the sat waiting, the majority bloc abandoned the chambers to caucus, leaving the officials not-so-silently steaming for about two hours. Hansen said at the time said that any agency representatives who didn't wait to testify could lose their Fiscal Year 2002 appropriations.
Although the consideration of nominations to boards and commissions is usually scheduled before other deliberations on a day's agenda, nominees many times are left sitting while the senators deal with other matters. One commissioner was called to the Senate three times in one week, and was repeatedly left sitting from morning until afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, Hansen made her views clear. "I will not have our authority tramped on," she said, telling Office of Management and Budget Director Ira Mills, "If you want to protect your budget, you have to be here." She added: "I want to put on record that no commissioner fails to attend these budget hearings … I am not accepting any second or third person to come and represent any department."
Hansen said she was speaking for her Finance Committee, not saying what other committees should do. If the top officials who are called to appear before her committee fail to do so, she said, either the committee will issue a subpoena for them, or it may dismiss any lower-ranking representatives who appear and then decide that agency's budget without its input.
Turnbull's letter to Liburd was dated Aug. 1. Liburd's reply was dated Aug. 10. Rina Jacobs McBrowne, Government House spokeswoman, said Thursday that the governor had not responded to Liburd's letter as far as she knew.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PARTNERING NEEDED
To the Source:
In a recent St. Thomas Source Open Forum piece, former senator Michael Paiewonsky decried what he called the "final coup de grace" to the historic district of Charlotte Amalie. [See "Build a mall and they won't come".]
What was this terrible development? Believe it or not, Mr. Paiewonsky was referring to the new shopping facilities to be built at Crown Bay under agreement with our Port Authority by two of the key cruise lines serving these islands.
To this hysteria about the so-called coup de grace, I can only respond: Let’s be real! The historic district of Charlotte Amalie is too rich in commercial activity, physical charm, shopping diversity and, yes, history to become a "sleepy hollow" bereft of tourist activity because of shopping alternatives at Havensight or Crown Bay.
What downtown Charlotte Amalie needs, however — and this is probably applicable to Christiansted, Frederiksted and Cruz Bay — is a common vision to guide the refurbishment of the district, its marketing and its maintenance as a place of beauty and interest for tourists — and, more importantly, for residents.
We need to take a page from the redevelopment chapters of New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and establish public-private downtown development organizations that have as their sole focus the aesthetic appeal and economic vitality of their district. Such a "downtown" development organization would be no different, albeit larger, than the tenant organizations that are in place in most large shopping centers.
Such an organization would have as its mandate, for example, the cleaning of the area (thus relieving Public Works of the responsibility), providing security (enabling the Police to focus on other areas), and common marketing and advertising (to supplement the work of Tourism).
In the Five Year Operating and Strategic Financial Plan, the establishment of downtown development organizations was suggested. The governor has done nothing in response to this recommendation. The proposed approach is innovative but not unusual or risky. It would be a productive step toward ensuring economic opportunity for our people.
Just as we should avoid defeatist cries of doom and gloom, so we should not be afraid to try something new or different when we have problems that need some fixing!
John P. deJongh Jr.
In a recent St. Thomas Source Open Forum piece, former senator Michael Paiewonsky decried what he called the "final coup de grace" to the historic district of Charlotte Amalie. [See "Build a mall and they won't come".]
What was this terrible development? Believe it or not, Mr. Paiewonsky was referring to the new shopping facilities to be built at Crown Bay under agreement with our Port Authority by two of the key cruise lines serving these islands.
To this hysteria about the so-called coup de grace, I can only respond: Let’s be real! The historic district of Charlotte Amalie is too rich in commercial activity, physical charm, shopping diversity and, yes, history to become a "sleepy hollow" bereft of tourist activity because of shopping alternatives at Havensight or Crown Bay.
What downtown Charlotte Amalie needs, however — and this is probably applicable to Christiansted, Frederiksted and Cruz Bay — is a common vision to guide the refurbishment of the district, its marketing and its maintenance as a place of beauty and interest for tourists — and, more importantly, for residents.
We need to take a page from the redevelopment chapters of New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and establish public-private downtown development organizations that have as their sole focus the aesthetic appeal and economic vitality of their district. Such a "downtown" development organization would be no different, albeit larger, than the tenant organizations that are in place in most large shopping centers.
Such an organization would have as its mandate, for example, the cleaning of the area (thus relieving Public Works of the responsibility), providing security (enabling the Police to focus on other areas), and common marketing and advertising (to supplement the work of Tourism).
In the Five Year Operating and Strategic Financial Plan, the establishment of downtown development organizations was suggested. The governor has done nothing in response to this recommendation. The proposed approach is innovative but not unusual or risky. It would be a productive step toward ensuring economic opportunity for our people.
Just as we should avoid defeatist cries of doom and gloom, so we should not be afraid to try something new or different when we have problems that need some fixing!
John P. deJongh Jr.
Editor's note: John P. deJongh Jr. chaired the V.I. Economic Recovery Task Force that produced the Five Year Operating and Strategic Financial Plan and co-chaired the Cruise Ship Task Force that recently negotiated a Long Term Operating Agreement with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association and its member lines. He is serving his second term as president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PARTNERING NEEDED
To the Source:
In a recent Open Forum piece, former senator Michael Paiewonsky decried what he called the "final coup de grace" to the historic district of Charlotte Amalie. [See "Build a mall and they won't come".]
What was this terrible development? Believe it or not, Mr. Paiewonsky was referring to the new shopping facilities to be built at Crown Bay under agreement with our Port Authority by two of the key cruise lines serving these islands.
To this hysteria about the so-called coup de grace, I can only respond: Let’s be real! The historic district of Charlotte Amalie is too rich in commercial activity, physical charm, shopping diversity and, yes, history to become a "sleepy hollow" bereft of tourist activity because of shopping alternatives at Havensight or Crown Bay.
What downtown Charlotte Amalie needs, however — and this is probably applicable to Christiansted, Frederiksted and Cruz Bay — is a common vision to guide the refurbishment of the district, its marketing and its maintenance as a place of beauty and interest for tourists — and, more importantly, for residents.
We need to take a page from the redevelopment chapters of New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and establish public-private downtown development organizations that have as their sole focus the aesthetic appeal and economic vitality of their district. Such a "downtown" development organization would be no different, albeit larger, than the tenant organizations that are in place in most large shopping centers.
Such an organization would have as its mandate, for example, the cleaning of the area (thus relieving Public Works of the responsibility), providing security (enabling the Police to focus on other areas), and common marketing and advertising (to supplement the work of Tourism).
In the Five Year Operating and Strategic Financial Plan, the establishment of downtown development organizations was suggested. The governor has done nothing in response to this recommendation. The proposed approach is innovative but not unusual or risky. It would be a productive step toward ensuring economic opportunity for our people.
Just as we should avoid defeatist cries of doom and gloom, so we should not be afraid to try something new or different when we have problems that need some fixing!
John P. de Jongh Jr.
In a recent Open Forum piece, former senator Michael Paiewonsky decried what he called the "final coup de grace" to the historic district of Charlotte Amalie. [See "Build a mall and they won't come".]
What was this terrible development? Believe it or not, Mr. Paiewonsky was referring to the new shopping facilities to be built at Crown Bay under agreement with our Port Authority by two of the key cruise lines serving these islands.
To this hysteria about the so-called coup de grace, I can only respond: Let’s be real! The historic district of Charlotte Amalie is too rich in commercial activity, physical charm, shopping diversity and, yes, history to become a "sleepy hollow" bereft of tourist activity because of shopping alternatives at Havensight or Crown Bay.
What downtown Charlotte Amalie needs, however — and this is probably applicable to Christiansted, Frederiksted and Cruz Bay — is a common vision to guide the refurbishment of the district, its marketing and its maintenance as a place of beauty and interest for tourists — and, more importantly, for residents.
We need to take a page from the redevelopment chapters of New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and establish public-private downtown development organizations that have as their sole focus the aesthetic appeal and economic vitality of their district. Such a "downtown" development organization would be no different, albeit larger, than the tenant organizations that are in place in most large shopping centers.
Such an organization would have as its mandate, for example, the cleaning of the area (thus relieving Public Works of the responsibility), providing security (enabling the Police to focus on other areas), and common marketing and advertising (to supplement the work of Tourism).
In the Five Year Operating and Strategic Financial Plan, the establishment of downtown development organizations was suggested. The governor has done nothing in response to this recommendation. The proposed approach is innovative but not unusual or risky. It would be a productive step toward ensuring economic opportunity for our people.
Just as we should avoid defeatist cries of doom and gloom, so we should not be afraid to try something new or different when we have problems that need some fixing!
John P. de Jongh Jr.
Editor's note: John P. de Jongh Jr. chaired the V.I. Economic Recovery Task Force that produced the Five Year Operating and Strategic Financial Plan and co-chaired the Cruise Ship Task Force that recently negotiated a Long Term Operating Agreement with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association and its member lines. He is serving his second term as president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce.
MOORING SYSTEM PLANNED FOR HURRICANE HOLE
Aug. 23, 2001 – While the territory's Planning and Natural Resources Department previously controlled hurricane anchoring activities in St. John's Hurricane Hole, that responsibility now belongs to the V.I. National Park, according to park planner Jim Owens.
Although regulations have not been finalized, Hurricane Hole is now part of the V.I. Coral Reef National Monument. As a result, Owens said, this is the last hurricane season that random anchoring will be allowed in Hurricane Hole.
"We're converting from do-it-yourself mooring," he said.
The National Park Service, which oversees activities in the national monument, plans to install hurricane mooring systems similar to the ones used at Tortola's Paraquita Bay and St. Martin's Simpson Bay Lagoon. Work is expected to begin after this hurricane season ends on Nov. 30, Owens said.
Rafe Boulon, the park's chief of environmental protection, said the hurricane moorings will initially be installed in Princess Bay and Borck Creek, which are the innermost fingers of Hurricane Hole. As funding permits, he said, such systems also will go into Otter Creek and Water Creek, which are smaller fingers to the right as one enters Hurricane Hole.
The hurricane mooring system consists of two heavy chains laid about 100 feet apart and attached to the ocean floor with sand screws about every 20 feet along their length. To use them, boat crew members will dive down to secure their own chains or lines to the heavy chains. The bow of a vessel will be affixed to one length of chain and the stern to the other.
Boulon said grants totaling about $100,000 from the Friends of the V.I. National Park and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will pay for the initial installations. Under monument regulations, he said, no anchoring will be allowed in Hurricane Hole at any time of year.
However, boaters will be able to use the hurricane mooring system throughout the year. To make it easier in fair weather, he said, the National Park Service may attach lines with floating mooring buoys to the hurricane chains. Boater would be able to tie up to the buoys without having to dive down to access the chain.
Should all of Hurricane Hole's fingers not have hurricane mooring systems installed by next hurricane season, Boulon said, anchoring will be permitted when a storm threatens. "We will not do anything to jeopardize people's boats or safety," he said, "but we will encourage them to use the hurricane moorings."
In preparation for the hurricane mooring installation, boaters who have installed sand screws to create secure moorings in Hurricane Hole will be required to remove them once hurricane season. Boaters are allowed to leave their ground tackle in place through Nov. 30 but must label it with name, telephone number and boat registration number. If they fail to do so, park staff will remove the ground tackle.
While boaters may set up their ground tackle at any time now, they cannot take their boats into Hurricane Hole until five days before a storm is projected to strike. They must leave within two days after such a storm passes.
The hurricane mooring system will protect the ocean floor from anchor damage, but the mangroves that fringe the edges remain under siege, Boulon said. Many of the trees have huge gouges where boaters have tied up. "If we lose these mangroves, we lose what makes Hurricane Hole special," he said.
To prevent further damage, the National Park Service does not allow boaters to tie up to the mangroves in either Hurricane Hole or Mary's Creek, located west of Leinster Bay.
Another environmental problem, Boulon said, is that some boaters apparently don't take their trash with them when they leave Hurricane Hole. He said the fingers of the inlet are lined with what appears to be debris, including oil filters, left behind by boaters.
Repeated telephone requests to the Planning and Natural Resources Department requesting copies of local hurricane rules and regulations received no response.
Although regulations have not been finalized, Hurricane Hole is now part of the V.I. Coral Reef National Monument. As a result, Owens said, this is the last hurricane season that random anchoring will be allowed in Hurricane Hole.
"We're converting from do-it-yourself mooring," he said.
The National Park Service, which oversees activities in the national monument, plans to install hurricane mooring systems similar to the ones used at Tortola's Paraquita Bay and St. Martin's Simpson Bay Lagoon. Work is expected to begin after this hurricane season ends on Nov. 30, Owens said.
Rafe Boulon, the park's chief of environmental protection, said the hurricane moorings will initially be installed in Princess Bay and Borck Creek, which are the innermost fingers of Hurricane Hole. As funding permits, he said, such systems also will go into Otter Creek and Water Creek, which are smaller fingers to the right as one enters Hurricane Hole.
The hurricane mooring system consists of two heavy chains laid about 100 feet apart and attached to the ocean floor with sand screws about every 20 feet along their length. To use them, boat crew members will dive down to secure their own chains or lines to the heavy chains. The bow of a vessel will be affixed to one length of chain and the stern to the other.
Boulon said grants totaling about $100,000 from the Friends of the V.I. National Park and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will pay for the initial installations. Under monument regulations, he said, no anchoring will be allowed in Hurricane Hole at any time of year.
However, boaters will be able to use the hurricane mooring system throughout the year. To make it easier in fair weather, he said, the National Park Service may attach lines with floating mooring buoys to the hurricane chains. Boater would be able to tie up to the buoys without having to dive down to access the chain.
Should all of Hurricane Hole's fingers not have hurricane mooring systems installed by next hurricane season, Boulon said, anchoring will be permitted when a storm threatens. "We will not do anything to jeopardize people's boats or safety," he said, "but we will encourage them to use the hurricane moorings."
In preparation for the hurricane mooring installation, boaters who have installed sand screws to create secure moorings in Hurricane Hole will be required to remove them once hurricane season. Boaters are allowed to leave their ground tackle in place through Nov. 30 but must label it with name, telephone number and boat registration number. If they fail to do so, park staff will remove the ground tackle.
While boaters may set up their ground tackle at any time now, they cannot take their boats into Hurricane Hole until five days before a storm is projected to strike. They must leave within two days after such a storm passes.
The hurricane mooring system will protect the ocean floor from anchor damage, but the mangroves that fringe the edges remain under siege, Boulon said. Many of the trees have huge gouges where boaters have tied up. "If we lose these mangroves, we lose what makes Hurricane Hole special," he said.
To prevent further damage, the National Park Service does not allow boaters to tie up to the mangroves in either Hurricane Hole or Mary's Creek, located west of Leinster Bay.
Another environmental problem, Boulon said, is that some boaters apparently don't take their trash with them when they leave Hurricane Hole. He said the fingers of the inlet are lined with what appears to be debris, including oil filters, left behind by boaters.
Repeated telephone requests to the Planning and Natural Resources Department requesting copies of local hurricane rules and regulations received no response.
HANSEN: IF YOU WANT MONEY, BE HERE
Aug. 23, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has pulled in some legislative reins, but Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen is not about to be bridled.
During Wednesday's Senate Finance Committee hearing, Hansen, who chairs the panel, expressed indignation at an edict issued by Turnbull stating that he alone will determine which of his executive branch employees may testify at the Legislature.
Turnbull said in a letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd that effective immediately he will determine which of his officials will appear at hearings. And, he said, senators must submit written requests to have executive branch officers or employees testify before them.
"I shall carefully consider all requests, and in my sole discretion exercise my prerogative to manage and control the executive branch officers and employees appropriately," the governor said, adding that he would do so in a timely manner.
Turnbull told Liburd that having groups of cabinet members and other high-ranking executive branch officers "sitting in the Legislature chambers for countless hours removes these important people from performing their required functions." He said the procedure was "extremely disruptive and counterproductive to efficient government."
At the end of each week, the Legislature issues its calendar of committee hearings and other sessions for the coming week. The schedules often contain long lists of department heads and other administration officials who have been invited as "testifiers." On rare occasions, the Legislature has issued subpoenas for officials who have declined such invitations.
The looming battle of wills between the first and second branches of government may require intervention by the third branch for resolution.
Liburd responded to Turnbull that his action was "at the least, very highly disrespectful … and, at the most, it is unconstitutional, illegal and in violation of sections of the Revised Organic Act of 1954."
Liburd added that he was open to reaching an amicable solution "to avoid a time-consuming and costly court battle."
In their exchange of letters, both officials cited legal precedent for their positions. Liburd said Turnbull's policy violates the Separation of Powers clause of the U.S. Constitution and will limit the Legislature's ability to function. He wrote, "I am truly taken aback by your decision to try and circumvent the Legislative process … "
The situation developed soon after the 24th Legislature took office, as senators would call official after official to testify and leave them sitting ignored in the Senate chambers for hours while the lawmakers conducted other business. Once called to testify, they would sometimes have only minutes to state their views because of time constraints due to the lateness of the day.
On one occasion in July, Hansen had called more than 20 executive agency officials to testify on Turnbull's supplemental appropriations proposal. As the sat waiting, the majority bloc abandoned the chambers to caucus, leaving the officials not-so-silently steaming for about two hours. Hansen said at the time said that any agency representatives who didn't wait to testify could lose their Fiscal Year 2002 appropriations.
Although the consideration of nominations to boards and commissions is usually scheduled before other deliberations on a day's agenda, nominees many times are left sitting while the senators deal with other matters. One commissioner was called to the Senate three times in one week, and was repeatedly left sitting from morning until afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, Hansen made her views clear. "I will not have our authority tramped on," she said, telling Office of Management and Budget Director Ira Mills, "If you want to protect your budget, you have to be here." She added: "I want to put on record that no commissioner fails to attend these budget hearings … I am not accepting any second or third person to come and represent any department."
Hansen said she was speaking for her Finance Committee, not saying what other committees should do. If the top officials who are called to appear before her committee fail to do so, she said, either the committee will issue a subpoena for them, or it may dismiss any lower-ranking representatives who appear and then decide that agency's budget without its input.
Turnbull's letter to Liburd was dated Aug. 1. Liburd's reply was dated Aug. 10. Rina Jacobs McBrowne, Government House spokeswoman, said Thursday that the governor had not responded to Liburd's letter as far as she knew.
During Wednesday's Senate Finance Committee hearing, Hansen, who chairs the panel, expressed indignation at an edict issued by Turnbull stating that he alone will determine which of his executive branch employees may testify at the Legislature.
Turnbull said in a letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd that effective immediately he will determine which of his officials will appear at hearings. And, he said, senators must submit written requests to have executive branch officers or employees testify before them.
"I shall carefully consider all requests, and in my sole discretion exercise my prerogative to manage and control the executive branch officers and employees appropriately," the governor said, adding that he would do so in a timely manner.
Turnbull told Liburd that having groups of cabinet members and other high-ranking executive branch officers "sitting in the Legislature chambers for countless hours removes these important people from performing their required functions." He said the procedure was "extremely disruptive and counterproductive to efficient government."
At the end of each week, the Legislature issues its calendar of committee hearings and other sessions for the coming week. The schedules often contain long lists of department heads and other administration officials who have been invited as "testifiers." On rare occasions, the Legislature has issued subpoenas for officials who have declined such invitations.
The looming battle of wills between the first and second branches of government may require intervention by the third branch for resolution.
Liburd responded to Turnbull that his action was "at the least, very highly disrespectful … and, at the most, it is unconstitutional, illegal and in violation of sections of the Revised Organic Act of 1954."
Liburd added that he was open to reaching an amicable solution "to avoid a time-consuming and costly court battle."
In their exchange of letters, both officials cited legal precedent for their positions. Liburd said Turnbull's policy violates the Separation of Powers clause of the U.S. Constitution and will limit the Legislature's ability to function. He wrote, "I am truly taken aback by your decision to try and circumvent the Legislative process … "
The situation developed soon after the 24th Legislature took office, as senators would call official after official to testify and leave them sitting ignored in the Senate chambers for hours while the lawmakers conducted other business. Once called to testify, they would sometimes have only minutes to state their views because of time constraints due to the lateness of the day.
On one occasion in July, Hansen had called more than 20 executive agency officials to testify on Turnbull's supplemental appropriations proposal. As the sat waiting, the majority bloc abandoned the chambers to caucus, leaving the officials not-so-silently steaming for about two hours. Hansen said at the time said that any agency representatives who didn't wait to testify could lose their Fiscal Year 2002 appropriations.
Although the consideration of nominations to boards and commissions is usually scheduled before other deliberations on a day's agenda, nominees many times are left sitting while the senators deal with other matters. One commissioner was called to the Senate three times in one week, and was repeatedly left sitting from morning until afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, Hansen made her views clear. "I will not have our authority tramped on," she said, telling Office of Management and Budget Director Ira Mills, "If you want to protect your budget, you have to be here." She added: "I want to put on record that no commissioner fails to attend these budget hearings … I am not accepting any second or third person to come and represent any department."
Hansen said she was speaking for her Finance Committee, not saying what other committees should do. If the top officials who are called to appear before her committee fail to do so, she said, either the committee will issue a subpoena for them, or it may dismiss any lower-ranking representatives who appear and then decide that agency's budget without its input.
Turnbull's letter to Liburd was dated Aug. 1. Liburd's reply was dated Aug. 10. Rina Jacobs McBrowne, Government House spokeswoman, said Thursday that the governor had not responded to Liburd's letter as far as she knew.
NO VEHICLE INSPECTIONS ON FRIDAY
Aug. 23, 2001 – The Police Department Motor Vehicle Bureau inspection lane will be closed on Friday so the staff can relocate next door to the newly refurbished trailer, St. John Administrator Julien Harley said. Inspection services will resume on Monday.
Other government offices also will be relocating to the trailer, located next to the public tennis courts, but no date has been announced for those moves.
Other government offices also will be relocating to the trailer, located next to the public tennis courts, but no date has been announced for those moves.
