The Government Employees Retirement System will hold a meeting to hear grievances and suggestions from retirees at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the GERS Conference Room, St. Thomas.

Aug. 14, 2001 — The late submission of the fiscal year 2001 Community Development Block Grant recommendations to the Senate by Gov. Charles Turnbull means the administration will have to seek an extension from the federal government.
The deadline for the V.I. government to submit its annual list of CDBG funding recipients to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was July 31. The Turnbull administration, however, sent its proposed CDBG bill to the Senate late Monday. Because the Senate will need time to consider the bill, Turnbull said he will request an extension from HUD.
The Turnbull administration had to seek an extension last year because it didn’t submit its list until Aug. 8.
This year, 89 governmental and non-governmental agencies with $13.4 million worth of projects were vying for $2.1 million in CDBG funds. The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, which administers the CDBG program locally, whittled that list down to 37 projects, split equally between St. Croix and the St. Thomas-St. John district.
According to federal regulations, no more than 15 percent of the block grant, or $328,350, may be used for public service projects such as training, counseling or educational services. The remainder of the funding is for construction projects. The 37 projects include:
St. John:
– $10,000 for the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled to operate an after-school program for the disabled at the Sprauve School.
– $10,825 for the Caraban Ensemble Theater Company to run an after-school theater and weekend library.
– $10,000 for the Caraban Ensemble Theater to rehabilitate a facility to be used for workshops.
– $10,825 for the John Folly Learning Institute to operate an after-school program for low- to moderate-income youths.
– $30,000 for the V.I. Education Department to install lifts and ramps at the Julius Sprauve School for disabled persons.
St. Thomas:
– $15,000 each for the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled to run an after-school program at 74-75 Kronprindsens Gade; Down Street People Inc. to operate an after-school program for low- and moderate-income youths; Kidscope Crisis Intervention Program to support services to crime victims and their families; Anglican Outreach after-school program; V.I. Mission after-school program; Up Street after-school program; St Thomas Livestock Agriculture Program; Faith Wesleyan Holiness Church after-school program; Methodist Training and Outreach Center after-school program.
– $27,300 for the Methodist Training and Outreach Center to operate a center for the homeless.
– $10,000 for the Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation to run an after-school swimming program.
– $7,500 for the V.I. Housing Authority to run a scuba diving program for youths living in housing projects.
– $250,000 for the Long Path/Garden Street Association to build a community center and playground.
– $39,300 for DHPR to renovate bathroom facilities and make other repairs at Coki Point Beach.
– $40,850 for American Legion Post 90 to renovate its facility.
– $50,000 for the Education Department to make various schools handicap-accessible.
– $220,000 for the Office of the Governor to renovate the fishermen’s facility in Frenchtown.
– $24,000 in matching funds for the Methodist Training and Outreach Center to construct eight single-room units for the homeless.
St. Croix:
– $25,000 each for V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled to run an after-school program at Ricardo Richards Elementary School; DHPR to operate an after-school sports clinic for about 100 at-risk youth.
– $50,000 for the Camp Arawak Program to operate a job-training program for low- to moderate-income persons.
– $16,900 for Proyeeto SAL Inc. to run a tutorial program for children having difficulties with the English language.
– $60,000 for the Adventist Development Relief Agency to build a center to provide after-school programs and operate a soup kitchen.
– $40,000 for Arma Pavie Sport Club Inc. to rehabilitate a baseball field.
– $200,000 for DHPR to construct a community center at Canegata Ballpark.
– $20,000 for DHPR to improve the Vincent Mason public pool.
– $40,000 for DHPR to renovate the Burning Bush facility.
– $21,000 for the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix to construct a fence to ensure the safety of its clients.
– $50,000 for the V.I. Agriculture Department to expand the farmers' market.
– $162,700 to the Education Department to make various schools in the St. Croix District handicap-accessible.
– $50,000 to the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development to rehabilitate structures in Christiansted and Frederiksted.
– $115,000 to Our Town Frederiksted Inc. for grants and low-interest loans so homeowners in the town can rehabilitate their dwellings.
According to DPNR, since 1990 just more than $20 million has been granted to government and non-governmental agencies by the CDBG program.

Aug. 14, 2001 – Sen. Emmet Hansen II was incredulous, "disappointed and angry" Tuesday morning as he reacted to the news that Gov. Charles W. Turnbull had vetoed the gun-control bill Hansen sponsored. "The governor told me last week he had signed it," Hansen said. "I am thoroughly disgusted with the spinelessness of it."
A late-night release Monday from Government House announced that the governor had vetoed the measure.
Hansen, who is off island on vacation, reiterated in a long-distance telephone call Tuesday morning what he had told the Source last Wednesday: of receiving a telephone call from the governor that day saying he had signed the measure. (See "Turnbull signs gun-control bill into law".)
"I don't know if I'm irate or just sick at my stomach," Hansen said. "This veto really comes as a slap in the face. I would hate to think it was a punitive measure because of my switch." Hansen changed his alignment from the Senate minority to the majority bloc in July. The governor, however, has been courting majority support for his legislative proposals.
Hansen said he isn't worried about the bill's final outcome. "We will override the veto," he said. "The bill has 12 sponsors — they'll be fighting one another to override it." A Senate override of a veto takes 10 votes.
The bill went through a thorough review and gained the endorsement of all local and federal law enforcement agencies, Hansen said. "The governor's own Department of Justice approved it," he noted. "The fact of the matter is that criminals are not going to get any softer. If we expect this community to be safer, we have to have tougher laws."
On the "Opening Doors" talk show on WVWI/Radio One Tuesday morning, the governor said, "I told Sen. Hansen I would sign the bill, but then I saw the section about forfeiting property where illegal weapons were found, and I couldn't sign that." In his letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd advising the Legislature of his veto, Turnbull said that nobody should lose their home because "some culprit has hidden one illegal bullet in it without the owner's knowlege."
"I was going to sign the bill," Turnbull said on the radio show, "but when I saw that part, I had to veto it."
Told over the telephone of the governor's comments, Hansen was incredulous. "I can't believe it," he said. "Hiding bullets in someone's home? How obtuse can you be?" He added, "And didn't he read the whole thing before he talked to me?"
According to Hansen, the forfeiture provision of the bill is intended to stem the flow of illegal weapons into the territory. "It's expressly for persons who are smuggling weapons in here, not the little street criminal," he said. "The big guys have to hide their weapons, their cache, somewhere — that's what we are targeting."
He added that any property forfeiture would be at the discretion of the prosecutor. "If you're renting, there's no way the landlord would be responsible," he said.
Sens. Carlton Dowe and Donald "Ducks" Cole and members of the V.I. Justice Department, U.S. Attorney's office, V.I. Housing Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, local and federal Marshals Services and the Police Department worked with him on the bill from January, Hansen said. "It has had the most thorough review," he said, and he has received letters of endorsement from Attorney General Iver Stridiron, Police Commissioner Franz Christian, Police Chief Jose Garcia and executive assistant U.S. Attorney Azekah Jennings.
Hansen said police statistics show a two-thirds drop in gun crimes in the months of June and July. His bill was introduced in May. "Then, because of the governor's inaction on the bill, the statistics have crept back up," he charged. The bill arrived on the governor's desk on Aug. 1.
Hansen said he'll be back at work Thursday, "and you can believe I'm calling the governor first thing."

Consuela Maria Danielson, also known as "Cansie" or "Miss Cansie," age 81, of Estate 1-C St. Peter's, Christiansted, passed away on Friday, Aug. 10. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 17, at Bethel A.M.E. Church with viewing beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Christiansted Cemetery.
She is survived by her sisters Esther D. Thomas and Forine D. Barnes; brother Ovid Danielson; nieces Beryl D. Handy, Corrine Barnes, Enid, Verna, Myrna, Deborah and Sandra Danielson, Carlotta E. Moorhead, Isabel P. Tuitt and many great great nieces; nephews Arnold Barnes, Jr., Ludvig, Leroy, Sr., Ovid, Jr., Aubrey, Glen, Myron, Jr., Warren, Valdemar and Jeffrey Danielson, Romeo Henderson and many great great nephews; aunt-in-law Doris Foy; sisters-in-law Mary H. Danielson and Sarah Danielson; brothers-in-law Arnold Barnes Sr., and Peter Tomas; many cousins; special friends Medora McBean, Maria King, Ruth Grimshaw, Bertina Williams, Emiliano Lake, Torres family, Helena Fredericks and family, Guillermo Encarnacion and family, Evaristo Encarnacion and family, Maude King and family, Adams family, Prince family, Lucas family, Helena James and family, Esie M. King, Knight family, Ebbeson family, Hansen family, Lee Bronstoff and family and many other friends and relatives.

The Civil Air Patrol Travel Club fish fry scheduled for 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, in the Fort Christian Parking Lot has been postponed until further notice due to inclement weather.

The Civil Air Patrol Travel Club will host a Fish Fry from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17, in the Fort Christian Parking Lot.

Aug. 13, 2001 – After more than a year and a half of work, the V.I. National Park has adopted a new Commercial Services Plan, the first ever in its 45-year history.
"I don't think there's any surprises," acting park planner Jim Owens said.
It became necessary to develop the plan because the number of park visitors continues to rise, putting a strain on the its natural and human resources. Paul Thomas, who heads the park's interpretative division, said nowadays more than a million people visit the facility each year.
All businesses operating within the park's borders must now have a commercial permit. The plan sets limits on the number of companies allowed to operate within the park and the number of visits allowed at the locations most popular with visitors. The plan provides for the park administration to issue 110 permits to companies running land and sea day trips. The number is capped at the current levels or increased to allow moderate growth.
Under the new plan, land tour groups of more than a dozen people will be limited to Trunk Bay and Annaberg Plantation. Tours with fewer than 12 people can use other areas only if they have authorization.
At Trunk Bay, only 350 people from all land-tour groups will be allowed at the beach at any one time. Commercial vessels will be limited to 175 people at any one time at beaches. The maximum number of boats carrying 25 to 50 passengers is set at five.
Doug Jayne, who operates two catamarans — one with a capacity for 35 passengers and the other with a capacity for 49 — said the new rules could cause problems for his operation. His destination is often Waterlemon Cay at Leinster Bay, where he sometimes arrives to find more than 175 people on sailboat trips already there. There will be days when "we'll have to go home and return the money," he predicted.
Additionally, Jayne often uses his boats and those owned by other people to take large groups of convention-goers out on an excursion. Under the new rules, any groups of more than 75 people will have to use Trunk Bay unless they get specific permission to use other beaches.
Due to sensitive natural resources and/or insufficient infrastructure, the following beaches and bays are closed to commercial vessel access under the plan: Denis Bay, Jumbie Bay, Francis Bay along the beach only, Mary’s Creek (except for authorized scuba operations and hurricane mooring), Brown Bay, Haulover Bay and all bays on the South Shore without moorings.
The plan also calls for improved transportation within the park. All transportation companies and people providing such services will have to meet performance standards. Taxi drivers will come under their association's permit and do not have to have individual permits. An overview of the plan distributed to the news media by Owens indicates that commercial drivers may have to wear uniforms, undergo training and commit to a standardized presentation.
The park has put off deciding on the future of the Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay concessions, now held by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, until an economic feasibility study is completed. The Rosewood contract expires Dec. 31, but the park administration expects to extend it until mid 2002 or later. Rosewood also operates Caneel Bay Resort, located within the park's boundaries. A preliminary study shows it would not be financially feasible to split the concession up because two separate companies wouldn't make enough money for their operations to be viable.
At Trunk Bay, the gift shop and snack bar concession will now include snorkel gear rental rather than two separate concessions. At Cinnamon Bay, the watersports shop now located on the beach will be moved inland to protect the natural resources. It will continue to operate under the campground concession permit.
Under the plan, effective Sept. 1, rally tours will no longer be authorized. National Park officials cited traffic congestion on roads and in parking areas within the park and said rally events "have the potential to adversely affect the safety and experience of other visitors."
Owens said that some of the new regulations went into effect in July. Some others will take effect in Sept. 1, and yet others will become effective when the park begins its next permitting cycle, on Jan. 1.
The park began the process of creating the Commercial Services Plan in December 1999 with a series of meetings soliciting public input. It followed the meetings up with publication of a draft plan that was circulated for public feedback, and the final plan.
For a more detailed description provided by the National Park Service of the new Commercial Services Plan, see "An overview of the Commercial Services Plan".

Aug. 13, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull announced late Monday night that he had vetoed Sen. Emmett Hansen's gun-control bill, despite having told the senator last Wednesday that he had signed it.
He also vetoed a bill giving the hospitals greater autonomy because, he said, it would exempt the institutions from oversight by the Finance Department and Office of Management and Budget.
The governor did sign into law a bill providing for the V.I. government to issue bonds backed by anticipated revenues from the territory's portion of the nationwide tobacco settlement.
Turnbull said he "had to" veto the gun-control bill "due to my serious concerns over the Draconian forfeiture provisions," which he said could result in individuals found to have illegal weapons or ammunition losing their homes. Turnbull cited a new section of the bill as the sticking point.
In his letter to Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd, Turnbull wrote, "Should a decent, law-abiding person lose his or her home because some culprit has hidden one illegal bullet in it without the owner's knowledge?"
The Legislature had passed the bill on a 12-1 vote, with Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen casting the negative vote. Sen. Adelbert Bryan was off the floor for the vote, and Sen.Vargrave Richards was off-island and excused from the session.
As introduced by Emmett Hansen, the gun-control bill called for increasing the first-offense fine for illegal gun possession from $1,000 to $5,000, and the maximum prison term from two years to five. For a second offense, it increased the fine from $2,000 to $10,000, with imprisonment of up to 15 years. For a felon carrying an illegal firearm or using one in a crime of violence, the bill increased the fine from $10,000 to $25,000, with imprisonment from 15 to 20 years. For using a machine gun in a violent crime, it raised the fine from $12,000 to $50,000, with 20 years in prison.
The territory's top police officials had sent letters to the Senate strongly endorsing the legislation, and Attorney General Iver Stridiron supported the measure after pointing out language in the bill which he said could cause confusion and which the senators then dealt with.
Emmett Hansen, who is off island on vacation, could not be reached for comment late Monday night.
The tobacco settlement bill that Turnbull signed provides for the creation of a Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp. empowered to borrow money though the issuance of bonds against the anticipated revenues from the territory's share of the nationwide tobacco settlement. The proceeds are earmarked for improving the territory's health care system.
In his letter to Liburd, Turnbull described himself as "a very strong supporter of greater autonomy for out hospitals" and said he also is concerned about "the proliferation of illegal guns in the territory" and supports "the efforts to curb the violence these firearms represent." He said he exercised both vetoes "most reluctantly" and that he hoped the Legislature would address the concerns he raised and send revised versions of both bills back to him.

Aug. 13, 2001 – It may be the usual long, hot summer in Washington, D.C., but things are getting done there that will benefit the Virgin Islands, according to Sens. Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino A. White Sr., who have just returned to the territory after a week in the nation's capital.
Pickard-Samuel said she met with federal Veterans Affairs officials to discuss possible federal funding to turn the decrepit, government-owned Virgin Isle Hotel on St. Thomas into a multipurpose veterans center. "The support we received even surprised me," she said.
She said she would provide details in coming days of her trip, including her efforts on behalf of veterans' health issues, as well as her V.I. Hotel plan.
What was left of the V.I. Hotel was deeded to the government on Dec. 31, 1998, by the Maribe Hotel Corp., the consortium that owned the derelict Upper John Dunkoe property, after the University of the Virgin Islands turned down a similar offer. The owners stipulated that the onetime showplace of the territory's new high-profile tourism industry be used for a public purpose. The owners had been trying since Hurricane Hugo to unload the ruined resort and deal with tax and insurance issues; they reportedly had most recently had it on the market for $4 million, with no takers.
To date, the government has shown little interest in rehabilitating the property, which for more than a decade has been a haven for squatters and a graveyard for abandoned vehicles. Gov. Roy Schneider at one point touted it as future affordable housing and there has been periodic interest in converting it into a training facility for vocational education, the hospitality industry and other purposes. But no effort has been made to rehabilitate the property since 1989.
On the afternoon of Jan. 21, 2000, the top floor of the hotel was engulfed in flames. The area that burned had once been known as the hotel "Blue Room," which served for many years as the St. Thomas studios of the old WIVI-FM radio station.
Pickard-Samuel, who chairs the Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee, said she will hold a hearing on Sept. 12 at which federal and local Veterans Affairs Office officials will testify.
She took issue with published reports questioning her activities in Washington. "They said I didn't check with the delegate's office," she said, a reference to Delegate Donna Christian Christensen. "I always check with her office, but she was away."
White, who chairs the Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee, declined to describe the nature of his trip other than to say THAT it was productive and that he will release a report later. "I can tell you, though," he said, "the results were good."
White also took issue with published reports critical of their travels. "They said Congress was in recess for the summer," he said. "I don't work for any congressman. I get more done than they do."

Aug. 13, 2001 – It may be the usual long, hot summer in Washington, D.C., but things are getting done there that will benefit the Virgin Islands, according to Sens. Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino A. White Sr., who have just returned to the territory after a week in the nation's capital.
Pickard-Samuel said she met with federal Veterans Affairs officials to discuss possible federal funding to turn the decrepit, government-owned Virgin Isle Hotel on St. Thomas into a multipurpose veterans center. "The support we received even surprised me," she said.
She said she would provide details in coming days of her trip, including her efforts on behalf of veterans' health issues, as well as her V.I. Hotel plan.
What was left of the V.I. Hotel was deeded to the government on Dec. 31, 1998, by the Maribe Hotel Corp., the consortium that owned the derelict Upper John Dunkoe property, after the University of the Virgin Islands turned down a similar offer. The owners stipulated that the onetime showplace of the territory's new high-profile tourism industry be used for a public purpose. The owners had been trying since Hurricane Hugo to unload the ruined resort and deal with tax and insurance issues; they reportedly had most recently had it on the market for $4 million, with no takers.
To date, the government has shown little interest in rehabilitating the property, which for more than a decade has been a haven for squatters and a graveyard for abandoned vehicles. Gov. Roy Schneider at one point touted it as future affordable housing and there has been periodic interest in converting it into a training facility for vocational education, the hospitality industry and other purposes. But no effort has been made to rehabilitate the property since 1989.
On the afternoon of Jan. 21, 2000, the top floor of the hotel was engulfed in flames. The area that burned had once been known as the hotel "Blue Room," which served for many years as the St. Thomas studios of the old WIVI-FM radio station.
Pickard-Samuel, who chairs the Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee, said she will hold a hearing on Sept. 12 at which federal and local Veterans Affairs Office officials will testify.
She took issue with published reports questioning her activities in Washington. "They said I didn't check with the delegate's office," she said, a reference to Delegate Donna Christian Christensen. "I always check with her office, but she was away."
White, who chairs the Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee, declined to describe the nature of his trip other than to say it was productive and that he will release a report later. "I can tell you, though," he said, "the results were good."
White also took issue with published reports critical of their travels. "They said Congress was in recess for the summer," he said. "I don't work for any congressman. I get more done than they do."