Sen. Adelbert Bryan’s recent Draft Sustainable Plan points to an inherent problem with our local politics. The attempt is part of an all too familiar cycle in the territory.
The Virgin Islands’ "Cycle of Change"
1. Our problems are easy to identify.
2. Our senators report that problems should not be dealt with piecemeal and refuse to take substantial changes. Accepted comprehensive plans on the table are ignored. (If our problems can’t be dealt with individually and our Senate is not in process of implementing a comprehensive plan, what is the Senate doing?)
3. At great expense and effort a comprehensive plan endorsed by all concerned parties is developed. From a senator’s point of view, this tedious process may have the additional benefit of keeping concerned community members occupied and thus not reviewing the value of current Senate efforts. Senators also get some political mileage by publicly agreeing to the plan.
4. For years the plan is ignored for a variety of reasons. These reasons can get creative, but the fact is that the plan is not implemented.
5. The last comprehensive plan is declared dated and therefore no longer useful. At some point the primary reason to ignore the plan becomes that the plan is dated.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 ad nauseam.
I suggest that the only way to fix our government is to make it publicly accountable as it already is by law.
We do know some gross figures. We are a population of about 110,000 with a local budget of over a half-billion dollars. In the islands, we get to keep all the taxes we collect but still get substantial federal funding. Even so, we have managed to get close to a billion dollars in debt.
Where has the money gone? Not our roads, not to teacher salaries, not to fire or police protection either. Not the hospitals. Where?
We are not being told where our money is going because our government officials know that they don't want us to know. Note to government officials: We want to know.
So in these very tough times we discover a bit of "extra" money and what do our officials do? Pay off debts? No. Increase long term spending using a revenue stream that can't be confirmed? Yes.
My only surprise is that this decision to make promises we can not keep was not made during an election year. The Virgin Islands government usually waits till election years to make their false promises.
My plea to our Senate is to stop the cycle. Make substantial changes now. Make government accountable. Please start with yourselves and explain why 15 persons (with a staff of over 220) need to spend more than 5 percent of our budget.
Let us know in detail what this money is buying. How, in these times of reported financial hardship, can you vote to substantially increase your overall budget while reducing the budget of many of your members?
Senate members, while you are it, please acknowledge the very clear choice made by voters and reduce the number of senators from 15 to nine.
The Virgin Islands people are strong and wise. We will make the necessary changes. I just hope that it is sooner instead of later.
GERS AND SENATE AT ODDS OVER EARLY RETIREMENT
July 12, 2001 – After a daylong session that kept some government officials waiting for more than eight hours to testify, the Senate Finance Committee finally heard from the Water and Power Authority and Government Employees Retirement System officers late Wednesday about a bill to extend early retirement to certain WAPA employees who perform hazardous duty.
The WAPA bill, sponsored by Finance Committee Chairwoman Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, would allow linemen and certain power plant production employees to increase their GERS contributions and be eligible for early retirement after 20 years of service.
The proposal didn't go over well with GERS officers. Laurence Bryan, GERS administrator, said the measure would "bankrupt" the already fiscally fragile system.
The Senate and GERS have a long history of go-rounds regarding retirement funding. GERS now has a court case against the V.I. government regarding funding. The new legislation would increase the system's unfunded liabilities by $1.9 million.
Cecilia P. Senthill-Harrigan, assistant GERS administrator, agreed that $1.9 million would be needed to satisfy retroactive payments to the system. Hansen replied that the funding would be identified without adding an additional burden on WAPA employees.
Ralph Mandrew, V.I. Workers Union president, spoke at length about ills suffered by WAPA employees over the years, detailing individual cases of harm and illnesses caused by their work.
Mandrew and Gerald Hodge Jr., co-chair of the WAPA employees buyout committee, strongly supported the legislation.
Nicholas Lazare, vice president of the buyout committee, also supported it. He said WAPA's St. Croix plant still has 55 percent of the asbestos that WAPA management has claimed was removed.
Before hearing from the WAPA and GERS officers, the Finance Committee quickly heard from the remaining government officials who were there to testify on requests in Gov. Charles Turnbull's $43.4 million supplemental appropriation bill for fiscal year 2001.
The Finance Committee will reconvene at 4 p.m. Thursday to conclude the meeting, which ended after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, and to vote on the appropriations. The meeting will follow a 10 a.m. Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee meeting.
The five senators who remained for the meeting all indicated support for the WAPA the proposal. They are Douglas Canton Jr., Norma Pickard-Samuel, Celestino White Sr. and Donald "Ducks" Cole, along with Hansen.
The WAPA bill, sponsored by Finance Committee Chairwoman Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, would allow linemen and certain power plant production employees to increase their GERS contributions and be eligible for early retirement after 20 years of service.
The proposal didn't go over well with GERS officers. Laurence Bryan, GERS administrator, said the measure would "bankrupt" the already fiscally fragile system.
The Senate and GERS have a long history of go-rounds regarding retirement funding. GERS now has a court case against the V.I. government regarding funding. The new legislation would increase the system's unfunded liabilities by $1.9 million.
Cecilia P. Senthill-Harrigan, assistant GERS administrator, agreed that $1.9 million would be needed to satisfy retroactive payments to the system. Hansen replied that the funding would be identified without adding an additional burden on WAPA employees.
Ralph Mandrew, V.I. Workers Union president, spoke at length about ills suffered by WAPA employees over the years, detailing individual cases of harm and illnesses caused by their work.
Mandrew and Gerald Hodge Jr., co-chair of the WAPA employees buyout committee, strongly supported the legislation.
Nicholas Lazare, vice president of the buyout committee, also supported it. He said WAPA's St. Croix plant still has 55 percent of the asbestos that WAPA management has claimed was removed.
Before hearing from the WAPA and GERS officers, the Finance Committee quickly heard from the remaining government officials who were there to testify on requests in Gov. Charles Turnbull's $43.4 million supplemental appropriation bill for fiscal year 2001.
The Finance Committee will reconvene at 4 p.m. Thursday to conclude the meeting, which ended after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, and to vote on the appropriations. The meeting will follow a 10 a.m. Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee meeting.
The five senators who remained for the meeting all indicated support for the WAPA the proposal. They are Douglas Canton Jr., Norma Pickard-Samuel, Celestino White Sr. and Donald "Ducks" Cole, along with Hansen.
GERS AND SENATE AT ODDS OVER EARLY RETIREMENT
July 12, 2001 – After a daylong session that kept some government officials waiting for more than eight hours to testify, the Senate Finance Committee finally heard from the Water and Power Authority and Government Employees Retirement System officers late Wednesday about a bill to extend early retirement to certain WAPA employees who perform hazardous duty.
The WAPA bill, sponsored by Finance Committee Chairwoman Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, would allow linemen and certain power plant production employees to increase their GERS contributions and be eligible for early retirement after 20 years of service.
The proposal didn't go over well with GERS officers. Laurence Bryan, GERS administrator, said the measure would "bankrupt" the already fiscally fragile system.
The Senate and GERS have a long history of go-rounds regarding retirement funding. GERS now has a court case against the V.I. government regarding funding. The new legislation would increase the system's unfunded liabilities by $1.9 million.
Cecilia P. Senthill-Harrigan, assistant GERS administrator, agreed that $1.9 million would be needed to satisfy retroactive payments to the system. Hansen replied that the funding would be identified without adding an additional burden on WAPA employees.
Ralph Mandrew, V.I. Workers Union president, spoke at length about ills suffered by WAPA employees over the years, detailing individual cases of harm and illnesses caused by their work.
Mandrew and Gerald Hodge Jr., co-chair of the WAPA employees buyout committee, strongly supported the legislation.
Nicholas Lazare, vice president of the buyout committee, also supported it. He said WAPA's St. Croix plant still has 55 percent of the asbestos that WAPA management has claimed was removed.
Before hearing from the WAPA and GERS officers, the Finance Committee quickly heard from the remaining government officials who were there to testify on requests in Gov. Charles Turnbull's $43.4 million supplemental appropriation bill for fiscal year 2001.
The Finance Committee will reconvene at 4 p.m. Thursday to conclude the meeting, which ended after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, and to vote on the appropriations. The meeting will follow a 10 a.m. Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee meeting.
The five senators who remained for the meeting all indicated support for the WAPA the proposal. They are Douglas Canton Jr., Norma Pickard-Samuel, Celestino White Sr. and Donald "Ducks" Cole, along with Hansen.
The WAPA bill, sponsored by Finance Committee Chairwoman Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, would allow linemen and certain power plant production employees to increase their GERS contributions and be eligible for early retirement after 20 years of service.
The proposal didn't go over well with GERS officers. Laurence Bryan, GERS administrator, said the measure would "bankrupt" the already fiscally fragile system.
The Senate and GERS have a long history of go-rounds regarding retirement funding. GERS now has a court case against the V.I. government regarding funding. The new legislation would increase the system's unfunded liabilities by $1.9 million.
Cecilia P. Senthill-Harrigan, assistant GERS administrator, agreed that $1.9 million would be needed to satisfy retroactive payments to the system. Hansen replied that the funding would be identified without adding an additional burden on WAPA employees.
Ralph Mandrew, V.I. Workers Union president, spoke at length about ills suffered by WAPA employees over the years, detailing individual cases of harm and illnesses caused by their work.
Mandrew and Gerald Hodge Jr., co-chair of the WAPA employees buyout committee, strongly supported the legislation.
Nicholas Lazare, vice president of the buyout committee, also supported it. He said WAPA's St. Croix plant still has 55 percent of the asbestos that WAPA management has claimed was removed.
Before hearing from the WAPA and GERS officers, the Finance Committee quickly heard from the remaining government officials who were there to testify on requests in Gov. Charles Turnbull's $43.4 million supplemental appropriation bill for fiscal year 2001.
The Finance Committee will reconvene at 4 p.m. Thursday to conclude the meeting, which ended after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, and to vote on the appropriations. The meeting will follow a 10 a.m. Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee meeting.
The five senators who remained for the meeting all indicated support for the WAPA the proposal. They are Douglas Canton Jr., Norma Pickard-Samuel, Celestino White Sr. and Donald "Ducks" Cole, along with Hansen.
GERS AND SENATE AT ODDS OVER EARLY RETIREMENT
July 12, 2001 – After a daylong session that kept some government officials waiting for more than eight hours to testify, the Senate Finance Committee finally heard from the Water and Power Authority and Government Employees Retirement System officers late Wednesday about a bill to extend early retirement to certain WAPA employees who perform hazardous duty.
The WAPA bill, sponsored by Finance Committee Chairwoman Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, would allow linemen and certain power plant production employees to increase their GERS contributions and be eligible for early retirement after 20 years of service.
The proposal didn't go over well with GERS officers. Laurence Bryan, GERS administrator, said the measure would "bankrupt" the already fiscally fragile system.
The Senate and GERS have a long history of go-rounds regarding retirement funding. GERS now has a court case against the V.I. government regarding funding. The new legislation would increase the system's unfunded liabilities by $1.9 million.
Cecilia P. Senthill-Harrigan, assistant GERS administrator, agreed that $1.9 million would be needed to satisfy retroactive payments to the system. Hansen replied that the funding would be identified without adding an additional burden on WAPA employees.
Ralph Mandrew, V.I. Workers Union president, spoke at length about ills suffered by WAPA employees over the years, detailing individual cases of harm and illnesses caused by their work.
Mandrew and Gerald Hodge Jr., co-chair of the WAPA employees buyout committee, strongly supported the legislation.
Nicholas Lazare, vice president of the buyout committee, also supported it. He said WAPA's St. Croix plant still has 55 percent of the asbestos that WAPA management has claimed was removed.
Before hearing from the WAPA and GERS officers, the Finance Committee quickly heard from the remaining government officials who were there to testify on requests in Gov. Charles Turnbull's $43.4 million supplemental appropriation bill for fiscal year 2001.
The Finance Committee will reconvene at 4 p.m. Thursday to conclude the meeting, which ended after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, and to vote on the appropriations. The meeting will follow a 10 a.m. Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee meeting.
The five senators who remained for the meeting all indicated support for the WAPA the proposal. They are Douglas Canton Jr., Norma Pickard-Samuel, Celestino White Sr. and Donald "Ducks" Cole, along with Hansen.
The WAPA bill, sponsored by Finance Committee Chairwoman Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, would allow linemen and certain power plant production employees to increase their GERS contributions and be eligible for early retirement after 20 years of service.
The proposal didn't go over well with GERS officers. Laurence Bryan, GERS administrator, said the measure would "bankrupt" the already fiscally fragile system.
The Senate and GERS have a long history of go-rounds regarding retirement funding. GERS now has a court case against the V.I. government regarding funding. The new legislation would increase the system's unfunded liabilities by $1.9 million.
Cecilia P. Senthill-Harrigan, assistant GERS administrator, agreed that $1.9 million would be needed to satisfy retroactive payments to the system. Hansen replied that the funding would be identified without adding an additional burden on WAPA employees.
Ralph Mandrew, V.I. Workers Union president, spoke at length about ills suffered by WAPA employees over the years, detailing individual cases of harm and illnesses caused by their work.
Mandrew and Gerald Hodge Jr., co-chair of the WAPA employees buyout committee, strongly supported the legislation.
Nicholas Lazare, vice president of the buyout committee, also supported it. He said WAPA's St. Croix plant still has 55 percent of the asbestos that WAPA management has claimed was removed.
Before hearing from the WAPA and GERS officers, the Finance Committee quickly heard from the remaining government officials who were there to testify on requests in Gov. Charles Turnbull's $43.4 million supplemental appropriation bill for fiscal year 2001.
The Finance Committee will reconvene at 4 p.m. Thursday to conclude the meeting, which ended after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, and to vote on the appropriations. The meeting will follow a 10 a.m. Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee meeting.
The five senators who remained for the meeting all indicated support for the WAPA the proposal. They are Douglas Canton Jr., Norma Pickard-Samuel, Celestino White Sr. and Donald "Ducks" Cole, along with Hansen.
FIRSTBANK OPENS MORTGAGE LOAN CENTER
July 12, 2001 – Recognizing that finding the means to acquire an ideal property is not an easy task, FirstBank has announced the opening of its new Mortgage Loan Center in the Port of Sale Mall. The new Mortgage Loan Center is the latest addition to the bank's growing network of banking facilities in the territory.
The new FirstBank Mortgage Loan Center is designed to make the bank's extensive mortgage banking expertise more accessible to Virgin Islanders and, in turn, to foster further economic activity throughout the territory.
The new facility will offer Conventional, Home Equity, Land, FHA, Veterans and Rural Development Loans at competitive rates, thus providing a full range of options for existing and potential homeowners.
With conventional, long-term loans, Virgin Islanders will be able to purchase or refinance properties to be used as a primary home, a second home or for investment, choosing repayment terms that range from 15 to 30 years.
For a primary residence or second home, financing up to 80% of the appraisal or purchase price is available. Investment properties may be financed up to 75% of their appraised value or purchase price.
FHA loans offered combine the benefits of federal government security and the option to finance most of the investment, thus minimizing down payment requirements. For purchase transactions, these loans provide financing up to 97% of the contract sales price, subject to the maximum allowed by the Federal Housing Administration for the territory. For refinancing, FHA loans
are available for up to 85% of the appraised value, subject to the maximum allowed for the area. FHA loans may be repaid over a term of up to 30 years.
Veterans, reserve personnel, or eligible members of the National Guard can buy or refinance primary homes with a guarantee by the Veterans Administration through a veterans loan. This type of loan allows the buyer to finance 100% of the sale price or the value of a property, up to a maximum of $203,000, repayable in 15 or 30 years. If refinancing, this type of mortgage provides up to 90% of the appraised value of that property, for a period of up to 30 years.
Rural Development Loans, formerly known as Farmer's Home Loans, allow the potential buyer to finance up to 100% of the value of a rural home, with a 30-year repayment plan.
FirstBank noted that with new lower interest rates, the timing is perfect for the opening of its VI Mortgage Center. Anyone interested in identifying the alternative that best fits their family's needs may call the center at (340) 774-4800 ext. 257, 246 or 232.
FirstBank is an Equal Housing Lender.
The new FirstBank Mortgage Loan Center is designed to make the bank's extensive mortgage banking expertise more accessible to Virgin Islanders and, in turn, to foster further economic activity throughout the territory.
The new facility will offer Conventional, Home Equity, Land, FHA, Veterans and Rural Development Loans at competitive rates, thus providing a full range of options for existing and potential homeowners.
With conventional, long-term loans, Virgin Islanders will be able to purchase or refinance properties to be used as a primary home, a second home or for investment, choosing repayment terms that range from 15 to 30 years.
For a primary residence or second home, financing up to 80% of the appraisal or purchase price is available. Investment properties may be financed up to 75% of their appraised value or purchase price.
FHA loans offered combine the benefits of federal government security and the option to finance most of the investment, thus minimizing down payment requirements. For purchase transactions, these loans provide financing up to 97% of the contract sales price, subject to the maximum allowed by the Federal Housing Administration for the territory. For refinancing, FHA loans
are available for up to 85% of the appraised value, subject to the maximum allowed for the area. FHA loans may be repaid over a term of up to 30 years.
Veterans, reserve personnel, or eligible members of the National Guard can buy or refinance primary homes with a guarantee by the Veterans Administration through a veterans loan. This type of loan allows the buyer to finance 100% of the sale price or the value of a property, up to a maximum of $203,000, repayable in 15 or 30 years. If refinancing, this type of mortgage provides up to 90% of the appraised value of that property, for a period of up to 30 years.
Rural Development Loans, formerly known as Farmer's Home Loans, allow the potential buyer to finance up to 100% of the value of a rural home, with a 30-year repayment plan.
FirstBank noted that with new lower interest rates, the timing is perfect for the opening of its VI Mortgage Center. Anyone interested in identifying the alternative that best fits their family's needs may call the center at (340) 774-4800 ext. 257, 246 or 232.
FirstBank is an Equal Housing Lender.
BONT TICK FOUND ON HORSES
July 12, 2001 — The African bont has again been discovered on St. Croix, proving to be a tenacious threat to the island’s livestock.
Lawrence Lewis of the V.I. Agriculture Department said the tick was recently found on horses in the Carlton area. While the bont tick was thought to have been eradicated from St. Croix in the 1970s, it was discovered in the Carlton area last year.
In February, a tick was found on cattle being shipped off St. Croix, forcing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to quarantine the animals because of the possibility of heartwater, a disease spread by the ticks. Not every bont tick carries heartwater, an infectious, noncontagious disease that affects the meat and milk production of cattle, sheep and goats, Lewis said. Nonetheless, he said, the discovery of the bont tick is a threat to any place that has a cattle industry, such as St. Croix’s Senepol cattle.
Lewis said the USDA has been notified about the latest discovery of the tick on the horses.
"We’re doing what we can do so the situation doesn’t get serious," he said.
Dr. Duke Dellar, a USDA veterinarian, confirmed that the horses were infested with the bont tick. He said treatment includes spraying the animals with an insecticide on a regular basis every two weeks for at least 18 months.
The tick is widely distributed throughout Africa and is also found on several other islands in the Caribbean. The bont tick was introduced on Guadeloupe around 1830 on cattle imported from Senegal.
Lewis said the USDA will try to trap wild deer on the island to determine if they are carrying the tick. Because of the recent dry weather on St. Croix, the deer may be coming into contact with domestic livestock when they search for food and water in pasture areas.
Lawrence Lewis of the V.I. Agriculture Department said the tick was recently found on horses in the Carlton area. While the bont tick was thought to have been eradicated from St. Croix in the 1970s, it was discovered in the Carlton area last year.
In February, a tick was found on cattle being shipped off St. Croix, forcing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to quarantine the animals because of the possibility of heartwater, a disease spread by the ticks. Not every bont tick carries heartwater, an infectious, noncontagious disease that affects the meat and milk production of cattle, sheep and goats, Lewis said. Nonetheless, he said, the discovery of the bont tick is a threat to any place that has a cattle industry, such as St. Croix’s Senepol cattle.
Lewis said the USDA has been notified about the latest discovery of the tick on the horses.
"We’re doing what we can do so the situation doesn’t get serious," he said.
Dr. Duke Dellar, a USDA veterinarian, confirmed that the horses were infested with the bont tick. He said treatment includes spraying the animals with an insecticide on a regular basis every two weeks for at least 18 months.
The tick is widely distributed throughout Africa and is also found on several other islands in the Caribbean. The bont tick was introduced on Guadeloupe around 1830 on cattle imported from Senegal.
Lewis said the USDA will try to trap wild deer on the island to determine if they are carrying the tick. Because of the recent dry weather on St. Croix, the deer may be coming into contact with domestic livestock when they search for food and water in pasture areas.
V.I. LOSES TO PUERTO RICO IN HOOPS TOURNEY
July 12, 2001 — TOLUCA, Mexico – The Puerto Ricans put their best foot forward at the expense of the Virgin Islands national basketball team.
Puerto Rico, which had the service of the country's NBA player, used an 18-2 run to start the game and finished with a 98-70 victory over the Virgin Islands in the opening day of the Centro Basket Tournament.
Puerto Rico is taking the regional basketball tournament seriously. The Commonwealth had a roster which includes 7-foot NBA player Daniel Santiago of the Phoenix Suns.
"This is an important tournament for us," said Puerto Rico veteran forward Jerome Mincy. "That is why we have a mix of older guys with the younger ones."
Puerto Rico scored the first 10 points of the game. After it built an 18-2 lead, the Virgin Islands went on 9-3 run to cut the deficit to 21-11. But ten points were as close at the Virgin Islands came. Puerto Rico went on late-second quarter spurt to take a 55-33 lead at intermission.
The Virgin Islands scored the first seven points of the second half, but each time the VI tried to rally, Puerto Rico answered with Carmelo Travieso’s outside shooting and Santiago’s inside domination.
"We know the Virgin Islands always come to play us tough," Mincy said, recalling the Virgin Islands’ upset of Puerto Rico in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games.
V.I. Coach Tevester Anderson substituted repeatedly throughout the first half as his starters seemed out of breath. Toluca is the highest city in Mexico and many of the athletes complained of being short of breath.
"We showed a lot of heart by not giving up," said V.I. guard Calvert White. "But some of our players were short on breath. When Puerto Rico went back to their bench, they had an oxygen tank. We didn’t have anything."
The Virgin Islands is playing without its NBA players Raja Bell and David Vanterpool. Virgin Islands 7-footer Jaja Richards is also bypassing the Centro Basket Tournament to compete in a NBA Summer League.
The top four teams in the Centro Basketball Tournament will advance to the Tournament of Americas in Argentina.
The Virgin Islands needs a victory Thursday against the Dominican Republic and another win on Friday against Honduras to reach the semifinals.
The Dominican Republic beat Honduras 101-75 in the bracket's other game on Wednesday.
"This is a must-win situation for us," White said of Thursday’s game against the Dominican Republic. "We have to come out and execute. This was the game to get the kinks out."
Puerto Rico, which had the service of the country's NBA player, used an 18-2 run to start the game and finished with a 98-70 victory over the Virgin Islands in the opening day of the Centro Basket Tournament.
Puerto Rico is taking the regional basketball tournament seriously. The Commonwealth had a roster which includes 7-foot NBA player Daniel Santiago of the Phoenix Suns.
"This is an important tournament for us," said Puerto Rico veteran forward Jerome Mincy. "That is why we have a mix of older guys with the younger ones."
Puerto Rico scored the first 10 points of the game. After it built an 18-2 lead, the Virgin Islands went on 9-3 run to cut the deficit to 21-11. But ten points were as close at the Virgin Islands came. Puerto Rico went on late-second quarter spurt to take a 55-33 lead at intermission.
The Virgin Islands scored the first seven points of the second half, but each time the VI tried to rally, Puerto Rico answered with Carmelo Travieso’s outside shooting and Santiago’s inside domination.
"We know the Virgin Islands always come to play us tough," Mincy said, recalling the Virgin Islands’ upset of Puerto Rico in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games.
V.I. Coach Tevester Anderson substituted repeatedly throughout the first half as his starters seemed out of breath. Toluca is the highest city in Mexico and many of the athletes complained of being short of breath.
"We showed a lot of heart by not giving up," said V.I. guard Calvert White. "But some of our players were short on breath. When Puerto Rico went back to their bench, they had an oxygen tank. We didn’t have anything."
The Virgin Islands is playing without its NBA players Raja Bell and David Vanterpool. Virgin Islands 7-footer Jaja Richards is also bypassing the Centro Basket Tournament to compete in a NBA Summer League.
The top four teams in the Centro Basketball Tournament will advance to the Tournament of Americas in Argentina.
The Virgin Islands needs a victory Thursday against the Dominican Republic and another win on Friday against Honduras to reach the semifinals.
The Dominican Republic beat Honduras 101-75 in the bracket's other game on Wednesday.
"This is a must-win situation for us," White said of Thursday’s game against the Dominican Republic. "We have to come out and execute. This was the game to get the kinks out."
V.I. LOSES TO PUERTO RICO IN HOOPS TOURNEY
TOLUCA, Mexico – The Puerto Ricans put their best foot forward at the expense of the Virgin Islands national basketball team.
Puerto Rico, which had the service of the country's NBA player, used an 18-2 run to start the game and finished with a 98-70 victory over the Virgin Islands in the opening day of the Centro Basket Tournament.
Puerto Rico is taking the regional basketball tournament seriously. The Commonwealth had a roster which includes 7-foot NBA player Daniel Santiago of the Phoenix Suns.
"This is an important tournament for us," said Puerto Rico veteran forward Jerome Mincy. "That is why we have a mix of older guys with the younger ones."
Puerto Rico scored the first 10 points of the game. After it built an 18-2 lead, the Virgin Islands went on 9-3 run to cut the deficit to 21-11. But ten points were as close at the Virgin Islands came. Puerto Rico went on late-second quarter spurt to take a 55-33 lead at intermission.
The Virgin Islands scored the first seven points of the second half, but each time the VI tried to rally, Puerto Rico answered with Carmelo Travieso’s outside shooting and Santiago’s inside domination.
"We know the Virgin Islands always come to play us tough," Mincy said, recalling the Virgin Islands’ upset of Puerto Rico in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games.
V.I. Coach Tevester Anderson substituted repeatedly throughout the first half as his starters seemed out of breath. Toluca is the highest city in Mexico and many of the athletes complained of being short of breath.
"We showed a lot of heart by not giving up," said V.I. guard Calvert White. "But some of our players were short on breath. When Puerto Rico went back to their bench, they had an oxygen tank. We didn’t have anything."
The Virgin Islands is playing without its NBA players Raja Bell and David Vanterpool. Virgin Islands 7-footer Jaja Richards is also bypassing the Centro Basket Tournament to compete in a NBA Summer League.
The top four teams in the Centro Basketball Tournament will advance to the Tournament of Americas in Argentina.
The Virgin Islands needs a victory Thursday against the Dominican Republic and another win on Friday against Honduras to reach the semifinals.
The Dominican Republic beat Honduras 101-75 in the bracket's other game on Wednesday.
"This is a must-win situation for us," White said of Thursday’s game against the Dominican Republic. "We have to come out and execute. This was the game to get the kinks out."
Puerto Rico, which had the service of the country's NBA player, used an 18-2 run to start the game and finished with a 98-70 victory over the Virgin Islands in the opening day of the Centro Basket Tournament.
Puerto Rico is taking the regional basketball tournament seriously. The Commonwealth had a roster which includes 7-foot NBA player Daniel Santiago of the Phoenix Suns.
"This is an important tournament for us," said Puerto Rico veteran forward Jerome Mincy. "That is why we have a mix of older guys with the younger ones."
Puerto Rico scored the first 10 points of the game. After it built an 18-2 lead, the Virgin Islands went on 9-3 run to cut the deficit to 21-11. But ten points were as close at the Virgin Islands came. Puerto Rico went on late-second quarter spurt to take a 55-33 lead at intermission.
The Virgin Islands scored the first seven points of the second half, but each time the VI tried to rally, Puerto Rico answered with Carmelo Travieso’s outside shooting and Santiago’s inside domination.
"We know the Virgin Islands always come to play us tough," Mincy said, recalling the Virgin Islands’ upset of Puerto Rico in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games.
V.I. Coach Tevester Anderson substituted repeatedly throughout the first half as his starters seemed out of breath. Toluca is the highest city in Mexico and many of the athletes complained of being short of breath.
"We showed a lot of heart by not giving up," said V.I. guard Calvert White. "But some of our players were short on breath. When Puerto Rico went back to their bench, they had an oxygen tank. We didn’t have anything."
The Virgin Islands is playing without its NBA players Raja Bell and David Vanterpool. Virgin Islands 7-footer Jaja Richards is also bypassing the Centro Basket Tournament to compete in a NBA Summer League.
The top four teams in the Centro Basketball Tournament will advance to the Tournament of Americas in Argentina.
The Virgin Islands needs a victory Thursday against the Dominican Republic and another win on Friday against Honduras to reach the semifinals.
The Dominican Republic beat Honduras 101-75 in the bracket's other game on Wednesday.
"This is a must-win situation for us," White said of Thursday’s game against the Dominican Republic. "We have to come out and execute. This was the game to get the kinks out."
FINANCE COMMITTEE REVIEWS APPROPRIATIONS BILL
July 11, 2001 – As of 6 p.m. Wednesday the Senate Finance Committee had heard five of the 23 commissioners and agency heads invited to testify on the governor's proposal to provide $47.2 million in supplemental appropriations from the General Fund for fiscal year 2001.
The other 18 government officers, most of whom had been at the Senate since the committee's scheduled 10 a.m. start, were still waiting to testify at 6 p.m. The meeting started at 11:45 a.m. with apologies from Chairwoman Alicia "Chucky" Hansen who said the committee was waiting for information "still coming in on the Wheaton Estate."
A $4 million appropriation to enter negotiations to buy the Wheaton estate and thus protect the Magens Bay watershed was among the 20-plus appropriations in the bulky bill.
The senators heard testimony from the same government officials the majority bloc members had excused from a June 15 special session saying they didn't require their testimony on the governor's bill to appropriate $100 million from projected tax revenues. Later that same day they passed the bill unanimously with the minority senators absent. The action had sent them out of the chamber in disgust. Almost all minority senators were present Wednesday.
Management and Budget Director Ira R. Mills, referring to recent "extraordinary revenue collections," said the administration's most recent FY 2001 projections indicate that $529 million will be collected in FY 2001, including projected income tax revenues. He said OMB's projected FY 2001 allotment level is now $484 million, up $54.5 million from the $429.5 set in February.
Internal Revenue Bureau Director Louis Willis, who started the ball rolling in June with his announcement along with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull of the $100 million tax "windfall" for FY 2001, continued to give the senators a cheery fiscal picture. His statement was short and sweet.
"We have collected $372 million in taxes so far this year," he said, "which is $87 million over last year at this time." Willis projected $486 million by the end of FY 2001.
"Can we sustain these revenues to realize $529 million by the end of the year?" asked Sen. David Jones. Willis reiterated, "As for my department, yes, $486 million."
The senators heard Finance Commissioner Bernice Turnbull's defense of the bill's $2.7 million Finance Department supplemental appropriation without blinking an eye. Turnbull commended her staff for completing 1995, 1998 and 1999 Single Audits, bringing the government in compliance with federal guidelines. She said they completed a "herculean task while working under adverse conditions" in a deteriorating building critically in need of repair.
Turnbull stressed the funds are needed "immediately" to meet "our FY 2002 audit deadline." She said, "We cannot delay. This is a requirement of the federal government." If the deadline isn't met, the territory stands to lose federal funding. The audits for 1996 and 1997 are not yet completed.
Sen. Emmett Hansen II addressed the bill's island-to-island inequities, saying, "I've been listening downstairs, and I've run up a little tote sheet, and it's way out of favor" (for St. Croix). Pointing to the $250,000 for the territorial sewage system, he said, "St. Croix needs at least $5 million for sewage repair," and asked Mills to explain. The $250,000 was for emergency maintenance only, Mills said.
Hansen also questioned a $4 million allotment for the territory's roads. "If that's $2 million for St. Croix, at the current rate for repair that would cover about eight miles of road," he said.
Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd made a bid for $2.5 million from St. John's capital improvement fund to build a desalination plant on St. John. Bernice Turnbull said the fund could sustain that.
None of the measures were voted on in the daytime meeting. Chairwoman Hansen repeatedly said the committee had to do a "markup" on them first.
After the senators took an almost two-hour recess for lunch, things got lively with a heated though jovial exchange between Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. and Attorney General Iver Stridiron about the Wheaton estate.
White maintained that the government shouldn't buy the property simply to "preserve it as an open, protected space, when that's what the Wheatons were doing, anyhow." He said there was no fear of developers buying the property and building on it, asking Property and Procurement Commissioner Marc Biggs if the purpose of the purchase would be to keep developers out, which Biggs agreed it was.
"Developers can't do anything without coming to the Legislature for permits, and this Legislature would never permit that. They'd be stuck," White said, referring to the Wheatons as the "weiners."
Stridrion repeatedly and futilely attempted to respond to White, who was directing his inquiries to him. Finally, Stridiron was able to explain a problem: "You might have a good idea," he said, "but there's just one thing – there is a Table of Permitted Uses in the V.I. Code. It allows hundreds of permitted uses under an R-I (residential) zoning."
Alicia Hansen said an appraisal had not yet been done on the 218-acre Wheaton property. Biggs said an appraisal is now about 65 percent complete. Hansen, who is avid in her pursuit of the property, noted the price had risen from $5.8 to $8 million in just a few months this year, and urged action on the appropriation.
William Jowers, Magens Bay general manager, was enthusiastic about the government's acquisition of the Wheaton property. "Magens is vital to the Virgin Islands," he said, and government ownership of the Magens watershed, the Wheaton property, would protect the beach.
The meeting was expected to continue into the evening. Attending were committee members Hansen, Carlton Dowe, Norma Pickard-Samuel, Douglas Canton Jr, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Norman Jn. Baptiste. Also attending were Sens. Hansen II, Jones, White, Lorraine Berry and Adelbert M. Bryan.
The other 18 government officers, most of whom had been at the Senate since the committee's scheduled 10 a.m. start, were still waiting to testify at 6 p.m. The meeting started at 11:45 a.m. with apologies from Chairwoman Alicia "Chucky" Hansen who said the committee was waiting for information "still coming in on the Wheaton Estate."
A $4 million appropriation to enter negotiations to buy the Wheaton estate and thus protect the Magens Bay watershed was among the 20-plus appropriations in the bulky bill.
The senators heard testimony from the same government officials the majority bloc members had excused from a June 15 special session saying they didn't require their testimony on the governor's bill to appropriate $100 million from projected tax revenues. Later that same day they passed the bill unanimously with the minority senators absent. The action had sent them out of the chamber in disgust. Almost all minority senators were present Wednesday.
Management and Budget Director Ira R. Mills, referring to recent "extraordinary revenue collections," said the administration's most recent FY 2001 projections indicate that $529 million will be collected in FY 2001, including projected income tax revenues. He said OMB's projected FY 2001 allotment level is now $484 million, up $54.5 million from the $429.5 set in February.
Internal Revenue Bureau Director Louis Willis, who started the ball rolling in June with his announcement along with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull of the $100 million tax "windfall" for FY 2001, continued to give the senators a cheery fiscal picture. His statement was short and sweet.
"We have collected $372 million in taxes so far this year," he said, "which is $87 million over last year at this time." Willis projected $486 million by the end of FY 2001.
"Can we sustain these revenues to realize $529 million by the end of the year?" asked Sen. David Jones. Willis reiterated, "As for my department, yes, $486 million."
The senators heard Finance Commissioner Bernice Turnbull's defense of the bill's $2.7 million Finance Department supplemental appropriation without blinking an eye. Turnbull commended her staff for completing 1995, 1998 and 1999 Single Audits, bringing the government in compliance with federal guidelines. She said they completed a "herculean task while working under adverse conditions" in a deteriorating building critically in need of repair.
Turnbull stressed the funds are needed "immediately" to meet "our FY 2002 audit deadline." She said, "We cannot delay. This is a requirement of the federal government." If the deadline isn't met, the territory stands to lose federal funding. The audits for 1996 and 1997 are not yet completed.
Sen. Emmett Hansen II addressed the bill's island-to-island inequities, saying, "I've been listening downstairs, and I've run up a little tote sheet, and it's way out of favor" (for St. Croix). Pointing to the $250,000 for the territorial sewage system, he said, "St. Croix needs at least $5 million for sewage repair," and asked Mills to explain. The $250,000 was for emergency maintenance only, Mills said.
Hansen also questioned a $4 million allotment for the territory's roads. "If that's $2 million for St. Croix, at the current rate for repair that would cover about eight miles of road," he said.
Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd made a bid for $2.5 million from St. John's capital improvement fund to build a desalination plant on St. John. Bernice Turnbull said the fund could sustain that.
None of the measures were voted on in the daytime meeting. Chairwoman Hansen repeatedly said the committee had to do a "markup" on them first.
After the senators took an almost two-hour recess for lunch, things got lively with a heated though jovial exchange between Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. and Attorney General Iver Stridiron about the Wheaton estate.
White maintained that the government shouldn't buy the property simply to "preserve it as an open, protected space, when that's what the Wheatons were doing, anyhow." He said there was no fear of developers buying the property and building on it, asking Property and Procurement Commissioner Marc Biggs if the purpose of the purchase would be to keep developers out, which Biggs agreed it was.
"Developers can't do anything without coming to the Legislature for permits, and this Legislature would never permit that. They'd be stuck," White said, referring to the Wheatons as the "weiners."
Stridrion repeatedly and futilely attempted to respond to White, who was directing his inquiries to him. Finally, Stridiron was able to explain a problem: "You might have a good idea," he said, "but there's just one thing – there is a Table of Permitted Uses in the V.I. Code. It allows hundreds of permitted uses under an R-I (residential) zoning."
Alicia Hansen said an appraisal had not yet been done on the 218-acre Wheaton property. Biggs said an appraisal is now about 65 percent complete. Hansen, who is avid in her pursuit of the property, noted the price had risen from $5.8 to $8 million in just a few months this year, and urged action on the appropriation.
William Jowers, Magens Bay general manager, was enthusiastic about the government's acquisition of the Wheaton property. "Magens is vital to the Virgin Islands," he said, and government ownership of the Magens watershed, the Wheaton property, would protect the beach.
The meeting was expected to continue into the evening. Attending were committee members Hansen, Carlton Dowe, Norma Pickard-Samuel, Douglas Canton Jr, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Norman Jn. Baptiste. Also attending were Sens. Hansen II, Jones, White, Lorraine Berry and Adelbert M. Bryan.
LOUIS ‘LUGAN' McINTOSH DEAD AT 68
Louis McIntosh, known to his friends as "Lugan," age 68, of Hannah's Rest, died Friday, July 6, at Juan F. Luis Hospital.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 17, at Friedensberg Moravian Church. A viewing will precede the service beginning at 9 a.m. Interment will follow the service at Frederiksted Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Almira M. McIntosh; step-daughter, Doreen Barnes; step- grandchildren, Alejandro Navarro, Sherleen Melendez, Neal Barnes, Denise Dorville, Michelle Nanton, Sandra George, and Andre Pemberton; sisters, Angelena, Mable, Mary McIntosh, Albertina Edwards, and Angelina Penn; brothers, Hubert, James, Allick, Charles, and Douglas McIntosh, and Alphonso Stevens; special nephew, Rodney McIntosh; numerous nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Mildred Williams, Sylvia Carson, Joyce Christian, Ima Linquinst, Mildred McIntosh, and Mary McIntosh; brothers-in-law, Mario, Darwin, Almeric, and Raphael Christian; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of James Memorial Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 17, at Friedensberg Moravian Church. A viewing will precede the service beginning at 9 a.m. Interment will follow the service at Frederiksted Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Almira M. McIntosh; step-daughter, Doreen Barnes; step- grandchildren, Alejandro Navarro, Sherleen Melendez, Neal Barnes, Denise Dorville, Michelle Nanton, Sandra George, and Andre Pemberton; sisters, Angelena, Mable, Mary McIntosh, Albertina Edwards, and Angelina Penn; brothers, Hubert, James, Allick, Charles, and Douglas McIntosh, and Alphonso Stevens; special nephew, Rodney McIntosh; numerous nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Mildred Williams, Sylvia Carson, Joyce Christian, Ima Linquinst, Mildred McIntosh, and Mary McIntosh; brothers-in-law, Mario, Darwin, Almeric, and Raphael Christian; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of James Memorial Funeral Home.
