The Association of Concerned Native Virgin Islanders will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, at the American Legion Hall in Sub Base.
All members and interested native Virgin Islanders are invited.
CONCERNED NATIVE VIRGIN ISLANDERS
The Association of Concerned Native Virgin Islanders will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, at the American Legion Hall in Sub Base.
All members and interested native Virgin Islanders are invited.
All members and interested native Virgin Islanders are invited.
2ND ANNUAL ‘BUSINESS OF SPORTS DAY'
Kids-N-Business, a local youth entrepreneur program, will host the 2nd Annual "Business of Sports Days" and vendors market from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 14, at Emile Griffith Park.
Coaches Timothy Riley and Brenda Alexander will conduct a free sports camp and young vendors will have their products on display and will be open for business.
The event is sponsored by AT&T, Cape Air, Wyndam Beach Resort, and Winward Passage Holiday Inn.
For more information contact the Harris Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship at 714-2680.
Coaches Timothy Riley and Brenda Alexander will conduct a free sports camp and young vendors will have their products on display and will be open for business.
The event is sponsored by AT&T, Cape Air, Wyndam Beach Resort, and Winward Passage Holiday Inn.
For more information contact the Harris Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship at 714-2680.
2ND ANNUAL 'BUSINESS OF SPORTS DAYS'
Kids-N-Business, a local youth entrepreneur program, will host the 2nd Annual "Business of Sports Days" and vendors market from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 14, at Emile Griffith Park.
Coaches Timothy Riley and Brenda Alexander will conduct a free sports camp and young vendors will have their products on display and will be open for business.
The event is sponsored by AT&T, Cape Air, Wyndam Beach Resort, and Winward Passage Holiday Inn.
For more information contact the Harris Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship at 714-2680.
Coaches Timothy Riley and Brenda Alexander will conduct a free sports camp and young vendors will have their products on display and will be open for business.
The event is sponsored by AT&T, Cape Air, Wyndam Beach Resort, and Winward Passage Holiday Inn.
For more information contact the Harris Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship at 714-2680.
PEOPLE WANT SENATE TRIMMED
Dear Source,
The key, refreshing point to Frank Schneiger's article about the Senate is that present senators regard their posts as property, not as a public trust.
There is little doubt that the people want a trimmed senate. Our senators must respond by giving the people what they want. It is wrong to second guess them. It is especially wrong to ignore a ballot referendum where people clearly expressed their will during a trip to the polls!
f the cut is a bad choice, the people will see the results and decide in 5 years that they want more senators. Then we'll try that – more senators.
Right now, we know that 15 senators and 15-plus million is excessive. We are learning to live within our means, moving toward self-reliance.
The point is that the legislature is an instrument of the people, and the people's will. The popular will must always be sought at the end of the day when all the machinations, dealing and kibbitzing are done.
Craig Barshinger
St. John
The key, refreshing point to Frank Schneiger's article about the Senate is that present senators regard their posts as property, not as a public trust.
There is little doubt that the people want a trimmed senate. Our senators must respond by giving the people what they want. It is wrong to second guess them. It is especially wrong to ignore a ballot referendum where people clearly expressed their will during a trip to the polls!
f the cut is a bad choice, the people will see the results and decide in 5 years that they want more senators. Then we'll try that – more senators.
Right now, we know that 15 senators and 15-plus million is excessive. We are learning to live within our means, moving toward self-reliance.
The point is that the legislature is an instrument of the people, and the people's will. The popular will must always be sought at the end of the day when all the machinations, dealing and kibbitzing are done.
Craig Barshinger
St. John
BARSHING SAYS.
Dear Source,
The key, refreshing point to Mr. S's article is that present senators regard their posts as property, not as a public trust.
There is little doubt that the people want a trimmed senate. Our senators must respond by giving the people what they want. It is wrong to second guess them. It is especially wrong to ignore a ballot referendum where people clearly expressed their will during a trip to the polls!
If the cut is a bad choice, the people will see the results and decide in 5 years that they want more senators. Then we'll try that more senators.
Right now, we know that 15 senators and 15+ million is excessive. We are learning to live within our means, moving toward self-reliance.
The point is that the legislature is an instrument of the people, and the people's will. The popular will must always be sought at the end of the day when all the machinations, dealing, and kibbitzing are done.
-Craig Barshinger
The key, refreshing point to Mr. S's article is that present senators regard their posts as property, not as a public trust.
There is little doubt that the people want a trimmed senate. Our senators must respond by giving the people what they want. It is wrong to second guess them. It is especially wrong to ignore a ballot referendum where people clearly expressed their will during a trip to the polls!
If the cut is a bad choice, the people will see the results and decide in 5 years that they want more senators. Then we'll try that more senators.
Right now, we know that 15 senators and 15+ million is excessive. We are learning to live within our means, moving toward self-reliance.
The point is that the legislature is an instrument of the people, and the people's will. The popular will must always be sought at the end of the day when all the machinations, dealing, and kibbitzing are done.
-Craig Barshinger
Editor's note: See Senate like a Bad Day at Black Rock for Schneiger's op ed piece.
ST. JOHN BOAT AGROUND IN BAHAMAS
July 9, 2001 — Efforts to refloat the St. John built ketch, 'Breath', are currently underway in the Bahamas where she ran aground in the darkness sometime after midnight on the morning of July 4th. 'Breath' was built and captained by long-time St. John resident, Peter Muilenburg. He attributed the mishap to an unusually strong current combined with squally winds and rough seas. The northerly voyage was to have concluded this summer in Jacksonville, Florida, with a stop in the Dominican Republic.
During a recent telephone conversation from Muilenburg to good friend, fellow sailor and St. John businessman, Terry Mckoy, Muilenburg reported that he was sailing with his wife, Dorothy, father, John, and two crewmen, Miska Fuchs and Steve Baranowski when they ran aground on a reef in the southern bahamian islands. All five, he told McKoy, escaped the grounding without injury and were able to walk across the coral reef to safety. The Royal Bahamian Defense Force rescued Muilenburg and his crew after sunrise and transported them the 40 miles to Matthew Town on the island of Great Inagua. Muilenburg was calling on his St. John neighbors to help him convince the US Coast Guard to help pull 'Breath off the reef before it was too late.
McKoy says he immediately called upon St. John sailor, George Courlas and ham radio operator, George Cline for assistance. According to McKoy, "We found out that the Coast Guard is restricted by international treaties from engaging in salvage operations. We were concerned that if he didn't get a commercial salvage operator he might loose the boat," said McKoy. Courlas and Cline hustled to find the Bahamian Salvage Company of Rum Cay and to get them quickly in touch with Muilenburg. During a hasty aerial inspection it was agreed that the 20-ton gaff-rigged, 'Breath', could be successfully salvaged from her present position; resting upright on her keel and hard-aground on a remote reef.
Meanwhile, McKoy went looking for and found an anonymous loan for the $14,000 needed to cover the expected costs of patching, refloating, towing and repairing the 42-foot sailboat. He plans to repay the loan with contributions from the St. John community.
"Peter (Muilenburg) never asked for any money," said McKoy. "The loan and the fund-raising was our idea. We knew that if we put out an appeal, many people would respond."
Contributions dedicated to the 'Refloat Breathe' effort are being accumulated within the St. John Revolving Fund, according to fund administrator, Cidney Hamling. She explained that "Under these unusual circumstances, the fund's board of directors approved this method to help (McKoy,Courlas and Cline) collect contributions to repay the loan."
Checks can be made out to the 'St. John Revolving Fund', marked 'Refloat Breath' and addressed to 'Refloat Breath' c/o Connections, Box 37, St. John, VI 00831-0037.
During a recent telephone conversation from Muilenburg to good friend, fellow sailor and St. John businessman, Terry Mckoy, Muilenburg reported that he was sailing with his wife, Dorothy, father, John, and two crewmen, Miska Fuchs and Steve Baranowski when they ran aground on a reef in the southern bahamian islands. All five, he told McKoy, escaped the grounding without injury and were able to walk across the coral reef to safety. The Royal Bahamian Defense Force rescued Muilenburg and his crew after sunrise and transported them the 40 miles to Matthew Town on the island of Great Inagua. Muilenburg was calling on his St. John neighbors to help him convince the US Coast Guard to help pull 'Breath off the reef before it was too late.
McKoy says he immediately called upon St. John sailor, George Courlas and ham radio operator, George Cline for assistance. According to McKoy, "We found out that the Coast Guard is restricted by international treaties from engaging in salvage operations. We were concerned that if he didn't get a commercial salvage operator he might loose the boat," said McKoy. Courlas and Cline hustled to find the Bahamian Salvage Company of Rum Cay and to get them quickly in touch with Muilenburg. During a hasty aerial inspection it was agreed that the 20-ton gaff-rigged, 'Breath', could be successfully salvaged from her present position; resting upright on her keel and hard-aground on a remote reef.
Meanwhile, McKoy went looking for and found an anonymous loan for the $14,000 needed to cover the expected costs of patching, refloating, towing and repairing the 42-foot sailboat. He plans to repay the loan with contributions from the St. John community.
"Peter (Muilenburg) never asked for any money," said McKoy. "The loan and the fund-raising was our idea. We knew that if we put out an appeal, many people would respond."
Contributions dedicated to the 'Refloat Breathe' effort are being accumulated within the St. John Revolving Fund, according to fund administrator, Cidney Hamling. She explained that "Under these unusual circumstances, the fund's board of directors approved this method to help (McKoy,Courlas and Cline) collect contributions to repay the loan."
Checks can be made out to the 'St. John Revolving Fund', marked 'Refloat Breath' and addressed to 'Refloat Breath' c/o Connections, Box 37, St. John, VI 00831-0037.
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FROM WHOM WOULD WORKERS BUY WAPA?
To the Source:
I have been hearing and reading about some efforts by some current employees of the Water and Power Authority to purchase the utility. Who would they be purchasing the utility from? They claim the employees are entitled to own the utility. Are the employees of WAPA not members of this community? As members of this community, which is governed by democratic principles, WAPA employees are also represented by the government. In other words, the employees of WAPA, like all other citizens, already have a stake in this government that owns WAPA.
Water and Power Authority employees as a part of the people of the Virgin Islands already "own" WAPA, J.J. Estemac writes. But he says the utility needs privatization and outside money.
While it sounds very romantic to own a utility, the reality is that it takes capital, a lot of capital, to operate a utility efficiently. That is the reason that two consecutive administrations have sought to privatize WAPA. I support that move, if not the specifics of the last proposed sale. I believe the government, which is all citizens, should retain at least 20 percent interest, and that another 20 percent should be retained by local residents, to include labor unions.
I believe that would allay most of the fears expressed by some concerned residents. I believe it would also give the investors the control they would need to protect their investments.
An alternative which I also favor is leasing the utility's assets for at least 25 years or until the investors recover their investment and attain the scheduled profit. The advantage of this alternative is that 100 percent of the assets are retained by the government.
Let us be realistic in how we approach all of our critical problems. Most of us acknowledge we have a "brain drain" in our community. We further acknowledge that the present crisis in our government, and the local economy in general, is not attractive for our expatriates who might consider returning to the territory.
We therefore have to make the best use of all the human and material resources available in our community. We need to set aside our prejudices and use all the talented persons among us, regardless of where they came from.
WAPA has shown some marked improvements in many areas, most noticeably in the reduction of outages. However, there is a need to expand the water distribution system throughout the territory. WAPA needs to broaden the customer base to maximize income and profits. That takes capital. The money owed by government departments and agencies can provide some of the needed capital.
J.J. Estemac
St. Thomas
I have been hearing and reading about some efforts by some current employees of the Water and Power Authority to purchase the utility. Who would they be purchasing the utility from? They claim the employees are entitled to own the utility. Are the employees of WAPA not members of this community? As members of this community, which is governed by democratic principles, WAPA employees are also represented by the government. In other words, the employees of WAPA, like all other citizens, already have a stake in this government that owns WAPA.
Water and Power Authority employees as a part of the people of the Virgin Islands already "own" WAPA, J.J. Estemac writes. But he says the utility needs privatization and outside money.
While it sounds very romantic to own a utility, the reality is that it takes capital, a lot of capital, to operate a utility efficiently. That is the reason that two consecutive administrations have sought to privatize WAPA. I support that move, if not the specifics of the last proposed sale. I believe the government, which is all citizens, should retain at least 20 percent interest, and that another 20 percent should be retained by local residents, to include labor unions.
I believe that would allay most of the fears expressed by some concerned residents. I believe it would also give the investors the control they would need to protect their investments.
An alternative which I also favor is leasing the utility's assets for at least 25 years or until the investors recover their investment and attain the scheduled profit. The advantage of this alternative is that 100 percent of the assets are retained by the government.
Let us be realistic in how we approach all of our critical problems. Most of us acknowledge we have a "brain drain" in our community. We further acknowledge that the present crisis in our government, and the local economy in general, is not attractive for our expatriates who might consider returning to the territory.
We therefore have to make the best use of all the human and material resources available in our community. We need to set aside our prejudices and use all the talented persons among us, regardless of where they came from.
WAPA has shown some marked improvements in many areas, most noticeably in the reduction of outages. However, there is a need to expand the water distribution system throughout the territory. WAPA needs to broaden the customer base to maximize income and profits. That takes capital. The money owed by government departments and agencies can provide some of the needed capital.
J.J. Estemac
St. Thomas
'BIG TWO' AREN'T ABOUT TO SLASH GAS PRICES HERE
To the Source:
"Retailers Cash In." Needless to say, this headline in an article printed in the June 30 Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier and a similar one in the July 1 Atlanta Constitution caught my eye.
In Charleston, wanting to patronize our Virgin Island product, I purchased gasoline at a Hess station, paying $1.329 per gallon for regular. When I drove my grandson to our summer outing in Georgia, I paid $1.169 at a rural Exxon station. On St. Thomas, I pay around $2 per gallon.
According to the Associated Press, "Wholesale prices have plummeted in recent weeks, but gas stations have lowered prices more gradually." In fact, according to the New York spot market, the New York Gasoline Conventional Regular Spot Price (Wholesale) dropped about 25 percent in the last half of June. In real terms, "the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is around $1.45 nationwide, down from the year’s high of $1.66 on May 14," according to federal Energy Department statistics.
In the article with the "Retailers Cash In" headline, the AP leads with the statement, "Gas stations are taking advantage of changing market conditions to rake in heftier profit margins during the busiest driving season."
The article further says that New York wholesale gas prices on the spot market "fell 23 percent, from 89.6 cents a gallon to 68.7 cents."
Retail fuel prices shot up across the United States this spring, in reaction to fear that there would not be enough product supplied to meet the summer demand. In response to the rising prices, producers increased their release of crude while refiners cranked their plants up to capacity. They met the demand, and there is now adequate supply; so prices should drop, which is what they have been doing.
One quote in the AP article that got my attention was this: "There is some avarice at work, as there is everywhere in our economy," said Peter Beutel, publisher of the newsletter Daily Energy Hedger. "They figure the consumer is used to the high price."
This comment took me back to my economics studies at Duke University many years ago. A professor had several of her acquaintances from the private sector lecture our class of budding economists concerning the real world of business. One supermarket chain executive said his industry worked on about a 4 percent markup, making its profit on volume. The next month’s speaker was from a major petroleum combine. When he finished his talk without mentioning profit margin and pricing, one of the students asked, "What markup does the petroleum industry use for its products?"
I will never forget the speaker’s pause and the look of consternation that passed over his face. "Markup?" he replied. "We don’t use a markup. We price our products at the highest level the traffic will bear. We strive to maximize our profits."
That appears to be the philosophy for the St. Thomas and St. John market. We have the classic case of adequate supply from Hovensa, stable demand by Virgin Island operators, and a striking lack of competition. There are two wholesalers on St. Thomas: Texaco and Esso. Now two executives don’t have to meet in a smoke-filled room to collude over pricing. Each simply just has to keep his cool and supply his stations at the same price as the other guy's. One would have to be stupid to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. The retailers are in the same position: Go with the flow and optimize profits.
The only possible competition for Esso and Texaco is Domino Oil Co., which was knocked out of the game when its tanker was turned in to the U.S. Coast Guard for lack of current inspection and remanded to a protracted yard job. Over the year that Domino is forced to purchase its supply from one of the two international giants, we can expect the company to learn the bitter truth of international commerce: Play ball or perish." In other words, Domino can be expected to become part of the problem, rather than an opportunity for at least a partial solution.
During the administration of the territory's first elected governor, a local businessman offered to put up a Hess gas station in the Sub Base area. Gov. Melvin Evans turned him down. It is my understanding this was in deference to one of Evans's primary financial supporters, a major petroleum distributor.
When the free market fails, it becomes necessary to bring government into play to protect the consumer from exploitation. As long as the petroleum companies can make a big profit, they will.
What government must do is determine what a fair profit is and then cap the retail price at a percentage above the market spot price. It appears that, just we regulate public utilities and transportation companies, it is time for us to regulate the petroleum distributors. We must work to live, and we must drive to work. Gasoline and diesel fuels are imperative to our economic and personal well being. The few industry players in the Virgin Islands are proving themselves to be driven by avarice, operating outside the socially acceptable standards of doing business.
We are unquestionably being subjected to the conditions which require — nay, demand — price controls.
It is now Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's time to step up and be counted. Who comes first with the administration, Virgin Islanders or a couple of gasoline distributors?
Kirk Grybowski
St. Thomas
"Retailers Cash In." Needless to say, this headline in an article printed in the June 30 Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier and a similar one in the July 1 Atlanta Constitution caught my eye.
In Charleston, wanting to patronize our Virgin Island product, I purchased gasoline at a Hess station, paying $1.329 per gallon for regular. When I drove my grandson to our summer outing in Georgia, I paid $1.169 at a rural Exxon station. On St. Thomas, I pay around $2 per gallon.
According to the Associated Press, "Wholesale prices have plummeted in recent weeks, but gas stations have lowered prices more gradually." In fact, according to the New York spot market, the New York Gasoline Conventional Regular Spot Price (Wholesale) dropped about 25 percent in the last half of June. In real terms, "the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is around $1.45 nationwide, down from the year’s high of $1.66 on May 14," according to federal Energy Department statistics.
In the article with the "Retailers Cash In" headline, the AP leads with the statement, "Gas stations are taking advantage of changing market conditions to rake in heftier profit margins during the busiest driving season."
The article further says that New York wholesale gas prices on the spot market "fell 23 percent, from 89.6 cents a gallon to 68.7 cents."
Retail fuel prices shot up across the United States this spring, in reaction to fear that there would not be enough product supplied to meet the summer demand. In response to the rising prices, producers increased their release of crude while refiners cranked their plants up to capacity. They met the demand, and there is now adequate supply; so prices should drop, which is what they have been doing.
One quote in the AP article that got my attention was this: "There is some avarice at work, as there is everywhere in our economy," said Peter Beutel, publisher of the newsletter Daily Energy Hedger. "They figure the consumer is used to the high price."
This comment took me back to my economics studies at Duke University many years ago. A professor had several of her acquaintances from the private sector lecture our class of budding economists concerning the real world of business. One supermarket chain executive said his industry worked on about a 4 percent markup, making its profit on volume. The next month’s speaker was from a major petroleum combine. When he finished his talk without mentioning profit margin and pricing, one of the students asked, "What markup does the petroleum industry use for its products?"
I will never forget the speaker’s pause and the look of consternation that passed over his face. "Markup?" he replied. "We don’t use a markup. We price our products at the highest level the traffic will bear. We strive to maximize our profits."
That appears to be the philosophy for the St. Thomas and St. John market. We have the classic case of adequate supply from Hovensa, stable demand by Virgin Island operators, and a striking lack of competition. There are two wholesalers on St. Thomas: Texaco and Esso. Now two executives don’t have to meet in a smoke-filled room to collude over pricing. Each simply just has to keep his cool and supply his stations at the same price as the other guy's. One would have to be stupid to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. The retailers are in the same position: Go with the flow and optimize profits.
The only possible competition for Esso and Texaco is Domino Oil Co., which was knocked out of the game when its tanker was turned in to the U.S. Coast Guard for lack of current inspection and remanded to a protracted yard job. Over the year that Domino is forced to purchase its supply from one of the two international giants, we can expect the company to learn the bitter truth of international commerce: Play ball or perish." In other words, Domino can be expected to become part of the problem, rather than an opportunity for at least a partial solution.
During the administration of the territory's first elected governor, a local businessman offered to put up a Hess gas station in the Sub Base area. Gov. Melvin Evans turned him down. It is my understanding this was in deference to one of Evans's primary financial supporters, a major petroleum distributor.
When the free market fails, it becomes necessary to bring government into play to protect the consumer from exploitation. As long as the petroleum companies can make a big profit, they will.
What government must do is determine what a fair profit is and then cap the retail price at a percentage above the market spot price. It appears that, just we regulate public utilities and transportation companies, it is time for us to regulate the petroleum distributors. We must work to live, and we must drive to work. Gasoline and diesel fuels are imperative to our economic and personal well being. The few industry players in the Virgin Islands are proving themselves to be driven by avarice, operating outside the socially acceptable standards of doing business.
We are unquestionably being subjected to the conditions which require — nay, demand — price controls.
It is now Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's time to step up and be counted. Who comes first with the administration, Virgin Islanders or a couple of gasoline distributors?
Kirk Grybowski
St. Thomas
