The luncheon begins at noon at Chickie's Place in Frenchtown. Members as well as the general public are invited.
For reservations call Norma Levin at 774-5227 or Eleanor Cerge at 776-9357.
BRYAN'S STAFF TO ADDRESS LWV
July 6, 2001 – Members of Sen. Adelbert Bryan's staff will address the monthly luncheon meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands on Monday. The discussion will involve Bryan's sustainable economic development plan.
The luncheon begins at noon at Chickie's Place in Frenchtown. Members as well as the general public are invited.
For reservations call Norma Levin at 774-5227 or Eleanor Cerge at 776-9357.
The luncheon begins at noon at Chickie's Place in Frenchtown. Members as well as the general public are invited.
For reservations call Norma Levin at 774-5227 or Eleanor Cerge at 776-9357.
BRYAN'S STAFF TO ADDRESS LWV
July 6, 2001 – Members of Sen. Adelbert Bryan's staff will address the monthly luncheon meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands Monday. The discussion will involve Bryan's sustainable economic development plan.
The luncheon begins at 12 noon at Chickie's Place in Frenchtown. Members as well as the general public are invited to attend.
For reservations call Norma Levin at 774-5227 or Eleanor Cerge at 776-9357.
The luncheon begins at 12 noon at Chickie's Place in Frenchtown. Members as well as the general public are invited to attend.
For reservations call Norma Levin at 774-5227 or Eleanor Cerge at 776-9357.
WHY NOT PROTECT ANIMALS
The proposed Animal Cruelty Bill has again been scuttled in committee. We are heartsick to see it tossed aside again. And we don’t understand why.
What would cause Sens. Adelbert M. Bryan, Almando "Rocky" Liburd, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino White Sr. to stop this bill from moving out of the Rules Committee?
The bill's intention is to protect helpless animals.
If it were to become law, first-degree offenses, punishable by a fine of $1,000 and up to five years in jail, would include physical injury to an animal, unnecessarily killing an animal, disposing of live animals in garbage bins, neglect, committing a hit-and-run on an animal or confining an animal in a vehicle without adequate ventilation.
It defines second-degree neglect, which is also punishable by a fine and community service, as failing to give an animal adequate care.
It is frightening to think that those four legislators cannot find it in their hearts to support this humanitarian bill, which in its enforcement might eventually lead to the slowing of child abuse since it includes a counseling component for certain of the more violent abuses.
Bryan claimed he wanted an amendment to cover the picking up of strays, but the amendment was never attached to the bill. He also said no one was going to tell him how to feed his animals.
Here is what the bill says about that:
"Adequate food means the provision at suitable intervals of wholesome foodstuff, suitable for the species and age of the animal and adequate to maintain a reasonable level of nutrition to allow for proper growth and weight in the animal."
It also suggests that food should be provided in a clean bowl.
We wonder what part of this is unacceptable to Sen. Bryan and the other senators who sought to bury this bill one more time, leaving the door wide open for the horrific abuse of animals to continue.
We wonder what these elected officials feel when, while dropping their garbage off on the way to the Legislature, they come across a litter of helpless puppies left motherless by a Dumpster, or if these distinguished elected officials are sickened, like at least 3,000 other Virgin Islanders who signed a petition in support of this bill are, at the sight of injured animals left by the side of the road to die by negligent drivers who don't bother to stop and try to save the animals or find their owners.
We wonder when the abuse and neglect of animals and children will stop — and make no mistake, the two are often linked. We also wonder who will help stop it.
What would cause Sens. Adelbert M. Bryan, Almando "Rocky" Liburd, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino White Sr. to stop this bill from moving out of the Rules Committee?
The bill's intention is to protect helpless animals.
If it were to become law, first-degree offenses, punishable by a fine of $1,000 and up to five years in jail, would include physical injury to an animal, unnecessarily killing an animal, disposing of live animals in garbage bins, neglect, committing a hit-and-run on an animal or confining an animal in a vehicle without adequate ventilation.
It defines second-degree neglect, which is also punishable by a fine and community service, as failing to give an animal adequate care.
It is frightening to think that those four legislators cannot find it in their hearts to support this humanitarian bill, which in its enforcement might eventually lead to the slowing of child abuse since it includes a counseling component for certain of the more violent abuses.
Bryan claimed he wanted an amendment to cover the picking up of strays, but the amendment was never attached to the bill. He also said no one was going to tell him how to feed his animals.
Here is what the bill says about that:
"Adequate food means the provision at suitable intervals of wholesome foodstuff, suitable for the species and age of the animal and adequate to maintain a reasonable level of nutrition to allow for proper growth and weight in the animal."
It also suggests that food should be provided in a clean bowl.
We wonder what part of this is unacceptable to Sen. Bryan and the other senators who sought to bury this bill one more time, leaving the door wide open for the horrific abuse of animals to continue.
We wonder what these elected officials feel when, while dropping their garbage off on the way to the Legislature, they come across a litter of helpless puppies left motherless by a Dumpster, or if these distinguished elected officials are sickened, like at least 3,000 other Virgin Islanders who signed a petition in support of this bill are, at the sight of injured animals left by the side of the road to die by negligent drivers who don't bother to stop and try to save the animals or find their owners.
We wonder when the abuse and neglect of animals and children will stop — and make no mistake, the two are often linked. We also wonder who will help stop it.
WHY CAN'T YOU ALL JUST WORK … OH, WELL
To the Source:
I am laughing so very hard as I write this. The U.S.V.I. Department of Tourism has a lovely splash page, but, alas, no site! An enterprising Virgin Islander launches a commercial site (and there are lots of others) that extolls the virtues of the territory. The hospitality industry spends a lot of time combing the aforementioned commercial site for errors in syntax and fact.
You know what I am thinking. While I am sure the U.S.V.I. Tourism site will be lovely (once it's launched), I wish the tourism professionals would get together and spend their time and energy on … well, I have said too much.
I usually enjoy the stories in the Source, but this one — well, it made my day for irony soup! Keep up the good work!
Anita Davis
Atlanta
I am laughing so very hard as I write this. The U.S.V.I. Department of Tourism has a lovely splash page, but, alas, no site! An enterprising Virgin Islander launches a commercial site (and there are lots of others) that extolls the virtues of the territory. The hospitality industry spends a lot of time combing the aforementioned commercial site for errors in syntax and fact.
You know what I am thinking. While I am sure the U.S.V.I. Tourism site will be lovely (once it's launched), I wish the tourism professionals would get together and spend their time and energy on … well, I have said too much.
I usually enjoy the stories in the Source, but this one — well, it made my day for irony soup! Keep up the good work!
Anita Davis
Atlanta
WORD'S OUT THAT THE TOURISM WEB SITE IS UP
To the Source:
I found it rather funny reading your July 5 article regarding the unofficial V.I. Tourism website when I just heard — several times I might add — on the radio earlier this week advertisements that the official V.I. Tourism site has been launched and it is up and running. I live in Washington, D.C.
I work in the information technology field, and I really don't understand what is taking so long for the Department of Tourism to produce an official site. The Virgin Islands is already "behind" in the world of advertising. I might hear (just recently) an advertisement once or twice a month for the V.I. But I hear advertisements for Jamaica, Aruba, Bahamas and even Barbados all the time. Whether it be television, radio or magazines, we are not adequately advertised. You reap what you sow. We cannot expect a consistent increase in tourism when there is poor publicity.
Just my two cents.
Adanma Slaughter
Washington, D.C.
I found it rather funny reading your July 5 article regarding the unofficial V.I. Tourism website when I just heard — several times I might add — on the radio earlier this week advertisements that the official V.I. Tourism site has been launched and it is up and running. I live in Washington, D.C.
I work in the information technology field, and I really don't understand what is taking so long for the Department of Tourism to produce an official site. The Virgin Islands is already "behind" in the world of advertising. I might hear (just recently) an advertisement once or twice a month for the V.I. But I hear advertisements for Jamaica, Aruba, Bahamas and even Barbados all the time. Whether it be television, radio or magazines, we are not adequately advertised. You reap what you sow. We cannot expect a consistent increase in tourism when there is poor publicity.
Just my two cents.
Adanma Slaughter
Washington, D.C.
FELONY ANIMAL ABUSE BILL PUT ON 'HOLD' AGAIN
July 6, 2001 – It looked as if the so-called animal rights bill, which has been kicked around by lawmakers since the 23rd Legislature, might have a chance of getting to the Senate floor shortly, having reached the Rules Committee. But it was not to be, as the committee voted to hold the bill Thursday. It was the third such "hold."
The measure, sponsored by Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, would make first-degree animal abuse a felony punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 and up to five years in jail. It makes second-degree animal neglect a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to 100 hours of community service. It defines second-degree neglect as failing to give an animal adequate care.
First-degree abuse as defined in the bill includes physical injury, unnecessarily killing an animal, disposing of live animals in garbage bins, neglect, committing a hit and run and confining an animal in a vehicle without adequate ventilation.
The bill has strong public support. Animal rights advocates gathered more than 3,000 supporting signatures and testified at hearings on St. Thomas and St. Croix last year. The bill surfaced twice in the 23rd Legislature, both times to be "held in committee," where it languished without further attention.
In its most recent appearance, the bill was passed by the Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee and forwarded to Rules in May. Donastorg at that time pleaded with his colleagues for support. "If this bill can help curb other violent acts, it's worth your support," he said.
According to documented studies, a significant number of violent criminals have been animal abusers in their childhood or youth.
Sen. Adelbert M. Bryan has voiced his opposition to the bill at each hearing. Thursday he called it a "farce" and said nobody was going to tell him how to feed his animals. He said the bill should focus on picking up stray animals — which is included in the measure.
Neither the V.I. Agriculture Department nor the not-for-profit St. Thomas Humane Society, St. Croix Animal Shelter and Animal Care Center of St. John have the human or financial resources to round up and impound all stray animals, officials from the agencies have long stated. The not-for-profits have not received government funding for contracted services for more than two years.
The bill was held in committee by a 4-2 vote on a motion by Bryan. Voting for the motion with Bryan were Sens. Almando "Rocky" Liburd, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino White, a bill cosponsor. Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole and Carlton Dowe opposed the motion. Donastorg is not a committee member. Other cosponsors of the measure are Dowe and two other non-members of the committee, Sens. Lorraine Berry and Emmett Hansen II.
The measure, sponsored by Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, would make first-degree animal abuse a felony punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 and up to five years in jail. It makes second-degree animal neglect a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to 100 hours of community service. It defines second-degree neglect as failing to give an animal adequate care.
First-degree abuse as defined in the bill includes physical injury, unnecessarily killing an animal, disposing of live animals in garbage bins, neglect, committing a hit and run and confining an animal in a vehicle without adequate ventilation.
The bill has strong public support. Animal rights advocates gathered more than 3,000 supporting signatures and testified at hearings on St. Thomas and St. Croix last year. The bill surfaced twice in the 23rd Legislature, both times to be "held in committee," where it languished without further attention.
In its most recent appearance, the bill was passed by the Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee and forwarded to Rules in May. Donastorg at that time pleaded with his colleagues for support. "If this bill can help curb other violent acts, it's worth your support," he said.
According to documented studies, a significant number of violent criminals have been animal abusers in their childhood or youth.
Sen. Adelbert M. Bryan has voiced his opposition to the bill at each hearing. Thursday he called it a "farce" and said nobody was going to tell him how to feed his animals. He said the bill should focus on picking up stray animals — which is included in the measure.
Neither the V.I. Agriculture Department nor the not-for-profit St. Thomas Humane Society, St. Croix Animal Shelter and Animal Care Center of St. John have the human or financial resources to round up and impound all stray animals, officials from the agencies have long stated. The not-for-profits have not received government funding for contracted services for more than two years.
The bill was held in committee by a 4-2 vote on a motion by Bryan. Voting for the motion with Bryan were Sens. Almando "Rocky" Liburd, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino White, a bill cosponsor. Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole and Carlton Dowe opposed the motion. Donastorg is not a committee member. Other cosponsors of the measure are Dowe and two other non-members of the committee, Sens. Lorraine Berry and Emmett Hansen II.
MAN FOUND DEAD BELOW UNITY LODGE
July 6, 2001 – A man who had tried and failed to stay sober was found dead at the bottom of the stairs at Unity Lodge, a halfway house on Fireburn Hill for clean and sober alcoholics and addicts, where he had once been a resident.
Sobriety is a requirement of residence and "he just couldn't keep it together," one resident said.
Police have not released the name of the man pending notification of his mother, who reportedly lives in Texas. He was found lying in a courtyard below the lodge, according to Police Chief José Garcia.
Police were investigating the cause of death, which one person who knew him suggested might have been suicide. However, investigators from the police Major Crime Unit were not ruling out foul play.
According to one witness, Unity Lodge residents were awakened about 2 a.m. by a loud noise. Those who went to investigate saw the body lying on a lower deck of the lodge. One resident, who asked not to be identified, went down the stairs and found the man bleeding from the face.
"At first I thought he was alive, but then I heard a noise which might have been his last breath," the resident said.
An ambulance and police were called to the scene, and residents of the area north of Back Street were questioned into the early morning hours.
The dead man was originally from California but had come to St. Thomas from St. Croix, those who had known him said.
Sobriety is a requirement of residence and "he just couldn't keep it together," one resident said.
Police have not released the name of the man pending notification of his mother, who reportedly lives in Texas. He was found lying in a courtyard below the lodge, according to Police Chief José Garcia.
Police were investigating the cause of death, which one person who knew him suggested might have been suicide. However, investigators from the police Major Crime Unit were not ruling out foul play.
According to one witness, Unity Lodge residents were awakened about 2 a.m. by a loud noise. Those who went to investigate saw the body lying on a lower deck of the lodge. One resident, who asked not to be identified, went down the stairs and found the man bleeding from the face.
"At first I thought he was alive, but then I heard a noise which might have been his last breath," the resident said.
An ambulance and police were called to the scene, and residents of the area north of Back Street were questioned into the early morning hours.
The dead man was originally from California but had come to St. Thomas from St. Croix, those who had known him said.
NOMINEES WAIT AS NAMES SENT BACK TO GOVERNOR
July 6, 2001 – After sitting in the legislative chambers since morning, Craig Barshinger, nominee for the Economic Development Commission, learned around 3 p.m. Thursday that the Senate had sent his nomination back to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, along with that of fellow EDC nominee Ronald Belfon.
Belfon didn't hear the news in person. Although he also had been at the Legislature Building on St. Thomas all morning, he had to leave earlier in the afternoon.
The two had been waiting to appear at Thursday's meeting of the Senate Rules Committee. However, before the afternoon session began, all committee members and legal counsel were called to the Senate president's office for a meeting.
When the committee reconvened, Sen. Adelbert Bryan made, and the committee unanimously approved, a motion to return the nominations to the governor because they were not clear on two points:
– Whether the position of Randolph Allen, a board member of the former Industrial Development Commission, which has been succeeded by the EDC, had been "grandfathered" into a seat on the new EDA board.
– And, if so, what should be done about two nominees when there is only one vacancy to be filled.
Under a government reorganization act passed by the 23rd Legislature, the IDC was changed to the EDC, removed from the Tourism Department and placed within the new Economic Development Authority.
Rules Committee members said Allen had written to each of them stating that he was still a commission member.
Bryan requested an opinion from Yvonne Tharpes, legislative legal counsel. Tharpes said that if Allen is still serving, the law protects him. She said, "The only thing I can say clearly is that any member that was serving before is not required to come to the Legislature again."
Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd said only the governor can make that determination. He said the committee would return the nominations to the governor and ask for a clarification.
Former St. Croix board member Mary Ann Pickard was appointed by the governor to the EDC without a hearing.
The EDC comprises seven members – four from V.I. government agencies plus one private-sector member from each island. With Pickard presumably representing St. Croix, it was apparently the governor's intention to have Belfon represent St. Thomas and Barshinger, St. John. Allen is a St. Thomas resident.
The government commission members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner; Willis Todman, Government Employees Retirement System assistant administrator; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Bureau director; and Kent Bernier, the governor's economic adviser. According to Nadine Marchena, EDA administrator, the board does not yet have a legal counsel.
Marchena attended the hearing but declined to comment on the conflict. After the hearing, Barshinger said while he was disappointed at the day's outcome, the legislation establishing the EDC was "untidy," with "ambiguities and loopholes that allow this sort of thing to happen." Had the possible discrepancy been discovered earlier, he noted, it could have been resolved before the hearing.
Government House spokeswoman Rina McBrowne said the matter has been referred to the Attorney General's Office for an opinion.
Later Thursday afternoon, after three hours of deliberation, the committee unanimously approved the nomination of Ian Williams as director of Fire Services. Williams a 20-year firefighting veteran, has been acting director since March, when former director Pedro Encarnacion retired.
Willliams told the senators what they had heard before from Fire Services officials. He lamented the lack of manpower in the department, citing that as the reason that the Dorthea and Fortuna fire stations on St. Thomas and the Cotton Valley station on St. Croix remain closed. He said recruitment needs will be addressed in the governor's Fiscal Year 2002 budget.
Fire Services officials also detailed other problems, including numerous resignations and retirements in the department. Williams said another important need is to replace 10 fire trucks that are 10 years old. New ones will cost $160,000 each, he said.
In other action, the committee approved an amended version of Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste's controversial teacher recruitment "sin tax" bill. As Jn Baptiste proposed it, the measure would have been funded from new taxes on alcohol, luxury cars, firearms and cigarettes.
However, Rules approved the measure after removing the "sin taxes" provision. The amended version leaves funding ambiguous — it would come from federal grants, gifts or any money appropriated by the Legislature. Jn Baptiste had said earlier he was amenable to a change in the funding. The bill creates a Teacher Recruitment and Training Fund.
The committee also approved another bill sponsored by Jn Baptiste, to require the Board of Education to conduct annual assessments of the territory's public school facilities and guidance services.
A resolution by Sen. Emmett Hansen II to honor Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity for its dedication and commitment in establishing the Martin Luther King Jr. monument on the mall in Washington, D.C., was passed easily.
Attending the meeting were committee members Bryan, Dowe, Jn Baptiste, Liburd, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino White. Non-members Sens. Emmett Hansen II and Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg also were present.
Belfon didn't hear the news in person. Although he also had been at the Legislature Building on St. Thomas all morning, he had to leave earlier in the afternoon.
The two had been waiting to appear at Thursday's meeting of the Senate Rules Committee. However, before the afternoon session began, all committee members and legal counsel were called to the Senate president's office for a meeting.
When the committee reconvened, Sen. Adelbert Bryan made, and the committee unanimously approved, a motion to return the nominations to the governor because they were not clear on two points:
– Whether the position of Randolph Allen, a board member of the former Industrial Development Commission, which has been succeeded by the EDC, had been "grandfathered" into a seat on the new EDA board.
– And, if so, what should be done about two nominees when there is only one vacancy to be filled.
Under a government reorganization act passed by the 23rd Legislature, the IDC was changed to the EDC, removed from the Tourism Department and placed within the new Economic Development Authority.
Rules Committee members said Allen had written to each of them stating that he was still a commission member.
Bryan requested an opinion from Yvonne Tharpes, legislative legal counsel. Tharpes said that if Allen is still serving, the law protects him. She said, "The only thing I can say clearly is that any member that was serving before is not required to come to the Legislature again."
Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd said only the governor can make that determination. He said the committee would return the nominations to the governor and ask for a clarification.
Former St. Croix board member Mary Ann Pickard was appointed by the governor to the EDC without a hearing.
The EDC comprises seven members – four from V.I. government agencies plus one private-sector member from each island. With Pickard presumably representing St. Croix, it was apparently the governor's intention to have Belfon represent St. Thomas and Barshinger, St. John. Allen is a St. Thomas resident.
The government commission members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner; Willis Todman, Government Employees Retirement System assistant administrator; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Bureau director; and Kent Bernier, the governor's economic adviser. According to Nadine Marchena, EDA administrator, the board does not yet have a legal counsel.
Marchena attended the hearing but declined to comment on the conflict. After the hearing, Barshinger said while he was disappointed at the day's outcome, the legislation establishing the EDC was "untidy," with "ambiguities and loopholes that allow this sort of thing to happen." Had the possible discrepancy been discovered earlier, he noted, it could have been resolved before the hearing.
Government House spokeswoman Rina McBrowne said the matter has been referred to the Attorney General's Office for an opinion.
Later Thursday afternoon, after three hours of deliberation, the committee unanimously approved the nomination of Ian Williams as director of Fire Services. Williams a 20-year firefighting veteran, has been acting director since March, when former director Pedro Encarnacion retired.
Willliams told the senators what they had heard before from Fire Services officials. He lamented the lack of manpower in the department, citing that as the reason that the Dorthea and Fortuna fire stations on St. Thomas and the Cotton Valley station on St. Croix remain closed. He said recruitment needs will be addressed in the governor's Fiscal Year 2002 budget.
Fire Services officials also detailed other problems, including numerous resignations and retirements in the department. Williams said another important need is to replace 10 fire trucks that are 10 years old. New ones will cost $160,000 each, he said.
In other action, the committee approved an amended version of Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste's controversial teacher recruitment "sin tax" bill. As Jn Baptiste proposed it, the measure would have been funded from new taxes on alcohol, luxury cars, firearms and cigarettes.
However, Rules approved the measure after removing the "sin taxes" provision. The amended version leaves funding ambiguous — it would come from federal grants, gifts or any money appropriated by the Legislature. Jn Baptiste had said earlier he was amenable to a change in the funding. The bill creates a Teacher Recruitment and Training Fund.
The committee also approved another bill sponsored by Jn Baptiste, to require the Board of Education to conduct annual assessments of the territory's public school facilities and guidance services.
A resolution by Sen. Emmett Hansen II to honor Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity for its dedication and commitment in establishing the Martin Luther King Jr. monument on the mall in Washington, D.C., was passed easily.
Attending the meeting were committee members Bryan, Dowe, Jn Baptiste, Liburd, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino White. Non-members Sens. Emmett Hansen II and Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg also were present.
NOMINEES WAIT AS NAMES SENT BACK TO GOVERNOR
July 6, 2001 – After sitting in the legislative chambers since morning, Craig Barshinger, nominee for the Economic Development Authority board, learned around 3 p.m. Thursday that the Senate had sent his nomination back to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, along with that of fellow EDA nominee Ronald Belfon.
Belfon didn't hear the news in person. Although he also had been at the Legislature Building on St. Thomas all morning, he had to leave earlier in the afternoon.
The two had been waiting to appear at Thursday's meeting of the Senate Rules Committee. However, before the afternoon session began, all committee members and legal counsel were called to the Senate president's office for a meeting.
When the committee reconvened, Sen. Adelbert Bryan made, and the committee unanimously approved, a motion to return the nominations to the governor because they were not clear on two points:
– Whether the position of Randolph Allen, a member of the former Industrial Development Commission, which has been succeeded by the EDA, had been "grandfathered" into a seat on the new EDA board.
– And, if so, what should be done about two nominees when there is only one vacancy to be filled.
Under a government reorganization act passed by the 23rd Legislature, the IDC was changed to the EDA, removed from the Tourism Department and placed within the new Economic Development Authority.
Rules Committee members said Allen had written to each of them stating that he was still a commission member.
Bryan requested an opinion from Yvonne Tharpes, legislative legal counsel. Tharpes said that if Allen is still serving, the law protects him. She said, "The only thing I can say clearly is that any member that was serving before is not required to come to the Legislature again."
Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd said only the governor can make that determination. He said the committee would return the nominations to the governor and ask for a clarification.
Former St. Croix board member Mary Ann Pickard was appointed by the governor to the EDA without a hearing.
The EDA comprises seven members – four from V.I. government agencies plus one private-sector member from each island. With Pickard presumably representing St. Croix, it was apparently the governor's intention to have Belfon represent St. Thomas and Barshinger, St. John. Allen is a St. Thomas resident.
The government commission members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner; Willis Todman, Government Employees Retirement System assistant administrator; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Bureau director; and Kent Bernier, the governor's economic adviser. According to Nadine Marchena, Economic Development Commission administrator, the EDA board does not yet have a legal counsel.
Marchena attended the hearing but declined to comment on the conflict. After the hearing, Barshinger said while he was disappointed at the day's outcome, the legislation establishing the EDA was "untidy," with "ambiguities and loopholes that allow this sort of thing to happen." Had the possible discrepancy been discovered earlier, he noted, it could have been resolved before the hearing.
Government House spokeswoman Rina McBrowne said Friday that the matter has been referred to the Attorney General's Office for an opinion.
Later Thursday afternoon, after three hours of deliberation, the committee unanimously approved the nomination of Ian Williams as director of Fire Services. Williams a 20-year firefighting veteran, has been acting director since March, when former director Pedro Encarnacion retired.
Willliams told the senators what they had heard before from Fire Services officials. He lamented the lack of manpower in the department, citing that as the reason that the Dorthea and Fortuna fire stations on St. Thomas and the Cotton Valley station on St. Croix remain closed. He said recruitment needs will be addressed in the governor's Fiscal Year 2002 budget.
Fire Services officials also detailed other problems, including numerous resignations and retirements in the department. Williams said another important need is to replace 10 fire trucks that are 10 years old. New ones will cost $160,000 each, he said.
In other action, the committee approved an amended version of Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste's controversial teacher recruitment "sin tax" bill. As Jn Baptiste proposed it, the measure would have been funded from new taxes on alcohol, luxury cars, firearms and cigarettes.
However, Rules approved the measure after removing the "sin taxes" provision. The amended version leaves funding ambiguous — it would come from federal grants, gifts or any money appropriated by the Legislature. Jn Baptiste had said earlier he was amenable to a change in the funding. The bill creates a Teacher Recruitment and Training Fund.
The committee also approved another bill sponsored by Jn Baptiste, to require the Board of Education to conduct annual assessments of the territory's public school facilities and guidance services.
A resolution by Sen. Emmett Hansen II to honor Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity for its dedication and commitment in establishing the Martin Luther King Jr. monument on the mall in Washington, D.C., was passed easily.
Attending the meeting were committee members Bryan, Dowe, Jn Baptiste, Liburd, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino White. Non-members Sens. Emmett Hansen II and Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg also were present.
Belfon didn't hear the news in person. Although he also had been at the Legislature Building on St. Thomas all morning, he had to leave earlier in the afternoon.
The two had been waiting to appear at Thursday's meeting of the Senate Rules Committee. However, before the afternoon session began, all committee members and legal counsel were called to the Senate president's office for a meeting.
When the committee reconvened, Sen. Adelbert Bryan made, and the committee unanimously approved, a motion to return the nominations to the governor because they were not clear on two points:
– Whether the position of Randolph Allen, a member of the former Industrial Development Commission, which has been succeeded by the EDA, had been "grandfathered" into a seat on the new EDA board.
– And, if so, what should be done about two nominees when there is only one vacancy to be filled.
Under a government reorganization act passed by the 23rd Legislature, the IDC was changed to the EDA, removed from the Tourism Department and placed within the new Economic Development Authority.
Rules Committee members said Allen had written to each of them stating that he was still a commission member.
Bryan requested an opinion from Yvonne Tharpes, legislative legal counsel. Tharpes said that if Allen is still serving, the law protects him. She said, "The only thing I can say clearly is that any member that was serving before is not required to come to the Legislature again."
Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd said only the governor can make that determination. He said the committee would return the nominations to the governor and ask for a clarification.
Former St. Croix board member Mary Ann Pickard was appointed by the governor to the EDA without a hearing.
The EDA comprises seven members – four from V.I. government agencies plus one private-sector member from each island. With Pickard presumably representing St. Croix, it was apparently the governor's intention to have Belfon represent St. Thomas and Barshinger, St. John. Allen is a St. Thomas resident.
The government commission members are Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner; Willis Todman, Government Employees Retirement System assistant administrator; Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Bureau director; and Kent Bernier, the governor's economic adviser. According to Nadine Marchena, Economic Development Commission administrator, the EDA board does not yet have a legal counsel.
Marchena attended the hearing but declined to comment on the conflict. After the hearing, Barshinger said while he was disappointed at the day's outcome, the legislation establishing the EDA was "untidy," with "ambiguities and loopholes that allow this sort of thing to happen." Had the possible discrepancy been discovered earlier, he noted, it could have been resolved before the hearing.
Government House spokeswoman Rina McBrowne said Friday that the matter has been referred to the Attorney General's Office for an opinion.
Later Thursday afternoon, after three hours of deliberation, the committee unanimously approved the nomination of Ian Williams as director of Fire Services. Williams a 20-year firefighting veteran, has been acting director since March, when former director Pedro Encarnacion retired.
Willliams told the senators what they had heard before from Fire Services officials. He lamented the lack of manpower in the department, citing that as the reason that the Dorthea and Fortuna fire stations on St. Thomas and the Cotton Valley station on St. Croix remain closed. He said recruitment needs will be addressed in the governor's Fiscal Year 2002 budget.
Fire Services officials also detailed other problems, including numerous resignations and retirements in the department. Williams said another important need is to replace 10 fire trucks that are 10 years old. New ones will cost $160,000 each, he said.
In other action, the committee approved an amended version of Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste's controversial teacher recruitment "sin tax" bill. As Jn Baptiste proposed it, the measure would have been funded from new taxes on alcohol, luxury cars, firearms and cigarettes.
However, Rules approved the measure after removing the "sin taxes" provision. The amended version leaves funding ambiguous — it would come from federal grants, gifts or any money appropriated by the Legislature. Jn Baptiste had said earlier he was amenable to a change in the funding. The bill creates a Teacher Recruitment and Training Fund.
The committee also approved another bill sponsored by Jn Baptiste, to require the Board of Education to conduct annual assessments of the territory's public school facilities and guidance services.
A resolution by Sen. Emmett Hansen II to honor Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity for its dedication and commitment in establishing the Martin Luther King Jr. monument on the mall in Washington, D.C., was passed easily.
Attending the meeting were committee members Bryan, Dowe, Jn Baptiste, Liburd, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino White. Non-members Sens. Emmett Hansen II and Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg also were present.
INETA AGUSTA ERSKINE JOSEPH DEAD AT 49
Ineta Agusta Erskine Joseph, known to her friends as "Neta," of Queen Street, Christiansted, died July 1 at Juan F. Luis Hospital. She was 49.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, at the Friedensthal Moravian Church, with a viewing beginning at 9 a.m.
Interment will follow at the private Friedensthal Moravian Church Cemetery.
She is survived by her companion, Thomas D. Williams; daughter, Estherlyn Joseph; adopted father, Dr. Robert V. Vaughn; adopted children, Laura Jackson, Taylor Shephard, Benjamin Shephard, Rachael Matthew, and Shamal Matthew; grandchildren, DeAndre and DeShawn Asson; sisters, Gretel Erskine, Lorraine Erskine and Annette Erskine; adopted sisters, Judith Nelson, Eloise Jackson, and Ruthlyn Matthew; aunts, Kate Erskine and Jennetta Soanes; uncles, Sal Erskine, Otnel Erskine, Vincent Erskine, Gershun and Samuel Erskine; special cousins, Patricia Larsen, Floris Williams, Henrietta Joseph, and Curlita Erskine; very special friends, Peter and Lorraine Shepard and family, Trevor Nelson, Natalie Nelson Tang How; Brother Leonard Samuel, the Rev. Alfred Bradley of Holy Cross Church, the Joseph and Erskine families, Doris, Mrs. Soloman, Grace Smith, members of the J and J Fun Troupe and Grace; 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 10, at the Friedensthal Moravian Church, with a viewing beginning at 9 a.m.
Interment will follow at the private Friedensthal Moravian Church Cemetery.
She is survived by her companion, Thomas D. Williams; daughter, Estherlyn Joseph; adopted father, Dr. Robert V. Vaughn; adopted children, Laura Jackson, Taylor Shephard, Benjamin Shephard, Rachael Matthew, and Shamal Matthew; grandchildren, DeAndre and DeShawn Asson; sisters, Gretel Erskine, Lorraine Erskine and Annette Erskine; adopted sisters, Judith Nelson, Eloise Jackson, and Ruthlyn Matthew; aunts, Kate Erskine and Jennetta Soanes; uncles, Sal Erskine, Otnel Erskine, Vincent Erskine, Gershun and Samuel Erskine; special cousins, Patricia Larsen, Floris Williams, Henrietta Joseph, and Curlita Erskine; very special friends, Peter and Lorraine Shepard and family, Trevor Nelson, Natalie Nelson Tang How; Brother Leonard Samuel, the Rev. Alfred Bradley of Holy Cross Church, the Joseph and Erskine families, Doris, Mrs. Soloman, Grace Smith, members of the J and J Fun Troupe and Grace; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of James Memorial Funeral Home.
