June 28, 2001 – A former employee of the Virgin Islands Lottery, Sonia Foy, has pleaded guilty to embezzling $11,930 in lottery funds.
She was the second V.I. Lottery employee to be charged with fraud this year. In April, former lottery director Alec Dizon pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges.
Foy was accused of collecting cash from lottery dealers whose checks had bounced, issuing them receipts for the cash, but keeping the money, instead of turning it over to the lottery.
The standard way dealers pay for the tickets they sell is by check. If any checks are returned for insufficient funds, the dealers must reimburse the lottery for the check amount plus pay a returned-check fee.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's office, the embezzlement of which Foy is accused occurred during the five-month period July 1 – Nov. 30, 1998.
A recent audit of the V.I. Lottery found that fraud and mismanagement within the program had cost the territorial government in excess of $3 million in lost revenues.
Foy was arraigned Thursday before Magistrate Judge Geoffrey W. Barnard and pleaded guilty to one count of federal program fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment or a fine of $250,000 – or both.
The fraud was uncovered in an audit conducted by the office of the U.S. Inspector General and local auditors working with that office, according to U.S. Attorney David L. Atkinson.

To the Source:
In the Op-ed section of the Source recently, Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Andrew Rutnik (Got milk? Since when? Does it matter?) made some untrue statements, and drew certain conclusions, that need to be corrected. His overall conclusion seems to be that St. Thomas Dairies has no reason to exist and should receive no IDC benefits at all. Here are a few facts that I would like to share with your readers:
Trans-Caribbean Dairy Corp. does not own Island Dairies. This is not an important issue, except that Mr. Rutnik stated in his letter that it did — one of many assumptions the commissioner makes without troubling to find out the truth first. Some of the shareholders of St. Croix Dairy Products (Island Dairies) do own shares of Trans-Caribbean Dairy Corp., which does business as St. Thomas Dairies.
St. Thomas Dairies has been in business in the Virgin Islands since 1963, when it commenced operations in Tutu as a cow milking and pasteurization plant. In the 1970s and 1980s, high feed transportation costs, and loss of pasture land to Mahogany Run made it uneconomical to milk cows on St. Thomas. Some cows remained up to 1995, when Hurricane Marilyn upset the whole status of the dairy. No cows have been milked since 1995, when the dairy was purchased by local Virgin Island businessmen who reconstructed it and commenced operations in March of 1996.
Trans-Caribbean Dairy Corp., d.b.a. St. Thomas Dairies, does enjoy partial IDC benefits. Notwithstanding these benefits, the company and its employees paid in excess of $500,000 in taxes in 2000, about half federal and half to the V.I. government. We employ 52 people, all long-term Virgin Island residents. We make contributions to various community activities and charitable organizations in cash and product donations of at least $50,000 every year. Our current capital investment exceeds $1.5 million. Yet, Rutnik says it does not make sense for us to receive any IDC benefits at all. Why, Mr. Rutnik, are you so against this company that has always tried to offer quality, value and service in our business operations and has been active in community affairs?
On the milk freshness issue, one that we would hope the commissioner has some knowledge of, Mr. Rutnik again makes some unfounded assumptions. The "freshness" issue deals with the pull date that is embossed on the container. Local law allows no longer date than 10 days from pasteurization. Both local dairies comply with this law and thus can claim real freshness. Milk imported from the U.S. mainland often has longer dates than our local milk, even though it takes five to six days for the milk to get here. Mr. Rutnik refuses to enforce this law and readily admits that he does not agree with it. Isn't it unfair to require more of our local businesses, licensed by DLCA, than is required of off-island businesses, who pay no taxes here, hire no people here, contribute nothing to the community, but take everything out? Why, Mr. Rutnik, do you so favor these foreign corporations at the expense of the businesses you license locally?
Maybe the next time we have a donation request, we should refer the soliciting organization to DLCA. Perhaps McArthur Dairy or Parmelat will want to help.
Fred Hintz, president
Trans-Caribbean Dairy Corp.

The Government Employees' Retirement System invites members over 30 years of age to participate in a Pre-retirement Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, in the GERS Building.
Learn about your benefits that include Social Security, legal rights, health insurance coverage, system benefits and more.
For additional information or to pre-register call 776-7703 ext 4202 or 4203. Seating is limited so register early. Pre-registration deadline is Monday, July7 9, 2001.

The Government Employees' Retirement System invites members over 30 years of age to participate in a Pre-retirement Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, in the GERS Building.
Learn more about your benefits that include Social Security, legal rights, health insurance coverage, system benefits and much more.
For more information or to pre-register call 776-7703 ext 4202 or 4203. Seating is limited so register early. Pre-register deadline is Monday, July 9.

June 28, 2001 — The story of low pay and understaffing for public-sector nurses was told to senators again on Wednesday.
Not much has changed for nurses in the territory since members of the Senate Health and Hospitals Committee held hearings earlier this year on the status of health care in the territory. As was the case then, senators were told Wednesday of nursing shortages and low wages.
Verna James, assistant vice president of the Licensed Practical Nurses Association, said that along with the shortage of nurses at the territory’s hospitals have come increased work loads.
"Each nurse has 10 patients, with no regard to patient acuteness," James said, noting that most shifts are staffed with only two nurses and, if lucky, a certified nursing assistant.
That means nurses are often required to prepare beds, pick up food trays and take patients for X-rays in addition to dispensing direct care and medication.
Dorothy Straun, a certified nursing assistant, cited a disparity in pay between staff nurses and contracted nurses at the territory’s hospitals. Some staff nurses earn $10 an hour, while contract nurses, most of whom are brought in from the mainland because of the shortage, earn $15 per hour plus benefits, she said.
Compounding the nurse shortage locally is a dearth of nurses worldwide. According to officials at the University of the Virgin Islands, fewer students are choosing nursing as a career.
UVI offers a bachelor of science in nursing. UVI graduated 10 nurses in 1998, 13 in 1999, 13 in 2000, and 13 in 2001.
According to Gloria Callwood, chair of the Nursing Division on the St. Thomas campus, a new BSN graduate whose first job as a registered nurse is in the Virgin Islands stays at least a year. Approximately 40 percent of the students who graduated between 1995 and 2000 have remained in the Virgin Islands.
In testimony given in March, Callwood said that if the work place were more nurturing, the probability of retaining new graduates would increase. Students who have received scholarships with a service clause have honored those commitments, she said.

June 28, 2001 — As a step in Sen. Adelbert Bryan’s plan to revive the territory’s economic health, a gathering he is calling the Virgin Islands Economic Development Summit is set for July 24 on St. Thomas and July 25 on St. Croix.
Topics the sessions will address include education, development banking, the social infrastructure of development, financial markets and venture capital, and the potential for a St. Croix business district. The program is being sponsored by Bryan's office and the Senate Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, which he chairs.
Bryan unveiled his economic plan in May. Its purpose, he said, is to spur dialogue and action for developing the territory’s ailing economy. The draft action plan makes recommendations for sustainable growth, including coordination, education, technology and quality of life in the territory.
Four sections of the plan -– subtitled analysis, vision, action plan and evaluation — constitute his Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. They can be viewed, along with the entire document, on Bryan’s website . An additional section focuses on funding.
Scheduled to take part in the July program are Emmit J. McHenry, founder and CEO of Netcom Solutions International; Andy Ruppanner, founder and CEO of Ruppanner Associates International; Justin L. Moorehead, president and managing director of Seslia and Company and VI Capital Resources on St. Thomas.
Auguste Rimpel, retired senior partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers and chair of the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees, has expressed an interest and his availability to attend, and it is expected that he will be confirmed at a latter date, according to Bryan’s office.
McHenry has been featured regularly in Black Enterprise Magazine. He recently appeared in the "B.E. 100s" listings, thanks to Netcom Solutions’ $262 million in sales for the year 2000. McHenry initially founded Network Solutions, which is an Internet domain name service provider.
Ruppanner, a former IBM executive, is a motivational speaker who will be presenting his thoughts on technology and telecommunication in the territory.
Also scheduled to appear are Amadeo Francis, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority; and Gervese Warner, a partner with McKinsey & Company, an internationally recognized management consulting firm noted for major strategic initiatives in both the public and private sectors.
Further details on the summit locations, times and confirmed speakers will be provided by early July, according to Bryan's office. For more information on St. Croix, contact Hortense Rowe at 712-2223; on St. Thomas, call Angela Ramos-Michael at 693-3566 or Julius Jessup at 693-3534.
Faxes can be sent to (340) 712-2372 on St. Croix and (340) 693-3647 on St. Thomas.

June 28, 2001 – The V.I. government and the American Red Cross formally entered into an agreement Wednesday to work together on disaster planning, preparedness, relief and mitigation efforts in the territory.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and John Clizbe, American Red Cross national vice president for disaster services, signed the agreement in a brief ceremony at Government House on St. Thomas.
The statement provides for cooperation and coordination between the local government and the Red Cross, nationally and locally. It calls for joint advocacy of disaster mitigation programs and legislation. Specifically, it calls for each entity to include representatives of the other on its committees and task forces addressing disaster and emergency needs and resources.
The V.I. government pledges to abide by the Disaster Service Leave Act, which authorizes public employees who are Red Cross volunteers to take up to 20 days annually to respond to disasters and to undergo training.
Other officials present at the ceremony included Adj. Gen. Cleave A McBean of the V.I. National Guard, who also is the executive director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency; Herald Baker, VITEMA director; Warner Bowers, who chairs the board of the St. Thomas/St. John chapter of the Red Cross; and Frankie Hoheb, disaster specialist with the chapter.

June 28, 2001 – The V.I. government and the American Red Cross formally entered into an agreement Wednesday to work together on disaster planning, preparedness, relief and mitigation efforts in the territory.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and John Clizbe, American Red Cross national vice president for disaster services, signed the agreement in a brief ceremony at Government House on St. Thomas.
The statement provides for cooperation and coordination between the local government and the Red Cross, nationally and locally. It calls for joint advocacy of disaster mitigation programs and legislation. Specifically, it calls for each entity to include representatives of the other on its committees and task forces addressing disaster and emergency needs and resources.
The V.I. government pledges to abide by the Disaster Service Leave Act, which authorizes public employees who are Red Cross volunteers to take up to 20 days annually to respond to disasters and to undergo training.
Other officials present at the ceremony included Adj. Gen. Cleave A McBean of the V.I. National Guard, who also is the executive director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency; Herald Baker, VITEMA director; Warner Bowers, who chairs the board of the St. Thomas/St. John chapter of the Red Cross; and Frankie Hoheb, disaster specialist with the chapter.

June 27, 2001 – The acting director of Fire Services said Wednesday that if the Legislature approves the administration's request for a supplemental appropriation of $500,000, the department will be able to hire additional firefighters.
This, in turn, will result in "a drastic reduction of overtime spending territorywide," Ian Williams Sr. said in a release from Government House.
The additional funding also would enable Fire Services to reopen the Dorothea and Bordeaux fire stations on St. Thomas, he said. According to the release, "Plans are also being developed to reopen the Cotton Valley fire station on St. Croix."
Williams also announced that Fire Services has applied for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for equipment and personal protection gear, and for another grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, for assistance in fighting fires aboard marine vessels.

June 27, 2001 – The summer school program for the elementary grades territorywide starts Monday for pupils whose parents and guardians submitted application forms distributed in the spring.
On St. Thomas, assignments for the summer sessions are as follows:
Joseph Gomez School: students regulary enrolled at Gomez, Edith Williams, Peace Corps and E. Benjamin Oliver Schools.
Ulla Muller School: students at Muller and Lockhart School.
Sibilly School: students from Sibilly, and students at Jane E. Tuitt and J. Antonio Jarvis whose last names begin with the letters A-M.
Leonard Dober School: students from Dober, and those at Tuitt and Jarvis whose surnames start with the letters N-Z.
Evelyn Marcelli Annex: students at Marcelli School.
New Horizon School: students at Michael J. Kirwan School.
However, there are exceptions to the above schedule: All sixth grade students at Jarvis, Tuitt and Sibilly and all kindergarten pupils at Tuitt are to attend summer classes at Dober School.
On St. John, the summer session will be at the Julius Sprauve School. Orientation for St. John summer students and their parents or guardians will take place Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the school.
On St. Croix, summer sessions are scheduled at the Pearl B. Larsen, Evelyn Williams and Alexander Henderson Schools. In the St. Croix district, according to a release from the Education Department, space permitting, limited registration will be accepted for students whose parents and guardians did not submit applications in the spring.
The release said further details of the St. Croix program would be made available by Friday.
On all three islands, the Education Department is providing lunch daily but no bus transportation. Children are to bring their own drinking water with them, and parents and guardians are to pick them up each day at 1 p.m.
Secondary school summer sessions began on Monday.
For further information, call Leroy Trotman, deputy commissioner for curriculum and instruction, at 774-0100, ext. 3042.