June 18, 2001 – Moby and Justin "Dewey" Francke, both graduates of San Francisco's Academy of Art College, distinguished themselves in artistic fields recently on opposite sides of the globe. But it was just a couple more milestones in the lives of these creative brothers who grew up on St. Thomas.
On May 18, Moby Francke received a $3,000 award from the Starr Foundation at the New York Society of Illustrators annual student competition for his oil painting illustration. He received a similar award from the society last year.
Eight days later, Dewey Francke received the National Product Design Award in Taipei, Taiwan, for his design of a disk array, a computer component.
They are the sons of Rosemarie Francke, a longtime St. Thomas artist known for her tropical floral paintings. Now a resident of Ormond Beach, Fla., she attended the gala event in New York where Moby received his award.
Also among those present were former St. Thomas residents Frank and Sonja Peterson, who now live in Massachusetts, where she is the dean of the University of Massachusetts School of Nursing and he is chair of the Bristol County Estate Planning Board; and Gita Roy, of St. Croix and St. Thomas, a University of the Virgin Islands graduate who recently received a master's degree in sociology at Fordham University.
Moby, who graduated this year from the Academy of Art College, also has received recognition for his artwork in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he currently works for Lucas Productions. On St. Thomas, he attended Sibilly, All Saints and Sts. Peter and Paul Schools. He taught watersports at Caribbean Boardsailing for many years before moving to San Francisco.
Dewey's award-winning design topped 140 international entries in the Taiwan competition. The ceremony was attended by major product designers from throughout the world.
Dewey, who attended All Saints School and UVI on St. Thomas, was attracted to product design at an early age. He purchased his first kit car, a Frazier Nash, and assembled it by the time he was old enough to drive. He was frequently to be seen in the driveway of the family home on Skyline Drive, tearing cars apart and re-assembling them.
His project of cutting the hard-top off a Fiat X19 and refashioning the rear for a radical look made the cover of a Fiat owners' magazine. That was when he decided to study product design in earnest. He enrolled at the Academy of Art College, where he studied industrial design and graduated last year with honors.
He now lives with his wife, Angie, a fellow product designer, in Taipei, where he works at I+U Design.

June 18, 2001 – The V.I. government owes the Government Employees Retirement System $513 million, and the Notice of Personnel Action process is causing delays of up to a year in payment of annuities to retirees, a Senate committee was told Monday.
Late payments were only one of the concerns expressed in a meeting of the Youth and Human Services Committee, chaired by Sen. Vargrave A. Richards.
After Sen. Emmett Hansen II expressed concern about dwindling resources, GERS staff attorney Alphonso Nibbs said that if contributions to the system are not increased, GERS will not be able to pay all of its retirees. He said the system currently pays out $98 million a year, but only collects $63 million in contributions.
Edward Phillips, spokesman for the American Association of Retired Persons, said he was concerned that GERS was invading the principal from its investments to pay benefits, according to a release from the committee.
Roberto Caraballo, district manager for the Social Security Administration, painted an entirely different picture for Social Security recipients. He said eligible retirees can expect to receive their first checks within 13 days of signing up at the local office or on the Internet. There are 13,000 residents receiving $103 million in Social Security. None, however, is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because of the Virgin Islands' political status as an unincorporated territory.
Seldonie Halbert, Human Services commissioner, said programs for the growing numbers of senior citizens and elderly in the community need to be expanded, including greater funding for the pharmaceutical prescription program, which needs $400,000 to sustain it.
Adding to the burdens on the system is the effect of the Public Employee Voluntary Separation Act of 2000, which was to be funded by $15 million from the $300 million bond issue. Of the 800 government workers eligible to retire under the act, 256 did so. But Nibbs said the government hasn't paid its obligation. GERS has taken them to court over the non-payment
According to published reports Nibbs said giving government workers step increases, as promised last week by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, will exacerbate the problem, as many workers eligible to retire, were only waiting for their salary increases in order to do so.
Sen. Lorraine Berry, concerned about the increasing unfunded mandates, said she would be "more than happy" to sponsor legislation to keep the fund from collapsing.
Richards, calling the NOPA process "disgusting," said he would make it a priority to resolve the archaic and outdated procedure.
Committee members present at the hearing in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers on St. Thomas in addition to Richards, Hansen and Berry were Sens. Douglas Canton Jr., Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Roosevelt David and David S. Jones.

June 18, 2001 — The 3rd Annual Christian Education Week will be held at Memorial Moravian Church this week at the Leona Benjamin Fellowship Hall, 17 Norre Gade, next door to the church. The theme for the week is, "Challenging the Family Through Christ in the Home." The public is invited to attend.
A schedule of events follows:
7 p.m. — Tuesday, June 19
Guest lecturer, Lillian George
Lillian George, Moravian bible scholar of New Herrnhut Moravian Church will speak.
7 p.m. — Wednesday, June 20
Health and Fitness Night
American Paradise Gym fitness experts will be there so please wear clothes to exercise in.
All attendees are eligible for a drawing for free gym memberships.
7 p.m. — Thursday, June 21
Movie and Game Night
7 p.m. — Friday, June 22
Youth Fun
All youth are invited. Supervision and chaperons provided.
10 a.m. — Sunday, June 24
Outdoor Worship Service at Magen's Bay
Come and praise the Lord with us!
For more information contact the church at 776-0066.

The Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission will hold a public hearing on the casino license application of Golden Gaming L.L.C. at 9 a.m. Monday, June 25, at the commission offices, #5 Orange Grove, Christiansted. The hearings will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 26 and 27, if necessary.
Anyone interested in giving testimony or comments regarding the application by Golden Gaming L.L.C. should file a written request with the Casino Control Commission no later than Friday, June 22.

June 18, 2001 — The Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission will hold a public hearing on the casino license application of Golden Gaming L.L.C. at 9 a.m. Monday, at the commission offices at #5 Orange Grove, Christiansted. The hearings will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 26 and 27, if necessary.
Anyone interested in giving testimony or comments regarding the application by Golden Gaming L.L.C. should file a written request with the Casino Control Commission no later than Friday.

June 18, 2001 – The administration has completed its application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to have over $161 million in principal and interest owed on a Hurricane Marilyn disaster loan forgiven, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull said Monday.
"We have filed the necessary paperwork to begin the process to cancel the outstanding balance on the Hurricane Marilyn Community Disaster Loan," the governor announced at his press conference. "This process will take several months, if not longer."
According to records of FEMA – which had threatened to cut off aid to the territory because of its failure to repay previous loans – the Virgin Islands has repaid $7.4 million of the money owed from Marilyn. Including the accumulated interest, it should be paying off the balance to the tune of just over $9 million per year.
One of the application requirements for canceling the Marilyn loan is the submission of the official financial statements of the territory for the three fiscal years after the year of the disaster, Carol Hector-Harris, a regional FEMA officer, said.
FEMA and other federal officials have expressed their dissatisfaction with the financial reports prepared by the government, questioning the accuracy of the fiscal year accountings of the government's finances. According to one FEMA document, "It is questionable whether the financial statements being prepared are the 'official' financial statements of the territory" for fiscal years 1996 through 1998.
Turnbull's announcement that the territory has asked for forgiveness of the Marilyn loan comes five days after the Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives approved $3.5 million to cover the costs in canceling an outstanding balance of $46 million the territory still owes on a similar loan received after Hurricane Hugo ravaged the islands in 1989.
If the Senate Appropriations Committee concurs in that action, the Virgin Islands could have to repay as little as $1 million to wipe out the Hugo loan, Turnbull has said.
At his press conference Monday at Government House on St. Thomas, the governor said the congressional action last Wednesday was "unprecedented." If the Hugo debt is thus reduced, he said, it would the first time any territory or state has managed to have a loan from FEMA forgiven.
"This action is unprecedented in the annals of Congress. It has never been done," he said."

June 18, 2001 – The territory's financial picture is looking up, and the $30 million just allocated to bring unionized government workers on step can be sustained as long as tax money keeps rolling in, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull said at a press conference Monday afternoon.
He said the $100 million in appropriations earmarked for step increases, school repairs and other purposes that the Senate approved Friday is the result of both cost-cutting measures and an increase in tax revenues.
"Cost-cutting measures, along with others too numerous to mention, put this government in a position in which expenditures did not exceed revenues for the first time in about 15 years," the governor said. "It is because of this fiscal discipline and the increase in revenues that I will be able to deliver on my promise to begin the long-overdue implementation of step increases for government employees during the coming fiscal year."
During the press briefing at Government House on St. Thomas, Turnbull offered an explanation of sorts to the members of the 24th Legislature who are not a part of the majority — which passed his bill Friday after the other seven left the Senate chambers to protest the vote being taken without a hearing on the measure. The governor noted that he had met with the majority last Monday but said did not have time to meet with minority members.
He said he contacted two minority senators but declined to name them. Any governor must work with the Senate majority, regardless of political affiliation, "because the majority controls the Legislature," he said.
"Here in the Virgin Islands, when times are bad, elected and appointed officials of government must all share the blame," he said. "Likewise, when conditions improve, there is more than enough room for all elected and appointed officials to take credit."
While some union leaders have been skeptical that the funding source for the step increases will be reoccurring, Turnbull said he would not have directed the increases if the money was not there.
"When my financial advisors presented me with the current financial projections and indicated to me … that this government would be able to sustain step increases to government employees and retirees, I decided it was the appropriate time to keep this administration's commitment to implement these increases as soon as it became feasible," he said.
He later stated there is no dedicated funding source to ensure union members will continue to see the step increases for years to come. However, he said, based on his financial advisers' projections, the money will be there if the tax money keeps rolling in.
"I can't bring you the money for 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and on down the line," he said. "But we can sustain these increases, and these people have been suffering for a long time. Our government employees' morale is down. We've got to do something about our government employees."
Turnbull was asked whether he would veto the Senate majority's vote to increase the budget for the Legislature itself by $1.5 million plus another half million for building repairs — allocations tacked on as amendments to the governor's bill Friday. He said he would review the measure and then make a decision. He earlier vetoed a similar measure passed by the Legislature in April, saying the Senate had "sufficient" funds.

June 18, 2001 – One amendment to the bill allocating salary step increases for government workers that was approved by the Legislature in special session on Friday will have the effect of restricting increases in personal property taxes.
The measure provides for the Tax Assessor's Office to reassess non-commercial property every five years, instead of every other year, as is now the case.
At present, Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd said in a release, the assessment of non-commercial property that has not been improved since the last valuation can be increased by up to 10 percent every two years. Under the new measure, the 10 percent cap remains but the increase can occur only once in five years.
Property tax in the Virgin Islands is calculated as 1.25 percent of assessed value, with assessed value defined by statute as 60 percent of actual value. There are homestead and veterans' exemptions for personal property.
Noting that a commission authorized by the Legislature is studying various tax issues, the release said Liburd expects "there will be more action taken on property taxes and other tax issues over this legislative term." He said such measures are needed to assist local property owners in holding on to their land, and that he is committed "to doing everything possible to assist Virgin Islands residents in obtaining and keeping their piece of the rock."

June 18, 2001 – One amendment to the bill allocating salary step increases for government workers that was approved by the Legislature in special session on Friday will have the effect of restricting increases in personal property taxes.
The measure provides for the Tax Assessor's Office to reassess non-commercial property every five years, instead of every other year, as is now the case.
At present, Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd said in a release, the assessment of non-commercial property that has not been improved since the last valuation can be increased by up to 10 percent every two years. Under the new measure, the 10 percent cap remains but the increase can occur only once in five years.
Property tax in the Virgin Islands is calculated as 1.25 percent of assessed value, with assessed value defined by statute as 60 percent of actual value. There are homestead and veterans' exemptions for personal property.
Noting that a commission authorized by the Legislature is studying various tax issues, the release said Liburd expects "there will be more action taken on property taxes and other tax issues over this legislative term." He said such measures are needed to assist local property owners in holding on to their land, and that he is committed "to doing everything possible to assist Virgin Islands residents in obtaining and keeping their piece of the rock."

June 18, 2001 – The government's latest attempt to mitigate skyrocketing insurance costs could end up doing little more than costing local agents significant money, according to one longtime Virgin Islands agent.
Last week Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II issued an order providing that property and insurance carriers that file for rate increases must limit the agent's commission to the dollar amount paid on the prior premium.
James also said that "astronomical rates" are leading to many residents opting to do without insurance altogether.
John Harper, spokesman for the V.I. Insurance Association, had nothing to say Monday in response to the order or the press release James circulated about the order. He said he wants to poll individual agents.
One agent, who asked not to be identified by name, criticized James's plan. The lieutenant governor, who is also the insurance commissioner, has failed to take into account how the agents' commissions work, he said.
Most commissions are determined on a percentage basis of the total premium, he said. For example, if an agent worked on a 15 percent commission, he received $150 for a $1,000 policy last year. But this year, if his commission is frozen at the $150 amount, but the policy goes up to $1,500, that means he has dropped to 10 percent.
An agent's own liability insurance is determined by the volume he writes, not the commissions he earns. So if his percentage of commission drops, "then we end up a little bit short," the agent said. And the agency's bad debt increases, too. In other words, the cost of the agent's liability insurance is increasing but his commissions are not.
The agent also criticized James for turning down some rate increase requests. He said Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Puerto Rico pulled out of writing commercial business in the territory this year because its request was denied, contributing to the unavailability crisis. "There are some people not going to get insurance at any price," he warned.
Royal is still writing homeowner's insurance in the territory.
The agent agreed with James about the scope of the problem. Rates have increased as much as 50 percent on some commercial properties. And many customers –"I'd say 25 percent" — are only partially renewing policies, opting out of the more expensive windstorm coverage and leaving themselves vulnerable to hurricanes.