Cape Air will inaugurate new service on Dec. 15 between San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Ponce, a roundtrip airfare of $76.
In a release from the regional flyer, president Dan Wolf said, "Those folks living in and visiting San Juan have a convenient way to fly to one of the most beautiful cities in all of Puerto Rico, Ponce."
Cape Air will offer five daily flights between Ponce and San Juan, according to the release. Flight time is 20 minutes.
Cape Air services San Juan and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and flies to Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in Massachusetts from Boston and New Bedford as well as Providence, R.I. Cape Air also provides air service to Key West, Fla. from Ft. Myers, Ft. Lauderdale and Naples.
For information and reservations call 800-352-0714 or 800-635-8787.
102 — SPOTS BEFORE MY EYES — DALMATIONS
It's all black and white, with no shades of gray in "102 Dalmations," the inevitable sequel to the "101." Is 102 dalmations is 101 too many? Let us see.
Glenn close is at it again as Cruella De Vil, recently released from prison for her dastardly deeds in the previous movie, and quite elegantly got up, too, according to informed sources.
This time around, the sets and music are said to be more lavish than ever. However, they cannot control De Vil's natural evil ways. Though under the eye of her probation officer Chloe (Alice Evans), De Vil aids a failing dog shelter run by Kevin Shepherd (Ioan Gruffudd), and guess what? Shepherd is arrested for the theft of dalmations. Then Chloe loses her own dalmation pups. Poor De Vil is under suspicion once again.
She has been silly enough to take up with Pierre Le Pelt (Gerard Depardieu, yup the real one) a fashion designer known for his flair with fur. Not a good move here for Cruella.
As Cruella waltzes through the movie with her black and white wig and crazed hauteur, one critic finds a startling resemblance to her role as Norma Desmond in "Sunset Blvd."
The live action doggies are filmed in Paris. With the famed streets of the City of Light filled with numerous black and white cuddly critters, and what the production notes call "a riotous frenzy of hilarious slapstick and hearwarming fantasy – a humorous tale of animal rights and identity conflict," it, quite frankly, makes you wonder who writes the production notes. Retired ad execs comes to mind.
No matter what the streets of Paris are filled with, it must be worth the price of admission. It is directed by Kevin Lima, and rated G.
It is playing at Sunny Isles Theaters.
Glenn close is at it again as Cruella De Vil, recently released from prison for her dastardly deeds in the previous movie, and quite elegantly got up, too, according to informed sources.
This time around, the sets and music are said to be more lavish than ever. However, they cannot control De Vil's natural evil ways. Though under the eye of her probation officer Chloe (Alice Evans), De Vil aids a failing dog shelter run by Kevin Shepherd (Ioan Gruffudd), and guess what? Shepherd is arrested for the theft of dalmations. Then Chloe loses her own dalmation pups. Poor De Vil is under suspicion once again.
She has been silly enough to take up with Pierre Le Pelt (Gerard Depardieu, yup the real one) a fashion designer known for his flair with fur. Not a good move here for Cruella.
As Cruella waltzes through the movie with her black and white wig and crazed hauteur, one critic finds a startling resemblance to her role as Norma Desmond in "Sunset Blvd."
The live action doggies are filmed in Paris. With the famed streets of the City of Light filled with numerous black and white cuddly critters, and what the production notes call "a riotous frenzy of hilarious slapstick and hearwarming fantasy – a humorous tale of animal rights and identity conflict," it, quite frankly, makes you wonder who writes the production notes. Retired ad execs comes to mind.
No matter what the streets of Paris are filled with, it must be worth the price of admission. It is directed by Kevin Lima, and rated G.
It is playing at Sunny Isles Theaters.
102 — SPOTS BEFORE MY EYES — DALMATIONS
It's all black and white, with no shades of gray in "102 Dalmations," the inevitable sequel to the "101." Is 102 dalmations is 101 too many? Let us see.
Glenn close is at it again as Cruella De Vil, recently released from prison for her dastardly deeds in the previous movie, and quite elegantly got up, too, according to informed sources.
This time around, the sets and music are said to be more lavish than ever. However, they cannot control De Vil's natural evil ways. Though under the eye of her probation officer Chloe (Alice Evans), De Vil aids a failing dog shelter run by Kevin Shepherd (Ioan Gruffudd), and guess what? Shepherd is arrested for the theft of dalmations. Then Chloe loses her own dalmation pups. Poor De Vil is under suspicion once again.
She has been silly enough to take up with Pierre Le Pelt (Gerard Depardieu, yup the real one) a fashion designer known for his flair with fur. Not a good move here for Cruella.
As Cruella waltzes through the movie with her black and white wig and crazed hauteur, one critic finds a startling resemblance to her role as Norma Desmond in "Sunset Blvd."
The live action doggies are filmed in Paris. With the famed streets of the City of Light filled with numerous black and white cuddly critters, and what the production notes call "a riotous frenzy of hilarious slapstick and hearwarming fantasy – a humorous tale of animal rights and identity conflict," it, quite frankly, makes you wonder who writes the production notes. Retired ad execs comes to mind.
No matter what the streets of Paris are filled with, it must be worth the price of admission. It is directed by Kevin Lima, and rated G.
It is playing at Market Square East.
Glenn close is at it again as Cruella De Vil, recently released from prison for her dastardly deeds in the previous movie, and quite elegantly got up, too, according to informed sources.
This time around, the sets and music are said to be more lavish than ever. However, they cannot control De Vil's natural evil ways. Though under the eye of her probation officer Chloe (Alice Evans), De Vil aids a failing dog shelter run by Kevin Shepherd (Ioan Gruffudd), and guess what? Shepherd is arrested for the theft of dalmations. Then Chloe loses her own dalmation pups. Poor De Vil is under suspicion once again.
She has been silly enough to take up with Pierre Le Pelt (Gerard Depardieu, yup the real one) a fashion designer known for his flair with fur. Not a good move here for Cruella.
As Cruella waltzes through the movie with her black and white wig and crazed hauteur, one critic finds a startling resemblance to her role as Norma Desmond in "Sunset Blvd."
The live action doggies are filmed in Paris. With the famed streets of the City of Light filled with numerous black and white cuddly critters, and what the production notes call "a riotous frenzy of hilarious slapstick and hearwarming fantasy – a humorous tale of animal rights and identity conflict," it, quite frankly, makes you wonder who writes the production notes. Retired ad execs comes to mind.
No matter what the streets of Paris are filled with, it must be worth the price of admission. It is directed by Kevin Lima, and rated G.
It is playing at Market Square East.
PRECEDENT IGNORED BY BOTH SIDES IN VOTE SUIT
What has been the Board of Elections procedure in handling mailed in absentee ballots in past elections?
Though just about every conceivable nit was picked in Wednesday and Thursday's Territorial Court hearing in Sen. George Goodwin's lawsuit against the Board of Elections, the matter of precedent remained untouched.
"We've been following the same policy as long as I've been here," said Elections Supervisor John Abramson. And that policy is to accept the postage paid election ballot envelopes, as long as they are received in time, and with proper voter identification, he said.
"In fact, the plaintiff, (Goodwin), has benefited from this rule in past elections," Abramson added. Goodwin won his Senate seat in 1994 and 1998 with the absentee ballot count.
Click here for a complete account of the hearing.
Though just about every conceivable nit was picked in Wednesday and Thursday's Territorial Court hearing in Sen. George Goodwin's lawsuit against the Board of Elections, the matter of precedent remained untouched.
"We've been following the same policy as long as I've been here," said Elections Supervisor John Abramson. And that policy is to accept the postage paid election ballot envelopes, as long as they are received in time, and with proper voter identification, he said.
"In fact, the plaintiff, (Goodwin), has benefited from this rule in past elections," Abramson added. Goodwin won his Senate seat in 1994 and 1998 with the absentee ballot count.
Click here for a complete account of the hearing.
COKER ON SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY 2002 COMPLETION
Nearly 11 months after securing more than a half-billion dollars to build a coker facility, HOVENSA officials on Thursday said the project is on schedule to be completed by February 2002.
Currently there are 1,500 people working on the massive $535-million project, 930 of whom are employed by Bechtel International, the project’s main contractor. Another half-dozen sub-contractors each employ 20 or more people, said Alex Moorhead, HOVENSA vice president of human resources.
Bechtel’s need for more workers, however, hasn’t been met by local residents, particularly for heavy equipment operators and mechanics, welders and ironworkers. Because of the shortfall and a need for managers to direct the project, Moorhead said 530 people have been hired from off-island.
"There are no quotas in percentages or in absolute numbers" in regard to hiring locally, Moorhead said. "But it has always been our commitment to maximize local employment."
A problem with hiring locally occurred during the first overhaul of the refinery’s fluidized catalytic cracking unit, or cat cracker, in 1996. That led to the "scandal" where a Brown and Root company was accused of overlooking locals in favor of off-island workers.
To avoid that happening again, HOVENSA, and the V.I. Departments of Labor and Education started the Crafts Training Program to prepare locals for work on the coker project. The program, fully funded by HOVENSA and managed by Bechtel, has seen 754 people enrolled, Moorhead said.
Although a number have dropped out, about 147 people have graduated in civil, electrical and millwright crafts and 252 are still enrolled. Of those, 44 people are studying for more than one craft.
Moorhead said approximately 45 of the 147 graduates are employed at the refinery.
"We expect all graduates from this training program to be hired as the coker project becomes more labor intensive within the next six months," he said.
Van Wood, HOVENSA vice president for capital projects, said two-thirds of those currently working on the project are Virgin Islands residents. They are followed by workers from Puerto Rico and then the Gulf Coast.
"All have to be U.S. citizens or green card holders," he said. "That does preclude others from places like Venezuela from working here."
Wood said the overall project – including engineering, contracting and procurement – is 60 percent complete. Actual construction, however, is just 14 percent complete, he said.
Planned into the coker project is a six-week overhaul of the cat cracker, starting in February, when the project will peak at around 2,000 workers. The turnaround will allow for modifications to the cat cracker to accommodate the addition of the coker, Wood said.
Last February, HOVENSA, equally owned through a joint venture by Amerada Hess Corp. and Petroleos de Venezuela, reached agreement for $600 million in financing underwritten by Bank of America for the construction of a 58,000-barrel-per-day delayed coking unit and related facilities and to repay existing bank debt.
Engineering for the coker and the advance purchase of equipment actually began in fall 1999. The project was to have begun early in 2000 but the company had a difficult time finding financing at acceptable interest.
The coker project will include a petroleum coke storage facility, a dock and modifications to existing processing units. The coker will enable the refinery to process heavier Venezuelan crude oil, for which HOVENSA has a long-term supply contract with PDVSA. Without the coker, HOVENSA is forced to process crude oil that is more expensive than what competitors process.
Prior to the creation of HOVENSA, Hess Oil of the Virgin Islands Corp., or HOVIC, a subsidiary of Amerada Hess, had lost some $1.2 billion since 1991. To stem the hemorrhaging, HOVIC formed a joint venture with PDVSA in 1998 to form HOVENSA.
The joint venture allowed the new company to finance the sorely needed coker, a facility that 70 percent of U.S. refineries already have, according to HOVENSA officials.
The St. Croix refinery, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, employs approximately 950 people while its contractors employ more than 1,000. The refinery produces about 400,000 barrels of oil a day, although it has the capability to pump out 500,000 barrels a day.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story said that problems with hiring local workers occurred during the construction of the refinery’s fluidized catalytic cracking unit, or cat cracker, in the early 1990s. The complaints actually occurred during the FCC’s first overhaul in 1996 against the company conducting the hiring for that project. The Source regrets any confusion caused by the initial story.
Currently there are 1,500 people working on the massive $535-million project, 930 of whom are employed by Bechtel International, the project’s main contractor. Another half-dozen sub-contractors each employ 20 or more people, said Alex Moorhead, HOVENSA vice president of human resources.
Bechtel’s need for more workers, however, hasn’t been met by local residents, particularly for heavy equipment operators and mechanics, welders and ironworkers. Because of the shortfall and a need for managers to direct the project, Moorhead said 530 people have been hired from off-island.
"There are no quotas in percentages or in absolute numbers" in regard to hiring locally, Moorhead said. "But it has always been our commitment to maximize local employment."
A problem with hiring locally occurred during the first overhaul of the refinery’s fluidized catalytic cracking unit, or cat cracker, in 1996. That led to the "scandal" where a Brown and Root company was accused of overlooking locals in favor of off-island workers.
To avoid that happening again, HOVENSA, and the V.I. Departments of Labor and Education started the Crafts Training Program to prepare locals for work on the coker project. The program, fully funded by HOVENSA and managed by Bechtel, has seen 754 people enrolled, Moorhead said.
Although a number have dropped out, about 147 people have graduated in civil, electrical and millwright crafts and 252 are still enrolled. Of those, 44 people are studying for more than one craft.
Moorhead said approximately 45 of the 147 graduates are employed at the refinery.
"We expect all graduates from this training program to be hired as the coker project becomes more labor intensive within the next six months," he said.
Van Wood, HOVENSA vice president for capital projects, said two-thirds of those currently working on the project are Virgin Islands residents. They are followed by workers from Puerto Rico and then the Gulf Coast.
"All have to be U.S. citizens or green card holders," he said. "That does preclude others from places like Venezuela from working here."
Wood said the overall project – including engineering, contracting and procurement – is 60 percent complete. Actual construction, however, is just 14 percent complete, he said.
Planned into the coker project is a six-week overhaul of the cat cracker, starting in February, when the project will peak at around 2,000 workers. The turnaround will allow for modifications to the cat cracker to accommodate the addition of the coker, Wood said.
Last February, HOVENSA, equally owned through a joint venture by Amerada Hess Corp. and Petroleos de Venezuela, reached agreement for $600 million in financing underwritten by Bank of America for the construction of a 58,000-barrel-per-day delayed coking unit and related facilities and to repay existing bank debt.
Engineering for the coker and the advance purchase of equipment actually began in fall 1999. The project was to have begun early in 2000 but the company had a difficult time finding financing at acceptable interest.
The coker project will include a petroleum coke storage facility, a dock and modifications to existing processing units. The coker will enable the refinery to process heavier Venezuelan crude oil, for which HOVENSA has a long-term supply contract with PDVSA. Without the coker, HOVENSA is forced to process crude oil that is more expensive than what competitors process.
Prior to the creation of HOVENSA, Hess Oil of the Virgin Islands Corp., or HOVIC, a subsidiary of Amerada Hess, had lost some $1.2 billion since 1991. To stem the hemorrhaging, HOVIC formed a joint venture with PDVSA in 1998 to form HOVENSA.
The joint venture allowed the new company to finance the sorely needed coker, a facility that 70 percent of U.S. refineries already have, according to HOVENSA officials.
The St. Croix refinery, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, employs approximately 950 people while its contractors employ more than 1,000. The refinery produces about 400,000 barrels of oil a day, although it has the capability to pump out 500,000 barrels a day.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story said that problems with hiring local workers occurred during the construction of the refinery’s fluidized catalytic cracking unit, or cat cracker, in the early 1990s. The complaints actually occurred during the FCC’s first overhaul in 1996 against the company conducting the hiring for that project. The Source regrets any confusion caused by the initial story.
SCHWARZENEGGER'S "SIXTH DAY" TIMES TWO
Well, Dolly (the sheep, not Parton) has been upstaged by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Just what is this world coming to? If "The Sixth Day" is any indication, not much.
The galloping Arnold stars as Adam Gibson, a helicopter pilot who returns home from a trip to find a cloned Gibson living with his wife and family as the Real Item. What is he to do? They didn't prepare him for this in flight training.
Youngsters reviewing the film have found it to be "cool, way cool." They apparently love the virtual girlfriends, remote control dogs and the double Arnie. "It has lots of good one-liners and some kool gadgets," is the way one teenager describes it, and it's hard to top that.
But, what the heck, we'll try. The movie will be a must for Arnie groupies, and for the rest of us, well . . . Because cloning is illegal, even in this advanced age, Arnie teams up with the cloned Arnie to fight the team of assassins who are attempting to eliminate the Real Item. Together, the real and the fake Arnie fight, for "their lives, their humanity, and their freedom." So there.
Robert Duvall, Tony Goldwyn and Michael Rapaport also star in the movie.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, the film is written by Cormac and Marianne Wibberly. (The real and the fake?) It is rated PG-13 for strong action violence, brief strong language and some sensuality.
It is playing at Market Square East.
The galloping Arnold stars as Adam Gibson, a helicopter pilot who returns home from a trip to find a cloned Gibson living with his wife and family as the Real Item. What is he to do? They didn't prepare him for this in flight training.
Youngsters reviewing the film have found it to be "cool, way cool." They apparently love the virtual girlfriends, remote control dogs and the double Arnie. "It has lots of good one-liners and some kool gadgets," is the way one teenager describes it, and it's hard to top that.
But, what the heck, we'll try. The movie will be a must for Arnie groupies, and for the rest of us, well . . . Because cloning is illegal, even in this advanced age, Arnie teams up with the cloned Arnie to fight the team of assassins who are attempting to eliminate the Real Item. Together, the real and the fake Arnie fight, for "their lives, their humanity, and their freedom." So there.
Robert Duvall, Tony Goldwyn and Michael Rapaport also star in the movie.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, the film is written by Cormac and Marianne Wibberly. (The real and the fake?) It is rated PG-13 for strong action violence, brief strong language and some sensuality.
It is playing at Market Square East.
SCHWARZENNEGER'S SIXTH DAY TIMES TWO
Well, Dolly (the sheep, not Parton) has been upstaged by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Just what is this world coming to? If "The Sixth Day" is any indication, not much.
The galloping Arnold stars as Adam Gibson, a helicopter pilot who returns home from a trip to find a cloned Gibson living with his wife and family as the Real Item. What is he to do? They didn't prepare him for this in flight training.
Youngsters reviewing the film have found it to be "cool, way cool." They apparently love the virtual girlfriends, remote control dogs and the double Arnie. "It has lots of good one-liners and some kool gadgets," is the way one teenager describes it, and it's hard to top that.
But, what the heck, we'll try. The movie will be a must for Arnie groupies, and for the rest of us, well . . . Because cloning is illegal, even in this advanced age, Arnie teams up with the cloned Arnie to fight the team of assassins who are attempting to eliminate the Real Item. Together, the real and the fake Arnie fight, for "their lives, their humanity, and their freedom." So there.
Robert Duvall, Tony Goldwyn and Michael Rapaport also star in the movie.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, the film is written by Cormac and Marianne Wibberly. (The real and the fake?) It is rated PG-13 for strong action violence, brief strong language and some sensuality.
It is playing at Sunny Isle Theaters.
The galloping Arnold stars as Adam Gibson, a helicopter pilot who returns home from a trip to find a cloned Gibson living with his wife and family as the Real Item. What is he to do? They didn't prepare him for this in flight training.
Youngsters reviewing the film have found it to be "cool, way cool." They apparently love the virtual girlfriends, remote control dogs and the double Arnie. "It has lots of good one-liners and some kool gadgets," is the way one teenager describes it, and it's hard to top that.
But, what the heck, we'll try. The movie will be a must for Arnie groupies, and for the rest of us, well . . . Because cloning is illegal, even in this advanced age, Arnie teams up with the cloned Arnie to fight the team of assassins who are attempting to eliminate the Real Item. Together, the real and the fake Arnie fight, for "their lives, their humanity, and their freedom." So there.
Robert Duvall, Tony Goldwyn and Michael Rapaport also star in the movie.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, the film is written by Cormac and Marianne Wibberly. (The real and the fake?) It is rated PG-13 for strong action violence, brief strong language and some sensuality.
It is playing at Sunny Isle Theaters.
FINAL ARGUMENTS HEARD IN GOODWIN LAWSUIT
Final arguments were heard Thursday afternoon in Sen. George Goodwin's lawsuit against the Board of Elections, but Territorial Court Judge Ishmael Meyers has yet to hand down a decision. The fate of the Senate's seventh seat still hangs in the balance somewhere between Goodwin and Sen. Lorraine Berry.
"I consider this two full days of testimony," he said at the conclusion of Thursday's five-hour hearing, which followed more than 10 hours on Wednesday.
"This case is very important to the people of the Virgin Islands," he said, noting he would write a short opinion on it. Meyers had said earlier that he hoped the case didn't run through Saturday because he wanted that day for writing.
Attorney General Iver Stridiron was called to the stand Thursday, along with Elections Board chairwoman Rita Brady. Berry Chief of Staff James Francis and Elections Board Secretary Shawn Michael Malone also testified.
Brady said the types of challenges to ballots issued in the recent count were "unusual." They were selective, she noted, referring to last names and addresses. Specifically, she said ballots determined to contain French surnames or North Side addresses were singled out by Sen.-elect Celestino White. She also accused some of the ballot-watchers of "abominable" behavior.
Stridiron said the Elections Board performed in a "most professional manner," and went over each ballot carefully, putting aside the challenged ballots. He said that he saw no "abominable behavior," and that everyone behaved in a reasonable manner given the circumstances.
Stridiron defended his ruling that the 480 ballots not bearing postmarks be accepted as well as those with inner unsealed envelopes, providing the affidavits were properly signed.
Malone, Brady and Francis agreed with Stridiron's contention that the challenged ballots had been put aside and not mixed with the others as some witnesses had stated Wednesday.
In her closing statement, Goodwin attorney Shawn Maynard Hahnfeld said the absentee ballot count had violated the V.I. Code, which states that all absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov. 7, election day.
She also contended that Goodwin would be deprived of his constitutional rights to carry out his position, and that the Elections Board purposely commingled the votes, making an accurate count impossible. Hahnfeld said there were more than enough votes to have turned the tide in her client's direction, but there was no way to determine that with the commingled votes.
She also questioned testimony about walk-in ballots received after Nov. 7, and the lack of distinction between walk-in and mailed ballots, which Elections Board officials had testified were not sorted out. She concluded that money could not cover the injury to her client of being deprived of serving the people, and asked the court to grant the "public's intent."
Kerry Drue, representing the Board of Elections, said it was the board's intent to protect the rights and will of the electorate. She cited numerous cases involving ballot disputes, saying the majority of the electorate takes precedence over strict election laws.
"The courts have ruled that not every irregularity warrants an invalid vote," she said. Drue answered each of the challenges Hahnfeld had brought up about the irregularities, mainly the unpostmarked ballots.
"The postmark is a technical nicety," she said.
She cited the testimony of White, Samuel, Nick Friday and Carla Joseph, who had testified for the plaintiff. "They all cited challenges, but not one of them took notes to back anything up," she said, and referred to the extensive notes taken and referred to by Brady.
In a final appeal to the court, Drue said, "To disenfranchise all those voters is too harsh. We have to listen to the voice of the voters."
Berry's attorney, Chad Messier, said the V.I. Code was ambiguous in the legislative intent about the postmarks, which states the ballots must be postmarked by election day. The intent was to get the votes in on time, not necessarily with a postmark. "They intended the people vote on or before election day," he said.
"All the votes that should be counted were counted," Messier said, "and no votes that shouldn't be counted were counted."
"What is in the public's interest, that the votes be thrown out?" he concluded. "One cannot punish an innocent voter who has done everything he believed right.
"The will of the people is paramount, and one out of every two voters voted for my client, Sen. Berry. Let's not fool ourselves. This is a political contest in a courtroom."
"I consider this two full days of testimony," he said at the conclusion of Thursday's five-hour hearing, which followed more than 10 hours on Wednesday.
"This case is very important to the people of the Virgin Islands," he said, noting he would write a short opinion on it. Meyers had said earlier that he hoped the case didn't run through Saturday because he wanted that day for writing.
Attorney General Iver Stridiron was called to the stand Thursday, along with Elections Board chairwoman Rita Brady. Berry Chief of Staff James Francis and Elections Board Secretary Shawn Michael Malone also testified.
Brady said the types of challenges to ballots issued in the recent count were "unusual." They were selective, she noted, referring to last names and addresses. Specifically, she said ballots determined to contain French surnames or North Side addresses were singled out by Sen.-elect Celestino White. She also accused some of the ballot-watchers of "abominable" behavior.
Stridiron said the Elections Board performed in a "most professional manner," and went over each ballot carefully, putting aside the challenged ballots. He said that he saw no "abominable behavior," and that everyone behaved in a reasonable manner given the circumstances.
Stridiron defended his ruling that the 480 ballots not bearing postmarks be accepted as well as those with inner unsealed envelopes, providing the affidavits were properly signed.
Malone, Brady and Francis agreed with Stridiron's contention that the challenged ballots had been put aside and not mixed with the others as some witnesses had stated Wednesday.
In her closing statement, Goodwin attorney Shawn Maynard Hahnfeld said the absentee ballot count had violated the V.I. Code, which states that all absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov. 7, election day.
She also contended that Goodwin would be deprived of his constitutional rights to carry out his position, and that the Elections Board purposely commingled the votes, making an accurate count impossible. Hahnfeld said there were more than enough votes to have turned the tide in her client's direction, but there was no way to determine that with the commingled votes.
She also questioned testimony about walk-in ballots received after Nov. 7, and the lack of distinction between walk-in and mailed ballots, which Elections Board officials had testified were not sorted out. She concluded that money could not cover the injury to her client of being deprived of serving the people, and asked the court to grant the "public's intent."
Kerry Drue, representing the Board of Elections, said it was the board's intent to protect the rights and will of the electorate. She cited numerous cases involving ballot disputes, saying the majority of the electorate takes precedence over strict election laws.
"The courts have ruled that not every irregularity warrants an invalid vote," she said. Drue answered each of the challenges Hahnfeld had brought up about the irregularities, mainly the unpostmarked ballots.
"The postmark is a technical nicety," she said.
She cited the testimony of White, Samuel, Nick Friday and Carla Joseph, who had testified for the plaintiff. "They all cited challenges, but not one of them took notes to back anything up," she said, and referred to the extensive notes taken and referred to by Brady.
In a final appeal to the court, Drue said, "To disenfranchise all those voters is too harsh. We have to listen to the voice of the voters."
Berry's attorney, Chad Messier, said the V.I. Code was ambiguous in the legislative intent about the postmarks, which states the ballots must be postmarked by election day. The intent was to get the votes in on time, not necessarily with a postmark. "They intended the people vote on or before election day," he said.
"All the votes that should be counted were counted," Messier said, "and no votes that shouldn't be counted were counted."
"What is in the public's interest, that the votes be thrown out?" he concluded. "One cannot punish an innocent voter who has done everything he believed right.
"The will of the people is paramount, and one out of every two voters voted for my client, Sen. Berry. Let's not fool ourselves. This is a political contest in a courtroom."
BILL PROPOSED ON GOV'T DEBT, DISASTER FUND
In a statement released Thursday night from Government House, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull said he had submitted a bill to the 23rd Legislature that would "increase the amount of debt that can be incurred and paid by departments and agencies for previous years." The bill also calls for appropriating $1.5 million to repair Finance Department buildings and acquire property on St. Thomas for a cemetery, and would set up a Disaster Recovery Revolving Fund.
The exact meaning of the first part of the bill was unclear Thursday, and government officials could not be reached for further comment. The statement says the bill would amend the V.I. Code "to allow departments and agencies to pay their prior year obligations up to a maximum of $100,000."
The disaster fund would be set up as a special fund with the V.I. treasury and would be administered by the Finance commissioner for "recovery efforts during a declared disaster or other natural emergency." It was proposed as part of the Territorial Disaster Preparedness Plan.
The exact meaning of the first part of the bill was unclear Thursday, and government officials could not be reached for further comment. The statement says the bill would amend the V.I. Code "to allow departments and agencies to pay their prior year obligations up to a maximum of $100,000."
The disaster fund would be set up as a special fund with the V.I. treasury and would be administered by the Finance commissioner for "recovery efforts during a declared disaster or other natural emergency." It was proposed as part of the Territorial Disaster Preparedness Plan.
TURNBULL REFUTES RUMORS OF HIS RESIGNATION
Gov. Charles Turnbull has shot down recent rumors in the press that he was preparing to step down because of failing health.
According to a release from his office, Turnbull told his Cabinet members during a meeting on St. Croix Thursday that he has no plans to resign. The statement discounts a recent article in The Avis newspaper about rumors of the governor’s imminent resignation.
"I just want you to know for the record that my health poses no problems to me continuing to fulfill my duties as governor and any talk about me resigning in the near future is without foundation," Turnbull told his Cabinet, according to the Government House release.
The Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the second in the restored St. Croix Government House, focused on the territory’s capital improvement projects. Cabinet members were briefed on problems government departments are having in beginning and finishing already funded projects.
Keith Richards, the governor’s assistant for capital projects, said the lack of trained and experienced capital project coordinators and a shortage of support staff in Public Works, Property and Procurement and the Department of Justice has "hampered a sustained campaign to expand the government’s capital improvement program," said the release.
Turnbull, meanwhile, said a new approach will be adopted because of the role capital projects play in the overall economic recovery strategy of his administration.
"Capital projects means jobs and an aggressive program means the revitalization of the private sector, which is the train that must pull the economic engine," said Turnbull.
According to a release from his office, Turnbull told his Cabinet members during a meeting on St. Croix Thursday that he has no plans to resign. The statement discounts a recent article in The Avis newspaper about rumors of the governor’s imminent resignation.
"I just want you to know for the record that my health poses no problems to me continuing to fulfill my duties as governor and any talk about me resigning in the near future is without foundation," Turnbull told his Cabinet, according to the Government House release.
The Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the second in the restored St. Croix Government House, focused on the territory’s capital improvement projects. Cabinet members were briefed on problems government departments are having in beginning and finishing already funded projects.
Keith Richards, the governor’s assistant for capital projects, said the lack of trained and experienced capital project coordinators and a shortage of support staff in Public Works, Property and Procurement and the Department of Justice has "hampered a sustained campaign to expand the government’s capital improvement program," said the release.
Turnbull, meanwhile, said a new approach will be adopted because of the role capital projects play in the overall economic recovery strategy of his administration.
"Capital projects means jobs and an aggressive program means the revitalization of the private sector, which is the train that must pull the economic engine," said Turnbull.
