Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen extended congratulations to St. Croix resident and breast cancer survivor Joyslin R. Powell for her participation in The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's National Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C.
One of 7,500 breast cancer survivors in the Race, Powell was joined in the 5K race by her sister, Syonia Powell of Baltimore, and the Delegate's Legislative Assistant in Washington, Angeline Muckle-Jabbar and her three year-old son Omar Jabbar. Delegate Christensen invited Powell to represent the territory in the race following an in-kind donation from American Airlines for Members of Congress to sponsor a survivor from their districts in the national event.
"Breast cancer is one of the leading diseases affecting women of color worldwide, and especially here in the Virgin Islands, and I extend heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Joyslin for her courage in fighting this disease and for joining the thousands of survivors in today's race," Christensen said.
The Komen National Race for the Cure raises funds for breast cancer reasearch, education, screening and treatment programs nationwide.
DIVI CASINO TO OPEN AT NOON INSTEAD OF 10 A.M.
Shifting gears about three months after opening St. Croix’s first casino, the management of the Divi Carina Bay Casino is now opening every day at noon.
According to Casino Manager Michael Ratner, business levels are greater in the late afternoon and evening, "so we are better able to serve our guests by concentrating our staffing levels and resources around our busiest times. We therefore decided to open at noon instead of 10 a.m."
The casino has also decided to extend its "Sea of Cash" giveaway for the month of June. Mondays through Thursdays during May, Divi was giving away $100 per hour at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. The drawing is free to enter for all members of the casino’s players club, the Beachcomber Club, and people must be present to win their prize.
If winners are not present for the drawings, the money is rolled over to the next hour, giving a possible grand prize each day of $500.
"We were pleasantly surprised by the success of Sea of Cash, our first promotion, and decided to continue it in June," said Ratner.
Divi Carina Bay is open seven days a week from noon to 4 a.m., Sunday through Thursday; and from noon to 6 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. The casino is operated by Treasure Bay V.I. Corporation, a casino management company based in Biloxi, Mississippi. For additional information, please call 773.9700 x790.
According to Casino Manager Michael Ratner, business levels are greater in the late afternoon and evening, "so we are better able to serve our guests by concentrating our staffing levels and resources around our busiest times. We therefore decided to open at noon instead of 10 a.m."
The casino has also decided to extend its "Sea of Cash" giveaway for the month of June. Mondays through Thursdays during May, Divi was giving away $100 per hour at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. The drawing is free to enter for all members of the casino’s players club, the Beachcomber Club, and people must be present to win their prize.
If winners are not present for the drawings, the money is rolled over to the next hour, giving a possible grand prize each day of $500.
"We were pleasantly surprised by the success of Sea of Cash, our first promotion, and decided to continue it in June," said Ratner.
Divi Carina Bay is open seven days a week from noon to 4 a.m., Sunday through Thursday; and from noon to 6 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. The casino is operated by Treasure Bay V.I. Corporation, a casino management company based in Biloxi, Mississippi. For additional information, please call 773.9700 x790.
SENATE COMMITTEE HOLDS SEVERAL BILLS
The Senate Government Operations Committee held several bills Monday in order to get more information.
Senators held a proposal to authorize the Taxicab Commission to institute penalties and fines for the late payment of taxi license fees and to increase taxi license fees overall.
The proposal would hike fees by $100 to $200. Drivers on St. Croix questioned the increase because of the small number of cruise ships that call, especially during the slow summer season. They argued that St. Thomas, with its high number of visits, should pay a different amount than St. Croix.
The committee voted to hold the bill until the V.I. Taxi Federation returns with a recommendation on where a taxi stand will be located in Christiansted. Taxis have been working off of Church Street during the two-year renovation of Government House. Drivers want to move back to the King Street area now that construction work is complete. However, a task force made up of drivers, the National Park Service and downtown merchants is looking into a new location for taxis to operate.
A bill to enact the Public Employees Early Retirement Incentive Act of 2000 was also tabled until its authors, Sens. Donald "Ducks" Coles and Almando "Rocky" Liburd, work out details with the Government Employees Retirement System.
Coles said an actuary study needs to be done before the bill can be passed.
"It’s time to sit with GERS. We didn’t have time to do that" before the committee meeting, Coles said. "We’re not going to pass legislation that doesn’t have an actuary study to show the impact…"
An effort by Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg to stiffen animal-abuse laws was also held in committee until recommendations from the V.I. Attorney General’s Office can be integrated into the bill. The proposal would make willful neglect or abuse of pets, livestock or wild animals a felony subject to fines and possibly jail time.
"Abuse of animals is a serious crime," Donastorg said in a release following the committee meeting. "Study after study demonstrates that animal cruelty is often the first symptom of abusive and criminal behavior. My legislation helps ensure that the violence stops there."
Finally, a proposal to petition Congress to amend the Revised Organic Act of 1954 to allow legislative sessions to be held on St. Croix died because of a lack of support.
The bills that were held will be on the agenda of the committee's next meeting. If approved then, they will move to the Rules Committee before going to the full Senate for a final vote.
Senators held a proposal to authorize the Taxicab Commission to institute penalties and fines for the late payment of taxi license fees and to increase taxi license fees overall.
The proposal would hike fees by $100 to $200. Drivers on St. Croix questioned the increase because of the small number of cruise ships that call, especially during the slow summer season. They argued that St. Thomas, with its high number of visits, should pay a different amount than St. Croix.
The committee voted to hold the bill until the V.I. Taxi Federation returns with a recommendation on where a taxi stand will be located in Christiansted. Taxis have been working off of Church Street during the two-year renovation of Government House. Drivers want to move back to the King Street area now that construction work is complete. However, a task force made up of drivers, the National Park Service and downtown merchants is looking into a new location for taxis to operate.
A bill to enact the Public Employees Early Retirement Incentive Act of 2000 was also tabled until its authors, Sens. Donald "Ducks" Coles and Almando "Rocky" Liburd, work out details with the Government Employees Retirement System.
Coles said an actuary study needs to be done before the bill can be passed.
"It’s time to sit with GERS. We didn’t have time to do that" before the committee meeting, Coles said. "We’re not going to pass legislation that doesn’t have an actuary study to show the impact…"
An effort by Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg to stiffen animal-abuse laws was also held in committee until recommendations from the V.I. Attorney General’s Office can be integrated into the bill. The proposal would make willful neglect or abuse of pets, livestock or wild animals a felony subject to fines and possibly jail time.
"Abuse of animals is a serious crime," Donastorg said in a release following the committee meeting. "Study after study demonstrates that animal cruelty is often the first symptom of abusive and criminal behavior. My legislation helps ensure that the violence stops there."
Finally, a proposal to petition Congress to amend the Revised Organic Act of 1954 to allow legislative sessions to be held on St. Croix died because of a lack of support.
The bills that were held will be on the agenda of the committee's next meeting. If approved then, they will move to the Rules Committee before going to the full Senate for a final vote.
10 OFF-ISLAND V.I. PRISONERS TO RETURN IN JUNE
Ten of the 90 Virgin Islanders being held in federal prisons on the mainland are scheduled to be transferred to St. Croix’s Golden Grove Prison this month, according to V.I. Attorney General Iver Stridiron.
Stridiron said the first unit of the expanded Golden Grove facility was turned over to the Bureau of Corrections on Friday. This will allow the first 10 prisoners to be returned to the territory, he said. The others will be sent back between June and November, he said.
Because of deteriorating prison conditions and overcrowding in the early 1990s, the V.I. government was forced to send a number of high-risk convicts to Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities on the mainland until the Golden Grove Prison was expanded. Originally, the prisoners were supposed to be gone only six months.
The cost of housing the prisoners on the mainland totals about $200,000 a month. Behind in its payments, the territory owes nearly $13 million to the federal government. Because of the lack of payment, the debt was turned over to the U.S. Treasury Department for collection earlier this year.
To pay down the debt, Treasury officials diverted $1.6 million in federal highway funds that had been designated for the territory. According to Turnbull administration officials, the territory has paid $3.5 million of its debt in the last 15 months. The payments and the $1.6 million diverted by Treasury officials have been credited to the V.I. government.
Meanwhile, Stridiron told WSTX Radio that a number of Corrections officers have retired recently, creating a staffing shortfall. Fifteen new guards have been hired, he said, but 20 to 30 more are needed. With the coming return of the hard-core off-island prisoners to Golden Grove, he said, he will submit a supplemental fiscal year 2000 budget request to the Legislature to allow for the additional hiring.
Stridiron said the first unit of the expanded Golden Grove facility was turned over to the Bureau of Corrections on Friday. This will allow the first 10 prisoners to be returned to the territory, he said. The others will be sent back between June and November, he said.
Because of deteriorating prison conditions and overcrowding in the early 1990s, the V.I. government was forced to send a number of high-risk convicts to Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities on the mainland until the Golden Grove Prison was expanded. Originally, the prisoners were supposed to be gone only six months.
The cost of housing the prisoners on the mainland totals about $200,000 a month. Behind in its payments, the territory owes nearly $13 million to the federal government. Because of the lack of payment, the debt was turned over to the U.S. Treasury Department for collection earlier this year.
To pay down the debt, Treasury officials diverted $1.6 million in federal highway funds that had been designated for the territory. According to Turnbull administration officials, the territory has paid $3.5 million of its debt in the last 15 months. The payments and the $1.6 million diverted by Treasury officials have been credited to the V.I. government.
Meanwhile, Stridiron told WSTX Radio that a number of Corrections officers have retired recently, creating a staffing shortfall. Fifteen new guards have been hired, he said, but 20 to 30 more are needed. With the coming return of the hard-core off-island prisoners to Golden Grove, he said, he will submit a supplemental fiscal year 2000 budget request to the Legislature to allow for the additional hiring.
SOME OFF-ISLAND PRISONERS SET TO RETURN IN JUNE
A portion of the 90 Virgin Islanders being held in federal prisons on the mainland are scheduled to return to St. Croix’s Golden Grove Prison this month, according to V.I. Attorney General Iver Stridiron.
Stridiron said that on Friday the first unit of the expanded Golden Grove facility was turned over to the Bureau of Corrections. That will allow 10 of the 90 prisoners to be returned. The remainder of the prisoners will be sent back between June and November, he said.
Because of deteriorating conditions and overcrowding in the early 1990s, the V.I. government was forced to send a number of high-risk convicts to Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities on the mainland until the Golden Grove Prison was expanded. Originally, the prisoners were supposed to be gone only six months.
The ongoing monthly payments for housing the prisoners off-island is approximately $200,000 a month. That cost has resulted in a nearly $13-million debt to the federal government. Because of a lack of payment on the territory’s part, the debt was turned over to the U.S. Treasury Department for collection earlier this year.
To pay down the debt, Treasury diverted $1.6 million in federal highway funds that were headed to the territory. According to the Turnbull administration, the territory has paid $3.5 million toward its debt in the last 15 months. Those payments, along with the $1.6 million already diverted by Treasury, have been credited to the V.I. government.
Meanwhile, Stridiron told WSTX radio that a number of BOC corrections officers have retired recently, creating a staffing shortfall. With the return of hard-core convicts in the wings, Stridiron said he will make a supplemental budget request from the Legislature to allow for new hiring.
While 15 new guards have been hired, Stridiron said 20 to 30 more are needed.
Stridiron said that on Friday the first unit of the expanded Golden Grove facility was turned over to the Bureau of Corrections. That will allow 10 of the 90 prisoners to be returned. The remainder of the prisoners will be sent back between June and November, he said.
Because of deteriorating conditions and overcrowding in the early 1990s, the V.I. government was forced to send a number of high-risk convicts to Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities on the mainland until the Golden Grove Prison was expanded. Originally, the prisoners were supposed to be gone only six months.
The ongoing monthly payments for housing the prisoners off-island is approximately $200,000 a month. That cost has resulted in a nearly $13-million debt to the federal government. Because of a lack of payment on the territory’s part, the debt was turned over to the U.S. Treasury Department for collection earlier this year.
To pay down the debt, Treasury diverted $1.6 million in federal highway funds that were headed to the territory. According to the Turnbull administration, the territory has paid $3.5 million toward its debt in the last 15 months. Those payments, along with the $1.6 million already diverted by Treasury, have been credited to the V.I. government.
Meanwhile, Stridiron told WSTX radio that a number of BOC corrections officers have retired recently, creating a staffing shortfall. With the return of hard-core convicts in the wings, Stridiron said he will make a supplemental budget request from the Legislature to allow for new hiring.
While 15 new guards have been hired, Stridiron said 20 to 30 more are needed.
10 OFF-ISLAND V.I. PRISONERS TO RETURN IN JUNE
Ten of the 90 Virgin Islanders being held in federal prisons on the mainland are scheduled to be transferred to St. Croix’s Golden Grove Prison this month, according to V.I. Attorney General Iver Stridiron.
Stridiron said the first unit of the expanded Golden Grove facility was turned over to the Bureau of Corrections on Friday. This will allow the first 10 prisoners to be returned to the territory, he said. The others will be sent back between June and November, he said.
Because of deteriorating prison conditions and overcrowding in the early 1990s, the V.I. government was forced to send a number of high-risk convicts to Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities on the mainland until the Golden Grove Prison was expanded. Originally, the prisoners were supposed to be gone only six months.
The cost of housing the prisoners on the mainland totals about $200,000 a month. Behind in its payments, the territory owes nearly $13 million to the federal government. Because of the lack of payment, the debt was turned over to the U.S. Treasury Department for collection earlier this year.
To pay down the debt, Treasury officials diverted $1.6 million in federal highway funds that had been designated for the territory. According to Turnbull administration officials, the territory has paid $3.5 million of its debt in the last 15 months. The payments and the $1.6 million diverted by Treasury officials have been credited to the V.I. government.
Meanwhile, Stridiron told WSTX Radio that a number of Corrections officers have retired recently, creating a staffing shortfall. Fifteen new guards have been hired, he said, but 20 to 30 more are needed. With the coming return of the hard-core off-island prisoners to Golden Grove, he said, he will submit a supplemental fiscal year 2000 budget request to the Legislature to allow for the additional hiring.
Stridiron said the first unit of the expanded Golden Grove facility was turned over to the Bureau of Corrections on Friday. This will allow the first 10 prisoners to be returned to the territory, he said. The others will be sent back between June and November, he said.
Because of deteriorating prison conditions and overcrowding in the early 1990s, the V.I. government was forced to send a number of high-risk convicts to Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities on the mainland until the Golden Grove Prison was expanded. Originally, the prisoners were supposed to be gone only six months.
The cost of housing the prisoners on the mainland totals about $200,000 a month. Behind in its payments, the territory owes nearly $13 million to the federal government. Because of the lack of payment, the debt was turned over to the U.S. Treasury Department for collection earlier this year.
To pay down the debt, Treasury officials diverted $1.6 million in federal highway funds that had been designated for the territory. According to Turnbull administration officials, the territory has paid $3.5 million of its debt in the last 15 months. The payments and the $1.6 million diverted by Treasury officials have been credited to the V.I. government.
Meanwhile, Stridiron told WSTX Radio that a number of Corrections officers have retired recently, creating a staffing shortfall. Fifteen new guards have been hired, he said, but 20 to 30 more are needed. With the coming return of the hard-core off-island prisoners to Golden Grove, he said, he will submit a supplemental fiscal year 2000 budget request to the Legislature to allow for the additional hiring.
UVI COOPERATIVE EXTENSERVICE TO HOLD CULTURAL & ECOLOGICAL HISTORY OF SALT RIVER
UVI's Cooperative Extention Service, Agricultural & Natural Resources Program will hold a free workshop: Cultural & Ecological History of Salt River at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, at the UVI Research & Extention Center, Room 133.
For information contact Olasee Davis at 692-4069.
For information contact Olasee Davis at 692-4069.
AFT TO PICKET GOVERNMENT HOUSE THURSDAY
The St. Thomas-St. John American Federation of Teachers is urging parents, teachers and school support staff to "engage in an informational picketing of Government House" at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
The AFT notice said, "Our schools are in crisis. While we must thank the governor for his emergency declaration, we are still without a crisp written action plan."
In recent days Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds has announced two initiatives to alleviate some of the financial problems she said the department faces.
The first is for school children to pay for their own busing at a rate of $5 a week for elementary school students and $10 for secondary students.
The second initiative, disclosed over the weekend, is to use funds made available under the declared "state of emergency" in education to repair the public schools.
Simmonds said she was "meeting with various department leaders in an attempt to determine how monies can be spent in repairing, maintaining and in some cases reconstructing various parts of the school campuses."
She made those remarks at the re-opening of Government House on St. Croix, a project that took five years to complete and cost $13 million.
The AFT has asked picketers to meet at Emancipation Garden.
The AFT notice said, "Our schools are in crisis. While we must thank the governor for his emergency declaration, we are still without a crisp written action plan."
In recent days Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds has announced two initiatives to alleviate some of the financial problems she said the department faces.
The first is for school children to pay for their own busing at a rate of $5 a week for elementary school students and $10 for secondary students.
The second initiative, disclosed over the weekend, is to use funds made available under the declared "state of emergency" in education to repair the public schools.
Simmonds said she was "meeting with various department leaders in an attempt to determine how monies can be spent in repairing, maintaining and in some cases reconstructing various parts of the school campuses."
She made those remarks at the re-opening of Government House on St. Croix, a project that took five years to complete and cost $13 million.
The AFT has asked picketers to meet at Emancipation Garden.
ROTARY II OF ST. THOMAS
Rotary II of St. Thomas will hold a business meeting regarding by-laws at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7, at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Window on the Harbour Dining Room.
Members, guests and potential members are encouraged to attend. Complimentary hors d'oeures will be served as well as the Chamber $2 bar.
Members, guests and potential members are encouraged to attend. Complimentary hors d'oeures will be served as well as the Chamber $2 bar.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AFTER HOURS
May 11, 2001— The Bullseye Range and Training Facility will host the next St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, Business After Hours, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, at the Bullseye Range, located on the second floor of the Claremore Building across from the airport. Members, guests, and potential members are encouraged to attend. Complimentary hors'doeuvres will be served and beverages available at the Chamber $2 bar.
