A wide-ranging retirement bill that contains a controversial provision giving senators full benefits after 12 years of service is headed back to committee for debate.
Last week the Senate was to take testimony from the Government Employees Retirement System on the bill, which would amend the current retirement law. But the session was adjourned after the retirement provision for senators stirred heated debate.
President Vargrave Richards said Wednesday that the bill will now be reassigned to the Committee on Government Operations for "public hearing and full debate." He did not say when hearings would take place.
The 100-plus-page retirement bill, drafted by GERS, seeks to shrink the system’s $300 million unfunded liability through a myriad of changes and to give administrators more flexibility in bringing in higher investment earnings.
But the section regarding senators’ retirement benefits has caused an uproar throughout the territory. The bill would give senators their full $65,000 a year salary after serving six two-year terms, regardless of age. Currently, senators can draw their retirement pay when they are 50 years old.
Additionally, senators who have served five terms would receive 90 percent of their pay after 10 years; 80 percent after eight years; and 60 percent after six years.
Currently, senators receive 2.5 percent of their yearly pay for each year of their first six years in the Legislature; 3 percent for years seven through 12; and 4 percent for each subsequent year.
Richards likened the controversy around the Senate retirement provision to "fireburn." The entire bill shouldn’t be discarded because of the one section, he said, noting that the bill could be amended in committee hearings. Some senators are "inclined to get rid of" the provision, he added.
"We don’t think it’s wise to gut the entire bill because of this one section," Richards said. "There are other portions of this bill that have been lost in the discord."
Some of them include allowing GERS members to sue the government if it doesn’t make its contributions to an employee’s pension, authorizing GERS to invest in securities with a BBB-bond rating or better rather than the current A rating, raising the mortgage ceiling from $75,000 to $200,000 and from $30,000 to $50,000 on land loans, allowing GERS to set cost-of-living-increases, and allowing the GERS board of directors to invest in real estate and borrow money without Senate approval.
Richards noted that the entire bill, including retirement provisions for senators, has been discussed over the "last several months," including seven meetings with GERS.
"This has been no secret," he said.
Nine majority-bloc senators, including Richards, signed on as co-sponsors of the entire bill. In committee Wednesday, Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, also a co-sponsor, ripped into his colleagues for "trying to pass the buck" on the issue. He said he was in favor of eliminating entirely retirement benefits for senators.
"I can’t wait for this issue to get on the floor," he said. "All hell will break loose."
RETIREMENT BILL HEADED BACK TO COMMITTEE
A wide-ranging retirement bill that contains a controversial provision giving senators full benefits after 12 years of service is headed back to committee for debate.
Last week the Senate was to take testimony from the Government Employees Retirement System on the bill, which would amend the current retirement law. But the session was adjourned after the retirement provision for senators stirred heated debate.
President Vargrave Richards said Wednesday that the bill will now be reassigned to the Committee on Government Operations for "public hearing and full debate." He did not say when hearings would take place.
The 100-plus-page retirement bill, drafted by GERS, seeks to shrink the system’s $300 million unfunded liability through a myriad of changes and to give administrators more flexibility in bringing in higher investment earnings.
But the section regarding senators’ retirement benefits has caused an uproar throughout the territory. The bill would give senators their full $65,000 a year salary after serving six two-year terms, regardless of age. Currently, senators can draw their retirement pay when they are 50 years old.
Additionally, senators who have served five terms would receive 90 percent of their pay after 10 years; 80 percent after eight years; and 60 percent after six years.
Currently, senators receive 2.5 percent of their yearly pay for each year of their first six years in the Legislature; 3 percent for years seven through 12; and 4 percent for each subsequent year.
Richards likened the controversy around the Senate retirement provision to "fireburn." The entire bill shouldn’t be discarded because of the one section, he said, noting that the bill could be amended in committee hearings. Some senators are "inclined to get rid of" the provision, he added.
"We don’t think it’s wise to gut the entire bill because of this one section," Richards said. "There are other portions of this bill that have been lost in the discord."
Some of them include allowing GERS members to sue the government if it doesn’t make its contributions to an employee’s pension, authorizing GERS to invest in securities with a BBB-bond rating or better rather than the current A rating, raising the mortgage ceiling from $75,000 to $200,000 and from $30,000 to $50,000 on land loans, allowing GERS to set cost-of-living-increases, and allowing the GERS board of directors to invest in real estate and borrow money without Senate approval.
Richards noted that the entire bill, including retirement provisions for senators, has been discussed over the "last several months," including seven meetings with GERS.
"This has been no secret," he said.
Nine majority-bloc senators, including Richards, signed on as co-sponsors of the entire bill. In committee Wednesday, Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, also a co-sponsor, ripped into his colleagues for "trying to pass the buck" on the issue. He said he was in favor of eliminating entirely retirement benefits for senators.
"I can’t wait for this issue to get on the floor," he said. "All hell will break loose."
Last week the Senate was to take testimony from the Government Employees Retirement System on the bill, which would amend the current retirement law. But the session was adjourned after the retirement provision for senators stirred heated debate.
President Vargrave Richards said Wednesday that the bill will now be reassigned to the Committee on Government Operations for "public hearing and full debate." He did not say when hearings would take place.
The 100-plus-page retirement bill, drafted by GERS, seeks to shrink the system’s $300 million unfunded liability through a myriad of changes and to give administrators more flexibility in bringing in higher investment earnings.
But the section regarding senators’ retirement benefits has caused an uproar throughout the territory. The bill would give senators their full $65,000 a year salary after serving six two-year terms, regardless of age. Currently, senators can draw their retirement pay when they are 50 years old.
Additionally, senators who have served five terms would receive 90 percent of their pay after 10 years; 80 percent after eight years; and 60 percent after six years.
Currently, senators receive 2.5 percent of their yearly pay for each year of their first six years in the Legislature; 3 percent for years seven through 12; and 4 percent for each subsequent year.
Richards likened the controversy around the Senate retirement provision to "fireburn." The entire bill shouldn’t be discarded because of the one section, he said, noting that the bill could be amended in committee hearings. Some senators are "inclined to get rid of" the provision, he added.
"We don’t think it’s wise to gut the entire bill because of this one section," Richards said. "There are other portions of this bill that have been lost in the discord."
Some of them include allowing GERS members to sue the government if it doesn’t make its contributions to an employee’s pension, authorizing GERS to invest in securities with a BBB-bond rating or better rather than the current A rating, raising the mortgage ceiling from $75,000 to $200,000 and from $30,000 to $50,000 on land loans, allowing GERS to set cost-of-living-increases, and allowing the GERS board of directors to invest in real estate and borrow money without Senate approval.
Richards noted that the entire bill, including retirement provisions for senators, has been discussed over the "last several months," including seven meetings with GERS.
"This has been no secret," he said.
Nine majority-bloc senators, including Richards, signed on as co-sponsors of the entire bill. In committee Wednesday, Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, also a co-sponsor, ripped into his colleagues for "trying to pass the buck" on the issue. He said he was in favor of eliminating entirely retirement benefits for senators.
"I can’t wait for this issue to get on the floor," he said. "All hell will break loose."
'HOOPS BROTHERS' COULD HELP V.I. YOUTH
The head of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, Guy Mitchell, is planning a mentoring program for troubled adolescents. The program, "Hoops Brothers," will be patterned after a similar initiative based in New York City.
Mitchell told Rotarians on Wednesday that the program, aimed at steering young people away from violence and crime to a more responsible and stable lifestyle, was created after the Million Man March in Washington, D.C.
"The march highlighted several of the problems facing young black males," Mitchell said.
The program was started in Harlem, he said, and "now it is spreading to other sections of New York City." Hoops Brothers meets once a week at a local high school. They play basketball and "attempt to exemplify the principles of good behavior," said Mitchell.
"When I came here to head up the criminal division at Justice," he said, "I quickly noticed the same concerns affecting the youths in New York were affecting those here in paradise." He estimated that 90 percent of violent crimes committed in the V.I. involve young black males.
Guidance counselors and other mentors have noted similar trends of untoward behavior in teen-aged girls, he said, and are starting a similar program, called "Sister Net."
"The girls now get together over a volleyball match and exemplify their own non-violent principles," Mitchell said.
Guy Mitchell can be reached at the Justice Department at 774-5666 for additional information on the mentoring programs, "Hoops Brothers" and "Sister Net."
Mitchell told Rotarians on Wednesday that the program, aimed at steering young people away from violence and crime to a more responsible and stable lifestyle, was created after the Million Man March in Washington, D.C.
"The march highlighted several of the problems facing young black males," Mitchell said.
The program was started in Harlem, he said, and "now it is spreading to other sections of New York City." Hoops Brothers meets once a week at a local high school. They play basketball and "attempt to exemplify the principles of good behavior," said Mitchell.
"When I came here to head up the criminal division at Justice," he said, "I quickly noticed the same concerns affecting the youths in New York were affecting those here in paradise." He estimated that 90 percent of violent crimes committed in the V.I. involve young black males.
Guidance counselors and other mentors have noted similar trends of untoward behavior in teen-aged girls, he said, and are starting a similar program, called "Sister Net."
"The girls now get together over a volleyball match and exemplify their own non-violent principles," Mitchell said.
Guy Mitchell can be reached at the Justice Department at 774-5666 for additional information on the mentoring programs, "Hoops Brothers" and "Sister Net."
VITRAN AXES LATE NIGHT, MOST SUNDAY SERVICE
With half of the Vitran work force laid off territorywide, public bus service has been reduced effective Thursday, May 11, until further notice. Meantime, government officials are talking with union representatives about worker concessions and analyzing a $600,000 public transit appropriation from the Legislature.
Public Works Commissioner Harold Thompson's advice to the public relying on bus service was to "properly plan daily trips well in advance in order to minimize problems resulting from the cutbacks."
According to a Government House press release announcing the reduced service, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has directed his chief labor negotiator, Karen Andrews, "to continue discussions with labor representatives on the counter-proposal offered by the unions" on Monday "to avoid layoffs of Vitran employees."
Employees have offered to forgo sick-leave, holiday and overtime pay and to cut back to a four-day work week in order to save jobs.
At a daylong meeting at Government House on Wednesday, the release said, the decision was reached "to curtail Vitran operations while budget analysts reviewed the impact and availability of $600,000 appropriated from the Indirect Cost Fund intended to sustain bus service through Sept. 30."
The legislative appropriation is in a bill that reached Government House on Tuesday afternoon, according to the release.
"A preliminary review indicates that the funds appropriated are short of the requirement to continue Vitran operations until Sept. 30, 2000, at present levels," the release stated. It cited "a 50 percent reduction in ridership and increasing fuel and operating costs" as problems.
Elaborating on the drop in ridership, James O'Bryan, public relations assistant to the governor, told the Source there has been "a steady decline" over the last two years in Vitran ridership territorywide. What had been "seven or eight thousand a day is now down to three to five thousand," he said.
He attributed the drop to Vitran's own "lack of equipment" as well as "increased competition from taxi drivers and safari buses."
On St. Croix, four buses are now providing service with start times of approximately one hour apart. Service is still from 5:30 a.m. but ends at 8:30 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m. There is no longer any Sunday service.
On St. Thomas, service has been reduced to five buses serving eight routes with a minimum wait of one hour or one-half hour, depending on route and time of day. The City-UVI and City-Subbase routes have been combined, and the Bordeaux route has been cut back to three runs daily instead of five. Service on the other five routes has also been curtailed.
Bus service still begins at 5:30 a.m. but now ends at 8:30 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There is no longer any Sunday service.
On St. John, two buses are now providing service, from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. "Limited service" will be provided on Sunday.
Thompson said all federally mandated Americans with Disabilities Act transit service is continuing on all three islands.
The release also said Turnbull has asked the agencies involved to "expedite their analysis" of the unions' proposal and to see that the laid-off Vitran workers promptly receive any annual leave payments to which they are entitled.
Public Works Commissioner Harold Thompson's advice to the public relying on bus service was to "properly plan daily trips well in advance in order to minimize problems resulting from the cutbacks."
According to a Government House press release announcing the reduced service, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has directed his chief labor negotiator, Karen Andrews, "to continue discussions with labor representatives on the counter-proposal offered by the unions" on Monday "to avoid layoffs of Vitran employees."
Employees have offered to forgo sick-leave, holiday and overtime pay and to cut back to a four-day work week in order to save jobs.
At a daylong meeting at Government House on Wednesday, the release said, the decision was reached "to curtail Vitran operations while budget analysts reviewed the impact and availability of $600,000 appropriated from the Indirect Cost Fund intended to sustain bus service through Sept. 30."
The legislative appropriation is in a bill that reached Government House on Tuesday afternoon, according to the release.
"A preliminary review indicates that the funds appropriated are short of the requirement to continue Vitran operations until Sept. 30, 2000, at present levels," the release stated. It cited "a 50 percent reduction in ridership and increasing fuel and operating costs" as problems.
Elaborating on the drop in ridership, James O'Bryan, public relations assistant to the governor, told the Source there has been "a steady decline" over the last two years in Vitran ridership territorywide. What had been "seven or eight thousand a day is now down to three to five thousand," he said.
He attributed the drop to Vitran's own "lack of equipment" as well as "increased competition from taxi drivers and safari buses."
On St. Croix, four buses are now providing service with start times of approximately one hour apart. Service is still from 5:30 a.m. but ends at 8:30 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m. There is no longer any Sunday service.
On St. Thomas, service has been reduced to five buses serving eight routes with a minimum wait of one hour or one-half hour, depending on route and time of day. The City-UVI and City-Subbase routes have been combined, and the Bordeaux route has been cut back to three runs daily instead of five. Service on the other five routes has also been curtailed.
Bus service still begins at 5:30 a.m. but now ends at 8:30 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There is no longer any Sunday service.
On St. John, two buses are now providing service, from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. "Limited service" will be provided on Sunday.
Thompson said all federally mandated Americans with Disabilities Act transit service is continuing on all three islands.
The release also said Turnbull has asked the agencies involved to "expedite their analysis" of the unions' proposal and to see that the laid-off Vitran workers promptly receive any annual leave payments to which they are entitled.
PORT AUTHORITY, McD'S AND EDUCATION TRIUMPH
Virgin Islands Port Authority beat Radio One, 11-7. McDonald's came back to defeat Cruise Ship Excursions, 7-6, in extra innings. And Education held off WAPA, 8-7, in the final game Tuesday night in the Government and Industrial Coed Slowpitch Softball League.
Lenora Ritter held her own on the mound in leading VIPA over Dexter Freeman and Radio One/AT&T. VIPA's Ackie Matthews led the charge, hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning. He and teammates Butch Thomas, Louis Flynn and James Boschulte each went two for three at the plate.
For Radio One/AT&T, Kenneth Pratt Jr. and Julien Baa went perfect at the plate in three and two at bats, respectively. Kenneth Vanterpool added a two-for-three performance of his own in the losing effort.
In game two, McDonald's scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score and send the game into extra innings.
In the extra frame, McDonald's pitcher/manager Steve Hart kept all the balls in the infield and held Cruise Ship Excursions scoreless. His nephew, Travis Hart, led off the bottom of the inning with a double in the right center field gap that was booted by the center-fielder and allowed Travis Hart to score the game-ending run. Steve Hart also led his team in hitting going two for three at the plate.
Dave Whitter went three for four and Clement Maduro went two for three at the plate for Cruise Ship Excursions. Mike Dunston got the loss.
In the nightcap, WAPA used homerun power for offense but was unable to surpass Education. Other than the home runs, Education pitcher Stanley Smith kept WAPA from crossing the plate. Education's Michael Bute went perfect at the plate in three appearances. Frankie Brathwaite and Harvey Warner each added a two for three performance.
Winston Smith, Anson Larcheveaux Jr. and Colville White each two were for three at the plate to lead WAPA's offense. White and player Cartier each had a home run.
Lenora Ritter held her own on the mound in leading VIPA over Dexter Freeman and Radio One/AT&T. VIPA's Ackie Matthews led the charge, hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning. He and teammates Butch Thomas, Louis Flynn and James Boschulte each went two for three at the plate.
For Radio One/AT&T, Kenneth Pratt Jr. and Julien Baa went perfect at the plate in three and two at bats, respectively. Kenneth Vanterpool added a two-for-three performance of his own in the losing effort.
In game two, McDonald's scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score and send the game into extra innings.
In the extra frame, McDonald's pitcher/manager Steve Hart kept all the balls in the infield and held Cruise Ship Excursions scoreless. His nephew, Travis Hart, led off the bottom of the inning with a double in the right center field gap that was booted by the center-fielder and allowed Travis Hart to score the game-ending run. Steve Hart also led his team in hitting going two for three at the plate.
Dave Whitter went three for four and Clement Maduro went two for three at the plate for Cruise Ship Excursions. Mike Dunston got the loss.
In the nightcap, WAPA used homerun power for offense but was unable to surpass Education. Other than the home runs, Education pitcher Stanley Smith kept WAPA from crossing the plate. Education's Michael Bute went perfect at the plate in three appearances. Frankie Brathwaite and Harvey Warner each added a two for three performance.
Winston Smith, Anson Larcheveaux Jr. and Colville White each two were for three at the plate to lead WAPA's offense. White and player Cartier each had a home run.
VARSITY DEVIL RAYS STING CHICKENHAWKS, 6-5
The Ivanna Eudora Kean Devil Rays stung the Charlotte Amalie Chickenhawks, 6-5, in varsity baseball action at the Michael J. Kirwan ball park. Eudora Kean's Levron Sarauw Jr. allowed CAHS only two hits while striking out seven and walking three.
The Chickenhawks did not score an earned run as five Devil Ray miscues allowed them five runs. The Devil Rays scored only one earned run themselves as they capitalized on the Chickenhawks' miscues, too.
CAHS starting pitcher Jahsan Page did not have control of his pitches. He allowed the Devil Rays four runs, three of them unearned, walking four and striking out one and giving up one hit in one and two-thirds innings. Page threw three wild pitches and was relieved by Kwame O'Neal, who had better command of his pitches in striking out six Devil Rays.
Eudora Kean mustered only four scattered hits in the game. Neither team hit the ball well. "We didn't play. We didn't hit," Chickenhawks manager Kenny Todman noted.
"We have to work on our defense to stop our team's dependence on Sarauw," Devil Rays manager Alvin "Bello" Richards said, adding that his catcher Keith LaMotta "played good in controlling Sarauw."
The Chickenhawks did not score an earned run as five Devil Ray miscues allowed them five runs. The Devil Rays scored only one earned run themselves as they capitalized on the Chickenhawks' miscues, too.
CAHS starting pitcher Jahsan Page did not have control of his pitches. He allowed the Devil Rays four runs, three of them unearned, walking four and striking out one and giving up one hit in one and two-thirds innings. Page threw three wild pitches and was relieved by Kwame O'Neal, who had better command of his pitches in striking out six Devil Rays.
Eudora Kean mustered only four scattered hits in the game. Neither team hit the ball well. "We didn't play. We didn't hit," Chickenhawks manager Kenny Todman noted.
"We have to work on our defense to stop our team's dependence on Sarauw," Devil Rays manager Alvin "Bello" Richards said, adding that his catcher Keith LaMotta "played good in controlling Sarauw."
UNBEATEN CAHS TOPS BCB IN JV BASEBALL
The Charlotte Amalie Chickenhawks remained undefeated as they held off the Bertha C. Boschulte Blazers, 12-9, in junior varsity baseball action at the Michael J. Kirwan ball park.
The Chickenhawks scored five runs in the top of the third inning to take an 8-5 lead. The Blazers answered with one in the bottom half of the inning but subsequently give up another four runs in the top of the fourth. The Blazers tried to mount a comeback but scored only three runs in the bottom of the fourth and the game was called due to the two-hour time limit for junior varsity baseball.
Charlotte Amalie totaled eight hits in the contest. BCB got nine hits but ran themselves out of scoring opportunities with base-running miscues.
The Chickenhawks improved to 2-0 as the Blazers dropped their first game of the season. Sean David was the winning pitcher and Kyle LaMotta absorbed the loss.
The Chickenhawks scored five runs in the top of the third inning to take an 8-5 lead. The Blazers answered with one in the bottom half of the inning but subsequently give up another four runs in the top of the fourth. The Blazers tried to mount a comeback but scored only three runs in the bottom of the fourth and the game was called due to the two-hour time limit for junior varsity baseball.
Charlotte Amalie totaled eight hits in the contest. BCB got nine hits but ran themselves out of scoring opportunities with base-running miscues.
The Chickenhawks improved to 2-0 as the Blazers dropped their first game of the season. Sean David was the winning pitcher and Kyle LaMotta absorbed the loss.
LACK OF FUNDS CITED FOR LANDFILL VIOLATIONS
The Public Works Department does not have the resources to bring the Bovoni landfill into compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, department representative Roan Creque told the Senate Planning and Environmental Protection Committee Wednesday.
"There is nothing we can do to come into compliance without a check," Creque said.
EPA Virgin Islands coordinator Jim Casey, Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean Plaskett and Creque spoke at a hearing called to review a consent agreement the territorial government entered into with the EPA to bring the Bovoni landfill into compliance with federal guidelines.
Casey also updated the committee on the EPA's recent announcement that it would move to disapprove the government's landfill program at both Bovoni and Anguilla on St. Croix, thereby giving the federal agency the authority to take over their regulation. Currently, Planning and Natural Resources regulates the landfill program that the Public Works Department operates.
The EPA announced Monday that the V.I. government had not adopted necessary solid waste regulations or allocated sufficient staff and resources for the program. The federal agency will hold public hearings on June 27 and 28 as the next step before possibly taking over regulation of the landfill program.
"Compliance is as bad as it was three years ago," Casey said. Countering Creque's request that the federal agency provide funds for the landfill program, he said, "Funds are not given to any other place for the upkeep of landfills."
The government lacks regulations regarding the venting of methane gas, which has provoked underground fires in the landfills, and the prohibition of hazardous waste, the EPA has said.
Plaskett said earlier this week that his office has prepared a set of regulations that is awaiting approval by the Legislature and Government House.
In a release from committee chair Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg's office later Wednesday, Donastorg said, "Everyone knows I welcome this long-overdue federal intervention. I'm going to ask that the federal government hold specific individuals personally responsible for seeing landfill cleanup efforts through. The buck has been passed again and again. We are talking about a major threat to public health and the environment – this must be made a priority."
In other action, by a 4-0 vote, the committee approved a minor Coastal Zone Management permit for Alex Randall to construct a 375-square-foot, concrete private dock on Water Island, where he resides. Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole, Norman Jn Baptiste, George Goodwin and Donastorg voted for the permit. Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd was absent from the vote.
The committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. Thursday on St. Croix in the Legislature Complex in Frederiksted. The Anguilla landfill will be a focus of the deliberations, with EPA, Public Works and Planning and Natural Resources officials again asked to be present. The committee will also take testimony on the recent oil leak at the St. Croix Alumina plant, which according to the release may have contaminated the Kingshill aquifer.
"There is nothing we can do to come into compliance without a check," Creque said.
EPA Virgin Islands coordinator Jim Casey, Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean Plaskett and Creque spoke at a hearing called to review a consent agreement the territorial government entered into with the EPA to bring the Bovoni landfill into compliance with federal guidelines.
Casey also updated the committee on the EPA's recent announcement that it would move to disapprove the government's landfill program at both Bovoni and Anguilla on St. Croix, thereby giving the federal agency the authority to take over their regulation. Currently, Planning and Natural Resources regulates the landfill program that the Public Works Department operates.
The EPA announced Monday that the V.I. government had not adopted necessary solid waste regulations or allocated sufficient staff and resources for the program. The federal agency will hold public hearings on June 27 and 28 as the next step before possibly taking over regulation of the landfill program.
"Compliance is as bad as it was three years ago," Casey said. Countering Creque's request that the federal agency provide funds for the landfill program, he said, "Funds are not given to any other place for the upkeep of landfills."
The government lacks regulations regarding the venting of methane gas, which has provoked underground fires in the landfills, and the prohibition of hazardous waste, the EPA has said.
Plaskett said earlier this week that his office has prepared a set of regulations that is awaiting approval by the Legislature and Government House.
In a release from committee chair Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg's office later Wednesday, Donastorg said, "Everyone knows I welcome this long-overdue federal intervention. I'm going to ask that the federal government hold specific individuals personally responsible for seeing landfill cleanup efforts through. The buck has been passed again and again. We are talking about a major threat to public health and the environment – this must be made a priority."
In other action, by a 4-0 vote, the committee approved a minor Coastal Zone Management permit for Alex Randall to construct a 375-square-foot, concrete private dock on Water Island, where he resides. Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole, Norman Jn Baptiste, George Goodwin and Donastorg voted for the permit. Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd was absent from the vote.
The committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. Thursday on St. Croix in the Legislature Complex in Frederiksted. The Anguilla landfill will be a focus of the deliberations, with EPA, Public Works and Planning and Natural Resources officials again asked to be present. The committee will also take testimony on the recent oil leak at the St. Croix Alumina plant, which according to the release may have contaminated the Kingshill aquifer.
LOCKHART OUT RUNS TUITT IN THE 9-12 FINALS
Lockhart Elementary topped its counterpart Jane E. Tuitt 47-38 Wednesday in the Housing Parks and Recreation/Department of Education 9-12 Basketball League Finals, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
Lockhart didn't score until halfway though the six-minute first quarter, but led 12-6 by the end of the first period. Lockhart then led 29-17 by the half.
Kendale Brathwaite scored 12 points to lead Lockhart at the half. Emmanuel Polano led Tuitt with six points in the half. Tuitt came back in the third quarter to cut the lead to four, 34-30. Polano led Tuitt’s come back as he had two massive dunks.
In the fourth quarter, Lockhart increased its lead to nine, 43-34.
Lockhart’s head coach Joann Dickerson said her team came to win.
"I wanted my team to play better defense than they did against Peace Corps, and they did," she said.
Tuitt’s game plan was to keep the ball from Lockhart’s Jan Carlos Felix. Felix was upset with Tuitt’s defense.
"I thought they fouled me too much, but that’s the game," he said. "I didn’t let that take me out of the game. I just played defense on them."
Tuitt’s head coach Lionel "Gabby" Gumbs said his team was "weak and tentative."
"We did not score and played a fast break run-and-gun game with them," Gumbs said. "Tomorrow we will try to slow them down into a half court game."
The top scorers for Lockhart were Brathwaite with 14 points, Felix with 13, Kareem Victorine with 11 and Larry Fitzpatrick, 8.
For Tuitt it was Emmanuel Polano with 10 points, Khalid Carr, 9 and Francisco Greene 8.
Lockhart didn't score until halfway though the six-minute first quarter, but led 12-6 by the end of the first period. Lockhart then led 29-17 by the half.
Kendale Brathwaite scored 12 points to lead Lockhart at the half. Emmanuel Polano led Tuitt with six points in the half. Tuitt came back in the third quarter to cut the lead to four, 34-30. Polano led Tuitt’s come back as he had two massive dunks.
In the fourth quarter, Lockhart increased its lead to nine, 43-34.
Lockhart’s head coach Joann Dickerson said her team came to win.
"I wanted my team to play better defense than they did against Peace Corps, and they did," she said.
Tuitt’s game plan was to keep the ball from Lockhart’s Jan Carlos Felix. Felix was upset with Tuitt’s defense.
"I thought they fouled me too much, but that’s the game," he said. "I didn’t let that take me out of the game. I just played defense on them."
Tuitt’s head coach Lionel "Gabby" Gumbs said his team was "weak and tentative."
"We did not score and played a fast break run-and-gun game with them," Gumbs said. "Tomorrow we will try to slow them down into a half court game."
The top scorers for Lockhart were Brathwaite with 14 points, Felix with 13, Kareem Victorine with 11 and Larry Fitzpatrick, 8.
For Tuitt it was Emmanuel Polano with 10 points, Khalid Carr, 9 and Francisco Greene 8.
5 ST. THOMAS DRIVERS TO OPERATE VITRAN BUSES
After final-hour talks between union officials and government labor negotiators proved fruitless, St. John Vitran workers resigned themselves to layoffs as of Thursday morning.
"It's been great working for Vitran. It's time to move on," driver Paula Smith said. She and nine other St. John public transit workes spent much of Wednesday hoping for a last-minute reprieve. But by mid-afernoon, conversations turned to job opportunities at local hotels.
Operations manager Donna Roberts, the one St. Vitran worker who is still to report for work Thursday, spent most of the day adjusting a new bus schedule and laying down the ground rules for five St. Thomas transferees given their marching orders earlier in the day.
Because public transit service was begun only three years ago on St. John, the island's Vitran employees, being among the last-hired, were among the first to be let go. When officials of the United Steelworkers Union, which represents the St. Thomas and St. John Vitran rank and file, met with the employees on April 20, the St. Thomas workers said they would not come to St. John to replace their union brothers and sisters.
But by Wednesday morning, Roberts said, the five St. Thomas workers now at the bottom of the union's seniority list were given an ultimatum: Report to St. John or face termination.
Steelworkers union president Luis "Tito" Morales has warned his members that anyone terminated as a result of a job action will not be subject to recall if and when the public transit system recovers from its current financial plight.
Hopes for a last-minute reprieve were pinned in part on a meeting Wednesday between Morales and Government House chief labor negotiator Karen Andrews. The union president arranged the talks via a Tuesday evening telephone call to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
But by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Morales could only report what Andrews had said publicly at a Monday night Senate committee hearing on St. Thomas: Any pitch for union concessions in exchange for saving jobs would have to be analyzed by administration financial officers before a decision could be made about the future of the affected public transit employees.
Union workers have said they would forgo sick-leave, holiday and overtime pay and would go to a four-day work week in order to avoid the announced layoff of 62 employees — half the Vitran work force.
When the layoffs were announced last month, it was stated that any St. Thomas drivers interested in transferring to St. John would have to take up residence on St. John. It appeared that this would no longer be the case.
Morales said he would ask the administration to compensate St. Thomas workers for any expenses they would incur for staying overnight on St. John to start the day's first run at 5:15 a.m. When Vitran began operations on St. John in 1997, he said, temporary drivers from St. Thomas and St. Croix were paid for overnight stays. Roberts, however, said she does not favor such concessions now, since St. John drivers were not similarly compensated.
The new crew will be subject to the same shift rotation that has been in effect, Roberts said. Details of the new schedule are still being worked out, she said, but there will be limited service on Sundays. Starting immediately Thursday, the last regular departure from the Cruz Bay ferry dock will be at 7:25 p.m. instead of 9:25 p.m. And the last run from Salt Pond to Susannaberg will depart at 8:15 p.m. instead of 10:15 p.m.
Among those sure to be affected by the earlier end to service from the ferry dock are University of the Virgin Islands evening students commuting from the St. Thomas campus on the island's west end, and St. John commuters whose work shifts require them to come home on a ferry later than 7 p.m.
"It's been great working for Vitran. It's time to move on," driver Paula Smith said. She and nine other St. John public transit workes spent much of Wednesday hoping for a last-minute reprieve. But by mid-afernoon, conversations turned to job opportunities at local hotels.
Operations manager Donna Roberts, the one St. Vitran worker who is still to report for work Thursday, spent most of the day adjusting a new bus schedule and laying down the ground rules for five St. Thomas transferees given their marching orders earlier in the day.
Because public transit service was begun only three years ago on St. John, the island's Vitran employees, being among the last-hired, were among the first to be let go. When officials of the United Steelworkers Union, which represents the St. Thomas and St. John Vitran rank and file, met with the employees on April 20, the St. Thomas workers said they would not come to St. John to replace their union brothers and sisters.
But by Wednesday morning, Roberts said, the five St. Thomas workers now at the bottom of the union's seniority list were given an ultimatum: Report to St. John or face termination.
Steelworkers union president Luis "Tito" Morales has warned his members that anyone terminated as a result of a job action will not be subject to recall if and when the public transit system recovers from its current financial plight.
Hopes for a last-minute reprieve were pinned in part on a meeting Wednesday between Morales and Government House chief labor negotiator Karen Andrews. The union president arranged the talks via a Tuesday evening telephone call to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
But by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Morales could only report what Andrews had said publicly at a Monday night Senate committee hearing on St. Thomas: Any pitch for union concessions in exchange for saving jobs would have to be analyzed by administration financial officers before a decision could be made about the future of the affected public transit employees.
Union workers have said they would forgo sick-leave, holiday and overtime pay and would go to a four-day work week in order to avoid the announced layoff of 62 employees — half the Vitran work force.
When the layoffs were announced last month, it was stated that any St. Thomas drivers interested in transferring to St. John would have to take up residence on St. John. It appeared that this would no longer be the case.
Morales said he would ask the administration to compensate St. Thomas workers for any expenses they would incur for staying overnight on St. John to start the day's first run at 5:15 a.m. When Vitran began operations on St. John in 1997, he said, temporary drivers from St. Thomas and St. Croix were paid for overnight stays. Roberts, however, said she does not favor such concessions now, since St. John drivers were not similarly compensated.
The new crew will be subject to the same shift rotation that has been in effect, Roberts said. Details of the new schedule are still being worked out, she said, but there will be limited service on Sundays. Starting immediately Thursday, the last regular departure from the Cruz Bay ferry dock will be at 7:25 p.m. instead of 9:25 p.m. And the last run from Salt Pond to Susannaberg will depart at 8:15 p.m. instead of 10:15 p.m.
Among those sure to be affected by the earlier end to service from the ferry dock are University of the Virgin Islands evening students commuting from the St. Thomas campus on the island's west end, and St. John commuters whose work shifts require them to come home on a ferry later than 7 p.m.
