Under a five-year economic recovery plan presented to the Senate Finance Committee Monday, the government would get out of the business of operating buses, running the V.I. Lottery and managing its fleet of vehicles and the territory's solid waste.
And the decision could be made to reduce the work week for some government employees and lay off others.
Through privatization and contracting out for services, the government would both cut its expenditures and increase its revenues, according to the report from the administration's Economic Recovery Task Force.
John de Jongh Jr. chaired the task force, created last year by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, which drafted the plan. In testimony Monday, he warned the committee that the government faces such dire consequences as federal government intervention, cessation of investment, capital flight and default on payroll if it continues business as usual.
"Privatization is the buzzword in this plan," Sen. Violet Anne Golden, a member of the task force, said.
The plan "makes a compelling case that the fiscal crisis of the U.S. Virgin Islands cannot be ignored," Finance Committee chair Lorraine Berry said in a release issued by her office following the hearing.
The Five-Year Strategic and Financial Operating Plan set forth in the 300-page task force report recommends a three-pronged strategy:
– Reduce and control government spending,
– Increase revenue collections to control the deficit short term, and
– Implement private-sector initiatives to increase government revenues in the medium to long term.
In addition to moving Vitran, the lottery, solid waste management and management of the government fleet into the public sector, the plan also contains initiatives for other government agencies and for the reorganization of central services.
It recommends the creation of an Economic Development Authority. Turnbull has proposed to create such an entity, merging existing agencies such as the Industrial Development Commission, the Government Development Bank and the Small Business Development Agency.
According to deJongh, the government's accumulated deficit stood at $305 million at the end of fiscal year 1999. He said it will grow to at least $335 million and perhaps to more than $800 million, depending on the degree of implementation of the recommended measures. In the best-case scenario, the task force projects a budget surplus of $11.4 million for fiscal year 2004, he said.
Rudolph Krigger Sr., assistant to the governor for fiscal and economic policy, and two officials of Core International, the administration consulting firm that produced the plan, also testified. Krigger said the plan entails difficult decisions that will have to be made in order to improve the territory's economic outlook over the next five years. Among them are measures to reduce the government work week, reduce the size of the public payroll and lay off government workers, he said. Privatization in specified areas must occur, he added.
Further, Krigger said, "Attitudes within the territory must be amended in order to entice businesses to come to the community."
Core president Vinod Shrivastava stressed in his testimony that endorsement of privatization wherever possible is necessary to foster the growth of the private sector, according to Berry's release.
The task force recommended implementation of the measures over the next two years.
Berry noted that the administration's fiscal year 2001 budget is due to be submitted to the Legislature this month. The release from her office stated that, given "the historic problem of enforcement and implementation of recommendations," she asked Krigger whether the task force recommendations would "be visible" in the FY 2001 budget." The response, according to the release, was that "recommendations are continuously being implemented and will be seen" in the forthcoming budget.
The plan was originally to have been presented to the Finance Committee on April 18 but was delayed to April 27 at Government House request. Then Shrivastava asked that it be delayed a second time, saying he needed more time to prepare his presentation. It was then rescheduled for Monday.
Committee members present in addition to Berry and Golden were Senators Gregory Bennerson, Roosevent David, George Goodwin and David Jones. Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen asked to be excused. Non-committee members present included Senators Donald "Ducks" Cole, Norman Jn Baptiste, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Vargrave Richards.

Two men have been arrested and charged with rape in separate incidents, according to a release from Jose Garcia, territorial chief of police.
Alvin A. Gomez Jr., 37, known as "Miko," of Altona 178-221, was arrested Monday and charged with rape and kidnaping. Gomez is accused of grabbing his victim at 10 p.m. Sunday near the Snap Shop on Norre Gade and dragging her across the street to the rear of the Lutheran Church, where the alleged rape occurred.
Bail for Gomez was set at $100,000.
A second arrest was made Monday in connection with a series of alleged rapes taking place in December 1997. The accused man, Ted Fahie, 42, has been charged with second-degree rape.
The victim, who was 15 years old at the time, was staying at Fahie's home when he allegedly had sexual intercourse with her three times, according to Garcia.
Deputy Chief of Police Theodore Carty said the victim reported the incident only a week ago. Carty could not say why there was a two-year delay in reporting it.
Fahie is also being held on $100,000 bail.

The geography might have changed, but the spirit was ready and willing as more than 350 ex-St. Thomians celebrated Bacchanal 2000 in Sarasota, Fla., Friday through Sunday.
Bringing memories, stories, some old dance steps, some children and one leashed cat wearing a pink visor, the expats ate, drank and renewed friendships at the fifth annual jump-up.
What started out five years ago as a relative handful of folks gathering together has become a full-blown reunion. Choreographed by Ron Morrisette and Pat Rice with an assist by Ann Johnson, the affair began with a Friday-night welcome at the Radisson resort on Lido Beach with old familiar faces pouring onto the beach and into open arms, backed up by steelpans and lots of food and drink to set the tone for the weekend.
The celebrants weren't only from Florida. Jenny Rice came from Costa Rica, where she has a small hotel; Ami Hartley traveled from San Francisco, Mary T Cook from Cincinnati, Carol Galvin from New York, Terry "Little Bit" Solomon from Arizona and Pete and Carol Whims from Michigan.
Among a handful of current St. Thomians were Delores and John Jowers, Dick Spenceley, Gloria McGowan, Linda and Charles Sheviski and, most notably, 100-year-old Blanch Sasso with daughter Leah McAllister and a 6-week old great-grandaughter. Ron and Diane Walker were there from St. John.
Sarasota artist Nancy Goodheart Matthew, daughter of Harry Goodheart, was among the welcoming faces, along with David Maas, David Puritz, Bo Campbell and Paula Mydzenski, WAPA Bob and Betty, Jackie and Henry Wazny, Leonarda Crowley, Jo and Len Stein and Kathy and Jim Lavalley.
Jumping up Saturday on Siesta Key at the all-day beach party was an almost complete ticket counter from late '60s Pan Am — Nancy Carlin, Susan Wynne, Brenda Slosky and Barbara Knight. Island music sounded all day with a Dominican group, the Brothers Intent. And doing a few guest shots was Nicky Russell, the "Mighty Whitey."
Calling the expats now "re-patriated" Americans, Morrisette appeared pleased with his labors to engineer an atmosphere of earlier, more carefree days in the Virgin Islands. "It's been a lot of work," he said, "a labor of love." He called putting the whole thing together a "leap of faith."
"We try to get people to send in their money early," he said. For outreach and response, the postage alone came to $500, although they did a lot of it by e-mail. Setting up the music and the catering was no piece of cake. Morrisette said the band he had lined up backed out barely before the 11th hour. However, he was delighted with the Dominican brothers who performed Saturday, as were all the dancers jumping up to the island music.
Some of the commemorative T-shirts, which were included in the $40 registration fee, are still available. St. Thomas artist Edie Paljavcsik Johnson did this year's design, which carries a mocko jumbie theme. To order one, e-mail Ann Johnson:SNBOX@aol.com The cost per shirt is $11 including postage. Shirts come in S,M,L and XL.
Morrisette said the affair went somewhat over budget — costing about $14,000 — and that further T-shirt sales would be welcome. He said he would post the budget details on his e-mail at ramseed2@aol.com soon for the benefit of next year's Bacchanal organizers. Bacchanal 2001 will be held on Florida's Atlantic coast, in Delray Beach.
Appearing exhausted but happy, Morrisette said he was going home to walk his Rottweiler, Brogan, along the beach at sunset while remembering past sunsets seen from Cruz Bay.

The Victim Advocate Program will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 at the second floor conference room of the Roy L. Schneider Hospital. All previous and current advocates are requested to attend. Contact Lynn Falkenthal at 775-6103 or Judy Grybowski at 775-6349 for information.

The Roy L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas and the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center on St. John are hosting various activities to mark National Hospitals Week and National Nurses Week, both being observed May 7-13.
The theme for the local observances is "Touching the Future with Care."
Activities throughout the week will include a religious program, an open house, employee recognition for years of service, a fashion show and auction and a dinner dance. While most of the observances focus on employees and their families, all are open to the public.
The first event will be a religious service on Monday at 10 a.m. in the Schneider Hospital lobby.
On Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the lobby will be the scene of an "open house" featuring exhibits of laboratory services and other aspects of health care.
On Wednesday at 10 a.m., the hospital's first-ever ceremony to recognize employees of long standing will be held. Certificates will be presented to those with 30, 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 years of service. The program will also include announcement of the employee of the year, supervisor of the year, physician of the year and nurse of the year. In addition, certificates will be presented to graduates of the hospital's recent customer service relations course who were not on duty on the day that presentations were first made. All of those employees recognized this day will be treated to lunch.
Friday evening will bring an event for nurses — a cocktail sip, fashion show and auction at Palms Court Harbourview Hotel, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The week's observances will conclude on Saturday with a dinner dance, also at Palm Courts Harbourview, honoring the four employees of the year. It will feature music by the Starlites and a silent auction of jewelry and weekend getaways. Tickets are $25.
On St. John, Keating Clinic administrator Erica McDonald said special in-house events are planned throughout Thursday. They include recognition of staff members with long years of service, honoring an employee about to retire, announcing the employee of the year and a luncheon for employees. While no formal "open house" is planned, McDonald said, "This would be a good day for people who haven't been to see the clinic before to stop by."
For more information, call the Schneider Hospital at 776-8311, ext. 2273, or the Keating clinic at 693-8900.

With layoffs scheduled to take effect Thursday for St. John's entire Vitran work force except for the one supervisor, a local transportation business is looking into a private-sector approach to preserve public transit on the island if all else fails.
Varlack Ventures, one of the two companies operating public ferry service between St. John and St. Thomas, already operates bus service on St. John — the public school buses. General manager Delrise Varlack said she had reservations about taking on a public transit system on land, given the company's experiences with the government in operating public ferry service. However, she acknowledged talking last week with attorney Derek Hodge about the possibility.
Company president Rodney Varlack reportedly told Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd that he would develop a contingency plan to preserve the island's three-year-old bus service.
Meantime, Public Works Commissioner Harold Thompson Jr. reportedly told Liburd he would do all he could to keep the St. John buses running, in spite of the Turnbull administration mandate to cut Vitran operations in half.
The whole St. John crew stands to be laid off because the United Steelworkers Union, representing public transit workers, has a last-hired, first-fired contract provision on layoffs.
Permanent St. John Vitran service began only two years ago. So, union leaders said, St. John drivers, mechanics and maintenance workers, having been hired last, would be subject to layoff first.
St. Thomas employees with greater seniority would be offered the St. John jobs, they said — but only if they agreed to move to the smaller island.
St. Thomas Vitran workers have reacted negatively to both the idea of relocating and the thought of displacing their fellow workers on St. John.
Told of the Varlack initiative, Steelworkers president Luis "Tito" Morales said private transit workers would have to undergo training to operate Vitran buses. He also said the buses would likely remain the property of the V.I. government.
However, Delrise Varlack said her school bus drivers already have received specialized training approved by the federal government.
During a meeting on Tuesday, May 2, of the St. John Transportation Advisory Committee, Morales said Vitran, currently run by Public Works, had fared much better under the private management of the Manassah Bus Co. in years past. He said government failure to secure available federal transportation funds and fulfill other obligations to Manassah ultimately scuttled the operation.
To save the system, Morales has said, management of Vitran should be taken away from Public Works. Rather than have the transit system turned over again to a private company, however, he would like to see the creation of a V.I. Transit Authority which would be solely responsible for bus operations.

The 2nd Annual "The Children Run Christiansted" was the final tune-up event before the St. Croix International Triathlon.
The runners, 13 years old and under, sprinted through the historic streets of Christiansted from the Florence Williams Public Library to the Hendricks Market on Company Street. Travis Morton was the first place finisher, improving on his 9th place finish last year. His time for the 520 meter course was 1 minute and 39 seconds.
Shelby Cruz was the first place female. She improved on her third place finish of last year with a time of 1:42. She was the second place finisher overall. K'Kendai Goodwin was the second place male in 1:43; and Aaron Getilucci was third in 1:49. Yasmin Mannan was the second place female in 2:02 and Cisisel Holloway was close behind for third in 2:05.
Age Group Winners:
10 to 13 Male
1. Travis Morton 1:39.36; 2. J'Kendai Goodwin 1:52.25; 3. Aaron Gitilucci 1:49.52
10 to 13 Female 1. Shelby Cruz 1:42.17; 2. Digna Wshington 2:07.27; 3. Britta Victor 2:07.8
8 to 9 Male
1. Jnuru Goodwin 1:52.25; 2. Barrett Botkin 2:06.08; 3. Noah Tobias 2:08.69
8 to 9 Female
1. Yasmin Mannan 2:02.46; 2. Cissel Holloway 2:05.10; 3. Johntel Green 2:19.71
7 and Under Male
1. Alex Bradbury 2:23.16; 2. John Henry Greene 2:25.48; 3. Jelani Rollins 2:30.72
7 and Under Female
1. Jsshra Goodwin 2:1;9.30; 2. Camila Sanchez 2:39.19; 3. Madline Duggin 2:51.67
The Finishers Male:
1.Travis Morton 139.36; 2. J'Kendai Goodwin 1:43.29; 3. Aaron Getilucci 1:49.1:49.52; 4. Jnuru Goodwin 1:52.25; 5. Calvin Spascent 1:57.83; 6. Barrett Botkin 2:06.08; 7. Noah Tobias 2:08.69; 8. Jameil Harris 2:21.99; 9. Alex Bradbury 2:23.16; 10. John Henry Greene 2:25.48; 11. Jelani Rollins 2:30.72; 12. No Name 13. Billy Gibbons 2:37.85; 14. No Name 15. Oran Gustitis 2:46.49; 16. No Name; 17. No Name; 18. No Name; 19. Oamari Rollins 3:13.90; 20. Alex Hensley 3:29.93; 21. No Name; 22. Alex Lewit 4:25.84; 23. Alexander Washington 4:32.11
The Finishers Female:
1. Shelby Cruz 1:42.17; 2. Yasmin Mannan 2:02.46; 3. Cisisel Holloway 2:05.10; 4. Digna Washington 2:07.27; 5. Britta Victor 2:07.80; 6. Morganne Meaney 2:12.30; 7. Jsshra Goodwin 2:19.30 8. Johntel Greene 2:19.77; 9. Sandra Hart 2:20.74; 10. Amanda Atkinson 2:31.89; 11. No Name; 12. Camila Sanchez 2:39.19; 13. No Name; 14. No Name; 15. Madeleine Duggan 2:51.67; 16. Marissa Washington 2:54.33; 17. Megan Grant 2:55.33; 18. Angelicia Dascent 2:58.41; 19. Gisselle Hart 3:00.56; 20. No Name 21. Jennifer Hensley3:17.62; 22. Manuela Sanchez 3:23.20;

Rotary II St. Thomas will host guest speaker Guy Mitchell, chief of the Criminal Division of the Attorney General's Office.
Mitchell will speak about the mentor ship program "Hoops Brothers."
The meeting will be held at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 10 at Mahogany Run.
For more information, contact Susan MacFarland-Helton at 776-0677.

After the fireworks are over, after Carnival Village takes its midnight bow for the year, there's one more opportunity for revelers from home and abroad to celebrate culture, friendship and fun.
The annual soak-out at Magens Bay cannot be found on any schedule put out by the V.I. Carnival Committee. But every year on the Sunday after the Saturday Adults' Parade and fireworks, hundreds of Carnival participants and spectators spill onto the sand and fill the party sheds at the beach. Calypso and soca fill the air, as does the sound of the annual seaside steelpan tramp led by members of the Territorial Court Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra.
This year about a hundred people surrounded the small pan-around-the neck troupe as its members marched through the surf playing a tune by the late Trinidadian composer Aldwyn Roberts, the Lord Kitchener. Two women led the way holding between them the Virgin Islands flag.
Ivah Chesterfield, a pannist with the St. Thomas All Stars, was among the spectators. He said it's been 10 or 11 years since the first soak-out tramp, and that it's something he enjoys especially since it's a chance to let someone else play the music for a while.
Glenn "Kwabena" Davis grinned as he scratched out the rhythm on an ornate gourd. "Boy, am I glad we're having this last lap," he said. Adding to the band were a flute, a saxophone, a police whistle blown in staccato and an artfully played beer bottle.
For a Puerto Rican band leader named Vito, the beach party was an extra treat after the Carnival parade, an event he said he's come over to see for the past 17 years. "I love it, I never miss," he said.
Bathers stopped and stood to watch the tramp march by. Moments after it passed, some little boys raced away after a soccer ball. Across the road at one of the party sheds, a group of Virgin Islands ex-patriots home for the holidays danced the Electric Slide to the music of Xpress Band. Childhood friends, now middle-aged, they reminisced as their children and grandchildren met second and third cousins and started making Carnival memories of their own.

The V.I. National Park is about to embark on a public "environmental review process" preliminary to the creation of a new Environmental Heritage Center.
The process is expected to take 120 to 150 days. By September, National Park Supt. Russell Berry said, the National Park Service expects to reach decisions on the location and program and design concepts for the center.
According to Berry, the center is "to provide an educational opportunity for local youth and park visitors to learn the importance of preserving and protecting the extraordinary natural environment and cultural heritage" of the park.
Based upon strong local community support, the National Park Service has succeeded in having $3 million for construction of the center included in President Clinton's 2000-2002 biennium budget.
"While a very preliminary concept has been developed for budget purposes," an NPS release stated, "public input is needed on the center's location, functions and capacity, as well as any environmental, social and economic issues associated with its construction and operation."
A public meeting to discuss these and other issues relating to the center is scheduled for Monday, May 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Legislature Building in Cruz Bay. Park officials will make a brief presentation on the planning process and review existing information concerning the center, then open discussion to answer questions and seek community input.
Another opportunity for community input will be a newsletter/questionnaire that will be circulated on St. John and St. Thomas and published by the Source, as well as posted on the Web sites of the V.I. National Park (www.nps.gov/viis) and the Friends of the National Park (www.friendsvinp.org). NPS officials also will make presentations to groups with an interest in the project and plan to conduct interviews with "key stakeholders." Any group wishing to host a presentation should call Jim Owens at 693-8950, ext. 228, to make arrangements.
Berry said the primary purpose of the center will be to provide local youth with hands-on educational activities in the areas of recent history, ancient history, relationship to the land and relationship to the sea. Park chief of interpretation Paul Thomas said the goal is "to provide the best possible setting and facility for the park to teach the importance of preserving and protecting the archeological, cultural, terrestrial and marine resources for this and future generations."