While the revised FY 2000 budget was not delivered on time, the Turnbull administration delivered a document $54 million leaner the second time around.
Now senators will have their chance to pull it apart. Most of the first day of rescheduled budget hearings was spent with top officials of Office of Management and Budget, Internal Revenue and the Department of Finance.
Finance Committee Chairwoman Sen. Lorraine Berry said she and the Senate Post Audit Division worked late into the night Wednesday reviewing the revised documents prior to the start of the hearings.
As he presented the revised document to the Senate Finance Committee, Management and Budget Director Ira Mills said the projected 10 percent to 15 percent budget cuts must be implemented or the government's financial picture will worsen by the day.
Mills later outlined a lengthy list of programs and services to be trimmed or in some cases eliminated to realize the savings. In many cases Mills acknowledged the value or need for programs or services being cut.
Claudette Farrington, director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue said the government must immediately break the habit of spending money it doesn't have in hand and falling behind on revenue collection. She said the government must look at how it pays its bills.
"We know that we have a lot of outstanding bills," she said. "If we do not have some sort of cash – whether it be by September 30 or early October – the revenues presented here in the Year 2000 budget, those revenues are going to be used to pay for debt which occurred in 1999. So it means that you will be starting off with a shortfall."
Getting a handle on the fiscal crisis is also important, because the Turnbull administration is working out an agreement with the federal government for deferred repayments on hurricane community disaster loans. Administration officials are also in the process of negotiating a $100 million bond, which Mills said will be used in part to repay a smaller loan taken to meet the government payroll earlier this year.
Finance Commissioner Bernice Turnbull told the committee 85 percent of government expenditures are spent on payroll, leaving little to meet obligations like vendor payments. Finance officials assured lawmakers they would be able to continue meeting
payroll through September 30, the end of the current fiscal year.
But trimming the payroll will be a priority on the fiscal reorganization plan, they said. Most of the savings would come through attrition programs and promoting early retirement for older government workers, said Mills.
GOV’T MUST STOP SPENDING MONEY IT DOESN’T HAVE
While the revised FY 2000 budget was not delivered on time, the Turnbull administration delivered a document $54 million leaner the second time around.
Now senators will have a chance to pull it apart. Most of the first day of the rescheduled budget hearing was spent with top officials of the Office of Management and Budget, Internal Revenue Bureau and Finance Department.
Finance Committee Chairwoman Lorraine Berry said she and the Senate Post Audit Division worked late into the night Tuesday reviewing the revised documents prior to the start of the hearings.
As he presented the revised document to the Senate Finance Committee, Management and Budget Director Ira Mills said the projected 10 percent to 15 percent budget cuts must be implemented or the government's financial picture will worsen by the day.
Mills later outlined a lengthy list of programs and services to be trimmed or in some cases eliminated to realize the savings. In many cases Mills acknowledged the value or need for programs or services being cut.
Claudette Farrington, director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, said the government must immediately break the habit of spending money it doesn't have in hand and falling behind on revenue collection. She said the government must look at how it pays its bills.
"We know that we have a lot of outstanding bills," she said. "If we do not have some sort of cash – whether it be by Sept. 30 or early October – the revenues presented here in the Year 2000 budget, those revenues are going to be used to pay for debt which occurred in 1999. So it means that you will be starting off with a shortfall."
Getting a handle on the fiscal crisis is also important because the Turnbull administration is working out an agreement with the federal government for deferred repayments on hurricane-community disaster loans. Administration officials are also in the process of negotiating a $100 million bond, which Mills said will be used in part to repay a smaller loan taken to meet the government payroll earlier this year.
Finance Commissioner Bernice Turnbull told the committee 85 percent of government expenditures are spent on payroll, leaving little to meet obligations like vendor payments. Finance officials assured lawmakers they would be able to continue meeting payroll through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year.
But trimming the payroll will be a priority on the fiscal reorganization plan, they said. Most of the savings would come through attrition programs and promoting early retirement for older government workers, Mills said.
Now senators will have a chance to pull it apart. Most of the first day of the rescheduled budget hearing was spent with top officials of the Office of Management and Budget, Internal Revenue Bureau and Finance Department.
Finance Committee Chairwoman Lorraine Berry said she and the Senate Post Audit Division worked late into the night Tuesday reviewing the revised documents prior to the start of the hearings.
As he presented the revised document to the Senate Finance Committee, Management and Budget Director Ira Mills said the projected 10 percent to 15 percent budget cuts must be implemented or the government's financial picture will worsen by the day.
Mills later outlined a lengthy list of programs and services to be trimmed or in some cases eliminated to realize the savings. In many cases Mills acknowledged the value or need for programs or services being cut.
Claudette Farrington, director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, said the government must immediately break the habit of spending money it doesn't have in hand and falling behind on revenue collection. She said the government must look at how it pays its bills.
"We know that we have a lot of outstanding bills," she said. "If we do not have some sort of cash – whether it be by Sept. 30 or early October – the revenues presented here in the Year 2000 budget, those revenues are going to be used to pay for debt which occurred in 1999. So it means that you will be starting off with a shortfall."
Getting a handle on the fiscal crisis is also important because the Turnbull administration is working out an agreement with the federal government for deferred repayments on hurricane-community disaster loans. Administration officials are also in the process of negotiating a $100 million bond, which Mills said will be used in part to repay a smaller loan taken to meet the government payroll earlier this year.
Finance Commissioner Bernice Turnbull told the committee 85 percent of government expenditures are spent on payroll, leaving little to meet obligations like vendor payments. Finance officials assured lawmakers they would be able to continue meeting payroll through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year.
But trimming the payroll will be a priority on the fiscal reorganization plan, they said. Most of the savings would come through attrition programs and promoting early retirement for older government workers, Mills said.
YOUTH GAMES COULD DRAW THOUSANDS TO V.I.
Thousands of young athletes will descend on the territory next summer for the International Youth Games Invitational.
The games, scheduled for the first week in August, are anticipated to attract from 2,000 to 6,000 participants from cities around the world. This year’s competition was held in Birmingham, Alabama where 10 cities were represented.
St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John will each host events ranging from baseball, basketball, bowling, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball.
The biggest hurdle facing USVI Youth Games Inc., the organizers of next year’s event, will be funding. Gadol Wilson, chairman of USVI Youth Games Inc., has estimated it will cost more than $500,000 to stage the event. The largest expense, $212,160, will be housing off-island athletes. The second most expensive item at $114,000 will be to feed the competitors.
Organizers expect some $275,000 to be generated by entry fees. To compete at the V.I. games, athletes must pony up $195 each.
Sponsors and government appropriations are needed to cover the balance of the cost to put on the event.
Department of Tourism Commissioner-designate Michael Bornn said his agency will support the event by providing marketing and promotional assistance.
"This backing will enable the event organizers . . . to obtain numerous sponsors," Bornn said. "The Tourism Department’s new strategy is we’ll market and support special events, not fund them. Our marketing and promotional efforts will help the sponsor’s dollar go farther. We believe the burden of funding should be on the organization, not the Department of Tourism."
Teams competing at the Birmingham games were sponsored by companies like Cheerios, Coca Cola and Bell South.
The games, scheduled for the first week in August, are anticipated to attract from 2,000 to 6,000 participants from cities around the world. This year’s competition was held in Birmingham, Alabama where 10 cities were represented.
St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John will each host events ranging from baseball, basketball, bowling, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball.
The biggest hurdle facing USVI Youth Games Inc., the organizers of next year’s event, will be funding. Gadol Wilson, chairman of USVI Youth Games Inc., has estimated it will cost more than $500,000 to stage the event. The largest expense, $212,160, will be housing off-island athletes. The second most expensive item at $114,000 will be to feed the competitors.
Organizers expect some $275,000 to be generated by entry fees. To compete at the V.I. games, athletes must pony up $195 each.
Sponsors and government appropriations are needed to cover the balance of the cost to put on the event.
Department of Tourism Commissioner-designate Michael Bornn said his agency will support the event by providing marketing and promotional assistance.
"This backing will enable the event organizers . . . to obtain numerous sponsors," Bornn said. "The Tourism Department’s new strategy is we’ll market and support special events, not fund them. Our marketing and promotional efforts will help the sponsor’s dollar go farther. We believe the burden of funding should be on the organization, not the Department of Tourism."
Teams competing at the Birmingham games were sponsored by companies like Cheerios, Coca Cola and Bell South.
PRESS CONFERENCE ON BEAL ISSUES SET FOR THURSDAY
Our Virgin Islands Labor Union, the Great Pond Area Residents Association, St. Croix Environmental Association and the League of Women Voters is having a press conference Thursday, Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. at Gertrudes Restaurant.
The topics of the press conference will be the proposed exchange agreement of Camp Arawak land between the government of the Virgin Islands and Beal Aerospace.
Also up for discussion is the proposed rezoning at Great Pond Bay that would allow for industrial development.
The topics of the press conference will be the proposed exchange agreement of Camp Arawak land between the government of the Virgin Islands and Beal Aerospace.
Also up for discussion is the proposed rezoning at Great Pond Bay that would allow for industrial development.
YOUTH GAMES COULD DRAW THOUSANDS TO V.I.
Thousands of young athletes will descend on the territory next summer for the International Youth Games Invitational.
The games, scheduled for the first week in August, are anticipated to attract from 2,000 to 6,000 participants from cities around the world. This year’s competition was held in Birmingham, Alabama where 10 cities were represented.
St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John will each host events ranging from baseball, basketball, bowling, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball.
The biggest hurdle facing USVI Youth Games Inc., the organizers of next year’s event, will be funding. Gadol Wilson, chairman of USVI Youth Games Inc., has estimated it will cost more than $500,000 to stage the event. The largest expense, $212,160, will be housing off-island athletes. The second most expensive item at $114,000 will be to feed the competitors.
Organizers expect some $275,000 to be generated by entry fees. To compete at the V.I. games, athletes must pony up $195 each.
Sponsors and government appropriations are needed to cover the balance of the cost to put on the event.
Department of Tourism Commissioner-designate Michael Bornn said his agency will support the event by providing marketing and promotional assistance.
"This backing will enable the event organizers . . . to obtain numerous sponsors," Bornn said. "The Tourism Department’s new strategy is we’ll market and support special events, not fund them. Our marketing and promotional efforts will help the sponsor’s dollar go farther. We believe the burden of funding should be on the organization, not the Department of Tourism."
Teams competing at the Birmingham games were sponsored by companies like Cheerios, Coca Cola and Bell South.
The games, scheduled for the first week in August, are anticipated to attract from 2,000 to 6,000 participants from cities around the world. This year’s competition was held in Birmingham, Alabama where 10 cities were represented.
St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John will each host events ranging from baseball, basketball, bowling, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball.
The biggest hurdle facing USVI Youth Games Inc., the organizers of next year’s event, will be funding. Gadol Wilson, chairman of USVI Youth Games Inc., has estimated it will cost more than $500,000 to stage the event. The largest expense, $212,160, will be housing off-island athletes. The second most expensive item at $114,000 will be to feed the competitors.
Organizers expect some $275,000 to be generated by entry fees. To compete at the V.I. games, athletes must pony up $195 each.
Sponsors and government appropriations are needed to cover the balance of the cost to put on the event.
Department of Tourism Commissioner-designate Michael Bornn said his agency will support the event by providing marketing and promotional assistance.
"This backing will enable the event organizers . . . to obtain numerous sponsors," Bornn said. "The Tourism Department’s new strategy is we’ll market and support special events, not fund them. Our marketing and promotional efforts will help the sponsor’s dollar go farther. We believe the burden of funding should be on the organization, not the Department of Tourism."
Teams competing at the Birmingham games were sponsored by companies like Cheerios, Coca Cola and Bell South.
EMILY MOVES CLOSER
Weather services have been changing predictions for Tropical Storm Emily. Wednesday night's projections placed the storm just 35 miles to the northeast of St. Thomas, Thursday morning's update have the small storm several hundred miles to the north of the Virgin Islands. All predictions are for Emily to become a category one hurricane in the next few days.
Wednesday Governor Charles W. Turnbull said, "I have directed that this government assume a heightened state of readiness throughout this Territory . . . to ensure we are prepared to respond to any emergency in the event circumstances warrant them.
I urge the public to continue to monitor the progress of this storm with an eye towards safeguarding homes and property in the event Tropical Storm Emily threatens the Territory."
At 6 p.m. on Wednesday Emily was about 275 miles to the east of Barbados. Weather services note that with three tropical storms in the Caribbean area, the movement of each affects the strength and motion of the others. This makes accurate predictions more complicated.
Editor's note: For detailed weather information, including regular updates on Emily's progress, click on the rainbow icon above the menu on St. Thomas Source or St. Croix Source.
Wednesday Governor Charles W. Turnbull said, "I have directed that this government assume a heightened state of readiness throughout this Territory . . . to ensure we are prepared to respond to any emergency in the event circumstances warrant them.
I urge the public to continue to monitor the progress of this storm with an eye towards safeguarding homes and property in the event Tropical Storm Emily threatens the Territory."
At 6 p.m. on Wednesday Emily was about 275 miles to the east of Barbados. Weather services note that with three tropical storms in the Caribbean area, the movement of each affects the strength and motion of the others. This makes accurate predictions more complicated.
Editor's note: For detailed weather information, including regular updates on Emily's progress, click on the rainbow icon above the menu on St. Thomas Source or St. Croix Source.
QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED AT SIBILLY
More than the water was unclear Wednesday at Joseph Sibilly Elementary School where parents, teachers and Education Department officials met to discuss the contaminated drinking water situation at the school.
More than 150 parents and other concerned attendees seemed to have a lot more questions than there were answers.
On Friday St. Thomas Source reported that Education had been presented with Notices of Violation due to the discovery of cancer-causing volatile organic chemicals in the drinking water at Sibilly and James Monroe Elementary schools.
The department hastily issued notices Monday — the deadline for notification under the violation notices — and scheduled a meeting with parents for Wednesday.
It turns out the water at the school had not been tested for VOCs since 1995. June Archibald, spokeswoman for Education, said the bill had not been paid to the testing laboratory by the previous administration.
Testing for volatile organic chemicals of public water supplies, which are any supplies not getting water from the Water and Power Authority, is supposed to be done every three years.
Public water supplies come from cisterns or truckers most often, according to Carol Aubin, environmental specialist with the Planning and Natural Resource Department's environmental protection division.
Some of the questions Wednesday morning were:
— How long has the department known about the contamination?
— What does the federal Environmental Protection Agency have to say about the chemicals?
— What are the side effects and health hazzards associated with ingesting the chemicals?
— What does the department intend to do about it?
Rosalie Payne, superintendent of schools for St. Thomas, led the meeting but was unable to answer many of the questions posed by parents except to identify the department's plans to turn off the drinking fountains and provide bottled water for washing hands.
Payne did not provide information on the specific chemicals — including what they are — though the Education Department has that information.
When asked how long Education had known about the chemicals, Jomo McClean, administrator of plants and maintenance, said he had known since around July 20. The violation notices were sent to Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds on Aug. 10.
Some parents were upset by the absence of officials from the Environmental Protection Agency — or anyone else who could answer their questions about the specific contaminants.
Payne said environmental protection officials had been notified and that Education officials will meet with them Thursday.
Jim Casey, V.I. coordinator for the federal EPA, said the first knowledge he had of the meeting was "on the radio this morning . . . but maybe they were talking about Environmental Protection," a division of Planning and Natural Resources that has oversight on this issue.
When called, Hollis Griffin, director of DPNR's division of environmental protection, said he will be attending a meeting Thursday, but was unable to offer any information on the nature of VOCs.
"We are only involved in the monitoring process," Griffin said.
Casey said the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registration could offer detailed information on the specific chemicals identified in the report.
Payne said Sibilly's cistern has already been cleaned and once it is refilled, samples will be taken before the water is used for anything other than flushing toilets.
Trees will be cut back, too. Payne said, "We will do everything possible to identify the sources of the contaminants."
Some parents want blood testing done on the children and they want the government to pay for it.
And they aren't the only ones.
Glen Smith, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said, "I am going to follow through to make sure all of the members of my union are tested free of charge."
Smith said the union has 35 to 40 members at Sibilly school.
Parents also want to know how long the school's water has been contaminated.
"I have one son here now, but my other two went through this school," said Stanley Dawson.
Donna Gregory, who was there to represent the Board of Education, said, "We're very concerned. It is unacceptable that the department (of Education) waited this long — since June or July — without informing us."
Here are the volatile organic chemicals that were identified by DPNR's Notice of Violation as exceeding the maximum contaminant level in the water supply at Sibilly school. If you click on the chemical, you will find information from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
chloroform
1,2,3 Trichlorobenzene
Dibromomethane
For general information on ATSDR go to its website at www.atsdr.cdc.gov
Editor's note: V.I. officials have given no indication of the health problems that could be caused by the levels of hazardous chemicals in the Sibilly water supply. The above websites are provided for general information only.
More than 150 parents and other concerned attendees seemed to have a lot more questions than there were answers.
On Friday St. Thomas Source reported that Education had been presented with Notices of Violation due to the discovery of cancer-causing volatile organic chemicals in the drinking water at Sibilly and James Monroe Elementary schools.
The department hastily issued notices Monday — the deadline for notification under the violation notices — and scheduled a meeting with parents for Wednesday.
It turns out the water at the school had not been tested for VOCs since 1995. June Archibald, spokeswoman for Education, said the bill had not been paid to the testing laboratory by the previous administration.
Testing for volatile organic chemicals of public water supplies, which are any supplies not getting water from the Water and Power Authority, is supposed to be done every three years.
Public water supplies come from cisterns or truckers most often, according to Carol Aubin, environmental specialist with the Planning and Natural Resource Department's environmental protection division.
Some of the questions Wednesday morning were:
— How long has the department known about the contamination?
— What does the federal Environmental Protection Agency have to say about the chemicals?
— What are the side effects and health hazzards associated with ingesting the chemicals?
— What does the department intend to do about it?
Rosalie Payne, superintendent of schools for St. Thomas, led the meeting but was unable to answer many of the questions posed by parents except to identify the department's plans to turn off the drinking fountains and provide bottled water for washing hands.
Payne did not provide information on the specific chemicals — including what they are — though the Education Department has that information.
When asked how long Education had known about the chemicals, Jomo McClean, administrator of plants and maintenance, said he had known since around July 20. The violation notices were sent to Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds on Aug. 10.
Some parents were upset by the absence of officials from the Environmental Protection Agency — or anyone else who could answer their questions about the specific contaminants.
Payne said environmental protection officials had been notified and that Education officials will meet with them Thursday.
Jim Casey, V.I. coordinator for the federal EPA, said the first knowledge he had of the meeting was "on the radio this morning . . . but maybe they were talking about Environmental Protection," a division of Planning and Natural Resources that has oversight on this issue.
When called, Hollis Griffin, director of DPNR's division of environmental protection, said he will be attending a meeting Thursday, but was unable to offer any information on the nature of VOCs.
"We are only involved in the monitoring process," Griffin said.
Casey said the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registration could offer detailed information on the specific chemicals identified in the report.
Payne said Sibilly's cistern has already been cleaned and once it is refilled, samples will be taken before the water is used for anything other than flushing toilets.
Trees will be cut back, too. Payne said, "We will do everything possible to identify the sources of the contaminants."
Some parents want blood testing done on the children and they want the government to pay for it.
And they aren't the only ones.
Glen Smith, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said, "I am going to follow through to make sure all of the members of my union are tested free of charge."
Smith said the union has 35 to 40 members at Sibilly school.
Parents also want to know how long the school's water has been contaminated.
"I have one son here now, but my other two went through this school," said Stanley Dawson.
Donna Gregory, who was there to represent the Board of Education, said, "We're very concerned. It is unacceptable that the department (of Education) waited this long — since June or July — without informing us."
Here are the volatile organic chemicals that were identified by DPNR's Notice of Violation as exceeding the maximum contaminant level in the water supply at Sibilly school. If you click on the chemical, you will find information from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
chloroform
1,2,3 Trichlorobenzene
Dibromomethane
For general information on ATSDR go to its website at www.atsdr.cdc.gov
Editor's note: V.I. officials have given no indication of the health problems that could be caused by the levels of hazardous chemicals in the Sibilly water supply. The above websites are provided for general information only.
CAPE AIR WILL SERVE ST. CROIX STARTING IN NOVEMBER
Inter-island airline competition will heat up in November when Cape Air begins service to St. Croix.
Cape Air, the largest independent regional airline in the country, began service between St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico, last November. Starting Nov. 4, the airline will begin daily service between St. Croix and San Juan every hour from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.
Cape Air will also add five daily flights between St. Croix and St. Thomas, said Michelle Haynes, director of communications.
"We are very happy with the support and service we have received in the Virgin Islands," Haynes said. "We are very optimistic and thrilled with the response of the people."
Cape Air, however, won’t be the only new carrier on the block come November. In July, Gulfstream International Airlines announced that it will offer round-trip flights between St. Croix and St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting Nov. 1. Flights between St. Croix and St. Thomas will also be offered
After years of limited airlift capacity in and out of St. Croix, the island was dealt another blow earlier this month when Delta Airlines announced it was cutting its daily jet flight to the island. While St. Croix is served by American Airlines, American Eagle and U.S. Airways, those flights are limited.
Critics of American, and especially American Eagle, contend that the carriers have a monopoly on flights into and out of the territory, causing ticket prices to remain high.
The addition of two new regional carriers should benefit travelers, said Gordon Finch, executive director of the V.I. Port Authority.
"(Cape Air’s) presence on the island will provide residents with more alternatives for inter-island travel and create healthy competition," he said.
Cape Air operates nine-passenger Cessna 402s, but Haynes said the airline has the flexibility to use more than one aircraft for a trip.
"We are a demand scheduler," she said. "If we have passengers, we have the planes."
Meanwhile, St. Croix’s other fledgling carrier, Gulfstream, has operated in Florida and the Bahamas since its inception in 1991 and currently operates 230 daily flights in that market. The Fort Lauderdale-based airline also flies four times a week from Miami to Havana, Cuba, using four 727s.
The company is owned by Tom Cooper, a former Eastern Airlines pilot who started Gulfstream after Eastern went out of business.
According to Cooper after he announced his intention to serve the territory, Gulfstream will offer seven round-trip flights between St. Croix and San Juan, while St. Thomas will have 11. In total, Gulfstream will fly 400 flights per week using six, 19-passenger, twin-engine Beechcraft airplanes. Cooper said the airline will be based in San Juan and eventually employ 75 people to support the company’s expansion.
Neither company has announced what their fares will be.
Cape Air, the largest independent regional airline in the country, began service between St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico, last November. Starting Nov. 4, the airline will begin daily service between St. Croix and San Juan every hour from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.
Cape Air will also add five daily flights between St. Croix and St. Thomas, said Michelle Haynes, director of communications.
"We are very happy with the support and service we have received in the Virgin Islands," Haynes said. "We are very optimistic and thrilled with the response of the people."
Cape Air, however, won’t be the only new carrier on the block come November. In July, Gulfstream International Airlines announced that it will offer round-trip flights between St. Croix and St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting Nov. 1. Flights between St. Croix and St. Thomas will also be offered
After years of limited airlift capacity in and out of St. Croix, the island was dealt another blow earlier this month when Delta Airlines announced it was cutting its daily jet flight to the island. While St. Croix is served by American Airlines, American Eagle and U.S. Airways, those flights are limited.
Critics of American, and especially American Eagle, contend that the carriers have a monopoly on flights into and out of the territory, causing ticket prices to remain high.
The addition of two new regional carriers should benefit travelers, said Gordon Finch, executive director of the V.I. Port Authority.
"(Cape Air’s) presence on the island will provide residents with more alternatives for inter-island travel and create healthy competition," he said.
Cape Air operates nine-passenger Cessna 402s, but Haynes said the airline has the flexibility to use more than one aircraft for a trip.
"We are a demand scheduler," she said. "If we have passengers, we have the planes."
Meanwhile, St. Croix’s other fledgling carrier, Gulfstream, has operated in Florida and the Bahamas since its inception in 1991 and currently operates 230 daily flights in that market. The Fort Lauderdale-based airline also flies four times a week from Miami to Havana, Cuba, using four 727s.
The company is owned by Tom Cooper, a former Eastern Airlines pilot who started Gulfstream after Eastern went out of business.
According to Cooper after he announced his intention to serve the territory, Gulfstream will offer seven round-trip flights between St. Croix and San Juan, while St. Thomas will have 11. In total, Gulfstream will fly 400 flights per week using six, 19-passenger, twin-engine Beechcraft airplanes. Cooper said the airline will be based in San Juan and eventually employ 75 people to support the company’s expansion.
Neither company has announced what their fares will be.
VIPD OFFERED DONATED SPACE IN C’STED
With help from Christiansted’s business community the V.I. Police Department will have a new, albeit small, home in Times Square.
The police department has been without an station in Christiansted for about two weeks since its lease extension at the U.S. Post Office building expired. The Postal Service is turning over the building to the National Park Service so it can be made into a museum.
The department’s new, 400-square-foot space at 35 King St. on Times Square, also known as Sunday Market Square, is being donated by the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development. Renovations and equipment are being provided by the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association, businesses and individuals.
"We’re giving the space to the police department for free and doing the renovation work for free," said Stephanie Hodge, associate executive director at the Foundation for Community Development. "It’s just a small space right now. It will basically be a substation. But it addresses an immediate need."
Since the closure of the Anselmo Marshall Command in downtown Christiansted, the police department has been working out of the Patrick Sweeney Headquarters in Golden Grove. The downtown command was a base for 46 officers working various shifts. Acting Police Chief Novelle Francis didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday.
Peter Ross, president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association, said between $8,000 and $9,000 has already been donated to renovate the new space, located in the building that once housed attorney Winston Hodge’s offices.
"It’s been overwhelming, a totally positive response from the community," Ross said of the monetary support from businesses and individuals. "I’ve been totally blown away by how people have responded."
Ross said renovations — at no cost to the government — will begin this weekend and he hopes to have work done in 10 days.
"Lots of people have volunteered their time in lieu of money," he said.
Ross said that even though the police presence in the downtown area has been sufficient since the Anselmo Marshall Command closed, the new office will allow a constant presence.
"The police are still there to cover downtown," he said. "But this will make it easier and more efficient."
The police department has been without an station in Christiansted for about two weeks since its lease extension at the U.S. Post Office building expired. The Postal Service is turning over the building to the National Park Service so it can be made into a museum.
The department’s new, 400-square-foot space at 35 King St. on Times Square, also known as Sunday Market Square, is being donated by the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development. Renovations and equipment are being provided by the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association, businesses and individuals.
"We’re giving the space to the police department for free and doing the renovation work for free," said Stephanie Hodge, associate executive director at the Foundation for Community Development. "It’s just a small space right now. It will basically be a substation. But it addresses an immediate need."
Since the closure of the Anselmo Marshall Command in downtown Christiansted, the police department has been working out of the Patrick Sweeney Headquarters in Golden Grove. The downtown command was a base for 46 officers working various shifts. Acting Police Chief Novelle Francis didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday.
Peter Ross, president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association, said between $8,000 and $9,000 has already been donated to renovate the new space, located in the building that once housed attorney Winston Hodge’s offices.
"It’s been overwhelming, a totally positive response from the community," Ross said of the monetary support from businesses and individuals. "I’ve been totally blown away by how people have responded."
Ross said renovations — at no cost to the government — will begin this weekend and he hopes to have work done in 10 days.
"Lots of people have volunteered their time in lieu of money," he said.
Ross said that even though the police presence in the downtown area has been sufficient since the Anselmo Marshall Command closed, the new office will allow a constant presence.
"The police are still there to cover downtown," he said. "But this will make it easier and more efficient."
