The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted approximately $17,000 to two St. Croix organizations for projects that will educate students, parents and teachers
about environmental and human health issues on the island.
The grant winners are the St. Croix Aquarium and Marine Education Center, $5,000, and the St. Croix Environmental Association, $12,014.
"This year’s grant winners have displayed an outstanding commitment to educating residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands about the very real effects the environment can have on their lives," said Jeanne Fox, EPA regional
administrator. "The EPA environmental education program relies on local groups like these to bring home the message that a clean environment means safer and healthier children and adults, and the preservation of the Virgin
Islands’ ecosystems for all to enjoy. We look forward to seeing the results of the groups’ good work."
With its funding, the St. Croix Aquarium and Marine Education Center will train aquarium staff to teach educators, students and the general public about protecting local marine ecosystems. Aquarium staff will learn how to teach visitors how to better understand local environments and how untreated sewage discharges, commercial activity and non-point source pollution impact the island’s coral reefs and other priceless ecosystems.
A video is being produced to facilitate training current and future staff.
The St. Croix Environmental Association will double the number of children its My Environment program reaches. The program emphasizes the special characteristics of and impact of human activity on St. Croix’s land and sea ecosystems, and consists of after-school, Saturday and in-school programs, and an Earth Day EcoBFair.
The over 2,000 youngsters currently participating in My Environment study a Caribbean Sea food web, learn about the importance of mangroves, go on field trips, and do hands-on activities that teach the importance of solid waste reduction, reforestation and community involvement.
The grants, part of the EPA’s environmental education program, are awarded annually to non-profits, educational institutions and local and tribal government agencies that demonstrate the ability to help communities understand and care about what are often complex environmental and human health issues.
The EPA’s New York City office received 139 applications for environmental education grants of less than $25,000 each this year, and awarded 19 grants
including the two in the Virgin Islands.
For information on how to apply for an environmental education grant, contact Teresa Ippolito, EPA Regional Environmental Education Coordinator, at (212) 637-3675.
PATIENCE PAYING OFF FOR CASINO TRAINEES
After two years of waiting, the initial group of people who registered for the Department of Tourism’s Casino Training Program are finally seeing their patience pay off.
In 1997, 125 people paid $25 each to register to work as dealers in casinos, which didn’t exist on the island at the time, said Pamela Richards, assistant tourism commissioner. Over that period, however, Treasure Bay Inc. was awarded a casino license and only seven people have dropped their names from the list.
"I expected a 10 percent drop-out rate," Richards said. "We’re not even close to that."
With the original group of registrants and a back-up pool of 13 people, Richards said she had no problems replacing the dropouts to fill the 130 positions needed at Treasure Bay’s 10,000-square foot casino, which is expected to open this December at the renovated Divi Carina Bay Resort on St.Croix’s southeast shore.
But for those people who now want a cut of the job action, Richards said it is too late — at least for the Divi Treasure Bay Casino.
"Everyday, people come in and ask if they can sign up," Richards said. "The registration is closed and at this kind of drop out rate, I don’t expect room for them."
While the opening of the Casino Training School was postponed from Aug. 2 to the first week of September, the good news is that roulette and blackjack tables and slot machines have arrived for the training school, Richards said.
Vic Taucer, a gaming professor for the Resorts/Gaming department at the Community College of Southern Nevada, has been contracted to conduct the training, she said.
"I understand that he’s one of the best trainers in this field," Richards said.
Meanwhile, some 60 people who had already registered for the casino program turned out for a non-mandatory, four-week hospitality training seminar sponsored by the Department of Labor and Tourism. Because the seminar is during the day and conflicts with work for many people, Richards said the number is down to 25.
Still, the key training will start in September, when the Casino Training School opens in the Frederiksted Mall. There, students will undergo at least eight weeks of training. Richards said students will start learning how to deal blackjack and roulette and then those who show promise will be selected to train for other positions.
Once training has been completed for the Divi Treasure Bay Casino, Richards said the task of training others for work in future casinos will be left to a private school. Operators of such a school haven’t been chosen, though. The V.I. Casino Control Act mandates that at least 80 percent of casino workers be residents of the territory.
In July, a casino application was submitted by St. Croix businessman Mario de Chabert to the Casino Control Commission for consideration. If it is approved, more casino employees will be needed.
"We’ve been approached by a couple of people who want to do training," Richards said. "We have a group that also wants to do culinary arts and hospitality training. It may be that the casinos will do it."
In 1997, 125 people paid $25 each to register to work as dealers in casinos, which didn’t exist on the island at the time, said Pamela Richards, assistant tourism commissioner. Over that period, however, Treasure Bay Inc. was awarded a casino license and only seven people have dropped their names from the list.
"I expected a 10 percent drop-out rate," Richards said. "We’re not even close to that."
With the original group of registrants and a back-up pool of 13 people, Richards said she had no problems replacing the dropouts to fill the 130 positions needed at Treasure Bay’s 10,000-square foot casino, which is expected to open this December at the renovated Divi Carina Bay Resort on St.Croix’s southeast shore.
But for those people who now want a cut of the job action, Richards said it is too late — at least for the Divi Treasure Bay Casino.
"Everyday, people come in and ask if they can sign up," Richards said. "The registration is closed and at this kind of drop out rate, I don’t expect room for them."
While the opening of the Casino Training School was postponed from Aug. 2 to the first week of September, the good news is that roulette and blackjack tables and slot machines have arrived for the training school, Richards said.
Vic Taucer, a gaming professor for the Resorts/Gaming department at the Community College of Southern Nevada, has been contracted to conduct the training, she said.
"I understand that he’s one of the best trainers in this field," Richards said.
Meanwhile, some 60 people who had already registered for the casino program turned out for a non-mandatory, four-week hospitality training seminar sponsored by the Department of Labor and Tourism. Because the seminar is during the day and conflicts with work for many people, Richards said the number is down to 25.
Still, the key training will start in September, when the Casino Training School opens in the Frederiksted Mall. There, students will undergo at least eight weeks of training. Richards said students will start learning how to deal blackjack and roulette and then those who show promise will be selected to train for other positions.
Once training has been completed for the Divi Treasure Bay Casino, Richards said the task of training others for work in future casinos will be left to a private school. Operators of such a school haven’t been chosen, though. The V.I. Casino Control Act mandates that at least 80 percent of casino workers be residents of the territory.
In July, a casino application was submitted by St. Croix businessman Mario de Chabert to the Casino Control Commission for consideration. If it is approved, more casino employees will be needed.
"We’ve been approached by a couple of people who want to do training," Richards said. "We have a group that also wants to do culinary arts and hospitality training. It may be that the casinos will do it."
BORNN CALLS FOR TAXI DRIVER TRAINING
Nothing better illustrates Tourism Commissioner-designate Michael Bornn’s emphasis that local taxi operators make or break visitors’ impressions of St. Croix than an example he gave Thursday evening.
While a convention organizer was scouting St. Croix as a site to host a group of 400 influential political and business people a couple of months ago, a taxi driver’s inadvertent slip of the tongue about the quality of the island’s medical care almost cost the event.
Although the Department of Tourism was able to salvage the Carib News Conference, set for Oct. 14-17 at the Carambola Beach Resort, and its guest list of 15 Caribbean prime ministers and 25 members of Congress, Bornn said the moral of the story is that every visitor is important.
"Each individual person is valuable to us," Bornn told a group of about 15 taxi operators at a meeting at the Hotel Caravelle Thursday evening. "Treat them like they have a million dollars, because they might."
Bornn strongly emphasized that training and service go hand-in-hand. He said the reluctance by some of the island’s 400 taxi drivers to partake in customer service and tourism training will only hold the tourism product back.
And many of those drivers are also the "bad apples" who leave visitors with a negative impression of the island, he said.
"The folks that are here tonight, I would venture to say, aren’t the problem," he said. "The litmus test is one thing and one thing only — service. I can’t pass legislation that the cruise ships have to hire rude drivers."
Bornn, who is also a member of the V.I. Port Authority board of directors, promised to study the conflict between taxi drivers and Abramson Enterprises. Abramson has a deal with Carnival Cruise Lines to use large buses to pick up passengers on the Port Authority dock in Frederiksted. Taxis must wait outside the dock area, which is unfair, contend drivers, headed by Kelvin Dennie of the St. Croix Taxi Federation.
The Abramson issue is "the biggest concern of the little man driving a taxi," said Lloyd Daly.
Daly encouraged Gov. Charles Turnbull to revive the government-run Taxi Commission.The commission, which is supposed to enforce industry rules and regulations, is not funded and has no director or enforcement officers. Because of those problems, taxi drivers who break rules and regulations continue to do business.
While Bornn agreed the commission is in "total disarray," he said taxi drivers shouldn’t rely on the government to fix every problem facing the industry.
One way for taxi operators to help themselves, Bornn said, is for them to unite and travel to Puerto Rico in October for the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association’s trade meeting. By working together, Bornn said drivers can lobby the cruise lines and offer bulk tours for visitors instead of individual drivers who can’t fulfill the cruise line’s needs.
While a convention organizer was scouting St. Croix as a site to host a group of 400 influential political and business people a couple of months ago, a taxi driver’s inadvertent slip of the tongue about the quality of the island’s medical care almost cost the event.
Although the Department of Tourism was able to salvage the Carib News Conference, set for Oct. 14-17 at the Carambola Beach Resort, and its guest list of 15 Caribbean prime ministers and 25 members of Congress, Bornn said the moral of the story is that every visitor is important.
"Each individual person is valuable to us," Bornn told a group of about 15 taxi operators at a meeting at the Hotel Caravelle Thursday evening. "Treat them like they have a million dollars, because they might."
Bornn strongly emphasized that training and service go hand-in-hand. He said the reluctance by some of the island’s 400 taxi drivers to partake in customer service and tourism training will only hold the tourism product back.
And many of those drivers are also the "bad apples" who leave visitors with a negative impression of the island, he said.
"The folks that are here tonight, I would venture to say, aren’t the problem," he said. "The litmus test is one thing and one thing only — service. I can’t pass legislation that the cruise ships have to hire rude drivers."
Bornn, who is also a member of the V.I. Port Authority board of directors, promised to study the conflict between taxi drivers and Abramson Enterprises. Abramson has a deal with Carnival Cruise Lines to use large buses to pick up passengers on the Port Authority dock in Frederiksted. Taxis must wait outside the dock area, which is unfair, contend drivers, headed by Kelvin Dennie of the St. Croix Taxi Federation.
The Abramson issue is "the biggest concern of the little man driving a taxi," said Lloyd Daly.
Daly encouraged Gov. Charles Turnbull to revive the government-run Taxi Commission.The commission, which is supposed to enforce industry rules and regulations, is not funded and has no director or enforcement officers. Because of those problems, taxi drivers who break rules and regulations continue to do business.
While Bornn agreed the commission is in "total disarray," he said taxi drivers shouldn’t rely on the government to fix every problem facing the industry.
One way for taxi operators to help themselves, Bornn said, is for them to unite and travel to Puerto Rico in October for the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association’s trade meeting. By working together, Bornn said drivers can lobby the cruise lines and offer bulk tours for visitors instead of individual drivers who can’t fulfill the cruise line’s needs.
RED CROSS SEEKS MONEY TO AID QUAKE VICTIMS
The American Red Cross, through the St. Thomas-St. John chapter, is soliciting monetary contributions to provide assistance to victims of the earthquake that caused massive death and destruction in Turkey on Tuesday, Aug. 17.
The International Red Cross is working with the Turkish Red Crescent Society and other agencies to provide emergency workers and assistance to the tens of thousands of persons injured and displaced by the tremor, which registered 7.8 on the Richter Scale.
Those wishing to contribute to the Red Cross relief efforts are encouraged to make monetary donations, a release from the Red Cross said. "The purchasing power of the U.S. dollar allows the Red Cross to maximize the value of cash donations and, unlike in-kind donations, do not involve transportation costs."
Further, the release states, "by using donated dollars, the local economy is stimulated, supplies arrive quickly and storage costs are minimized."
Contributions should be mailed to the American Red Cross International Reponse Fund, PO Box 37243, Washington DC 20013. Checks should indicate that the funds are for Turkey relief.
Checks should not be sent or taken to the local chapter Red Cross office.
For further information, call the local chapter at 774-0375 or (800) HELP-NOW (in English) or (800) 257-7575 (in Spanish).
The International Red Cross is working with the Turkish Red Crescent Society and other agencies to provide emergency workers and assistance to the tens of thousands of persons injured and displaced by the tremor, which registered 7.8 on the Richter Scale.
Those wishing to contribute to the Red Cross relief efforts are encouraged to make monetary donations, a release from the Red Cross said. "The purchasing power of the U.S. dollar allows the Red Cross to maximize the value of cash donations and, unlike in-kind donations, do not involve transportation costs."
Further, the release states, "by using donated dollars, the local economy is stimulated, supplies arrive quickly and storage costs are minimized."
Contributions should be mailed to the American Red Cross International Reponse Fund, PO Box 37243, Washington DC 20013. Checks should indicate that the funds are for Turkey relief.
Checks should not be sent or taken to the local chapter Red Cross office.
For further information, call the local chapter at 774-0375 or (800) HELP-NOW (in English) or (800) 257-7575 (in Spanish).
DELEGATE SCHEDULES TOWN MEETINGS
Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen will hold town meetings later this month on St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix to discuss legislation before Congress that impacts the Virgin Islands.
Christensen, who is in the territory during the congressional recess this month, said the meetings "will provide an opportunity to increase understanding and awareness" of legislation she has introduced this term "and what its passage means for the people of the Virgin Islands."
The schedule of town meetings is as follows:
— St. John, 6 p.m. Aug. 24, Legislative Chambers
— St. Thomas, 6 p.m. Aug. 25, Leona Benjamin Fellowship Hall of the
Memorial Moravian Church.
— St. Croix, 6 p.m. Aug. 31, Curriculum Center.
The legislation to be discussed is:
* Lifting the cap on the return of rum excise taxes.
* Extension of the supplemental social security income program (SSI).
to Guam and USVI (HR 1308.
* Medically Underserved Access to Care Act of 1999 (HR 1860.
* Judicial District of the Virgin Islands Act of 1999 (HR 2011.
* Amendment of Revised Organic Act to restructure V.I. legislature (HR 2296.
* Increase in allotments for territories under the Children's Health.
Insurance Program (CHIP) (HR 806).
* Amendment to title XIX of Social Security Act to lift Medicaid Cap for Puerto Rico and VI Veterans (HR 2333).
Copies of the bills will be available at the town meetings and in the delegate's office.
Christensen, who is in the territory during the congressional recess this month, said the meetings "will provide an opportunity to increase understanding and awareness" of legislation she has introduced this term "and what its passage means for the people of the Virgin Islands."
The schedule of town meetings is as follows:
— St. John, 6 p.m. Aug. 24, Legislative Chambers
— St. Thomas, 6 p.m. Aug. 25, Leona Benjamin Fellowship Hall of the
Memorial Moravian Church.
— St. Croix, 6 p.m. Aug. 31, Curriculum Center.
The legislation to be discussed is:
* Lifting the cap on the return of rum excise taxes.
* Extension of the supplemental social security income program (SSI).
to Guam and USVI (HR 1308.
* Medically Underserved Access to Care Act of 1999 (HR 1860.
* Judicial District of the Virgin Islands Act of 1999 (HR 2011.
* Amendment of Revised Organic Act to restructure V.I. legislature (HR 2296.
* Increase in allotments for territories under the Children's Health.
Insurance Program (CHIP) (HR 806).
* Amendment to title XIX of Social Security Act to lift Medicaid Cap for Puerto Rico and VI Veterans (HR 2333).
Copies of the bills will be available at the town meetings and in the delegate's office.
AUTO INSURANCE, OPEN SHIP CASINOS NOW LAW
Automobile liability insurance will be mandatory for Virgin Islands motorists in six months, and cruise ships calling anywhere in the territory can keep their casinos open while in port, effective immediately.
These are among the provisions of the Short-Term Revenue Enhancement Act of 1999 that Gov. Charles Turnbull signed into law on Wednesday. At the same time, he "reluctantly" vetoed the Government Financial Accountability Act of 1999, saying he would submit "corrective language" for that bill to the Legislature within five days.
The auto insurance and cruise ship casino provisions are just parts of the revenue enhancement act. The measure also provides, among other things, for new or increased fees and taxes affecting the insurance industry, domestic and foreign corporations, and cigarettes, beer and soft drinks; and allows horse race franchise holders to simulcast and conduct pari-mutuel betting on dog races.
The onboard casinos provision apparently does not impact on St. Croix, where, under previous legislation, ships are already permitted to open their casinos while in port, but only until the opening of the island's first casino — scheduled for December at the Divi Carina Bay Resort.
Sen. David Jones has said he will offer an amendment to the onboard casino provision signed by Turnbull that would reauthorize gaming on ships calling on St. Croix, even after the casino opens.
The mandatory auto insurance measure sets a cap of $75,000 for recovery of non- economic damages and provides for the provision to take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law.
Motor vehicle operators will have to provide documentation of liability coverage as a condition of obtaining license plates and annual inspection stickers. In a statement, the governor said the bill also provides for the implementation of a point system that "will aid in maintaining affordable insurance and protect the public from unsafe and reckless drivers."
Under a point system, drivers who accumulate a specified number of points for traffic violations and other vehicle convictions automatically have their licenses suspended or taken away.
Turnbull said in the statement that he signed the bill even though it needed some changes to address deficiencies and that he would be submitting legislation to do this "in the near future."
He said he vetoed the financial accountability measure because of issues raised by Attorney General Iver Stridiron, noting "ambiguities and some constitutionally questionable provisions which concern me greatly."
In his transmittal letter to Senate president Vargrave Richards, the governor stated that in the bill the Legislature has "ordered the governor to reorganize the executive branch." Although he does intend to introduce a reorganization plan shortly, Turnbull said, a directive from the legislative branch to do so would violate the U.S. Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers.
He also told Richards provisions of the bill would diminish his control of agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch. But, he added, "given the goals of this administration and the severity of our financial circumstances, these provisions would be acceptable to us with minor changes."
The bill also would impose a personnel attrition program for the executive branch, Turnbull said, while not applying the same standard to the other two branches of government.
Beyond the separation of powers concerns, he said in the letter to Richards, "the goals of the bill generally coincide with those of this administration." He pledged to submit proposed amendments within the next five days that would make the bill acceptable to him.
In a statement released to the news media in response to Turnbull's letter, Richards expressed disappointment at the governor's veto of the financial accountability bill and said he disagreed with the governor's conclusion that it was unconstitutional. He pledged to "develop a strategy" with fellow lawmakers to secure passage of the measure once the governor's recommended amendments are received.
The governor also signed into law on Wednesday a bill that would establish a cancer registry in the territory. Richards said in his release that the law will "allow for better recording and reporting measures" which could, in turn, lead to additional funding to "enable health care providers to educate citizens through intensive community outreach programs."
These are among the provisions of the Short-Term Revenue Enhancement Act of 1999 that Gov. Charles Turnbull signed into law on Wednesday. At the same time, he "reluctantly" vetoed the Government Financial Accountability Act of 1999, saying he would submit "corrective language" for that bill to the Legislature within five days.
The auto insurance and cruise ship casino provisions are just parts of the revenue enhancement act. The measure also provides, among other things, for new or increased fees and taxes affecting the insurance industry, domestic and foreign corporations, and cigarettes, beer and soft drinks; and allows horse race franchise holders to simulcast and conduct pari-mutuel betting on dog races.
The onboard casinos provision apparently does not impact on St. Croix, where, under previous legislation, ships are already permitted to open their casinos while in port, but only until the opening of the island's first casino — scheduled for December at the Divi Carina Bay Resort.
Sen. David Jones has said he will offer an amendment to the onboard casino provision signed by Turnbull that would reauthorize gaming on ships calling on St. Croix, even after the casino opens.
The mandatory auto insurance measure sets a cap of $75,000 for recovery of non- economic damages and provides for the provision to take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law.
Motor vehicle operators will have to provide documentation of liability coverage as a condition of obtaining license plates and annual inspection stickers. In a statement, the governor said the bill also provides for the implementation of a point system that "will aid in maintaining affordable insurance and protect the public from unsafe and reckless drivers."
Under a point system, drivers who accumulate a specified number of points for traffic violations and other vehicle convictions automatically have their licenses suspended or taken away.
Turnbull said in the statement that he signed the bill even though it needed some changes to address deficiencies and that he would be submitting legislation to do this "in the near future."
He said he vetoed the financial accountability measure because of issues raised by Attorney General Iver Stridiron, noting "ambiguities and some constitutionally questionable provisions which concern me greatly."
In his transmittal letter to Senate president Vargrave Richards, the governor stated that in the bill the Legislature has "ordered the governor to reorganize the executive branch." Although he does intend to introduce a reorganization plan shortly, Turnbull said, a directive from the legislative branch to do so would violate the U.S. Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers.
He also told Richards provisions of the bill would diminish his control of agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch. But, he added, "given the goals of this administration and the severity of our financial circumstances, these provisions would be acceptable to us with minor changes."
The bill also would impose a personnel attrition program for the executive branch, Turnbull said, while not applying the same standard to the other two branches of government.
Beyond the separation of powers concerns, he said in the letter to Richards, "the goals of the bill generally coincide with those of this administration." He pledged to submit proposed amendments within the next five days that would make the bill acceptable to him.
In a statement released to the news media in response to Turnbull's letter, Richards expressed disappointment at the governor's veto of the financial accountability bill and said he disagreed with the governor's conclusion that it was unconstitutional. He pledged to "develop a strategy" with fellow lawmakers to secure passage of the measure once the governor's recommended amendments are received.
The governor also signed into law on Wednesday a bill that would establish a cancer registry in the territory. Richards said in his release that the law will "allow for better recording and reporting measures" which could, in turn, lead to additional funding to "enable health care providers to educate citizens through intensive community outreach programs."
AUTO INSURANCE, OPEN SHIP CASINOS NOW LAW
Automobile liability insurance will be mandatory for Virgin Islands motorists in six months, and cruise ships calling anywhere in the territory can keep their casinos open while in port, effective immediately.
These are among the provisions of the Short-Term Revenue Enhancement Act of 1999 that Gov. Charles Turnbull signed into law Wednesday. At the same time, he "reluctantly" vetoed the Government Financial Accountability Act of 1999, saying he would submit "corrective language" for that bill to the Legislature within five days.
The auto insurance and cruise ship casino provisions are just parts of the revenue enhancement act. The measure also provides, among other things, for new or increased fees and taxes affecting the insurance industry, domestic and foreign corporations, and cigarettes, beer and soft drinks; and allows horse race franchise holders to simulcast and conduct pari-mutuel betting on dog races.
The onboard casinos provision apparently does not impact on St. Croix, where, under previous legislation, ships are already permitted to open their casinos while in port, but only until the opening of the island's first casino — scheduled for December at the Divi Carina Bay Resort.
The mandatory auto insurance measure sets a cap of $75,000 for recovery of non- economic damages and provides for the provision to take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law.
Motor vehicle operators will have to provide documentation of liability coverage as a condition of obtaining license plates and annual inspection stickers. In a statement, the governor said the bill also provides for the implementation of a point system that "will aid in maintaining affordable insurance and protect the public from unsafe and reckless drivers."
Under a point system, drivers who accumulate a specified number of points for traffic violations and other vehicle convictions automatically have their licenses suspended or taken away.
Turnbull said in the statement that he signed the bill even though it needed some changes to address deficiencies and that he would be submitting legislation to do this "in the near future."
He said he vetoed the financial accountability measure because of issues raised by Attorney General Iver Stridiron, noting "ambiguities and some constitutionally questionable provisions which concern me greatly."
In his transmittal letter to Senate President Vargrave Richards, the governor said that in the bill the Legislature has "ordered the governor to reorganize the executive branch." Although he does intend to introduce a reorganization plan shortly, Turnbull said, a directive from the legislative branch to do so would violate the U.S. Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers.
He also told Richards provisions of the bill would diminish his control of agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch. But, he added, "given the goals of this administration and the severity of our financial circumstances, these provisions would be acceptable to us with minor changes."
The bill also would impose a personnel attrition program for the executive branch, Turnbull said, while not applying the same standard to the other two branches of government.
Beyond the separation of powers concerns, he said in the letter to Richards, "the goals of the bill generally coincide with those of this administration." He pledged to submit proposed amendments within the next five days that would make the bill acceptable to him.
In a statement released to the news media in response to Turnbull's letter, Richards expressed disappointment at the governor's veto of the financial accountability bill and said he disagreed with the governor's conclusion that it was unconstitutional. He pledged to "develop a strategy" with fellow lawmakers to secure passage of the measure once the governor's recommended amendments are received.
The governor also signed into law on Wednesday a bill that would establish a cancer registry in the territory. Richards said in his release that the law will "allow for better recording and reporting measures" which could, in turn, lead to additional funding to "enable health care providers to educate citizens through intensive community outreach programs."
These are among the provisions of the Short-Term Revenue Enhancement Act of 1999 that Gov. Charles Turnbull signed into law Wednesday. At the same time, he "reluctantly" vetoed the Government Financial Accountability Act of 1999, saying he would submit "corrective language" for that bill to the Legislature within five days.
The auto insurance and cruise ship casino provisions are just parts of the revenue enhancement act. The measure also provides, among other things, for new or increased fees and taxes affecting the insurance industry, domestic and foreign corporations, and cigarettes, beer and soft drinks; and allows horse race franchise holders to simulcast and conduct pari-mutuel betting on dog races.
The onboard casinos provision apparently does not impact on St. Croix, where, under previous legislation, ships are already permitted to open their casinos while in port, but only until the opening of the island's first casino — scheduled for December at the Divi Carina Bay Resort.
The mandatory auto insurance measure sets a cap of $75,000 for recovery of non- economic damages and provides for the provision to take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law.
Motor vehicle operators will have to provide documentation of liability coverage as a condition of obtaining license plates and annual inspection stickers. In a statement, the governor said the bill also provides for the implementation of a point system that "will aid in maintaining affordable insurance and protect the public from unsafe and reckless drivers."
Under a point system, drivers who accumulate a specified number of points for traffic violations and other vehicle convictions automatically have their licenses suspended or taken away.
Turnbull said in the statement that he signed the bill even though it needed some changes to address deficiencies and that he would be submitting legislation to do this "in the near future."
He said he vetoed the financial accountability measure because of issues raised by Attorney General Iver Stridiron, noting "ambiguities and some constitutionally questionable provisions which concern me greatly."
In his transmittal letter to Senate President Vargrave Richards, the governor said that in the bill the Legislature has "ordered the governor to reorganize the executive branch." Although he does intend to introduce a reorganization plan shortly, Turnbull said, a directive from the legislative branch to do so would violate the U.S. Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers.
He also told Richards provisions of the bill would diminish his control of agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch. But, he added, "given the goals of this administration and the severity of our financial circumstances, these provisions would be acceptable to us with minor changes."
The bill also would impose a personnel attrition program for the executive branch, Turnbull said, while not applying the same standard to the other two branches of government.
Beyond the separation of powers concerns, he said in the letter to Richards, "the goals of the bill generally coincide with those of this administration." He pledged to submit proposed amendments within the next five days that would make the bill acceptable to him.
In a statement released to the news media in response to Turnbull's letter, Richards expressed disappointment at the governor's veto of the financial accountability bill and said he disagreed with the governor's conclusion that it was unconstitutional. He pledged to "develop a strategy" with fellow lawmakers to secure passage of the measure once the governor's recommended amendments are received.
The governor also signed into law on Wednesday a bill that would establish a cancer registry in the territory. Richards said in his release that the law will "allow for better recording and reporting measures" which could, in turn, lead to additional funding to "enable health care providers to educate citizens through intensive community outreach programs."
POWER CREW DOING 'CAPITAL PROJECT' WORK
That flotilla of off-island power trucks and their crew members working their way up Crown Mountain Road are here on a routine assignment, part of a "capital projects" investment that the Water And Power Authority makes annually at this time of year.
"We bring in crews for three-month intervals during hurricane season as long as we have enough capital projects that we can justify," WAPA assistant executive director Glenn Rothgeb told The Source.
This particular crew, along with their cherry-picker trucks and other vehicles, is from Southern Energy Inc./Georgia Power, he said. Its assignment is to do "reconductoring, increasing the size of the feed of the wire" on feeder No. 6. The crew arrived Monday, began work Tuesday and will be in the territory until mid-November, he said.
In addition to the Crown Mountain work, WAPA is putting off-island crews to work on "a series of capital projects on all three islands," Rothgeb said.
On St. John, "we want to extend three-phase power out to Coral Bay," he said. Three-phase power is needed for heavier demand, such as that of hotels, he said, whereas most residences have single-phase power.
WAPA has been bringing in mainland crews for the last few years, he said, and actually had a group working on St. Thomas last fall when Hurricane Georges hit. Some projects have Federal Emergency Management Agency funding, he said, "but in general this is our normal capital expenditures." Crews are selected through competitive bidding, he said.
"We bring in crews for three-month intervals during hurricane season as long as we have enough capital projects that we can justify," WAPA assistant executive director Glenn Rothgeb told The Source.
This particular crew, along with their cherry-picker trucks and other vehicles, is from Southern Energy Inc./Georgia Power, he said. Its assignment is to do "reconductoring, increasing the size of the feed of the wire" on feeder No. 6. The crew arrived Monday, began work Tuesday and will be in the territory until mid-November, he said.
In addition to the Crown Mountain work, WAPA is putting off-island crews to work on "a series of capital projects on all three islands," Rothgeb said.
On St. John, "we want to extend three-phase power out to Coral Bay," he said. Three-phase power is needed for heavier demand, such as that of hotels, he said, whereas most residences have single-phase power.
WAPA has been bringing in mainland crews for the last few years, he said, and actually had a group working on St. Thomas last fall when Hurricane Georges hit. Some projects have Federal Emergency Management Agency funding, he said, "but in general this is our normal capital expenditures." Crews are selected through competitive bidding, he said.
TOPA 'OPTIMISTIC' PLANET HOLLYWOOD WILL OPEN HERE
Although the Planet Hollywood organization owned in part by film stars announced its intention on Tuesday to file for federal bankruptcy protection, an executive of Topa Equities says he is optimistic that plans for one of the restaurants to open on St. Thomas this fall will go forward.
"Grupo ECE, the Planet Hollywood franchisee and the lease holder of the property slated for the St. Thomas location of Planet Hollywood, is a tenant in good standing," Fraser Drummond, senior vice president of Topa Equities (VI) Ltd., told The Source.
The property leased by the firm is the onetime Burger King site at a prime location on the St. Thomas waterfront, at the Raadets Gade intersection.
When Burger King occupied the premises, the entire front of the two-story building consisted of plexiglas windows in a modernistic design that contrasted starkly with the traditional West Indian architecture of much of the historic downtown district. Badly damaged by Hurricane Marilyn four years ago, the fast-food franchise never reopened.
Topa subsequently reconstructed the exterior in a West Indian motif, but the pale yellow structure with dark blue shutters and white trim has remained closed.
"We remain optimistic that they will establish themselves as a feature of the Charlotte Amalie waterfront in time for the upcoming busy season," Drummond said of the ECE Planet Hollywood franchise organization.
The Planet Hollywood Inc. PHL corporate entity announced from its headquarters in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday that it intended to file for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court while attempting to get out from under a quarter-billion dollars in debt and hoped to pre- negotiate with lenders. In April, the company failed to make a $15 million interest payment on the $250 million in bond debt, wire services reported.
According to the wire reports, the enterprise, which operates about 80 movie-themed restaurants and nine All-Star Cafes across the United States and abroad, has secured a conditional $30 million cash infusion to keep the operation going.
Planet Hollywood was started in 1991 with actors Arnold Schwartzenegger, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore and businessmen Robert Earl and Keith Barish as partners. Barish left the company in March after selling about half of his holdings in the company. Earl continues as chief executive officer. According to Earl, all of the film stars involved will remain on board.
The Reuters, AP and PRNewswire services reported that the $30 million in working capital was put up by Planet Hollywood shareholders including Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, Singapore investor Ong Beng Seng and a trust for Earl's children. In return, they are to get a 70 percent stake in the company, with the remaining 30 percent to be made available to other creditors.
According to Reuters, Earl said company bondholders were meeting this week to review the plan, which would wipe out the current equity.
The wire reports said Planet Hollywood underwent a rapid expansion in 1996-97 but that business at the trendy restaurants has since then been declining. Merchandise sales, which account for about a third of revenues, are reported to be off 31 percent from last year.
The company has been trying to cut costs by reducing corporate overhead, improving cost-control, streamlining operations and disposing of non-essential assets.
Drummond said it was Topa Equities' policy "not to comment on the status of our tenants' business affairs."
"Grupo ECE, the Planet Hollywood franchisee and the lease holder of the property slated for the St. Thomas location of Planet Hollywood, is a tenant in good standing," Fraser Drummond, senior vice president of Topa Equities (VI) Ltd., told The Source.
The property leased by the firm is the onetime Burger King site at a prime location on the St. Thomas waterfront, at the Raadets Gade intersection.
When Burger King occupied the premises, the entire front of the two-story building consisted of plexiglas windows in a modernistic design that contrasted starkly with the traditional West Indian architecture of much of the historic downtown district. Badly damaged by Hurricane Marilyn four years ago, the fast-food franchise never reopened.
Topa subsequently reconstructed the exterior in a West Indian motif, but the pale yellow structure with dark blue shutters and white trim has remained closed.
"We remain optimistic that they will establish themselves as a feature of the Charlotte Amalie waterfront in time for the upcoming busy season," Drummond said of the ECE Planet Hollywood franchise organization.
The Planet Hollywood Inc. PHL corporate entity announced from its headquarters in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday that it intended to file for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court while attempting to get out from under a quarter-billion dollars in debt and hoped to pre- negotiate with lenders. In April, the company failed to make a $15 million interest payment on the $250 million in bond debt, wire services reported.
According to the wire reports, the enterprise, which operates about 80 movie-themed restaurants and nine All-Star Cafes across the United States and abroad, has secured a conditional $30 million cash infusion to keep the operation going.
Planet Hollywood was started in 1991 with actors Arnold Schwartzenegger, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore and businessmen Robert Earl and Keith Barish as partners. Barish left the company in March after selling about half of his holdings in the company. Earl continues as chief executive officer. According to Earl, all of the film stars involved will remain on board.
The Reuters, AP and PRNewswire services reported that the $30 million in working capital was put up by Planet Hollywood shareholders including Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, Singapore investor Ong Beng Seng and a trust for Earl's children. In return, they are to get a 70 percent stake in the company, with the remaining 30 percent to be made available to other creditors.
According to Reuters, Earl said company bondholders were meeting this week to review the plan, which would wipe out the current equity.
The wire reports said Planet Hollywood underwent a rapid expansion in 1996-97 but that business at the trendy restaurants has since then been declining. Merchandise sales, which account for about a third of revenues, are reported to be off 31 percent from last year.
The company has been trying to cut costs by reducing corporate overhead, improving cost-control, streamlining operations and disposing of non-essential assets.
Drummond said it was Topa Equities' policy "not to comment on the status of our tenants' business affairs."
TATTOO REGULATION BILL TAKES SOME NEEDLING
As they tabled a bill to restrict the practice of tattooing in the territory, Senate Health Committee members did a little needling of their own.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Adelbert Bryan, said he wanted to limit to licensed physicians the right to apply body art. Sen. Anne Golden and other opponents of the measure said they would rather see doctors stick it to their patients in the ways they know best.
Tattooing and body piercing have in recent years become fads among young people — and a lucrative business for folks like Luc Zeitek, who appeared to testify at the committee hearing on St. Thomas Wednesday accompanied by attorney Adriane Dudley.
Dr. Lucien Moolenaar, representing Health Commissioner Wilbur Callender, agreed with Bryan's concerns about the observance of sound health practices by tattoo artists. However, he expressed doubt that practice of the medical arts should include the graphic arts.
Bryan, pressing his point, said when a tattoo artist makes a mistake or the tattoo wearer gets bored, it's up to the doctors to clean up the mess. "If I had a girlfriend named Sally when I was in high school and I went to Mr. Zeitek, and now I'm married to Gerri, every day 'Sally' is appearing in her face. How I'm going to get off 'Sally' when I'm married to Gerri?" he said.
Golden, voicing her opposition to the bill, confessed a desire to have a tattoo of her own. Pledging to keep any such undertaking in the open, she told her colleagues, "I will put it in a place where everyone could see."
That, noted Sen. Lorraine Berry, is a position not shared by all tattoo and body piercing devotees. "I would never put a tattoo on my body," she told her colleagues, "but I respect anybody's right to do it. I see a lot of people here piercing their nose, their ear, their lips, everything. . . Even in places we don't see, I hear that they pierce, they put earring and all sorts of things."
Offering her analysis of why this might be, she said, "I guess they're bored with life."
Although the tenor of testimony was often light-hearted in the Senate chamber, a St. Thomas skin specialist did offer some serious professional observations about tattooing in a radio report carried earlier in the day.
The two potential problems of tattooing are secondary infection and allergy to dye, Dr. Fletcher Robinson told Radio One. "In my experience, these things rarely happen," the dermatologist said. "I have had one patient who had a reaction to the red dye."
Robinson said the practice of tattooing should be regulated, so as to require training and good hygiene practices, including precautions against the transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus. But he said if the territory were to enact a ban on tattooing, it would be "the only jurisdiction in the United States" to do so.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Adelbert Bryan, said he wanted to limit to licensed physicians the right to apply body art. Sen. Anne Golden and other opponents of the measure said they would rather see doctors stick it to their patients in the ways they know best.
Tattooing and body piercing have in recent years become fads among young people — and a lucrative business for folks like Luc Zeitek, who appeared to testify at the committee hearing on St. Thomas Wednesday accompanied by attorney Adriane Dudley.
Dr. Lucien Moolenaar, representing Health Commissioner Wilbur Callender, agreed with Bryan's concerns about the observance of sound health practices by tattoo artists. However, he expressed doubt that practice of the medical arts should include the graphic arts.
Bryan, pressing his point, said when a tattoo artist makes a mistake or the tattoo wearer gets bored, it's up to the doctors to clean up the mess. "If I had a girlfriend named Sally when I was in high school and I went to Mr. Zeitek, and now I'm married to Gerri, every day 'Sally' is appearing in her face. How I'm going to get off 'Sally' when I'm married to Gerri?" he said.
Golden, voicing her opposition to the bill, confessed a desire to have a tattoo of her own. Pledging to keep any such undertaking in the open, she told her colleagues, "I will put it in a place where everyone could see."
That, noted Sen. Lorraine Berry, is a position not shared by all tattoo and body piercing devotees. "I would never put a tattoo on my body," she told her colleagues, "but I respect anybody's right to do it. I see a lot of people here piercing their nose, their ear, their lips, everything. . . Even in places we don't see, I hear that they pierce, they put earring and all sorts of things."
Offering her analysis of why this might be, she said, "I guess they're bored with life."
Although the tenor of testimony was often light-hearted in the Senate chamber, a St. Thomas skin specialist did offer some serious professional observations about tattooing in a radio report carried earlier in the day.
The two potential problems of tattooing are secondary infection and allergy to dye, Dr. Fletcher Robinson told Radio One. "In my experience, these things rarely happen," the dermatologist said. "I have had one patient who had a reaction to the red dye."
Robinson said the practice of tattooing should be regulated, so as to require training and good hygiene practices, including precautions against the transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus. But he said if the territory were to enact a ban on tattooing, it would be "the only jurisdiction in the United States" to do so.
