Narcotics Strike Force agents and officers from other agencies staged raids throughout St. Thomas and St. John on Thursday, confiscating crack-cocaine, vehicles, handguns and marijuana.
The St. Thomas raids were conducted at Bovoni, Oswald Harris Court, Hospital Ground and Ulke Gade.
Other agencies involved in the raids included the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Special Operations Bureau, Special Response Team, and the V.I. Housing Authority Police, according to the Daily News.
Officials declined to discuss the details of the raid.
There were several arrests on drug and related charges recorded on the police blotter Thursday, as reported by the Daily News, including possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, though it was unclear whether they were related to the strike.

Narcotics Strike Force agents and officers from other agencies staged raids throughout St. Thomas and St. John on Thursday, confiscating crack-cocaine, vehicles, handguns and marijuana.
The St. Thomas raids were conducted at Bovoni, Oswald Harris Court, Hospital Ground and Ulke Gade.
Other agencies involved in the raids included the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Special Operations Bureau, Special Response Team, and the V.I. Housing Authority Police, according to the Daily News.
Officials declined to discuss the details of the raid.
There were several arrests on drug and related charges recorded on the police blotter Thursday, as reported by the Daily News, including possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, though it was unclear whether they were related to the strike

January, Glaucoma Awareness Month, is being recognized by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. They are sponsoring free glaucoma screening at Tutu Park Mall on Saturday, Jan.30, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The screening will take place in front of Pearl Vision.

The predicted higher winds arrived Thursday and shook up the leaders in IMS 2 class at Key West Race Week. In this Grand Prix division of racing, all the crews are excellent, and subtle differences in designs make some boats stronger in light wind, some stronger in heavier winds. Peter Holmberg and the crew of VIM III sailed well in the light stuff. The 15 to 20 knot breezes have only helped VIM as BRAVA, the early regatta leader, has struggled. After today's two races VIM and BRAVA are tied for first place and HEATWAVE trails by only three points. The final race of the regatta will decide the class. Holmberg said the plan is, "lots of pasta tonight, good sleep, and then be ready to fight like animals tomorrow, this is great racing!"
In the Melges 24 class, the Hirst and Rosenberg team have sailed consistently with the top pack. Their efforts have been rewarded with a seventh place going into the final day.

Amy Burns Short, who lived in St. Thomas from 1980-95, was named director of graduate student teaching programs at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., beginning in August 1998.
She oversees English proficiency testing of international teaching assistants and graduate students, as well as coordinates support colloquia and programs for both American and international graduate students.
She regularly publishes book reviews and scholarly articles on teaching pedagogy, and recently was named media review editor of TESL-EJ, an online journal. In addition, she is a research study coordinator for Educational Testing Service.
She will begin doctoral work at N.C. State later this year in educational research and policy analysis.
She received a master's degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages from Murray State University, Murray, Ky., in December 1997, taught courses in academic English to international students preparing to enter graduate school, and also served as coordinator of instructional materials at MSU's Institute for International Studies.
Short completed her bachelor's degree in humanities, concentration in journalism, at the University of the Virgin Islands in
1988. She also attended L'Universite Paul Valery in Montpellier, France, and Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky.
In St. Thomas she taught French for two years at Charlotte Amalie High School, and before that, one year at Sibilly and Dober elementary schools. She also taught English as a second language in an adult education program at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral.
In addition she was a freelance writer, editorial assistant and columnist for the Virgin Islands Business Journal, Island Trader and Nautical Scene, and worked for the Daily News for two years.
Short also performed as house pianist and vocalist at Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort for more than three years, and performed regularly at other Virgin Islands hotels, restaurants and private gatherings over the years. She taught piano lessons to both adults and children.
She and her 2-year-old son, Carl Bradley Short, live in Raleigh, N.C.

Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christian-Christensen will hold forums Jan. 26, 27 and 28 for government officials and the general public to voice their concerns about the territory’s health care system.
The delegate will meet with officials during morning and afternoon sessions and with the general public during evening sessions on each island.
“This is an opportunity for me to hear first hand what the issues are so that I can request funding for priority health issues this term,” Christensen said. “The forums will also assist shaping my agenda as I take on the chairmanship of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Health Braintrust which monitors national minority health issues.”
The forums will take place as follows:
St. Thomas – Jan. 26
Government officials, 10 a.m. – noon, Roy L. Schneider Hospital, Conference Rm. A (2nd Floor)
General public, 6 p.m., Roy L. Schneider Hospital, Conference Rm. A (2nd Floor)
St. Croix – Jan. 27
Government officials, 12:30 – 2 p.m., Curriculum Center, Main Conference Room
General public, 6 p.m., Curriculum Center, Main Conference Room
St. John – Jan. 28
Government officials, 3 to 6 p.m., Legislature Conference Room
General public, 6 p.m., Legislature Conference Room
The delegate encourages all interested persons to attend. Please contact Loán Sewer at 774-4408 or Brian Modeste at 778-5900 for further information.

At last! Seaplane activity at St. Thomas's old airboats ramp!
They aren't the red and white Grumman Goose or Mallards, but newer De Haviland Twin-Otters, on floats operated by Seaborne Aviation.
"Now we can start our BVI service," said a Seaborne dispatcher and spokeswoman, Sandy Isle. "We originally had service slated for more than a year ago."
San Juan service into Isla Grande was also in the works, but Hurricane Georges stepped in and destroyed that ramp.
The BVI service, expected to start in February, will fly into West End, Tortola, with a schedule to be announced.
The St. Thomas ramp was the scene of much V.I. commerce and history between 1964, when Charles Blair started Antilles Airboats, and 1989, when Hurricane Hugo brought V.I. Seaplane Shuttle to a watery demise, scattering aircraft over the St. Croix ramp like so many Tinker Toys.
Passengers are delighted, now that the politics and haggling have ended.
"It's just so nice to have them back where they belong," said A. J. Phares,a local librarian and former regular "Goose" passenger.
On St. Croix, Seaborne Aviation is building a hangar and a new terminal at the old Christiansted ramp, noted the company's president, Charles Slagle. Meantime, service continues into the dock location in downtown Christiansted.

The Y2K loan proposal negotiated by former Gov. Roy L. Schneider shortly before he left office has been approved by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and sent to the Legislature for ratification.
A $32.4 million joint loan from Banco Popular and I.B.M. will pay for an assessment of computer compliance issues arising from the year 2000 "millennium bug" and purchase the hardware and software necessary to comply. The proceeds of the loan will also cover its closing costs, including fees and expenses.
The loan is structured so that only interest will be payable for the first 12 months. The first debt-service payment will be due 18 months after the loan is closed, and will be payable semi-annually thereafter. This is to avoid any major impact during fiscal year 1999, according to a release from Government House.
Turnbull, in his transmittal letter to the Legislature, stressed that failure to prepare for Y2K could result in disaster for the territory.
"We must certify that the 911 emergency system, heart defibrillators and kidney dialysis machines will be operational on Jan. 1, 2000," he said.
The governor credited the Y2K task force organized under the former administration for making significant progress on the issue, but said more work must be done.
"Analysis done thus far by this administration indicates those computer systems at the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Finance, Roy L. Schneider [and] Juan F. Luis Hospital and the Department of Health will shut down unless they are modified to be Y2K compliant," he said, echoing his predecessor's concerns.
Turnbull urged the Legislature to give the proposal its highest priority so funding for Y2K compliance will be available as soon as possible.

Note: This is the second in a series on best practices for our community to consider in revitalizing the Virgin Islands industrial promotion program.
According to the general provisions of the Industrial Development Program law, a firm engaged in manufacturing, assembly, utilities, agriculture, mariculture, hotel or guest house operations, or certain export services may be considered for beneficiary status.
If at least $50,000, exclusive of inventory, is invested and full-time employment for 10 Virgin Islands residents is generated, such a firm may be eligible for a 90 percent exemption from corporate income and resident shareholders' dividend income taxes; a 100 percent exemption from property and gross receipts taxes and a maximum 1 percent customs duty and 100 percent exemption on excise taxes to be paid on certain imported commodities.
The initial period for new IDC beneficiaries is 10 years, 15 years if the firm operates in the Frederiksted area on St. Croix. Once the first benefit period expires, application for an extension of full or partial benefits for up to five years may be granted, given that increased investment and employment occurs as a consequence.
Some may view renewal of benefits as inappropriate. The argument is that once the firm becomes profitable, following the "infant industry" period, benefits are no longer needed. At the very least, such a firm should "share" some of its profits through the corporate income tax with government and still be remain healthy.
This approach has traditionally been applied to goods-producing firms selling domestically or near their customers. As transportation technology developed, these firms became able to operate further from their customers.
The incentive to locate further away derives from an opportunity to lower cost through reduced taxes/fees offered by a jurisdiction willing to give them up in return for the employment created. This means increased profit to the firm, which makes such a move attractive.
Export service companies or "Designated Service Businesses" are a second type of exporting firm.
As noted in the IDC law, these firms provide one or more out of a list of 19 services to customers located outside the Virgin Islands. Examples include: economic, scientific or management consulting services; mail order firms; and dental laboratories.
In neither case does renewing IDC benefits have anything to do with the "infant industry" argument. That is, to keep these firms of this type, benefits must offered in perpetuity.
For the goods-producing exporter, a reduction in benefits below what may be received elsewhere could result in no reinvestment and closure following the point when the firm's capital equipment is fully depreciated.
For the service exporter, a move to the location offering more benefits could be instantaneous. That is, the service exporter is really a "backpacker." Most likely, personal computers are the only capital equipment. Such a firm could shut down on a Friday afternoon, move to another country over the weekend and be in operation there on Monday morning.
Service and commodity exporters are one group for which the IDC renewal decision should be easy. Because location is nearly unrelated to profit, that jurisdiction offering the lowest cost operating environment will win the investment and the benefits of the employment.
Editor's note: Richard W. Moore is president of Economic Research Service, a consulting firm offering service to Caribbean/Latin American companies, attorneys and governments on economic development projects and programs.

The school bus schedule is going to change so that students can be picked up closer to their homes.
The change is being made to insure the safety of students.
The revised bus schedule for all students will be announced within days.
Parents can contact the Office of the Insular Superintendent for further information.