Outgoing Gov. Roy L. Schneider is unlikely to sign any contracts for new government complexes, the Independent reported Tuesday.
The paper quoted Samuel Baptiste, acting commissioner of Property and Procurement, as saying his department is still "basically trying to address all the issues involved, and it's a long process."
Sen. Lorraine L. Berry and transition team head Juel Molloy had urged Schneider not to sign any contracts for a government complex during his final weeks in office.
Schneider put government complex projects out for bid last summer and three contractors have been selected for negotiations. The Independent identified them as Custom Builders for the St. Thomas complex; Hyde Park Perini for a Labor Department building on St. Croix; and Ensycon for other government offices on St. Croix.
Berry and Molloy said it would be inappropriate for the outgoing administration to enter multi-million-dollar contracts without funds being identified and without input from Gov.- elect Charles W. Turnbull.
Baptiste had said last week, "We have not closed, but if an agreement is reached before the new administration comes in, I'm sure they well be fully briefed."
Most officials agree on the need to centralize government offices. The existing situation with scattered locations and high rents is less than ideal, but plans now in the works need to be carefully reviewed, said Molloy, co-chair of the Turnbull-James transition team.
In August when the project was put out for bid, Dean Luke, who was then commission of Property and Procurement, said the government was paying $8.2 million in rent for its scattered sites. Property and Procurement estimates a turnkey office project — which would not require an initial outlay of public money — could save taxpayers $2 million a year in rent.
"It's certainly in the interest of the Turnbull-James administration to try and cut down on rental costs," said Molloy, adding the new administration would review all contracts.
Very little information about the complex has been given to the public. Berry voiced concern about reports that it will be in Sub Base — reports that previously generated strong public opposition — but Baptiste said other locations also are being considered. He did not identify them.

Local bankers have told Lt. Gov-elect G. Luz James II that major changes in the lieutenant governor's office and serious revision of Virgin Islands laws are needed to stimulate new business investment.
The territory operates under a banking code from 1965 that is antiquated and seriously impedes the process of conducting business in the Virgin Islands, according to members of the V.I. Bankers Association.
Recording a deed, which takes two or three days elsewhere, can take two to three weeks in St. Thomas, Gwen Adams, former Finance commissioner and now chief financial officer at Banco Popular, told WVWI on Monday.
Adams also said the tedious processes slow the flow of money into the V.I. treasury.
All 50 states operate under the Uniform Commercial Code, which was established to simplify and modernize the law governing commercial transactions.
"The V. I. is not in sync with the rest of the country," said Adams, urging passage of the UCC.
Adams said James was receptive to the bankers' concerns, but said he couldn't get a real handle on it until he is in office.

Mirror, mirror on the road,
During Georges down you blow'd.
Public Works, we've cut you slack.
It's time to put our mirrors back!
Lots of St. Thomas residents are screaming about potholes. And with good reason. Our roads are so rutted and pitted that they threaten our safety and our vehicles' structural soundness.
But we have another road-safety problem that no one has talked much about: the Public Works Department's failure to restore mirrors and road signs after Hurricane Georges.
The area around Mafolie Hotel offers a good — though decidedly not the only — example.
Before Georges, drivers turning south onto Mafolie Road from the road in front of the hotel had the benefit at that treacherous intersection of utilizing a round mirror that reflected hidden traffic coming up the hill. No more. Hurricane Georges blew it down.
That was more than three months ago. Surely it shouldn't take three months to replace roadside mirrors, stop signs and other safety devices that motorists depend on.
Please, Public Works. This is routine stuff — the nuts and bolts of your mission. We hope it won't take a devastating accident to spur you to action.

Senate President Lorraine L. Berry is submitting legislation to allow cruise ships to open their casinos while in port in St. Thomas — but only to their own passengers.
Berry said in a radio address that if cruise ships could open their casinos while docked here, they would stay later. And if ships stayed longer, stores could stay open and passengers would have more time to shop and enjoy local food and entertainment.
When ships dock in Frederiksted, they are allowed to open their casinos and often stay in port later as a result.
Berry said she submitted the bill now so it would be ready for public hearings when the 23rd Legislature convenes in January.
Casino gambling is prohibited by law in St. Thomas and St. John. Groundbreaking was held last week for St. Croix's first casino.

WAY DOWN IN BOVONI
(to Away in A Manger)
Way down in Bovoni, the potholes are deep
The dump fires burn brightly round Roy and his sheep
The Pigs go to slaughter with nary a care
Just happy to die on The Bridge To Nowhere
Oh, long may your legacy live, Shepherd Roy
The Bridge That Goes Nowhere…our pride and our joy!
We love thee, oh Bridge, you will long be our friend
Although you have neither begining nor end
AMERICA'S CUP
(to I Saw 3 Ships)
I saw a ship come sailing in
On Christmas Day, On Christmas Day
I saw a ship come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the Morning
And what was in the ship I saw?
On Christmas Day, On Christmas Day
Twas Peter Holmberg in a bra!
On Christmas Day in the morning
I asked dear Peter what was up
On Christmas Day, On Christmas Day
He said "My friends, I won the cup!"
On Christmas Day in the morning
He pointed to the bra with glee
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
With cup sized V for VICTORY!
On Christmas Day in the morning
Enjoy!
Doris Pomeranz
St. Thomas

Auguste E. Rimpel Jr. — Gus to most people — has gotten another promotion.
Rimpel has been named head of the International Industry Market Group of the Government Consulting Practice of Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP in Washington, D.C., and a member of the group's management team, according to the Daily News.
In his new role Rimpel will handle client services for emerging or transitional market countries that are funded by bilateral development agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Rimpel, now chairman of the University of the Virgin Islands board of trustees, was Commerce commissioner during the King administration.
He has volunteered to assist the incoming Turnbull administration in his area of expertise: economic development.
Rimpel and his wife, Maria, live in Concord, Mass. They also have a home in St. Thomas.

Galas, grand balls, luncheons and receptions will lead up to the formal inauguration of Gov.-elect Charles W. Turnbull and Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James on Jan 4.
V.I. Democratic Party officials say the events will be less expensive than those held in 1994 for Gov. Roy L. Schneider: $112,000 of government money this year compared with $125,000 in 1994.
Balls will be held in St. Thomas at Marriott's Frenchmen's Reef, Renaissance Grand Beach Resort and Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach Club & Resort.
Tickets are $50 and are on sale at each hotel or through the V.I. Democratic Party.
The schedule for St. Thomas events:
Saturday, Jan 2, 6 to 8 p.m. — Dignitary Welcome Reception, Hotel 1829 (by invitation only).
Sunday, Jan. 3, 7 to 9 p.m. — Inaugural Concert, Emancipation Garden.
Monday, Jan. 4, 8 a.m.– Ecumenical Service, Christ Church Methodist, Market Square.
Monday, Jan. 4, 9:30 a.m — . Motorcade and parade from Addelita Cancryn Junior High School to Emancipation Garden via Veterans Drive.
— 10:45 a.m. – Inauguration ceremony, Emancipation Garden.
— 1 to 3 p.m.- Post inaugural luncheon, Town Hall, Bluebeard's Castle Hotel.
— 4 to 8 p.m.- Governor's Reception, Government House.
— 8:30 p.m.- Inaugural Balls.

The Family Resource Center needs men to serve as positive role models for young boys and to monitor the progress of participants in and graduates of the Men Terminating Violence Program.
Michal Rhymer, executive director of the Family Resource Center, said budget cuts resulting in a $50,000 deficit have created an even greater need for community volunteers to keep many of the programs running, according to the Daily News.
The center's services include counseling for victims of abuse and domestic violence (many of whom are young boys), a 24-hour Emergency Response Line, an emergency shelter and the Men Terminating Violence Program.
Rhymer said five men now volunteer regularly and many more are needed. The center also needs bilingual volunteers due to the increasing number of Spanish-speaking clients.
To volunteer call 776-3966.

A full-page ad placed in local newspapers this weekend by the Government Employees Retirement System board of trustees says salary increases for 18 unclassified employees were fully warranted.
The ad notes, among other things, that the 18 exempt employees have received no salary increases since 1995, while their unionized subordinates have, placing the unionized employees' earnings above the salaries of their supervisors.
GERS members who attended a Dec. 8 board meeting complained about a lack of information regarding the financial status of the system, according to a Daily News report.
GERS member Gonzalo Rivera said he requested copies of the minutes of board meetings for the past year and financial statements for 1997 and 1998. He was advised copies of those public documents would cost him $4,259.25.
The full-page ad says the issue of unfunded liability does not stem from an increase in operational costs. It says they are separate issues.
The ad did not list the names or titles of the exempt employees who got raises or the amount of their increases. Earlier reports indicated some raises ranged from $25,000 to $56,000.

Many island residents are likely to celebrate Christmas this year without a tree — not even the traditional island century plant.
A combination of prudent ordering on the part of retailers and Hurricane Georges has resulted in a dearth of traditional, artificial and even customary island Christmas trees, according to the Daily News.
Hurricane Georges knocked down all the century plants, according to Rafe Boulon, endangered species coordinator at the fish and wildlife division. The century plants, which often are used in place of traditional evergreen trees, fell down and broke during the storm, Boulon said.
One suggestion: Use an inkberry tree, or several small ones — also traditional in the Virgin Islands, according to St. John resident Melville Samuel.
Samuel said when he was young, his family used the inkberry tree by sticking candles on the thorns and hanging hand-made ornaments from the branches.