He sharpened his skills riding horses bareback on the beaches of St. Croix, and now native Kevin Krigger sits poised to make history as an African American jockey in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby race at the legendary Churchill Downs track.

Krigger wouldn’t be the first black jockey to win the race – in fact, 15 of the first 28 derbies were won by black jockeys. But the spread of Jim Crow racism in the American south resulted in the all but elimination of minority jockey’s in the race.

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Here comes another one of those infamous agreements, rushing down Government Hill with a due date of May 15, already signed, sealed and delivered. And this time it represents, among other things, permission from the Legislature to authorize another decrease, this time to the tune of $7 million, in the Hovensa obligation to the General Fund.

The “Proposed Fourth Amendment Agreement Between The USVI Government and Hovensa” is a brief, three page document, and outlines the terms of the Government’s cooperation, and the refinery’s obligations during a fourteen month “sales process” during which the refinery will seek an investor.

According to the agreement, upon ratification by the Legislature, the refinery will begin a “bona fide” effort to sell the refinery and related facilities with the process to be run by the refinery and its owners, and “coordinated” with the Government.

That “coordination” according to the agreement, consists of Hovensa notifying the government of the selected investment firm; explaining the “mechanics and strategy of the sales process”; and providing “status briefings” on any events material to the sales process.

In other words, Hovensa will select the investor, control the sale, and brief the Governor and his staff as they deem appropriate. Read more »

Since her appointment as Commissioner of Education in March, 2008, Dr. Laverne Terry has been best known as the invisible administrator for a system that consumes a significant amount of the Territory’s budget with dismal, some would say degenerating results.

Modeled on U.S. patterns, the USVI’s public education system operates in English and follows accrediting procedures of U.S. public schools and universities. Administered by the Department of the Interior, the territory spends 7.5 percent of its GNP on education. (U.S. taxes that are paid locally stay in the islands.) Public schools in this dependent economy benefit from the spectrum of federal entitlements and initiatives including Head Start and other federally funded programs.

With the dropout rate hovering around 10% and dwindling attention being paid to reviving vocational education in the struggling economy, the community should be able to expect some visible strategy from the Department of Education and some payback for the dollars that are spent annually on our schools. Read more »

Are there any circumstances under which a teacher is justified in striking a student?

The talk on the airwaves recently has debated the merits of the “time out” generation against the earlier “spare the rod, spoil the child” school of thought. Is it more effective to negotiate with your children, or send them to their rooms to “think about what they’ve done” or to do what many of our parents and some teachers did, and apply a few well placed smacks to make the point?

Opinions on the topic are as numerous as the people you ask. But Sen. Judi Buckley has opened a channel for debate with her Corporal Punishment Bill that would prohibit the use of corporal punishment by educational personnel except in a few specific circumstances.

The proposal limits the use of “reasonable force” to quell a disturbance; to obtain weapons or other dangerous objects in the possession of a student; for self defense; or for the protection of persons or property.” Read more »

He was the president of the ill fated Fifth Constitutional Convention, an outspoken opponent of Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr., when he was a candidate and equally fervent a supporter when he lost in the primary.

And now Former Lt. Governor Gerard “Luz” James II is running for Governor again.

Perhaps the most memorable note of his short run for Government House was a comment he made at the kickoff rally for his campaign concerning the difficulty he had finding a running mate. Eventually, Democratic Committeeman Glen Smith “stepped up” according the James. Read more »

Got a question for Jimmy O’Bryan but you can’t ever get through on the phone?

Never fear, CIF has the solution for you.

Starting now, Jimmy will be monitoring this blog to see and answer the questions you’d like to pose. This clip will remain in the sidebar on CIF and so you can ask your question anytime to add your question to Jimmy’s blog.

And may be your question will be the one that sparks the next great debate on “Jimmy In The Morning” at 6:30 – 9 a.m. weekdays on WDHP, 1620 AM. Read more »

(Editor’s Note: Just three days after the meeting that prompted this report from Board of Elections Member Larry Boschulte, Deputy Supervisor of the Board, James Weber, resigned abruptly. No explanation was given in his brief resignation letter, which is attached at the end of this commentary.  Never a dull moment – but when will we get new machines?)

By Larry Boschulte

On March 15, the Joint Board of Elections held a special meeting to discuss a few items which the majority members did not have time to complete on February 16th. The joint board created two subcommittees; the first one is the Election reform committee that was previously chaired by Member Bryan, who decline not only to be the chair, but to be on the committee. The second committee is the Personnel Committee chaired by Attorney Lisa Harris-Moorhead.

The joint board met in an executive session for most of the time. While I do not like executive sessions, I did agree with this one as the executive sessions will prevent disruption of the meeting from the public. There are a few individuals in the group during these election meetings whose outbursts are out of control; however, as usual, their leader takes no responsibility. Let me express my opinion of the current chair of the joint board, Ms. Alecia Wells. Chairwoman Wells has been the chair of the joint board before, and while there are some members on the board, and mostly in the audience during board meetings that appear to have a problem with Chairwoman Wells, I do not. What I (we) can expect from Chairwoman Wells is a person who works hard, has a lot of experience with elections, and who will respect all members of the board; even the member which has taken the board to court ( although the board member was elected 2010 via those same machines, 2012 she labeled as illegal when she has lost). Chairwoman Wells also has experience on the Public Service Commission as a chair.

What I do not expect from a joint board chair is a person who will turn off the lights if she or he does not get her or his way. Chairwoman Wells will not hang up on other board members during a conference call. Chairwoman Wells will not make statements to devalue board members from the St. Croix District by suggesting that they were not qualified to run the joint board. The main thing that you will not get from Joint Chairwoman Wells are supporters who will chastise and act the fool if she does not get what she wants when offering her position or motion. Read more »

Let’s imagine the Virgin Islands government under the “leadership” of Commissioner of Finance, and probable gubernatorial candidate, Angel E. Dawson, Jr.

Based on what we’ve endured throughout the present Administration, there are several obvious changes in style, approach and demeanor a new Governor should possess to move us away from our current dire situation.

How would Dawson stack up?

Our new Governor must bring fresh ideas, a willingness to break with the practices of the past and the courage to sever the old ties that have stunted the progress of the many for the enrichment of the few.

Our new Governor must commit to transparency and have the integrity and intestinal fortitude to speak frankly and directly about the problems we face.

Our new Governor must be willing to demand a realistic approach to our financial situation and require that his financial and budget management offices report truthfully on revenues and expenses. Years of increasingly inaccurate budget projections and relentless borrowing have created a vortex of debt from which we are struggling to emerge.

Our new Governor must evaluate those sweet “public-private” partnerships with a skeptical eye, and negotiate agreements that truly benefit both the public interest and investment and the bottom line of the private investors who seek to benefit from our tax-funded patronage.

But above all, our new Governor must be a person of the people. Someone who understands what it’s like to choose between lights and food. Someone who understands the frustration of watching your children attend substandard school and whose prospects for gainful employment almost require that they leave the Territory. Read more »

By Larry Boschulte, St. Thomas Board of Elections

(Editor’s Note: The following commentary was submitted to CIF by Mr. Boschulte and is reprinted substantially as submitted. In addition to what is printed below, he added, “Any one who knows Randal  Douglas, the “Mystery Man”, let him know I have four more years to talk about Election issues.”)

On February 16, the (Virgin Islands) Joint Board (of Elections) met. The Joint Board consists of board members from the STT/STJ District including Member Alturo Watlington Chair; Member Harry Daniels Vice Chair; Member Alecia Wells Secretary; Member Claudette Georges Member Hendricks and myself and seven board members from the STX District including Member Adelbert Bryan, Chair; Member Belardo, Vice Chair; Member Webster, Secretary; Member Molinari; Member (Rupert) Ross and Member (Raymond) Williams. The two boards become one for a minimum of four times a year. The board members voted for Alecia Wells as Chair, Lisa Moorehead as Vice Chair, and Alturo Watlington as Secretary.

During the 2011-2012 election cycle, an election reform committee was formed within the joint board and many great ideas evolved. The best idea (although not new) was the new voting machines. This idea was close to becoming a reality in 2012. While most people, especially Randal Hank Douglas, might state that Member Bryan was the one who did all of this, I would beg to differ. There is no bigger supporter on the Joint Board of Elections for Member Bryan than I; however Member Bryan, as Chair of the Election Reform Committee, did not make things happen.

It was the STT/STJ members that move the idea to reality. As the STT/STJ members are generally like-minded on many issues 90 percent of the votes which come out of the Election Reform Committee culminated in action. These members are Member Wells, Member Daniels, Member Bryan, and I. Together, we can all proclaim success.

I offer my thoughts on this current situation to highlight that as Member Bryan is the Chair of the STX District, he possesses this power position, which is more powerful than the Election Reform Committee. If Member Bryan wishes to help the people of the VI, mostly in the STX District, and in particular Frederiksted, it is understandable; however, he has to learn to compromise. Read more »

By Senator Clarence Payne III

It is after being in office for about two weeks and receiving several calls of the following nature that I pen the following:

To my Virgin Islands People those at home, abroad and especially those asleep, the aging amongst us are dying lonely, miserable, depressed, destitute, impoverished and many have lost hope and the will to subsist. The last phone call I received agitated me to say something publicly even though I am sure most of us don’t fit the bill. Question, how is it that two parents can take care of five children and five children can’t take care or two?

Let’s say an elderly lady with a strong tomian accent age of 78 have a husband 83 who is bedridden and she is left to fully take care of him and let’s say they have 3 adult children living the American nightmare, I mean dream. Giving their parents the impression that they are absolutely happy where they are and they can’t spare the time or the dime to take care of them, the same parents who refinanced their house to pay for their children to attend collage even though they themselves did not attend high school.

Now in their twilight years dad is bedridden, mom physically can’t labor in love any more. I ask the question again, who’s responsible? Over the years, Virgin Islanders from the most meager of circumstances have produced children who have risen to the highest level of respectability; we have produced neurosurgeons, admirals, teachers, clergy, inventors, writers, network engineers, hedge fund managers, business experts in most disciplines, and many trades men and women who build and construct everything that makes a country move.

And in our pretentiousness some of those who are most successful have forsaken their parents and are forcing them to live a dependent life on a government whose finances are depleted in part by mismanagement, corruption, nepotism, greed and the like. The overriding issue at hand is who’s responsible for our aging parents? Historically governments don’t do a very good job providing efficient services and our parents are to be treasured in their twilight years. Read more »