Press Release: Government House Continues Political Hires
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2009
Government House continues political hires
ST. THOMAS – Senator Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg said Friday that Government House continues politically driven hiring despite a year-long “hiring freeze” and at the expense of less well connected Virgin Islanders.
Earlier this week Donastorg obtained documentation from the Department of Agriculture indicating that two individuals were laid off from the Department late last year in order to bring in a new employee at $70,000 annually.
May 28, 2009 Letter to Governor deJongh
Press Release – Political Hiring Continues
“While I am a supporter of Agriculture, the Department and its Commissioner, I cannot see the justification in terminating these two employees and then listing their positions as vacant in order to bring someone in with a vague job title and a high salary,” Donastorg said. “We would likely be better off giving 70 Virgin Islands farmers a $1,000 grant than hiring someone as a “Special Outreach Program Coordinator”.
Donastorg said he could not speak to the qualifications of the Agriculture Department’s “Special Outreach Program Coordinator”, but that the termination of two lower paid employees was highly suspect. According to their NOPAs, the employees were discharged because the grant funding their positions was terminated.
“The bottomline is that this kind of thing is indicative of the hypocrisy of this Governor and this Administration,” Donastorg said. “There have been hundreds of political hires and raises since the so-called hiring freeze was put in place in May of 2008. How can anyone justify laying off these employees because there is no money and then hiring someone for even more money?”
Donastorg said that at his May 7 press conference he provided the media with a sample list of recent Administration employees, the majority of which do not meet the criteria for exemption from the hiring freeze.
“The public needs to be made aware of what is actually taking place,” the Senator said. “This Governor is spending and borrowing like the proverbial drunken sailor. It is time we get some actual fiscal controls in place. You can say there is a hiring freeze over and over again, but that does not make it so. There needs to be a serious inquiry by the Legislature and the media.”
Donastorg said he is calling on his colleagues to push for all records related to new Administration employees.
“I have written Governor deJongh asking him to explain why these two gentlemen were laid off from the Department of Agriculture,” Donastorg said. “In these challenging economic times it is more important than ever to offer real assistance to our struggling farmers and I know that few, if any, of them are taking home $70,000 per year toiling in the sun each day.”
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Talk about an exposure…
The Government employees have the power to shut this system down.
When workers here in a certain gov’t office heard the Governor was giving a certain ex-Senator a do “nothing job” at $70K a year, they threatented to walk off the job. That Senator hasn’t started to work yet.
No your power it comes in Unity
Where is the outrage among the ‘rest’ of the senate? Are ALL of them in the tank for the governor? Far too many documents are surfacing from the administration AND the senate validating corrupt actions including misuse of taxpayer dollars.
Notice we continue to not get any legislation on Act 6905? Again, no motion on the senate floor to correct the 11th hour betrayal? How about an internal audit of the senate?
These issues have died since King Hill has the throne. He will never be as transparent as Senator Donastorg would have been and will kill all legislation, along with the other 7 majority members in cahoots with the governor for ANY reduction of salary. Especially since Hill is now making $95,000 as senate president. So much for listening to the voting public.
Where is the rest of the media on this? Why are we only getting this information here? Are the reporters and editors sleepwalking or on the payroll too?
I think that this is appalling and unconscionable but not surprising. The Governor will not see all the mistakes he has made until the election, when he is finally voted out of office.
Sorry, we see things much differently than you do. Please read our editorial of Sunday 05/31/09. Your bellyaching isn’t saying it.
St. Croix Avis,
How come your paper did not have anything about the senators voting against auditing themselves? All the minority senators voted in favor and all the majority senators voted against it and I did not see this in your newspaper. Why?
Yeah, St. Croix Avis we are waiting…
I do not think this Senate or the Last has the right to talk to anyone about fiscal controls!
the constitution is DOA
I read with interest the posting on the issue that the Avis has started to be quite selective in what articles they are covering. I have learned through a Government House source that the Governor is boasting about controlling the media; radio, newspaper, etc. This is quite alarming but thanks to these type of mediums we can remain educated on the issues.
Well, the Daily News added two more pages of comics in their daily fare as part of “ongoing investments in operations and products.” Gee whiz, I guess we don’t need any real news in the VI.
Scary times indeed!!!
Imagine what’s in store for the 2nd term of the deJongh administration. There is a reason the media is overlooking all the wrongdoing of this administration. If people think they hurting now, let them make the mistake of re-electing Governor deJongh. He would have no political incentive to behave himself in his second and final term.
I could not resist offering a comment or two. The Avis sure has been guided by the tax evader. After all, I could bet my last dollar the Avis will never write anything about Senator Wayne James tax issue or even his eviction. And I can go on and on. I followed recent delopments with a keen ear and focused eyes. As I sat glued to my TV during the Legislatures last Session I heard Senator Wayne James praising the Senate President on his first days and here comes an article in the Avis only days after praising the Senate President. Wow! Rena Broadhurst, do let them deceive you. In any event, lets see how the good Senator performs for the remainder of the two years especially when he has focused on turning his office into the Winn Vegas of the Virgin Islands. Senator “Mexican Tiles”, we are fully aware of your flair.
Has anyone seen Senator Neville James? I heard he’s been spending more time on the horse track these days. No wonder he has little time to do his work. His staff is complaining about how late he arrives every single morning.I wonder what he is doing on the St. Croix race track every night and morning? I hope the good Senator is not using tax payers money to gamble. Heard he have a serious problem.
The Daily News has been slack for awhile, but I really expected more of the Avis.
When Neville is not at the race track, he is spending literally nights and early mornings, at the DIVI gambling. Employees there will verify his frequency. Heavy on the ‘beverages’ thrown back as well.
No wonder the guy can’t get up in the morning to get to his $85,000 a year job and is often a no show in the senate for sessions.
Maybe he will be the next government official to go to the states to dry out and take the gamblers anonymous treatment. On the taxpayer of course!
Hi, I am new to this site. Does anyone know what happened to the demmansay website? Ilove reading all the blogs each and every day. This is how i get my information and I LOVE IT. Keep up the good work all!!
Weekly visit to the local version of Comedy Central. I see not only jokes in abundance, but also a serious level of delusion. How can I not love these United States Virgin Islands?
ruben roebuck was with the actual governor up and down during campaign. this 70,000 is the payment.