Help Us Understand
We’re confused about something.
Government House responded Sunday to allegations by Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg that Gov. John deJongh Jr. misspent public funds on renovations underway at his private residence.
“Government House will not dignify the slanderous remarks being made by this public official beyond stating that there is absolutely no truth to the allegations that public funds are being spent on work that is underway at the governor’s private residence,” Government House Communications Director Jean Greaux said in a statement.
So are these private funds the PFA has approved in the attached letter?
Help us understand…
Res ipsa loquitur
The contractor on these projects is the same one accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars of money from VI Housing Authority.
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/Pre_96/August95/435.txt.html
http://www.vid.uscourts.gov/dcopinion/99cv0134_coastal.pdf
http://www.vid.uscourts.gov/dcopinion/03cv1300np.pdf
Oh my God. It appears the Governor has put his foot in his mouth once again. This clearly demonstrates the blatant behavior of this administration. I remember as though it was yesterday, when the Governor came to my place of work here on St. Croix during the 2006 campaign and spoke about the squandering of public funds by the Turnbull/Richards administration. At the time I was truly inspired by his willingness to tackle the insuing issues. But unfortunately he is worse than the administration he so eloquently critisized. I am looking forward to the next spin Mr. Greaux is going to put on this one. And I wonder what Kenrick is going to say about this new development. Is the Governor ever going to come out and tell the truth? I supported this Governor last election but it won’t happen again. I am so disturbed by this.
The administration thought they could frighten people and talk show hosts into halting discussion of this issue. They never cease to amaze me. I sure hope they remember their track record in court is not that impressive. Governor, please don’t ask the AG for legal advice on this one.
Are we doomed? I feel like an orphan who keeps being adopted by abusive foster parents. Will we ever get reliable and caring leadership in the V.I.? What kind of person would focus on taking more for himself while the needs of those who depend on him are ignored? This governor came into office with a $70 thousand increase. Greed has no limit!
MR. GREAUX you said that no PFA money was used to repair the governor personal residence,what a BIG lie these documents are very clear.YOU need to see the documents before you open your big mouth.IT seems like deWOLF has made you a stray goat,his next move will be that he never told you that he did not use PFA money.ITS about time that the ST.TOMIANS wake up and stand up to the corruption that is going on in the VIRGN ISLANDS.I have seen it all no where else in the USA this would take place and the governor will still have his job.NEW YORK GOVERNOR WAS OUSTED,CHICAGO GOVERNOR WAS OUSTED SO WHY NOT THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLAND.THEY all committed crimes aginst the people that elected them.
Ah yes, we are getting closer to wrong-doing. Again, I thought that I heard Julito Francis say during a committee meeting that the PFA can spend money that was not borrowed without Legislative approval. Did anyone also hear this? Is it true?
I heard comments along those lines recently but I can’t remember whether I was listening to a hearing or the news. I think the PFA comes to the Legislature when they need to reappropriate bond proceeds, so I don’t believe that statement was accurate. They might have been talking about the interest generated off of the bond proceeds which have been sitting in bank accounts. This is something the Legislature needs to act on. Why do we borrow money if we’re not prepared to use it? Isn’t the interest we pay for these bonds more costly than the interest we gain keeping the proceeds in a bank? Assuming the statement is accurate, why is the PFA allowed to spend the interest without Legislative approval when the interest is generated from public funds?
And the beat goes on, that is some good info you posted. It’s interesting how the same names keep appearing. Former Senators David and Jones are both serving in positions under this administration, Mr. Flemming was moved to the EDA after the scathing audit on the lottery under his leadership, etc. This seems to be the only continuity that exists in the VI Democratic Party.
Thanks Puzzled. I thought I was dreaming when I heard Julito Fancis make that comment. The funny part is that the senator simply accepted the answer and moved on. Additionally, the senator did not disclose the reason for the expenditures. I bring that issue up because I believe that there is a tie to the renovations to the Governor’s house and those moneys spent by the PFA. Of course, I have absolutely no evidence of my theory. However, if this is true, would that be illegal?
Illegal to spend gov’t funds to upgrade one’s private property? I think so.
My, My, My,
Isn’t this the last thing we need right now with all the problems we are facing here in the Virgin Islands. When we elect public officials, why do they feel they are entitled to help themselves with our money to acquire all the luxuries fit for a king. People we need to get angry and clean house before they wipe us out more. They have already paid themselves and their cronies hefty salaries and now this “ICING ON THE CAKE.” Crime is a mess, our children don’t have the proper school materials and we need better health care. “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”
Say it again and again until someone listens!
If I was the Governor I would get Mr. Julito Francis to shred every single document that exist or leave dodge before things get out of hand. LOL I want to beleive the Governor is much smarter than what I am hearing. Maybe there is a method to his madness. Lets assume their was an oversight. Or lets say, someone falsified these documents as they would like to give that impression. But then again, did they falsify Mr. Smalls signiture. From what I am seeing, it seems like an abuse of power. Now, I heard through the grape vine he even paved a road around his house. One question we have to ask, why did the Avis Editorial not address the road issue? I guess they are singing to the Governor’s choir these days. I guess Senator Donastorg has some serious battles ahead of him. He now has two media outlets against him. So another question we have to ask, “if he is not there then who can we expect to bring these issues to the forefront? I found it rather strange the Avis was trying to discredit him for asking a question about Government spending and transparency. Way to go Rena Broadhurst, I never saw you in this light.
Great comments, Doctor. When will the media get serious? They have lost all credibility!
when the AG office have win any important case? for example the property tax case.
To spend over $180,000.00 on a guard house and a fence. How troubling. The gov’t have pending retro to pay, pending tax refunds, pending new teachers,pending garbage dump relocation, pending better roads,pending better prisons,pending new schools, etc,etc,etc…Where is the priority? We really need to have a full investigation of the entire Government and how monies are being spent. This issue is just another one to pile on top of the many abuses of how gov’t funds are being spent. Both in the LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH.
We see that Fonice is speaking to himself again. 0f the 11-13 names used in this thread, we know for a fact that Foncie is at least 9 of them. Change the name of this site from Crucian In Focus to Foncie Gone Mad. I suggest that anybody who really cares about Senator Donastorg, they should contact him and ask him to considergetting some therapy. He’s clearly losing it.
Daily News Reader did you look at the facts presented? The Senator is right on target. The Gov has dipped into the people’s money to pay for work being done to his private home. And the work continues.
If the official Gov’s residence was not suitable for the Gov’s family the money spent on his home should have been spent coverting the official mansion.
Should I speculate as to the identity of Daily News Reader? Who is “we”?