Governor: Confirm or Deny
It appears that before there was an $85,000 Guardhouse and a $98,000 Security Fence, there was a $156,000 driveway laid at Governor John P. deJongh, Jr.’s personal residence.
Yes, we are serious.
The attached documents show that in October, 2007, Darryl Smalls, then Commissioner Designee of the Department of Public Works, gave the notice to proceed on the driveway project to the Better Roads and Asphalt Company of St. Thomas.
Cost of this project? Reportedly, $156,160 of local and federal Highway Funds.
Clearly some explanation is required, and Senator Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg has requested it.
In a letter to the Governor dated July 1, 2009, Sen. Donastorg has challenged deJongh to “confirm or deny specifically as to whether this and other improvement projects actually took place and were paid for in whole or in part with public funds.”
In a separate letter, also dated July 1, Donastorg has also requested that Smalls produce and deliver to him “all documents and records of Public Works Department endeavors associated with repairs and improvements to Governor John deJongh’s personal residence at 23-8 Estate Mafolie” by close of business on July 1.
In our opinion, any responsible public official would promptly refute assertions of the serious nature that these inquiries represent if, in fact, they were incorrect or grounded in inaccurate information.
We’re waiting.
Governor: confirm or deny.
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Wow! Just when we thought this was all over. Now what will the Governor say? Is Jean Greaux going to put a spin on this one? I thought he said no public funds were used. This is really sad and insane. Who is going to stop this “Mad Man” from abusing the public trust? This man can never, ever, ever, get my support again. I supported him in 2006, but I cannot phathom who can condone this even if they are a supporter. This could potentially land him in jail. Do you guy’s realize the Governor of South Carolina is being asked to resign because he spent $12,000 of public funds to visit his mistress in Brazil. Yet we have a Governor in our very own backyard using over now $250,000 of tax payers money, as he see’s fit to increase the value of his personal property. This is unreal! God help us….
This corrupted man deserves to be locked up ….and whomever else did this mess with him … deJongh locked up in 2009 ……He betrayed us the people and let us down … Im really dissapointed Mr. Governor .
SENATORS!!!!!!! The documents that practically prove that gov. de jongh is using public money for private gain have been on this site for over 10 days. Only Sen. Donastorg has done anything to address the matter. This is the senator that you all turned on. You are beginning to look bad by your silence. How long will you continue to ignore this issue? Is the gov. controlling you by threats to lower your salaries by lowering one of his commissioners?
By the way, how does a paved driveway relate to security?
It is for this same reason and more that we have to make sure that this doesn’t continue and he have the nerve to proposed an 8 unpaid holidays. I really can’t believe what i’m reading. I’m so sick and tired of all the nonsense and then some of his followers will come and say country running good. No wonder we have so many crime, because of things like this! Maybe we need to put laws on the books that could land your a$$ in jail when things like this is done!. We put the youths in jail when they commit crimes why not the Senators and Governors? Speaking of senators was it Ussie’s own money used to pay off his sexual harrassment charges? I continue to speak on DONASTORG, because when he speak of corruptions he has the facts. I can’t imagine how the governor sleeps at night knowing what was done with funds to his private home and have the nerve to say 8 unpaid holidays. There is an old saying time longer than twine.
Colette, I don’t think this is even close to being over.
Is this a “Pay for Play” approach in politics? Did Mr. Smalls get his appointment for an exchange of real estate improvements?
These ill gotten gains (allegedly) should trigger the VI Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (CICO). I would think those involved in this circle of crime would have thier assets frozen until an investigation and perhaps criminal court proceedings are completed.
Is the AG looking at this?
-Still Disappointed!!
This is really outrageous! How is it that the Governor is even getting away with this? And why is this not being exposed by the mainstream media?
If this is all for security, why not a bomb shelter, a home invasion panic room and electrify the $82k fence. We could also have micro chips implanted in the first family in case of kidnapping. Where does it end?
Roger morgan is compell to defend the Governor
Maybe Morgan has a contract, with all the contracts going around.
Morgan thought up more excuses for the money squandering than Greaux did.
Morgan did not discuss that the official response from Gov’t House was that “no public funds” were used in the work being done on the Governor’s private residence. If they thought it was so legal why didn’t they own it from the beginning, instead of that Bogus denial.
All wealthy or wanna-be wealthy candidates for public office need to understand that despite their socioeconomic status or aspirations, the Virgin Islands are a humble and economically modest society with the vast majority of our population living near of below the poverty line.
Therefore, if you become Governor and feel that the Governor’s mansion does not conform to your standards, tough $%#*!
Feel free to move into your own home at your own expense, not ours.
The hundreds of thousands of dollars could have been spent to improve Catherinesberg, the home of the people, and not 23-8 Mafolie, the home of a wealthy businessman and his businesswoman wife.
By the way Governor, the money spent at your personal residence should be considered income, so get ready to open your checkbook and pay us the taxes you owe on the money that you’ve skillfully acquired.
At a time in our history where, on top of being poor, we’re being confronted by the worst economic conditions anyone can remember (and our kids cant even get a decent school), you have some serious nerve to defend this – call Jeffrey and have him give the money back on your behalf.
This is an assault to the goodwill of the people of the Virgin Islands and an affront to honesty, humanity and transparency.
Together we can. Shame on you.
Preach, For the Record, preach! I was wondering where you went.
Can you believe that the administration tried to explain this away by saying that these were the recommendations given by a security firm they hired? A firm also paid with government funds!! And that he would not address the issue any further!! This man’s ego is as big as his belly (typed with an English accent)!
My question is this — if that security firm also recommends that the Governor chopper in to work, will we be billed for both the helicopter and the heliport? Or will he, because of the economy, give us a break and pick up the bill for the pad? Can you believe the gall of this man!!!
ITA with the whole taxes issue. I had the same thought that the pedophile could reimburse us as well. LOL! The V.I. Code explicitly states that Official Residence of the Governor is at Government House. If you choose to not live there then your unofficial residence is on your dime. Either choose not to run for the office or live in the “squalor” that is Government House. I cannot believe that we have lost this much money on a one term Governor! Yes, he is.
All of his defenders are claiming that there is precedent set for his actions thereby making his actions legal.(Herb Schoenboehm sp? being the loudest among them. Everyone knows he’s only looking for pardons for his thieving sons) What a crock! With that logic I can go grab that sh*t that I’ve been coveting from Ferragamo. People have stolen from them before so……
No, it should be shame on us for not seeing what a delusional windbag deJongh was/is. Together we did help put him in office so that he could rob us blind while chalking it up to his safety. The only thing Governors in the Virgin Islands ever need to be fearful of are tongue lashings. Last I checked they do no bodily harm.
BTW- Did you hear that his girlfriend Alicia Barnes is heading to EDA as Assistant Chief? How did this one slip by Cecile?
We are getting real sharp in this forum these days. I am still waiting for the Governor to explain this one. By the way, does anyone know exactly what monies were identified to pay for the Governor’s lavish improvements? I still can’t understand how this administration and their followers can dignify this. I truly hope the Inspector General really scrutinize this one. But then again was he not re-nominated by the Governor to serve another term along with a hefty pay raise. There goes the issue with tax payers money. This is like no hope in hell. This is really blatant and requires outside interference. If the Governor is the Chairman of the PFA and the Executive Director sanctioned this expenditure from the PFA, then its obvious the Governor may had pushed him to support this expenditure. This is getting good. I won’t be surprise if we experience some Federal interference and a few official get picked up. Someone needs to put an end to this blatant abuse of power. I guess the Governor is saying “who gives a sh__.” Time will tell….
THIS is not a pay back issue,this matter is a crminal case. WITH all that is going on in the VI the governor should be focusing on more important issues.THE money that is being spent could of been spent on fixing the road in WILLIAMS DELIGHT,REPARING FREDERIKSTED TOWN,OR HELPING OPENING OUR HEALTH CLINIC. I can’t believe what i am hearing on the talk shows,why is the governor not responding? IT is my belief he knows that he is in problem so he is not going to say anything to incriminate himself. WHEN this is all over i am sure there will be some FALLGUYS.
http://picasaweb.google.com/usvigovhousephotos.com/8208SHAMROCKCOMMUNICATIONSRECEPTIONATCATHARINEBERGONSTTHOMAS#
Does this explain why the Daily News had not said a word yet?
*****correction…had should be has
JAIL, JAIL, JAIL !!!! ALL OF THEM NEED TO GO JAIL!! Well there is talk that the governor is calming that the improvements being done to his personal house is being paid from his pocket and the only thing that the people of the Virgin Island is paying for is the so called $250,000.00 guard shack. If that is so where are the personal cancelled checks or personal bank statements showing that?
Here in St Croix this amount of money could build a 4 bedroom 2 bath 2800 square feet home and for those that have some knowledge of this; this is not a small home.
Makes me wonder what kind of governor is he. He says we are in this together but yet he proposes a budget that takes holiday pay away from government workers that are already struggling to make ends meet but yet his $150,000.00 pay is untouched, his overpaid commissioners are untouched and the other entire special paid are untouched.
I myself can’t even get a 250K loan to build a house and I have descent credit and I am sure there are a lot of Virgin Islanders That can agree with me on that. With the kind of economic crunch we are facing if he is concerned of his safety well why don’t he just stay in Government house where all the security measures are already in place instead of wasting the people’s money. THIS IS A POINT OF CONCERND LETS OPEN OUR EYES…..
Are the photos from Catherineberg a celebration meaning
= “a job well done” for the 16 page investigative report that was done at that time? Is this the type of function they use Catherineberg for? In addition to the Antilles functions of course.