Somebody’s Lying
As the fog continues to swirl around the ever changing explanations for the use of public funds to enhance Gov. John deJongh’s personal residence, only one thing is perfectly clear.
Somebody’s lying.
At issue is funding for a guardhouse, security fence and driveway at the Governor’s private residence. Documented expense to date – $337,091.
The response from Government House Communications Director Jean Greaux was outright denial on June 22. Since that time, despite the release of several pieces of documentation to the contrary, the response has been a deafening silence.
Until now.
Now we are told that well, yes, public funds were used – part of $1 million in “reprogrammed” funds allegedly authorized by the Legislature in Act 6917.
These funds were originally part of $1.3 million allocated to the Nadir Bridge Flood Control Project. The attached April, 2008, letter from Julio Francis, Director of Finance and Administration, states per Act. 6917, that these “reprogrammed” funds were to be used for several road improvement projects and for a “Security Booth and Road Improvements at the Governor’s Residence, (STT).”
However, a review of the text of Act 6917 shows that the specific use for the “reprogrammed” funds was to be “engineering designs, construction, repairs or the resurfacing of roads” with no reference to improvements of any kind at the Governor’s residence.
The addition of the work at the Governor’s home is, at best, an extremely liberal interpretation of the stated provisions of Act 6917 and at worst, an outright misappropriation of funds.
Added to this dilemma is the timing of these actions. The contract for construction of the Governor’s driveway is dated October, 2007, some six months before the “reprogrammed” funds were identified for use in Francis’ April, 2008 letter. The Guardhouse was authorized in May, 2008, and the Security Fence, which is not mentioned in any documents referenced here, was constructed in July, 2008.
So many questions, so little time.
But here are a few that must be answered:
- If the administration believes that the use of funds was appropriately allocated by Act 6917, why was the use of public funds denied in Gereaux’s June 22 release?
- Does the Finance Department have the authority to liberally interpret the language of legislation when determining the use of public funds?
- Is it customary to retroactively allocate funds for government expenses? Why was an October, 2007 expense charged to funds that weren’t authorized until April, 2008?
- And, considering the fact that the Revised Organic Act states
that the Governor “shall maintain his official residency in the Government House on St. Thomas during his incumbency”, are any of these expenses for enhancements to the Governor’s private residence eligible for payment through public funding?
It’s past time to set the record straight on this issue. Pick an answer and stay with it. Otherwise, there is only one conclusion to be reached.
Somebody’s lying.
April 16 VIPFA Letter to P&P Commissioner
Act 6917 (applicable section only), Act 6917 (full copy)
Road Paving Contract
Publisher’s note: In Act 6917 (full copy), starting at page 5, take note of how section 17 is a broad funding allocation while the appropriations in the other sections are for specific projects and dollar amounts.
Exactly what needs to be done now. Let’s hope the Legislature will step up to the plate.
On another note, I saw the Governor announced that the Diageo bonds were floated. Does anyone know how much of the $250 million was successfully floated and at what interest rate? There’s a release on his website but there are no details: http://governordejongh.com/news/archive/2009/07/071009-1.htm
BREAKING NEWS — BREAKING NEWS — BREAKING NEWS
U.S. INTERVENES IN LAWSUIT AGAINST VIRGIN ISLANDS CONTRACTOR (William Koenig)
This is the same contractor at the center of the so call security enhancements to the Governor’s private residence using public funds.
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/Pre_96/August95/435.txt.html
If McCall was secretly investigating deWolf, how come he landed on his feet with a sweetheart no show job with the Governor’s yes-man at Justice, the idiot AG?
Virgin Islands community awaits Senate President Louis Hill leadership on requesting an “IMMEDIATE” investigation by the territory’s top and highest qualified investigating official, Inspector General van Beverhoudt, into the matter of using PUBLIC FUNDS at the private residence of Governor John deJongh.
Commissioner Smalls, DPW, indicated during his sworn testimony at the 28th Legislature Special Session called by the Governor on July 9, 2009, that DPW equipment and personnel were also used to improve the Governor’s private residence.
Governor John deJongh said in a press release from Government House on the nomination of Inspector General Van Beverhoudt on June 10, 2009:
http://www.governordejongh.com/news/archive/2009/06/061009-1.htm
“Under his stewardship, Mr. van Beverhoudt has established a sound foundation for the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General and brought integrity and credibility to its many audits over the years,”
“Without these audits, the government would not be able to begin to correct the deficiencies that the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General has uncovered, WHICH IS A CRITICAL PART OF MY COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT.”
Van Beverhoudt has uncovered several major and many small instances of corruption and misuse of government funds during his tenure. He played a major role in the joint investigation with the Department of the Interior that uncovered massive misuse of funds at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas (See: “Audit Claims Widespread Abuse of Schneider Hospital Funds.”) and provided the raw information that led to the arrest, trial and conviction of former assistant to former Gov. Charles W. Turnbull for embezzling more than $1 million. (See: “Simmonds Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement, Faces 20 Years in Prison.”)
Van Beverhoudt is a certified fraud examiner and a certified government financial manager. He is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Association of Government Accountants, the Association of Inspectors General, the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Association of Pacific Islands Public Auditors.
http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2009/06/11/governor-nominates-sheen-van-beverhoudt
Sources within the de Jongh administration is confirming that the Governor is to consider resigning as evidence continues to mount in his misuse of public funds at his private estate.
Options are running out for de Jongh as he will become the first sitting Governor of the United States Virgin Islands to be indicted for corruption.
Thursday, July 16
6 p.m.
Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room, St. Croix
Committee on Rules and Judiciary
Agenda:
The committee will meet to consider the following nominees:
Novelle Francis Jr.: Commissioner, Virgin Islands Police Department
Julia Sheen: Commissioner, Department of Health
Steven Van Beverhoudt, Virgin Islands Inspector General
My beloved Virgin Islanders,
Enough about Ms. Petersen and defending Sen Donastorg’s actions. We all acknowledges that the Senator is a true Virgin Islands “HERO”.
LET US NOT FORGET: We were already warned that the de Jongh administration propaganda machine was going to attack this web site in the coming days.
We should not be surprised that a educator like Ms. Petersen would not know how to carry out her assignments from the de Jongh’s propaganda machine.
LET’S STAY FOCUS: GOVERNOR de Jongh, “CONFIRM OR DENY”
QUESTION: Governor, are you exercising your United States Constitutional rights of the 5th Amendment to “Remain Silent” to avoid self incrimination?
QUESTION: What about the Virgin Islands community rights you continue to violate in not sending forward the “Proposed Constitution of the United States Virgin Islands” to our law makers in Washington?
QUESTION: What law permits, you and only you, to make the decision on what’s constitutional for we the people of these beloved Virgin Islands, and not the United States Congress?
QUESTION: Do you have any credibility left, in light of your personal association with a convicted criminal that defrauded the Virgin Islands Government?
QUESTION: Didn’t you and your attorney general, (whom you say advised you not to forward the proposed constitution), signed into contractual agreement with a known criminal that defrauded the very government you are sworn to protect?
QUESTION: Wasn’t that agreement with this known criminal to make “so call” security enhancements to your private residence using public funds?
QUESTION: ARE YOUR ACTIONS MORE THAN A ACT OF CRIMINAL FRAUD… BUT NOW THREATENS THE STATE OF THE TERRITORY’S RIGHT TO ESTABLISH IT’S OWN CONSITUTION?
QUESTION: DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE SO MUCH ABOVE THE LAW, THAT YOU CAN USE THE PEOPLE’S MONEY, AND THROW THEIR ELECTED DELEGATES TO THE CONSITUTIONAL CONVENTION “PROPOSED CONSITUTION” IN YOUR TRASH CAN BECAUSE IT’S NOT TO YOUR LIKING?
GOVERNOR, THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU TO STEP DOWN AND ALLOW THESE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO RECOVER. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS IT’S WORK CUT OUT LIKE THE REST OF THE NATION. YOU ARE NO LONGER A CREDIBLE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE. THE WORLD NOW KNOWS THAT YOU ARE NO MORE THAN A COMMON CRIMINIAL THAT HIDES BEHIND THE 5TH AMENDMENT TO AVOID SELF INCRIMINATION.
CONFIRM OR DENY
Why should President Obama be concerned about our little 3rd world type of government corruption when most of us are so willing to accept it as okay?
Persona, thanks for the help. I was running out of things to say. IT’S OKAY!
Don’t mention it “loser4life”. I’d like to reciprocate by thanking YOU for stimulating our responses. By the way, how much does dewolf pay you per hour for staying up all night tapping chupidness on this website???
loser4lif, I owe you an apology. You are using “tough love” and “negative reinforcement” to spur us on. Your last entry shows that you really want us to “march and demand” for action. Thanks again!