Where Oh Where Has The Stimulus Gone?
On February 19, 2009, Virgin Islands Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. announced at a press conference that the Virgin Islands “will receive more than $244 million in economic benefits over a two-year period.” These funds were the allocation to the Virgin Islands from President Obama’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).
We were assured that there would be “transparency” in how these funds would be used and were invited to keep track of the Stimulus progress on designated websites – The Governor’s Recovery Website and the website of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), the agency created within the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority charged with oversight and administration of the Stimulus Program.
So, out of curiosity, we visited these sites and guess what we found?
Not so much.
So far, on the Governor’s site, we see approximately $13.6 million allocated over the Department of Energy, the ferry boat between St. Thomas and St. John, the Council on the Arts, child care and two health centers.
A look under the Transparency section of the OEO website (right hand column of the home page) shows a surprisingly low number of projects submitted from governmental agencies for these funds. Some have submitted none at all. Can it be in this time of fiscal pain that they don’t need the money?
And when you click on the tab designated as “VI ARRA Progress” you see this message:
“Thank you for visiting this area of the Office of Economic Opportunity website. We are working diligently to make all recovery information available to you. Please continue to visit the site for updates.”
What is the status of the remaining $230 million?
We understand that the funds will be distributed over a two year period but we, and at least one Senator, are looking for a detailed report on the projects designated to use the stimulus funds, the timelines for completion of those projects, and the amounts allocated for those projects from the ARRA funds.
Everywhere we look we see uses for this money; our crumbling infrastructure; the educational system; public safety staffing and issues; the list is endless. Yet we see few defined projects for the stimulus funds while bonds are being floated that add to our collective debt.
What are we doing with the rest of this money?
(Note: We did note that a Marian Prescod, of 3P Incorporated, is listed on the OEO site as the OEO primary contact and also as the contact for the PFA. A visit to 3P’s website noted its clients included the Government of the US Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority)Â
http://www.governordejongh.com/recovery/index.html
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They lie as well and sleep on the job.
http://picasaweb.google.com/usvigovhousephotos.com/AUGUST12008PRESSCONFERENCEATGOVERNMENTHOUSEONSTTHOMASINTHE2NDFLOORB
http://picasaweb.google.com/usvigovhousephotos.com/GOVERNMENT1292009GOVERNORMEETSONECONOMICSTIMULUSBILL#5298260542380608722
Rumors about the LT.GOV running for GOV…..humm up to know he is against the gov in a lot of things,,,but he is afraid to talk..hi hi he have to dance according to the GOV tunes…boy he inn going no place…better stay playing softball…
Why did Foncie lose like he did in 2006? Answers soon to come.
because my mom forgot to take grandma to the polls. it won’t happen again.
I noticed that we have been hearing much from the governor since he got back from his trip to Washington, D.C., except for the Summer Reading Challenge. I wonder if it’s because he is hiding.
Reading is fundamental. Do you think John posts here?
Even if he does, would he care what we are saying about him?
Control it John, Control it John!
He probably don’t have the time, anyway.
Last night, CNN was grading the President Obama on his performance as commander-in-chief. If we had our own grading system, how would you rate our local political leaders?
Does anyone know the rules for hiring for the stimulus money? I just heard the Gov. appointed 7 people with stimulus money for the VI Energy Office. Should these positions not be advertised?
Check this website: http://www.governordejongh.com/recovery/index.html.
It seen that all the links on the right are “under construction”. If we can’t trust the governor to be accountable and transparent about how much of taxpayers’ money he is using for “enhanced security” at his residence, how will we know if the the stimulus money that the Federal Government gave us is being spent properly and legally?
Click on this: http://www.governordejongh.com/recovery/impact/tracker.html.
With all the money the federal government gave out, only a handful of projects on the tracker are funded by stimulus money. The government need to hurry up with using the money because the fiscal period is ending next month, which is also the deadline that we should finish spend the money.
On Friday, August 28th, the New York Post published a question. Does anyone in the Virgin Islands know the answer???
“WHICH political leader in the Caribbean is under investigation by the US government for using foreign aid to renovate his palatial home? The $443,000 spent was falsely listed as “security and road improvements.”
Go figure!
Can a governor be recalled for embarrassing his people before the entire free and democratic world?
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08282009/gossip/pagesix/just_asking_186876.htm?sortType=1#comments
With the VIRGIN ISLANDS in the verge of economic disaster,the governor uses $443,000 of tax payers money to remodel his private residence at estate mafolie. He also goes out and buys himself a $50,000 car with tax payers money.GOD knows what else he has done that we don’t know about. This whole feasco is not going away anytime soon,so GOVERNOR you can run but you can’t hide,the people of the VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE WHOLE WORLD is watching you.