Financial Confusion vs. Public Safety
We’re trying to unravel the financial confusion associated with the construction of a police substation in LaValle.
The mystery began when one of our Senators questioned the lack of progress on the substation, which all agree is needed to fill a critical gap in law enforcement and emergency services on St. Croix.
Funding for the project has been available since last September, when $450,000 was appropriated through Act 7013. That amount was apparently deemed sufficient at that time.
The Administration responded to the inquiry by saying that the project could not begin until additional funds were appropriated in the recently passed bond issue, and that the total cost of the project was now $2.6 million.
In an August 4 press release, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr., stated that the change in the cost estimate for the facility was a result of an analysis by the Department of Public Works and said the bond issue appropriations represented “the full and necessary funding,” to support the manpower and resources needed at the substation.
However, a review of the appropriations from that bond issue, Act 7081, shows only $275,000 earmarked for the LaValle project. The initial $450k and the $275k from the bond issue only provides $725k for the now estimated $2.6 million project. If the project really requires $2.6 million, why wasn’t that full amount allocated in the distribution in the bond issue funds? Where will the other $1.875 million come from? Is it buried somewhere else in the bond issue allocations?
These are the questions the public requires to meet the promise of financial transparency.
The political sniping occurring around this issue is irrelevant. The public safety deficit and financial inconsistencies are the critical points in this discussion.
This confusion needs to be resolved and the public needs to understand just what is going to be required to get this project moving. The conflicting information being released to the public does little to ease the community concerns about spiraling criminal activity.
The public safety issues are clearly a priority for the community. The lack of clarity demonstrated in resolving the financial questions around this issue leave us to wonder whether that priority is shared by the powers that be.
Loading ...
The statement released by Govt House is a direct indicator of this administration’s perception of the general population of these Virgin Islands. They think we are illiterate fools. Governor, you could continue to hire people and pay out money to your favorites, but these few votes will not garner you a win come election time. This is a slap in the face especially to Crucians! Yet another thing to add to the list of things gone wrong under your watch! Shame…shame…shame!!!
And they still aren’t saying where the mobile substation is.
Bill Kosler of the St. Croix Source should be run off the island. The Source should be boycotted. They are playing politics with a serious issue. They don’t know that every business over here has been robbed? Anyone else read what he wrote about La Valle?
Boycott the Source!
Where do I sign up?
I read The Source and it was a typical kill the messenger again. Is it not about the people here on St. Croix being neglected once again. So they become defensive because they were called on it. I just hope the administration realize the lack of delivery is just antagonizing the people of St. Croix.
Colette, Jean Greaux is an ghost writer for the Source. He used his name openly prior to landing this job with deWolfe. In light of the recent upsets he has been experiencing with this employer, his is desperately trying to save face and thus, feeding Shaun Pennington information. Pennington, on the other hand, lacks basic objective reporting skills. When a media turns a blind eye to obvious facts, they are obviously being compensated, in some shape or fashion, to report on the contrary or plainly, lacking basic reporting skills.
I am beyond dismay with the clearly subjective “reporting” and ill constructed “opinions” of the VI mainstream media. At minimum, the reading public is entitled to a balanced presentation of the facts. At best, the public is entitled to thoughtful analysis in op-ed pieces, even if the conclusion is one that seems to fly in the face of logic and rational thought. The media outlets we’re discussing do neither.
Dismiss them. The sins against objectivity will only grow greater as we approach election year.
The local media contributes greatly to our apathy and quiet acceptance of situations that should cause outrage in the community.
I have,fortunately, not yet been directly touched by violent crime, but if things continue as they are, we can all expect to have a direct hit. I can only imagine that this kind of experience would change my entire outlook forever.
There seems to be (by design or convenient coincidence) a way of life that keeps us all on the verge of chaos so that we are incapable of dealing with certain social and political problems. We can’t seem to find a common voice, we’re fractured into opposing groups, and are like dogs chasing our tails.
Our situation is potentially explosive. I keep hearing Bert Bryan referring to the Gaza Strip. I sincerely pray that he is wrong.
This chaotic climate enables for criminals and currupt leaders to do whatever they want and we seem incapabel of stopping them.
LORD, PLEEEEASE SEND HELP!!!!!!!
Excellent post Persona Non Grata. You are right on target. And I do believe Bert is making another wise prediction. My “political mentor” always told me we are on track to be the next Haiti. It’s frightening but I can see it more and more each year.
Persona, that is scary and deep. I too pray that he is wrong.
Gaza Strip? Haiti? No American jusrisdiction, state or territory, will ever end up like those places. I suggest you lost souls stop with the giddy lingo and offer some solutions. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.legvi.org/GovHouseSecDocuments2/Subpoena%20documents%20on%20Governor’s%20home%20security/
Good letter in the Avis today. I hope more residents chime in.
I must tell u that Tito Morales daughter come one day and she hired the next ms Annette Jordan. And they say there is a hiring freeze. Dpnr is the real dumping ground for political croonies.