Senator’s Tirade Gives Governor An Out
It was a costly lapse in judgment.
During Tuesday’s Finance Department hearing, Sen. Terrance “Positive” Nelson verbally attacked the finance team for testimony he felt was inaccurate and evasive.
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As a result, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. issued a statement today authorizing representatives of his Administration to walk out of hearings if they feel they are being similarly abused.
We have said it before – public officials have an obligation to lead by example and the Senator’s outburst was grossly inappropriate. A budget hearing is not the forum to introduce personal comments and the Senator should have known better. How can we preach to our children that rational discussion is the way to conflict resolution when this is the example they see? There is no defense.
But the most unfortunate outcome is that the reaction to the outburst has clouded the issue that triggered it in the first place. We are not going to allow this to deflect us from the real issue at hand.
The Finance Team was evasive and defensive in its answers to the Senate. Financial obligations that have been presented by this Administration as part of the budget deficit in the past are now “grey areas.” Information that should have been on hand was unavailable. Nearly every response was delivered in dismissive and patronizing tone of voice and very few questions were answered directly.
And then to top it off, they asked for another $100 million to operate in 2010.
And this is the issue that brings the Governor out of hiding – how convenient. Just at the time when it is more critical than every that Administration representatives be held accountable for actions on many fronts, he issues a statement that gives them his authority to walk out when they feel the heat is too high. It will be the new “Fifth Amendment” for these officials, who will feel free to say “I decline to answer based on the Authorization of the Governor” before they walk out of a hearing.
After months of deafening silence on critical issues he rises up in defense of his chosen people and sends the message that he will block any effort to get to the heart of issues that strike at the heart of the deceptive practices that are being revealed about this Administration’s operation.
It’s just one more obstacle on the path of “transparency” this Administration spoke so passionately about in its quest to be elected. And if we could rewrite history, here’s the only statement the Senator would have made.
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Looks like there is another T in this blog. From now on, I will change my name to Mr. T.
congrats Ms. Peterson you have worked relentlessly for the justly deserved honor which has been bestowed on you and even more impressive is the designation as Lady Marcos. It is clear Marcos has what it takes to have the award named after him
THEY BLINKED!
THE 28TH LEGISLATURE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATION AND BUDGET JUST VOTED TO REJECT GOVERNOR JOHN P. DE JONGH, JR. REQUEST TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE VI CODE. THIS BILL WILL BE HELD IN COMMITTEE INDEFINITELY.
Bill No. 28-0129 – An Act amending various provisions of the Virgin Islands Code in light of the severe financial constraints imposed on the Government of the Virgin Islands by the continuing international economic recession (Proposed by: Senator Louis Patrick Hill by Request of the Governor)
GOVERNOR JOHN P. DE JONGH, JR. WAS SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW AN ADDITIONAL ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS DURING FY 2010.
THE ACT TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE VI CODE WAS MONITORED BY CIF AND NOW HAS BEEN REJECTED BY SENATE PRESIDENT LOUIS P. HILL.
THE SENATORS OF THE 28TH LEGISLATURE IS DEFINITELY READING CRUCIANS IN FOCUS AND CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THIS WEBSITE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS AND ALL STORIES COMING OUT OF THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS LEGISLATURE.
I guess they are concerned that if they had retify the bill, the VI people will use it to decide who to vote for (or against) in 2010.
I just wonder if the Governor will be able to seek re-election in 2010. While he has hired over 1000 people this may not help him to fend off justice should it prevail. The Governor continues to operate as though he has done nothing wrong. I heard Ann Golden on the radio the other day trying to justify his actions but also singing for her supper. I guess every one of those officials and former officials have a price. Lets see what happens in the coming months.
HANDS DOWN ALL BETS ARE ON SENATOR PATRICK SIMEON SPRAUVE TO BE AWARDED THE DEMMANSAY.COM JACKASS OF THE WEEK AWARD NEXT MONDAY.
LISTEN TO THIS, DURING THE LEGISLATURE HEARING TODAY ON BILL NO. 28-0133 – AN ACT AMENDING 3 V.I.C. TO ESTABLISH THE VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY, SENATOR SPRAUVE SAID THAT VIRGIN ISLANDS VETERANS SHOULD BE BURIED “STANDING UP” TO SAVE SPACE IN THE PROPOSED VETERAN CEMETERY. YES, THAT’S RIGHT, SENATOR SPRAUVE SAID VI VETERANS SHOULD BE BURIED STANDING UP.
SENATOR PATRICK S. SPRAUVE ALLEGED THAT VETERANS ARE BURIED STANDING UP AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY IN VIRGINIA. ABSOLUTELY WRONG!
FOR THIS “BRAIN DEAD” STATEMENT MADE BY SENATOR PATRICK SIMEON SPRAUVE – ALL BETS ARE NOW ON HIM TO WIN DEMMANSAY.COM PRESTIGIOUS JACKASS OF THE WEEK AWARD.
SENATOR WHITE HAD A FIELD DAY BASHING SENATOR SPRAUVE FOR SUCH A RIDICULOUS STATEMENT ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.
BY-THE-WAY, SENATOR SPRAUVE WAS ENDORSED FOR HIS CURRENT JOB BY A FORMER DEMMANSAY.COM JACKASS OF THE WEEK RECIPIENT.
CLICK PLAY!
http://www.sprauveforvisenate.com/hillmalone.htm
As a classmate I am not surprise. Senator Patrick Sprauve was so dumb he once forgot the difference between “no” and “know”. This is a travesty for him to be elected to public office.
This is what CIF needs…more testimony from Virgin Islanders that are living abroad…they have a lot of personal knowledge of those that were elected and now corrupting our territory…Please spread the word through out the main land and the Caribbean to chime into to CIF and share personal histories of these corrupted public officials…the Virgin Islands is a melting pot of many cultures to include our brethren in other Caribbean islands. It is a shame that naturalized citizens children that are Virgin Islanders have to be caught up in the stigma of the few hard core selfish opportunistic individuals like Roosevelt David and VI Restore Hope, People for Progress, etc that are bringing discredit to immigrants that came to the VI for a better life. Not all naturalize citizens are part of these de Wolf right wing groups. Keep the testimonies coming…the beacon of hope needs to be restore to the Virgin Islands…
-Transient Hotlantan, how exactly did you and Senator Sprauve happen to be in class together? You say that you came here from Dominica when you were 11 and that you are now 44. That is a solid 5 years in age difference because Senator Sprauve is currently 39 years old.
-What kind of lie are you trying to sell here on CIF. This is a site that sells itself on factual information. Mr Springer, please do something about this attempted slander.