Law Makers or Law Breakers?
Updated : $1 Million Legislative Actions (now attached below)
After a hard day of lawmaking, a stroll on a nearby beach can be very relaxing – but this man-made beach violates zoning and pollution laws right in front of the place where the laws are made.
And when a concerned Senator attempted to photograph the illegal transformation of the affected area, he was assaulted by an employee who didn’t want the violations made public.
Senator Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg has called for the termination of Legislature Executive Director “Lolo” Willis who he said “verbally attacked and physically assaulted him” as he attempted to take pictures of the illegal dumping and construction work in process on the coastline surrounding the legislature.
Last weekend, the Legislature improperly filled in a portion of the harbor and dumped sand in front of its building on St. Thomas. When Donastorg arrived at the Legislature on Wednesday and noticed the activity he said, “I was shocked to see this as I know that the institution did not have and most likely could not get permits for such an action.” Donastorg sent a letter to Senate President Louis P. Hill criticizing what he described as “wasteful spending on a detrimental and illegal project.”
Willis’ attack came later that morning, as Donastorg photographed the site.
“I have taken a lot of criticism for my defense of our environment over the years,” Donastorg said. “But this is the first time I have ever actually been assaulted. However, I am willing to take blows for our environment as our children’s future health and livelihood depends on protecting it.”
“As it rains today this sand and dirt is now washing into Charlotte Amalie Harbor,” Donastorg said. “I have written Senator Hill requesting the termination of Mr. Willis as he has now demonstrated extremely poor judgment in two cases – attacking an elected official and subjecting the Legislature to Federal and local penalties with the illegal filling of the harbor.”
We heard estimates of the cost today, but haven’t been able to verify so we won’t speculate. But we do know that criminal, civil and Federal penalties could be as much as $10,000 a day and jail time.
Donastorg said he had filed reports about the assault with the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Legislature’s Chief of Security.
The Legislature recently appropriated itself one million dollars for “improvements.”
Is this what they needed that extra million bucks for?
sorry Watcher my PS is to Mission84
I thought Prosser was in jail. I was shocked to hear him on the radio.
Verdel Petersen is also back right Watcher?
To Anonymous :
It seems you have a hard on for Verdel, I will see if I could hook you two up. Post a real pen name or stop posting. that way we can respond to the real “Jack Ass” of the week.
by the way Anonymous will you be tuned into the radio on Monday, if you are I will send a special shout out to you by name, on monday during Mario show.
stay focused
Hey Jake: thanks for your reply
The man said he and his wife owned the company wholly and solely. clarify for me how he could have stolen from himself. Maybe there is a law that I’m am not fully aware of. You had a choice if you did not like his phone service you should have petitioned the legislature to rescind his monopoly agreement which would have allowed competition or bought a cell phone. Also if you were dissatisfied with your cable, there is satellite and choice TV available.
We must get away from having these people dictating how and where we spend our money. We all have choices. If I don’t like where I work, I leave and find another job or start my own business to make ends meet. There is always room for a new idea
The bottom line for this whole week of events for me is, We are too soft and we don’t stand up for ourselves and our community.
Watcher have you ever heard of the Stockholm Syndrome. It is when some one loves their abuser. You are exhibiting the symptoms. Mr. Prosser has only taken advantage of the people. Ask any Innovative employee how they feel about him. It is not nice.
Prosser had what amounted to a monopoly in the VI. Also, when you own “Public” utilities you are govern by certain law and oversight that does not pertain to other private business. When you owe over 500mil to your bankers they too are considered owners. That’s why the lenders are liquidating and KEEPING the money.
Great explanation, Now are the employees any better off?
you said they are liquidating and keeping the profits. who wins? By the time they are finished there may not be a company left.
Stockholm Syndrome: I have choice cable TV and I have a cell phone which I rely on to communicate. so I made a choice not to let him control me. As for the employees, it is unfortunate what happened. But from the callers reactions, many employees support him.
as for the Utilities, the PSC should be overseeing that. what about the FCC? (Federal ) How come he is not in jail? maybe there is more to the story. Many people go into to buisness to enrich themselves and make as much profit that is allowed. Prosser is no different.
by the way, we have heard from the otherside for the past 2 and a half years. There are three sides to a story, your side , my side and the truth. now we have heard side two,Prosser’s. its time now to ferret out the truth
so before you go on the offensive check your facts.
choice is now direct TV
Watcher, Prosser is no different than any other Carpetbagger.
Why should the VI find any joy in his return? As for sides to the story. The Peoples’ side is: Under Prosser telephone service was poor, unreliable and always lacking up to date technology. Ditto for cable. The Prossers reinvested NOTHING back into their big money maker, leaving the People of the Virgin Islands with S****Y service.
Now they are back. To do what? To take advantage of whom?
Adam and Eve had choices but that certainly doesn’t justify the Devil. Stop making excuses for the people who prey on others. Not all of our folk have your savvy or education. It is easy and convenient to blame the oppressed for their own oppression.
Jake:
People like you should take up the mantle and lead then. Educate the masses. I think there can be an argument for Prosser it’s only until recently have companies, both local and mainland, discovered they must give back to communities where they are in order to be community oriented and ultimately realize more profit. its a business strategy. The Prossers have been doing this since the inception over 20 + years. They have given more scholarships to VI students than any other company. They have sponsored more events than any other company. You sound like you were injured by this whole situation or is close to someone who was, but I think, to be objective remove your personal feelings and look at it from another point of view.
You must go back and see the position the company was in many years ago before he bought it. It was run by the Gov and it sucked. I do agree that upgrades were needed but it’s time we stand up and demand better service not from him alone but from all service providers including WAPA
Many have benefited directly or indirectly from their generosity, so give him the floor and maybe if he gets back into whatever business he decides, we will hold him to a much higher standard of operation and we will be prepared to avert another debacle like the last one.
Watcher, Is that the same argument that will be used to allow deWolf to get away with his treachery? “They done us wrong, but let’s give them another chance”.
Good companies throughout history have given back and supported their communities. You are still excusing the Prossers’ terrible business practices. They had a responsibility to maintain a stable public utility, and an obligation to give back to the community.
It’s almost like praising a baby-daddy for paying his child support payments. You don’t get props for doing what you are SUPPOSE to do.
As to the scholarships and generosity, have you forgotten the millions in tax benefits given to this company. Every dime that Prosser gave back, if totalled altogether can’t come close to what they have taken out of the VI.
They should not be encouraged to return. Why aren’t they starting over where they grew up? Are they unwelcome in their own home state/country? We should not open ourselves up for the same nonsense again. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on.. Who?
As to the mantle and leading. I’m already there and actively doing my part. Join me.
Jake:
This statement can also be said to all the Virgin Islanders that live abroad and are doing well, “go back home to where you grew up”. That’s sad this is a free country and that’s one thing we are forgetting
Trust me Dewolf will not get away
The only ones that let Prosser get away with those shady practices are our elected officials the same ones we went to school with the same ones who shop in the stores with us. The same ones we continue to elect term after term. Institute laws that will eliminate these practices , find the loop holes and close them, but you see that’s too hard, all we want to do is complain and not work hard to make it better for all. The process is here to serve US; If it fails to serve US, then change the damn process and stop the complaining. We must Find another way
As for leadership I know what it means, and one characteristic of being a great leader is EMPATHY, I think you should look that word up and try exercising some
Prosser and his old pal Cornelius Prior practically owned the VI Legislature from 1995 until a couple of years ago.
Watcher,
If we have Virgin Islanders abroad that are using, abusing and taking advantage of a community of people, the they should be made unwelcome by that community.
A true leader does not empathize with the enemy until the war is over.
The Prossers have many options, why have they come back to a place where they have been less than honorable? Could it be that they believe that this is a good place to take advantage of a trusting community? A majority of whom lack the education and guile to deal with robber barons such as the Prossers.
My statement stands: “Prosser is a carpetbagger”. He has come back because only in the VI can you borrow Millions even though your salary is 70k.
Prosser, you believe The Virgin Islands is going to hand you millions more in EDC benefits, after your previous transgressions. NOT AGAIN.
I guess you missed my point see you
you never empathize with the enemy! only those you lead, as it relates to leadership
Watcher,
Reread #92
When you asked me to “exercise” empathy you were referring to the Prossers. I certainly know what I read. You could only be asking for the Prossers since you know nothing of my leadership, less about how I lead or with whom I empathize. Move on.
Prosser was REQUIRED to donate to the community under the terms of his IDC agreement. He ripped off ratepayers for millions of dollars and did not reinvest in the infrastructure like he was supposed to. If he were to have paid taxes he would have paid 1,000 times more than he invested in scholarships, etc. His benefit package even exempted him from personal income taxes.
If you have been following along you would see that Prosser illegally borrowed and stole enough money to live like a king (jets, mansions, art collections, wine collections, bought politicians, servants) and not like the owner of a small utility. He used the phone company to buy all his other assets and benefited tremendously from the low interest loans and federal grants he was eligible for as the owner of a small (rural) utility. Meanwhile he didn’t pay any taxes and lived like Donald Trump.
I am pretty shocked and saddened that any Virgin Islander would, at this point, look to defend him or buy into his effort to reinvent himself.
He is a thief and we have all paid the price through bad service and some of the most antiquated cable and telephone service around.
And, some might not want to hear it, but we have Foncie to thank for exposing this man. If more people had listened we might have been able to stop him before he had done so much damage. I hope it is not the same with the Mafoliegate issue. We have to focus on the message and not the messenger.
I agree with PSCWATCHER. We need to run Prosser and his kind out of town.