Governor Challenges IG’s Report
deJongh: Use Of Funds Was Authorized by Amended Act 6917; No Laws Violated For Mafolie Improvements
There was nothing improper about Governor John P. deJongh, Jr.’s use of public funds to renovate his Estate Mafolie private residence - and the Administration disagrees with a US Inspector General’s report (IG) that concluded the Executive Branch had no authority to divert funds the Legislature had approved for road repair to security enhancements for the Governor’s home.
Governor deJongh made these comments during a press conference Tuesday.
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The IG report was issued last Friday and contained the following summation of their investigation into the use of reprogrammed funds from Act 6917 that were used to fund $490,000 in security enhancements at the Governor’s St. Thomas home. The IG report stated:
 “We found that the funds used for the purpose of providing security at your private residence were set aside for road repairs in the Virgin Islands by the Legislative Branch of Government. In using those funds, the Executive Branch of Government improperly diverted roughly half-a-million dollars of specifically earmarked public funds and usurped the authority of the Legislative Branch of Government.”
“Under Virgin Islands law, only the Legislature is authorized to determine how public funds can be spent,” wrote Mary L. Kendall, Acting Inspector General.
The Governor stated that all of the processes associated with the improvements made at his home were “open and transparent” and that work was only done after proper Request For Proposal and bidding processes. He also questioned the thoroughness of the IG’s investigation, stating that both the work done at the East End Cemetery and drainage work should also have been investigated for the report to be complete.
 All the work done was in compliance with Virgin Islands law, he said, and the report was incorrect in stating that federal funds were used. Additionally, he said, the investigator should have interviewed the sponsor of the amendment outlining the use of the funds in question, Sen. Carlton Dowe, for clarification on the intended and authorized use of the funds.
During a question and answer period following his statement, deJongh said it was “patently unfair” for employees in the Departments of Property and Procurement, Public Works and Justice to be subjected to “personal abuse” for doing their jobs “professionally and legally.”
When asked about the IG’s recommendation that he pay back the funds, he said he had made a decision prior to the report to repay the Government funds representing the value of the improvements at the end of his term to show that he never intended to “personally benefit” from the enhancements to his property.
He declined to respond to a reporter’s question as to whether he believed there was “collusion” between the federal and local IG’s offices since a relative of Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg, the senator who brought the disputed funds use to the public last June, works in the local IG office. deJongh said he believed the federal IG was aware of any “relationships” between people involved in this matter.
One reporter challenged the governor’s assertion that the actions of his Administration have been transparent and open, citing the refusal of Cherrie Wallace-Cole, a Public Finance Authority employee, to testify at a Legislative hearing held last week to discuss the Executive Branch’s use of these funds.
The Governor responded:
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 The Governor said he plans to respond to the IG report by the February 16, 2010 deadline.
@ Anonymous 11:21 am
Verdel you really does drink, because you were the one that went on Mario show and said all those low-life stuff. Trying to act like your so grammatically correct. Your image has been tarnish by some of the stupid stuff you write on this blog. Who gives a rats a** about what it spelled right or not, the message was clear.
DEWOLF IN SHEEP CLOTHING. Tek dat an smoke it in your pipe.
Who the cap fits let them wear it. JOHN DEWOLF
Did I hear correctly on the radio during the legislature hearings this afternoon the PFA director and PFA consultants walked out of the hearings? While testifying!?!?!?!
PMS = Post Mafoliegate Syndrome?
He can’t do this with the Grand Jury. I hear they can indict a ham sandwich!
This is the one in the same person that before he was at the PFA was working some Senators to help him take over the GERS Acc’s so that he and the company that he was working for could manage it, only in the VI could these people do things like this, they have as all for fools.
“we” are fools, as we keep electing the same immoral kaka to represent us.
Go out there and spend a tad of time re-educating the community, anyone, please!
According to Sam Topp the PFA director also advised the Schneider hospital board to design executive compensation plans.
(Per Mr. Topp’s affidavit in the hospital’s IG audit response).
I guess the PFA director was looking for business all around town.
its a good thing that no one helped him take over the GERS, only God knows what he would have done with the money
These people fled the scene so as not to incriminate themselves.
Marion Precott(3P) was under contract to the Gov’t for over a year without a license to do business in the VI.
Dowe and White have been calling for a “Capital Projects” TOP GUN, a CZAR (White’s Title)for months. Smalls told White that was his Job.
This is not about getting things done quickly. This is about naming someone that can rake in millions like Bobby deJongh did years ago as head of Capital Projects. Who will be given that plum contract? Imagine, as little as 2%of the cost of all the Gov’t capital improvements could make some deWolf supporter a MULTIMILLIONAIRE. What wonderful Kickbacks for the wolf pack.
This is ALL about money. Lots of Money. The VI can now boast it is the home of a Super-Greedy Dictatorship, which has fostered a community of fear. People will not vote for 4 more years of fear.
This is the worst administration everrrrrrrrrrrr.
I read an article on St.Croix Source about the IG Report. It makes this blog site a target.They are running around a circle. Crazy Verdel wrote the letter.We have to stop the DeWolf regime from circulating propaganda.Let’s organize to place a muzzle on the DeWolf gang. It is no way the gang should be allowed to speak or blog. We here have the only voices that should be heard. Fireburn must start now`
Since the attorneys are working on the audit response — they could easily send out letters for others to submit on behalf of the administration. Based on editorial bias, the editor of the online paper could have written it for that matter.
Well if that is what they are doing, then I for one will writ my own letter to the IG, and I think if we want our feelings to be know then we all should start writing letters too.
Sorry, I will write
OMG, I just read that letter on the Sourcefrom Verdel. She not good in her head for true. I bet you the Source will not publish any negative letters about the Governor
I read that editorial by Ms. Verdel, too. People, we really need to be careful this election year, because it is obvious that people like the Crucian Educator will do ANYTHING to make sure that their man wins.
I was listening the Jimmy this morning, and Balance called in to say that we need to stop all the negativity, and focus on the positive. Then, he went on to compare the uproar and dissatifaction about our current governor to the Tea Party Express. The only reason these people are out defending the governor’s actions is because they either received jobs for him, or they have friends and family members who have gotten jobs. they realized that if John deJongh loses, a lot of those people are out of the job. They are only thinking about their money. At this time, we need to stay focused. The time for complacency is over!
T, you are so right Balance children got jobe to do noting, that why he is on every show talking for they jobs, what about all the young people out there walking the streets with no work, I am realy sick about that, it has to stop.
White people are so smart.
http://stthomassource.com/content/commentary/op-ed/2010/02/09/source-managers-journal-mafoliegate
Everyone is over reacting.
Settle down.
NO! THEY JUST THINK THAT THEY ARE SMARTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE.WRONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG !