Why Sen. Donastorg Keeps Pushing Repeal Of Tax Lien Law – And Why You Should Care
Meanwhile, Barry urges property owners to verify amounts due on 2006 tax bills
There are two good reasons that Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg continues the fight to repeal a section of the VI Code that allows the government to sell property tax liens to third parties for collection.Â
The first reason is because as long as that law is on the books, property is at risk.Â
The second reason is a company called Chilmark, registered to and operated by one Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr.Â
Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg
Donastorg has repeatedly advocated for the repeal of legislation passed in 1999 that allows property tax liens to be sold by the Government and during Tuesday’s Senate Session he made another attempt to protect local property owners from this law. The eight members of the Senate Majority refused to support Donastorg’s effort to get the tax lien sale repeal on the agenda.Â
Bill 28-0239, authored by Donastorg, takes away all authority for the Government to sell property tax liens to an outside bank or collection agency. Â The bill is now set to be heard in Committee on August 31. (attached)Â
 “Residents are now in the uncomfortable position of owing several years of taxes through no fault of their own,” Donastorg said. “Given the chaotic situation created by the de Jongh Administration we must take away their power to sell the collection of these taxes to a third party.” “I can only believe they are going along with the Governor’s plan to sell these tax liens,” Donastorg said. “It’s no secret that it was in (Governor John P.) de Jongh’s original borrowing bill and was only removed when I pointed out that such a law was already on the books. Given the track record of this Majority and this Administration we all must remain concerned.”Â
With taxpayers facing four years of unpaid tax bills, the probability of a significant number of properties facing liens because of delinquency is high. Enter Chilmark and deJongh.Â
As the attached documents show, Chilmark Investments Corporation, LLC, became a licensed entity in the US Virgin Islands in 2003. A web based search on Chilmark states, “In 2003, John (deJongh) along with his good friend Desmond Skeete, established Chilmark Partners, LLC to do financial advisory work in the Eastern Caribbean. They have undertaken engagements in the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Barbados involving real estate, banking, and insurance.”
Documents on file with the Virgin Islands Lt, Governor’s office show the sole manager and signer of the 2005 Certification and Annual Report, as John P. deJongh, Jr. We are unaware of any more recent document showing a change in management or ownership, therefore, the Governor appears to be the sole authorized manager of a company whose reasons for existing include the ability to buy properties Virgin Islanders may have to forfeit if they cannot meet the impending tax expense.Â
We leave you to draw your own conclusions. And if more recent valid documents exist that show a change in Chilmark management, we will be happy to print them.Â
Absent those, however, we are left with another curious development in the continuing saga of uncollected property taxes and yet another apparent conflict of interest in the workings of this Governor. Are we the only ones who see an inappropriate connection between the Territory’s Chief Executive Officer, at whose direction taxes have not been collected, and his direct involvement in a company poised to reap great financial benefit at the consequences of multiple years of taxes being owed may bring to property owners?Â
Is Your 2006 Tax Bill Correct?
As the 2006 bills begin to be received, residents are cautioned to make sure that the amount they are being charged is reflective of the 1998 assessment level. Myrtle Barry of the VI Unity Day Group, provided the following information to CIF.Â
“The residents of the Virgin Islands need to compare their 2006 property tax bill with their 1998 bill to insure that both bills reflect the same assessed values, rate, exemption and tax,” she wrote. “The tax assessor is not authorized to perform new assessments as the District Court has cited violations in practice since the fall of 2000.”
Barry explained that under the Governor Charles Turnbull administration a company called Bearing Point was contracted to provide a mass appraisal of all the properties in the Territory. Under the deJongh administration, she said, Bearing Point delivered “flawed, useless data and was allowed to leave with over $6.5 million (in Government funds) and without a hint of accountability or recourse.”
Barry advises property owners. “If there is any conflict with the data on your tax bill, file a formal appeal with the Board of Tax Review and forward a copy of both property tax bills this address:
Myrtle Barry, Chairperson
Real Property Committee
VIRGIN ISLANDS UNITY DAY GROUP, INC.
P.O. BOX 371, ST. JOHN, VIÂ 00831-0371
viunitydaygroup@yahoo.comÂ
Barry has already cited cases of recently distributed property tax bills showing significant increases from the 1998 value and encourages taxpayer to provide their information for use in any future legal action the organization may initiate.Â
“It is the intent of the Virgin Islands Unity Day Group, Inc. to pay our property tax bills when presented accurately, timely and lawfully,” Barry said. “The plight is that after 10 years we are still waiting for the government to get it right. “
Jah Rastafari!
Wayne James still owes $145,000 PLUS interest on his taxes……….all the while spending YOUR taxpayer money on his expensive trips to Europe.
Vote this clown out in the primary.
PLEASE STT, clean house on your island this time around. Hill needs to be shown the door too.
@ ‘de Mongoose Dem’:
By all means vote for Jeffrey Moorhead,but YOU also need to raise hell with your senate representative if he/she didn’t vote in favor of the repeal.
Desperation will be your albatross Senator Donastorg. You’re choking to death in fraud. Plus, you’re a rat too now that we’ve read Atty. Lee Rohn’s complaint against the CIF President. It’s only a matter of time before you’re done.
Anony 9:44 am,
You really believe anyone is going to believe your ridiculuos comment. Who is the one that is so desperste you have to make lies. Luz we everyone knows you’re in cahoots with de Jongh. John, I wouldn’t even bother saying anything about you. That’s how pathetic you are.
Why in the good Lord’s name would you vote nay to a bill, in which your own behind is in debt to? Some of these Senators have no clue on what the outcomes are when they are voting on important bills such as the Tax Lien Bill. All homeowners in the VI need to request that the Legislature bring this bill back to the table and re-vote again.
At Anonymous 9:44 am
We don’t care about what you say concerning Senator Donastorg. The truth of the matter is that we like him and we will vote for him, regardless of your close minded remarks. Signing off now. Donastorg’s campaign supporter 2010.
To Anonymous – When you sign back on, please take these comments to the Political Forum. Thank you – CIF Admin
Thanks for the vote tally and who voted YEA and NAH……………Clearly the MAJORITY voted in tandem against the best interest of the people.
Usie not voting is a no vote………we pay our elected representatives to VOTE and attend sessions. No more games allowed. Take your toys and go home.
Hey if you sorry as–s feel you are winning the election by writing blogs and responding to yourselves out of Duncie headquarters you will see 9-11
CHANGE is coming to the Virgin Islands. The power of GOOD over EVIL will be seen real soon.
When you dig a whole for someone be sure to dig one for yourself. For all of the EVIL doers that attempted to slain the lamb your day of reckoning is upon you.
Louis Hill and Carlton Dowe get ready for your departure next week as well. Airports on St. Croix and St. Thomas will be very busy next week.
Corruption is coming to an end in the Virgin Islands.
Thank you President Obama!
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
At first, deJongh gave away our Tax-bate money to his rich-investor friends in the rum business.
Now, deJongh wants to give away our real-property to his rich-investor friends in the Real Estate business.
How do DeJongh expect me to vote for him if I have yet to receive my T-shirt, my sticker, and most importantly my contract.
Senator Wayne James,I know you like Italian wine, suits,shoes,bags, art, and fashion, but I also thought you were more of a “Greek” than a Tuscan.
Wayne, when in Italy, do you use drink wine or eat bread to clean your palate between courses of meal?
Who created this tax crises?
Who put their hands in the Cookie Jar?
Anonymous 8:32,
‘Greek’ good one! I’m sure that one flew over more than a few heads.
I myself enjoy Italian goods: Gucci, Prada, Versace, Valentino. Can barely live without them.
Don’t be so sure. The Admin is in a benevolent mood tonight – don’t push it.
LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID:
IN THE END, WE WILL REMEMBER NOT THE WORDS OF OUR ENEMIES, BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS.
MY BELOVED VIRGIN ISLANDS RESIDENTS IT IS TIME TO RISE UP AGAINST CORRUPTION IN OUR TERRITORY. IT IS TIME TO DO SO THROUGH NON VIOLENT PROTEST, BOYCOTTS, AND DEMAND FOR TRANSPARENCY.
THE RESIDENTS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAVE A GREAT NEWS SERVICE IN THE CRUCIANS IN FOCUS WEBSITE. AS WE MAKE HISTORY ON SEPTEMBER 11 SO WILL CIF. LET US NEVER FORGET THAT THIS WEBSITE PROVIDED THE VEHICLE FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WANTED NOT TO BE SILENT TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.
CRUCIANS IN FOCUS STAFF AND PRESIDENT MICHAEL SPRINGER YOU HAVE EARN YOUR PLACE IN VIRGIN ISLANDS HISTORY. JOB WELL DONE MY FRIENDS.
YOUR TRULY,
SG
Don’t we have an Inspector General that is supposed to investigate potential conflicts of interest like this apparent relationship between the Gov. and Chilmark (I am neither pro or against the govenor, I just want to know the truth). Oh I forgot he is one of the so called “non-govt” officials who has financially benefited from that ridiculous pay raise. I will revise my nuetrality statement, its time for all gov’t and non-govt officials to be replaced (even ones tht you may like). Its time to make a statement.
There is word going around that Donastorg was a sponsor of this bill when it passed. I hope that isn’t true because if it is his dog dead and buried with me. I will call tbe legislature tomorrow and find out if it’s true. Heaven help us.
@ Anon 2:59
TOO LATE FOR DE JONGH AND LUZ. MAPP SUPPORTERS ARE COMING OUT DE WOOD WORK IN THE SEPTEMBER 11 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO VOTE FOR DONASTORG!!!!!
LUZ WE WARNED YOU NOT TO MESS WITH MAPP NOW YOU GON PAY A EVEN GREATER PRICE ON PRIMARY DAY.
MAPP SUPPORTERS ARE GOING TO HELP FONCIE SWING THAT FINAL KNOCK OUT PUNCH ON DE JONGH AND LUZ CORRUPT ASSES ON PRIMARY DAY.
LIGHTS OUT DOG DEAD!
ALL MAPP SUPPORTERS CONTINUE YOUR MARCH TO VI BOARD OF ELECTION OFFICES TO CHANGE AND UPDATE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION TO DEMOCRAT. TEAM MAPP/SEKOU 2010 HAS JOIN THE BATTLE FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.
HERE WE COME!