Leadership

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Was

September 14, 2009
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Was

Senator Hill, it’s time to put your money where your mouth was and bring forward that bill cutting Senate and some other high Government salaries to help the homeless. You made quite a show during the August 6th Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hearing. Following Senator Nellie O’Reilly’s sincere presentation asking that some higher income...
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Posted in Leadership, Legislature | 104 Comments »

Hiring Freeze: Lots of Chiefs in Justice

September 13, 2009

Today we take a look at more than $500,000 in salaries and benefits that have been added to the payroll of the Department of Justice during the “freeze.” Justice is the most critical partner of law enforcement. Without efficient prosecution, effective law enforcement is severely compromised. And for that, you need a solid group of...
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Posted in Fiscal Management, Government Ops, Leadership | 23 Comments »

“Hiring Freeze” – License To Make $$$

September 9, 2009

In this post, you’ll find appointment letters for the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs. Pay attention to the job titles. (Note: Be patient – these files take a little longer to download) Stay tuned. There is plenty more to come. DLCA – Part1 DLCA – Part2 DLCA – Part3 Share on Facebook
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Posted in Fiscal Management, Government Ops, Leadership | 10 Comments »

“Hiring Freeze” Meltdown

September 7, 2009

There’s been a “hiring freeze” since May 2008, the budget is tight, government employees are being asked to forfeit eight paid holidays, and the Virgin Islands is borrowing like there’s no tomorrow. So we’re at a loss to explain how at least 63 Government employees and nearly $3.74 million in salary expense were added to...
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Posted in Fiscal Management, Government Ops, Leadership | 28 Comments »

Security for Whom?

September 7, 2009

With record levels of homicides gripping the territory, and a growing number of people expressing outrage and fear for their safety, we were alarmed to discover that Governor deJongh has stepped up security…for himself. New Government House Security Guards 1 and 2 New Government House Security Guards 3 and 4 New Government House Security Guards 5 and...
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Posted in Fiscal Management, Leadership, Public Safety | 4 Comments »

Ten Commandments For Politicians

August 31, 2009

We ran across this list in an article from the Daily Beast website in a story questioning the lack of moral outrage surrounding the extramarital affair of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. Sanford disappeared for six days back in June and it was subsequently revealed that he had been spending time with his mistress...
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Posted in Leadership | 34 Comments »

It’s Just Another Million …

August 22, 2009

When a last minute amendment proposed hiking the 28th Legislature’s budget by a million dollars for unspecified “infrastructure repairs and upgrades,” Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg wanted to know why. The request was part of an amendment submitted by Senators Michael Thurland and Sammuel Sanes, but provided no detail on how the funds would be used. “My...
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Posted in Government Ops, Leadership | 76 Comments »

Can We Be A Community of Laws?

August 17, 2009

Guest Opinion by J. J. Estemac     Just before the last elections, it was reported in the press that none of the senatorial candidates had filed the required reports to the Board of Elections. Sounds familiar? Well it is. Too often, we witness incidences of dereliction of duty by entities and individuals charged with enforcing...
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Posted in Leadership | 4 Comments »

Henchmen Vaporize “Mafoliegate” Info

August 12, 2009
Henchmen Vaporize “Mafoliegate” Info

The Legislature’s Henchmen turned up the heat and the documents that tell the “Mafoliegate” story have vanished from the official 28th Legislature’s website. Now we’re wondering if the hearings that Sen. Neville James was supposed to call to bring the rest of this scandal to light are going to disappear too. We knew the Henchmen, Senators...
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Posted in Leadership, Mafoliegate, Politics | 162 Comments »

Stand Firm!

August 11, 2009
Stand Firm!

Word has come to us that pressure is boiling in the Legislature’s kitchen. Senators Hill, Dowe and White appear to be furious that Senator Neville James posted the “Mafoliegate” documents on the Legislature’s website. As Senator James previously stated, the Governor’s actions are indefensible! It’s time for all Senators to accept this fact. It’s...
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Posted in Government Ops, Leadership, Mafoliegate | 38 Comments »

Where Oh Where Has The Stimulus Gone?

August 2, 2009

On February 19, 2009, Virgin Islands Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. announced at a press conference that the Virgin Islands “will receive more than $244 million in economic benefits over a two-year period.” These funds were the allocation to the Virgin Islands from President Obama’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). We were assured that...
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Posted in Fiscal Management, Government Ops, Leadership | 35 Comments »

Conflict of Interest?

July 29, 2009
Conflict of Interest?

The information printed below came into CIF as a comment from one of our readers.  As the Territories struggle with issues of conflict of interest and situational ethics, we thought it was worth an extra look. It is printed here as it was submitted to CIF. We will continue to follow this development. Comment submitted by...
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Posted in Leadership | 186 Comments »

The Time Is Now

July 28, 2009
The Time Is Now

Dear Sen. Neville James, The time is now. There is no need to wait any longer. Schedule the committee hearings. Start the testimony so we can settle once and for all the full extent of the abuse of power this Administration appears to have committed against the people of the United States Virgin Islands. You issued subpoenas. The...
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Posted in Leadership, Mafoliegate | 57 Comments »

Keep Talking, Part 1: Property Tax Misrepresentation

July 27, 2009

We have been studying the best way to address the property tax issue due to its voluminous nature and we finally have our answer. It appears the District Court’s opinion (9/15/08 District Court Memorandum Opinion) was so comprehensive that the Administration has had difficulty understanding what they read. However, in light of what appears to be...
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Posted in Economy & Taxes, Government Ops, Leadership | 17 Comments »

Public Decorum of Public Officials

July 26, 2009

Guest Opinion by J. J. Estemac I believe that it is time that we the people say enough is enough concerning our poor choices of public officials we hire, whether they are elected or appointed. If we believe we as a people deserve better representation in our government.  The people we elect or appoint to represent...
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Posted in Leadership | 5 Comments »