Guest Commentary By Clarence Payne

With all of this hullabaloo, and both branches trying  to one-up the other on the public air waves, who is actually working to address the excruciating cost of living in these islands? Collaboration is essential if our society is to endure this financial catastrophe bestowed upon us by President George W. Bush through his tax cuts for the rich and his careless and uncalled for invasion of Iraq, which cost the US economy dearly. 

29^TH Legislature, I don’t know if you noticed that there have been at least 4 public protests over the past two weeks: it began on November 9^th with a march on Main Street which lasted for about 5 days; then, a WAPA demonstration in front of the legislature on the same day; on 11-11-11, there was Flip-The–Switch campaign; and finally, there was another exhibition on November 16^th that commenced at Government House with all parties involved demanding government action on a number of issues, and wound up in front of WAPA, Kingshill, St Croix.  Rumor has it that many more organized demonstrations are in the works.  Read more »

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You can’t pay your WAPA bill and now WAPA can’t pay its Hovensa bill.

This is starting to get interesting.

The Water and Power Authority owes Hovensa $20 million for oil it has already used and doesn’t have any way to borrow more money.

The Government owes WAPA thirty million dollars, while you struggle each month to pay your bill.

You do the math.

It’s the midst of a holiday week, and people have already been forced to buy water since the sludge coming out of their faucets isn’t fit to use for anything. Parents are reporting that children are showing increased cases of ringworm and impetigo from bathing in the water, and there’s no relief in sight,

And while your Thanksgiving menu may be smaller this year since you have to spend so much of your income to pay that WAPA bill, you may be eating in the dark anyway. Read more »

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It had been a while since the last Administration “oversight.”

But based on its history, no one should be surprised at the Administration’s statements last week that “oversight or omission” was the reason that Attorney General Vincent Frazer’s $120,000 salary exceeded the cap in place when his annual pay was established.

This latest incident comes after controversy around the Governor’s Nov. 7 Executive Order that raised the salary cap for his top level officials to $130,000 from its former $115,000. The action was required, according to the Governor, to secure the employment of two new commissioners, Henry White Jr., for the Police Department and Dr. Mercedes Dullum for the Department of Health.

You just can’t find adequate local talent, we suppose, and the governor said this was the only way to secure the “high caliber” of individual he wants in his cabinet. Read more »

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Finally, a solution to that problem called the LEAC.

No, the government has not decided to pay the Water and Power Authority (WAPA) the $18 million-plus dollars it owes them.

No, there’s no new alternative energy plan, or initiative to upgrade the antiquated equipment that wastes as much oil as it burns in WAPA’s outdated plant.

Instead the Senate Finance Committee approved a bill that would require government employees in non-emergency positions to pay for their own gas an maintenance. The “savings” from this ingenious plan will go into a “LEAC Reduction Fund” designed, we imagine, to radically reduce the cost of energy to the ratepayers of the Territory.

Are they kidding?

Another provision of the bill, now on its way to the Rules and Judiciary Committee, is that “individuals who are required by law or job description to operate a government vehicle” will also continue to have their gas paid for by the government.

So who does that leave who will now be paying their own gas and maintenance expenses? Read more »

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Last February, Atty. Shorn Joseph was in the final and most physically demanding phase of the Judge Advocates Officers Basic Course (JAOBC) his military status required.

After he had been appointed a Judge Advocate and promoted to First Lieutenant, Joseph, a member of the Virgin Islands National Guard, was required to attend the JAOBC described above.

He was on authorized leave from his position as Assistant Legal Counsel for the Virgin Islands Legislature. His history with the Legislature began with an internship in the summer of 2006 and when he graduated from law school in 2007, he returned to a full time position with the Legislature in July of that year.

He was only a few weeks away from completing the last phase of the course when he received a letter from Sen. President Ronald Russell terminating his employment.

Imagine his shock when he received a hand delivered letter dated February 7, 2011 informing him that his employment with the Legislature would end two days later on February 9. One of Joseph’s military superiors, who wrote Russell demanding that Joseph be reinstated, called the action “heartless.”

This is a case in which the documents tell the story far better than a lengthy narrative, and those documents are attached below for your review. Joseph has filed a lawsuit against the Legislature and Russell that is pending in District Court. Read more »

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Commentary By Michael J. Springer, Jr., President, Crucians In Focus

We owe them so much but honor them so little.

Today we honor those Veterans, living and dead, from all branches of the armed forces who have sacrificed in ways many of us cannot imagine to preserve the way of life so many of us take for granted.

We also honor the other unsung heroes, the families of those who serve. The commitment to maintain the home front is no less a contribution than those who actively serve.

So on behalf of Crucians In Focus, and the people of the Virgin Islands, we thank all of you and extend our sincere gratitude for all that you have done and will do.

Unfortunately, some of our elected officials do not hold our military personnel in the high esteem they deserve. Case in point – Senate President Ronald Russell.

Stay tuned for the story of Atty. Shorn Joseph, former, member of the Legislature’s Office of the General Counsel, who was terminated by Russell from his position while he was on authorized military leave in February of 2011. Read more »

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We must ask again.

Just how much of this are we going to take?

Now that the Governor has issued an Executive Order raising the salaries for his Commissioners, the door is open for increases for the Senators as well.

So says the infamous Act 6905.

In order to “attract and retain a higher caliber” of individual to the Virgin Islands, the Governor has hired his new commissioners of public safety and health at a salary of $130,000. That speaks volumes about what he thinks about home grown talent.

He did this through an Executive Order amending Title 3 of the Virgin Islands Code that affects “all Executive Level 1 Classified Employees” indicating no restrictions on how many may receive salary increases under the new guidelines.

We will forego for a moment the obvious irony of this action in light of the “fiscal crisis”, recent government worker pay cuts and impending threatened layoffs. Rather, we point your attention to Section 8 of Act 6905, which states in part:

“Each member of the Legislature shall receive an annual salary … which salary shall be equal to the lowest annual compensation of the officers itemized in Title 3…”

While the move to increase other salaries may not come soon, once these new commissioners are confirmed – and they will be – the second wave will not be far behind.

Senate President Ronald Russell was heard today saying this action by the Governor sends a conflicting message to the community – this same Ronald Russell who voted for the Act that may result in his salary increase if the minimum salary of the commissioners is increased. Read more »

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Is a payless New Year’s Eve on the horizon for government employees?

Sounds like that’s a distinct possibility…

Apparently, Commissioner of Finance Angel Dawson has written a letter to Gov. John deJongh informing him that unless funding appears quickly in the Virgin Islands treasury that the December 29^th payday could be a payless one for government employees. December is a three payday month, with payroll scheduled to be paid on the first, fifteenth and twenty-ninth of the month.

But maybe Dawson is worrying for nothing.

Isn’t this the same Virgin Islands Treasury that is reaping the benefits of the recent 8% government payroll reduction? There must be some surplus floating around in there if your Good Governor can pay his new commissioners $130,000 a year and face the very real possibility that his other commissioners and eventually the senators will want the same!

It’s just inconceivable that with these activities in process that the government workforce, so recently subjected to a slashed paycheck, could greet 2012 with no paycheck at all.

Maybe Dawson is just overreacting and jumping the gun. History has shown us that the Office of Management and Budget Director Debra Gottlieb can make money appear out of nowhere when she wants to. Maybe she can manufacture a New Year surprise for her fellow government co-workers.

Then again, depending on what Dawson knows that we don’t – maybe not.

Merry Christmas!

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Here is a copy of the Resolution that will be presented to the Legislature today by those marching in the Government Shutdown.

RESOLUTION

This Resolution is presented on behalf of the People of the US Virgin Islands in response to constant exclusion of our concerns when it comes to the actions of public decision-makers

Whereas the people of the U.S. Virgin islands continue to endure a rapid declining quality of life;

Whereas the Legislature of the Virgin Islands has failed to represent the best interests of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands;

Whereas the Legislature of the Virgin Islands has abandoned its statutory responsibility to exercise OVERSIGHT of the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands;

Whereas the Legislature has failed to perform its role in the “checks and balance” intended under our republican form of government;

Whereas the Legislature repeatedly acts as a pawn of the Executive Branch, as opposed to a separate and equal branch of government, enabling the administration to compromise the future of the U.S. Virgin Islands;

Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the People of the Virgin Islands: Read more »

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It’s a short bill with a long tail, and illustrates with great clarity why all who can must participate in Wednesday’s Government Shutdown.

Act 29-0067 says simply that it is “An Act to generate revenue to assist the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority and the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and for other purposes.”

‘…and for other purposes.”

The act would establish a tax of a penny a pound on all articles, goods, merchandise or commodities (except food and medicine) brought into the Virgin Islands for business or personal use, or for other disposition or sale.

The proceeds of this tax, it says, will be distributed evenly between the Waste Management Authority, for unspecified uses, and to WAPA to “reduce the Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause,” or LEAC. But let’s not forget:

‘…and for other purposes.”

This bill represents another big nail in the economic coffin for those individuals and businesses already operating on a thread, or not at all, because of the cost of energy. Daily, businesses close, people are reduced to a seriously substandard quality of life, and more tax on the multitude of items brought into the Territory may tip the scales past recovery.

And don’t forget that as part of the “Austerity” bill passed last summer, the Legislature gave the Executive Branch the power to divert up to 80% of all funds generated into whatever they felt necessary. And nowhere in the bill does it state who, or what agency, will be tasked to assure that the funds go where they are designed to go. Read more »

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Aside from their roles as arbiters of the truth through their websites, officials of CruciansInFocus.com and Demmansay.com exhibited their culinary talents at the “Belief In The Reef” event Saturday on St. Croix.

CIF President Michael J. Springer Jr. was the grillmaster for the winning barbeque ribs and DMS’s Edwin Callwood took honors for best grilled shellfish.

Hundreds attended the daylong event designed to raise funds for radio station WDHP – AM 1620.  After several months of financial difficulty due primarily to lack of advertising revenue, the station mounted a public campaign to raise funds. Saturday’s event at the stations Castle Coakley location was the first in a series of fundraising events. Read more »

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