Attention St. Croix schools are closed on Friday for
American Federation of Teachers Mini Quest . St. Thomas schools are closed on
Monday the 19th also for Miniquest.
Governor John DeJongh met with his cabinet at Government
House to examine how the territory did with the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act. The Governor wants his
department heads to be aggressive in the pursuit of additional funds under the
federal recovery program. He told the Division of Personnel to check how many
government employees plan to retire before the year is over and which critical jobs
need to be filled despite the hiring freeze. He also announced a new grant of
$163,000 to expand local agriculture and expand access to locally grown food.
The Governor told reporters yesterday that our economy has been
pretty strong during the American recession..
More cruise ships coming to St. Croix< the Oasis of the Seas coming
to St. Thomas, capital and construction projects on all islands. The recent sale of bonds was a hit and the
coming of Diageo are all upbeat indicators Some states and Puerto Rico resorted
to massive layoff of government workers and cut programs. Puerto Rico had a
strike yesterday that involved nearly 200,000 people – all angry that there had
been so many reductions in Government jobs and services.
The Governor held a town meeting in Savan and heard
residents decry the traffic and the loud noise that comes from bars and taverns
in Savan. Residents want more foot patrols by the police and bring the
open drug trafficking to an end. Residents heard that repairs to the Fireburn
Hill Roadway wil begin next month and some abandoned buildings are schedule for
demolition. And there will be no new permits for bars or taverns in Savan.
Superior court’s magistrate’s Division is relocating – they will
move into new facilities at Barbel Plaza and as of Monday the new court offices
will be open. The Magistrates handle
cases like traffic, litter, conservation citations, small claims, landlord
tenant trouble, advice of rights, arraignments and criminal trials when the sentence
is not for more than 6 months in jail.
Domestic violence complaints go to the Magistrates. They open at Barbel
Plaza on Monday.
The Health disparities Institute is happening on St. John today
“bridging Science and health in the US Virgin Islands . Yesterday the group heard from Margaret Heckler
the former Secretary of Dept. of Health and Human Services in Washington. She commissioned the task force on Black and
Minority Health back in 1985. Today they
are hearing from Dr Fatimah Jackson of the Institute of African American
Research from Chapel Hill North Carolina.
Cruise Ship News No Ships today - Paradise is just for us.
Senate Committee on Public Safety, Homeland Security and
Justice is meeting on St. Croix today taking testimony on the Drug Enforcement
Bureau.
Virgin Islands Housing Authority is offering free GEDS
classes at Oswald Harris Court – starting on Monday at 6:00 PM. For more information call 715-7396. The Housing
Authority is also conducting a community
needs survey in both districts. They are
asking to work with the volunteers who may come to your door to take the
survey.
Governor John DeJongh reminds all residents of the health
insurance survey being conducted by the Eastern Caribbean Center – they are
calling random households to get specific answers to questions about the
household size, the age of residents, race and ethnicity and the Governor is
asking all residents to cooperate with the Eastern Caribbean Center. The
information is key to insure that the Virgin Islands gets the proper placement
in the federal health insurance program
Today we have Project
Homeless Connect on St. Thomas at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center at 9:00
AM
There is also training
for volunteers today before the
event opens. That’s now at the Sports and Fitness Center. For more information
call United Way at 774-3185.
On
St. Croix - Homeless Connect comes up next Friday, October 23, at
the Agriculture Fair Grounds – There is training on St. Croix on Tuesday, October 20th at the Ten
Thousand Helpers office also at 6:30. For more information on St. Croix call Kendall
at 719-9900.
Donate your time for a
day - be a guide, waiter, waitress or greeter! For more information on how you can help with
project homeless connect.. call United Way at 774-3185.