Were the police refused entry to the Legislature building –
there were rumors flying yesterday. Now Senate
President Louis P. Hill says there was no such event. Police officers in a cruiser did visit the
legislature yesterday. They were
directed to the Parking Lot and decided to exit the property without coming in.
At no time were officers refused entry to the Legislature. Stop rumors.
The Bureau of Corrections now an independent agency of the Government,
For many years the Bureau of Corrections has been a subdivision of the Department
of Justice. The Governor and Attorney General thought the Bureau would function
better as an independent agency and the
Governor signed a bill in April to begin the separation. Yesterday at Golden
Grove Prison, they completed the separation. Corrections Director Julius Wilson
said the citizens of the Virgin Islands are entitled to a corrections system
that works and meets the high standards
of excellence expected of the bureau. The Governor said corrections is one area
that was not cut in the budget process. Justice will still provide legal
services, investigative services and public media services.
Senate Rules Committee met
yesterday and approved 12 bills now
going to the full senate for action. Among the bills - one will allow people
who were arrested but never tried or convicted to have their arrest removed
from the records. 12 bills were approved including money for flood mitigation
in Hannah’s rest St. Croix, 3 million for Juan Luis Hospital to get a mammogram
machine, a bill to get the Recorder of deeds to move from paper to electronic
records, a bill to revise the rules for anatomical gifts and a bill to give a
one year amnesty on overdue gross receipts tax interest, fees and penalties and
a bill to make it illegal to text messages while driving.
Delegate Dr. Donna Christensen
introduced bill HR 3726 to establish Castle Nugent St. Croix as a National
Historic Site. The bill continues the
effort to preserve the unique landscape and the view for all time. 2,900 acres would allow the continued presence
of Senapol cattle under the supervision of UVI and designate the farm as a
historic site. Plans to incorporate the
farm in the National Park Service are currently being studied.
WAPA Board approved plans
to build a second electrical substation on St. Croix – near the renaissance site
where Alpine energy is expected to build their waste to energy plant. The Board also authorized refinancing the
Authorities bonds at new lower interest rates.
The President and Secretary
of the Fifth Constitutional Convention filed a law suit to force the Governor
to send the proposed constitution to the US Congress. Now the Superior Court
has ruled – they cant sue in their official capacity, but they can sue as
ordinary citizens.
The Department of Tourism
and its national and international sales teams are wrapping up a series of
sales initiatives designed to boost travel agent and tour operator bookings here
from the U.S. and Europe. They have travel professionals on familiarization
visits to experience the Territory. They had a “road show” to Scandinavia to meet travel agents, and media
in Denmark and Norway. They sent staff around the American West, Mid-West, and
Southeast United States. A group of tour operators from Italy toured our
islands. in September. In early 2010
tourism is sending staff to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic region and Atlanta. And
Tourism has a Scandinavian road show in Copenhagen, Denmark’s – next Next is Aarhus and Oslo, Norway
Cruise Ship News - No Ships today - Paradise is just for us.
Department of Energy is reaching out to you. The Department of Energy web site is www.vienergy.org. They have public outreach
events; Today they are at Crown Bay Dock with a display about rebates on energy
star products and rebates for solar
energy collectors and wind generators. They will be reaching out Saturday at Tutu
Park Mall. For more information call 774-3320 www.vienergy.org
ATTY Judy Gomez and the SPARKS group remind you today is
Wear Pink Day and help Save our Moms. The message is for every woman over 40 - October
is coming to an end and October is Get a mammogram this month.
This is School Bus Safety Week in the Virgin Islands. And the School superintendents remind all
motorists to “Avoid Harm, Obey the Stop Arm.
When a school bus stops– all cars in all direction must stop and allow
the children to get off the bus, cross roads and get to safety. Pay Attention to
the Stop Arm. And stop. We are also close to Halloween and the school bus is no
place for pranks.
SATURDAY The Department of Human Services is celebrating of
National Family Month. There is a family walk-a-thon on Saturday, on St. Thomas
from the Emancipation Park at 6:00 AM going to Brewer’s Beach. And on St. Croix
next Saturday October 31 the Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program
will co-host the Walk-a-thon on St. Croix from Plaza West to Budhoe Park in
Frederiksted – meet at 6:00 AM
Second Walk-a-thon on Saturday from Seventh-Day Adventist
School to Magen’s Bay Beach – Saturday at 5:00 AM
Coming Up Sunday
- St. Thomas Hibiscus society and
Tortola chapter will hold a joint meeting on Sunday at the J.R. O’Neal Botanic
Garden in Road Town British Virgin Islands.
For travel arrangements call Mario at 774-3745.
Good News Maker of the Day is a turtle. Sandy is coming
home. She was ashore at Sandy Point St. Croix a year ago when she was attacked
by dogs and sustained injury to her front flippers and one rear flipper. She was rescued by the Fish and Wildlife
staff and surgery was performed and then Sandy was taken to the turtle hospital
in Marathon Florida for a year of physical therapy and more surgery. Now she is coming home. American Airline
donated tickets for two people to accompany the turtle and she will fly into
St. Croix and be released back into the wild. If you see an injured turtle call
773-4554.