Delegate Dr. Donna Christensen and Governor John DeJongh met with their
counterparts from Puerto Rico in an effort to end the rum tax war. They all
agree that they don’t want to mess up the rum tax rebate. And an open battle in Congress over the use
of the tax could make Congress cancel the whole thing. The delegate said it was
an open and frank discussion, no resolution of the issue. They did agree to
continue talking.
Federal Communication Commission approved the sale of ICC’s
Vitelco phone business to the creditors the of the phone company. Jeffery Prosser and his companies owe a half
billion dollars to the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance
Corporation. Just about enough to buy
the phone company out of the bankruptcy court. It is not an easy deal to do but
the approval by the FCC is a critical step in the process. There were people who
didn’t want this sale to occur. Atlantic Tele-networks, the other phone company
in the Virgin Islands. They say the
lender did a poor job of overseeing Prosser when he ran the phone company why would
they suddenly be competent to run the phone company. nevertheless. The deal is a step closer.
Senate Committee on Housing, Sports and Veterans Affairs met
yesterday today to take testimony on a bill regarding a casino at the Race
track on St. Croix. Oops scratch that. Not enough senators Senator Celestino A.
White said this is the third time they have not been able to muster up a quorum
to talk about casinos at the race track.
Is the video rental era over? More and more residents get
their movies from the Internet or from mail order companies like Netflix and
this has brought about the demise of the video and movie rental business
Blockbuster in Vitraco mall is going out of business marking it the 4th
video rental firm to cease operations in the last few months.
On St. Croix the Medicare office at Juan Luis Hospital is
closed today
WAPA reminds St. Croix that they will be blowing out steam
from the Richmond plant today to clear the high pressure steam lines. The visible white plumes are steam – not
smoke and there is no health hazard. – it may be loud at times. – last day
Calypso Monarch competition has rehersal on St. Croix tonight
at 6:00 PM
We are in the heart of the vaccination days in the public
schools. On St. Thomas: Today at Gomez School,. Thursday at Jane E.
Tuitt elementary school. Friday at Leonard Dober Elementary School. On St. Croix they are vaccinating today at
Lew Muckle School, Thursday at Alfredo Andrews School, Friday the 11th
at Charles Emanuel School. Parents are reminded that schools need the
consent forms signed and delivered to make sure your child gets the protection
against the H1N1 Swine flu.
Havensight Mall is having a Santa and the lighting of the
Christmas tree on Wednesday December 9 at 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Santa will distribute gifts to the first
1,000 children. Entertainment by Milo’s
Kings, Sweet-ta-Band, Bertha C. Boschulte School Steel Band, Lockhart
Elementary School Quadrill dancers and Gladys Abraham Choir. And the Department of Health will have a big
fish fry at the Christmas tree lighting at 6:30 PM – they also have a fish fry
at Fort Christian Parking Lot on Friday at 11:00 AM.
And Coming Up Friday is the Miracle on Main Street – WAIT
no, it has been postponed until NEXT Friday – not December 11 but December 18.
With no Miracle on Main Street everyone can go to St. John for
Mad Hot St. John Dancing classrooms is the plan on Thursday at the Westin.
Folks from the Julius Sprauve School, St. John, Guy Benjamin School, and Giftt
Hill School are gathering at the Westin at 5:30 PM for the Mad Hot Ballroom
dancing event. Call 757-999-4600