Virgin Islands Tennis Association in El Salvador

The 2017 Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup just ended in San Salvador, El Salvador, and once again Virgin Islands boys made a strong showing. The Virgin Islands Tennis Association (VITA) sent a team of two boys, Alec Kuipers and Russell Armstrong of St. Croix, to represent the U.S.V.I. in the prestigious Junior Davis Cup tennis tournament. Kuipers and Armstrong are familiar names in the tennis community, having represented the V.I. well in these junior tennis events year after year. This was the last year of eligibility for this event.

Also, for the first time this year, the V.I. sent two girls to the Junior Fed Cup, St. Thomians Natasha and Lisa Messier.  “It has been an exciting process to see a group of girls rise up to be ready to compete on this international level,” said Bill McComb, president of the VITA. Colin Robertson from St. Croix was the team’s captain. 

There were 18 Caribbean and Central American nations represented in the boys’ division and 15 in the girls’ division. 

The teams played a round-robin format for the first three days of the tournament. Armstrong and Kuipers moved into the final eight positions, fighting hard in their first group against Costa Rica and Guyana.  Despite losing overall to Costa Rica, Kuipers pulled off a strong singles win against their No. 1 player; later both had excellent scores against Guyana, winning both singles and doubles handily, earning them a position in the final main draw. 

They lost to their next opponent, El Salvador, won against Barbados, lost to the Dominican Republic, and ended up in 6^th position overall out of 18 teams.

The girls team is considered a younger team, being eligible to compete next year as well.  Lisa Messier played the number one position and her sister, Natasha No. 2.  Lisa and Natasha compete primarily in the Southern Section of the USTA, and Lisa is highly ranked nationally in the U.S. in her age division.  The girls lost to Aruba but posted strong scores, and they lost to Bahamas and El Salvador.  

They then played for 9-15^th place, winning an exciting match against Panama, posting a deciding win in doubles in a tiebreaker, then losing to the strong team from Jamaica. But they played very bravely, winning the final match in a re-match against Aruba to finish 11^th overall.

Coach Robertson is a very professional addition to the tennis community of the V.I., having retired from a career in tennis as the owner and developer of a club and facility in Oklahoma. He was a college coach, a USPTA certifier (Pro 1 status), and he has an impressive record as a player, having played in the Australian Open and Wimbledon.  But he continues to be active in the sport. 

He has re-instated his teaching credentials to help certify the V.I. coaches to higher professional levels. Robertson commented on the event, “Once again it was a privilege for me to accompany and coach such a fine group of young adults, and their parents should be [as] proud of them as I was. Every one of our players knew how to act and showed the proper respect to opponents, officials and coaches.  I am grateful for being able to have such a great group to work with.”

The tournament is organized by the ITF (International Tennis Federation) and is the pre-qualifying, six-day, round robin event for Central America and the Caribbean.  They V.I. team competed against nations that included Panama, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Aruba, Barbados, Costa Rica, Curacao, El Salvador, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Grenada, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bahamas. The team was sponsored in part by the VI Olympic Committee.

The boys and girls were chosen based on their competitive rankings achieved by competing in ITF and USTA sanctioned tournaments, their Universal Tennis Ratings (UTR) and, in some cases, a play-off/round robin for the final positions.    

The V.I. Tennis Association is a non-profit organization and is administered by volunteers to further the sport of tennis in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  It has a new facebook page: Virgin Islands Tennis Association, and it welcomes those interested in following tennis to “like” the page.

For more information, contact Bill McComb, president of the VI Tennis Assoc., at 690-0308.

The Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums will celebrate National Library Week, April 9-15. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April, according to a press release from the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR). This year’s theme is “Libraries transform!”                                                                                                                                     

“The library embraces the entire community, offering unlimited opportunities for personal growth and lifelong learning. They work with elected officials, small business owners, students and the public at large to discover and address the needs of their communities,” said DPNR Commissioner Dawn L. Henry Esq.

“Libraries today are more than repositories for books and other resources, and have always been a place of unlimited possibilities. Libraries have grown and evolved in how they provide for the needs of every member of their community even with the economic downturn,” said Ingrid Bough, territorial director of Libraries, Archives and Museums.

A key incentive to visit the public libraries during National Library Week is book amnesty. Library patrons are encouraged to return their overdue books and have the accrued fines waived.  Lost book fines, however, are excluded from the book amnesty.  The Virgin Islands Public Libraries Book Amnesty will run the entire month of April.

Monday, April 10

            St. Thomas – Library Patron Appreciation Day: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.          Lite refreshments will be served to library patrons outside the library, while supplies last.

            St. Croix – Library Patron Appreciation Day: Library patrons receive a free earbud for their laptop, desktop or other device, while supplies last.

Tuesday, April 11

            St. Thomas – The Friends of St. Thomas Public Libraries will serve library staff and volunteers lunch from noon to 2 p.m.

            St. John – Story Hour with the Friends of the Elaine Ione Sprauve Public Library from 10:30-11 a.m. at the Sprauve School            

Wednesday April 12

  – National Bookmobile Day

            St. Croix – The St. Croix Bookmobile will be at the Petersen Public Library in Frederiksted from 10a.m. to 3p.m.

The Florence Williams Public Library presents the “Historic Ceramic Sherds Exhibit” by Terry Vanterpool-Williams. This exhibit showcases the unique and creative art form of utilizing the local chaney based on a 20-year passion that has evolved into a creative educational display.             

            St. Thomas – Story Time, prearranged school tours, Book Signings by local authors and a Poetry Contest will be held in the Children’s Room. For more information, contact the Charles W. Turnbull Regional Library at 774-0630.

            St. John – Story Hour with the Friends of the Elaine Ione Sprauve Public Library from 10:30-11 a.m., Saturday, April 16, at Gifft Hill School            

The 35th National Library Week — Run to Your Library 5K (3.1 miles) is sponsored by the Virgin Islands Pace Runners in celebration. There is a $15 entry fee.

Registration forms can be found at: http://virginislandspace.org.  Check in is 5:15 a.m. at the Florence Williams Public, 1122 King Street.  The 5K will begin at 6 a.m. It will include laps on a route in the National Historic Site of King St., Company St. and Sunday Market Square.  Walkers are invited.

For information, contact the V.I. Pace Runners at http://virginislandspace.org or contact Wallace Willeams at wallacewilliams@msn.com or 643-2557.

During National Library Week, visit the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Golden Rock to learn about the critical services it delivers. The Regional Library has a talking books program that provides audiotaped books and cassettes free of charge.  This library program brings reading materials in digital audio and Braille formats straight to the homes of patrons from preschoolers to centenarians.

For more information, contact Ingrid Bough, the territorial director of Libraries, Archives and Museums at 773-5715, or contact Kim Blackett, assistant director, at 774-0630.

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) has scheduled an electric service interruption on a section of Feeder 8A from 7-11 a.m., Sunday, April 9. It is necessary for Line Department personnel to make repairs at a location where overhead lines transition to underground cables.

During the first 30 minutes of the interruption, 333 customers along the route from The Palms Court Harborview Hotel to Banco Popular’s main branch will be affected, and during the remainder of the outage, 20 customers in an area extending from the old Silver Dollar Grocery to Banco Popular will be affected.

Additionally, a two-hour service interruption will affect 351 customers in Sugar Estate from 4-6 a.m., Sunday, April 9. During this time, Line Department personnel will energize electrical service to the new V.I. Fire Services fire station along William G. Lewis “Lovers” Lane. Affected areas will include the roadway along Alton Adams Drive, Charlotte Amalie H.S., Barbel Plaza, the Aubrey C. Ottley Post Office, First Street to Ninth Street and perimeter roads.

All efforts will be made to minimize the duration of these service interruptions.

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority

Corporate Communications

Contact WAPA at 774-3552 ext. 2147 or 244-7330; communications@viwapa.vi;  www.viwapa.vi

Nyeema Henderson with her mother and her coach Jillian

The Gladys Abraham Elementary School took home its second victory this year as second grader Nyeema Henderson correctly spelled “secede” to win the 2017 St. Thomas-St. John District Primary Spelling Bee held Thursday, April 6, in the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School auditorium.

“No matter what the results are of the Spelling Bee today, all of these students are winners, and we definitely look forward to seeing them participate in the intermediate spelling bee when they move onto the fourth grade,” said Elementary Programs Coordinator Kalamis Maduro.

Twenty in-school winners from public, private and parochial schools participated in the Primary Bee, which lasted for 11 rounds. The students held strong with the first elimination coming only after five rounds. Round 10 gave Joseph Sibilly School third grader Annalisa Fletcher and Henderson with a challenging matchup. Henderson was the winner.

Top six finalists from the 2017 St. Thomas-St. John District Primary Spelling Bee

All Spelling Bee participants received a trophy, spelling bee pencils and erasers, three books from Scholastic and a personalized Webster’s Dictionary. The top six finalists also took home a Bananagrams game, and the winner also received an iPad.

The top six finalists from the St. Thomas-St. John District in order of placement are Nyeema Henderson, Gladys Abraham School; Annalisa Fletcher, Joseph Sibilly School; Mirza Baig, Lockhart Elementary School; Adore Defoe, Joseph Gomez School; De’Aneysha Hill, Julius E. Sprauve School; and T’Marii Francis, Bethel Baptist Day School.

Request for Proposal: RFP-011-2017 (P)

Pursuant to Chapter 23, Title 31 of the Virgin Islands Code, the Government of the Virgin Islands, Department of Education is requesting proposals from qualified firm(s) or individual(s) to provide Professional Development on Supporting Content Based Professional Learning Communities to Improve Instructional Practices Aligned to the Common Core State Standard in the St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix School Districts.

Proposals will be received by the Department of Property & Procurement, Division of Procurement (address):

8201 Subbase, 3^rd Floor
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802

Proposals will be accepted at the Department of Property & Procurement no later than 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time: Friday, May 5, 2017.

Documents may be obtained from the Department of Property & Procurement at the above address or at http://dpp.vi.gov. For more information please contact Ms. Dazarene Lescott at (340) 774-0828 ext. 234 or dazarene.lescott@dpp.vi.gov.

Lloyd T. Bough, Jr.
Commissioner Nominee

East End Medical Center Cuts Ribbon at Opening of New Dental Clinic

The St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation (STEEMCC) officially opened its new dental suite at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday in Tutu Park Mall with support from a cross section of government, private businesses, non-profit agencies and the public.

Moleto A. Smith Jr., executive director of the medical center; Dr. James C. Nabors, senior dentist; and Francia Brinn, STEEMCC board chair, addressed each of them applauding the accomplishment of the health center to expand public oral healthcare. Smith stressed the obligation of those in the health care arena to consistently meet needs in response to the current national concern about affordable healthcare. Nabors gave an overview of how the dental suite came to fruition, and Brin highlighted the dramatic increase in the number of patients over the last three years.

The new dental facility will enable the health center to increase dental services to 650 more patients in addition to the 4,000 who receive dental care annually. The suite is outfitted with five dental chairs and state of the art equipment. A staff, consisting of four dentists selected from the National Health Scholars program and two hygienists, will complete the facility.

The St. Thomas East End Medical Center is a free-standing health center that serves all persons in the St. Thomas-John community. It is located in the Tutu Park Mall. The health center aims to eliminate disparities in healthcare and to improve the health and wellness of the entire community.

Edward McKenzie, 61, pleaded guilty in a scheme to defraud the government through a property auction and has been sentenced for his role in the conspiracy, the Attorney General’s Office announced Friday.

McKenzie, who became the third person to enter a guilty plea in the case, was sentenced to a suspended jail term of 90 days, supervised probation for one year and 100 hours of community service.

McKenzie had faced four charges – conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretense, conversion of government property and criminally influenced and corrupt organizations conspiracy – in connection with the crime. Rather than face a jury, he accepted the terms of a plea bargain, appearing before V.I. Superior Court Judge Michael Dunston on March 17 to plead guilty to the single charge of compounding a crime.

According to the AG’s news release the conspiracy occurred between January 18, 2012, and June 26, 2013. On Aug. 30, 2012, an auction in the St. Thomas-St. John District was conducted and one of the properties auctioned was 97 Estate Frydenhoj. An investigation by the Office of the Inspector General determined that there were certain irregularities in the conduct of the bidding at the auction. Based upon the investigation, the Department of Justice filed criminal charges against McKenzie alleging that he and others conspired and associated with an enterprise, through a pattern of activity with the intent to defraud the government by manipulating the Office of the Lieutenant Governor’s property auction process to fraudulently transfer and obtain the property.

The Government of the Virgin Islands was prepared to file a civil action under the Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act alleging that McKenzie engaged in CICO civil violations, but on March 31, DOJ entered into a civil settlement with McKenzie.

“DOJ has resolved criminal charges against a third defendant in the tax assessor’s property auction scam,” Attorney General Claude Earl Walker stated in Friday;s news release. “McKenzie has pled guilty for his role, and like two other defendants who have also pleaded guilty, he has agreed to cooperate. The prosecutors will continue to go through its mountain of evidence in this case to prepare for trial against the fourth and final defendant. In addition, DOJ has settled its civil CICO claims against McKenzie, whereby he has paid $100,000 dollars to the Government of the Virgin Islands, and is barred from personally participating or associating with any real estate, agent, broker or other person for purposes of participating in any real property auction conducted by the Office of the Tax Assessor.”

In all, four men – Sylvester Warner, Calford Charleswell, Paul Sabers and McKenzie – were taken into custody and charged in connection with the public auction scheme. On Feb. 8, Charleswell, 51, of Estate Anna’s Retreat, who faced 14 charges stemming from the incident, pleaded guilty to the single count of conspiracy. Warner, 43, of Estate St. Peter, also pleaded to a single charge of conspiracy at a change-of-plea hearing on Feb. 3.

An investigation by Nicholas Peru, special investigator in the office of the Inspector General, led to the apprehension of the four men. In his affidavit supporting the arrests, Peru gave the following details:

A property auction was conducted on Aug. 30, 2012. One of the properties being auctioned was 97 Est. Frydenhoj, on which the opening bid was placed at $6,442.28. The first bidder offered $75,000, a second person bid $42,000 and the third bid was $10,100. However, the bidder tracking sheet prepared by Charleswell showed that there were only two bidders on the property, according to Peru.

An unwritten policy developed by officials in 2012 required that the three highest bidders be recorded in case the highest bidder failed to meet the 10 percent deposit amount. The day after the auction, the winning bidder did not make the required deposit and the second highest bidder should have been contacted, Peru wrote.

On Sept. 4, 2012, a deposit of $2,000 was paid on a bid that was not noted on the record and on Oct. 11, 2012, a man paid the balance of $8,000 on the Est. Frydenhoj property and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor transferred the property to that man for $10,000. Then, on Sept. 25, 2013, the man transferred the same property to another man, according to Peru.

A woman whose name appeared on the bidder tracking sheet told Peru she had accompanied Warner to the auction and he completed the re

McKenzie Pleads Guilty in Auction Scheme
Edward McKenzie, 61, pleaded guilty in a scheme to defraud the government through a property auction and has been sentenced for his role in the conspiracy, the Attorney General’s Office announced Friday.

McKenzie, who became the third person to enter a guilty plea in the case, was sentenced to a suspended jail term of 90 days, supervised probation for one year and 100 hours of community service.

McKenzie had faced four charges – conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretense, conversion of government property and criminally influenced and corrupt organizations conspiracy – in connection with the crime. Rather than face a jury, he accepted the terms of a plea bargain, appearing before V.I. Superior Court Judge Michael Dunston on March 17 to plead guilty to the single charge of compounding a crime.

According to the AG’s news release the conspiracy occurred between January 18, 2012, and June 26, 2013. On Aug. 30, 2012, an auction in the St. Thomas-St. John District was conducted and one of the properties auctioned was 97 Estate Frydenhoj. An investigation by the Office of the Inspector General determined that there were certain irregularities in the conduct of the bidding at the auction. Based upon the investigation, the Department of Justice filed criminal charges against McKenzie alleging that he and others conspired and associated with an enterprise, through a pattern of activity with the intent to defraud the government by manipulating the Office of the Lieutenant Governor’s property auction process to fraudulently transfer and obtain the property.

The Government of the Virgin Islands was prepared to file a civil action under the Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act alleging that McKenzie engaged in CICO civil violations, but on March 31, DOJ entered into a civil settlement with McKenzie.

“DOJ has resolved criminal charges against a third defendant in the tax assessor’s property auction scam,” Attorney General Claude Earl Walker stated in Friday;s news release. “McKenzie has pled guilty for his role, and like two other defendants who have also pleaded guilty, he has agreed to cooperate. The prosecutors will continue to go through its mountain of evidence in this case to prepare for trial against the fourth and final defendant. In addition, DOJ has settled its civil CICO claims against McKenzie, whereby he has paid $100,000 dollars to the Government of the Virgin Islands, and is barred from personally participating or associating with any real estate, agent, broker or other person for purposes of participating in any real property auction conducted by the Office of the Tax Assessor.”

In all, four men – Sylvester Warner, Calford Charleswell, Paul Sabers and McKenzie – were taken into custody and charged in connection with the public auction scheme. On Feb. 8, Charleswell, 51, of Estate Anna’s Retreat, who faced 14 charges stemming from the incident, pleaded guilty to the single count of conspiracy. Warner, 43, of Estate St. Peter, also pleaded to a single charge of conspiracy at a change-of-plea hearing on Feb. 3.

An investigation by Nicholas Peru, special investigator in the office of the Inspector General, led to the apprehension of the four men. In his affidavit supporting the arrests, Peru gave the following details:

A property auction was conducted on Aug. 30, 2012. One of the properties being auctioned was 97 Est. Frydenhoj, on which the opening bid was placed at $6,442.28. The first bidder offered $75,000, a second person bid $42,000 and the third bid was $10,100. However, the bidder tracking sheet prepared by Charleswell showed that there were only two bidders on the property, according to Peru.

An unwritten policy developed by officials in 2012 required that the three highest bidders be recorded in case the highest bidder failed to meet the 10 percent deposit amount. The day after the auction, the winning bidder did not make the required deposit and the second highest bidder should have been contacted, Peru wrote.

On Sept. 4, 2012, a deposit of $2,000 was paid on a bid that was not noted on the record and on Oct. 11, 2012, a man paid the balance of $8,000 on the Est. Frydenhoj property and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor transferred the property to that man for $10,000. Then, on Sept. 25, 2013, the man transferred the same property to another man, according to Peru.

A woman whose name appeared on the bidder tracking sheet told Peru she had accompanied Warner to the auction and he completed the registration form using her name, but using his address. She said Warner bid on the Frydenhoj property and told her that he was bidding for a friend. On the day of the auction, Warner bid on three other properties, but although he was the highest bidder, he failed to pay deposits or take any of the properties, according to Peru.

The investigation revealed that certain procedural changes made by officials at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor allowed individuals to fraudulently manipulate the bidding process in a scheme in which the highest bidder purposefully makes a substantially inflated high bid, then fails to post the ten percent deposit so that the property would go to another bidder or individual for a substantially lower price, Peru wrote.

This manipulation prevented potential bidders from making fair and legitimate bids on properties offered at public auctions and potentially reduced the likelihood of the property owner recouping any excess proceeds from the sale after taxes and fees are paid, according to Peru.

gistration form using her name, but using his address. She said Warner bid on the Frydenhoj property and told her that he was bidding for a friend. On the day of the auction, Warner bid on three other properties, but although he was the highest bidder, he failed to pay deposits or take any of the properties, according to Peru.

The investigation revealed that certain procedural changes made by officials at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor allowed individuals to fraudulently manipulate the bidding process in a scheme in which the highest bidder purposefully makes a substantially inflated high bid, then fails to post the ten percent deposit so that the property would go to another bidder or individual for a substantially lower price, Peru wrote.

This manipulation prevented potential bidders from making fair and legitimate bids on properties offered at public auctions and potentially reduced the likelihood of the property owner recouping any excess proceeds from the sale after taxes and fees are paid, according to Peru.

Janelle Sarauw supporters campaign outside the Charlotte Amalie High School Saturday morning.

Janelle Sarauw nabbed the St. Thomas-St. John district’s vacant Senate seat in a special election Saturday.

According to the unofficial numbers Sarauw received 1,234 votes. The second highest vote getter in Saturday’s special election was former senator Justin Harrigan, Sr., with 981 votes.

Elections officials said the difference in votes between the two could technically be made up by the number of absentee ballots still outstanding, but realistically, the winners are not expected to change.

“Mathematically it’s possible, but realistically there’s very little chance of that happening,” St. Thomas-St. John District Board of Elections chair Arturo Watlington, Jr. said after the results were announced Saturday night. Watlington said that the board has 191 absentee ballots on hand and 67 more still pending.

Overall, Watlington said a total 4,224 votes came in for the special election, which he said was lower than expected. More than 6,000 ballots were printed and the board had expected up to 8,000 residents at the polls, a small percentage of the 24,433 voters registered overall for the district. While some judges said Saturday that there were good early voting numbers (approximately 1,400,) Watlington said that many residents were “just fed up” by the circumstances leading up to the special election, which was triggered by a lawsuit and court rulings that eventually lead to the ousting of former senator-elect Kevin Rodriquez.

Rodriquez came in sixth in the November general election to fill seven St. Thomas-St. John legislative seats and the St. Thomas-St. John Board of Elections certified his candidacy and the final vote. But in December, Sarauw, the eighth-place candidate, and a campaign worker sued in V.I. Superior Court to stop Rodriquez from being seated, arguing that Rodriquez had asserted in court documents filed in 2016 that he was a bona fide resident of Tennessee and therefore could not meet the three-year residency requirement set by V.I. law. An initial ruling from Superior Court Judge Kathleen Mackay was in favor of Rodriquez, but her ruling was overturned days later by the V.I. Supreme Court, which determined that in his bankruptcy petition, Rodriquez swore under penalty of perjury that he lived in Tennessee and had not lived in another state anytime during the preceding three years.

It applied the doctrine of “judicial estoppel,” saying that Rodriquez’s claim under oath in one court prevented him from claiming the opposite in another court.

Rodriquez filed to have the case moved to V.I. District Court and argued that the Revised Organic Act, the federal law that acts as a constitution for the territory, gives the Legislature final authority over who is qualified to sit. Rodriquez also sued the Legislature, requesting it seat him. While the Senate deferred to the courts, both Rodriquez’s and Sarauw’s suits were eventually dismissed, along with an appeal recently filed by Rodriquez that sought to stay the special election.

“It all was a total waste of time and we have the 32nd Legislature to thank for this exercise in futility,” Watlington said Saturday night. “Voter apathy is clearly reflected in the number of people that went and we’ve just seen total disgust expressed about the fact that the general election results were ignored. A lot of people just said they were not coming out to vote again.”

While the Source was unable to reach Sarauw for comment Saturday night, her supporters said Saturday that their candidate was still the right person for the job.

“She’s intelligent, strong and independent,” supporter Christie Berry said while campaigning outside Charlotte Amalie High School Saturday morning. “And the attacks on her have been ridiculous, but she’s remained positive. The time people are taking to bash her, they could be showing us how they could do better but instead they are behaving badly and making themselves look ridiculous. Every attack has been personal and it has nothing to do with the job that she is capable of doing.”

32nd Legislature of the Virgin Islands

Senate Calendar Week Beginning April 10

Monday, April 10

10 a.m.

Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services

Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room, St. Croix

Agenda:

The committee has scheduled a meeting to discuss the following bills:

Bill No. 32-0020 – An Act amending Title 3, V.I.C., sections 6 and 7, relating to the composition of the Government Employees Service Commission (GESC) and re-designating it as the Health Insurance Board of Trustees, and for other purposes

Bill No. 32-0021 – An Act amending Title 1, V.I.C., section 253, and Title 3, sections 256, 558, 562 and 643 and Title 17, section 190 to replace the Government Employees Service Commission (GESC) with the Public Employees Relations Board; and repealing Title 25, subchapter II and Title 23, section 11, V.I.C.

Tuesday, April 11

10 a.m.

Committee on Finance

Cleone Henrietta Creque Legislative Conference Room, Cruz Bay, St. John

Agenda:

The committee will consider the following bills and lease agreement:

BLOCK I

10 a.m. to Noon

Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, Department of Property and Procurement and Island Green Building Association Inc. — Leased premises: A portion of Parcel 6-A Estate Susannaberg, No. 17A Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John, consisting of approximately 19,704 sq. ft.

Noon to 1 p.m.   LUNCH

BLOCK II

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Bill No. 32-0030 – An Act amending Title 33, V.I.C., section 2404, limiting increases in the assessed value of real property for purposes of property tax

Wednesday, April 12

9 a.m.

Committee on Housing, Public Works, Waste Management and Planning

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas

Agenda:

The committee has scheduled a hearing to consider CZM permits for St. Thomas.

RC Hotels Virgin Islands Inc. (CZT-3-16W) – to allow the permittee the continued use and occupancy of an existing 8” diameter X 130’ long seawater intake line to the RO Plant. The line extends seaward of Parcel Nos. 1 and 3 Estate Nazareth, St. Thomas

Sanctuary Holdings LLC (CZT-25-16W) – This permit allows for the installation of eight moorings in two phases. Phase One includes moorings numbered 14 on Exhibit 8; Phase Two includes moorings numbered 5-8 on Exhibit B. this activity is located seaward of Parcel No. 23, Estate Frenchman’s Bay, St. Thomas 

Reef Ecology Foundation (CZT-05-15W) – This permit allows the continued use and occupancy of the permanent moorings for day use only at frequently used dive site locations in the territorial waters surrounding St. Thomas and St. John

Anchorage Condominium Assn. (CZT-10-16W) – This permit allows the continued use and occupancy of a 120’, 3” seawater intake line which services its reverse osmosis plant. In addition, this permit allows for the continued use and occupancy of the submerged lands for six swimming buoys. This activity is located seaward of Parcel No. 8-57-4 Estate Nazareth, St. Thomas.

Dun Run Gold (CZT – I-95LW) — This permit supersedes major Coastal Zone Management Permit No. CZT-1-95 (L&W) and allows for the continued use and occupancy of the existing reverse osmosis plant with 12” diameter, 140’ long intake line and 12” diameter, 650’ long outfall line. The permit site is located at Plot No. C-2-Q Estate Lovenlund, St. Thomas.

St. Thomas Yacht Club (CZT – 4-16 (W)) — This permit supersedes major Coastal Zone Management Permit No. CZT-12-89 (W), and allows for the continued use and occupancy of a 110’-9” x 7’-8” dock with a 39’-6” x 8’-6” … a 335ft. concrete bulkhead with a length of 58 linear feet, 3,500 sq. ft. of submerged land surrounding the dock and one wooden pile. The dock is located seaward of Parcels Nos. 8-1-1 and 8-58 Estate Nazareth, St. Thomas

True Crew VI, LLC (CZT-33-16W) — This permit allows for the installation of a private mooring and the operation of a 37-ft. food boat known as Pizza Ri. This activity will occur at 1818’ 33.464”N / 6449’ 54.955”W in the Christmas Cove area of Jersey Bay, St. Thomas. 

Thursday, April 13

HOLIDAY – HOLY THURSDAY

Friday, April 14

HOLIDAY – GOOD FRIDAY

Eliminate the root causes of chronic illness without the use of medicine. Learn how hormone imbalances can affect sleep cycles, carbohydrate cravings and fat burning. Discover what really works for permanent loss of belly fat. The presenters are Elizabeth Nilsson (RN, CNM) and Gary Rosenthal (licensed master in counselling and body/mind therapist).

The event will be held from 6-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 11, at Three Sheets Bar & Kitchen — Wine Bar, Flamboyan on the Bay Resort & Villas (Magens Point). There is a suggested donation of $5. Light snacks and beverages will be available. There is limited seating, so please RSVP at 841-3470.

This dog was found dead alongside the road Sunday morning. V.I. law imposes some obligations on drivers who strike an animal, but that law is not enforced.

At about 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Source publisher Shaun Pennington came upon a dog that had been struck and killed by the side of the road. She and her husband removed the dog into the grass in front of St. Thomas Jet Center on the south side of the road that runs parallel to the Cyril E. King Airport runway between Community Motors and the University of the Virgin Islands.

The medium sized dog was wearing a faded blue collar.

Pennington said she hoped this notice would alert the owners to the whereabouts of their deceased pet.

She expressed concern that though there is a law in the U.S.V.I. that requires drivers who kill an animal to try to find the owners or to take the animal to a veterinarian, the law is not enforced.

“I don’t understand how you can hit a beautiful, loving creature like a dog and leave it there to die alone and un-cared for,” she said.

Pennington opted to leave the dog and put a notice in the Source so the owners would know where to find the dog.

Trustworthiness is being worthy of trust. People can count on you to do your best, to keep your word, and to follow through on your commitments. You do what you say you will do. Trustworthiness is a key to success in anything you do.

You are practicing trustworthiness when you:

– Think before you make a promise to be sure you can do it,

– Take responsibility for remembering your commitments,

– Keep your promises even when they become hard to do,

– Abide by the rules even when no one is watching,

– Let nothing stop you from keeping your word, and

– Do your best and finish what you start.

Affirmation:

I am trustworthy. I keep my word. I am worthy of the trust others place in me.

The Family Connection was established in 2005 by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands as an early-childhood initiative. The mission of TFC is to strengthen the community child care and early education infrastructure in the USVI by building awareness of the importance of early learning and development for success and working with community agencies to promote quality care and education.

One of its efforts is the Virtues Project, an international initiative focused on building peaceful and caring communities.

The Source supports the Virtues Project. We will publish one of the virtues developed by the project each week.

Left Banc proprietor Willy Stephen had long been looking to get back in the restaurant business. (Photo by Gabriel Stephen)

A taste of old St. Thomas has returned with the reopening of the Left Banc restaurant at its old location on Curacao Gade, where the entrance is smartly redone. Its namesake would beyond a doubt be happy with the reincarnation – walls covered with art, and tables covered with great food. There is, of course, the French cuisine, but with a bow to sustainability, featuring locally sourced produce.

And the ambience is not lacking. Guests are greeted with the welcoming smile of proprietor Willy Stephen, who many will remember from his years at in the 70’s, when he owned the L̀Escargot restaurant in the Sub Base.

The restaurant is something that has never been far from Stephen’s mind. After working in the Food Service Division at the University of the Virgin Islands for a number of years and at other non-restaurant related endeavors, he was eager for the real thing; a restaurant of his own again.

The new Left Banc opened early in March.

His son, Gabriel, who had attended film school in New York and was pursuing a career in video production and photography moved down to help with the endeavor. As serendipity would have it, he was working with his son on a St. John job when they encountered Chef Eddie Gallagher from the TV Food Network, who was filming on location there.

The Left Banc interior. (Photo by Gabriel Stephen)

To hear Gallagher tell it, “I had just sold my restaurant in New York and I was working on St. John in January. Willy made me a proposition to come down and help with the restaurant he was opening on St. Thomas, and I was open for something new.”

Gabriel Stephen said, “We had been looking for a location and when the old Left Bank location became available, Willy didn’t think twice. It was a natural.” Gabriel said. :The premises had been quarters for some other food establishments over the years, but nothing like the original.”

“I grew up with L̀Escargot, pretty much my whole life,” Gabriel said. “I saw what my dad sacrificed and I thought I’m never going to get into something like that. It makes my dad happy, but it wasn’t for me.”

But it’s in the elder Stephen’s blood.

Locals of a different generation will remember the original Left Bank, run by Eva and Pierre. The floors were carpeted, the tables covered in linen, domed silver serving dishes rested on tables against the wall. In the evening, there was Larry on the piano. In true French tradition, dogs were allowed. Eva and Pierre were gracious to the extent that they allowed a large, black lab entrance.

“Oh, we couldn’t leave him outside. That would be unthinkable,” Eva had said.

The new restaurant, even though Stephen loves the location, wasn’t all beer and skittles.

“We acquired the space in 2015,” Stephen said, “and there were many issues. It was a structural nightmare. The plumbing was prehistoric and it is in the Historical District, so it was back and forth with the proper permits with the government.”

It’s been a melding of taste and experience between Gallagher and Stephen, a pleasant conjunction.

“Willy is like a local celebrity,” Gallagher said. When we go out to a function, everybody knows him. We fish together when we get the time for the menu’s pot fish. And we are involved with the community through the Downtown Revitalization, Inc. organization.”

The exterior of Left Banc. (Photo by Gabriel Stephen)

“We are still working on the menu,” Gallagher said, “and we are getting good feedback. Word of mouth really sells a restaurant. I think the island was really hungry for something different, an eclectic kind of fare. Willy will introduce me to something new and I’ll put a spin on it, like breadfruit gnocci, or a bread pudding that’s sort of like a flan, a different texture,” he said.

Gallagher serves his plantains with a spicy aioli.

“We put an emphasis on local food. We get our produce from Drina’s Organic Farm and some from Josephine’s Greens on St. John,”he said.

The two have gone thru several menu changes, keeping the prices more than reasonable. Salads and appetizers start at $5,, which might include a poached pear in port salad over a bed of local greens with candied nuts, rum soaked raisins in honey Parmesan drizzle. There’s steak or veggie sliders, with tomato jam and Haitian Pikliz, which is a cole slaw of sorts also, for $5.

Jerk chicken and an Andouille sausage with shrimp highlight the entrees, with grilled tuna in an infused tamarind glaze or pan-seared salmon or pot fish, each priced at $20.

They have had two wine tastings, thus far.

Stephen said they will definitely keep up the French end of things.

“I am going to serve onion soup, shrimp scampi, lobster thermidor, and maybe frog legs occasionally. Some of the older folks ask me about the entrees they used to get at L̀Escargot. It pleases me when people walking in are satisfied with the meal. It gives me pleasure when people are happy with the food.”

And that is what it’s all about – graciousness, which comes naturally to the St. Lucia native.

The restaurant is open six days, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Sundays for the time being. The phone is 340 626-8422.

During their award acceptance speeches Saturday evening, honorees of the community service awards told their fellow St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce members that they must keep working together to not only improve the local business climate but to also make the territory a better place to live for all.

Cecile Rene deJongh accepts the 2017 Wilbur “Bill” LaMotta Community Service Award on Saturday evening.

Marking the 90th anniversary of the Chamber’s founding, about 400 members of the chamber turned out for the Wilbur “Bill” LaMotta Community Service Award ceremony at the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Beach Marriott Resort.

Established in 1983, the award recognizes dedicated public officials and private citizens for their contributions to the community. Honoring the late LaMotta, the award is presented to individuals who exhibit dedication, sincerity and forthrightness in their business or profession.

This year’s recipients were Cecile Rene deJongh, Prakash “Pash” Daswani and Lonnie Willis and Maria Ferreras. Before each honoree spoke, attendees gave each one a standing ovation.

In her introduction to honoree Lonnie Willis, Pamela Richards said that there are two types of Virgin Islanders: Those who have earned the distinction by being born in the territory and those who earned the distinction through their dedicated actions. Richards said that Willis is a prime example of the later.

Instead of delivering a traditional acceptance piece, Willis used the platform to encourage the business community to keep fighting the recent “sin tax” measures. Willis said it’s time for the government to show support for businesses and to make it easier for new business to get licensed.

Willis continued that not only is the business community being affected by the new taxes, but the nonprofit sector in the territory, which relies mostly on donations, is also being squeezed by companies that don’t have the funds to contribute anymore.

For deJongh, who has been the manager of Southern Trust Company for the past 16 years, part of which time she served as the first lady of the Virgin Islands, community service is about paying it forward and taking care of those who are unable to fend for themselves.

“We have not been thinking great things about our community lately,” deJongh said in her acceptance speech.

Recalling a photo she saw of her son’s high school class, deJongh noted the range in skin colors, sizes and religions that were present in the picture. Raising the territory’s children to be tolerant and multicultural isn’t an easy task, she said, but it is something that sets the Virgin Islands apart from other places.

The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce turned out in en masse for the ceremony at the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Beach Marriott Resort.

Describing him as an ambitious go-getter, Varsha Mirpuri introduced her long-time friend Daswani. Mirpuri knew Daswani in India before he moved away and then by complete coincidence they crossed paths in St. Thomas where they both now live.

Thanking his mother for all she sacrificed for him growing up, Daswani said “I know I’m only getting award because of the values she instilled in me.”

He also told attendees that he’s also gained inspiration from his 22-year-old son’s determination despite that fact he has cerebral palsy.

During his speech, Daswani turned the floor over to Shaine Gaspard whose daughter Ella suffers from a rare, severe neurological disorder called Rett syndrome. Gaspard encourage fellow chamber members to donate to Ella’s Hope Fund through the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.

Community advocate Maria Ferreras was recognized for volunteer work for numerous organizations throughout the Virgin Islands, including Crime Stopper, Destination Downtown, the Family Resource Center and Bethlehem House Shelter.

Ferreras thanked the hundreds of community members who volunteer just like she does to take care of the most in need day in and day out. She also thanked the Chamber for always stepping up to the plate.

“The V.I. is one of the most generous communities I’ve ever had the privilege to be a part of,” Ferreras said.

Chamber president Sebastiano Paiewonsky Cassinelli was pleased with the momentum that’s been growing since the territory’s business owners banned together to protest the sin tax.

“What’s amazing about this new groundswell is that are new voices, there are new points of view. You’ve seen that our private sector is very diverse and what’s really heartening is that we have the millennial crowd, the 30-something crowd now deeply engaged,” said Cassinelli.

“In order for the territory to move forward, the private sector is going to be required to engage at a level that it’s never done before,” Cassinelli said, adding that business owners need to take the energy they’ve harvested over the last three months and carry it until 2018.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

The Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority is requesting proposals from qualified firm(s) or individual(s) to provide ARBITRAGE REBATE CALCULATION SERVICES.

Proposals will be received by the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority:

5033 Kongens Gade
St. Thomas, VI 00802

Proposals will be accepted at the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority no later than Friday, May 5, 2017, 4:00 pm.

PACKAGE CAN BE OBTAIN BY SENDING AN EMAIL REQUEST TO SBERRY@USVIPFA.COM

Invitation for Bid No: IFB011DOEC17(C)

Pursuant to Chapter 23, Title 31 of the Virgin Islands Code, the Government of the Virgin Islands is requesting Bids from qualified firm(s) to provide Roof Resurfacing at the John Woodson Junior High School Located in the St. Croix District.

Bids will be received by the Department of Property and Procurement, Division of Procurement at:

#3274 Estate Richmond
St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands 00820      

The Invitation for Bid will be received on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time and then publicly opened.

Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the above address

COST PER SET:  $50.00 NON REFUNDABLE

Documents may be obtained from the Department of Property & Procurement at the above address or at dpp.vi.gov (no fee). For information please contact Ms. Alexis Leycock at (340) 773-1561 ext. 5250 or at alexis.leycock@dpp.vi.gov.

Lloyd T. Bough Jr.
Commissioner Nominee

Part 1 of a Series on The V.I. Budget Crisis

The V.I. government is at a crossroads. Along with this year’s $110 million deficit, the USVI is facing ongoing structural deficits of around $170 million per year out of a locally funded budget of around $850 million. It has outstanding debt of more than $2 billion, not counting the debts of the government-owned Water and Power Authority, which is also facing serious financial problems. It is also facing a $3 billion unfunded pension liability and a pension plan projected to cease being able to pay full pensions by 2023. And for the first time, after two rounds of ratings downgrades in less than a year, lenders have refused to buy V.I. government bonds, making it very difficult to smooth over the gaps.

As the noose tightens, the government has stopped putting money into its pension system – a system that was already projected to stop being able to make full pension payments in just a few short years. It has reduced payments to vendors, putting basic functions at its landfills at risks, stopped paying income tax refunds, held back income tax refunds, chronically underpaid on its utility bills. The V.I. Police Department has drastically cut overtime.

About the only things not under consideration are for the governor or commissioners to take a cut in pay, or for the governor to stay someplace cheaper than the Ritz Carlton, which Gov. Kenneth Mapp has vehemently and indignantly rejected. (See: Mapp Announces More Potential V.I. Austerity Measures in Related Links)

Some financial analysts have begun to express concern the territory is not on a sustainable path and will eventually have to restructure its debt. Ratings agencies have downgraded V.I. debt twice in the past year. The debt is the total amount of outstanding borrowing, while the deficit is the annual shortfall. If the deficit can be eliminated the debt will take care of itself in time.

Wednesday, March 22, Gov. Kenneth Mapp signed tax increases on beer, liquor, sodas and timeshare rentals aimed at reducing the structural deficit and reassuring bond markets the territory is on the right track.

How did we get here and what can we do about it? If you ask a Virgin Islander on the street, you may hear about government waste, officials living high on the hog and a bloated bureaucracy. Some point to the closure of the Hovensa refinery and its impact on revenues. Is that it? Mapp administration officials often emphasize a large increase in total V.I. government indebtedness over the past decade, seeming to point the finger at the previous administration of Mapp rival Gov. John deJongh Jr. What is the truth?

To try to get a clear and direct look at the territory’s finances and budget history over time, without the filter of potentially biased political officials, the Source compiled data on the territory’s revenue, spending and borrowing since the 1980s. We looked at the executive budgets submitted from 2004 through 2017, which also include historical information. We looked at bond offerings from the 1990s to now, which contain debt and revenue information too. Some data came directly from the federal government. Some came from the V.I. Public Finance Authority.

Part 1: How Did We Get Here?

Budget Director Nellon Bowry told senators in 2015 that deficits have plagued the government for at least the last 20 years.

Figure 1: V.I. Government Debt and Revenues, 1991-2016 (Click on image for larger view)

“Left unattended, this annual deficit has morphed from a manageable $9.2 million as recently as FY 2006 to a fiscally frightening peak of $577.6 million in FY 2010. Accelerated first by the Great Recession of 2008 and later by the closing of Hovensa refinery, the accumulated General Fund deficiency for the five fiscal years between FY 2008 and FY 2013 totaled approximately $1.5 billion; an annual average of almost $300 million. The root causes of this structural imbalance have not been proactively addressed. Rather, the annual shortfalls have been financed by ad hoc combinations of inter-fund transfers and by formal and informal debt,” Bowry said in 2015.

The data largely back Bowry up.

See Figure 1: V.I. Government Debt and Revenues, 1991-2016

But debts did not begin in 2006 and there have been large deficits before 2006 too. That increase was largely a continuation of a long-term trend. Debt also doubled in the previous eight years, from $530.5 million in 1998 to $1.1 billion in 2006.

While that debt increase occurred during a period of relative economic calm, federal actions affecting the territory’s V.I. Economic Development Authority’s tax break program had the effect of reducing local tax revenues.

In 2004, the Treasury Department and IRS cracked down on the EDA program, starting with Treasury changing its rules and mandating tax-break recipients live in the USVI at least 183 days. Later that year, Congress codified the change in a section of the American Jobs Creation Act.

Prosecutions of several people with Kapok Management for tax evasion and the changes in rules discouraged financial firms and others from seeking V.I. Economic Development Authority tax breaks. Those companies account for as much as 25 percent of all local tax revenue, mostly from employee income tax. From 1999 to 2009, companies getting tax breaks accounted for an average of $91 million per year and in 2004, EDC employees paid $119 million in income taxes. Revenues dropped off some after the 2004 federal tightening of rules, although the impact is difficult to measure.

There were 66 EDC tax break recipients in 1999; 97 in 2003, then a sharp drop off, slowly rising back to 66 in early 2016. Some former top V.I. government officials have said, on background, that these changes may have cost the V.I. treasury hundreds of millions of dollars over the course of five or six years. But the conclusion that there were very high losses hinges on the unprovable assumption of ongoing rapid growth in EDC employment in the years after the changes. As Figure 1 shows, local tax revenues increased steadily from 2004 through 2008, undercutting the notion that EDC changes are a major culprit for V.I. budgetary woes during that period. The U.S. recession in 2001 appears to have had a vastly larger impact on V.I. revenues than changes to IRS rules in 2004.

Mapp hopes to increase EDC revenues by $40 million per year over the next five years by selling more companies on the tax break program, but it is not clear if that level of growth is realistic.

In 2012, the USVI reduced hiring requirements from 10 employees to five, reducing the impact of each new EDC tax break recipient. And a number of the EDC companies are pre-existing local hotels, shopping malls and such, whose employees were already paying taxes before the parent companies were given tax breaks.

Looking at the chart again, you can see a sharp rise in debt occurring about the same time as a sharp – and permanent – decline in revenues starting in 2009, shortly after the 2008 financial collapse. Then-Gov. John deJongh Jr. spoke about the decline in revenues at the time and his administration borrowed in hopes of generating economic stimulus through capital projects and for working capital.

As deJongh defended a plan for borrowing in his January 2010 State of the Territory Address, he said the government had $234 million fewer dollars to spend over the previous fiscal year than the year before.

“To put this in perspective, $234 million is almost half of the cost of salaries and benefits of our government workers for a full year,” he said.

In May 2010, the news was not better and deJongh said in a radio address the government needs about $1.3 billion a year to function, but had collected only about $759 million – a half-billion dollar shortfall. He said revenues – including taxes, fees and fund contributions were down 27 percent. He pushed for a large bond bill, saying the alternative would be to lay off personnel, which would hurt schools and government services and be self defeating by reducing payroll taxes and multiplier effects from the personal spending of government employees in the V.I. economy.

“Unfortunately, for some this has caused a misguided opportunity to spread misinformation in many quarters where people are stating that we do not have a real financial crisis or that we can somehow afford to lower the demands for government funds by just sending people home,” deJongh said that year, criticizing senators who questioned his motives and truthfulness in saying there was a crisis.

“Home where? Who will pay for their health care, their housing, their food? And how do we make up the approximately $2.5 million that is spent locally each week by our government workers in our local stores and businesses? We cannot delude ourselves that there is a separation between the well being of our government workers and our private workers. If the former are out of work, the latter will soon follow,” he said.

So the government embarked on what everyone hoped would be short-term borrowing, to keep the economy afloat until revenues returned to normal.

But revenues did not return to normal.

Next: Part 2: The Elephant in the Room –

Figure 1: V.I. Government Debt and Revenues, 1991-2016 (Click on image for larger view)Hovensa’s Closure

Darrel V. Callwood

Darrell V. Callwood Sr., also known as “Zeffy” or “Mono,” died on March 27.

A first viewing will be held at post time (4-6 p.m.) on Friday, April 14, at Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack in Estate Bovoni.

A second viewing will take place at 10 a.m. followed by a “Home Going Ceremony” from 10-11 a.m., on Saturday, April 15, at Turnbull’s Funeral Home.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dellita I. Rawlings; son, Darrell V. Callwood Jr.; grandchild: Te’Sijah Weeks Callwood; brother, Byron Callwood Sr.; sister, Bellencita Benjamin; stepbrother, Winston Rawlings; aunts: Manuelita Rivera Donastorg and Dorsilda Buncome; and uncle, Mario Benjamin;

He is survived by his father, Myron Callwood; stepfather, Vincent Rawlings Sr.; life partner, Martha Fredimon; mother-in-law, Silvia Fredimon Ingles; stepdaughter: Kisha Fredimon; children’s mothers: Sandra Gaton-Todman, Phyllis “Kimmy” Blackman-Green, Cliffawna Bain, Frederica King and Shandisa “Shay” Miller; sons: Keshawn V. Callwood and Isaiah Callwood; daughters: Shenell V. Callwood, Nicole V. Callwood, Kymisha E. Callwood, Shantell L. Callwood, DaResha C. Callwood, Kymora Callwood and Zephaniah Callwood; and adopted daughters: Tanya Weeks, Gorgeous Bain and Shantrice Bain.

He is also survived by grandchildren: Shacoi Williams, Shacoya Williams, Shamoi Clemmence, Shamoya Clemmence, Hamishee Williams Jr., Hamisha Williams, Harmony Williams, Zephaniah Callwood Exume, Zachariah Callwood Exume, Janiah Chelsea Callwood Exume, Maliki Callwood Capers, Ky’Marli Dawson, Ky’Mahl Dawson, Guyani Williams, GMari Williams and Sekya Williams; great-granddaughter, Sariah Williams; son-in-law, Guyeto Williams; goddaughter, Shellia Crawford; and special cousin, Gloria Briggs.

Other survivors include brothers: Dale Callwood, Elvis Powell, Myron Callwood Jr., Michael Callwood and Laurien Callwood; sisters: Sharon Narcisse, Joycelyn Bergin-Lawal, Jacklyn George and Vivian Callwood; stepbrothers: Curtis Rawlings, Keith Rawlings and Vincent Rawlings Jr.; stepsister, Tracy Rawlings; brothers-in-law: John “Andy” Narcisse, Randolph George Sr. and Ishaq Olajide Lawal; aunts: Malgarita Allen, Eleanor White, Nellerine Rhymer and Marion McDaniel; uncles: Isaiah Benjamin and Orville Brown; and nieces: Corrine Callwood, Nautica Callwood, Jasmine Benjamin Prevost, Ebony Lettsome Serrano, Shurna Lettsome, Anita Narcisse, Jekaiya Callwood, Tennisha Bryan, Ten’Niquwa Bryan and Jada George.

More survivors are nephews: Jerome Callwood, Jermaine Godeth Callwood, Aziewe Callwood, Byron Callwood Jr., Tilford Lettsome Jr., Shaquille Narcisse, T’Koi Bryan,  Devante Bryan, DaYante Bryan and Randolph George Jr.; special friends: Cuthbert “Ruba” Augustine, James “Sasso” Sasso, Keston “St. Kitts,” Andrew “Stylee” Atwood, Wayne “Crucian” Weatherhill, Pico, Gleason Thompson, Olen Pratt, Irvin Pratt and Teddy “Fes” Bryan; as well as many cousins, great nieces and nephews, and friends too numerous to mention.

Professional Funeral Services are entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home. Telephone: 779-6565; e-mail: turnbullsfuneralhomevi@yahoo.com

Christiana Diana Cannonier

Christiana Diana Cannonier, better known as Mathilda, born April 30, 1930, in Tabernacle, St. Kitts, died on April 5.

A viewing will be held at 10 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 18, at Christ Methodist Church. Interment will be at Western Cemetery No. 1.

She is preceded in death by her spouse, James Montgomery Cannonier, who died October 1991.

She is survived by children: Joseph Cannonier, James Cannonier, Miriam Cannonier, David Livingstone Cannonier, Phillip Cannonier, Randolph Cannonier, Fitzgerald Cannonier and Christine Cannonier; adopted children: Patricia Cannonier and Sterling Cannonier; children- in-law: Ozelle Cannonier, Janet Cannonier, Stephanie Cannonier and Rudolph Dunlop; siblings: James Thomas (St. Martin), Jeremiah Thomas (Canada) and Mary Edmead (England); 39 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren; special family and friends: Myris Guishard, Yvonne Grofvenor, Agnes Blaize, Rehenia Frazier, Dr. George Rosenberg and Arcenio Rivera.

Special thanks to the team at Continuum Care Inc., Dr. Erole Hobdy and staff, Dr. Adepeju Champion and the team in Danvers, Mass. and Dr. Andrew Yee and the team in Massachusetts.

Flowers are lovely or the family is asking for donations to be made to St. Jude Hospital (800-805-5856 or pihsupport@stjude.org) in Loving Honor of Christiana Diana Cannonier.

Professional Funeral Service are entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home. Telephone: 779-6565; e-mail: turnbullsfuneralhomevi@yahoo.com

Ann Lillian Danet

Ann Lillian Danet of Frenchtown died on Wednesday, March 29. She was 80 years old. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore “Magic” Danet.

She is survived by her son, Theodore “TP” Danet; daughter-in-law, Mariela Garcia-Danet; stepdaughters: Corinne K. Smith and Rosemarie Correa; grandchildren: Zoe Sophia Danet, Nicolle Correa and Rafael K. Smith; brothers: John Greaux and Augustine Greaux; and sister, Marie Blanchard.

A viewing will be held from 8-10 a.m., Tuesday, April 18, at St. Anne’s Chapel in Frenchtown followed by funeral service at 10 a.m.  Interment will be at Western Cemetery No. 1.

Memorial donations may be made to Meal on Wheels (Department of Senior Citizen Affairs).

Professional Funeral Services are entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home. Telephone: 779-6565; e-mail: turnbullsfuneralhomevi@yahoo.com