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- Governing Board Meeting of the VIEDA’s Lending Division Scheduled
The V.I. Economic Development Authority Governing Board gives notice that the authority, along with its subsidiaries, will be holding a…
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The V.I. Police Department has a theme song, "Don't Run, Don't Hide," written by local musicians Fusion Band for use in the government television channel documentary, "V.I. Cops."
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- VITEMA Holds 2012 All Hazards Preparedness Expo Territorywide
- In a continuing effort to heighten awareness about the importance of being prepared, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency will host the 2012 Annual All Hazards Preparedness Expoterritorywide, May 24 - 27.READ ENTIRE ARTICLE
2012-05-17 00:55:42 - Junior Achievement Recognizes Program Volunteers and Donors
Junior Achievement of the Virgin Islands (JAVI) is recognizing outstanding volunteer participation for the 2011-2012 school year. Its programs were made possible by volunteers from many V.I. companies throughout the territory.
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2012-05-14 16:37:02- Community, Caring at the Special Olympics
Athletes shined as Olympians in competition at Renaissance Park.
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2012-05-12 21:41:39
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PRINT“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Martin Luther King
Maybe a year after Hurricane Marilyn leveled St. Thomas in 1995, my husband and I were driving around the island amidst the depression of the blue-tarped, mosquito-infested, dengue- ridden neighborhoods that had only very recently had power restored when my husband remarked casually, “You can see why civilizations just disappeared.”
Faced with Marilyn’s protracted aftermath and engulfed in a dense fog of ennui it was in fact easy to imagine these islands emptying in some whining implosion of natural disaster coupled with vacuous bickering and fatal inaction.
Fast forward 16 plus years and we find ourselves facing real trouble, the kind of trouble that brings down far more functional societies than ours.
The territory’s largest employer and St. Croix’s most important economic engine is packing its bags and leaving.
The social and economic impact of Hovensa’s departure is at this point unknown. But, it’s going to be bad. More than 2000 people are employed by the western hemisphere’s third largest refinery either directly or indirectly.
Using a factor of 3.5 people per employee, more than 7000 people are going to be directly impacted on St. Croix.
At the least, small businesses will close in the wake of increased unemployment and departures; those with no options of jobs elsewhere will join first the unemployment insurance roles and later the public assistance system.
We are ill-prepared to deal with any of this given the ongoing denial by the majority of our legislators about the territory’s dire financial straits and their unwillingness to work in concert with the administration. The costs of divisiveness, pettiness and flights from reality have always been high. They are now unbearable. This crisis is real and profound. Shooting down the leader or representing the interests of some narrow group will have disastrous consequences. We need to pull together in the short run to assist our neighbors and fellow Virgin Islanders who are in the greatest need.
In the longer term, we need to think through and make major changes in the ways that we do things, not the least of which will be how we generate and consume electricity. These are items with long lead-times so we need to start right now. There are plans on the table that have been thoroughly developed and await approval to move forward. Perhaps it is time to move on them.
A combination of uncommon civility and a super human effort to change our historic ways and start everyone pulling in the same direction is the only possible solution. Egoism and pettiness must be put aside. We have the intellectual capital right here in these beautiful islands to get through this. But history teaches us, only if we do it together.
Nice article but we need to learn to come together before there is a tragedy so that we can avoid it. We as a people need to embrace change. For too long have we allowed the few who claim they are trying to preserve the Virgin Islands prevent change. We are an Island that has put all of our eggs in one basket called HOVENSA. It is time to use our resources. We need to export as much as we import. I live in the continental United States and when I go to a store to purchase tamarind it comes from Indonesia and we have so many trees on St. Croix. Why do I purchase Cruzan Rum bottled in Puerto Rico how can Island Daries no longer exist. We prefer to support the big companies rather than our locals, refuse to use our resources, and are afraid to embrace change. Unfortunately change will come whether or not we want it. Embracing change allows us to mold it. Resisting leaves us vulnerable and unprepared. Today we are unprepared and vulnerable.
I am a business owner from the States who recently purchased a home on St. Croix. As I read the articles and blogs concerning the Hovensa closing, my heart goes out to those employed at the refinery, and all the small businesses and other organizations that will ultimately be affected by this tragedy.
Over the past few years I’ve had the opportunity to look at the economic make-up of St. Croix and could clearly see the imbalance. Any entry-level business administrator fresh out of college understands the importance of maintaining a distinct diversification of revenue. In other words “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. Yet isn’t this exactly what the government of St Croix has allowed?
With all due respect to the natives of all the Caribbean islands, most people do not come to the Caribbean because of its history, or it’s people or even the rum. They come because of the tranquility, the warm breezes, the tropical vegetation, beautiful beaches and turquoise waters.
So why has St Croix essentially gone broke by rejecting the natural “built-in” revenue resources mentioned above for oil refineries and rum distilleries. Hovensa was a magnificent employer, which helped support the government and kept fuel prices down. And the rum distilleries have their place, but should not be relied upon for long-term employment generation.
Without belaboring my point, I would like some feedback on the projects below. These are just a few – not even mentioning the Christiansted revitalization venture and other more recent proposals that have seemingly stagnated.
Why haven’t any of these come to realization? One has only to skim through these sites to see the thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue that are not being generated. Does anyone else see the elephant in the room? This is the Caribbean and St Croix offers nothing to attract tourists compared to other islands. Further, the caliber of resorts on islands like St Lucia, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic (just to name a few) is so far beyond the offering in St Croix, that we cant even come close to competing.
Being new to the island, I am not aware of all the projects and the reasons for the stalemate, but could someone explain why at least one of these has not made it through? I understand there are many other considerations than just erecting a resort or complex, but I need some clarification. (excuse the redundancy below if there is any)
Thank you and many prayers to all affected by this situation.
1) “Members of the St. Croix Coastal Zone Committee approved a major permit for Connecticut developer Curtis Robinson of Robin Bay Associates' $1.2 billion casino and resort project on St. Croix's south shore.” The project, to be done in four phases over an estimated nine years, stands to give the beleaguered St. Croix economy a major boost with about 800 construction and 800 permanent jobs, said Robinson.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/US$1.2+billion+resort,+casino+project.-a0202127040
2) From a May 2010 Article from Atlantic Caribbean Consulting titled “St Croix Hotel Development, An Oxymoron?” “Rum revenues are fine, but if the Government of the Virgin Islands had invested say $500M in hotel development with a real developer, St. Croix could have two new 500 room hotels. Such development would create 2,000 construction jobs, 2,000 permanent jobs, diversify the economy, create numerous new service businesses, support jobs and tax revenues. Maybe even entice a Hugh Andrews to St. Croix and make some lemonade, out of some of the islands lemons. “ http://atlanticcaribbeanconsulting.com/blog/
3) Developers plan to break ground next year for $640 million resort project on St. Croix - By ALDETH LEWIN Friday, October 2nd 2009
With a recent approval from the St. Croix Coastal Zone Management Committee to restore the beach, the $640 million marina and casino resort being developed by William and Punch is moving ahead and plans are to break ground early next year.
4) From May 2011, Article from Hotel Online titled “Bill Approved Seeking to Jump Start Three Stalled Casino Resort Projects by Giving Tax Breaks to St. Croix Hotel Developers”
http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2011_2nd/May11_StCroixBreaks.html
5) January 23, 2006 from Crittenden Resort Report - first line in the article states “Have cash will travel” retorted by resort developers eager to spread their assets beyond North America. Throgmartin Co. and Auberge Resorts are wiling to pick up the full tab on a $300 to $500M resort – the first on St Croix in over 20 years. (this was in 2006)
http://www.timbersresorts.com/images/Media/Crittendon_1-23-06.pdf
6) Feb 27, 2008 |Wyndham Hotels and Resorts to Enter New Caribbean Market: St. Croix
“Tremendous credit must be given to Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands, his administration and the Public Finance Authority for supporting this magnificent project”
Croix Golf Resort and Casino, which will become the keystone of a $250 million complex that includes a new 43,000-square foot conference center on St.Croix http://www.topix.com/forum/vg/virgin-islands/TTR5AA9OA941ERE2P
the virgin islands is made a bigger laughing stock. Cause of the babying of hovensa & the adaptation of nasty,lazy ignorant, foolish american mentality.. Please dont say hess kept gas price down,that's absolute rubbish!!!!..st.croix gas prices has been the same as,new york,boston and Connecticut. The virgin islands and puerto rico are the only ISLANDS where u own something and its taxed forever and can be repossessed........(and the taboo) the only islands tourists from europe dont see themselves coming to beach parties where dey can smoke ganja and get natural foods and cultures (yes uptight stick in the the butt v.i officials ) tourists want to go to the islands to smoke ganja,with rastas and drink cocunuts,bath on the beach and take in many natural UNAMERICAN cultures............hovensa has made st.croix non self sufficient,there are many islands about the same size as st.croix,that are independent and if u visit.instantly can tell they are far ahead of st.croix,an island that sells out its culture daily to american nonsense.........for instance young women on other islands pride themselves on being able to cook their islands national dishes and foods and uphold a clean house just like their mother,in the v.i they pride themselves on gettin someody to buy them mcdonalds and not doing housework for anybody......maybe the closing of hovensa will put the island back into virgin islands and people will find their strenght as individuals back.....no more young men scowering the neighborhood looking for a shade and living off foodstamp benefits..time for the v.i to stand up and stop crawling ahmen..
In comparison to the $7-10 a gallon for fuel that other islands in the Caribbean pay, yes, HOVENSA did keep fuel prices low.
On the other hand, you're right. The adoption and adoration of state-side ghetto hip hop culture is arguably the most devastating thing that has happened to the VI since Hugo.
"The adoption and adoration of state-side ghetto hip hop culture is arguably the most devastating thing that has happened to the VI since Hugo." No truer words have been written here on these blogs. And I sincerely DON'T BELIEVE that "we can overcome the Hovensa crisis together." It will take a whole new mind-set and will of the people to do that. St. Croix is a violent and uninviting place. Beautiful yes - violent yes. Full of murdering garbage and thieves. And it is about to get worse. I feel sorry for those who are "financially tied" to here and will not be able to escape the Haiti about to come. I shall repeat the truth that the poster before me said: "The adoption and adoration of state-side ghetto hip hop culture is arguably the most devastating thing that has happened to the VI since Hugo."
And to STXCHANGE - you raise the most interesting question and if you want to get taste of why people DON'T come here you should listen to the hate gumb flap of Mario and Bert for openers. Senator Bert Bryan(I laughably use the term) is and has been a racist hater representing and perpetuating what is wrong in people and humanity in general. His type of brain potty does not lend itself to tourism and civility. Also how many murders on STX in this first month of the new year? There are a few things that need to be done before we enjoy lucrative tourism as it should be. 1. Martial law and the National Guard needs to surprise all designated housing to collect guns and crime tools. 2. Hoodys should be banned from public use. Who wears a hood in 80 degree heat. A person not in his right mind. A thug. A wannabe.
3. Hip Hop/Gansta Rap should be outlawed as a form of "hate speech." This only a beginning but it is a place to start - to clean the garbage off our streets and beaches.
Warren Mosler
President, Valance Co.
St. Croix, USVI
www.moslerecomomics.com
The Senate and the Governor should immediately issue resolutions stating that if Hovensa ceases refining operations, they will do everything in their power to:
1. Ensure that it can never reopen as a refinery.
2. Ensure that the clean up begins immediately.
The specter of a refinery sitting in mothballs waiting to reopen will keep other business and opportunities away from St. Croix.
While the refinery did provide well paid employment, it also limited the attractiveness of St. Croix to many other types of businesses.
With the refinery closed, we do not want the possibility of reopening to thwart our efforts to bring new businesses to our island.
Requiring the refinery to begin restoring the site to its original condition, as per the terms of the contract with Hovensa, can provide well paid, multi year transition jobs for those losing their jobs with the plant closing.
Current Hovensa employees should get priority for the new clean up jobs, and at their current rates of pay, to minimize the negative financial impact of the closing on the entire community.
If we don't take these steps now and simply allow the site to be operated as a storage facility, we will both suffer the full effect of the loss of employment, and at the same encounter serious difficulties in attempting to rebuild our economic base.
Warren Mosler
St. Croix
Warren Mosler
President, Valance Co.
St. Croix, USVI
www.moslerecomomics.com
Here's to Senator's O'Rielly and Nelson for drafting a similar resolution for Senate approval!
Please show your support!