A delegation of federal officials from the Interior Department's Office of Insular Affairs and the White House will be in St. Thomas on Friday, April 15, at the behest of Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
Frederick P. DuVal, deputy assistant to the President and deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, will head the delegation. The visit is a follow-up to the meetings held in January with Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and other Insular Affairs officials, according to David North, a spokesman for the Office of Insular Affairs.
Edgar Johnson, desk officer for the Virgin Islands from the Office of Insular Affairs, was in attendance last month at the Legislature's Economic Summit said he thought the summit was an excellent program. "It seems all the shareholders agreed to work together."
He noted the absence of the Central Labor Council saying he understood Mr. Morales'concerns, but thought it was important for everyone to sit down together and understand the concerns.
Allen Stayman, director of Insular Affairs, who was with Babbitt in the January meetings, will also attend the meeting on St. Thomas on the 15th.
"Insular Affairs is continuing to pay very close attention to financial matters in the territory," said North. He said the office was trying to be supportive and helpful.
Asked if the Interior Department was considering implementing a financial review board, North said, "I'm sure somebody's considering it, but there seems to be enough creativity within the Virgin Islands Government to handle the financial situation without resorting to a control board."
