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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesOPENNESS? TRANSPARENCY?

OPENNESS? TRANSPARENCY?

Recent criticism of the media by Sen. Lorraine L. Berry prompts us to review the manner in which certain high-profile stories have been handled — and to ask, "Who is Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's press secretary?"
The first issue — the PSC investigation and the Senate majority's subsequent decision to turn the matter over to the V.I. inspector general — is what caused Berry to lambaste the media and Sen.
Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg for his ongoing discussion of his colleagues' refusal to call a hearing on the PSC.
Berry and Majority Leader Allie "Allison" Petrus questioned why Donastorg continued to discuss the petition after he already knew of the majority's decision to turn the matter over to the IG's office.
Our question is, "Who else knew?" No press release was issued. No one announced the decision until a reported four days later. Not even Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt knew about the decision to turn the PSC matter over to his office at the point that Petrus went public on WVWI with the news.
As a result of the media not being notified in a timely manner of the decision, Donastorg was able to continue to push his agenda and the media could only assume the matter of a Committee of the Whole meeting was still at issue.
And then there is the whole question of the pending Prosser – V.I. land-for-tax deal. Who at Government House is authorized to discuss this and anything else that is "newsworthy" with the media?
Turnbull promised to conduct his administrative affairs with "openness and transparency." The Prosser bailout issue is now three weeks old — and still no statement from Government House. The administration is more than 100 days old and still no press secretary.
We think open, honest, timely communication, along proper lines, is the solution to what Berry referred to in a recent conversation as "slanted" journalism.
The facts, elected officials, just the facts — and in a timely matter.

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