PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE V.I. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATE
NO: 80 PAGE 1 OF 2 JUNE 4, 1999
CONTACT: LO'AN SEWER (202) 226-7974
DELEGATE CHRISTENSEN
WASHINGTON, DC —
Following today's veto by Governor Turnbull of the economic proposal between Innovative Communications Corporation, Inc. (ICC) and the Virgin Islands government, Congresswoman Donna M. Christian-Christensen restated her position that the priority of this administration should be to protect the best interest the Virgin Islands' people.
"Our recommendations from the very first proposal were to make sure that an adequate study was conducted to insure that the deal would greatly benefit the Virgin Islands in as much as it would benefit Mr. Prosser's corporation, and Governor Turnbull concluded today that the gains were not of equal value to both parties," Christensen said.
"Governor Turnbull's decision, however, should not preclude any continued negotiations between ICC and the V.I. government to find a better proposal in which the profits would be advantageous to both ICC and the Territory, nor should Mr. Prosser be maligned for his efforts to offer immediate relief to our economic strain," Christensen also said.
"I am, however, disheartened and disappointed by the actions taken by people in these islands who saw it fit to vilify those who urged this administration to cautiously scrutinize the ICC proposal for the main purpose of assuring the financial benefit for our government, and those who opposed the legislative portion of this deal. It is important to recognize that we are in the process of negotiating with Congress and the Clinton Administration on a financial package to help us out of current economic crisis that is based on making sound decisions on local financial matters, and we are doing so in an atmosphere of federal fiscal restraint," the Congresswoman said.
"As leaders in this community, elected to keep the best interest of the people at heart, we must take the necessary stances to fulfill that promise to our electorate despite popular opinion. I hope that we can revisit this or similar proposals in the future that will truly lift our economy to a more stable level," Christensen concluded.
