As the Senate Finance Committee begins its third week of budget hearings Monday, the chairman of the Governor's Fiscal Recovery Task Force, John P. deJongh Jr., will address the League of Women Voters' monthly luncheon. DeJongh has been asked to discuss the five-year economic recovery plan he and others are working on.
However, deJongh told St. Thomas Source on Sunday that all he can talk about at the luncheon is the process being used to develop the plan — not the details.
"It's not done yet," he said.
DeJongh explained, "This is not a case of a few people sitting down and hammering out a plan."
Sub-committees and clusters have been formed that have specific objectives, most of which will involve implementation, according to deJongh.
Most of what is being addressed has been discussed before. The goal of the economic recovery team is to come up with ways to implement the plan.
What's different about this task force, deJongh said, is that it's made up of all the players.
Previous task forces have been segmented. This one includes the Legislature, executive branch, judicial branch, the private sector, labor unions and even a representative from the delegate's office.
One cluster, headed by acting Tourism Commissioner Michael Bornn will address private-sector development.
"They are looking at initiatives and whether the government has the right organizational structure to accomplish the goals. For example," deJongh said, "if investors aren't looking for IDC benefits — who do they go to?"
The government needs someone to be in charge of investments, he said.
DeJongh confirmed that the task force has not had any input on the fiscal year 2000 budget, but the budget will be used as a base for the recovery plan.
"I have told the governor we will submit the plan to him within 90 days after the FY 2000 budget is passed," deJongh said.
The luncheon begins at 12 noon at L'Escargot Restaurant in Sub Base.
Here is a list of the members of the Economic Recovery Task Force in alphabetical order:
— Karen Andrews, Virgin Islands chief negotiator.
— Paul Arnold, Jacobs Panamerican.
— Joanne Barry, director of personnel.
— Kent Bernier, Joe's Discount Liquor.
— Michael A. Bornn, acting commissioner of Tourism.
— Tom Brunt, MSI.
— John P. deJongh Jr., Lockhart Caribbean and president, St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce.
— Amadeo I.D. Francis, director of Public Finance Authority.
— Sen. V. Anne Golden.
— Frendelle Gerard, acting IDC director.
— Sen. George E. Goodwin.
— Orville Kean, president of the University of the Virgin Islands.
— Leon Kendall, general counsel, Territorial Court.
— Carl R. Kingston, area representative of TTWISEU.
— Rudolph E. Krigger, assistant to the governor.
— Noel Loftus, president, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce.
— Ira Mills, director of Management and Budget.
— Brian Modesto, legislative director, office of the delegate.
— Juel Molloy, governor's chief of staff.
— Richard Moore, economist.
— Luis "Tito" Morales, president, Central Labor Council, Inc.
— Nathan Simmonds, chief of staff for the lieutenant governor's office.
— Edward Thomas, CEO of West Indian Co.
— Bernince Turnbull, commissioner of the Finance Department.
Financial/Legal Advisers
— Margaret Guarino, managing director of First Union Capital Markets.
— Shawn Griffin, attorney with Harris, Beach & Wilcox.
— Peter Hiebert, attorney with Winston & Strawn.
— Vinod Shrivantava, CORE International.
— Lois A. Varrick, CORE International.
