Gov. Charles Turnbull said Tuesday that he will disclose details of Southern Energy's proposal to purchase parts of the V.I. Water and Power Authority before the deal is sent to the Legislature.
Turnbull said he was presently reviewing the proposal presented to him by his negotiating team.
The governor had come under strong criticism for negotiating with Southern Engery behind closed doors.
In another matter, Turnbull left no question as to his opinion on the Ritz-Carlton's proposed development.
"We cannot continue to chase away investors," he said. "There are some in the Legislature and elsewhere who oppose this development. It boggles the mind."
He noted that the hotel chain is rated number one in the Americas, and said the opposition to the development "has to stop – we are killing the goose that laid the golden egg."
He said is going over documents to facilitate the project and sees no reason it should not proceed.
While the governor touched on many subjects in his talk, which was broadcast on several radio stations, some critical concerns stood out. One is the ongoing matter of the Hurricane Hugo Federal Emergency Management Agency loan. Turnbull said he met with James Lee Witt, head of FEMA, and requested a cancellation of the loan.
President Clinton's budget for Fiscal Year 2001, Turnbull said, provides for suspension of payments until Sept. 30, 2001. He said he requested FEMA and Jacob Lew, director of the Office of Management and Budget, to use the Federal Credit Reform Act as a basis for the cancellation of the remainder of the Hugo loan.
Another current territorial crisis is the confiscation of cigarettes marked "for export only" from tourists leaving the V.I. This represents a loss of millions of dollars to the territory.
Turnbull said he had written to Raymond Kelly, commissioner of Customs, and to the U.S. Treasury Department, to direct customs agents to halt the confiscation process. He is awaiting a response. Meanwhile, he said, officials are tackling the problem from another angle. Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen and Congressman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) will introduce a technical amendment to provide for the legal exemption of duty-free cigarettes.
Referring to the workers'compensation matters that came up in the Senate Monday, the governor defended Finance Commissioner Bernice Turnbull, saying the money transfers discussed then were not "illegal." He said they were, rather, "humanitarian." He plans to discuss he matter with the legislature in a scheduled meeting on Thursday.
Commissioner Turnbull surprised senators Monday by telling them she had issued $400,000 in worker's compensation payments by tapping into other government funds, which senators said was illegal.
The governor began the news conference, held at Government House, by declaring, "Education is the territory's top priority." On his recent trip to Washington to attend the National Governors' Association Conference, he said, all governors agreed that in every state and territory, including the Virgin Islands, education of children is the top priority, and that federal funding is needed.
"Although the territory's fiscal crisis is very severe, special attention must be given to education," said Turnbull. He asked other groups "who are due better things from the government," to be understanding. Children, he said, must be given access to the Internet, along with a good, basic education. He promised to "announce special initiatives geared to improving our educational system in the weeks ahead."
In other matters, the governor said he had:
– Met with Dept. of the Interior officials to include in the president's budget a $9.2 million grant for the Environmental Protection Agency to address the critical needs of the territory's sewage system.
– Discussed the Department of Public Works State of Emergency. He said he had directed any department whose participation is required in the procurement process to cooperate, and give Public Works what it needs to repair the territory's sewage system. He also said he requested $2.7 million in federal grants for technological programs for the Police Department, and a $700,000 grant from Housing and Urban Development for Economic Development Initiatives.
– Sent proposals for the construction of the Mangrove Lagoon Sewage Treatment Plant, which is estimated to cost $26 million and has been 25 years in the making.
– Sent proposals for facilities at the Bovoni and Anguilla landfills, estimated to cost $70 million each.
– Met with members of the conference's National Resources Committee to discuss environment in general, and especially endangered species and means of preserving plant and animal life.
Turnbull said he met with President Clinton two or three times, and that the president was very sympathetic to the V.I.'s needs and "very much interested in helping the V.I. during his last days in office." The governor said Clinton wants to leave a legacy of helping minorities.
In closing, Turnbull thanked the Legislature for passing all his nominations for judgeships, boards and commissions, and said he expected the senators to approve Rafael Jackson, whom he has appointed as Tourism commissioner.
The governor said that on Friday Don Young, chairman of the House Resources Committee, along with a delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives, will visit the territory. They will be meeting with legislators and business leaders on status and consitutional issues.
