Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt will visit the Virgin Islands next week to discuss coral reef protection and, according to a statement from Interior, "various economic proposals to benefit the Virgin Islands."
Officials told the Source on Friday those proposals would include as much as $17 million in reprogrammed federal funds to bolster the territory's sagging economy.
In canceling a Friday press conference called by Chief Negotiator Karen Andrews, Government House spokeswoman Rina Jacobs McBrowne said Gov. Charles W. Turnbull had simply postponed Andrews' conference. McBrowne added the governor planned to hold a "more elaborate presentation" next week and later confirmed that she expected Babbitt would attend.
According to Interior's statement, Babbitt will meet Monday at Government House on St. Thomas with Turnbull and V.I. congressional Delegate Donna Christian Christensen. The three will hold a joint press conference.
The conference is expected to include an official announcement of the windfall.
On Tuesday, Babbitt will fly to St. Croix and tour coral reef areas around Buck Island Reef National Monument with National Park Superintendent Joel Tutein.
"We have been considering the compelling need to protect outstanding coral reef resources and critical fish spawning areas for more than two years now," Babbitt said in the statement. "The people of the Virgin Islands have seen dramatic declines in their fisheries and deserve to have a sustainable resource for their future. At the same time, healthy coral reefs help to protect the Virgin Islands from devastating impacts of hurricanes and are essential to a thriving tourist economy.
"It's time to put our best ideas out on the table. Greater protection for coral reefs is a winner for the people of the Virgin Islands and a winner for the ocean and the marine life that depends upon its health."
The Interior Department will hold public meetings on coral reef protection on Sept.18 on St. Croix, Sept. 19 on St. Thomas and Sept. 20 on St. John.
