St. Croix broadcaster Alvin "Gee" Southwell hit back Friday afternoon in response to remarks made by Mario Moorhead in a news conference earlier in the day.
Moorhead, also a St. Croix radio personality, attacked Southwell in a diatribe directed at the media during the news conference. Sen. Adelbert Bryan called the session to defend the hiring of Moorhead by himself and Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen to broadcast selected Senate proceedings.
Moorhead accused Southwell of maintaining a personnel services contract with the V.I. Legislature while employed as a news director in the private sector. Southwell said he had such a contract with Sen. Carol Burke in the 22rd Legislature where he was employed as a public information specialist. He said he was otherwise unemployed at the time.
"At no time did I work for Sen. Burke and any V.I radio station simultaneously," Southwell said. He added, "It's wrong and totally unconscionable for Mr. Moorhead and his minions to distort the truth about my employment history on St. Croix."
Southwell, who is now news director at St. Croix station WSTX, has covered news events of the territory for the past two decades for several St. Croix radio stations.
