Sept. 13, 2001 – On Day 3, here are reports concerning local activities and operations relating to the terrorist attacks on the U.S. mainland Tuesday. This posting is being updated throughout the day as additional information is received.
Notices may be e-mailed to source@viaccess.net. They may be faxed to 777-8136 or to (509) 267-3448.
Community-relations disaster training postponed
A two-day training course in "Community Relations During Disasters" that had been scheduled for Sept. 17 and 18 at the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency headquarters on St. Croix has been postponed.
Trainers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were scheduled to conduct the training session, for VITEMA staff and government public information officers. It will be rescheduled for a date to be announced, Elroy Harrison, VITEMA deputy director for St. Croix, said. For more information, call 773-2244.
Call for a million points of light
An e-mail circulating nationally calls for all Americans and their supporters to take a small but concerted action Friday at 7 p.m. — local time, from zone to zone, apparently — in response to Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
"Step outside the door of your home, stop your car and get out, or step out from your workplace, and light a candle," the message said. "We will send the world a message: We stand united. We will not tolerate terrorism."
Forum on election reform postponed
A public forum to discuss election reform that had been scheduled for Saturday at the Holiday Inn/Windward Passage Hotel on St. Thomas has been postponed to Sept. 22. The event is being presented by the Virgin Islanders for Democratic Action. Sen. Lorraine Berry issued an advisory Thursday afternoon about the postponement.
Among those who have been scheduled to speak and offer proposals to create an election system with more accountability are John Abramson, supervisor of elections; Arturo Watlington, V.I. Democratic Party chair; Woodrow Green, Caribbean Democratic Alliance Club chair; Delia Smith, assistant attorney general; former senator Arnold Golden; attorney Maxwell MacIntosh; and political scientists Paul Leary and Malik Sekou.
Message calls for dressing to show pride
An e-mail making the rounds nationwide is asking that Americans and their supporters observe Friday as U.S. Color Day by dressing in red, white and blue in honor of those who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks — the passengers and crews aboard the airplanes, the workers in the New York buildings and the Pentagon, the emergency crews who went to their rescue, and the bystanders on the streets.
"Jeans are blue, and everyone owns a white T-shirt," the message notes. "The goal is to get the whole nation to participate. Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased." It says wearing red, white and blue will signal "pride in the United States and the freedom it represents … Let's get the whole country into it."
Beware of e-mails asking for money
Internet ScamBusters, an online consumer publication on Internet fraud, advised the public Wednesday to beware of e-mail scams related to Tuesday's terrorist attacks. For those moved to "reach out to the victims and their families and help in whatever way you can," the publication advised: "Make sure your help goes where you intend it."
Publishers Audri and Jim Lanford said they have "received reports of spammers sending out calls for assistance for 'emergency relief funds' and directing the recipients to 'contribute money to the Red Cross' — through the spammers' web sites. Many of these spammers are trying to steal money and credit card numbers. Do not respond to these emails!"
The Lanfords recommended that anyone wishing to contribute money to assist victims of the terrorist attacks do so through a major disaster-response organization, and "directly through the organization's site, or to a local chapter." (Telephone and online contact information for such organizations are provided in the Source story "Resources to get information, offer help.
The ScamBusters item also noted, "Amazon.com has set up a channel through which you can donate to the Red Cross, which may be a better choice for online donations. The Red Cross donations page has been swamped all day, and Amazon makes it very easy to donate from $1 to $100."
To access the donation channel, go to Amazon.com. As of mid-afternoon Thursday, the Amazon site had recorded nearly $3 million in donations to the Red Cross since Tuesday.
Calls out to show flag on Friday
E-mails are being circulated on the Internet with this message:
"To show those terrorists that we Americans stick together, Friday is going to be Flags Across America day. All Americans are asked to display the American flag in their homes and on their cars. Let's keep the meaning of United in United States. Pass this onto as many people as you know. Thank you."
Senate Rules Committee postponed
The Senate Rules Committee meeting that had been scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday on St. Thomas has been postponed to Saturday, Sept. 22, Luis Sylvester, chief of staff to the committee chairm, Sen. Carlton Dowe, announced Thursday morning.
Because airlines are not yet flying, Jerris Browne, a nominee for the Public Services Commission who was scheduled to be considered Thursday, cannot get to St. Thomas, nor can two committee members who are on St. Croix, Sylvester said. He said the new Saturday date was set so that the committee can vote on Browne and another PSC nominees, Verne C. David, before two full Senate sessions scheduled for Sept. 24 and 25.
