May 13, 2003 – Though Gov. Charles W. Turnbull was busy with his veto pen on fiscal items on Monday, he vetoed some nonfinancial matters, along with approving several bills.
Two of these affect the Public Service Commission. Turnbull approved an amendment sponsored by Almando "Rocky" Liburd that requires the PSC to conduct utility rate investigations every five years, instead of every other year as is now the case. Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg fought an uphill battle to get the two-year requirement passed in the 24th Legislature.
Members of the PSC have complained that the every other year requirement leaves them just finishing one investigation before the next one is scheduled. Donastorg and Sen. Celestino A. White were the only lawmakers voting against the measure. The other bill removes regulation of car ferry service from the PSC's jurisdiction.
Turnbull also approved an amendment by the majority extending a 90-day amnesty for the payment of overdue property and gross receipt taxes, without interest or penalty, to be come effective 30 days after the passage of his act. And he approved an amendment sponsored by White and Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste extending unemployment benefits through the end of August.
Legislation by Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone authorizing money collected from the Abandoned Vehicle Task Force Initiative be transferred from the Transportation Revolving Fund to the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund was also approved.
Turnbull took issue with a resolution regarding the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Sen. Douglas Canton, Sen. Roosevelt David, Sen. Carlton Dowe, Sen. Louis Hill, Sen. Luther Renee and Sen. Ronald Russell proposed a resolution against the war in Iraq. Turnbull said he "strongly disagreed" with certain sections of the bill which "appear to be giving equal comfort to American … allies and adversaries." Inasmuch as the resolution asks for a "quick end" to the war, which is now over, the governor said "that desire has already been realized."
The resolution also asked President Bush and Congress to "make available the necessary resources for the V.I. to pay all outstanding bonds and debts." Turnbull did not comment on this section of the vetoed bill.
Nor did the governor make any mention of another resolution by Sen. David Jones, co-sponsored by Sen. Emmett Hansen II, David, Hill and Renee, expressing their support for the United Nations and the World Health Organization to recognize Taiwan, and to "urge China to refrain from bullying Taiwan with its military power and to respect the will of the Taiwanese people."
Turnbull approved a bill honoring Lloyd Alfredo "Sonny" Barnes for his activism on behalf of the special needs community. The La Reine Vitran bus station on St. Croix will be named the Lloyd Alfredo 'Sonny' Barnes Transit Terminal. The resolution was sponsored by Sen. Lorraine Berry, Canton and Jones.
Turnbull also approved a bill posthumously honoring Eliza James McBean and naming the clock tower and boardwalk in Frederiksted in her honor, and a resolution by Dowe honoring sports hero Elridge Wilburn Blake, who was commended for his career that includes Central American and Caribbean Fastpitch Softball Championship titles.
The governor also acknowledged honors bestowed on several V.I. citizens; these were resolutions that do not need the governor's approval. Included in the honors list was Orville Kean, recently retired University of the Virgin Islands president, and Elmo D. Roebuck, whose public service career included four terms as Senate president.
Fifteen agriculture leases also were approved by the Senate. They do not require the governor's approval, according to a Government House spokesman.
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