Dear Source:
I was very concerned when, several years ago, Jeffrey Prosser achieved what was essentially a USVI media monopoly and I duly expressed my opinion on the subject a couple of times over the years to The Source and to The Avis (printed by both but, although copied to the Daily News, ignored by their editorial staff…) When one entity has control of the major local newspaper, Cable TV, the local telephone company and the local "free" advertising newspaper, might one not think that that this could pose obvious problems?
Kudos to The Source for continuously keeping us all updated on the financial debacle surrounding Prosser's holdings and what a total hoot is the current situation where media coverage of recent events is concerned.
The Source is the first to report that the court-appointed Trustee has fired Prosser as CEO of ICC. The Avis follows up two days later with its similar front-page story and on the same day as the Avis relates the story, the Daily News offers up it's selective version on Page 5, announcing that Jeffrey Prosser has "resigned" from the four-member board, "in the best interest of the corporation," and with a vague reference to ongoing litigation, but no mention of any firing. The article is essentially devoted to heaping accolades on the life accomplishments of the VP who has been voted by the Board to succeed Mr. Prosser as CEO.
The Source then follows up by revealing that the Trustee has just fired the rest of the four- member Board. ICC counsel Holland Redfield has also been terminated but is apparently booh- hooing because he says he hasn't been properly advised of his termination.
In the meantime, the Attorney General removes and replaces the Public Services Commission's attorney Jeffrey Moorhead who has been stonewalling and back- pedaling for months in defending the very obvious conflicts of interest between the PSC and ICC.
Did I say a hoot? I mean that comment not unfavorably to the many dedicated people who have diligently worked in Prosser's empire both before and after his empire was created. Knowing now that their pension plans haven't been paid into should be cause enough for their alarm and hasten their resolve to ensure that they avail themselves of information.
How this whole melee will be resolved is anybody's guess but I trust that the court-appointed Trustee will successfully right some major past wrongs in his decisions. I really hope that the courts will remove Prosser's bankruptcy request from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 in order that he doesn't get away with the "pennies on the dollar" deal afforded under Chapter 11.
In my humble opinion, Mr. Prosser has successfully "sacked" the USVI by reaping major personal financial benefits from his local holdings. The private jet, the mega multimillion dollar St Croix private residential estate, almost-completed but work-halted last week while the contractors and suppliers sit around wondering how, if and when they're going to be paid. The abysmal record of customer service where Cable TV is concerned, where telephone service is concerned, ICC's continual lawsuits against competing companies which seek to give us residents affordable internet service apart from dial-up. In olden days, Prosser's monopoly would have been considered "rape and pillage."
I most respectfully ask all interested parties to rid the USVI of this leech. And the VI government needs to seriously examine the efficacy and motivations of the current PSC board.
Anna Clarke
St. Thomas
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