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Oct. 6, 2007 – Senator Celestino A. White Sr. has again called upon certain government officials to complete work on several bathroom facilities at beaches on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
In fiscal year 2006, Senator White moved $325,000 to install bathroom facilities at Cramer's Park in St. Croix and Lindberg Bay and Brewers Bay on St. Thomas.
Last week Senator White wrote to St. Claire N. Williams, Commissioner of Housing, Parks and Recreation, Robert S. Mathis, Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources and LaVerne E. Ragster, Ph.D., President of the University of the Virgin Islands regarding their individual responsibilities in constructing the bathroom facilities.
"I am certain you will agree that it is an embarrassment to us all when visitors and residents alike have to go in the bush when nature calls," wrote Senator White. "I am hopeful that the normal tugging and pushing that takes place during the implementation phase will not be necessary and that we all can move forward aggressively to address this most pressing and embarrassing situation."
In Senator White's initial inquiries to Government House at the beginning of the current administration, Governor John P. deJongh found the lump sum manner in which the $325,000 was appropriated troublesome. Therefore, Senator White, in Act 6839 broke the money down and specifically identified $108,333 for each facility.
"Since no one could apply common sense in the spending of this money, I went back to the floor of the Senate to show them how to spend it," said Senator White.
Since then, only Housing, Parks and Recreation has shown movement and initiative, completing a brand new bathroom facility at St. Croix's Cramer's Park.
"Now I expect the two remaining entities to make these bathrooms a number one priority and to pay prompt attention to this pressing matter," concluded Senator White.
