Aug. 1, 2002 – On her first day as the fourth president of the University of the Virgin Islands, Dr. LaVerne Ragster struck an informative note.
At a press conference Thursday morning, she introduced her President's Cabinet, showed off a newly launched redesign of the UVI Web site, and described plans for two informational kiosks to be placed at the entrances of the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses.
The cabinet functions as an advisory board to the UVI president. Members she introduced were Gwen-Marie Moolenaar, interim senior vice president and provost; John Leipzig, St. Thomas campus chancellor; Jennifer Jackson, St. Croix campus chancellor; Malcolm Kirwan, vice president for administration and finance; Henry H. Smith, vice provost for research and public service; and Susan A. Anderson, chief information officer.
Since the reorganization of the university's administrative structure three years ago, Ragster had held the No. 2 position, that of senior vice president and provost. Moolenaar has been vice president for institutional advancement and community development. Jackson, Kirwan and Smith have been in their current positions.
The position of chancellor for the St. Thomas campus was held until recently by Roy Watlington, a professor of physics, who stepped down on July 1 to return to full-time teaching and research in UVI's Marine Science Department. Leipzig, who officially took over on Thursday, came to UVI from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Anderson as chief information officer heads the Office of Information Technology, which has oversight for all computer and telecommunications operations.
UVI's public relations director, Patrice Johnson, talked about new information systems for the university, showcasing the redesigned Internet site. She said the new Web design is intended to function in a more "audience-driven" fashion, pointing visitors to easier paths to the information they seek.
One thing new about the site, which made its official debut on Thursday, is that it includes an online version of the UVI course catalog, Johnson said. Also available online is an extensive database of media releases and a section designed to enable staff and faculty to access university announcements easily. To visit the site, go to www.uvi.edu.
As for the kiosks, Ragster described them as an effort to jump-start her goal of fulfilling what she calls UVI's "enormous potential." The university and the territory as a whole should be "absolutely intertwined," she said, and the kiosks, designed to help the university community and visitors find their way around, are a part of her plan to make UVI more user-friendly.
Designed by St. Thomas architects Robert and Donna de Jongh, the kiosks will feature two information panels and a pedestal map. They will be placed near the entrances of the two campuses so that visitors can drive up and view the information. Robert de Jongh said the design is in keeping with the architecture of UVI and that the kiosks will help to define both campuses by creating obvious entry points for visitors.
Ragster said at some point in the future the kiosks might be made more technology oriented, but for now, given the potential for hurricane damage in the territory, the focus is on durability. They should be in place by mid-fall, she said.
In the 1980s, informational kiosks were installed on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix at strategic tourist areas such as airports and docks and downtown Charlotte Amalie by the old Commerce Department. They were eventually dismantled in the course of various renovation projects.
Ragster, a native of St. Thomas, has been with the University since the early 1980s. She holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of California at San Diego and spent the first 10 years of her teaching career on the faculty of the then-College of the Virgin Islands and then UVI, eventually attaining a full professorship in the Marine Science Department. She was vice president for research and public service before being named senior vice president and provost.
Initial plans called for her to succeed Orville Kean as president upon his retirement in September, but the changeover was moved up to Aug. 1 to allow the new administration to be in place for the start of the new academic year.
Among her goals as president, Ragster said Thursday, is helping to prepare a more technologically skilled Virgin Islands work force. Part and parcel of that goal is a planned community technology center on St. Croix where students and others can develop computer skills, she said. "The idea is to create a place where people can move their skills from zero to some level that will allow them to move into the work force," she said.
Also on the horizon for St. Croix is UVI's recently approved research and technology park. "This is a major undertaking for the university," Ragster said, "and we are going to see it to the end."

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Aug. 1, 2002 – For the first time in Vatican history, members of the Roman Catholic Church in the Virgin Islands have been singled out for papal and episcopal honors. Word of the church citations reached the territory during the recent trip by Pope John Paul II to the Catholic Youth Summit in Canada.
Among those receiving special honors: Fr. Bernard Campbell, 89, an associate pastor at St. Ann's Church on St. Croix, and Fr. Jerome Feudjio of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas were elevated to the title of monsignor. Campbell was named a member of the Papal Household. Feudjio was named a chaplain to the pope.
Others receiving official recognition from the Holy See are from the Catholic laity:
Knolly Beazer, who has helped prepare the sanctuary of Sts. Peter and Paul for services over the past 50 years, was named a Knight of St. Gregory. That is "a very old order in the church, designated for its service," said Bishop John Murry, who wrote the recommendation letters that led to the historic honors.
Receiving the Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice award were Judge Alphonso Christian, Rita de Chabert-Shuster, Nausica Antoine, and Mr. and Mrs. Leonardo Ayala. The award dates back to the 19th century, Murry said, and is given to people in recognition of their contributions to their local Catholic diocese.
Murry said he determined the nominees for papal honors in consultation with priests of the Catholic churches throughout the territory. "It usually takes about six months to a year before papal awards are returned, and it worked out that I was notified of the awards that had been granted during the pope's trip to Toronto," he said. "It was wonderful to have him here in the Western Hemisphere as the awards were being announced."
The recognitions are a way of thanking church members for helping to promote the faith in the community, the bishop said. He added that at a time when the Catholic Church is enmeshed in scandal because of accounts of priests molesting children, the awards serve as acknowledgment of those in the clergy who have served with honor.
Locally, in another first, Murry himself has chose two honorees from each V.I. Catholic parish as recipients of the inaugural Bishop's Award.
The honorees on St. Thomas are: Dr. Alfred O Heath and Gerald R. Nicholson Sr. from Sts. Peter and Paul; Saint Anne's Church Legion of Mary and Marina Slame from St. Anne's Chapel; Noreen Francis Bryan and Carmen Sibilly from Our Lady of Perpetual Help; and Jean Dragin and Alma Wells from Holy Family.
Those on St. John are: Ina Lee and Thomas Gamon from Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Those on St. Croix are: Lucy Bough and the Rev. Hyacinthe George from St. Ann's; Carmen Anderson and the Rev Ulric E. Benjamin Sr. from Holy Cross; Charles McGregor and Leonard Schwan from Sacred Heart Chapel; Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Thomas and Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Williams from St. Joseph; and the Rev Emith Fludd and Gwendolyn Lucas from St. Patrick's.

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Aug. 1, 2002 – For the first time in Vatican history, members of the Roman Catholic Church in the Virgin Islands have been singled out for papal and episcopal honors. Word of the church citations reached the territory during the recent trip by Pope John Paul II to the Catholic Youth Summit in Canada.
Among those receiving special honors: Fr. Bernard Campbell, 89, an associate pastor at St. Ann's Church on St. Croix, and Fr. Jerome Feudjio of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas were elevated to the title of monsignor. Campbell was named a member of the Papal Household. Feudjio was named a chaplain to the pope.
Others receiving official recognition from the Holy See are from the Catholic laity:
Knolly Beazer, who has helped prepare the sanctuary of Sts. Peter and Paul for services over the past 50 years, was named a Knight of St. Gregory. That is "a very old order in the church, designated for its service," said Bishop John Murry, who wrote the recommendation letters that led to the historic honors.
Receiving the Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice award were Judge Alphonso Christian, Rita de Chabert-Shuster, Nausica Antoine, and Mr. and Mrs. Leonardo Ayala. The award dates back to the 19th century, Murry said, and is given to people in recognition of their contributions to their local Catholic diocese.
Murry said he determined the nominees for papal honors in consultation with priests of the Catholic churches throughout the territory. "It usually takes about six months to a year before papal awards are returned, and it worked out that I was notified of the awards that had been granted during the pope's trip to Toronto," he said. "It was wonderful to have him here in the Western Hemisphere as the awards were being announced."
The recognitions are a way of thanking church members for helping to promote the faith in the community, the bishop said. He added that at a time when the Catholic Church is enmeshed in scandal because of accounts of priests molesting children, the awards serve as acknowledgment of those in the clergy who have served with honor.
Locally, in another first, Murry himself has chose two honorees from each V.I. Catholic parish as recipients of the inaugural Bishop's Award.
The honorees on St. Thomas are: Dr. Alfred O Heath and Gerald R. Nicholson Sr. from Sts. Peter and Paul; Saint Anne's Church Legion of Mary and Marina Slame from St. Anne's Chapel; Noreen Francis Bryan and Carmen Sibilly from Our Lady of Perpetual Help; and Jean Dragin and Alma Wells from Holy Family.
Those on St. John are: Ina Lee and Thomas Gamon from Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Those on St. Croix are: Lucy Bough and the Rev. Hyacinthe George from St. Ann's; Carmen Anderson and the Rev Ulric E. Benjamin Sr. from Holy Cross; Charles McGregor and Leonard Schwan from Sacred Heart Chapel; Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Thomas and Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Williams from St. Joseph; and the Rev Emith Fludd and Gwendolyn Lucas from St. Patrick's.

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Aug. 1, 2002 – For the first time in Vatican history, members of the Roman Catholic Church in the Virgin Islands have been singled out for papal and episcopal honors. Word of the church citations reached the territory during the recent trip by Pope John Paul II to the Catholic Youth Summit in Canada.
Among those receiving special honors: Fr. Bernard Campbell, 89, an associate pastor at St. Ann's Church on St. Croix, and Fr. Jerome Feudjio of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas were elevated to the title of monsignor. Campbell was named a member of the Papal Household. Feudjio was named a chaplain to the pope.
Others receiving official recognition from the Holy See are from the Catholic laity:
Knolly Beazer, who has helped prepare the sanctuary of Sts. Peter and Paul for services over the past 50 years, was named a Knight of St. Gregory. That is "a very old order in the church, designated for its service," said Bishop John Murry, who wrote the recommendation letters that led to the historic honors.
Receiving the Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice award were Judge Alphonso Christian, Rita de Chabert-Shuster, Nausica Antoine, and Mr. and Mrs. Leonardo Ayala. The award dates back to the 19th century, Murry said, and is given to people in recognition of their contributions to their local Catholic diocese.
Murry said he determined the nominees for papal honors in consultation with priests of the Catholic churches throughout the territory. "It usually takes about six months to a year before papal awards are returned, and it worked out that I was notified of the awards that had been granted during the pope's trip to Toronto," he said. "It was wonderful to have him here in the Western Hemisphere as the awards were being announced."
The recognitions are a way of thanking church members for helping to promote the faith in the community, the bishop said. He added that at a time when the Catholic Church is enmeshed in scandal because of accounts of priests molesting children, the awards serve as acknowledgment of those in the clergy who have served with honor.
Locally, in another first, Murry himself has chose two honorees from each V.I. Catholic parish as recipients of the inaugural Bishop's Award.
The honorees on St. Thomas are: Dr. Alfred O Heath and Gerald R. Nicholson Sr. from Sts. Peter and Paul; Saint Anne's Church Legion of Mary and Marina Slame from St. Anne's Chapel; Noreen Francis Bryan and Carmen Sibilly from Our Lady of Perpetual Help; and Jean Dragin and Alma Wells from Holy Family.
Those on St. John are: Ina Lee and Thomas Gamon from Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Those on St. Croix are: Lucy Bough and the Rev. Hyacinthe George from St. Ann's; Carmen Anderson and the Rev Ulric E. Benjamin Sr. from Holy Cross; Charles McGregor and Leonard Schwan from Sacred Heart Chapel; Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Thomas and Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Williams from St. Joseph; and the Rev Emith Fludd and Gwendolyn Lucas from St. Patrick's.

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Aug. 1, 2002 – Narcotics agents raided a marijuana farm in Estate Contant on Thursday, seizing more than half a ton of marijuana plants that an official said represented a street value of about $1 million.
No arrests were made in the morning raid, and agents were continuing to investigate the operation, U.S. Attorney David Nissman said later in the day.
Of the various marijuana farms that narcotics agents have come across, the one raided Thursday was one of the largest, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugh Mabe said. "Among the marijuana seizures we've had in recent years, this one is very substantial," he said.
The property had about a thousand marijuana plants ranging from 2 feet to more than 12 feet in height, Nissman said, and collectively weighing more than a thousand pounds. He estimated the street value of the marijuana being grown at $1 million.
The agents also seized about 80 rounds of rifle ammunition, Nissman said.
The exact location of the farm was not specified. Contant stretches from the heavily populated area west of downtown Charlotte Amalie up the forested hillsides to the north overlooking Cyril E. King Airport. Officials declined to say how they learned about the marijuana farm, because the investigation into its operation is continuing.
The raid was conducted by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, which includes agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and U.S. Customs; and the V.I. Police Department, Housing Authority Police and the National Guard.

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Caribe Waste Technologies' sales pitch for the Thermoselect process in the Virgin Islands is an ever-changing phenomenon. It began with an expensive system being the right choice for a small community plagued by a budget crisis. For a mere $37 million, every year for 30 years, and a nominal installation cost of $180 million, our waste would become the fuel of the future. We could, the CWT officials suggested, rid ourselves of all of our garbage woes if we would just sign on the dotted line.
The debate has raged since then:
Arguments about the feasibility of the plant managing a municipal waste stream have led to a hung jury.
Arguments about the financing of the operation have led most people to question why the arguments even started; how on Earth can we afford to buy a luxury SUV when our old clunker just broke down and we have no money in the bank? By the way, it would be wise not to ask the Senate that question.
Arguments about the reliability of the plant have become just plain boring because we do not know if there is a satisfactory answer.
This week, however, has produced an absurd argument. Collier County, Florida, a wealthy slice of Florida's Gulf Coast, has negotiated for a Thermoselect plant. Now, some have said, we should do the same, since this respectable county (home of the city of Naples) has done so.
Should we now sign on the dotted line for our Thermoselect plant? The collective "duh" that came from most people I know is a great answer for that question. Why? Simple facts tell the tale. We cannot compare Collier County with our situation. Collier County has 251,000 residents; we have only 110,000. Collier County can probably afford fancy new technology; we cannot even afford to clean up our dumps. Collier County can move waste without shipping costs; we would have to ship almost everything. The list could go on.
Make no mistake; the issue here is not about waste to energy working in the Virgin Islands. The issue is whether or not we should break the bank for a system that is not right for us. The solution seems obvious to me. I can only hope that it seems obvious to the people making this decision.

Editor's note: Bill Turner, executive director of the St. Croix Environmental Association, was formerly a teacher and vice principal at the high school level in Puerto Rico.
We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Caribe Waste Technologies' sales pitch for the Thermoselect process in the Virgin Islands is an ever-changing phenomenon. It began with an expensive system being the right choice for a small community plagued by a budget crisis. For a mere $37 million, every year for 30 years, and a nominal installation cost of $180 million, our waste would become the fuel of the future. We could, the CWT officials suggested, rid ourselves of all of our garbage woes if we would just sign on the dotted line.
The debate has raged since then:
Arguments about the feasibility of the plant managing a municipal waste stream have led to a hung jury.
Arguments about the financing of the operation have led most people to question why the arguments even started; how on Earth can we afford to buy a luxury SUV when our old clunker just broke down and we have no money in the bank? By the way, it would be wise not to ask the Senate that question.
Arguments about the reliability of the plant have become just plain boring because we do not know if there is a satisfactory answer.
This week, however, has produced an absurd argument. Collier County, Florida, a wealthy slice of Florida's Gulf Coast, has negotiated for a Thermoselect plant. Now, some have said, we should do the same, since this respectable county (home of the city of Naples) has done so.
Should we now sign on the dotted line for our Thermoselect plant? The collective "duh" that came from most people I know is a great answer for that question. Why? Simple facts tell the tale. We cannot compare Collier County with our situation. Collier County has 251,000 residents; we have only 110,000. Collier County can probably afford fancy new technology; we cannot even afford to clean up our dumps. Collier County can move waste without shipping costs; we would have to ship almost everything. The list could go on.
Make no mistake; the issue here is not about waste to energy working in the Virgin Islands. The issue is whether or not we should break the bank for a system that is not right for us. The solution seems obvious to me. I can only hope that it seems obvious to the people making this decision.

Editor's note: Bill Turner, executive director of the St. Croix Environmental Association, was formerly a teacher and vice principal at the high school level in Puerto Rico.
We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Caribe Waste Technologies' sales pitch for the Thermoselect process in the Virgin Islands is an ever-changing phenomenon. It began with an expensive system being the right choice for a small community plagued by a budget crisis. For a mere $37 million, every year for 30 years, and a nominal installation cost of $180 million, our waste would become the fuel of the future. We could, the CWT officials suggested, rid ourselves of all of our garbage woes if we would just sign on the dotted line.
The debate has raged since then:
Arguments about the feasibility of the plant managing a municipal waste stream have led to a hung jury.
Arguments about the financing of the operation have led most people to question why the arguments even started; how on Earth can we afford to buy a luxury SUV when our old clunker just broke down and we have no money in the bank? By the way, it would be wise not to ask the Senate that question.
Arguments about the reliability of the plant have become just plain boring because we do not know if there is a satisfactory answer.
This week, however, has produced an absurd argument. Collier County, Florida, a wealthy slice of Florida's Gulf Coast, has negotiated for a Thermoselect plant. Now, some have said, we should do the same, since this respectable county (home of the city of Naples) has done so.
Should we now sign on the dotted line for our Thermoselect plant? The collective "duh" that came from most people I know is a great answer for that question. Why? Simple facts tell the tale. We cannot compare Collier County with our situation. Collier County has 251,000 residents; we have only 110,000. Collier County can probably afford fancy new technology; we cannot even afford to clean up our dumps. Collier County can move waste without shipping costs; we would have to ship almost everything. The list could go on.
Make no mistake; the issue here is not about waste to energy working in the Virgin Islands. The issue is whether or not we should break the bank for a system that is not right for us. The solution seems obvious to me. I can only hope that it seems obvious to the people making this decision.

Editor's note: Bill Turner, executive director of the St. Croix Environmental Association, was formerly a teacher and vice principal at the high school level in Puerto Rico.
We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here..

The Division of Environmental Protection, Small Business Technical Assistance Program, of the V.I. Planning and Natural Resources Department, will conduct a series of free seminars for all bakeries, pesticide control operators, small airline operators, boat building and repair services, machine shop operators and lawnmower operators at Gertrude's Restaurant from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30.
Bakeries 9 – 10 a.m.
Pesticides 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Non-road Engines/Boat Building & Machine Shops 1 – 4 p.m.
All interested parties must register by Friday, Aug. 9. On St. Croix contact Ms. Marion Baptiste at 773-1082 ext 2290 or the SBTAP Hotline at 714-9529.

Aug. 1, 2002 – The St. Croix Board of Elections will conduct registration from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Christian 'Shan' Hendricks Market in Christiansted.
Documents required to register are:
–U.S. birth certificate, or
–U.S. passport, or
–U.S. naturalization certificate,
and
–Social Security card.
Call the elections office at 773-1021 for additional information.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.