March 26, 2002 – After Gov. Charles W. Turnbull reappeared from his meeting with the Water and Power Authority board Tuesday afternoon without a board member or the WAPA executive director in tow, disgruntled employees decided to take matters into their own hands.
The governor told the workers he had advised the board to come out and "listen to the employees, just like I did." The board had voted earlier in the day not to do that.
So, chanting "If you're not coming out, we're coming in," and "If Mohammed won't go to the mountain, the mountain will come to Mohammed," about 30 of the 75 or so employees who had been outside WAPA's Sub Base offices since early morning marched inside, upstairs and into the second-floor board room, disrupting the meeting in progress.
They were closely followed by Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Carlton Dowe and Celestino A. White Sr., plus reporters and other WAPA employees into the small, dark and hot conference room. Power to the room, the adjacent executive offices and the customer service offices had been cut off by persons and means unknown in the morning.
At the start of the day, White had been the first senator on the scene, arriving shortly after the demonstration began. He listened to the complaints of Hubert Turnbull, president of the WAPA Employees Association, and other workers, then went upstairs to the conference room where the WAPA board of trustees was meeting in executive session. He asked the board to recess and persuaded its chair, Carol Burke, to go downstairs then and there and speak to the crowd.
Burke did so, briefly addressing the workers, many of whom were angrily chanting "Thomas must go," a reference to Joseph Thomas, WAPA executive director. Burke said the board would vote on whether to come down and speak to the protesters. After learning of the board's vote against doing so, the crowd grew more restless.
Members of the press, barred from the closed-doors board session, ran up and down the stairs as the action moved from the conference room to the street and back. Board member Ira Hobson, commissioner of Housing Parks and Recreation, left the board meeting at mid-morning and telephoned Government House, asking the governor to intervene in the matter.
The crowd settled down after being told that the governor would come at noon to meet with them.
Before Burke was able to establish some order, protesters changed "Thomas should go back to Georgia" along with demands and complaints. Meanwhile, board member Claude "Tappy" Molloy decided to leave, despite the pleas of his board members that he stay.
With Molloy gone, the board had no quorum, something Burke tried to explain to the crowd. "My employees don't want to hear that," Hubert Turnbull responded.
Hubert Turnbull said the employees want three things:
– Thomas and Glen Byron, WAPA's human resources director for 13 years, must "go."
– Nobody attending Tuesday's demonstration should be reprimanded or have their pay docked for the day.
– Personnel working on Easter Sunday should receive holiday pay.
Burke asked the employees to air their complaints one by one. One voiced repeatedly throughout the day was that the workers are unable to communicate with Thomas. "He shows us no respect," some said. "He won't listen to us," others echoed. "He doesn't understand us."
Ironically, Thomas, who moved to the territory last year to take the chief executive post at WAPA, has been hosting town meetings to discuss WAPA issues with the public. The third and final one was Tuesday evening at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel on St. Thomas. Another of Thomas's initiatives has been expanded internal communication with employees. One of the demonstrator's placards Tuesday read, "Meet with the employees, not the public."
The governor had explained to the crowd before he went up to the board meeting that although he appoints the board members, "I can't fire the board or Thomas; the board can fire Thomas."
The protesters wanted the board to do just that Tuesday afternoon, refusing at first to accept, for starters, that the board could do nothing without a quorum.
Among the employees' allegations:
– That WAPA is seeking to contract outside workers to meet its new responsibility for the territory's street lights, while WAPA employees are able to do the job.
– That they are unable to communicate with Thomas.
– That when Thomas held an employee meeting to introduce his new management team, he left without allowing workers to ask questions or express themselves.
– That there are critical staffing shortages because workers who retire are not replaced.
– That there are only four plumbers for the St. Thomas water district, and that this forces inexperienced workers to perform work they are not trained for.
– That there has been a cutback in meter readers.
– That there are no signs of work under a $6.5 million appropriation which they say is to replace WAPA's aging St. Thomas headquarters building.
– That moving expenses for Thomas and another WAPA officer were supposed to be $6,500 but actually came to $32,000.
As Burke moved around the conference room listening to employees' concerns, disorder kept breaking out as some took the opportunity to attack Thomas, who was present, in person.
When Thomas said he didn't recall leaving the mentioned meeting without allowing for a question-and-answer period, the employees weren't buying it. "Yes you did," they chorused, as one added with regard to Tuesday, "We were very disappointed you didn't come downstairs to speak with us."
Thomas said he had to address many things immediately upon taking over as executive director, among them insurance and finance issues. He said he made the decision to concentrate on those issues first. "I can't argue; I concentrated on those things," he said. "After today, we have to sit down and talk in a logical manner."
Hobson suggested the board set a time next week to meet with employees. After some discussion, Thomas, Burke, and the remaining board members, Luz James III and Alphonso Franklin, agreed to a meeting at Palms Court Harborview at 5:30 p.m. on April 3.
The workers in the room didn't embrace the idea overwhelmingly. "He has had ample time to meet with us," Hubert Turnbull said of Thomas. "He has shattered our confidence."
"This is going to be difficult," Joseph Wrensford, a water distribution employee, said.
Dowe urged a "dialogue," as he had done earlier in the day. "When you don't have a dialogue, all hell breaks loose with all these petty little complaints," he said.
James assured the employees that their complaints and demands would be heard at the April 3 meeting. He added, "Have a good Easter, and please turn on the lights."
Thomas said there would be "no retaliation" for the workers' actions Tuesday. However, he also said that he didn't approve of that way of doing things contrary to union procedures. He said it didn't set a good precedent for future dealings.
Burke, who had calmly presided over the 45 minutes or so of controlled chaos after the workers entered the room, thanked the workers for their time, urged them to return to work, and echoed James's plea, "Please turn on the lights."
For an account of the morning activities, see "Workers say WAPA contracting outside linemen".

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.

March 26, 2002 – After Gov. Charles W. Turnbull reappeared from his meeting with the Water and Power Authority board Tuesday afternoon without a board member or the WAPA executive director in tow, disgruntled employees decided to take matters into their own hands.
The governor told the workers he had advised the board to come out and "listen to the employees, just like I did." The board had voted earlier in the day not to do that.
So, chanting "If you're not coming out, we're coming in," and "If Mohammed won't go to the mountain, the mountain will come to Mohammed," about 30 of the 75 or so employees who had been outside WAPA's Sub Base offices since early morning marched inside, upstairs and into the second-floor board room, disrupting the meeting in progress.
They were closely followed by Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Carlton Dowe and Celestino A. White Sr., plus reporters and other WAPA employees into the small, dark and hot conference room. Power to the room, the adjacent executive offices and the customer service offices had been cut off by persons and means unknown in the morning.
At the start of the day, White had been the first senator on the scene, arriving shortly after the demonstration began. He listened to the complaints of Hubert Turnbull, president of the WAPA Employees Association, and other workers, then went upstairs to the conference room where the WAPA board of trustees was meeting in executive session. He asked the board to recess and persuaded its chair, Carol Burke, to go downstairs then and there and speak to the crowd.
Burke did so, briefly addressing the workers, many of whom were angrily chanting "Thomas must go," a reference to Joseph Thomas, WAPA executive director. Burke said the board would vote on whether to come down and speak to the protesters. After learning of the board's vote against doing so, the crowd grew more restless.
Members of the press, barred from the closed-doors board session, ran up and down the stairs as the action moved from the conference room to the street and back. Board member Ira Hobson, commissioner of Housing Parks and Recreation, left the board meeting at mid-morning and telephoned Government House, asking the governor to intervene in the matter.
The crowd settled down after being told that the governor would come at noon to meet with them.
Before Burke was able to establish some order, protesters changed "Thomas should go back to Georgia" along with demands and complaints. Meanwhile, board member Claude "Tappy" Molloy decided to leave, despite the pleas of his board members that he stay.
With Molloy gone, the board had no quorum, something Burke tried to explain to the crowd. "My employees don't want to hear that," Hubert Turnbull responded.
Hubert Turnbull said the employees want three things:
– Thomas and Glen Byron, WAPA's human resources director for 13 years, must "go."
– Nobody attending Tuesday's demonstration should be reprimanded or have their pay docked for the day.
– Personnel working on Easter Sunday should receive holiday pay.
Burke asked the employees to air their complaints one by one. One voiced repeatedly throughout the day was that the workers are unable to communicate with Thomas. "He shows us no respect," some said. "He won't listen to us," others echoed. "He doesn't understand us."
Ironically, Thomas, who moved to the territory last year to take the chief executive post at WAPA, has been hosting town meetings to discuss WAPA issues with the public. The third and final one was Tuesday evening at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel on St. Thomas. Another of Thomas's initiatives has been expanded internal communication with employees. One of the demonstrator's placards Tuesday read, "Meet with the employees, not the public."
The governor had explained to the crowd before he went up to the board meeting that although he appoints the board members, "I can't fire the board or Thomas; the board can fire Thomas."
The protesters wanted the board to do just that Tuesday afternoon, refusing at first to accept, for starters, that the board could do nothing without a quorum.
Among the employees' allegations:
– That WAPA is seeking to contract outside workers to meet its new responsibility for the territory's street lights, while WAPA employees are able to do the job.
– That they are unable to communicate with Thomas.
– That when Thomas held an employee meeting to introduce his new management team, he left without allowing workers to ask questions or express themselves.
– That there are critical staffing shortages because workers who retire are not replaced.
– That there are only four plumbers for the St. Thomas water district, and that this forces inexperienced workers to perform work they are not trained for.
– That there has been a cutback in meter readers.
– That there are no signs of work under a $6.5 million appropriation which they say is to replace WAPA's aging St. Thomas headquarters building.
– That moving expenses for Thomas and another WAPA officer were supposed to be $6,500 but actually came to $32,000.
As Burke moved around the conference room listening to employees' concerns, disorder kept breaking out as some took the opportunity to attack Thomas, who was present, in person.
When Thomas said he didn't recall leaving the mentioned meeting without allowing for a question-and-answer period, the employees weren't buying it. "Yes you did," they chorused, as one added with regard to Tuesday, "We were very disappointed you didn't come downstairs to speak with us."
Thomas said he had to address many things immediately upon taking over as executive director, among them insurance and finance issues. He said he made the decision to concentrate on those issues first. "I can't argue; I concentrated on those things," he said. "After today, we have to sit down and talk in a logical manner."
Hobson suggested the board set a time next week to meet with employees. After some discussion, Thomas, Burke, and the remaining board members, Luz James III and Alphonso Franklin, agreed to a meeting at Palms Court Harborview at 5:30 p.m. on April 3.
The workers in the room didn't embrace the idea overwhelmingly. "He has had ample time to meet with us," Hubert Turnbull said of Thomas. "He has shattered our confidence."
"This is going to be difficult," Joseph Wrensford, a water distribution employee, said.
Dowe urged a "dialogue," as he had done earlier in the day. "When you don't have a dialogue, all hell breaks loose with all these petty little complaints," he said.
James assured the employees that their complaints and demands would be heard at the April 3 meeting. He added, "Have a good Easter, and please turn on the lights."
Thomas said there would be "no retaliation" for the workers' actions Tuesday. However, he also said that he didn't approve of that way of doing things contrary to union procedures. He said it didn't set a good precedent for future dealings.
Burke, who had calmly presided over the 45 minutes or so of controlled chaos after the workers entered the room, thanked the workers for their time, urged them to return to work, and echoed James's plea, "Please turn on the lights."
For an account of the morning activities, see "Workers say WAPA contracting outside linemen".

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
.

March 26, 2002 – Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II said Tuesday that insurance rate increase requests made to his office in recent months have not been driven by increases in reinsurance costs, as indicated by local companies, but have been actually submitted by the companies themselves. Asked the basis for his conclusion, James said he learned in recent meetings with London underwriters that reinsurers had not increased their rates.
However, Tami Noel, president of Red Hook Agencies Inc. and managing agent for N.E.M. (West Indies) Insurance Ltd. (NEMWIL), said later Tuesday, "I don't know why he would make such a statement." She said her cost for catastrophe reinsurance has gone up 25 percent.
At a meeting in January with the lieutenant governor, who is the territory's insurance commissioner, Noel said that of every premium dollar her agency collects, 90 cents goes for reinsurance, leaving little to pay claims and cover administrative costs. (See "Insurers: V.I. business reputation is terrible".) Noel added Tuesday in a telephone interview, "We weren't able to attract certain companies because of their U.S.V.I. exposure."
James made his comments at a press conference he called to discuss his trip to England to meet with underwriters at Lloyd's. At the gathering Tuesday, he accused "my predecessor" — Kenneth Mapp, whom he did not name — of allowing Lloyd's to use commercial rates without filing them in accordance with the law, thus causing "exorbitant increases" in condominium premiums, among other things.
The three companies that still write property insurance, including windstorm coverage, in the territory have all filed for rate increases; none have been granted. At a hearing James held on Jan. 30, it was suggested that the companies had not provided actuarial information required by law in order to receive a rate increase. But the companies said they were never told what was required of them by the actuarial firm hired by the Division of Banking and Insurance to review the rate requests. (See "Communication but no conclusions at hearing".)
Reinsurance is the insurance that covers primary insurance companies against catastrophic losses.
James has been under fire since he issued an order without warning and made it retroactive in December declaring a moratorium on cancellations and non-renewals of insurance policies until June 1. Lloyd's filed a complaint against James in January asking the court to nullify the order, but Territorial Court Judge Rhys Hodge denied the request. Hodge scheduled a hearing for Jan. 15 to hear arguments in the matter, but when the date came, Lloyd's representatives said they had reached an agreement out of court with the lieutenant governor.
On Tuesday, James painted a picture of Lloyd's underwriters working in the dark without knowledge of what was going on in the Virgin Islands until his recent visit. "I learned from a Lloyd's underwriter that he does not [have] and has never had a manual for determining rates," he said. He did not explain why an underwriter would have such a manual, and a call to his office later in the day for clarification was not returned.
Normally it is the underwriters who determine the parameters of what risks they will cover and who, then inform the companies or agencies how to establish their rates, given the specifications of any given risk.
James also stated that a "Lloyd's underwriter represented in the territory by Tunick was not even aware that Tunick and Marshall & Sterling were informing policyholders, in non-renewal notices, that Lloyd's is no longer able to offer homeowner's coverage in the Virgin Islands because my office is prohibiting it from charging premiums sufficient to cover its cost of reinsurance."
In response to a request for comment, Dave Ridgeway, president of Marshall & Sterling on St. Croix, issued a one-paragraph statement saying he is in London this week meeting with various underwriters. "My initial reaction is one of disappointment at the lieutenant governor's representation of some of the facts," he said, adding that he was awaiting a transcript or tape of James's remarks. "I have today made a written request for a meeting with the lieutenant governor and will await his response before making additional public comment," he said.
A call placed to Theodore Tunick & Co. on St. Thomas seeking comment was not returned.
James said Tuesday he had ordered the moratorium back in December to protect the community. He has since lifted the order for any "Lloyd's Syndicate companies that either have not filed for rate increases or have voluntarily agreed in writing that they will not engage in conduct prohibited by the interim order and voluntarily will renew and write new property insurance policies" in the territory.
Telephone queries found only one company, Island Heritage, currently writing a few new property policies. However, with renewal of reinsurance looming on the horizon, insurance specialists say that could change.
James said his London meetings were "extremely productive." He said, "I took the opportunity to demonstrate to these underwriters and brokers the significance of the stringent building code adopted since 1995 [that] makes the Virgin Islands a good market for insurance."
Among his accomplishments on the trip, he said, he persuaded a Lloyd's underwriter to extend capacity to two local agents for homeowner's coverage. He couldn't say by how much.
And he said another major carrier that had previously not responded to inquiries about completing its application for licensing is now "keen" to proceed.
The press conference was broadcast live on WSTX radio.

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.

March 26, 2002 – Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II said Tuesday that insurance rate increase requests made to his office in recent months have not been driven by increases in reinsurance costs, as indicated by local companies, but have been actually submitted by the companies themselves. Asked the basis for his conclusion, James said he learned in recent meetings with London underwriters that reinsurers had not increased their rates.
However, Tami Noel, president of Red Hook Agencies Inc. and managing agent for N.E.M. (West Indies) Insurance Ltd. (NEMWIL), said later Tuesday, "I don't know why he would make such a statement." She said her cost for catastrophe reinsurance has gone up 25 percent.
At a meeting in January with the lieutenant governor, who is the territory's insurance commissioner, Noel said that of every premium dollar her agency collects, 90 cents goes for reinsurance, leaving little to pay claims and cover administrative costs. (See "Insurers: V.I. business reputation is terrible".) Noel added Tuesday in a telephone interview, "We weren't able to attract certain companies because of their U.S.V.I. exposure."
James made his comments at a press conference he called to discuss his trip to England to meet with underwriters at Lloyd's. At the gathering Tuesday, he accused "my predecessor" — Kenneth Mapp, whom he did not name — of allowing Lloyd's to use commercial rates without filing them in accordance with the law, thus causing "exorbitant increases" in condominium premiums, among other things.
The three companies that still write property insurance, including windstorm coverage, in the territory have all filed for rate increases; none have been granted. At a hearing James held on Jan. 30, it was suggested that the companies had not provided actuarial information required by law in order to receive a rate increase. But the companies said they were never told what was required of them by the actuarial firm hired by the Division of Banking and Insurance to review the rate requests. (See "Communication but no conclusions at hearing".)
Reinsurance is the insurance that covers primary insurance companies against catastrophic losses.
James has been under fire since he issued an order without warning and made it retroactive in December declaring a moratorium on cancellations and non-renewals of insurance policies until June 1. Lloyd's filed a complaint against James in January asking the court to nullify the order, but Territorial Court Judge Rhys Hodge denied the request. Hodge scheduled a hearing for Jan. 15 to hear arguments in the matter, but when the date came, Lloyd's representatives said they had reached an agreement out of court with the lieutenant governor.
On Tuesday, James painted a picture of Lloyd's underwriters working in the dark without knowledge of what was going on in the Virgin Islands until his recent visit. "I learned from a Lloyd's underwriter that he does not [have] and has never had a manual for determining rates," he said. He did not explain why an underwriter would have such a manual, and a call to his office later in the day for clarification was not returned.
Normally it is the underwriters who determine the parameters of what risks they will cover and who, then inform the companies or agencies how to establish their rates, given the specifications of any given risk.
James also stated that a "Lloyd's underwriter represented in the territory by Tunick was not even aware that Tunick and Marshall & Sterling were informing policyholders, in non-renewal notices, that Lloyd's is no longer able to offer homeowner's coverage in the Virgin Islands because my office is prohibiting it from charging premiums sufficient to cover its cost of reinsurance."
In response to a request for comment, Dave Ridgeway, president of Marshall & Sterling on St. Croix, issued a one-paragraph statement saying he is in London this week meeting with various underwriters. "My initial reaction is one of disappointment at the lieutenant governor's representation of some of the facts," he said, adding that he was awaiting a transcript or tape of James's remarks. "I have today made a written request for a meeting with the lieutenant governor and will await his response before making additional public comment," he said.
A call placed to Theodore Tunick & Co. on St. Thomas seeking comment was not returned.
James said Tuesday he had ordered the moratorium back in December to protect the community. He has since lifted the order for any "Lloyd's Syndicate companies that either have not filed for rate increases or have voluntarily agreed in writing that they will not engage in conduct prohibited by the interim order and voluntarily will renew and write new property insurance policies" in the territory.
Telephone queries found only one company, Island Heritage, currently writing a few new property policies. However, with renewal of reinsurance looming on the horizon, insurance specialists say that could change.
James said his London meetings were "extremely productive." He said, "I took the opportunity to demonstrate to these underwriters and brokers the significance of the stringent building code adopted since 1995 [that] makes the Virgin Islands a good market for insurance."
Among his accomplishments on the trip, he said, he persuaded a Lloyd's underwriter to extend capacity to two local agents for homeowner's coverage. He couldn't say by how much.
And he said another major carrier that had previously not responded to inquiries about completing its application for licensing is now "keen" to proceed.
The press conference was broadcast live on WSTX radio.

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.

March 26, 2002 – Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II said Tuesday that insurance rate increase requests made to his office in recent months have not been driven by increases in reinsurance costs, as indicated by local companies, but have been actually submitted by the companies themselves. Asked the basis for his conclusion, James said he learned in recent meetings with London underwriters that reinsurers had not increased their rates.
However, Tami Noel, president of Red Hook Agencies Inc. and managing agent for N.E.M. (West Indies) Insurance Ltd. (NEMWIL), said later Tuesday, "I don't know why he would make such a statement." She said her cost for catastrophe reinsurance has gone up 25 percent.
At a meeting in January with the lieutenant governor, who is the territory's insurance commissioner, Noel said that of every premium dollar her agency collects, 90 cents goes for reinsurance, leaving little to pay claims and cover administrative costs. (See "Insurers: V.I. business reputation is terrible".) Noel added Tuesday in a telephone interview, "We weren't able to attract certain companies because of their U.S.V.I. exposure."
James made his comments at a press conference he called to discuss his trip to England to meet with underwriters at Lloyd's. At the gathering Tuesday, he accused "my predecessor" — Kenneth Mapp, whom he did not name — of allowing Lloyd's to use commercial rates without filing them in accordance with the law, thus causing "exorbitant increases" in condominium premiums, among other things.
The three companies that still write property insurance, including windstorm coverage, in the territory have all filed for rate increases; none have been granted. At a hearing James held on Jan. 30, it was suggested that the companies had not provided actuarial information required by law in order to receive a rate increase. But the companies said they were never told what was required of them by the actuarial firm hired by the Division of Banking and Insurance to review the rate requests. (See "Communication but no conclusions at hearing".)
Reinsurance is the insurance that covers primary insurance companies against catastrophic losses.
James has been under fire since he issued an order without warning and made it retroactive in December declaring a moratorium on cancellations and non-renewals of insurance policies until June 1. Lloyd's filed a complaint against James in January asking the court to nullify the order, but Territorial Court Judge Rhys Hodge denied the request. Hodge scheduled a hearing for Jan. 15 to hear arguments in the matter, but when the date came, Lloyd's representatives said they had reached an agreement out of court with the lieutenant governor.
On Tuesday, James painted a picture of Lloyd's underwriters working in the dark without knowledge of what was going on in the Virgin Islands until his recent visit. "I learned from a Lloyd's underwriter that he does not [have] and has never had a manual for determining rates," he said. He did not explain why an underwriter would have such a manual, and a call to his office later in the day for clarification was not returned.
Normally it is the underwriters who determine the parameters of what risks they will cover and who, then inform the companies or agencies how to establish their rates, given the specifications of any given risk.
James also stated that a "Lloyd's underwriter represented in the territory by Tunick was not even aware that Tunick and Marshall & Sterling were informing policyholders, in non-renewal notices, that Lloyd's is no longer able to offer homeowner's coverage in the Virgin Islands because my office is prohibiting it from charging premiums sufficient to cover its cost of reinsurance."
In response to a request for comment, Dave Ridgeway, president of Marshall & Sterling on St. Croix, issued a one-paragraph statement saying he is in London this week meeting with various underwriters. "My initial reaction is one of disappointment at the lieutenant governor's representation of some of the facts," he said, adding that he was awaiting a transcript or tape of James's remarks. "I have today made a written request for a meeting with the lieutenant governor and will await his response before making additional public comment," he said.
A call placed to Theodore Tunick & Co. on St. Thomas seeking comment was not returned.
James said Tuesday he had ordered the moratorium back in December to protect the community. He has since lifted the order for any "Lloyd's Syndicate companies that either have not filed for rate increases or have voluntarily agreed in writing that they will not engage in conduct prohibited by the interim order and voluntarily will renew and write new property insurance policies" in the territory.
Telephone queries found only one company, Island Heritage, currently writing a few new property policies. However, with renewal of reinsurance looming on the horizon, insurance specialists say that could change.
James said his London meetings were "extremely productive." He said, "I took the opportunity to demonstrate to these underwriters and brokers the significance of the stringent building code adopted since 1995 [that] makes the Virgin Islands a good market for insurance."
Among his accomplishments on the trip, he said, he persuaded a Lloyd's underwriter to extend capacity to two local agents for homeowner's coverage. He couldn't say by how much.
And he said another major carrier that had previously not responded to inquiries about completing its application for licensing is now "keen" to proceed.
The press conference was broadcast live on WSTX radio.

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.

March 26, 2002 – For the first time since the Divi Carina Bay Casino began offering Caribbean Stud Poker more than a year ago, it had a big winner Saturday night.
Christiansted resident Felipe Confidente won $102,356.65, which Divi management said was the largest jackpot since the casino opened in March 2000. Casino general manager Barbara Shattles said he went home with a check for $70,000 after leaving a tip of $629.09 in the dealers' pot and giving the government its cut of $31,730.56 in taxes.
Fran Geocaris, Divi's advertising coordinator, said that Confidente had a royal flush — the ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of spades.
"This was only my second time playing Caribbean Stud Poker," Confidente said in a press release. "My wife was teaching me. She must be a great teacher!"
Shattles said Confidente, whose name means "confident" in Spanish, and his wife, Josefina Brea, were married last October. He could not be located for further comment.
Confidente did not realize his good luck until the dealer pointed it out, Shattles said. Then, "He was all smiles."
Shattles said Confidente, who carries a Dominican passport, had to show identification before collecting the money. He was supposed to stop by the casino at 1 p.m. Monday for the check but didn't make it until 6 p.m.
"We weren't at all nervous," Shattles said. "Nobody doesn't show up for the jackpot."

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March 26, 2002 – Federal wildlife agents are investigating the theft of two endangered sea turtles from an exhibit at Coral World Marine Park and attacks on three others.
"Corky," a 10-pound hawksbill turtle, and "Lucky," a 90-pound green turtle, were stolen from an outdoor pool at the marine park sometime before 6 a.m. Sunday, Trudie Prior, general manager at Coral World, said. The three other green turtles in the exhibit were stabbed with spears and are now receiving antibiotics under the care of a veterinarian.
Because of the serious injuries inflicted on the three green turtles, officials at the aquarium believe Corky and Lucky were probably killed, Prior said Tuesday.
"If your purpose was to take and release the turtles into the wild, you wouldn't spear the others," she said. "I can't even say how saddened we all are by this act. It's devastating."
The sea turtle exhibit has been one of the most popular features at Coral World since the marine attraction reopened in 1998 under new ownership and after extensive renovations, Prior said.
Corky became a local celebrity in 1999, when he was rescued from near death at sea in the V.I. National Park. (See "Still buoyant Corky's back at Coral World".) The turtle was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that prevented him from being able to dive and thus feed in the wild, so he became a permanent resident at Coral World, the marine park's curator, Donna Nemeth, said.
The green turtles have been under her care since they hatched in 1997 on Buck Island off St. Croix, Nemeth said. Two of those original hatchlings have since been returned to the wild, and Nemeth said she had planned to release the others when they got larger.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents are investigating the attack on the sea turtles, according to Michael Evans, manager of the agency's Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix. He said he has never heard of a theft of sea turtles from any zoo or aquarium.
"I've never heard of this type of thing happening anywhere else," Evans said. "We take this very seriously."
Hawksbill turtles are an endangered species, and green turtles are listed on the federal endangered species list as "threatened," Evans said. Any attack on either species is a felony under federal law, carrying penalties of up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
There is an international black market for products from endangered sea turtles, such as their meat and eggs, Evans said. He also noted that turtle meat is a traditional delicacy in the Caribbean.
The turtle exhibit will be closed until the three surviving green turtles have recovered from their injuries, Prior said.
There was no sign of forced entry into the Coral World compound, but a person could get in by climbing a rock wall facing the nearby sea, Prior said. Motion detectors in the area did not register any movement that night, and a security guard on duty did not hear anything, she said.

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March 26, 2002 – Federal wildlife agents are investigating the theft of two endangered sea turtles from an exhibit at Coral World and attacks on three others.
"Corky," a 10-pound hawksbill turtle, and "Lucky," a 90-pound green turtle, were stolen from an outdoor pool at the marine park sometime before 6 a.m. Sunday, Trudie Prior, general manager at Coral World, said. The three other green turtles in the exhibit were stabbed with spears and are now receiving antibiotics under the care of a veterinarian.
Because of the serious injuries inflicted on the three green turtles, officials at the aquarium believe Corky and Lucky were probably killed, Prior said Tuesday.
"If your purpose was to take and release the turtles into the wild, you wouldn't spear the others," she said. "I can't even say how saddened we all are by this act. It's devastating."
The sea turtle exhibit has been one of the most popular features at Coral World since the marine attraction reopened in 1998 under new ownership and after extensive renovations, Prior said.
Corky became a local celebrity in 1999, when he was rescued from near death at sea in the V.I. National Park. (See "Still buoyant Corky's back at Coral World".) The turtle was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that prevented him from being able to dive and thus feed in the wild, so he became a permanent resident at Coral World, the marine park's curator, Donna Nemeth, said.
The green turtles have been under her care since they hatched in 1997 on Buck Island off St. Croix, Nemeth said. Two of those original hatchlings have since been returned to the wild, and Nemeth said she had planned to release the others when they got larger.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents are investigating the attack on the sea turtles, according to Michael Evans, manager of the agency's Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix. He said he has never heard of a theft of sea turtles from any zoo or aquarium.
"I've never heard of this type of thing happening anywhere else," Evans said. "We take this very seriously."
Hawksbill turtles are an endangered species, and green turtles are listed on the federal endangered species list as "threatened," Evans said. Any attack on either species is a felony under federal law, carrying penalties of up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
There is an international black market for products from endangered sea turtles, such as their meat and eggs, Evans said. He also noted that turtle meat is a traditional delicacy in the Caribbean.
The turtle exhibit will be closed until the three surviving green turtles have recovered from their injuries, Prior said.
There was no sign of forced entry into the Coral World compound, but a person could get in by climbing a rock wall facing the nearby sea, Prior said. Motion detectors in the area did not register any movement that night, and a security guard on duty did not hear anything, she said.

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March 26, 2002 – Federal wildlife agents are investigating the theft of two endangered sea turtles from an exhibit at Coral World Marine Park and attacks on three others.
"Corky," a 10-pound hawksbill turtle, and "Lucky," a 90-pound green turtle, were stolen from an outdoor pool at the marine park sometime before 6 a.m. Sunday, Trudie Prior, general manager at Coral World, said. The three other green turtles in the exhibit were stabbed with spears and are now receiving antibiotics under the care of a veterinarian.
Because of the serious injuries inflicted on the three green turtles, officials at the aquarium believe Corky and Lucky were probably killed, Prior said Tuesday.
"If your purpose was to take and release the turtles into the wild, you wouldn't spear the others," she said. "I can't even say how saddened we all are by this act. It's devastating."
The sea turtle exhibit has been one of the most popular features at Coral World since the marine attraction reopened in 1998 under new ownership and after extensive renovations, Prior said.
Corky became a local celebrity in 1999, when he was rescued from near death at sea in the V.I. National Park. (See "Still buoyant Corky's back at Coral World".) The turtle was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that prevented him from being able to dive and thus feed in the wild, so he became a permanent resident at Coral World, the marine park's curator, Donna Nemeth, said.
The green turtles have been under her care since they hatched in 1997 on Buck Island off St. Croix, Nemeth said. Two of those original hatchlings have since been returned to the wild, and Nemeth said she had planned to release the others when they got larger.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents are investigating the attack on the sea turtles, according to Michael Evans, manager of the agency's Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix. He said he has never heard of a theft of sea turtles from any zoo or aquarium.
"I've never heard of this type of thing happening anywhere else," Evans said. "We take this very seriously."
Hawksbill turtles are an endangered species, and green turtles are listed on the federal endangered species list as "threatened," Evans said. Any attack on either species is a felony under federal law, carrying penalties of up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
There is an international black market for products from endangered sea turtles, such as their meat and eggs, Evans said. He also noted that turtle meat is a traditional delicacy in the Caribbean.
The turtle exhibit will be closed until the three surviving green turtles have recovered from their injuries, Prior said.
There was no sign of forced entry into the Coral World compound, but a person could get in by climbing a rock wall facing the nearby sea, Prior said. Motion detectors in the area did not register any movement that night, and a security guard on duty did not hear anything, she said.

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The St. Croix Landmark Society's Community Education Outreach Program will present Anthoy Padilla in a "Listen and Learn" Concert/Workshop at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 12, at the Evelyn Williams Elementary School in Paradise. The program is open to children from public, private and home schools as well as for senior citizens.
For additional information and reservations, call Nancy Fisk at 772-0598.

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