Dec. 19, 2001 – The Tourism Department is extending the territory's "Stay and Play, We'll Pay!" vacation promotion through Dec. 25. It was to have expired Dec. 15.
Christmas Day is the deadline by which bookings must be made. Travel may be anytime through next March 31, the same deadline initially in effect.
In launching the promotion in early November, the Tourism Department announced that at least 32 hotels, resorts and inns would participate. The promotion offers two incentives: Guests get a $200 traveler's check upon arrival — a maximum of two to a room — and anyone who books a stay of three or more nights — a requirement to qualify for the $200 — also gets another night's stay for free. As it turned out, two more St. Croix properties came aboard, for a total of 34.
The deal took effect for travel starting Dec. 1, with the properties able to impose blackout periods. Word of the deadline extension was circulated nationwide Wednesday in a release distributed by Martin Public Relations, the territory's mainland p.r. agency. The department "decided to extend discounted accommodations to visitors in search of the perfect winter vacation," the release states.
The traveler's check promotion is being funded through the Tourism Department's $6.5 million "Sea to Shining Sea" marketing effort launched to counter the drop in visitor arrivals and cancellation of bookings that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Partnering in the promotion are the hotels that are providing the free fourth night of accommodations and eight tour operators that sell packages to travel agents and in some cases directly to the public.
Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards had said last week that she might extend the booking deadline. Also last week, hotelier Richard Doumeng, who recently resigned as president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said tour operators had sold "well less than half" of the 3,750 available packages and that he expected the cutoff date to be extended to Dec. 31.
Chantal Richards, Tourism assistant marketing director, said Wednesday that the promotion is available to a maximum of 7,500 participants, meaning the number of people who would be eligible to receive the traveler's checks, rather than to a maximum number of rooms. Asked how many of those remain to be sold, she replied, "I can't give you an accurate number right now. I get numbers every three days, and this is a middle day."
However, she added, "Obviously we haven't used all the money" for traveler's checks, "or we couldn't have extended the promotion." In response to Doumeng's comment that less than half the available bookings had been sold, she said, "I don't think it's less than half. I know that there was still enough to continue for another 10 days. The commissioner did not want to extend it to Dec. 31 because she did not want to get into a situation where they were overselling."
The Martin release states that guests also will "receive a coupon booklet for savings valued up to $1,500." Chantal Richards said Wednesday that the booklets are available only for St. Thomas and St. John visitors and were put together by the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce.
To publicize the promotion, Chantal Richards said, the department ran commercials "on cable TV nationally — Discovery, A&E" — rotating the toll-free telephone numbers for the tour operators and did a national advertising run in the newspaper USA Today. But "it will be up to the tour operators to let people know that we are continuing the promotion," she said. She noted that one operator, Travel Impressions, "released something that came out yesterday in the New York Post."
The promotion has proven popular among the tour operators, Chantal Richards said, and "they asked us to extend it." In fact, she added, "now other destinations are piggy-backing on the traveler's check idea and trying to do the same thing."
The participating tour operators are AA Vacations, Certified Vacations, Classic Customs Vacations, GoGo Worldwide Vacations, Inter-Island Tours, Island Resort Tours, The Mark Travel and Travel Impressions.
The participating properties are:
On St. Thomas — Antilles Resorts-St. Thomas (Crystal Cove, Sapphire Village and Anchorage), Bellavista Scott Hotel, Blazing Villas, Best Western Carib Beach Resort, Best Western Emerald Beach Resort, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort and Villas, Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel, Mafolie Hotel, Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, Palms Court Harborview, Point Pleasant Resort, Ramsey's Guest House, Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina, Secret Harbour Beach Resort and Villas, and Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa.
On St. Croix — Antilles Resorts-St. Croix (Colony Cove and Club St. Croix), The Buccaneer, Carrington's Inn, Chenay Bay Beach Resort, Divi Carina Bay Resort, Frederiksted Hotel, Hibiscus Beach Hotel, Hotel Caravelle, Hotel on the Cay, Innparadise, Pink Fancy Hotel, Sugar Beach Condo Resort, Vacation St. Croix and Villa Margarita.
On St. John — The Westin St. John Resort and Villas.
Meanwhile, V.I. Calling teams of representatives from the territory's hospitality industry have been making presentations to travel agents and other travel partners on the mainland. And the current issue of Modern Bride Magazine lists the territory as one of the top 10 honeymoon destinations in the world, based on its survey of more than 3,000 travel agents.
The "Stay and Play" promotion is not valid for pre-existing reservations and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion; it is available to U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico residents only.

Dec. 19, 2001 – The American Association of Retired Persons Chapter 3138 will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22, in the Windward Passage Holiday Inn for this years Christmas Social. All members and prospective members are invited.
A nomial fee of $10 will be charged.

The American Association of Retired Persons will meet at the Tradewinds Room at the Windward Passage Holiday Inn for this year's Christmas Social. All members and prospective members are invited.
A nominal fee of $10 per person will be charged.

The Charlotte Amalie High School Class of 1995 will hold its final meeting for the year at the Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church's Bethania hall.
For more information call Tiffany at 714-2363, Renee at 776-8500 or Chanee at 714-6618.

Dec. 18, 2001 – The Charlotte Amalie High School Class of 1995 will hold its final meeting for the year at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 28, at the Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church's Bethania Hall.
For more information call Tiffany at 714-2363, Renee at 776-8500 or Chanee at 714-6618.

All residents of the Oswald Harris Court Community are invited to the Annual Community Christmas Celebration to be held at the Ruth Dazle Community Center. The Celebration will feature performances by the VIHA Steel Orchestra and their Choraliers. Persons with a disability who need special accommodations are urged to indicate by calling their managers office within three days prior to the event.

Dec. 19, 2001 – All residents of Oswald Harris Court Community are invited to the Annual Christmas Celebration from 12 noon until 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21, at the Oswald Harris Court Ruth Dazle Community Center. The celebration will feature performances by the VIHA Steel Orchestra and their Choraliers.
Persons with disability who need special accommodations are urged to indicate by calling their manager's office within three days prior to the Christmas Celebration.

Dear Source,
Recent rezonings of the Harthman and Botany Bay properties have added to the injustices that have been and continue to be heaped upon the people by those to whom we have entrusted our fate and life through our votes.
Let's look at the sequence of events. The first attempt to rezone the Harthman property took place when the Legislature snuck it in as an amendment without conducting a public hearing. The bill passed and was forwarded to the governor. A call to the governor not to sign the rezoning was made and heard; the governor responded by not signing that rezoning — although after, I guess, appropriate public input, he did sign it into law.
[Editor's note: On Nov. 26, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull approved a petition from the Harthman family approved earlier last month by the Senate. The measure rezones some 27 acres of property the family owns in Estate Charlotte Amalie behind Tutu Park Mall, from agricultural to commercial. The family also owns the land where the mall itself stands, property which they have leased to the developers.]
Now, here comes Botany Bay! The Nov. 23 public hearing, apparently intentionally scheduled the day after Thanksgiving in hopes that we would be too stuffed to participate, was well attended. The apparent concerns for preservation, accessibility, ecology, environment, etc. were raised by those not in favor of disturbing the pristine beauty that presently exists.
Here's how "they say" it happens. Developers/owners want a specific piece of property; if they have difficulty getting their foot in the door, "they" hire or make stockholders of persons influential with the governor and the Legislature. In this case, "they say," "they" just happen to be two of the governor's advisers. Once "they" have established their financial relationships, the governor's advisers then recruit enough senators until they have enough votes.
Then the governor is approached with the "deal" — or it could be in the reverse: "Governor, we've got some guys interested in Botany Bay; they need carte blanche and Economic Development Commission benefits to develop the area into an exclusive resort that will bring hundreds of jobs to St. Thomas and will boost the overall economy. In return they will call their friends in D.C. and have them forgive the Virgin Islands FEMA loan." "They say" one of the owners was/is influential in getting the Federal Emergency Management Agency loan forgiven.
Now, how can the governor turn that down? How do you think the governor can give out raises, step increases, etc.? Has he been off paid in advance? The governor does have the upper hand when he says, "If you guys want these benefits, you got to get me re-elected." So the developers/owners financially secure the re-election not only of the governor but hopefully of the senators who voted for the rezoning. Look at how much money will be spent on the campaigns of the "Famous 8."
The Botany Bay rezoning application followed the process: Two public hearings were held, one by the Planning and Natural Resources Department, the other by the Legislature. The rezoning application can legally be special ordered to the floor and passed, as was done in the last session.
This rezoning was well staged: First "they" — the developers/owners, the governor, the "Famous 8" and the governor's advisers — did not want Botany Bay to get the kind of attention that the Harthman rezoning got. "They" influenced DPNR to hold the first public hearing at a time people would be away for the holidays or too stuffed to participate, and that, with the percent who are too apathetic, would ensure a low turnout.
Attendance was excellent, considering "we rarely come out." Then "they" snuck in the second hearing, conducted by the Legislature, and again the people raised their concerns after DPNR staff presented their recommendations for a zoning variance.
Apparently, the developers/owners were pre-guaranteed the passage of the rezoning, regardless of DPNR's recommendations. Even though "they" sat up there and said "they" would work with the recommendations of DPNR for a zoning variance, "they," the developers/owners, knew this was all staged. Senators must have been paid off, the governor must have gotten the FEMA loan forgiven, and now the campaign contributions must be in the bag.
Most will say that it doesn't make a difference any more whether we speak up or not; "they" are going to do what "they" want, anyway. And that is exactly what "they" are counting on us to do — nothing!
Comment when Botany Bay is being discussed: When was the last time you were down there? If you've never been there, how do you know what you're missing? Remember Tutu Park Mall — the artifacts that were unearthed, to be placed in a museum in the mall? And the library that was to be a part of the reason Tutu Park Mall received Industrial Development Commission benefits?
The developers/owners also know that as long as the present governor and the "Famous 8" are in power, "they" are basically guaranteed all that "they" have asked for, and more!
You see, the developers/owners already know that even if "they" had to accept the recommended conditions of DPNR, who would enforce them? DPNR will suddenly become even more understaffed, with not enough resources, and "they" will say, "We felt it would be better to have them pay a fine than to delay the economic growth of the territory."
To go on record as having raised your voices of concern, call Gov. Charles W. Turnbull at 774-0001 and leave this message: Veto Botany Bay rezoning. Send it back to the Legislature for the senators to include the recommendations of DPNR.
Remember the rezoning of Zufriedenheit, a.k.a. Magens Bay ? "They say" all the senators who voted for that rezoning were not re-elected.
The calls and concerns raised by the people over the Harthman rezoning got the governor's attention not to sign the rezoning. Let us use that power once again with Botany Bay! Call the governor; call all the radio call-in programs encouraging people of the community to call the governor to veto Botany Bay rezoning. Do not be silent!
Stephanie Scott-Williams
Founder, Women For Positive Change
St. Thomas

Editor's note: 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.

Dec. 19, 2001 – Litterbugs, beware: The Public Works Department now has a trash posse cruising St. Croix to make you clean up your act.
Through a $288,000 grant from the Anti-Litter and Beautification Commission, Public Works hired four litter-enforcement officers for the Big Island in late November. The officers have been trained in the territory’s lightly enforced litter laws, Wayne Callwood, Public Works commissioner, said, and they are packing ticket books.
"It is their duty to inform the public of these laws but at the same time to enforce them," Callwood said. "Over the past three weeks they have given numerous warnings — and, on occasion, tickets — to individuals and businesses in the community."
Anne Golden, the new executive director of the Anti-Litter and Beautification Commission, said the one-year grant covers pay, benefits and transportation. The litter cops have been sworn in by Territorial Court Judge Maria Cabret and are full-fledged enforcement officers.
"They are aggressively pursuing litterers," she said.
While Golden said she was excited by the new program, the realities are that it is funded for only a year and revenue generated from fines go into the government’s General Fund. Over the next year, Golden said, she will try to have fine revenues redirected back to the program in order to make it at least partially self-sustaining.
"Fines should come back to us … so we can pay for future officers. The grant should have made that clear," Golden said. "We need to work out where the money goes. If [Public Works] asks to do it again, I’d be inclined to do it if fines come back to us."
Among their other duties, Callwood said, the enforcement officers will be monitoring the public trash bins to make sure people are practicing proper disposal practices. He noted that business owners should contract local haulers for the pickup and disposal of their waste. Disposing trash generated by a business in a public container is a violation of the law.
Callwood also noted that the bins in Mon Bijou and Peter’s Rest are only for household goods, and items such as refrigerators, stoves, engines and dead animals are not to be placed in or by them.
"These items are to be brought to the landfill in a secured manner," Callwood said. "Businesses must dispose of trash only at the landfill, not at the dumpsters."

Dec. 18, 2001 – Police Commissioner Franz Christian and newly appointed Police Chief Novelle Francis Jr. met with Tutu-area residents on Tuesday as part of an effort to improve police community relations.
Earlier this month, Christian met with residents at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, and the commissioner said Tuesday he expected such meetings to continue.
"We have a whole slew of new initiatives planned," the commissioner said. He acknowledged that relations between the police and residents needs to improve if law-enforcement officials are to meet a mandate from Gov. Charles W. Turnbull to reduce crime in the territory by 20 percent.
Francis, who replaced Jose Garcia as police chief last month, said he believes a 20 percent reduction in crime is a realistic goal, but that it will take the support of Virgin Islands residents.
"Crime is everybody's problem," Francis told about 15 residents at Joseph Gomez Elementary School. "Whenever a crime is committed, two or three or more people know what happened. We need them to help, without fear of retaliation."
Several residents and police officials at the meeting said they believe the police need to do a better job of letting people know about programs available to help reduce crime.
The police officials encouraged people to take part in Neighborhood Watch programs, to register cars in a program intended to prevent auto theft, and to take advantage of other services available through the Crime Prevention Bureau.
The area residents in turn encouraged the officers to get to know young people — especially children — on a one-to-one basis as a way of building trust between the police and civilians. They also suggested that police reach out to groups such as parent-teacher associations as a way of working together to reduce crime.
Christian said he is working to build up the numbers of officers patrolling on the streets. He said nearly 20 new police cars arrived on St. Thomas this month and more are on order. He also said he hopes recently implemented salary increases and improvements in equipment will improve morale among officers, and that he is looking at the possibility of opening more police substations as a means to reduce response times.
Police officials acknowledged a great discrepancy between the number of criminal incidents reported and the number of arrests made in those cases. The main way of solving more crimes is to increase the cooperation of the public, Christian said, and that is one of the purpose of the current series of meetings with residents.
"What we're lacking at this time is community participation," Christian said. "Crime is a societal problem, and all of us have to get involved."