Sept. 5, 2001 – Two members of the territory’s Republican Party filed a class action suit in U.S. District Court on Wednesday seeking to force the V.I. government to issue local taxpayers income-tax credit checks just as the federal government has done on the mainland.
Since the territory’s tax code mirrors that of the federal government, taxpayers here are due the same credit on their 2001 income tax as their mainland counterparts, said Michael Bornn, who co-chairs the Republican Party’s Bush-Cheney Leadership Policy Committee.
The money is due year 2000 taxpayers under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, signed into law on June 7 by President George W. Bush. The law lowered the tax rate.
"The credit is for overpayments from the first half of the year," explained the Republicans' attorney, Chad C. Messier of Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig.
The maximum credits possible are $300 for single taxpayers, $500 for heads of household, and $600 for couples filing taxes jointly. Actual payment depends on income as reflected in 2000 tax returns.
The credit was intended as a stimulus to boost the mainland’s sagging
economy. The U.S. Treasury has begun sending out checks, and all payments are to be made by Dec. 31.
The director of the Internal Revenue Bureau has indicated that the IRB does not intend to send out such payments but instead will let taxpayers deduct the amount due them from their 2001 tax liability in their tax returns that will come due next April 15. IRB director Louis Willis has said the government doesn't have the money or the time to issue the credits.
According to Bornn, the IRB proposal is contrary to the law. The two Republicans who filed the suit are former Sen. Anne Golden, a St. Croix resident, and Leo D. Goubourn, who lives in St. Thomas. Neither they nor Willis could be reached for comment.
The suit was filed against Willis, the V.I. government, the Internal Revenue Bureau, and Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. Messier said he intends to ask District Judge Thomas K. Moore for a temporary injunction next week to prevent the government from ignoring the federal mandate.

Sept. 5, 2001 – Two members of the territory’s Republican Party filed a class action suit in U.S. District Court on Wednesday seeking to force the V.I. government to issue local taxpayers income-tax credit checks just as the federal government has done on the mainland.
Since the territory’s tax code mirrors that of the federal government, taxpayers here are due the same credit on their 2001 income tax as their mainland counterparts, said Michael Bornn, who co-chairs the Republican Party’s Bush-Cheney Leadership Policy Committee.
The money is due year 2000 taxpayers under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, signed into law on June 7 by President George W. Bush. The law lowered the tax rate.
"The credit is for overpayments from the first half of the year," explained the Republicans' attorney, Chad C. Messier of Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig.
The maximum credits possible are $300 for single taxpayers, $500 for heads of household, and $600 for couples filing taxes jointly. Actual payment depends on income as reflected in 2000 tax returns.
The credit was intended as a stimulus to boost the mainland’s sagging
economy. The U.S. Treasury has begun sending out checks, and all payments are to be made by Dec. 31.
The director of the Internal Revenue Bureau has indicated that the IRB does not intend to send out such payments but instead will let taxpayers deduct the amount due them from their 2001 tax liability in their tax returns that will come due next April 15. IRB director Louis Willis has said the government doesn't have the money or the time to issue the credits.
According to Bornn, the IRB proposal is contrary to the law. The two Republicans who filed the suit are former Sen. Anne Golden, a St. Croix resident, and Leo D. Goubourn, who lives in St. Thomas. Neither they nor Willis could be reached for comment.
The suit was filed against Willis, the V.I. government, the Internal Revenue Bureau, and Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. Messier said he intends to ask District Judge Thomas K. Moore for a temporary injunction next week to prevent the government from ignoring the federal mandate.

Sept. 5, 2001 – Two members of the territory’s Republican Party filed a class action suit in U.S. District Court on Wednesday seeking to force the V.I. government to issue local taxpayers income-tax credit checks just as the federal government has done on the mainland.
Since the territory’s tax code mirrors that of the federal government, taxpayers here are due the same credit on their 2001 income tax as their mainland counterparts, said Michael Bornn, who co-chairs the Republican Party’s Bush-Cheney Leadership Policy Committee.
The money is due year 2000 taxpayers under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, signed into law on June 7 by President George W. Bush. The law lowered the tax rate.
"The credit is for overpayments from the first half of the year," explained the Republicans' attorney, Chad C. Messier of Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig.
The maximum credits possible are $300 for single taxpayers, $500 for heads of household, and $600 for couples filing taxes jointly. Actual payment depends on income as reflected in 2000 tax returns.
The credit was intended as a stimulus to boost the mainland’s sagging
economy. The U.S. Treasury has begun sending out checks, and all payments are to be made by Dec. 31.
The director of the Internal Revenue Bureau has indicated that the IRB does not intend to send out such payments but instead will let taxpayers deduct the amount due them from their 2001 tax liability in their tax returns that will come due next April 15. IRB director Louis Willis has said the government doesn't have the money or the time to issue the credits.
According to Bornn, the IRB proposal is contrary to the law. The two Republicans who filed the suit are former Sen. Anne Golden, a St. Croix resident, and Leo D. Goubourn, who lives in St. Thomas. Neither they nor Willis could be reached for comment.
The suit was filed against Willis, the V.I. government, the Internal Revenue Bureau, and Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. Messier said he intends to ask District Judge Thomas K. Moore for a temporary injunction next week to prevent the government from ignoring the federal mandate.

Beatrice Pemberton Yasper, age 98, died in Puerto Rico. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, at St. Ann's Catholic Church. Viewing will begin at 12 noon. Internment will take place at Kingshill Cemetery.
She is survived by her daughter Cynthia Maria Woods Huggins, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren; and any relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Professional services by James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.

A special meeeting of the Board of Commissioners of the V.I. Housing Authority is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Central Offices of the Authority in Estate Anna's Retreat, St. Thomas.

A special meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the V.I. Housing Authority has been rescheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Central Offices of the Authority in Estate Anna's Retreat, St. Thomas.

Sept. 5, 2001 — It’s official. Boston Harbor Cruises announced Wednesday that it will return to the territory this winter with its fast-ferry service between St. Croix and St. Thomas.
The company’s high-speed catamaran will begin service in mid- to late-November and run through May, said Kevin Matthews, Boston Harbor’s operations director. The service will run seven days a week and will depart and arrive at the Edward Wilmouth Blyden Terminal on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront and the Gallows Bay dock in Christiansted. The company’s Internet website has yet to post fare information. But a release issued by Boston Harbor Cruises lists these fares: for an adult local resident, $60 round trip and $35 one-way; for those 65 years and older, $55 round trip and $30 one way; for children ages 3-12, $50 round trip and $27 one way. Children under 3 years old ride free.
For non-resident adults, fares are $75 round trip and $42 one way; for non-resident seniors and children 3-12, they are $65 round trip and $37 one way.
Matthews said the trip will take about 75 minutes each way on the $10 million, 270-seat vessel Salacia, which is capable of speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
Along with Boston Harbor Cruises, which conducted a month-long trial run in April, St. Croix-based Crucian Express is set to begin service. It will run its Norwegian-built fast ferry on a year-round basis starting on Dec. 1.
The company's 140-foot, 200-passenger catamaran, unnamed so far, will make two round-trips a day on weekdays and three a day on weekends. Tickets will be $50 round trip for the crossing, which will take about an hour and a half, according to Crucian Express management.

Sept. 5, 2001 — It’s official. Boston Harbor Cruises announced Wednesday that it will return to the territory this winter with its fast-ferry service between St. Croix and St. Thomas.
The company’s high-speed catamaran will begin service in mid- to late-November and run through May, said Kevin Matthews, Boston Harbor’s operations director. The service will run seven days a week and will depart and arrive at the Edward Wilmouth Blyden Terminal on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront and the Gallows Bay dock in Christiansted. The company’s Internet website has yet to post fare information. But a release issued by Boston Harbor Cruises lists a round-trip fare for a local adult resident at $60, $35 one-way. A round trip for local seniors, 65 and older; and children 3 to 12, is $55 and $50 respectively, $30 and $27 one-way. Children under three years old are free.
Fares are $75 round trip, $42 one-way, for non-resident adults and $65, $37 one-way, for non-resident children 3 to 12.
Matthews said the trip will take about 75 minutes each way on the $10 million, 270-seat vessel Salacia, which is capable of speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
Along with Boston Harbor Cruises, which conducted a month-long trial run earlier this year, St. Croix-based Crucian Express Inc. is set to begin running its Norwegian-built fast ferry on a year-round basis Dec. 1. Crucian Express will run its so-far-unnamed 140-foot, 200-passenger catamaran twice a day Monday through Friday and three trips a day Friday through Sunday. Tickets will be $50 round trip for the approximately hour-and-a-half crossing, according to Crucian Express management.

Sept. 5, 2001 — It’s official. Boston Harbor Cruises announced Wednesday that it will return to the territory this winter with its fast-ferry service between St. Croix and St. Thomas.
The company’s high-speed catamaran will begin service in mid- to late-November and run through May, said Kevin Matthews, Boston Harbor’s operations director. The service will run seven days a week and will depart and arrive at the Edward Wilmouth Blyden Terminal on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront and the Gallows Bay dock in Christiansted. The company’s Internet website has yet to post fare information. But a release issued by Boston Harbor Cruises lists these fares: for an adult local resident, $60 round trip and $35 one-way; for those 65 years and older, $55 round trip and $30 one way; for children ages 3-12, $50 round trip and $27 one way. Children under 3 years old ride free.
For non-resident adults, fares are $75 round trip and $42 one way; for non-resident seniors and children 3-12, they are $65 round trip and $37 one way.
Matthews said the trip will take about 75 minutes each way on the $10 million, 270-seat vessel Salacia, which is capable of speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
Along with Boston Harbor Cruises, which conducted a month-long trial run in April, St. Croix-based Crucian Express is set to begin service. It will run its Norwegian-built fast ferry on a year-round basis starting on Dec. 1.
The company's 140-foot, 200-passenger catamaran, unnamed so far, will make two round-trips a day on weekdays and three a day on weekends. Tickets will be $50 round trip for the crossing, which will take about an hour and a half, according to Crucian Express management.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Virgin Islands will meet on Saturday, Sept. 8, and Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Baha'i Center at 129 Contant, St. Thomas.
The National Spiritual Assembly directs and coordinates the activities of the Baha'i communities in the British and U.S. Virgin Islands.