May 31, 2001 – A bill to create a "boot camp" in the territory for young criminals was approved by the Senate Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee Wednesday after being amended to restrict the ages of those eligible.
In its original form, the bill, sponsored by Sen. Lorraine Berry, provided for an alternative residential correctional program for persons ages 12 to 25 who had been convicted of committing offenses prior to their 16th birthday. The amended version makes the age range 18 to 22.
Human Services Commissioner Sedonie Halbert and Attorney General Iver Stridiron both objected to the broader age range. Halbert also said the boot camp could duplicate services because the Youth Rehabilitation Center on St. Croix is for young people in that age group.
The YRC has come under criticism in the past for overcrowded conditions and for housing violent criminals with young persons convicted of lesser crimes. Both pointing this out, Stridiron and Halbert suggested the bill be amended to restrict the camp to youths 18 to 22. They also noted that many boot camps on the mainland are moving away from an orientation to military discipline and toward a more treatment-oriented model.
Berry said the camp would be funded by grants from the Law Enforcement Planning Commission. Stridiron cautioned that it might not be wise to tie a long-term program to the granting process. The bill was reported out to the Rules Committee.
Early in the meeting another bill sponsored by Berry, to remove the Legislature from the rezonong process, was tabled unanimously. The bill would give jurisdiction for rezoning exclusively to the Planning and Natural Resources Department. Berry said the measure addresses public concerns about the increasing number of "spot" zonings approved by the Legislature.
Dean Plaskett, PNR commissioner, told the lawmakers that since the territory has no comprehensive land and water use plan, a public hearing before the Senate and his department best satisfies the needs of all concerned parties involved.
Committee chair Donald "Ducks" Cole said he wouldn't support any measure giving away legislative responsibility. He also told Plaskett that he has drafted legislation for a water and land use plan but did not say when it would reach the Senate floor.
In other action, the committee:
– Approved a permit for the Public Works Department to reconstruct the Water Island ferry dock at Providence Point, which was destroyed by storms. The work is federally funded and is to be completed by July of 2002.
– Forwarded to Rules a bill to increase the penalties for animal cruelty.
– Forwarded to Rules a bill requiring Public Works to comply with all territorial and federal earth change laws when constructing roads or capital improvement projects.
– Tabled bills that would give the Government Employees Retirement System board the power to lend and borrow money and would promote employment of people with disabilities and declare the first week in October as "Virgin Islands Employ People with Disabilities Week."
A bill titled the "Pollution Environmental Leadership and Pollution Prevention Act" was withdrawn at the request of its sponsor, Sen. Roosevelt David.
Attending the meeting were committee members Adelbert Bryan, Cole, David, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Carlton Dowe and Celestino White Sr. Berry was the only senator present who is not a member of the committee.

The St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island branch of the V. I. Republican Party will hold its monthly general meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, at Niky Shopping Center downstairs next to the Bank of Nova Scotia.
The public is invited.
For additional information call 775-9281; 775-2823; or 777-8701.

The St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island branch of the V.I. Republican Party will hold its monthly general meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, 2001, at Nisky Shopping Center.
The public is invited.
For additional information call 775-9258; 775-2823; or 777-8701.

The St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island branch of the Republican Party will hold its monthly general meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, 2001, at Nisky Shopping Center. The public is invited.
For additional information call 775-9259; 775-2823; or 777-8701.

The St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island branch of the V.I. Republican Party will hold its monthly general meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, at Nisky Shopping Center next to the Bank of Nova Scotia.The public is invited.
For additional information call 775-9258; 775-2823; or 777-8701.

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources will be closed between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, June 1, 2001, on St. Thomas.
The employees will be attending the DPNR's 2nd Annual Employee Recognition Ceremonies.

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources will be closed between 8 and 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2001, on St. Croix.
The employees will be attending the DPNR's 2nd Annual Employees Recognition Ceremonies.

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources announces that the offices will be closed between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, June 1, 2001, on St. Thomas.
The emplyees will be attending the DPNR's 2nd Annual Employees Recognition Ceremonies.

St. Croix hosted the third leg of the Caribbean Cup Mountain Bike Series last weekend and the venue provided the opportunity for the Virgin Island's cyclists to shine.
Jamie Keys extended his unbeaten streak, racking up yet another victory in the Elite division, while junior Bryce Scott continued his winning ways by destroying his competition in the cross country race and beating the entire field in the downhill time trial.
The cross country race was held Saturday morning in the Creque Dam valley on a hilly 3.8-mile loop that included many technical ghut sections, exposed ridgeline and fast singletrack. The course was described by Brian Lynn of Antigua as "one of, if not, the best in the Caribbean."
"It's a hard, hard course but still fun and challenging," said Jamaican Declan Hamblin.
The number of laps required for each class depended on their age an ability, with the elite riding five to the cadets riding just one.
The VI Cycling Federation took home five of a possible six gold medals in the race with Keys winning Elite, Bryce Scott winning Juniors, John Harper taking the Veterans B, Craig Scott the Masters and Vincente Pesante, competing in his first race, the Cadet category. John Riggs, also from St. Croix, finished strong bringing home the bronze in the Elite division.
Saturday afternoon brought the downhill time trial. Run on a very fast, technical trail that started from inside the Bodkin sugar mill to the top of Annaly Bay road, the course was spectacular in its difficulty and beauty.
Riders raced against the clock, seeing who would be fastest down the steep chute, filled with twists, turns, rocks and even a jump. Bryce Scott destroyed the field, being the only rider to break the seven minute barrier. Omaro Williams of Antigua followed in second more than 30 seconds behind. Aaron Hutchins from the VI finished third.
"It was an excellent event with great competition," said VICF President Mike McQueston.
The VICF will be sending Keys and other riders to competitions in Puerto Rico during the month of June and then heading to Antigua for the final leg of the Caribbean Cup MTB Series.
Anyone interested in getting involved with cycling should contact the VICF at 772.2343 or email McQuestion .

May 31, 2001 — If West Indian Co. Ltd. officials want to see cruise ship homeporting on St. Croix anytime soon, they should put up the money to do it, according to Gordon Finch of the V.I. Port Authority.
Finch, the Port Authority executive director, was responding to comments made last week by his counterpart at WICO, Edward Thomas, who said a lack of leadership within the Port Authority has caused the territory to lose a chance at being a home base for cruise lines.
Thomas said that with more Eastern Caribbean cruises taking in four to five ports, cruise lines are interested in having a home base in the region. Ports in San Juan and Florida, he said, are becoming too crowded. Because of that, he said the Port Authority should move ahead with plans to develop a homeporting facility.
But in an address to the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Finch said that if WICO wants to undertake such a project, it should do it itself.
"If WICO feels homeporting is the thing to do . . . I invite WICO to take up the gauntlet," Finch said.
He noted that current conditions on St. Croix, including the lack of major air arrivals and hotel rooms, would mean such an investment – in the neighborhood of $30 million to $50 million – would "be very precarious at this point to undertake."
Loan and operating expenses for such a project, Finch said, would cost about $4.5 million a year. Considering current traffic, homeporting would have to be subsidized by the government, he said.
Finch, who clashed with Thomas late last year over the Port Authority’s Crown Bay project on St. Thomas, said his agency would gladly give WICO access to port areas if it were interested in funding and building a homeport facility. WICO, Finch said, "inherited a golden goose" when the government purchased the cruise ship dock at Havensight on St. Thomas. He said WICO has never had to fund large capital projects that pay for themselves.
But Finch did say there is a future for homeporting on St. Croix. He noted that the soon-to-be-finished Henry E. Rohlsen Airport project will meet airline arrival needs, and ship fuel costs are low. However, the island still will need more hotel rooms and cheaper airfares.
At a Senate hearing earlier this month, Finch told senators that cruise lines want to be assured of an inventory of rooms at all times and regularly scheduled flights into a locale where they would homeport.