Public housing residents on St. Croix aired their grievances with their living conditions at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Housing, Parks and Recreation on Thursday night.
Taking the brunt of the criticism was Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ira Hobson.
Two residents of LBJ Gardens, under the purview of Hobson's department, said their homes were literally falling down around them.
Christopher Simmonds said he’s had problems with his unit since Hurricanes Hugo, in 1989, and Marilyn, in 1995. He said he has done some work on his home with the expectation of getting reimbursed. But that hasn’t happened.
"The house is cracking up bad," he said. "The kitchen ceiling is falling in."
Navetta Webster, an 11-year resident of LBJ Gardens, said all areas of the housing community have a long history of problems. The recreational facility has been a "hell hole" for the past five years, she said.
Personally, Webster said her unit is often flooded with sewage, soaked by leaking water pipes and plagued by bad wiring that destroys appliances. She showed a videotape of the problems, and criticized the "incompetency" and "laissez-faire" management of Housing Department officials.
"For five-and-a-half years I’ve been complaining," Webster said. "I’ve complained and complained until I can’t complain anymore."
V.I. Housing Authority Executive Director Conrad Francois and V.I. Housing Finance Authority Executive Director Claude Richards were also present at the hearing, called by committee chairman Senator Celestino White, a long-time advocate for public-housing residents and of home ownership programs for middle- and low-income residents.
Other witnesses listed a litany of complaints, which the housing officials promised to look into.
Senators in attendance, besides Senator White, were Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Carlton Dowe, Emmett Hansen II , Norma Pickard-Samuel, Norman Jn Baptiste and Adelbert Bryan.

Despite Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's expressed support for other aspects of the five-year economic recovery plan, Sen. Lorraine Berry says his veto of the tourism authority proposal—part of the five-year plan and advocated by scores of tourism professionals—was politics, pure and simple.
Speaking Thursday to Rotary East, Berry said she is increasingly convinced that former acting Tourism Commissioner Michael Bornn was let go because of his "dedication to tourism authority principles." Those include, she said, getting rid of unproductive political cronies in offshore offices that do little to promote V.I. tourism while draining hundreds of thousands of dollars from government coffers.
Berry said the Senate majority's policy agenda recommended revisiting creation of a tourism authority. "Hopefully, this indicates there are enough senators who will see the wisdom of the override."
Noting the governor's approval of Industrial Development Commission reforms, Berry said many senators lead the public to believe the Virgin Islands "gives away the store" through IDC legislation when in fact other competitors offer far more to lure investors and create new jobs.
She also told Rotarians that the Wrongful Discharge Law needs additional amendments.
"Here again, we have senators who strike fear into the hearts of the people by claiming the Wrongful Discharge Law is what prevents wholesale firing, when in fact it has led to investors' determination not to invest in the Virgin Islands," she said, thus denying the territory tax revenue and jobs.
Berry also said she would reintroduce the Child Protection Act, which calls for stronger punishment of rapists; she asked Rotarians to lobby for its adoption.

Despite Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's expressed support for other aspects of the five-year economic recovery plan, Sen. Lorraine Berry says his veto of the tourism authority proposal—part of the five-year plan and advocated by scores of tourism professionals—was politics, pure and simple.
Speaking Thursday to Rotary East, Berry said she is increasingly convinced that former acting Tourism Commissioner Michael Bornn was let go because of his "dedication to tourism authority principles." Those include, she said, getting rid of unproductive political cronies in offshore offices that do little to promote V.I. tourism while draining hundreds of thousands of dollars from government coffers.
Berry said the Senate majority's policy agenda recommended revisiting creation of a tourism authority. "Hopefully, this indicates there are enough senators who will see the wisdom of the override."
Noting the governor's approval of Industrial Development Commission reforms, Berry said many senators lead the public to believe the Virgin Islands "gives away the store" through IDC legislation when in fact other competitors offer far more to lure investors and create new jobs.
She also told Rotarians that the Wrongful Discharge Law needs additional amendments.
"Here again, we have senators who strike fear into the hearts of the people by claiming the Wrongful Discharge Law is what prevents wholesale firing, when in fact it has led to investors' determination not to invest in the Virgin Islands," she said, thus denying the territory tax revenue and jobs.
Berry also said she would reintroduce the Child Protection Act, which calls for stronger punishment of rapists; she asked Rotarians to lobby for its adoption.

With the introduction of President George W. Bush’s 10-year, $1.6 trillion tax cut package to Congress on Thursday, the V.I.’s delegate to Congress is beginning to assess the potential impact on the territory.
Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen said Thursday that she wrote to the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue in January requesting information on how large the cut to the territory will be and what income levels will be most affected. Christensen said that information will be important in determining what remedies can be applied as the Virgin Islands treasury faces the prospect of fewer dollars in light of the tax cut.
Congressional Democrats, who oppose the Bush plan, argue that a millionaire would get a $46,000 tax cut under the first year of the Bush plan. A middle-class wage-earner would get about $225. Democrats are proposing $750 billion to $900 billion in tax cuts targeted at the neediest.
Citizens for Tax Justice, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and advocacy organization, questioned Bush’s claim that under the plan, the "average" family would receive a tax cut of $1,600.
According to CTJ, almost 90 percent of taxpayers would receive less than $1,600 in tax cuts if the Bush plan were fully implemented. Additionally, 27 percent of taxpayers would receive no tax cut at all under the Bush plan, CTJ claims.
The Bush plan would treat married couples more generously than other tax filers. The typical married couple filing jointly would receive an income tax cut of $1,028 under the Bush plan when it is fully in place in 2006, CTJ said. The typical single taxpayer would get only $249. In contrast, counting all the elements of the Bush tax program, the best-off 1 percent of all taxpayers would get an average annual tax cut of $46,000 (in 1999 dollars)– almost 43 percent of the total reduction.
Measured in dollars, Bush’s proposal would give its largest tax cuts to upper-income people. Measured in percentage terms, however, middle-class people would get the largest tax cuts.
If the plan were fully implemented, a family with three young children and an annual income of $55,000 would receive a tax decrease of $3,354.
A single person earning $120,000 would get a tax cut of $6,374 or 20.9 percent. The plan would also eliminate the federal estate tax.
Christensen and the Delegate to Congress from Guam, Robert Underwood, have written to Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill urging that "special consideration be undertaken for our unique circumstances" as the tax cut moves through Congress.
"Due to our struggling economies and high unemployment rates, which are 15 percent for Guam and 11 percent for the Virgin Islands, it is important that federal policymakers understand the implications for any tax-cut proposal on the operations of our governments and impact to our communities," the two wrote. "Because our local tax codes 'mirror' the U.S. tax code, we are anticipating a decrease in local revenues for our territorial governments."
Christensen said that she is also working with the Turnbull administration on a proposal to have the federal government pay for the earned income tax credit, which will save the treasury $10 million to $15 million annually.
Republican lawmakers said they hope to have tax cuts signed into law by July 4.

Radio talk show host Mario Moorhead has been hired by members of the Crucian Coalition in the Senate to broadcast their committee hearings live and provide commentary on those and other legislative proceedings.
His $60,000 contract will be paid with public funds from the Senate, with half coming from the personnel allotments of Sens. Adelbert "Bert" Bryan and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen. The contract calls for $30,000 to be paid up front.
Moorhead is a founder of the coalition, which endorsed Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd, who with Bryan and Hansen signed the contract with Moorhead on Jan. 29. Liburd, Hansen and Bryan did not return phone calls Thursday seeking further comment.
In recent years, Moorhead's controversial views led to his firing from three radio stations — WSTX, WRRA 1290 AM and Mongoose 104.3.
Moorhead's contract calls for him to produce a 30-minute weekly program focusing on social ills and community issues and provide commentary on legislative hearings and proceedings while operating and managing a commercial FM radio station, WAXJ on St. Croix. The contract states that Bryan and Hansen "have a desire to increase public participation in legislative decision making affecting every aspect of life in the Virgin Islands." The senators are also quoted in the contract as stating that "existing radio coverage of Senate meetings and sessions is inadequate and warrants improvement."
But the contract calls for specific coverage only of those committee meetings chaired by Bryan or Hansen. It was unclear whether such selective coverage violates Federal Communication Commission regulations concerning equal air time for political candidates.
Under terms of the agreement, Moorhead is to be paid half of the contract up front with the balance due by Jan. 30, 2002. Finance Department sources confirmed that Bryan personally collected the first installment on the contract this week. Both Bryan and Hansen are chipping in $15,000 each from their personnel senatorial allotments, which is used to pay for staff, operations and the like.
WAXJ 103.5 FM is licensed on St. Croix to Hugh Pemberton. He also owns WRRA, where Moorhead once hosted a radio call-in talk show. Pemberton also did not return calls Thursday afternoon.
In the past the Legislature has allotted money from the Senate operating budget — and in some years, $1,000 from each senator's allotment — to nonprofit radio station WIUJ-102.9 FM to air Senate proceedings. The station can be heard clearly across the territory and has broadcast live, unabridged coverage of the Senate for years. Legislative hearings and sessions are also broadcast live on the territory's cable systems.
The contract, approved by Senate Chief Counsel Yvonne Tharpes, states that the Legislature "wishes to contract with Moorhead to provide comprehensive radio coverage and commentary on sessions and on meetings, primarily the Finance Committee and Economic Development committees," which are chaired by Hansen and Bryan respectively.

Radio talk show host Mario Moorhead has been hired by members of the Crucian Coalition in the Senate to broadcast their committee hearings live and provide commentary on those and other legislative proceedings.
His $60,000 contract will be paid with public funds from the Senate, with half coming from the personnel allotments of Sens. Adelbert "Bert" Bryan and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen. The contract calls for $30,000 to be paid up front.
Moorhead is a founder of the coalition, which endorsed Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd, who with Bryan and Hansen signed the contract with Moorhead on Jan. 29. Liburd, Hansen and Bryan did not return phone calls Thursday seeking further comment.
In recent years, Moorhead's controversial views led to his firing from three radio stations — WSTX, WRRA 1290 AM and Mongoose 104.3.
Moorhead's contract calls for him to produce a 30-minute weekly program focusing on social ills and community issues and provide commentary on legislative hearings and proceedings while operating and managing a commercial FM radio station, WAXJ on St. Croix. The contract states that Bryan and Hansen "have a desire to increase public participation in legislative decision making affecting every aspect of life in the Virgin Islands." The senators are also quoted in the contract as stating that "existing radio coverage of Senate meetings and sessions is inadequate and warrants improvement."
But the contract calls for specific coverage only of those committee meetings chaired by Bryan or Hansen. It was unclear whether such selective coverage violates Federal Communication Commission regulations concerning equal air time for political candidates.
Under terms of the agreement, Moorhead is to be paid half of the contract up front with the balance due by Jan. 30, 2002. Finance Department sources confirmed that Bryan personally collected the first installment on the contract this week. Both Bryan and Hansen are chipping in $15,000 each from their personnel senatorial allotments, which is used to pay for staff, operations and the like.
WAXJ 103.5 FM is licensed on St. Croix to Hugh Pemberton. He also owns WRRA, where Moorhead once hosted a radio call-in talk show. Pemberton also did not return calls Thursday afternoon.
In the past the Legislature has allotted money from the Senate operating budget — and in some years, $1,000 from each senator's allotment — to nonprofit radio station WIUJ-102.9 FM to air Senate proceedings. The station can be heard clearly across the territory and has broadcast live, unabridged coverage of the Senate for years. Legislative hearings and sessions are also broadcast live on the territory's cable systems.
The contract, approved by Senate Chief Counsel Yvonne Tharpes, states that the Legislature "wishes to contract with Moorhead to provide comprehensive radio coverage and commentary on sessions and on meetings, primarily the Finance Committee and Economic Development committees," which are chaired by Hansen and Bryan respectively.

Radio talk show host Mario Moorhead has been hired by members of the Crucian Coalition in the Senate to broadcast their committee hearings live and provide commentary on those and other legislative proceedings.
His $60,000 contract will be paid with public funds from the Senate, with half coming from the personnel allotments of Sens. Adelbert "Bert" Bryan and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen. The contract calls for $30,000 to be paid up front.
Moorhead is a founder of the coalition, which endorsed Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd, who with Bryan and Hansen signed the contract with Moorhead on Jan. 29. Liburd, Hansen and Bryan did not return phone calls Thursday seeking further comment.
In recent years, Moorhead's controversial views led to his firing from three radio stations — WSTX, WRRA 1290 AM and Mongoose 104.3.
Moorhead's contract calls for him to produce a 30-minute weekly program focusing on social ills and community issues and provide commentary on legislative hearings and proceedings while operating and managing a commercial FM radio station, WAXJ on St. Croix. The contract states that Bryan and Hansen "have a desire to increase public participation in legislative decision making affecting every aspect of life in the Virgin Islands." The senators are also quoted in the contract as stating that "existing radio coverage of Senate meetings and sessions is inadequate and warrants improvement."
But the contract calls for specific coverage only of those committee meetings chaired by Bryan or Hansen. It was unclear whether such selective coverage violates Federal Communication Commission regulations concerning equal air time for political candidates.
Under terms of the agreement, Moorhead is to be paid half of the contract up front with the balance due by Jan. 30, 2002. Finance Department sources confirmed that Bryan personally collected the first installment on the contract this week. Both Bryan and Hansen are chipping in $15,000 each from their personnel senatorial allotments, which is used to pay for staff, operations and the like.
WAXJ 103.5 FM is licensed on St. Croix to Hugh Pemberton. He also owns WRRA, where Moorhead once hosted a radio call-in talk show. Pemberton also did not return calls Thursday afternoon.
In the past the Legislature has allotted money from the Senate operating budget — and in some years, $1,000 from each senator's allotment — to nonprofit radio station WIUJ-102.9 FM to air Senate proceedings. The station can be heard clearly across the territory and has broadcast live, unabridged coverage of the Senate for years. Legislative hearings and sessions are also broadcast live on the territory's cable systems.
The contract, approved by Senate Chief Counsel Yvonne Tharpes, states that the Legislature "wishes to contract with Moorhead to provide comprehensive radio coverage and commentary on sessions and on meetings, primarily the Finance Committee and Economic Development committees," which are chaired by Hansen and Bryan respectively.

Nuella E. Fredericks died on Sunday, Feb. 4.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Zion Assembly of God Church. A viewing will precede the service beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Burial will follow at Brookman Cemetery.
She is survived by her sons, Barry and Garry Fredericks; brothers, Lucra and Ishmael Francis; sisters, Ella Mae Douglas and Helen Paris; brothers-in-law, L.A. Douglas and John Frett; sisters- in-law, Keturah Francis, Rhenia Latortue, Nora Williams, Gertrude, Ida, Bernice, and Vera Fredericks; seven grandchildren; and many other friends and relatives.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of Creque Funeral Home.

Dottie Williams of JFK Housing Community died Friday, Feb. 2 at Juan F. Luis Hospital. She was 41.
Funeral services will be at noon Monday, Feb. 12 at St. John's Anglican Church, Christiansted. A viewing will begin at 11 a.m.
Interment will be at Kingshill Cemetery.
She is survived by her fiancé, Julio Petersen Jr.; mother, Lauretta Piggott; father, Clement Piggott Sr.; grandmother, Agnis Joseph; daughters, Sherna and Inez Shervington; sons, Raymond Williams, Randy Figauroa, and Darnelle Petersen; sisters, Violet Pilgrim, Clara Piggott, and Dawn Thomas; brothers, Alex and Clement Piggott Jr.; nieces, Patrice, Reniesha, Dilda, and Nikita; nephews, Andre, Rodney Jr., Kareem, Robert, Richard, and Romano; aunts, Edithmay Piggott, Anette Richards, Audrey Murrasey, Finella Joseph, Alexandria Farquhar, Ruthlyn Joseph, Ethlyn Joseph, Georgette Piggott; uncles, Raymond Joseph, Maynard Joseph, Elgin Piggott, Dennis Piggott; sisters-in-law, Allison Ramos, Sherline Nathaniel, Leona Moore, Cynthia Venzen, Roslyn Tyson, Derlie Williams, and Joy Williams; brothers-in-law, Rodney Thomas Sr., Vanley Pilgrim, Paul Williams, Keith Williams, Earl Williams, and Kenny Williams; god-daughter, Sharmere Williams; special friends, Melvina Carry, Evadney Caines, Dorothy Joseph, and Elizabeth Maytina; along with many other friends and relatives.
Professional arrangements are in the care of James Memorial Funeral Home.

Najeeb Charles, age 19, of Estate Whim, died Monday, Feb. 5 in Augusta, Ga.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Frederiksted. A viewing will begin at 9 a.m.
Burial will follow at Kingshill Cemetery.
He is survived by his father, Wayne "Najeeb" Charles; great-grandmother, Inez Capehart; great-grandfather, Leon Irwin; grandmothers, Helena Rhymer and Phyllis Charles; grandfathers, Eugene Rhymer and Earl Charles Sr.; sister, N'zinga Charles; brothers, Shaka and Rasheed Charles; uncles, Uriel Codrington, Delroy, Raymond, Eugene Jr., and Clifford Rhymer, Michael, Earl Jr., Ray, Mark, and Glenwood Charles; 14 great-uncles; and 15 great-aunts.
He is also survived by his aunts, Irma Jean Davis, Brendagail Joseph, Ena Simmonds, Sarah Christiansen, Debra Rhymer, Alice Charles, and Lolita Charles; cousins, Naeemah Charles, Akilah Charles, Adelle Rhymer, Clinton Liburd, Tyrone Christensen, and Shenelle Ray; special friend, Destyni Tucker; along with many other friends and relatives.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of James Memorial Funeral Home.