In a radio address Friday, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull said he has sought assistance from U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater to complete major drainage projects, fund upgrades to the wastewater treatment plants and purchase vehicles for the disabled and elderly.
He also said he has received assurances that some additional federal money will be made available for general use by the Public Works Department to complete other projects now under way.
The governor's remarks also included comments on recent protests by law enforcement officers over wages, the fiscal year 2001 budget, and the crisis in education.
Turnbull said he and his financial advisers are putting the finishing touches on the budget package, which should be sent to the Senate "soon." The executive budget was due on May 30.
"We have attempted to structure a spending package that will continue vital services and programs but I have instructed department and agency heads to plan on reducing payroll costs by an additional 5 percent," the governor said.
He also said much emphasis is being placed on education where a mass exodus of teachers is anticipated when schools reopen next month.
"We must do what we have to in order to ensure that there are sufficient teachers in the classrooms when school reopens in August," Turnbull said, adding that education remains his No. 1 priority. "We are continuing talks with the teachers unions in an attempt to reach consensus on a raise for teachers."
In addressing the protests by law enforcement officials' unions, Turnbull said, "We are not deaf or insensitive to their needs but it is clear that we do not have all the necessary funds to address all of the problems of these agencies at the same time."
The governor recapped his recent veto of legislation that would have provided some funds to rehire laid off Vitran workers through the end of the fiscal year. He said the money appropriated by the Senate for that purpose was insufficient. He warned senators to avoid election year pressure to override his veto. Noting that the Vitran system is $12 million overspent, the governor said, "We cannot continue to operate public transportation in this manner. To attempt an override is unwise and irresponsible."
He also reviewed his recent participation in the National Governor's Association conference in State College, Pa.
A release from Government House dubbed the radio talk a "Weekly radio address by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull."

In a radio address Friday, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull said he has sought assistance from U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater to complete major drainage projects, fund upgrades to the wastewater treatment plants and purchase vehicles for the disabled and elderly.
He also said he has received assurances that some additional federal money will be made available for general use by the Public Works Department to complete other projects now under way.
The governor's remarks also included comments on recent protests by law enforcement officers over wages, the fiscal year 2001 budget, and the crisis in education.
Turnbull said he and his financial advisers are putting the finishing touches on the budget package, which should be sent to the Senate "soon." The executive budget was due on May 30.
"We have attempted to structure a spending package that will continue vital services and programs but I have instructed department and agency heads to plan on reducing payroll costs by an additional 5 percent," the governor said.
He also said much emphasis is being placed on education where a mass exodus of teachers is anticipated when schools reopen next month.
"We must do what we have to in order to ensure that there are sufficient teachers in the classrooms when school reopens in August," Turnbull said, adding that education remains his No. 1 priority. "We are continuing talks with the teachers unions in an attempt to reach consensus on a raise for teachers."
In addressing the protests by law enforcement officials' unions, Turnbull said, "We are not deaf or insensitive to their needs but it is clear that we do not have all the necessary funds to address all of the problems of these agencies at the same time."
The governor recapped his recent veto of legislation that would have provided some funds to rehire laid off Vitran workers through the end of the fiscal year. He said the money appropriated by the Senate for that purpose was insufficient. He warned senators to avoid election year pressure to override his veto. Noting that the Vitran system is $12 million overspent, the governor said, "We cannot continue to operate public transportation in this manner. To attempt an override is unwise and irresponsible."
He also reviewed his recent participation in the National Governor's Association conference in State College, Pa.
A release from Government House dubbed the radio talk a "Weekly radio address by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull."

St. Thomas will be getting a new daily direct, non-stop flight from Charlotte, N.C., when US Airways adds the island to its Caribbean network out of that hub starting Nov. 12.
The flight will depart daily from the Charlotte-Douglas International airport at 11:20 a.m. and arrive at Cyril E. King Airport at 4:04 p.m. The return flight will leave St. Thomas at 4:55 p.m. with a 48-minute layover in San Juan and arrive in Charlotte at 9:10 p.m.
US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said this is a permanent route and is not planned only for the Caribbean's busy season. Castelveter said the direct flight was added because of a demand for travel to St. Thomas.
There is an introductory sale price for the flight of $458 round trip. The lowest price otherwise is $610, according to Castelveter. These rates require a reservation 14 days prior to travel. Travelers booking a flight closer to travel time can expect to pay $672 each way, Castelveter said.
A press release from US Airways said the carrier "is the fifth largest airline in the world in terms of passengers boarded." Airline officials also say it has the most sweeping route network in the eastern United States and plays an important role in bringing customers to what Gregory T. Taylor, US Airways senior vice president for planning, calls one of the world's leading leisure destinations — the Caribbean.
This new link to St. Thomas will be the eighth Caribbean destination out of the airline's Charlotte hub. Already served from the hub are Bermuda, Cancun, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Nassau, San Juan and St. Maarten. The other US Airway hubs are located in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
For more information contact US Airways at (800) 428-4322.

More than two weeks of testimony in the trial against four St. Croix police officers charged with federal and local crimes ranging from rape to witness tampering came to an end Friday.
District Court Judge Raymond Finch spent the better part of the afternoon going over the 31 charges against Officers Ronald Pickard, Dean Bates, Renaldo Philbert and Victor Suarez with the 11-woman, one-man jury.
It had been expected that closing arguments would made after Finch issued his instructions. But shortly before 5 p.m. he excused the jury for the weekend — because at least one member is a Seventh-day Adventist whose sabbath begins at 6 p.m. Friday. Instead, the closing arguments will begin at 9 a.m. Monday.
Pickard, Bates, Philbert and Suarez were indicted last year by a federal grand jury on St. Croix of 33 counts of intimidation, physical assault, harassment and arresting persons without just cause between Jan. 1, 1995, and Oct. 31, 1999.
Pickard and Bates are also accused of the May 10, 1999, rape of a nightclub dancer on Shoys Beach.
Much of the focus at the trial, which started July 5, has been on Pickard, who is alleged to have violated the civil rights of eight people over the course of four years. He took the stand on Wednesday and denied that he assaulted or intimidated any of his accusers, several of whom are admitted crack cocaine addicts.
As for the rape charges, both Pickard and Bates admitted to having had sex with the woman at the beach but claim that she instigated and agreed to the encounter.
Federal prosecutors called to the stand a couple who alleged that Pickard pulled a gun on them when they were visiting St. Croix in 1998. Rick and Susan Mattox testified that they had been stopped in the middle of a Christiansted street asking for directions when a black sports utility vehicle with tinted windows pulled behind them and the driver blasted its horn. As the Ohio couple circled through town, they said, the vehicle followed them, eventually pulling ahead of their car and cutting them off.
The couple testified that Pickard and another man, both wearing jeans and T-shirts, exited the SUV. Rick Mattox said Pickard pulled a gun, threatened his life and physically assaulted him. He and his wife both said the two men did not identify themselves as police officers until the altercation had ended.
On the stand earlier this week, Pickard said he had no recollection of the alleged incident and that he never pointed a weapon at Rick Mattox.
Finch dismissed a charge of conspiracy against the four defendants. Prosecutors argued that as members of "The Primos," a group headed by Pickard, the four conspired to violate the rights of citizens. Finch, however, said there was no evidence to support the prosecution’s claim.
Last August, a federal grand jury indicted Pickard and Bates on charges of rape, conspiracy, firearms possession, witness-tampering and civil rights violations by assault and intimidation.
A superseding indictment in February tacked on additional charges and also charged Suarez and Philbert with assault and witness intimidation.

Dear Source,
If you all remember, when our senators extended IDC benefits to Hovensa, one of the provisions was cheap fuel for the Water and Power Authority. Now, I understand gasoline has gone up, but not 20 percent or more as our WAPA bills have.
Let's face it, folks, we are paying for the government's power with this increase. The government hasn't paid for power in years. They use more power than any other group or business in the islands.
If we let the government continue to take us taxpayers for granted, shame on us. It's time to set ourselves free, get rid of all the good-for-nothings that have been running these islands for so many years and elect new senators — senators who will take the bull by the horns and make this a better place to live for everyone.
Senators who are not in it for the money. Senators who can say "I'll do it, even if I don't get re-elected."
Senators who will at least try to put government employees on their step increases and give them the equipment they need to do their jobs.
In my measly 10 years here, I've heard nothing but promises about back pay. But senators have gotten a $23,000-a-year raise. Lest we forget, they just tried to get retirement benefits after only a couple of terms, but no pay for those who really need it.
A few months back, some government employees did not receive their paychecks on time. Remember? Yes, that's right. Around April, their checks were about a week or so late. At least all the senators and government higher-ups got their checks on time.
Wake up! Change your own future. Vote for only new senators. The worst thing that can happen is nothing at all, but that's what's happening now. The fact that the senators have not made the government pay its bills is why we, as taxpayers, have to.
Robert G. Greenough
St. Croix

Dear Source,
If you all remember, when our senators extended IDC benefits to Hovensa, one of the provisions was cheap fuel for the Water and Power Authority. Now, I understand gasoline has gone up, but not 20 percent or more as our WAPA bills have.
Let's face it, folks, we are paying for the government's power with this increase. The government hasn't paid for power in years. They use more power than any other group or business in the islands.
If we let the government continue to take us taxpayers for granted, shame on us. It's time to set ourselves free, get rid of all the good-for-nothings that have been running these islands for so many years and elect new senators — senators who will take the bull by the horns and make this a better place to live for everyone.
Senators who are not in it for the money. Senators who can say "I'll do it, even if I don't get re-elected."
Senators who will at least try to put government employees on their step increases and give them the equipment they need to do their jobs.
In my measly 10 years here, I've heard nothing but promises about back pay. But senators have gotten a $23,000-a-year raise. Lest we forget, they just tried to get retirement benefits after only a couple of terms, but no pay for those who really need it.
A few months back, some government employees did not receive their paychecks on time. Remember? Yes, that's right. Around April, their checks were about a week or so late. At least all the senators and government higher-ups got their checks on time.
Wake up! Change your own future. Vote for only new senators. The worst thing that can happen is nothing at all, but that's what's happening now. The fact that the senators have not made the government pay its bills is why we, as taxpayers, have to.
Robert G. Greenough
St. Croix

Dear Source,
If you all remember, when our senators extended IDC benefits to Hovensa, one of the provisions was cheap fuel for the Water and Power Authority. Now, I understand gasoline has gone up, but not 20 percent or more as our WAPA bills have.
Let's face it, folks, we are paying for the government's power with this increase. The government hasn't paid for power in years. They use more power than any other group or business in the islands.
If we let the government continue to take us taxpayers for granted, shame on us. It's time to set ourselves free, get rid of all the good-for-nothings that have been running these islands for so many years and elect new senators — senators who will take the bull by the horns and make this a better place to live for everyone.
Senators who are not in it for the money. Senators who can say "I'll do it, even if I don't get re-elected."
Senators who will at least try to put government employees on their step increases and give them the equipment they need to do their jobs.
In my measly 10 years here, I've heard nothing but promises about back pay. But senators have gotten a $23,000-a-year raise. Lest we forget, they just tried to get retirement benefits after only a couple of terms, but no pay for those who really need it.
A few months back, some government employees did not receive their paychecks on time. Remember? Yes, that's right. Around April, their checks were about a week or so late. At least all the senators and government higher-ups got their checks on time.
Wake up! Change your own future. Vote for only new senators. The worst thing that can happen is nothing at all, but that's what's happening now. The fact that the senators have not made the government pay its bills is why we, as taxpayers, have to.
Robert G. Greenough
St. Croix

The board of Directors of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority will meet Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Office of the Governor on St. Thomas.

Public Works crews will start a clean up of the Melvin Evans Highway Monday morning. According to Public Works Commissioner Harold G. Thompson, the clean up is expected to take three days,
In a release, Thompson said the Department of Public Works will be using two crews stationed at opposite ends of the area to be worked on. While working to meet at a midpoint, the crews will trim trees, and use backhoes and trucks to remove debris in an effort to improve the appearance of the highway.
The department urges the public to drive with caution while in the area. For more information contact Deputy Commissioner of Operations Randy Germain at 773-1290 Ext. 2252.

The St. Croix Board of Elections will be conducting voter registration on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at the Kingshill Post Office in Christiansted.
The following documents are required in order to register, U.S. birth certificate, U.S. Passport, U.S. naturalization certificate and a Social Security card.
For more information contact the St. Croix Board of Elections at 773-1021.
Editor's note: For full details of voter registration requirements click here