Swearing-in ceremonies were held Wednesday afternoon at the Territorial Court Building on St. Croix for three Turnbull-James Administration officials — Labor Commissioner Sonia Jacobs-Dow, Fire Services director Pedro Encarnacion and Deputy Police Chief for St. Croix Novelle Francis Jr.
Family, friends, co-workers and well-wishers filed into the courtroom to witness the three take their oaths of office, administered by the new presiding judge of the court, Maria Cabret.
Encarnacion’s swearing in was delayed because of illness that required his being hospitalized off-island for several months.
Jacobs-Dow, his cousin, opted to wait for his recovery so they could be sworn in together.
Francis was recently appointed to the newly created post of St. Croix deputy police chief after Gov. Charles Turnbull approved a restructuring of the Police Department upper management.
Newly appointed Territorial Chief of Police Jose Garcia, St. Thomas Deputy Chief Theodore Carty and Assistant Police Commissioner Bruce B. Hamlin are to be sworn in Tuesday at Government House on St. Thomas.
Dow, in brief remarks, said her primary goal is to bring Labor to its "rightful place as the economic development agency that it was established to be."
Encarnacion, while mindful of the government's fiscal crisis, called for financial support to acquire adequate equipment and supplies for firefighters. He also expressed thanks for support shown him during his illness.
Francis, who served for three years as acting deputy police chief and two years as acting chief, said that the Police Department faces a huge job on a "long and rocky" road full of "fiscal restraint potholes, lack of manpower potholes and lack of equipment potholes." He asked that the administration give priority to Police Department goals.
Both Turnbull and Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II were present at the swearing-in proceedings.

Swearing-in ceremonies were held Wednesday afternoon at the Territorial Court on St. Croix for three members of the Turnbull James Administration. Family, friends, co-workers and well-wishers filed into the courtroom to witness Labor Commissioner Sonia Jacobs-Dow, Fire Services Director Pedro Encarnacion and
Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis, Jr. take the oath of office. The oath was administered by the newly appointed Presiding Judge of the Territorial Court
Maria Cabret.
Encarnacion’s swearing in was delayed because he was struck with illness last year which required his being hospitalized off-island for several months.
His cousin, Labor Commissioner Jacobs-Dow opted to wait for Encarnacion so they could be sworn in together.
Deputy Chief Francis was recently appointed to his post after the Governor approved a reorganization of the upper management structure of the Virgin Islands Police Department.
The newly appointed Territorial Chief of Police Jose Garcia, St. Thomas Deputy Chief Theodore Carty and Assistant Police Commissioner Bruce B. Hamlin are to be sworn-in Tuesday, at Government House on St. Thomas.
In brief remarks Dow noted her primary goal is to bring Labor to its "rightful place as the economic development agency that is was established to be."
Although mindful of the fiscal crisis confronting the government, Encarnacion called for financial support from the administration to bring about an adequate level of equipment and supplies for V.I. firefighters.
He paused for a moment to thank those who supported him during his illness. Despite having served for three years as acting deputy chief and two years as acting chief, Novelle Francis admitted Wednesday that the task at hand is huge and the road is "long and rocky." In assessing the situation further he noted, "It’s a road laden with fiscal restraint potholes, lack of manpower potholes and lack of equipment potholes.." He called on the administration to give priority to the police department to accomplish and achieve its goals and mission.
Both Gov. Turnbull and Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II were in attendance at the mid afternoon swearing-in proceedings.

Swearing-in ceremonies were held Wednesday afternoon at the Territorial Court on St. Croix for three members of the Turnbull James administration.
Family, friends, co-workers and well-wishers filed into the courtroom to witness Labor Commissioner Sonia Jacobs-Dow, Fire Services Director Pedro Encarnacion and Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis Jr. take the oath of office.
The oath was administered by the newly appointed presiding judge of the Territorial Court, Maria Cabret.
Encarnacion’s swearing-in had been delayed after he became ill last year and was hospitalized off-island for several months.
His cousin, Labor Commissioner Jacobs-Dow, opted to wait for Encarnacion so they could be sworn in together.
Deputy Chief Francis was recently appointed to his post after the governor approved a reorganization of the upper management structure of the Virgin Islands Police Department.
Newly appointed Territorial Chief of Police Jose Garcia, St. Thomas Deputy Chief Theodore Carty and Assistant Police Commissioner Bruce B. Hamlin are to be sworn in Tuesday at Government House on St. Thomas.
In brief remarks Dow noted her primary goal is to bring Labor to its "rightful place as the economic development agency that is was established to be."
Although saying he was mindful of the fiscal crisis confronting the government, Encarnacion called for financial support from the administration to ensure an adequate level of equipment and supplies for V.I. firefighters.
He paused for a moment to thank those who supported him during his illness.
Despite having served for three years as acting deputy chief and two years as acting chief, Novelle Francis admitted Wednesday that the task at hand is huge and the road is "long and rocky."
"It’s a road laden with fiscal restraint potholes, lack of manpower potholes and lack of equipment potholes," he said.
He called on the administration to give priority to the Police Department to accomplish and achieve its goals and mission.
Both Gov. Turnbull and Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II attended the mid-afternoon swearing-in proceedings.

A police officer awaiting trial for allegedly raping a woman had his request to go on vacation denied by a federal judge Thursday.
Ronald Pickard, through his attorney George Cannon Jr., requested to go on a cruise to Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Barbados with his parents from Jan. 16 to 23. Cannon said the trip would be a chance for the family to relieve stress associated with the charges levied against Pickard.
A federal grand jury indicted Pickard and Dean Bates, both police officers, on 16 counts, including the alleged May 10 rape of an adult nightclub dancer, conspiracy, firearms possession, witness-tampering and civil rights violations by assault and intimidation.
Both defendants have been under house arrest while awaiting their Feb. 22 trial. Pickard’s parents are acting as a third party custodian for their son. Despite that, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Resnick bowed to the protests of U.S. Assistant Attorney St. Clair Theodore, who said the government was still seeking detention for Pickard.
"He’s a danger to the community and a menace to society," Theodore said, adding that a vacation would be showing "contempt" for the seriousness of the charges.
Cannon maintained that Pickard was not a threat to flee, even though the cruise would call on foreign ports.
"It’s an opportunity for the family to have a brief vacation considering the stress and strain," he said.
Resnick said that personally he didn’t think the cruise was a "bad idea." But because of the government’s protests he denied the request.
"I cannot, over the government’s objection, sanction a trip to a foreign country," Resnick said.

The 25 Chinese nationals who entered the United States illegally Dec. 30 are being held on material witness charges after one and possibly two men in their group drowned while coming ashore on St. Croix’s east end.
Seven men from the group plead guilty Thursday in District Court to illegally entering the U.S. without inspection. The men faced a possible fine of $5,000 and up to six months in jail. But because of the guilty plea the men were sentenced to time already served plus an additional three days.
According to Willis Reeves, of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in the territory, the Chinese nationals will go through a deportation process but a lack of detention space in the territory will cause the men to be transported to a facility on the mainland.
Because of the drownings U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Resnick ordered that the men be detained an additional 30 days so investigators can determine if foul play was involved.
Jian Quan, 35, drowned while attempting to come ashore near Isaac Bay at approximately 5 a.m. on Dec. 30. His body was recovered from the water later that afternoon.
A second body was recovered from the sea in the same area on Sunday morning. But investigators aren’t sure if the individual was part of the group that came ashore on Dec. 30. Identification of the body has been hampered by the advanced stage of decomposition, police said. According to an autopsy both men had drowned.
"We’re conducting an investigation to determine if there was foul play," Reeves said. "If there was, somebody needs to pay."
Reeves said the method in which the 25 aliens, and hundreds of others over the last year, used to gain entry into the U.S. is a familiar one.
The illegal immigrants pay smugglers up to $40,000 each to be shipped via freighter from China to the Caribbean, Reeves said. Once in the region they are offloaded, placed on faster boats and then dropped offshore of one of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"The process, historically, is they make it here and turn themselves in," Reeves said. "They then plead guilty and are placed in the deportation process and transported off island."
Once on the mainland, Reeves said the immigrants post bond and head to New York City, where they retain a lawyer who begins political asylum procedures. Since asylum can take up to five years to receive, immigrants often begin the naturalization process to gain legal entry to the country.
"They get to our shores and turn themselves in and the clock runs," Reeves said. "Basically they are home free."

To the editor:
There are neighbors, and there are neighbors. Some simply live near you. Others are personally involved in bettering the neighborhood and giving a helping hand when needed to others who live there.
And then there is Sarah Jaffurs, my next-door neighbor. Wherever you go with her on St. Croix, there are people who greet her by name; she is well known everywhere. If you drive with her, you notice that she is invariably a thoughtful driver, always stopping (when it is safe to do so) to let other vehicles make turns through her lane of traffic.
At home, Sarah has always been helpful to and supportive of her neighbors. Last year, she took my son, who has Down's Syndrome, to town so he could buy me a Christmas present. She takes care of my four dogs and five cats when I am off island. She lends her home for our Neighborhood Watch meetings, arranges for the road to be graded when necessary and performs countless helpful kindnesses to all of us in the area.
Recently, however, she outdid herself. I would like to nominate her for Neighbor of the 20th Century. Here's why:
My son was due to fly down to St. Croix from California on Nov. 22. His plane was due to land here at 10:45 p.m. on a night when the Hurricane Lenny curfew was still in effect. Sarah insisted on driving me to the airport that night, because I had experienced a dizzy spell and she didn't think I should drive.
The following day, she drove me and my son to my doctor's office in Sunny Isle, where, after an EKG, my doctor decided I needed a pacemaker immediately. Sarah then drove me to the hospital, went to the bank to supply me with cash, and told me not to worry about my son, that he would stay with her family, adding him to her household of husband and four sons. She took him with her family to their yearly Thanksgiving celebration, arranged a birthday party for him at a restaurant on Nov. 27, baked him a birthday cake and gave him presents. I was in the hospital for ten days, first here and then in Puerto Rico, during which time, in addition to caring for my son, Sarah made sure my animals were fed, watered and petted and called in an exterminator and a plumber. She and another neighbor did tons of laundry (my washing machine wasn't working). She kept us supplied with ice, then loaned me a mini- fridge because the hurricane had put my refrigerator out of commission, and she shopped to stock it with food. She took my son to the Juan F. Luis Hospital to visit me numerous times, and took him to the airport to meet me when I flew back from Puerto Rico.
These are only a few highlights of her tireless activities on behalf of me and my son. I am still overwhelmed when I consider her compassionate kindness to me and mine. Sarah Jaffurs is more than a good neighbor; she is the epitome of the Scriptural good neighbor who loves others and treats them as she would herself. What a remarkable example she gives to her sons; what a remarkable contribution she makes to our neighborhood; what a remarkable lady she is.
Lisa Giorgi
St. Croix

(1) STX
(1) Territory
Date of murder: January 5
Victim: Melford Selkridge, 27, was shot once in the chest as he walked out of his girlfriend’’s house in Mon Bijou. He was pronounced dead at Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital. Police arrested 26-year-old Michael Christiansen in February in connection with the murder. A second man was implicated in the murder.
(1) STT
(2) Territory
Date of murder: January 13
Victim: Dominica native Boniface Clement , 37, was shot twice in the back and right foot in Contant. Victim died at the scene.
(2) STT
(3) Territory
Date of death: January 27
Victim: Kareem Setorie, 18, was shot in the head during an early morning incident in Estate Mandahl. Setorie died 12 hours after being taken to Roy L. Schneider Hospital. Police were investigating the incident.
(2) STX
(4) Territory
Date of death: April 3
Victim: Anthony "Scratchy" Petersen, 40, of 17 Hill St was bludgeoned to death. As of April 3 police had no motive, no suspects and no weapon. Petersen died shortly after he was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital.
(3) STT
(5) Territory
Date of death: April 10
Victim: Ellis Blyden Jr. was shot in the head outside the Hometown Convenience Store on the Donoe Bypass while apparently going to use a pay phone; shots were fired by occupants of a dark-color vehicle which drove off.
(4) STT
(6) Territory
Date of death: April 12
Victim: Eustice Cerio, 21, was shot as he and his girlfriend were walking on the roadway just east of Contant Car Wash. Cerio was hit in the leg and upper torso. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Schneider Hospital. No motive had been established as of April 13.
(5) St. Thomas
(7) Territory
Date of death: May 23
Jason Carroll, 18, was shot and killed as he walked on Main Street. Deshaune Harrigan, who was arrested two days after the shooting was charged in September with first degree murder in the incident. Trial was set for Dec. 11.
(6) St. Thomas
(8) Territory
Date of death: June 9
Aaron Stedman,38, a native of Dominica was found shot in Contant. No suspects and no motive have been identified.
(3) St. Croix
(9) Territory
Date of death: July 6
Solomon David, 36, was shot by a security guard at the Sunny Isle Kmart during a scuffle inside the store.
(4) St. Croix
(10) Territory
Date of death: Unknown
The body of Mario Daniel, who was reported missing in February 2000, was found June 12 buried on Campo Rico beach. Police classified the death as a homicide after forensics investigations revealed signs of foul play.
(7) St. Thomas
(11) Territory
Date of death: July 22
Rafael Callwood, a native St. Thomian, residing in the Nordstdevej area, died two days after being shot three times near the Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School in Savan. Before dying Callwood said he never saw who shot him.
(8)St. Thomas
(12) Territory
Date of death: Sept. 5
Pierre Leopold Magras Jr. died of gunshot wounds, the result of a drive-by shooting at the Cage Bar and Restaurant on Lower Kronprindsens Gade.
(5)St. Croix
(13) Territory
Date of death: Oct. 3
Mannix Phillips, 33, of Mon Bijou was fatally shot trying to break up a feud between two brothers. One of the brothers, Nathaniel Hazell, was arrested shortly after the incident.
The shooting took place at the Aureo Diaz housing community.

(6)St. Croix
(14) Territory
Date of death: Oct. 5
Vincent Lawrence, 19, died from a .38 caliber gunshot wound to the head. A medical examiner pronounced Lawrence dead at the scene. The shooting took place at Peppertree Terrace, a gated housing community in Estate Diamond Ruby, the result of an argument over Lawrence uprooting a marijuana plant while working as a gardener there.
Charged with first-degree murder is 19-year-old Renaldo Santos.
(9) St. Thomas
(15) Territory
Date of death: Oct. 29
Anthony "Hamster" Warner died at the Central Guest House as a result of gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Warner and a man reportedly got into a struggle at the guest house that resulted in the fatal shooting. The unidentified man was also shot during the altercation and was transported by ambulance to Roy L. Schneider Hospital after being taken into police custody.
(7) St. Croix
(16) Territory
Date of death: Nov. 5
A St. Croix man died after being beaten with a baseball bat following a fight at an Estate Profit Bar. Police Commissioner Franz Christian said two persons were taken into custody within an hour of the fatal attack and one has been formally charged in the man's death.
(10) St. Thomas
(17) Territory
Date of death: Dec. 7
A 22-year-old St. Thomas man who was shot in Savan Wednesday night died early Thursday morning after undergoing emergency surgery at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital. He suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen, sources have confirmed. Macali Wheatley was found by police on General Gade near Red Ball Grocery and was later transported to the hospital by a friend.
(11) St. Thomas
(18) Territory
Date of death: Dec. 31.
An 18-year-old woman was killed by a single gun-shot to the head during an apparent robbery attempt in the area of Green Cay Plantation, on the southern side of the Frenchman's Bay road leading to Donkey Hill.

(1) STX
(1) Territory
Date of murder: January 5
Victim: Melford Selkridge, 27, was shot once in the chest as he walked out of his girlfriend’’s house in Mon Bijou. He was pronounced dead at Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital. Police arrested 26-year-old Michael Christiansen in February in connection with the murder. A second man was implicated in the murder.
(1) STT
(2) Territory
Date of murder: January 13
Victim: Dominica native Boniface Clement , 37, was shot twice in the back and right foot in Contant. Victim died at the scene.
(2) STT
(3) Territory
Date of death: January 27
Victim: Kareem Setorie, 18, was shot in the head during an early morning incident in Estate Mandahl. Setorie died 12 hours after being taken to Roy L. Schneider Hospital. Police were investigating the incident.
(2) STX
(4) Territory
Date of death: April 3
Victim: Anthony "Scratchy" Petersen, 40, of 17 Hill St was bludgeoned to death. As of April 3 police had no motive, no suspects and no weapon. Petersen died shortly after he was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital.
(3) STT
(5) Territory
Date of death: April 10
Victim: Ellis Blyden Jr. was shot in the head outside the Hometown Convenience Store on the Donoe Bypass while apparently going to use a pay phone; shots were fired by occupants of a dark-color vehicle which drove off.
(4) STT
(6) Territory
Date of death: April 12
Victim: Eustice Cerio, 21, was shot as he and his girlfriend were walking on the roadway just east of Contant Car Wash. Cerio was hit in the leg and upper torso. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Schneider Hospital. No motive had been established as of April 13.
(5) St. Thomas
(7) Territory
Date of death: May 23
Jason Carroll, 18, was shot and killed as he walked on Main Street. Deshaune Harrigan, who was arrested two days after the shooting was charged in September with first degree murder in the incident. Trial was set for Dec. 11.
(6) St. Thomas
(8) Territory
Date of death: June 9
Aaron Stedman,38, a native of Dominica was found shot in Contant. No suspects and no motive have been identified.
(3) St. Croix
(9) Territory
Date of death: July 6
Solomon David, 36, was shot by a security guard at the Sunny Isle Kmart during a scuffle inside the store.
(4) St. Croix
(10) Territory
Date of death: Unknown
The body of Mario Daniel, who was reported missing in February 2000, was found June 12 buried on Campo Rico beach. Police classified the death as a homicide after forensics investigations revealed signs of foul play.
(7) St. Thomas
(11) Territory
Date of death: July 22
Rafael Callwood, a native St. Thomian, residing in the Nordstdevej area, died two days after being shot three times near the Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School in Savan. Before dying Callwood said he never saw who shot him.
(8)St. Thomas
(12) Territory
Date of death: Sept. 5
Pierre Leopold Magras Jr. died of gunshot wounds, the result of a drive-by shooting at the Cage Bar and Restaurant on Lower Kronprindsens Gade.
(5)St. Croix
(13) Territory
Date of death: Oct. 3
Mannix Phillips, 33, of Mon Bijou was fatally shot trying to break up a feud between two brothers. One of the brothers, Nathaniel Hazell, was arrested shortly after the incident.
The shooting took place at the Aureo Diaz housing community.

(6)St. Croix
(14) Territory
Date of death: Oct. 5
Vincent Lawrence, 19, died from a .38 caliber gunshot wound to the head. A medical examiner pronounced Lawrence dead at the scene. The shooting took place at Peppertree Terrace, a gated housing community in Estate Diamond Ruby, the result of an argument over Lawrence uprooting a marijuana plant while working as a gardener there.
Charged with first-degree murder is 19-year-old Renaldo Santos.
(9) St. Thomas
(15) Territory
Date of death: Oct. 29
Anthony "Hamster" Warner died at the Central Guest House as a result of gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Warner and a man reportedly got into a struggle at the guest house that resulted in the fatal shooting. The unidentified man was also shot during the altercation and was transported by ambulance to Roy L. Schneider Hospital after being taken into police custody.
(7) St. Croix
(16) Territory
Date of death: Nov. 5
A St. Croix man died after being beaten with a baseball bat following a fight at an Estate Profit Bar. Police Commissioner Franz Christian said two persons were taken into custody within an hour of the fatal attack and one was formally charged in the man's death.
10) St. Thomas
(17) Territory
Date of death: Dec. 7
A 22-year-old St. Thomas man who was shot in Savan Wednesday night died early Thursday morning after undergoing emergency surgery at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital. He suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen, sources have confirmed. Macali Wheatley was found by police on General Gade near Red Ball Grocery and was later transported to the hospital by a friend.
(11) St. Thomas
(18) Territory
Date of death: Dec. 31.
An 18-year-old woman was killed by a single gun-shot to the head during an apparent robbery attempt in the area of Green Cay Plantation, on the southern side of the Frenchman's Bay road leading to Donkey Hill.

St. Croix suffered its first homicide of the new year Wednesday night.
Melford Selkridge, 27, was shot once in the chest as he walked out of his girlfriend’s house in Mon Bijou at approximately 10 p.m. Wednesday, said Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis.
Francis said police received a call at 10:21 p.m. of possible shots fired. When they arrived they found Selkridge, who also lives in Mon Bijou, with a single gunshot wound to his chest. Selkridge was transported to Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Francis said investigators have neither suspects nor motive in the shooting. Investigators are also unsure whether the shot that killed Selkridge was fired from a vehicle or by someone on foot.
Francis urged anyone with information to call the Investigation Bureau at 778-2211, ext. 4530 or Emergency 911.

All but one section of the last bill passed by the 23rd Legislature in 1999 won Gov. Charles Turnbull's signature Tuesday.
The governor vetoed the single section because it would have reallocated proceeds from the recent $300 million bond issue, a move that he said would be in violation of the terms of the bond issue.
Bill 23-0193 was approved by the Senate in its last session of the year, on Dec. 15, after several senators tacked on amendments to the zoning measure.
In his transmittal letter to Senate President Vargrave Richards, Turnbull said he vetoed the one section because it sought to change the way the proceeds of the bond issue would be allocated.
The section would have increased the amount for working capital, to $75 million from $74 million, provided for the payment of $1 million of the V.I. Housing Finance Authority debt, and reduced the amount allocated for vendor payments.
According to Turnbull, the vetoed section would have made the VIHFA and other government agencies "potential recipients of bond proceeds."
"As written, the amendment reallocates bond proceeds and places no limit on the amount of money that could be committed to these entities," he wrote. "Hence, in addition to the fact that the amount authorized for vendor payments has already been committed, this ambiguity creates a substantial change to the circumstances as they existed at the time we closed the bond deal.
"More importantly, bond counsel has informed us that any reprogramming of bond monies or a change in the recipients would create a situation which violates the terms of the bond documents."
Of the $300 million in bond money, the government designated some $136 million for tax refunds, $46 million for vendor payments, $30 million for bonding services and escrow, $30 million for repayment of a loan from Banco Popular and $15 million for payment into the government retirement fund. The balance, some $43 million, was earmarked for meeting payroll.
Turnbull signed a bill bestowing the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor on Judge Verne A. Hodge, who retired in November from his position as presiding judge of Territorial Court. Hodge, who had held the post since the court was created in 1976, was cited for his myriad accomplishments in the courtroom and the community. Among these was the creation of the internationally recognized V.I. Territorial Court Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra.