Hefty pay raises have been granted to top administrators of the Government Employees Retirement System, most averaging close to 50 percent, while rank-and-file employees had to be content with increases of 5 percent.
According to a story in Tuesday's Virgin Islands Independent, the raises, which put the salaries of five administrators in the six-figure category, are retroactive to October 1998. They were issued Dec. 16, 1999.
The GERS became a semi-autonomous agency in December, and the board's first action was to reinstate the 1998 pay hikes that were halted by the governor last October when they were first submitted, the paper reported.
The lower-rank employees reportedly received 5 percent pay raises, also retroactive to October 1998.
Luis "Tito" Morales, president of the V.I. Central Labor Council, was quoted as saying that "there is a big disparity in salaries for the administrators and the unionized workers. . . .and this is why government employees are up in arms."
The raises come at an inopportune time, considering the government's continuing fiscal crisis.
Morales said that the GERS board used studies of the Port Authority, the Water and Power Authority and other semi-autonomous government agencies to determine the raises.
The following are the reported salary increases:
– Administrator Lawrence Bryan, from $70,980 to $125,000.
– Assitant Administrator Cecilia Senthill-Harrigan from $70,000 to $105,000
– Assistant Administrator Willis Todman from $66,000 to $105,000.
– Assistant Administrator Elise McAlpin from $68,000 to $105,000.
– Assistant Administrator Evelyn Venner-Potter from $66,215 to $105,000.
– Legal counsel Alphonso Nibbs from $65,000 to $90,000.
– Human Services Director Janice Turnbull from $41,000 to $63,000.
Morales also questioned why the agency needs four administrative assistants to manage about 40 to 45 employees.
No GERS board members could be reached for comment. Neither Morales nor Rina McBrown, government house spokesperson, returned calls to their offices.

The Cheetah Track Racing Team will hold its second annual Martin Luther King Jr. relay races at 9 a.m. on Saturday Jan. 15 at the Charlotte Amalie High School track.
The relay meet is open to everyone.
Age groups are:
12 years and under
13 years – 15 years
16 and over
Events are:
9 – 9:45 a.m. Registration
10 a.m. Invitational 100 meter
10:20 a.m. Sprint Medley (200-200-400-800) meter
10:50 .am. 4×100 meter relay
11:10 a.m. Invitational 800 meter
11:30 a.m. 4×1 mile relay invitational (tentative)
12:10 a.m. 4×200 relay
12:30 p.m. 4×400 relay
If anyone is interested in putting together a team, they are asked to contact the race organizers no later than Jan.7 to get registration forms and entry documents. Call Dale or Hyacinth Joseph at 775-1090.
Awards will be given after each relay.

As a librarian I am very disappointed with a recent value judgement made at the St John library resulting in some photographs on display being taken down.
The photographs titled "The Colorful Men of St. John" depicted local men who have their own fashion sense. A library worker complained that some of the people in the photos had unsavory reputations.
Simon Caines, coordinator of library and cultural services decided the photos could not be exhibited in the library.
I am surprised as well as disappointed since libraries generally abhor censorship. In fact the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights (ALA’s basic policy concerning access to information) states that "Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents—and only parents-have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children -to library resources."
Censorship by librarians violates the First Amendment. Also, ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Manual states, "Freedom to express oneself through a chosen mode of communication becomes virtually meaningless if access to that information is not protected."
Although these photos were not a library holding, surely the library must have some books that contain passages that some people would object to. Although it may be commendable to object that the men in the photos may not be community role models, I do not think that is the point of art or the role of the library to decide.
Freedom of thought and expression is a basis of our democracy and libraries usually fight to keep it so.
American libraries are the repositories of views that may not be popular and the freedom to express unorthodox views must be protected. Many of the classic books of our time have been challenged as objectionable. Recently Modern Library Press published a list of the best novels of the 20th century. A third of the titles on this list have been challenged in libraries and schools at some point. The Grapes of Wrath and The Color Purple have been frequent targets for those activists who say the are protecting the community.
Considering the state of disrepair and the neglect of the libraries
in the Virgin Islands, this incident should lead us to consider the actual
role that our libraries have in our community. Don’t we want our
libraries to be concerned with providing us with quality access to
information rather judging the moral quality of artistic photographs?

Editor's note: Betty Story has been a teacher in the Virgin Islands for over 10 years. She currently holds the position of librarian at Charlotte Amalie High School. She is a regular contributor to St. Thomas Source.

More than 40 employees of V.I. Cement and Building Products were fired Monday when the company was sold by Devcon International.
Ken Ketcham and Tortola businessman Ashley Ritter paid a reported $10.5 million for the company plus approximately 420,000 shares of Devcon common stock held by V.I. Cement.
The workers, some of whom have been with the company since it began doing business in the Virgin Islands, started receiving termination letters Monday afternoon along with severance pay, accrued sick leave and vacation pay in accordance with provisions of the company’s agreement with the United Steelworkers union, which represents the employees.
In announcing the sale of the company, Devcon International said the ready-mix concrete and quarry operations in Tortola and the ready-mix concrete operation in St. Thomas were included in the sale. The two operations generate a combined $12 million a year in sales. The quarry and concrete-block operation on St. Thomas was not part of the sale.
St. Thomas Concrete promised all who were affected adversely by the sale that they will be assisted in every way possible to obtain employment in the Virgin Islands community. In fact, the new owners reportedly will begin accepting job applications for vacancies this week, and may rehire some of those let go Monday.
Under the Industrial Development Commission benefits certificate awarded to V.I. Cement 12 years ago, the company was mandated to employ 142 workers, of which 80 percent had to be Virgin Islands residents. It is not known whether the new owners will seek IDC benefits.
The international representative for the Steelworkers Union, Randolph Allen, reacted to news of the sale saying that efforts will be under way to gain additional benefits for those workers terminated Monday.
"We are involved in meeting with the representatives at Devcon to negotiate benefits beyond what is contained in the collective bargaining agreement," Allen said. "We are concerned about the effects of this plant closing especially on the employees who have been with V.I. Cement from the beginning."
The union is lobbying for benefits that would extend the health insurance coverage for the affected workers and additional severance pay.
According to Allen, there is a major difference for the terminated workers between a plant closing and a change of ownership.
"Before any transfer of ownership, the plant must be closed, which the plant will be closed later this week," Allen said. "The moment you change owners, the plant is closed, the employees are re-hired and start as new employees."
If you just transfer ownership, the operations continue and the employees retain their seniority, he added.
Allen said the termination of almost half of the employees of V.I. Cement and Building Products is a sad beginning to the new year.

The Department Housing, Parks and Recreation’s Division of Sports and Recreation will host the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 13-15 Basketball Tournament from Jan. 14 to 17. Opening ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the Timothy Duncan Gymnasium at the St. Croix Educational Complex.
Teams scheduled to compete include the Anna’s Hope Lakers, Grove Place Pushers, the Mon Bijou Rockers and other teams representing communities from the island’s east and west.
For more information contact Ophelia "Nemmy" Williams Felix or Pedro "Saba" Felix at 773-3850, Ivor James at 692-5699 or David McIntosh at 772-2600.

Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), has announced that it has exercised an option with Kvaerner Masa-Yards of Helsinki, Finland, for the construction of a new 84,000-ton ship expected to be delivered in 2002.
The 2,112-passenger vessel, to be named Carnival Legend, will cost approximately $375 million. It will be a sister ship to the Carnival Spirit and Carnival Pride, both currently under construction at Kvaerner Masa and expected to enter service in early and late 2001, respectively.
The 960-foot-long Carnival Legend will feature 12 passenger decks housing a wedding chapel, conference center, two-level fitness facility, expansive children's center and a multitude of bars, lounges and public areas for dining, activities and entertainment. A variety of stateroom accommodation categories will include several levels of suites. Eighty percent of the Spirit-class ships' staterooms will offer ocean views with 87 percent of those featuring private balconies.
In addition to the three Spirit-class ships, Carnival Cruise Lines has three new 102,000-ton Destiny class ships scheduled to enter service over the next four years, including the Carnival Victory expected to enter service Aug. 31, 2000, and the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Glory slated to debut in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
Carnival Corporation unit Holland America Line has four vessels on order, including the 1,440-passenger Zaandam, scheduled for delivery in early 2000, the 1,380-passenger Amsterdam expected to debut in late 2000, and two 84,000-ton vessels expected to enter service in 2002 and 2003. Also on order for Costa Cruises, another Carnival Corporation-affiliated cruise line, is the 2,112-passenger Costa Atlantica, which is scheduled to debut in late spring 2000.
Collectively, these 11 vessels have an estimated value of nearly $4.3 billion. Carnival Corporation is comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise line based on passengers carried, Holland America Line, Windstar Cruises, Cunard Line Limited, which operates the Cunard and Seabourn cruise brands, and interests in Costa Cruises and Airtours plc. Combined, Carnival Corporation's various brands operate 45 ships in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and other worldwide destinations.

Police pulled a second body from the waters off Point Udall in three days over the weekend.
According to Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis, the unidentified body recovered on Sunday was that of a male with a slight build. Police believe the man is a St. Croix fisherman who was reported missing two weeks ago when his boat overturned in rough seas near Point Udall.
Last Thursday, police pulled a body from the rough waters off St. Croix’s east end. Francis said that unidentified person is believed to be a Chinese alien who failed to make it ashore with dozens of other people trying to enter the U.S. illegally. An autopsy found that the individual drowned.
Early Thursday some 31 Chinese aliens were picked up by police on St. Croix’s east end after being spotted by a police officer and a concerned citizen. Police believe the group was dropped offshore of Isaac Bay.
Francis said authorities received conflicting reports from the aliens on how many people left the boat to come on shore, so it is possible more bodies could turn up. The group will be arraigned Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in District Court on charges of entering the U.S. illegally.

The two men who were found dead in the water New Year's morning near Water Bay at St. Thomas' east end were allegedly thrown into the water when the driver of the boat they were in lost control of the vessel.
A release Monday from Territorial Police Chief Jose Garcia said the driver of the boat, James Ferguson, said the steering wheel broke, causing him to lose control, and the two men were thrown out of the boat.
The two dead men, who are reportedly local residents, still have not been identified. Garcia gave no reason why.
Ferguson said by the time he regained control of the boat and went back to rescue his passengers, they were already under the water.
The release said both of the dead men had jagged marks on their legs and feet. One of the victims reportedly died at the scene. The other died at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital, according to Garcia.
Police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call 774-4050 or 911.

The three young men who were reportedly shot at Kirwan Terrace housing community early Sunday morning have been identified as Rashaun J. Brady, Raoul Corneiro and Elliot Hodge.
The release issued by Territorial Police Chief Jose Garcia did not give ages or addresses for the three men.
Brady told police the three had returned from a boat ride on New Year's night and were sitting on a sidewalk when a red car came driving toward them with its lights out.
Brady said he saw a hand come out of the window of the vehicle holding what appeared to be a 9mm or .380 semi-automatic pistol, according to the release.
When the three victims got up and ran, they were shot. Hodge was shot in the left shoulder; the bullet reportedly shattered on impact and lodged in the bone. Corneiro was shot in both legs; one of the bullets shattered the bone in his left leg, the release said.
Brady's head was grazed by a bullet. He was treated and released from the hospital.
The police are continuing to investigate the incident, which is reportedly the result of an ongoing turf battle between factions of different public housing communities.
Anyone with information is asked to call 774-4050 or 911.

Fans of Patricia LeCorte will be happy to learn that the well-known local restaurateur will soon be in business again.
This time, her venue will be the venerable northside locale, Ferrari's Ristorante.
LeCorte closed her Blackbeard's Hill restaurant, Lulu's, six months ago. "And that is long enough," LeCorte said.
"I'm anxious to be at work again, and the north side is my favorite location," she added, noting that she is a longtime resident of that area.
"When the site became available, I was thrilled," she said. LeCorte has been looking for a new locale since Lulu's closed, but until now hadn't found one that satisfied her needs.
"I wanted a place where I could cook good, reasonably priced food in a fun atmosphere," she said. "Ferrari's fits the bill, and it is a northside landmark, of sorts."
The menu will remain, basically, unchanged, and the name will stay. The food concept will remain largely Italian, but with a slightly more Mediterranean influence. Exactly, what is a Mediterranean influence?
"Dishes from France and Spain as well as Italy," LeCorte said.
Featured will be, for instance, a grilled chicken breast with black olive tapenade and preserved lemon, or a local fish, say mahi-mahi, with a Mediterranean salsa served over couscous.
"And, of course, we will keep the pizzas, wonderful gourmet pizzas, "Le Corte said. "In fact, we are going to have a pizza room, where parties can sit together, or take out, or eat at the bar."
Another innovation will be an antipasto table. Patrons of LeCorte's Café Provence, which she had in Frenchtown several years ago, will remember the antipasto table there laden with gourmet goodies such as lentil salad, frittatas or steamed asparagus is extra virgin olive oil.
"It's a vegetarian's delight," LeCorte said.
As to wait staff, that's no problem. LeCorte has had a faithful crew since Fiddle Leaf, her maiden restaurant endeavor, many moons ago and one of the island's top dining spots until Hurricane Hugo decided otherwise.
An opening date is not yet set but, LeCorte said, it will definitely be before Jan. 15. Dinners will start at 6 p.m., but she's not yet decided whether to open the bar earlier.
The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Saturday.