Included in legislation approved by a joint congressional committee Thursday for the Department of Interior’s budget is $5.4 million for the Virgin Islands. But the money comes with a caveat that the local government meet performance standards in addressing its fiscal crisis.
The Joint House-Senate Conference report Thursday night provided for the fiscal year 2000 budget for the Department of Interior. Within the conference report is language giving the territory a $5.4 million grant to defray the cost of various court-ordered or mandated construction projects.
The conference bill is a compromise between House and Senate versions. Such bills usually, but not always, win full congressional passage, and then go to the president.
The bill states that the grant is to be released only on condition that mutually agreed-upon financial and accountability performance standards to address the territory's current financial crisis have been developed and are being implemented.
The first part of this condition was met last week with the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Gov. Charles Turnbull and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt.
"The passage of the FY 2000 Conference Report is a cause for celebration," said Delegate to Congress Donna Christian-Christensen, "because the $5 million grant is the first installment of a promised multi-year federal grant program from the Department of Interior to help us pay for the almost $100 million in mandated … capital projects, including a new prison, a wastewater treatment facility and several new schools, that we have already borrowed money for."
According to the Turnbull administration, the grant was funded from monies originally allocated to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands under its compact with the federal government.
In his budget for last fiscal year, President Clinton proposed that the money go instead to Guam. But after meeting with Turnbull last February, Senate Energy Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski decided that the money was needed more in the Virgin Islands.
"While the Conference Report still has to be passed by the Senate and go to the president for signature, I want to take this opportunity to thank Sen. Frank Murkowsi and Sen. Slate Gordon, chairman of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee, for fighting on our behalf to ensure that the Senate position with regard to these funds prevailed in conference," Christensen said. "With the signing of the MOU, the way is now paved for us to receive these badly needed funds, as well as the additional funding that is to come in the proceeding years."

Included in legislation approved by a joint congressional committee Thursday for the Department of Interior’s budget is $5.4 million for the Virgin Islands. But the money comes with a caveat that the local government meet performance standards in addressing its fiscal crisis.
The Joint House-Senate Conference report Thursday night provided for the fiscal year 2000 budget for the Department of Interior. Within the conference report is language giving the territory a $5.4 million grant to defray the cost of various court-ordered or mandated construction projects.
The conference bill is a compromise between House and Senate versions. Such bills usually, but not always, win full congressional passage, and then go to the president.
The bill states that the grant is to be released only on condition that mutually agreed-upon financial and accountability performance standards to address the territory's current financial crisis have been developed and are being implemented.
The first part of this condition was met last week with the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Gov. Charles Turnbull and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt.
"The passage of the FY 2000 Conference Report is a cause for celebration," said Delegate to Congress Donna Christian-Christensen, "because the $5 million grant is the first installment of a promised multi-year federal grant program from the Department of Interior to help us pay for the almost $100 million in mandated … capital projects, including a new prison, a wastewater treatment facility and several new schools, that we have already borrowed money for."
According to the Turnbull administration, the grant was funded from monies originally allocated to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands under its compact with the federal government.
In his budget for last fiscal year, President Clinton proposed that the money go instead to Guam. But after meeting with Turnbull last February, Senate Energy Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski decided that the money was needed more in the Virgin Islands.
"While the Conference Report still has to be passed by the Senate and go to the president for signature, I want to take this opportunity to thank Sen. Frank Murkowsi and Sen. Slate Gordon, chairman of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee, for fighting on our behalf to ensure that the Senate position with regard to these funds prevailed in conference," Christensen said. "With the signing of the MOU, the way is now paved for us to receive these badly needed funds, as well as the additional funding that is to come in the proceeding years."

John P. deJongh Sr. died Tuesday in a Miami Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was 72.
DeJongh, who was born on St. Thomas Feb. 27, 1927, served as the executive administrator for Gov. Ralph Paiewonsky.
DeJongh received his law degree from Harvard University. When he joined Everett Birch's law practice, he became the attorney for Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp.
DeJongh's father, Percy deJongh, was the commissioner of Finance under three governors.
Educator Ruth Thomas, a classmate of deJongh's, described him as being "ahead of his time." She also said he was lighthearted and entertaining, but at the same time an excellent student.
"He and Leo (Sibilly Sr.) were inseparable as children – always giving us a good laugh," she recalled.
Thomas emphasized that while deJongh was very funny and good company, "most of us remember his brilliance. He was always able to bring intelligence to any situation."
Another classmate from the Charlotte Amalie High School class of 1944, Calvin Wheatley, said, "One of the things we always looked forward to was a good argument – not a debate – but really an argument with he and Leo Sibilly and Cecil George. None of us were surprised when he became a lawyer.
"Although he made fun sometimes – when it was time to be serious, he was," Wheatley said.
DeJongh is survived by three sons, John P. deJongh Jr., Stanley deJongh and Sydney deJongh, and two daughters, Judy McCoy and Mary Frate.
He is also survived by five grandchildren, John Percy III, Rene, Tommy and Julian deJongh and Dominic Frate.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Mafolie.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands for the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital. CFVI, PO Box 11790, St. Thomas 00801.

Due to Hurricane Jose and additional time for the Senate Finance Committee's technical staff to factor the recent $130 million bond issue, the committee will reconvene on Wednesday.
Committee chairwoman Lorraine Berry said that Finance Committee members are pursuing a comphrehensive approach toward the revised FY 2000 budget, which will be sent to the Committee on Rules for immediate consideration on Friday, Oct. 29.

Who: U.S. Army Corps of Engineeers
What: Construction Quality Management
Course
When : Wednesday Oct. 27, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, 8 a.m . – 12 p.m.
Where : Henry Rolhsen Airport, Port Authority Conference Room, 2nd floor

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will hold all day courses on "Construction Quality Management for Contractors (CQM)" Oct. 27 and 28 on St. Croix for contractors performing or who desire to perform work for the USACE.
Successful completion of this course will allow Virgin Islands contractors to qualify for project quality control manager positions on projects sponsored by the Corps of Engineers. Corp of Engineer specifications require contractors to retain the services of someone who has successfully completed the 12-hour CQM course for this managerial position.
The Construction Quality Management for Contractors course costs $25 and includes the cost of materials. Participants will receive a certificate of completion valid for five years. Residents can register by calling the Corps of Engineers Antilles Construction Office at (787) 729-6880 or (787) 729-6833 or Elena Shaubah in the St. Croix Congressional Office at 778-5900.
Further information can be obtained on the USACE Jacksonville District Web Page at www.saj.usace.army.mil/conops/conops.html

"This course is the product of a meeting we had with the new Deputy District Engineer for the Antilles, Lt. Col. Jose Buitrago, and is an excellent opportunity for our residents in the construction business to qualify to manage projects that come under their jurisdiction," said Delegate Donna Christian Christensen. "As a first step in responding to our request that local contractors be a priority in contract awards for work in the territory, the Corps of Engineers has made this course affordable and available to those of you in the industry," she said.

Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen and the leadership of several unions that represent V.I. workers had discussions this week on the initiatives to help the territory's financial crisis.
Union leaders voiced their concerns about the memorandum of understanding that was negotiated by Gov. Charles Turnbull and Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt. The biggest issue in the memorandum is item seven, which states:
"Recurring General Fund deficits and unfunded current liabilities in recent years have, to a significant extent, been aggravated by collective bargaining agreements, whereby Government of the Virgin Islands employees enjoy greater bargaining rights than those enjoyed by Federal employees. In order to ensure fiscal solvency, the governor of the Virgin Islands will submit legislation to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands by June 30, 2000 that will conform Virgin Islands public labor relations law, including Act No. 4440, with Federal public labor relations law."
At the meetings, the delegate again underscored the position she stated on several radio talk shows last week, that the overriding issue is how the V.I. government will meet its current obligations to its employees, and avoid the continuous million-dollar debt owed to government workers.
"Any system or process that allows workers not to be paid money that is owed to them is obviously sick and needs to be fixed," she said.
The memorandum provides a broad agreement that says the V.I. government will take steps to reduce its deficit over a period of years. Christensen said the governor and Babbitt included the best ways they felt that could be done. She said provisions in the memorandum aren’t "etched in stone."
"I have conveyed this recommendation to the governor verbally and in writing, and suggested that he strongly consider amending this portion of the MOU," Christensen said. "I also took the opportunity to once again urge that the matter of the outstanding money owed to government employees be addressed."
She said that the position of some V.I. legislators that their authority has been usurped by the memorandum is far from the truth.
"They have always had the ability to reject any of the items included, which are
or will be before them, and most importantly, to exercise their leadership by enacting measures of their choice which could accomplish the same necessary end — bringing our spending in line with our revenues," she said.

Included in legislation approved by a joint congressional committee Thursday for the Department of Interior’s budget is $5.4 million for the Virgin Islands. But the money comes with a caveat that the local government meet performance standards in addressing its fiscal crisis.
The Joint House-Senate Conference report Thursday night provided for the fiscal year 2000 budget for the Department of Interior. Within the conference report is language giving the territory a $5.4 million grant to defray the cost of various court-ordered or mandated construction projects.
The conference bill is a compromise between House and Senate versions. Such bills usually, but not always, win full congressional passage, and then go to the president.
The bill states that the grant is to be released only on condition that mutually agreed-upon financial and accountability performance standards to address the territory's current financial crisis have been developed and are being implemented.
The first part of this condition was met last week with the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Gov. Charles Turnbull and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt.
"The passage of the FY 2000 Conference Report is a cause for celebration," said Delegate to Congress Donna Christian-Christensen, "because the $5 million grant is the first installment of a promised multi-year federal grant program from the Department of Interior to help us pay for the almost $100 million in mandated … capital projects, including a new prison, a wastewater treatment facility and several new schools, that we have already borrowed money for."
According to the Turnbull administration, the grant was funded from monies originally allocated to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands under its compact with the federal government.
In his budget for last fiscal year, President Clinton proposed that the money go instead to Guam. But after meeting with Turnbull last February, Senate Energy Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski decided that the money was needed more in the Virgin Islands.
"While the Conference Report still has to be passed by the Senate and go to the president for signature, I want to take this opportunity to thank Sen. Frank Murkowsi and Sen. Slate Gordon, chairman of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee, for fighting on our behalf to ensure that the Senate position with regard to these funds prevailed in conference," Christensen said. "With the signing of the MOU, the way is now paved for us to receive these badly needed funds, as well as the additional funding that is to come in the proceeding years."

I am a graduate of the Good Hope School, Frederiksted, St.Croix. I was Ms. Talented Teen 1995-96' and Miss St. Croix 1996-1997.
I am currently a phlebotomist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. My purpose for writing is first, to inform people of how important I believe www.stcroixsource.com is to individuals that may be away from home. Home meaning the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. It has not only given me an opportunity to keep in touch with family, but has also allowed me to stay current with local news.
Even though, I love St. Croix because that is my true home, we can agree
that things are not the same.
This past summer I went to visit my family on St. Croix. Despite the fact that I had not been there in a year, things seemed different. When I lived on St. Croix I could not see what was really going on because I was in the middle of it all. But now that I have lived in Iowa for several years, I realize how drained the economy truly is.
Looking from an outsider's perspective, I was appalled, by many of the things I saw. First, the grass on the side of the streets has grown past eye level. There is trash on the side of the roads and in the bushes. There are run-down buildings that should be demolished for safety in both Frederiksted and Christiansted. Stores are closing down, people are losing jobs and the list goes on.
What is going to become of the place I call home?
I am angered by the fact that people take so many things for granted. St.Croix can truly be a wonderful place, and even crime free. But there is not a stable economy,
which is really one of its setbacks.
It is 37 degrees in Iowa as I write. I wish I was home. I look at the pictures I took by the ocean, the pier and even Buddhoe Park this summer and I hope that people will see the true beauty in the place I call home before it's too late.
I can certainly agree that Iowa does not have blue water, or friendlier people than my Crucian people. I realize how comforting it was to live in a tight-knit community, where people see you on the street and say good morning. Not like the crazy life I live, driving a half hour to get to another city to go to work, or feeling my heart pound when merging into traffic on the freeway.
I pray that sometime soon those people that work hard to support their families and
fear they might lose their jobs and those people who have been affected by the negligence of the governing body will find hope and trust that there is a solution to every problem. I hope that day comes soon.
Sincerely,
Nicole E. Quinn
Concerned In Iowa

The October Sunday Committee and the Committee for the Betterment of Carenage are presenting a fete at the Joseph Aubain Ballpark in Frenchtown featuring the Louisiana Cajun band Charivari tonight. A preview of Sunday's October Sunday Festival, the dance party was moved from Friday night because the band's arrival on island was delayed by Hurricane Jose.
There'll be music and dancing from around 6:30 p.m. "until." CBC members will be selling food and drink at the concession stand.

The cruise ship Monarch of the Seas made an unexpected stop in St. Croix Saturday.
The mega-ship, carrying 3,000 passengers, was diverted from its scheduled stop in St. Maarten due to high seas, according to Shirley L. Smith of the V.I. Port Authority.
Smith said the ship came in at 7:30 a.m. and would remain at the Ann E. Abramson Pier in Fredriksted until 6 p.m.
"We're anxious to get the word out," Smith said.