With predictors saying Hurricane Jose is likely to go 75 to 100 miles north of the Virgin Islands, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull told Radio One news that Virgin Islanders need to stay vigilant.
Turnbull moved the curfew from 3 to 6 p.m. to give residents time to make sure their homes were secure.
The governor said he had been in touch with President Bill Clinton and asked the president to declare a state of emergency if it should become necessary.
Turnbull also said a Federal Emergency Management Agency team was in the territory prepared to give assistance.
Roy Ward, the tropical weather expert with Radio One, said during the noon news report that he was optimistic the V.I. would not be hit directly by Hurricane Jose.
Ward said the eye was passing over Antigua as he gave his update.

I wish to publicly expose a serious problem existing in these U.S. Virgin Islands. This problem, if left unchecked, will certainly lead to the collapse of social order in our small community of 100,000 residents.
We, and I say we because all of us share some blame, have contributed to the erosion of respect for our laws and those who enforce said laws.
Gypsy taxis operate without licenses or medallions, undermining the existing taxi industry. Unlicensed businesses have become the norm, most times not paying taxes or fees, denying our revenue-starved treasury of much-needed dollars.
Traffic signals are ignored, and a dangerous game of Russian Roulette is played out daily.
Minors regularly buy alcohol at boat rides, festivals and musical events, and become intoxicated, reckless and sometimes violent.
Illegal immigrants fill our job market, pay no taxes, send most of their income back home, and create shantytowns that blight our neighborhoods.
Thousand-dollar fines for littering are ignored, while roadside trash, neighborhood junkyards, unsightly mobile food vendors and abandoned properties dot our landscape like ugly scars infected by neglect.
The human tragedies of prostitution, drug addiction and street people harassment has become commonplace and widespread.
Some of our leaders and citizens now think they are above the law, and one senator recently refused to comply with a police officer's request to exit his car after a traffic incident, choosing to drive off instead, eventually whining about "some prior problem with the officer."
When you add up all these infractions, mix in all the armed robberies, break-ins, car thefts, assaults, rapes, spousal abuses and shootings, a picture emerges that reveals a flaw in our community. We are both victims and perpetrators. No one is innocent. Yet we cry out our frustrations at the way things are going.
The road back to the good life is paved with enforcement and respect. Laws are carefully crafted to create harmony in daily life.
A fair and consistent enforcement protects a community against those selfish citizens who exploit any weakness or illegal opportunity.
A $1,000 fine for littering does nothing to prevent litter; only enforcement can do the job. We must enforce our laws for them to work, we must train our enforcement people to be fair and consistent, and finally we must police ourselves by example.
Editor's note: Andrew Rutnik is the commissioner of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs.

While residents of St. Croix stood in lines at grocery stores and gas stations preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Jose, the storm took a turn for the better.
The 11 a.m. advisory had the center of Hurricane Jose, newly upgraded to a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of about 100 mph, located near latitude 17.1 north and longitude 61.5 west, very close to Antigua, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. St. Croix is located at 17.8 north and 64.5 west.
The storm coordinates placed Jose approximately 215 miles east-southeast of St. Croix and 250 miles east-southeast of St. Thomas and moving toward the northwest at nearly 12 mph. That direction is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
The maximum sustained winds of 100 mph are mainly over a small area near the storm center. According to the NHC, satellite imagery and hurricane hunter data indicate that Jose strengthened overnight. Some further strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Early Wednesday, Gene Walker, director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said Jose had changed direction overnight, turning to the north.
"There seems to be a drastic turn" away from the territory, Walker said, although a hurricane warning still is in effect. "What a difference six hours makes."
The storm is now predicted to pass about 100 miles northeast of St. Croix and about 50 miles northeast of St. Thomas.
Walker said, however, that the territory will be engulfed in tropical storm-force winds.
"We’re saying we cannot be absolutely certain in terms of path," he said. "It could possibly go back to where it was last night."
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull declared a state of emergency in the territory on Tuesday, a standard procedure to activate a quick response, if needed, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and instituted a 3 p.m. Wednesday curfew. However, shortly after 10 a.m. today, Turnbull announced that the curfew would not begin until 6 p.m.
Jose, the 10th named storm of the 1999 hurricane season, is expected come the nearest to St. Croix with tropical-force winds at approximately 11 p.m. tonight, and St. Thomas-St. John around 2 a.m. Thursday.
Hurricane-force winds continue to extend outward up to 35 miles from the center of Jose while tropical storm force-winds extended outward up to 115 miles.
In preparation for Jose, residents filled their cars and extra containers with gasoline to run generators in the aftermath of the storm. Stores had long lines of people stocking up on supplies. Plaza Extra Supermarket ran out of bottled water by Tuesday evening.
All school classes were canceled for Wednesday and Thursday, and all non-essential government offices were closed.
Last September, Hurricane Georges swept through the eastern Caribbean islands causing billions of dollars of damage.

Virgin Islanders awoke Wednesday morning to what appeared to be good news: Hurricane Jose took an unexpected turn northward overnight and was projected to move away from the upper Leeward Islands. However, while it appeared the territory would be spared a direct hit by the storm, weather and emergency services officials warned residents not to let down their guard.
The National Weather Service reported hurricane’s center at 17.1 degrees north latitude and 61.5 degrees west longitude as of 11 a.m., very clost to Antigua and about 250 miles southeast of the Virgin Islands. Movement was continuing toward the northwest at 12 mph, with no significant change expected over the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 90 mph, mainly in a small area near the storm center, boosting Jose to a Category 2 hurricane.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull declared a state of emergency in the territory on Tuesday, a standard procedure to activate a quick response, if needed, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and instituted a curfew to take effect at 3 p.m. today and remain in effect until lifted. However, shortly after 10 a.m. today, Turnbull announced that the curfew would not take effect until 6 p.m.
Outer rain bands from Jose with sustained winds increasing to 35 to 50 mph and higher gusts are expected to begin striking the territory shortly. Sustained winds are projected to reach 40 to 60 mph by 9 p.m., peak at around 50 to 60 mph on St. John and St. Thomas around 2 a.m. Thursday and then begin to abate.
Higher gusts can be expected especially over islands with higher elevations, and further strengthening is forecast in the next 24 hours. Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches are expected along Jose’s path, with higher rainfall possible over mountainous areas.
Roy Ward, weather consultant to Radio One News, said Jose’s 5 a.m. position continued the change in direction away from a northwesterly course that was first noticed at 11 p.m. Tuesday.
Ward, a former VITEMA official, said the change in Jose’s direction was a result of the effects of a high-pressure ridge off the U.S. East Coast affected by temperature changes. At least for the moment, "In essence, it has brought the territory out of harm’s way," he said.
However, while saying he was "cautiously optimistic" that Jose’s center would pass north of the territory, Ward urged Virgin Islanders, "Do not lift your guard. If you were planning to complete your preparations for the hurricane this morning, continue to do so."
The National Weather Service reported that tides will be higher than normal today and will be accompanied by "large and dangerous battering waves." A heavy surf advisory remains in effect, and the territory’s ports have been closed to ships over 100 tons. Ward advised boaters, "Do not venture into the water."
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from Jose’s center, and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure at 11 a.m. was 978 mb or 28.88 inches.
A hurricane warning remains in effect for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as for Puerto Rico, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Eustatius, Saba, Dutch Sint Maarten and Anguilla. A hurricane watch issued by the French government continues for Martinique, St. Martin and St. Barth’s.

Virgin Islanders awoke this morning to what appeared to be good news: Hurricane Jose took an unexpected turn northward overnight and was projected to move away from the upper Leeward Islands. However, while it appeared the territory would be spared a direct hit by the storm, weather and emergency services officials warned residents not to let down their guard.
At 11 a.m. the National Weather Service reported the hurricane’s center at 17.1 degrees north latitude and 61.5 degrees west longitude, very close to Antigua and about 250 miles southeast of the Virgin Islands. Movement was continuing toward the northwest at 12 mph, with no significant change expected over the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 100 mph, mainly over a small area near the center of the storm, boosting Jose to a Category 2 hurricane.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull declared a state of emergency in the territory on Tuesday, a standard procedure to activate a quick response, if needed, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and instituted a curfew to take effect at 3 p.m. today and remain in effect until lifted. However, shortly after 10 a.m. today, Turnbull announced that the curfew would not take effect until 6 p.m.
Outer rain bands from Jose with sustained winds increasing to 35 to 50 mph and higher gusts are expected to begin striking the territory shortly. Sustained winds are projected to reach 40 to 60 mph on St. Thomas and St. John by 9 p.m., peak at around 50 to 60 mph around 2 a.m. Thursday and then begin to abate.
Higher gusts can be expected, especially over islands with higher elevations, and further strengthening is forecast in the next 24 hours. Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches are expected along Jose’s path, with higher rainfall possible over mountainous areas.
Roy Ward, weather consultant to Radio One News, said Jose’s 5 a.m. position continued the change in direction away from a northwesterly course that was first noticed at 11 p.m. Tuesday.
Ward, a former V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency official, said the change in Jose’s direction was a result of the effects of a high-pressure ridge off the U.S. East Coast affected by temperature changes. At least for the moment, "in essence, it has brought the territory out of harm’s way," he said.
However, while saying he was "cautiously optimistic" that Jose’s center would pass north of the territory, Ward urged Virgin Islanders, "Do not lift your guard. If you were planning to complete your preparations for the hurricane this morning, continue to do so."
The National Weather Service reported that tides will be higher than normal today and will be accompanied by "large and dangerous battering waves." A heavy surf advisory remains in effect, and the territory’s ports have been closed to ships over 100 tons. Ward advised boaters, "Do not venture into the water."
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from Jose’s center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure at 11 a.m. was 978 mb or 28.88 inches.
A hurricane warning remains in effect for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as for Puerto Rico, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Eustatius, Saba, Dutch Sint Maarten and Anguilla. A hurricane watch issued by the French government continues for Martinique, St. Martin and St. Barth’s.

The Water And Power Authority will interrupt electrical and potable water service only if, when and where such a move is necessary "to protect personnel and equipment."
WAPA, making preparations for severe weather anticipated with the passage of Hurricane Jose, will continue to provide service "as long as possible" throughout the territory, a press release from the utility states.
If it does become necessary to take power down, WAPA will restore service on a predetermined priority basis, beginning with "critical installations" such as hospitals and government centers and moving next to towns and other high-population areas.
Some power lines are likely to be downed by the storm, and residents should assume such lines are still energized and avoid coming into contact with them, the release says. If an electrical line should fall on a moving vehicle, the driver should shut the engine off but everyone inside the vehicle should remain there until advised by WAPA personnel that the line has been de-energized and it is safe to exit the vehicle.
The utility also offered these tips to cope with potential problems power outages might bring:
– As cistern pump motors will be out of service, residents should store water for cooking, bathing and flushing commodes ahead of time in bathtubs and other containers.
– Similarly, as pumps will not be operating at service stations, drivers should top off their motor vehicle fuel tanks before the storm strikes.
– Those with electric ranges should make preparations for alternative means of cooking, such as using portable stoves or coalpots.
– Residents should stock up on non-perishable foods and beverages, bottled drinking water, batteries for flashlights and radios, and candles.
– Once power is off, residents should unplug appliances and switch off all circuit breakers except one. The one connection will enable you to know when power has been restored.
Here are some telephone numbers to call for particular WAPA problems: Downed lines and electrical emergencies, 773-0150 for St. Croix and 774-1424 for St. Thomas-St. John. Potable water, 773-3775 for St. Croix and 775-5873 for St. Thomas-St. John. If lines are busy, keep trying, WAPA says; however, once you have reported a problem, do not call again seeking follow-up.

The Water And Power Authority will interrupt electrical and potable water service only if, when and where such a move is necessary "to protect personnel and equipment."
WAPA, making preparations for severe weather anticipated with the passage of Hurricane Jose, will continue to provide service "as long as possible" throughout the territory, a press release from the utility states.
If it does become necessary to take power down, WAPA will restore service on a predetermined priority basis, beginning with "critical installations" such hospitals and government centers and moving next to towns and other high-population areas.
Some power lines are likely to be downed by the storm, and residents should assume such lines are still energized and avoid coming into contact with them, the release says. If an electrical line should fall on a moving vehicle, the driver should shut the engine off but everyone inside the vehicle should remain there until advised by WAPA personnel that the line has been de-energized and it is safe to exit the vehicle.
The utility also offered these tips to cope with potential problems power outages might bring:
– As cistern pump motors will be out of service, residents should store water for cooking, bathing and flushing commodes ahead of time in bathtubs and other containers.
– Similarly, as pumps will not be operating at service stations, drivers should top off their motor vehicle fuel tanks before the storm strikes.
– Those with electric ranges should make preparations for alternative means of cooking, such as using portable stoves or coalpots.
– Residents should stock up on non-perishable foods and beverages, bottled drinking water, batteries for flashlights and radios, and candles.
– Once power is off, residents should unplug appliances and switch off all circuit breakers except one. The one connection will enable you to know when power has been restored.
Here are some telephone numbers to call for particular WAPA problems: Downed lines and electrical emergencies, 773-0150 for St. Croix and 774-1424 for St. Thomas-St. John. Potable water, 773-3775 for St. Croix and 775-5873 for St. Thomas-St. John. If lines are busy, keep trying, WAPA says; however, once you have reported a problem, do not call again seeking follow-up.

The Water and Power Authority will interrupt electrical and potable water service only if, when and where such a move is necessary "to protect personnel and equipment."
WAPA, making preparations for severe weather anticipated with the passage of Hurricane Jose, will continue to provide service "as long as possible" throughout the territory, a press release from the utility states.
If it does become necessary to take power down, WAPA will restore service on a predetermined priority basis, beginning with "critical installations" such hospitals and government centers and moving next to towns and other high-population areas.
Some power lines are likely to be downed by the storm, and residents should assume such lines are still energized and avoid coming into contact with them, the release says. If an electrical line should fall on a moving vehicle, the driver should shut the engine off but everyone inside the vehicle should remain there until advised by WAPA personnel that the line has been de-energized and it is safe to exit the vehicle.
The utility also offered these tips to cope with potential problems that power outages might bring:
– As cistern pump motors will be out of service, residents should store water for cooking, bathing and flushing commodes ahead of time in bathtubs and other containers.
– Similarly, as pumps will not be operating at service stations, drivers should top off their motor vehicle fuel tanks before the storm strikes.
– Those with electric ranges should make preparations for alternative means of cooking, such as using portable stoves or coalpots.
– Residents should stock up on non-perishable foods and beverages, bottled drinking water, batteries for flashlights and radios, and candles.
– Once power is off, residents should unplug appliances and switch off all circuit breakers except one. The one connection will enable you to know when power has been restored.
Here are some telephone numbers to call for particular WAPA problems:
– Downed lines and electrical emergencies, 773-0150 for St. Croix and 774-1424 for St. Thomas-St. John.
– Potable water, 773-3775 for St. Croix and 775-5873 for St. Thomas-St. John.
If lines are busy, keep trying, WAPA says; however, once you have reported a problem, do not call again seeking follow-up.

The Central Labor Council called in its heavy guns Monday when national labor leaders lobbied White House officials at its behest for a grant to stave off "economic chaos" in the territory.
The president of the United Steelworkers of America, George Becker, local USWA and CLC President Luis "Tito" Morales, and others met with administration officials from the Office of Management and Budget and the Council of Economic Advisers. The meeting was conducted by Karen Tramontano, counselor to President Clinton’s chief of staff.
"We represent 1,500 of the 10,000 public employees providing critical government services for the Virgin Islands’ citizens that all could collapse into economic chaos without the immediate relief of a federal grant," Becker said.
According to the USWA’s Washington, D.C., office, discussions centered around the territory’s financial problems, including the government’s $1 billion deficit, unfunded federal mandates not being paid, court-ordered infrastructure improvements and exhaustion of the V.I.’s borrowing ability.
Morales said the union also raised the need for the federal government to continue the current level of the rum-excise tax past December’s expiration date and the need for the administration and Congress to determine whether the territory is entitled to a return of gasoline excise taxes from HOVENSA.
Morales said the meeting was successful in that it will lead to others, possibly within the next two weeks.
"We will have other meetings . . . to come to some solutions to the problems of the territory," Morales said.
In an interview prior to the White House meeting, Cecil Benjamin, president of the St. Croix chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and first vice president of the CLC, said Gov. Charles Turnbull was aware of the CLC’s plan to reach out to its national affiliates.
Benjamin said that in addition to the gas tax issue, discussions would include forgiveness of the V.I.’s $200 million FEMA Community Disaster Loan. If the loan isn’t forgiven, the territory will have to start making annual payments of $25 million beginning in 2001.
While the territory’s debt exceeds the $1 billion mark, Benjamin said union leaders wouldn’t expect that amount in a federal grant. They are, however, hoping to get a commitment on something.
"They (USWA) have a lot of power and lobbying ability," Benjamin said. "But you’re not going to get a billion dollars from the U.S. government to help in this bailout."
Morales said Becker also brought up provisions in the controversial memorandum of understanding between the V.I. government and the Department of Interior. Union leaders have decried provisions calling for 50-50 health and retirement contributions, the elimination of five paid government holidays and the revision of Act 4440 to match the Federal Labor Relations Act.
The CLC represents 18,000 unionized public and private sector workers in the territory. The local USWA union represents 1,500 government workers, plus about 4,500 workers at the HOVENSA refinery, the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp. and at various hotels throughout the territory.

A section of Southshore Road near the entrance of Ha Penny Beach will be closed until Oct. 22.
From its intersection with Cathrine’sRest Road to Spring Gut Road, Southshore Road will be off limits to the general public due to reconstruction. Only motorists living in the immediate area will be allowed through the area.
Along with Southshore Road, Public Works Commissioner Harold Thompson said Route 707 at Constitution Hill and Route 73 from Mon Bijou to Scenic Road West will also be fixed. The $4.6 million project to resurface, reconstruct, rehabilitate and renovate some of St. Croix’s worst roads is 100 percent federally funded, he said.