Here is a short update of new items inside St. Croix Source.
Local Government: The territory's Law Enforcement Planning Commission and the Department of Human Services are to receive more than $700,000 in federal funds to assist crime victims.
Op ed: Kirk Grybowski says not only could aquaculture work in St. Croix — it already does.
People: Yvonne Petersen replacing Robin Freeman as SEA's executive director.
This is where to find what's new inside St. Croix Source. Don't forget to check the 26 local sections available every day. If you want to know who is on a particular board or commission, or what WAPA feeder you are on check in Community/Data. Looking for something to do? Check out Things to Do and Calendar.
Click here to find out what's new in St. Thomas Source.

The identity of the man who was shot and killed by police Thursday night in a confrontation with three burglars in Frenchman's Bay has still not been released, but police have arrested a suspect in the incident.
The V.I. Police department has been unable, as of late Monday afternoon, to locate the dead man's adoptive mother who is reportedly residing somewhere on the U.S. mainland and will not release the name of the dead man until they can notify her.
According to Police Chief Jose Garcia, the unidentified man was still living with his adoptive mother up until she left the island. Garcia could not say exactly when that was. Nor could he give the name of the woman who is being sought.
In the meantime Phillip Touissant, 24, of Est. Bovoni was arrested Friday and charged with first degree burglary and possession of a dangerous weapon. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
The police are still looking for a third suspect in the incident.
Around 9 p.m. last Thursday a burglary in progress was reported by a Frenchman's Bay resident When police arrived, a pair of burglars had already broken through a glass door and were rummaging through the building. The suspects exchanged gunfire with police as they fled the building a short time later before hiding in nearby bushes. A K-9 unit searched the bushes and discovered one of the suspects bleeding from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim died on the way to the hospital, according to police.
Anyone with information on the victim or the incident is asked to contact police at 774-4050 or 774-2233.

Even before the territory's $50 million share of the national $206 billion tobacco settlement was determined, the V.I. Legislature decided to split the money between retroactive wages and hospitals, via the Health Care Revolving Fund.
The League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands, however, has asked the Senate to revise the law which pre-allocated the funds — Act 6220 — so all the money can be spent on health care.
"The League of Women Voters seeks an amendment to Act 6220 to dedicate all funds realized from the tobacco settlement for uses in accordance with the stated purpose of the suit against the tobacco industry," LWV President Erva Denham wrote to Senate President Vargrave Richards Monday.
"These funds should, therefore, be used for smoking-related health care costs, for an anti-smoking education program and for other health care-related purposes, including a possible match for the annual Medicaid grant," Denham wrote. "These funds should not be used for salaries of any kind."
The tobacco suit was brought against the tobacco industry by a coalition of state and territorial attorneys general seeking reimbursement for the costs their governments incurred treating smoking-related illnesses.
The territory's share of the settlement is split into two payments: beginning in April 2000, the Virgin Islands will receive a total of $34 million over 25 years and an additional $15 million over 10 years.
Overall, the territory should receive about $2.8 million a year.
The LWV's fear the money would be spent on salaries was kindled, perhaps, by Assistant Attorney General Alva Swan, when he spoke last month at the group's luncheon.
"A further problem with the provision of the Act is that, at various times, the Health Care Revolving Fund has been used for salaries," Swan said. "The prospect therefore is that the entire proceeds from the Virgin Islands' share of the tobacco fund, all $50 million, could conceivably be used to pay retroactive wages, as well as current wages, over the 25-year life of the settlement."
Swan also told the LWV the territory could not receive the funds in a lump sum.
"The question I am going to anticipate is whether we can shorten the time from 25 years to five years, where that $25 million can have a greater impact. The answer is still no, it can't be done," Swan said. "The payment structure may be a blessing in disguise, in that we will not be able to spend all $50 million at one time, as we would if the funds were available to us in a lump-sum payment."
Denham further stated that other "community groups" also feel the funds should be used for health care for the indigent and senior citizens as well as for smoking-related health costs.
"No one can question that these areas in the territory need financial support now," she wrote. "The League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands expects the 23rd Legislature to amend Act 6220 to dedicate all of the tobacco settlement funds for the health needs of the people of the Virgin Islands."

Construction on a new, mid-size supermarket in Est. Frydenhoj is set to begin in a few months.
The St. Croix-based Daas Corp. has purchased the plot of land across from Independent Boat Yard for an undisclosed amount of money from Al Cohen, who was building a warehouse on the site. Daas' crew began demolishing the half-built structure Monday.
"This is really going to be a state-of-the-art supermarket," Daas Corp. President Ahed Daas said Monday.
The store, scheduled to open in about a year, will be approximately 20,000 square feet with 10,000 square feet of retail space.
Crews will continue clearing the site over the next few months before construction of the store and parking lot commences.
Daas said he expects the new supermarket will be more convenient for residents of the east end, nearby marinas and St. John.

The lack of a long-term fiscal recovery plan and shaky revenue projections make Gov. Charles Turnbull's first executive budget proposal too flimsy to deal with the current financial crisis, according to the League of Women Voters.
The LWV's highly critical assessment, which was released this weekend, comes just before the Senate Finance Committee begins its month-long budget hearings, which are scheduled to start Wednesday with Turnbull's top financial planners presenting an overview of the government's financial condition.
"The proposed FY 2000 budget is woefully out of balance and provides a meager sum for essential services to taxpayers," LWV President Erva Denham wrote. "The League urges a reconciling of the inconsistencies in the budget and a submission of realistic revenue and expenditure projections."
Due to worsening finances, Turnbull has already cut his original budget proposal by approximately 15 percent, from about $488 million to under $420 million. The nearly $70 million decrease is expected to result in pay cuts, layoffs and a reduction in government services.
"At this time, one of the most obvious shortcomings of the budget is the absence of a long-term plan for fiscal recovery," Denham stated. "And rumors of anticipated recovery and reorganization plans are, as of this writing, just that, rumors,"
The few cost-cutting initiatives the Turnbull administration has undertaken to stimulate the economy — such as a hiring freeze and curtailed use of government vehicles — completely ignore the private sector malaise, Denham wrote:
"The League is concerned that the proposed economic stimuli do not include any proposals designed to stimulate the private sector; rather, they rely too heavily on Government-sponsored capital projects which at best, produce short term gains."
The Turnbull administration must attempt to boost the private sector before the territory's businesses will be able to rehire laid-off government employees, she said.
The administration's government reorganization plan is expected to be presented to the Finance Committee at the end of its budget hearings later this month. The LWV, however, said the reorganization plan should be in place before the budget is approved.
"To be effective, any reorganization must take into account the staffing needs of the departments and agencies along with the reduction caused by attrition," Denham wrote.
Much of the Senate's budget work is done by the majority caucus between the end of the Finance Committee hearing and before a budget is passed by the full Senate.
The legislative and judicial branches should also attempt to reduce expenditures, the LWV suggested:
"The League remains very concerned that, while actions to reduce the expenditures of the executive branch are proposed, no concurrent action exists for the budgets of the Legislature, the Territorial Court, instrumentalities, boards and commissions."
Each of the three branches of government needs to examine its payroll, the LWV also recommended.
"The League notes that some offices, such as the Office of the Governor, have higher payroll costs for FY 2000 than in FY 1998, with 10 fewer positions in FY 2000," Denham wrote. "The executive branch should examine all government salaries over $40,000 with a planned reduction on a sliding scale, and call on the legislative and judicial branches to do likewise."
Turnbull's questionable revenue projections are no change from the inflated projections of past administrations, said the League.
"As in prior years' budget proposals, some of the major revenue categories are lacking in a solid foundation," Denham wrote. "How realistic is the projected collection of $32 million in delinquent real estate taxes? Has any assessment been made to determine what portion of these are, in fact, collectible?
"The projected increase in income taxes also does not reflect reality. By all accounts, business closings are increasing and more people are leaving the territory, especially on St. Croix."
The Bureau of Internal Revenue must collect aggressively for the administration to have any hope of meeting revenue projections, Denham stated.
"This should help to eliminate the necessity of making long-term loans for the operating expenses of a single fiscal year," she wrote.
Last month, Turnbull announced the government would likely seek a $100 million loan to fund payroll costs and other operating expenses.
"For the League . . . as well as for all taxpayers, the time is overdue for a realistic, specific, constructive plan formulated from realistic, specific financial data with an equally realistic and specific timetable," Denham concluded.

An inmate who escaped from St. Croix’s Anna’s Hope Detention Center on Thursday was back in custody as of Sunday morning, according to V.I. Bureau of Corrections officials.
Roy Mullinar, 44, who is serving time for a burglary conviction, made a break Thursday while on garbage detail. Corrections officials said that Mullinar, who wasn’t considered dangerous, was reported missing shortly after 10 a.m. on Thursday after he jumped off a garbage truck at the Anna’s Hope facility and ran into the bush without being seen.
Mullinar was recaptured without incident by corrections personnel early Sunday morning in Christiansted. The inmate was being held at the Anna’s Hope center pending a decision on an appeal for a two-year sentence for burglary.

According to the Webster Dictionary, aquaculture is the combination of "aqua — water; a solution of a substance in water, and culture — production, development or
improvement of a particular plant, animal, etc."
According to the Aquaculture Program at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix, it is a way for Virgin Islanders to feed themselves with quality fish and
produce.
UVI’s Dr. James Rakocy and his coworkers began with previous hydroponics and
aquaculture programs, then added some twists of their own. To date they have produced a system that can yield some 11,000 pounds of tilapia fish and from 1,000 to 2,000 cases of produce per year on a one-tenth acre, about 4,360 square feet, parcel of land.
According to one Virgin Islands chef, "tilapia is an excellent fish to work with. Its mild flavor allows for a great selection of sauces and should be very successful in the better food establishments."
As far as the produce is concerned, Rakocy has produced lettuce and other greens, tomatoes, string beans, bell peppers, Chinese cabbage, and herbs. The herbs include basil, chives, dill and mint.
There are three primary aqua systems for growing fish and produce, Rakocy explained. Cage culture is used to raise fish in fresh water ponds. Green water tank culture, named for the green algae in the water, yields quality green peppers and the Chinese vegetable pik choi in tanks of nutrients.
Aquaculture uses the nutrient-rich water from the fish culture to support vegetable growth, which filters out the nutrients allowing the water to continue to support fish
growth.
There are many reasons why the Virgin Islands community should adopt aquaculture, supporters of the farming method contend. One is the fragility of reef life. When a reef is over-fished, not only does the fish yield drop, but the entire reef environment changes.
In this scenario, fish for food are lost and the territory’s tourist industry loses an attraction responsible for drawing visitors and revenue for the economy.
Economically, farming fish strengthens the multiplier of capturing money that would have been sent off island to import fish. The economic multiplier argument is also a primary reason for raising produce.
A second argument is the quality of the produce. Fresh produce is usually preferred over that which has been picked green, shipped great distances, then gassed or otherwise treated to hasten ripening.
UVI has identified two major problems in establishing an aquaculture industry in the Virgin Islands. The first problem concerns parasites in the fish and disease in the produce. When cage-cultured Red Drum fish raised in fresh water ponds were transferred to salt water, they developed a parasite. This parasite disappeared when they were replaced in fresh water.
Three other fish were cultured with only one, the palometa, a local reef fish, still on the list of possible salt-water farm fish. tilapia is raised in recycled fresh water and does not have the parasite problem or the need for quantities of fresh water.
Papayas have been attacked by a unique virus, which kills the tree within a year. Papaya becomes an economic success when the tree lives three years or more. The aquaculture program has worked with some 45 different strains of papaya and has narrowed the field to 10 that show both an early yield and a tolerance to the virus.
The second problem is marketing. Over a decade ago, Hank Williams developed
a successful hydroponics program in Bolongo gut below Antilles School. He raised tomatoes, string beans, and cucumbers.
While residents of Bovoni and East End lined up to purchase these vegetables from a road side stand, Williams had a difficult time attracting the major buyers necessary to
utilize the full potential of his system. When health problems arose, Williams shut the system down.
Given the double yield of the aquaculture system (fish and produce) and the ability to develop the production capacity along with the developing market, the aquaculture industry is simply waiting for entrepreneurs wise enough to take advantage of this proven technology.
For information on the Aquaculture Program at UVI click here.

Starting Aug. 2, the St. Croix Environmental Association will have a new executive director.
Yvonne Petersen will replace Robin Freeman, who directed SEA for eight years. Petersen, who has spent much of her life on St. Thomas but has family on St. Croix, spent the last seven years as operations manger of the University of the Virgin Islands’ Small Business Development Center on St. Thomas.
Practiced in grant writing, Petersen hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from UVI and has worked in sales and marketing, public relations and has experience in working for non-profit groups.
Contact SEA by email.

The territory’s doctors have been left vulnerable to law suits by the government’s failure to establish a malpractice trust fund while residents and their attorneys wait months to collect on the settlements they’ve been awarded, say lawyers who prosecute such cases.
A 1993 law requires the establishment of a Medical Malpractice Risk Management Trust Fund for uninsured doctors, to be managed by a licensed broker. Lawyers say, however, the fund has never been created and malpractice settlements, which are managed by the Health Department's Risk Manager Dr. Seshagiri Alla, are being paid out of the government's general fund.
Doctors' contributions to the trust fund are apparently being deposited into the often nebulous general fund.
"There is no trust fund. There never has been a trust fund," said Attorney Lee Rohn, who prosecutes malpractice suits. "It exposes doctors to personal liability. If there's a judgment against a doctor, and there's no fund and people aren't paid, the court could end up taking the doctor's house."
Last week, Alla referred questions about the fund to Commissioner of Health Wilbur Callendar, who did not return two phone messages; thus, it could not be determined how much doctors have paid into the fund or how many participate.
A motion filed by an attorney representing the government in a recent malpractice settlement, however, seems to prove Rohn's assertions.
"On information and belief, the Medical Malpractice Risk Management Trust Fund has never been established," Attorney Richard Knoepfel wrote in a June 2 response. "Dr. Alla has informed the undersigned that in the past few years in which he has been director, all payments of counsel fees, expenses, settlements and judgments have been paid by submitting vouchers to the Department of Finance and receiving checks issued by that department."
Knoepfel's motion also confirms the destination of doctors' contributions.
"Dr. Alla further advises us that all contributions to the 'Fund' have been forwarded to the Department of Finance where he believes a separate ledger sheet has been maintained," Knoepfel wrote.
A separate ledger notwithstanding, the unrestrained use of the general fund by recent administrations to pay all sorts of expenses, coupled with the government's cash crisis, makes many doctors nervous.
"The question a lot of doctors have, especially with the general fund being broke, is what will happen when the government doesn't make good on payments in the future," said Dr. Frank Odlum, a general surgeon and president of the Medical Staff at Roy Schneider Hospital.
"It's a problem. It leaves us out in the open," he continued. "No one is going to practice medicine in a litigious society without protection. You end up practicing preventative medicine rather than doing what you think is right."
Some doctors may be forced to raise their fees in order to pay for individual malpractice coverage.
The depositing of malpractice contributions into the general fund has also led some to wonder if those funds are being used for malpractice settlements or if they are used by the administration to meet payroll and other unrelated obligations.
Earlier this year, it was revealed child support payments made by fathers to the Paternity and Child Support Division were gobbled up into the general fund and vanished before they were sent to the mothers who were the rightful recipients. Most mothers eventually received payment months after the money was sent to the government.
Attorney Felice Quigley, who also prosecutes malpractice cases, said the absence of a dedicated fund causes similar delays in residents receiving the money they have been awarded in successful law suits.
In one case, a client waited six months for a $20,000 settlement, she said.
"We shouldn't have to file motion after motion to enforce the settlement agreements and collect money. In the past year, I've filed four motions to compel a settlement, which is ridiculous," Quigley said.
"These malpractice settlements have to be paid out of a separate fund because people are in dire need of the money to pay for further medical expenses," she said.
Physicians simply have to protect themselves considering the government has failed to dedicate a fund and people will continue to sue for malpractice, Quigley said.
"If I was a physician in the Virgin Islands, I would obtain my own malpractice insurance," she said. "There could well be a real threat to physicians individually if the government does not take steps to comply with the law."

Following the example of other multi-campus educational institutions, the University of the Virgin Islands is planning to restructure its administration.
Under the new system, each campus will have its own chancellor, who will report to the provost of the university. The chancellors will be responsible for campus-related matters while the administration focuses on university-wide issues.
"The final phase of the strategic plan meets several goals," UVI President Orville Kean said Friday in a release. "Most importantly, it will result in a stronger, better organized, more efficient university with the proper autonomy between campuses to deal with campus-wide matters. It will cost no more than the current organizational structure."
The new system will have four vice presidents instead of the current five. The duties of the vice president for academic affairs and the vice president of research and public service will be combined under a senior vice president/provost position.
The Board of Trustees will continue to be the top authority at the university, with the president directly under it. The four vice-presidents will report to the president, with the chancellors under the provost.
The reorganization proposal, part of UVI's 1995-1999 Strategic Plan, was presented to and accepted by UVI's Board of Trustees on June 12 and will go for final approval this month. The new structure may take effect as soon as October.
The consultant in the reorganization plan was Dr. Howard Simmons, who for 20 years was the executive director of the UVI's accrediting body, the Commission on Higher Education, with input from administrators, faculty and other members of the UVI staff.