Caledonian Airways flights to London's Gatwick Airport can now be booked in the Virgin Islands, acting Tourism Commissioner Monique Sibilly-Hodge announced Friday.
Caledonian began direct weekly flights to St. Thomas from London on May 6 on its DC-10, which holds 365 passengers. The return flight leaves St. Thomas and stops in Antigua before returning to London.
"This is the perfect relationship. We benefit from the inbound passengers and get an opportunity to fly to London at such an attractive and competitive fare," Hodge said, "This deal is a dream come true."
Up until now , Caledonian flights could only be booked in London.
The charter arrives weekly during July and August and will switch to biweekly flights in September. It will revert to weekly trips in October and throughout the winter.
For stays up to four weeks, the fare varies from $561 to $693; for stays over four weeks and up to a minimum of eight weeks, flights will cost an additional $132.

When the nomination of local businessman Michael Bornn as commissioner of the Department of Tourism was reported by St. Thomas Source on Wednesday, it brought a flurry of excitement to the public and private sectors, overwhelming support for Bornn and a wave of hope for the future of the territory.
Edward E. Thomas, president and CEO of The West Indian Company Ltd., said, "I'm delighted to know the governor has named Michael Bornn to be the next commissioner of tourism."
Thomas said he has known Bornn for a number of years and they have exchanged ideas on economics, economic development, tourism and related subjects. "I have already spoken to Michael and have pledged this company would give him 100 percent support so we can bring back a strong tourism product to the territory."
Joseph Aubain, president of St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, said he was looking forward to working with Bornn. "He will bring a lot of enthusiasm, ideas and a positive direction to the islands. It will be an exciting opportunity for tourism."
Realtor William R. Otto of David Jones Real Estate was equally impressed with the nomination, saying, "Michael's business background and his willingness to work for the community and the people of the Virgin Islands will make him a very proactive commissioner. I look for a new, revitalized tourism department."
Even retailers hailed the nomination. Sunil Mohanani of Chalet D'or in downtown Charlotte Amalie said, "Michael is just what we need. He knows and understands this market and I will support him. It's a wonderful move."
On St. Croix, the news was received with equal enthusiasm. Noel Loftus, chairman of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, said that while Chamber board members have not yet taken an official position, he expects very little opposition at the next board meeting, on August 12.
"We have not yet met as a group," said Loftus, "but some directors have called me with a very favorable reaction to the news." Loftus noted that having someone from the private sector in the top seat at Tourism was very unusual."Personally, I'm ecstatic," he said. "I'm very favorably impressed with Mr. Bornn and look forward to working with him."
Sen. Lorraine Berry said Bornn was an excellent choice for many reasons. "He contacted me when he was nominated," she said. "He wanted me to know about it and wanted to be prepared for the budget hearing." The senator cited Bornn's background as his strong point. "He's very conscientious and already has many goals and objectives for the department. He has the background to fill his position as chairman of IDC and the Port Authority."
James Armour of Armour Enterprises was equally supportive of the nomination. He said Bornn was the best choice the governor could have made. "He's been here all his life, knows the islands well, participates in the community and just getting the America's Cup Challenge off the ground is reflective of his knowledge of tourism."
Sen. Berry also noted Bornn was an experienced traveler. "He's been exposed to how many other countries attract their visitors and he knows the marine industry needs to be maximized as a balance to tourism. He will bring a wealth of experience to the job."
Bornn is currently off island on his honeymoon. He assumes the position of
Acting Commissioner on August 9 and has assured Sen. Berry he will be prepared for the budget hearings on August 11.

Julia V. Beresford, a tenth-grader at St. Croix Country Day School, has been selected as the finalist of the 1999 Florida-Caribbean
Cruise Association (FCCA) Children’s Essay Contest.
The theme of this year’s essay contest was "What Can My Country Do To Attract More Cruise Passengers?"
According to Acting Commissioner of Tourism Monique Sibilly-Hodge, U.S. Virgin Islands students were asked to identify ways in which the government, organizations and individuals who are directly or indirectly involved in the cruise tourism sector can attract more cruise passengers to their destination. The finalist is submitted to the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association to compete Caribbean-wide.
Beresford, 16, was born on St. Croix. She was selected as the finalist last year and finished second in the competition.
To better answer her latest essay question, Beresford went to the end of the Frederiksted dock on St. Croix. In her essay, Beresford said, "Some ideas came to mind immediately, such as renovating the historic buildings lining Strand Street, planting trees for shady areas in which to rest and enjoy the beauty of the sea, and creating a cultural scene around Fort Frederik."
She cited other areas for improvement, which included expanding dock space; sprucing up the waterfront and downtown areas; recreating historic lifestyles; greeting passengers adorned in traditional clothing;
entertaining passengers with Quadrille dances, scratch bands, mocko jumbies,
and steel pan players; and increasing advertising.
"There is so much that my island has to offer to visitors," Beresford said. "It has been hidden for so many years. The culture and history of the island needs to be brought back alive. I believe that once some of these changes are made more cruise passengers will soon be flowing into the island."
Sibilly-Hodge said, "Julia Beresford is such an insightful young lady. She was recognized last year aboard the Carnival Destiny with a
luncheon and an award presentation for her outstanding accomplishment of placing second. St. Croix, you should keep your eye on Julia, she is destined to be a one of the valuable contributors to the economic growth of St.
Croix."
The essay competition involves two age categories. Category 1 represents ages 12 and under, and category 2, represents ages 13 through 16. No entries were received in Category 1. Beresford’s essay will now compete with other essays from across the Caribbean in Category 2.
If she wins the first place prize, she’ll receive a $2,500 cash scholarship and the St. Croix Country Day School will receive a cash award of $1,250 from the FCCA. In addition, the first place winners, in each age
category, will attend the Sixth Annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association
Caribbean Cruise Conference in Puerto Rico on October 5-7, 1999. The two winners will read their essays at the opening ceremonies.

What CAN my country do to attract more cruise passengers? To answer this question I took myself out to the end of the dock in Frederiksted, gazed at the fantastic view of the waterfront, and began to ponder this question.
Some ideas came to mind immediately such as renovating the historic buildings lining Strand Street, planting trees for shady areas in which to rest and enjoy the beauty of the sea, and creating a cultural scene around
the Fort Frederik.
As I pondered these ideas, I realized the most pressing problem was that we needed more dock space. Presently our dock can only accommodate two ships at a time. There have been times when our dock already had two ships tied up and the other ships have to anchor out in the ocean and ferry the
passengers to shore. This takes away from the time the passengers get to spend on the island and many people are uneasy about taking the small boats to shore.
Another problem I identified was the need to spruce up the waterfront as well as the downtown areas of St. Croix. Old broken down buildings need to be cleaned up and repaired, and new gingerbread needs to be placed on the
buildings. As I gazed at the Frederiksted waterfront I saw old buildings that needed to be renovated and repainted in vibrant Caribbean colors creating a brilliant palette that excites the eye. As one walks from the
cruise ship dock to land one encounters the beautifully bricked area recently redone for the celebration of freedom. One also sees the old scale house renamed the Oscar E. Henry building where the Energy Office is located. In my opinion, The Energy Office should be moved from the bottom floor to the second floor freeing up the bottom floor as a Visitor Welcoming and Information Center.
Old Fort Frederik could be turned into an actual working fort in which people recreate history and show the island visitors the daily life as it was in the 1700’s. Visitors could interact with history and come away with a new appreciation of life in the Caribbean.
In addition to the work that needs to be done on the buildings, more natives need to be out at the docks welcoming the passengers in traditional clothing and demonstrating traditional dances such as Quadrille. Booths could be set up giving passengers small samples of the local foods and drink and telling them where they might be able to find these items on island. Local Scratch bands could be present and playing Calypso, our traditional music, so that the passengers could start to enjoy the island life immediately. Mocko Jumbies, glass dancers, fire dancers and steel pan orchestras could be present to make the island life really come alive.
And finally, the most important of all is advertising. The Virgin Islands specifically St. Croix must be well advertised in all media. Magazine ads, newspaper ads, television and the Internet are all places to show the best and most beautiful island of all!
There is so much that my island has to offer to visitors. It has been hidden for so many years. The culture and history of the island needs to be brought back alive. I believe that once some of these changes are made more
cruise passengers will soon be flowing into the island.
Miss Julia V. Beresford
St. Croix Country Day School
Finalist of the 1999 Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Children’s Essay Contest

Sen. Judy Gomez urged Gov. Charles Turnbull Friday to veto the majority's highly touted Short Term Economic Stimulus Act because of a provision that makes car insurance compulsory for the territory's motorists.
Gomez said buying insurance would be an added financial burden to residents, some of whom are owed retroactive government wages, income tax refunds and vendor payments.
"The price of insurance has escalated to such an extent that some of those residents cannot afford to purchase insurance coverage for their vehicles," Gomez said Friday in a released statement.
The Economic Stimulus Act, a product of this year's Economic Summit, also allows cruise ships to keep their casinos open while docked in St. Thomas and adjusts a number of fees in the Lieutenant Governor's Office.
Supporters of the measure say insurance is necessary to ensure drivers involved in accidents that aren't their fault will be compensated for physical injuries and vehicle damage.
Gomez said, however, the government should focus on making roads safer. In her statement, she said the number of recent highway fatalities shows there is a need for better street lighting, more police patrol and improved road conditions.

The renewal of American Yacht Harbor's Coastal Zone Management permit will be considered at a meeting of the CZM Committee, August 4.
The permit will allow AYC to continue to operate its Red Hook marina.
The CZM Committee meets at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 4, at the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources Conference Room in Foster Plaza.
AYC's application can be reviewed at DPNR, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m; those interested should call 773-3320.

Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James said he will work to preserve the territory's Foreign Sales Corporations in the wake of a ruling against the lucrative program by the World Trade Organization.
The ruling, which stemmed from a complaint lodged against FSCs by the European Union, has not been made public and is still under review by the federal government. Many speculate, however, the FSC program will have be altered.
"We are optimistic that this will not result in the end of the FSCs program," James said Friday in a released statement. "The process is a lengthy and detailed one, and I'm hopeful as it develops, some compromise can be reached that will preserve the essence of the program for offshore jurisdictions like the U.S. Virgin Islands."
FSCs are subsidiaries of U.S. export companies that are set up in the Virgin Islands and five or six other jurisdictions outside the U.S. Customs Zone in order to gain substantial federal income tax exemptions. The approximately 3,500 FSCs registered in the Virgin Islands pump between $8-$10 million into the territory's treasury.
The majority of FSCs are based in the Virgin Islands, Barbados and Guam. The WTO's final report on FSCs is due in September.
Graham Dunn, vice president of the V.I. FSC Association, said the adjustment may even mean more FSC activity in the territory.
"Up until now the EU has claimed the FSCs don't have a sufficient nexus in the off-shore jurisdictions. My understanding is that the corporations will have to create offshore entities that have more substance," he said.
"I have contacted our Delegate to the U.S. Congress Donna Christian-Christensen to express our concerns and solicit her assistance in working with Congress and the U.S. Trade Office to preserve this vital program that we're benefitting from," James said.

St. Croix businesswoman Anne Abramson and contractor Berthill Thomas have been indicted for a second time by a federal grand jury and charged with conspiracy, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, making false claims to the United States, making false statements within the jurisdiction of a federal agency and tax fraud.
In all, 15 counts were returned in the grand jury's second superseding indictment.
On Dec. 12, 1998, a grand jury handed down a 10-count indictment against the pair, which alleged, among other violations, that Thomas and Abramson conspired to corruptly give and accept money in exchange for Abramson hiring Thomas to repair a roof at the Department of Finance in St. Thomas.
Thomas was indicted on three counts but a jury could not reach a verdict on any of the charges against Abramson.
This week's indictment alleges two additional charges against Thomas and six new charges against Abramson. Both are charged with making a false claim and false statements to FEMA. Thomas is charged with submitting an inflated invoice for work he performed at the Arthur Richard Junior High School on St. Croix.
The indictment alleges Abramson violated territorial conflict-of-interest statutes and that she filed a false federal income tax return for the year 1996.
The maximum penalty for a conviction of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds is 10 years incarceration and a $250,000 fine. The offenses of making false claims to the United States and making false statements within the jurisdiction of a federal agency carry maximum penalties of five years incarceration and $250,000 fines for each count of conviction.
The maximum penalty for the territorial conflict of interest offense is imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years; and/or a fine of $5,000 or a sum equal to any money gained from the violation, whichever is greater.

An unidentified burglary suspect was shot to death Thursday night by police near an apartment building in Frenchman's Bay.
A burglary in progress was reported by a Frenchman's Bay resident around 9 p.m. 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, Radio One reported.
According to police, the suspect died while being transported to Roy L. Schneider Hospital.
Police have yet to release the name of the deceased. They are awaiting notification of next of kin, according to a release from Police Chief Jose Garcia's office.

The V.I. Law Enforcement Planning Commission has been awarded $579,000 by the U.S. Department of Justice for the territory's crime victim assistance program.
The Crime Victims Fund is financed by fines and penalties paid by convicted federal criminals and is used to support numerous local victims services agencies, such as domestic violence shelters, children's advocacy centers and rape crisis programs.
In fiscal year 1999, state and territorial crime victim assistance programs will receive a national total of $238,136 million in funding.
"People who break the law should pay for the harm that they caused," U.S. Attorney James Hurd said Friday in a released statement. "Under this program, convicted federal criminals will help pay for critical services for victims.
"This is justice– plain and simple. We will continue to aggressively collect fines from federal offenders so that victims of crime and their families may receive the assistance they need and deserve," he said.