Raids conducted by five agencies of the V.I. government Thursday and Friday, dubbed "Operation Apache," resulted in 14 arrests and the confiscation of four vehicles, four guns, drug paraphernalia, assorted ammunition, an undetermined quantity of crack-cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana, and $13,000 in cash.
Acting Police Commissioner Franz A. Christian Sr. said the raids were aimed at stemming the flow of drugs on the streets, according to the Daily News.
Operation Apache had been in the works for some time. Christian attributed its success to surveillance, undercover activities, hard work and cooperation.
Officers and agents of the V.I. Police Department, Narcotics Strike Force, Counter Drug Intelligence Unit, V.I. Housing Authority Police, Justice Department personnel and Planning and Natural Resources took part.

The construction of the new Office Max, the Banco Popular building, the seven-theater Cinemaplex, yet another Al Cohen's mall on the East End and a proposed commercial center in Mafolie all indicate a need for more commercial development on the island, right?
Some people wonder.
They question the need for this amount of development when commercial space is already available in areas like Wheatley Center, Fort Mylner Shopping Center and Four Winds Plaza. And they fear that a rapidly growing supply of commercial space is outweighting a not-so-quickly growing demand.
While the island's commercial property managers generally agree there is certainly a surplus and certain tenants with special needs have to build, they don't necessarily agree on any single reason why.
"My personal feeling is that throughout the years more and more has been built and the island cannot support the amount of availability," said Maurice Wheatley, general manager of Wheatley Center.
"I think the demand for quality commercial space hasn't kept pace with the availability," which has either " leveled off or decreased," Wheatley said.
"Things don't look that good for the market," he added.
Wheatley said Hurricane Marilyn was a major factor in the weak commercial market. After Marilyn, a lot of people — including many entrepreneurs — left the territory. Although this was not the case with Wheatley Center tenants, these circumstances were all inter-related, Wheatley said.
Four spaces are now available in Wheatley Center. One has been vacant since June 1998. The most recent became vacant in December. But Al Cohen, of Al Cohen's Plaza, is optimistic.
"I think people got a little scared after the hurricanes but I feel that is now subsiding and they are more willing to develop," Cohen said.
"The hurricanes didn't help us," he said, but added, "I think it is turning around now."
Christine O' Keefe, vice president of investor relations, Lockhart Realty Inc., said developers "have to study the market and make sure that when you build, it is something that is needed."
So what is the incentive for developers to build for individual tenants? The tenant's specific needs.
"If it is a national company, usually the case depends on what type of store it is and what space they need" to determine whether to build, Carthy Thomas, marketing director for Tutu Park Mall, said. Joseph Bonanno, property manager of Four Winds Plaza, agrees.
"Some people must have enough money to invest in buildings and must have special needs that they must build buildings," Bonanno said.
Cohen agreed that special needs have to be met.
"Sometimes a lot of empty space is not suitable for the people," Cohen said.
This, coupled with the fact that "they might be getting some very good deals from the land owners," such as options to build on leased land instead of having to purchase it, makes building new space attractive, Bonanno added.
O' Keefe described it as a "two-sided problem" because along with the needs of the tenant, there also has to be a landlord who is willing to work with the tenant's needs. That is why she describes long-term land leases, such as the one in Market Square East, as being an attractive compromise between the needs of the landowner and the tenant, who then builds his or her own building.
This was the case with the Office Max building owned by Tutu Park Mall.
It required 23, 000 square feet — "a bigger space than was available within the building," Thomas said.
Just down the road, Four Winds Plaza has about 25,000 square feet available and the Fort Mylner Shopping Center has one vacancy. But the fact that Tutu Park Mall enjoys IDC benefits makes competing unfair, Bonanno said.
"We really can't compete," he said, because Tutu Park Mall was built on leased land and its owners pay no gross receipts taxes and very little property taxes, which for Four Winds average around $160, 000 a year, Bonanno said.
"They've been given tremendous incentives," Bonanno said, referring to the IDC benefits the mall enjoys.
Cohen called Tutu Park is a "very successful mall" and said that "in the coming months, as the area comes up, the space will fill." "I'm in St. Thomas for the long-haul," Cohen said, adding that he looks at long-term investment. "You always have a risk factor as an investor and it is only natural to like things to be rented 100 percent," but sometimes there are vacancies, Cohen said.
What are some adverse affects of building?
Wheatley said the market is crowded with competitors who feel that building and renting commercial space is very profitable.
People feel there is a lot of money to be made there and they say, 'Hey why don't I get some of that money?'" Wheatley said.
The result: more commercial space is created than needed.
When business gets slow, you have to work harder and get more creative, Cohen said, such as by giving an old building a "face lift" or by dividing large spaces into smaller, perhaps easier-to-rent ones.
"On an island you have a finite amount of space, not just with shopping areas but hotels also, " O' Keefe said.
She lamented that in today's "throw-away" culture, instead of refurbishing old areas, people often abandon them and "ghettos" are created.
So what are some ways to ensure that a commercial area will be successful before it is built?
"One business creates the traffic and then you have to have other businesses to feed off of the traffic," Cohen said.
It was through observing existing businesses in the Smith Bay area and in Red Hook, such as the ferries, the hotels and Coral World, that he found a significant traffic flow that should support the new Al Cohen's Plaza in Frydenhoj. And "visibility is very important," he said.
"I feel that that area in the next year or two will be developing," he said.
He plans to build the new shopping center in phases — a more conservative approach, he said, that allows him to build to accommodate growing demand.

I must say, I am duly impressed. You too can become an online newsletter editor!
In just a few short minutes I learned how to format an article, edit, add a URL. And, it was fun!

The construction of the new Office Max, the Banco Popular building, the seven-theater Cinemaplex, yet another Al Cohen's mall on the East End and a proposed commercial center in Mafolie all indicate a need for more commercial development on the island, right?
Some people wonder.
They question the need for this amount of development when commercial space is already available in areas like Wheatley Center, Fort Mylner Shopping Center and Four Winds Plaza. And they fear that a rapidly growing supply of commercial space is outweighting a not-so-quickly growing demand.
While the island's commercial property managers generally agree there is certainly a surplus and certain tenants with special needs have to build, they don't necessarily agree on any single reason why.
"My personal feeling is that throughout the years more and more has been built and the island cannot support the amount of availability," said Maurice Wheatley, general manager of Wheatley Center.
"I think the demand for quality commercial space hasn't kept pace with the availability," which has either " leveled off or decreased," Wheatley said.
"Things don't look that good for the market," he added.
Wheatley said Hurricane Marilyn was a major factor in the weak commercial market. After Marilyn, a lot of people — including many entrepreneurs — left the territory. Although this was not the case with Wheatley Center tenants, these circumstances were all inter-related, Wheatley said.
Four spaces are now available in Wheatley Center. One has been vacant since June 1998. The most recent became vacant in December. But Al Cohen, of Al Cohen's Plaza, is optimistic.
"I think people got a little scared after the hurricanes but I feel that is now subsiding and they are more willing to develop," Cohen said.
"The hurricanes didn't help us," he said, but added, "I think it is turning around now."
Christine O' Keefe, vice president of investor relations, Lockhart Realty Inc., said developers "have to study the market and make sure that when you build, it is something that is needed."
So what is the incentive for developers to build for individual tenants? The tenant's specific needs.
"If it is a national company, usually the case depends on what type of store it is and what space they need" to determine whether to build, Cathy Thomas, marketing director for Tutu Park Mall, said. Joseph Bonanno, property manager of Four Winds Plaza, agrees.
"Some people must have enough money to invest in buildings and must have special needs that they must build buildings," Bonanno said.
Cohen agreed that special needs have to be met.
"Sometimes a lot of empty space is not suitable for the people," Cohen said.
This, coupled with the fact that "they might be getting some very good deals from the land owners," such as options to build on leased land instead of having to purchase it, makes building new space attractive, Bonanno added.
O' Keefe described it as a "two-sided problem" because along with the needs of the tenant, there also has to be a landlord who is willing to work with the tenant's needs. That is why she describes long-term land leases, such as the one in Market Square East, as being an attractive compromise between the needs of the landowner and the tenant, who then builds his or her own building.
This was the case with the Office Max building owned by Tutu Park Mall.
It required 23, 000 square feet — "a bigger space than was available within the building," Thomas said.
Just down the road, Four Winds Plaza has about 25,000 square feet available and the Fort Mylner Shopping Center has one vacancy. But the fact that Tutu Park Mall enjoys IDC benefits makes competing unfair, Bonanno said.
"We really can't compete," he said, because Tutu Park Mall was built on leased land and its owners pay no gross receipts taxes and very little property taxes, which for Four Winds average around $160, 000 a year, Bonanno said.
"They've been given tremendous incentives," Bonanno said, referring to the IDC benefits the mall enjoys.
Cohen called Tutu Park is a "very successful mall" and said that "in the coming months, as the area comes up, the space will fill." "I'm in St. Thomas for the long-haul," Cohen said, adding that he looks at long-term investment. "You always have a risk factor as an investor and it is only natural to like things to be rented 100 percent," but sometimes there are vacancies, Cohen said.
What are some adverse affects of building?
Wheatley said the market is crowded with competitors who feel that building and renting commercial space is very profitable.
People feel there is a lot of money to be made there and they say, 'Hey why don't I get some of that money?'" Wheatley said.
The result: more commercial space is created than needed.
When business gets slow, you have to work harder and get more creative, Cohen said, such as by giving an old building a "face lift" or by dividing large spaces into smaller, perhaps easier-to-rent ones.
"On an island you have a finite amount of space, not just with shopping areas but hotels also, " O' Keefe said.
She lamented that in today's "throw-away" culture, instead of refurbishing old areas, people often abandon them and "ghettos" are created.
So what are some ways to ensure that a commercial area will be successful before it is built?
"One business creates the traffic and then you have to have other businesses to feed off of the traffic," Cohen said.
It was through observing existing businesses in the Smith Bay area and in Red Hook, such as the ferries, the hotels and Coral World, that he found a significant traffic flow that should support the new Al Cohen's Plaza in Frydenhoj. And "visibility is very important," he said.
"I feel that that area in the next year or two will be developing," he said.
He plans to build the new shopping center in phases — a more conservative approach, he said, that allows him to build to accommodate growing demand.

Monique Sibilly-Hodge has resigned as assistant executive director of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, reportedly to take a position in the Tourism Department.
Sibilly-Hodge, who has been with the chamber for eight years, Friday confirmed she had resigned from the Chamber of Commerce, but would not comment on whether she would be moving to the Tourism Department.
Acting Tourism Commissioner Clement "Cain" Magras did not return calls seeking comment on whether Sibilly-Hodge has been hired and what position she will assume.
Sibilly-Hodge is the wife of former Lt. Gov. Derek M. Hodge.

A local news analysis program debuts Sunday on WTJX, the public television station.
"Behind the Headlines" is anchored by Osbert Potter, former commissioner of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, and, before that, a senator.
The first segment, taped Wednesday afternoon at the station's studio, features Potter interviewing economists Dr. Simon B. Jones-Hendrickson and Dr. Richard Moore.
In the second half of the half-hour show, four V.I. media representatives talk about what the economists talked about.
The program will be a weekly, airing first at 6 p.m. Sunday, then repeating, probably at 8:30 Friday nights.
Potter said the format may change somewhat, depending on viewer response. He was already
second-guessing the number of media panelists Wednesday, worrying there wasn't enough time for everyone to talk.
Tonya Singh, public affairs officer for Licensing, is producing the program.
Next week's topic will be how the Legislature divides the spoils among
majority and minority senators. Potter has invited several former senators.

Residents in Estate Peterborg have had it with overgrown brush.
They've put up a hand-made sign at the entrance to the main Peterborg Road, just off the Magens Bay Road, that reads: "Caution: Dangerous, narrow road. Drive slow. Accidents are frequent! Watch for walkers and riders."
Brush has grown so high on both sides of the two-lane main road that it has turned into one lane.
A woman who said she did not want her name used for fear of reprisals said Peterborg residents have logged scores of phone calls to the Public Works Department over the last six weeks to complain about the problem and plead for help.
They've had many promises but so far no action.
Last week, she said, there were two head-on collisions involving neighbors who couldn't see each other on the winding road until it was too late. One resulted in a minor injury and major damage to one vehicle.
Editor's note: See related editorial, "Little things count too…" on the Editorial page in the Commentary section.

Chee-Yun, sensational violinist will play return engagement at Tillett Garden.
For more information go to Things to Do section of St. Thomas Source

Amidst naysayers and critics, the organizers of BeachJam '99 pushed on, made it over hurdles and jumped through the necessary hoops to make the event, by anyone's standards, a success.
Steve Bornn, executive producer of BeachJam '99, said CEAP, which stands for Cause Effective Arts Program Inc., met 90 percent of its goals.
"Remember, this project was multi-purposed — to raise money, but also to raise awareness and image."
What about the money end?
"We don't know about the finances yet," Bornn said.
With the tremendous overhead involved in the project, he said they won't know about the money until all the bills come in and are paid.
"But we built the infrastructure necessary to go on with our other projects planned for the rest of the year," Bornn said.
He said a lot of people didn't believe they could do it. He counted among their successes the fact that they proved those people wrong.
"This is a wakeup call to the business community and the philanthropists — the private sector can do these things. We can't wait for the government," he said.
Twenty-four hours after the event there were few signs left that the day before, Magens Bay had hosted an estimated 4,000 people.
There was virtually no garbage on the side of the road, unlike even typical Monday morning following a normal Sunday at the beach.
Bill Grogan, program director for Beachjam, said he made one mistake. At the end of the day-long event, he asked people to pick up their garbage on the way out and put it in the containers that were evident everywhere in the park.
"Next year we'll pass out garbage bags," he said.
As the receptacles filled up, people could only place refuse next to the plastic cans. And they did.
One regular visitor to the island who attended the event said, "An event like this is far more important [for tourism] than an ad in the New York Times."
Proceeds from the event are earmarked for Magens Bay coconut grove and arboretum work. Bornn said the work at the grove has already started.
"We left it in better shape than when we started," Bornn said.

Sen. George Goodwin is using recycled furniture to equip his Senate office and has refused use of a government-assigned vehicle, as he did during his term in the 22nd Legislature.
Goodwin and his staff are furnishing the office with discarded furniture from other senators and with surplus federal property from the General Services Administration, according to the Daily News.
Staff members have brought in their own plants instead of buying new ones. And a friend reupholstered some of the commandeered furniture.
Goodwin called buying new office furniture "irresponsible, inconsiderate and wasteful" in view of the government's fiscal crisis.
Goodwin urged other government officials to do the same if they are serious about curtailing excessive spending.
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole said earlier this week he would not use his government vehicle after 5 p.m. or on weekends.