A full-page ad placed in local newspapers this weekend by the Government Employees Retirement System board of trustees says salary increases for 18 unclassified employees were fully warranted.
The ad notes, among other things, that the 18 exempt employees have received no salary increases since 1995, while their unionized subordinates have, placing the unionized employees' earnings above the salaries of their supervisors.
GERS members who attended a Dec. 8 board meeting complained about a lack of information regarding the financial status of the system, according to a Daily News report.
GERS member Gonzalo Rivera said he requested copies of the minutes of board meetings for the past year and financial statements for 1997 and 1998. He was advised copies of those public documents would cost him $4,259.25.
The full-page ad says the issue of unfunded liability does not stem from an increase in operational costs. It says they are separate issues.
The ad did not list the names or titles of the exempt employees who got raises or the amount of their increases. Earlier reports indicated some raises ranged from $25,000 to $56,000.

Many island residents are likely to celebrate Christmas this year without a tree — not even the traditional island century plant.
A combination of prudent ordering on the part of retailers and Hurricane Georges has resulted in a dearth of traditional, artificial and even customary island Christmas trees, according to the Daily News.
Hurricane Georges knocked down all the century plants, according to Rafe Boulon, endangered species coordinator at the fish and wildlife division. The century plants, which often are used in place of traditional evergreen trees, fell down and broke during the storm, Boulon said.
One suggestion: Use an inkberry tree, or several small ones — also traditional in the Virgin Islands, according to St. John resident Melville Samuel.
Samuel said when he was young, his family used the inkberry tree by sticking candles on the thorns and hanging hand-made ornaments from the branches.

The third annual watercolor workshop, by regular Virgin Islands visitor Sandy Meyer, will be held Friday and Saturday, Jan. 15 and 16. The theme Will be "The Colors of Life."
Watercolorist Meyer, who stays on Water Island, specializes in intricate florals in both still life and scenic settings.
She took up painting with passion in 1986, when illness forced her to change her lifestyle. She started painting and has not stopped.
Her workshop approach is to have a talk and demo in the basics, then dig right in.
"I do a demonstration, then have everyone catch up, " Meyers said. "Then another demonstration and another paint session."
All participants will work from the same enlargement of a black and white photograph with flowers in the foreground and soft trees in the background. Everyone will leave the class with a finished painting.
Both beginners and advanced painters are invited to participate. Supplies will be available for sale, but Meyers suggested that participants should bring whatever they have to work with.
She exhibits extensively in North Platte, Neb., her hometown.
For more details, call Tillett Gardens at 775-1929.

Peggy Seiwert will be the featured artist for January at the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Lounge in downtown Charlotte Amalie.
Peggy will exhibit her artwork as part of a new, joint project by the St. Thomas- St. John Arts Council and the Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to being a fine artist, Peggy owns Kilnworks Pottery in Smith Bay.
Artists interested in displaying their work at the Hospitality Lounge should contact the Arts Council at 774-8900 to make arrangements.

Tillett Gardens has expanded its musical horizons in the past two years, and January will feature blues concerts with Paul Oscher.
Tillett started with its Classics in the Gardens series, produced by Arts Alive, in 1988. Until 1997 Arts Alive offered a four-concert classical music series featuring top young musicians from all over the world. For the past two years Tillett has added three non-classical concerts of jazz, blues and country.
Coming up in January is Blues Week, featuring Paul Oscher and his six-piece Chicago blues band, which includes harmonica, guitar, saxophone, drums and string bass.
The first concert will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, in Tillett Gardens. Tickets are $25 for the concert only. A prix fixe dinner is available for $30, or $55 for the package. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and diners remain in their seats for the concert. (This is the regular format for the concerts in Tillett Gardens.)
Additional dates, times and places for Paul Oscher are:
— Jan. 14 — St. John School of the Arts.
— Jan. 15 — a late night concert at Tillett Gardens, at 9 p.m., with a light Mexican food bar menu available.
— Jan. 16 — the Jolly Roger restaurant in Road Town, Tortola.
Paul is considered to be a musician's musician, so make plans to see him. For more information contact Tillett Gardens at 775-1929.

Barbara Tyne, senior vice president of Topa Equities, has resigned effective Jan. 31.
In a letter to the tenants of Topa Equities (V.I.) Ltd. properties, Tyne said it was "time to move on and pursue other interests."
She did not say what those interests are and did not return two calls seeking comment.
Bill Anderson, president of Topa Equities, in a memo to Topa tenants commended Tyne for her "focus, hard work and enthusiasm."
Anderson said that for now, Tyne and Vice-President Leslie Fisher will share management of the office.
Tyne has been with Topa for seven years and has been the key official managing the firm's extensive St. Thomas real estate holdings. Among Topa's properties: Palm Passage and key parcels on Main Street.
Tyne said in her letter that she plans to stay in St. Thomas.

Rather than face hefty fines from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the V.I. government will close its Sub Base motor pool fueling facility.
The 600 government vehicles in St. Thomas will be issued Esso gas cards by Tuesday to buy fuel at five Esso service stations, the Independent reported Saturday.
The EPA warned last week that effective Dec. 22, all facilities with underground fuel storage tanks that were not in compliance would be fined $11,000 per day.
Samuel Baptiste, acting commissioner of Property and Procurement, said this plan is a temporary fix that will allow the government to empty the tank and leave it unused, thereby saving the $400,000 it would cost to remove the tank now and sample the area for fuel contamination.
Baptiste also said the privatization of fuel consumption and use of individual credit cards will provide a more accurate picture of fuel use by government vehicles. He said it should improve management procedures.

Seven major road projects are slated to begin Monday as part of the Public Works Department's 3-R project: reconstruction, rehabilitation and resurfacing.
The poor condition of the island's roads has been the target of harsh public criticism in recent weeks.
Work will begin on Route 382 from Splash and Dash car wash to New Tutu. Tyrone Martin, special assistant to the commissioner, said he hopes to have that work completed by Christmas, according to the Daily News.
Work will continue on Raphune Hill. Because of heavy traffic flow, Martin said that work will be done at night.
Other areas to be repaired are Fortuna Road, Crown Mountain Road, Julian Jackson Drive, Donoe Road and Frenchman's Bay Road.
The $2.5 million project was funded by the Federal Highway Administration. All work is expected to be completed by March 1999.

Hopes were high Friday as government and business leaders gathered to break ground for St. Croix's first casino.
Despite Treasure Bay CEO Bernie Burkholder's warning not to pin too much economic hope on the gaming industry's role in curing St Croix's economic woes, attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony were upbeat, the Daily News and Independent reported.
A poster on display said 132 jobs — with a payroll of almost $3 million — would be created when the casino opens, according to the Daily News.
The 150-room Divi Carina Bay Casino on St. Croix's south shore is scheduled to open in the fall of 1999.
Virgin Islands law specifies that casinos can only be built on St. Croix, not on St. Thomas or St. John.

The Legacy, a four-masted Windjammer Barefoot Cruise sailing ship, will homeport at Crown Bay beginning in April 1999.
Debbie Kelley, Windjammer advertising director, said the company chose St. Thomas because it can provide easy accessibility for passengers, according to Friday's Daily News.
The Legacy now homeports at the Conquistador Hotel in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. People must travel by bus from San Juan to Fajardo to start their cruise.
"St. Thomas will be easier for us. They'll fly in and be right there," Kelley said.
The Legacy carries 130 passengers and has a crew of about 50. It runs six-day cruises that begin on Sundays.
Joe Aubain, St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce executive director, said he was thrilled by the news and hoped more small ships will consider St. Thomas as a home.
Richard Doumeng, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel Association, said it could help the hotels too.
"They may come early and stay late," he predicted.
Tourism Commissioner Wylie Whisonant said Windjammer's move may help the territory make its case for increased airline service.