April 24, 2007 — St. John residents, angry at the Legislature's decision last week to give Enighed Condominiums a variance to add seven more units to its 40-unit Sirenusa project, have launched a letter and phone campaign asking that Gov. John deJongh Jr. veto the bill.
"There's been a flood of letters," Government House spokesman Jean Greaux said Tuesday. However, Greaux was unable to say just how many had been received to date.
Greaux said that deJongh has not yet received the bill from the Legislature. He said the governor would weigh all options.
"I don't think he's made up his mind," Greaux said.
The St. John Coalition, a grassroots group whose members opposed the variance, sent out a bulk e-mail Monday night requesting that residents contact Government House to urge deJongh to veto the bill.
The e-mail indicated the coalition is thinking about a rally, meetings and a march to Government House to convince the governor to veto the bill.
Additionally, they plan to contact senators to convince them not to muster the 10 votes it will take for an override should the governor veto the bill.
Former St. John Administrator Julien Harley said he's contacting senators to make his displeasure at their vote known and to dissuade them from overriding a possible veto by the governor.
Community activist Sharon Coldren, president of the Coral Bay Community Council and also a coalition member, said that she called Government House to request that the governor veto the bill.
She said the coalition has also sent a letter to Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Robert Mathes, requesting a review of the Sirenusa group dwelling permit and to discuss the problems faced by Sirenusa neighbors.
Coldren said that while the developer responds to complaints from the neighbors, the steep slope where the project sits calls for perimeter and storm water management.
As residents sent their flood of letters, the rainy weather sent cascades of water down the hills to properties below Sirenusa.
Deputy Public Works Commissioner Ira Wade said that over the weekend mud and debris at Sirenusa went downhill as the heavy rains began. Wade said he had the developer install double-silt fencing, which he said stopped the problem.
Jane Ramnarine, who lives below Sirenusa, said that she's had tremendous flooding from the recent rains.
"It came down like a waterfall," she said.
She said that in addition to water, mud and gravel also filled her yard.
Ramnarine said she planned to e-mail deJongh to ask him to veto the Sirenusa legislation.
Elissa Runyon, a member of the coalition's steering committee, said she will also urge the governor to veto the bill.
While she's concerned about the environment, Runyon said she's more worried about those who will face daunting obstacles getting in and out of the property.
One road leads out to the top of Jacob's Ladder, a steep incline that poses challenges for drivers used to driving up the hill and entering the intersection at the top of the hill. She said the tourists staying at Sirenusa won't be aware of the dangers facing them as they drive to and from the property.
"We know how careful you've got to be, so we're careful," she said.
The second possible entry (and exit) road twists on a narrow street from Pine Peace Market to the top of the hill near Sirenusa. This road is also difficult to navigate.
Runyon said that with seven more units, they'll be seven more cars trying to navigate these treacherous roads.
She also said that the governor should veto the legislation because the Legislature totally ignored the wishes of the St. John community, which spoke out loudly against the project at Planning and Natural Resource Department and Legislative hearings on the matter.
The coalition is urging concerned citizens to speak out on the Sirenusa legislation by contacting the governor via phone, fax or e-mail. The Government House phone number is 774-0001, while the fax is 776-4912.
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