After a week during which it appeared the business community was at war with the government over the passage of a “sin tax” bill, Saturday night at St. George Botanical Garden signaled a cease fire.
Chamber Chairperson Kimberly McCollum speaking at the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce annual Business and Professional Excellence Awards Gala, said, “Sometimes we are going to be on different sides of an issue. Our opinions are going to be different.”
Virgin Islands Internal Revenue Director Marvin L. Pickering was the keynote speaker. Also attending the event was Cherie Munchez, spokesperson for Gov. Kenneth Mapp.
“After this week, we want to show that we support the business community and will continue to seek solutions as we move forward,” Munchez said.
Pickering said the government is working to help to the business community.
“There is no doubt that more must be done and more is being done,” he said. Citing as an example of what is be done he said, “The governor has submitted to the legislature for its consideration, a bill to levy a 5 per cent gross receipts tax on internet and remote sales. This bill is intended to level the playing field for local businesses, your businesses.”
“Also under consideration and in the drafting stage is the Virgin Islands Financial and the Corporate Modernization Act,” Pickering continued. “The purpose of this bill is to update the existing, but archaic, corporate statues and implement new trust legislation.”
He also said the administration was drafting a timeshare act, which would ensure the government is collecting taxes on villas and homes being rented through online entities such as Airbnb and Home Away.
After Pickering’s speech, the Chamber announced it awards to those businesses showing excellence in 2016.
Anastacia Rivers won the new business of the year award for her Frederiksted business, New Attitude Unisex Plus Boutique. She was all smiles, though she had to limp to the podium to collect the award, having recently been injured in an accident with a drunken driver.
The Small Business of the Year award went to Derek Shupe, who runs Shupe’s on the boardwalk in Christiansted. He opened his bar/restaurant in November 2015 in the lower level of the former Stilt building.
Professional Business Woman of the Year went to Debbie Henry, who has been the owner/operator of Island Delivery Service for the last two years. She was also a key organizer of Saturday’s event.
Patrick Kralik earned the Professional Business Man of the Year Award. He is the owner and general manager of the new restaurant, Balter. He is also president of the Christiansted Retail and Restaurant Association.
Resa O’Reilly accepted the award for Best Non Profit of the year. She founded Project Promise — a program to give youths an idea about a holistic, healthful approach to life.
Diageo was award the 2016 Business of the Year award. The award announcement pointed out the community contributions made by the distillery.
The award that received the most enthusiasm from the estimated 150 people attending the event was the Lifetime Achievement Award that went to Salvador “Sal” Sanpere. He received a standing ovation.
Sanpere moved to St. Croix in 1966 and opened Olympic Rent-a-Car in 1972. The name comes from his experience as a marksman at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
“I am not ready to be put out to pasture,” the 77-year-old Sanpere said. “Is there such a thing as a second Lifetime award that I can win in 10 years?”
Romanza Band provided dance music for the evening.
Editor’s note: This story has been edited after posting to include a seventh award that was inadvertently omitted and to correct two misspelled names. The Source regrets the errors.
