Dear Source,
I was taking pictures for Dave Jones and of Sue Brown during the St. Croix Half Ironman awards ceremony on Sunday. After the men's Virgin Islands award was given to Kent Bradbury, I went up and told race director Tom Guthrie that the award was given to the wrong male V.I. first-place finisher. He said he would "look into it."
Just prior to the end of the ceremonies, I told Tom that Kent was coming to him to give up the award. Kent and Dave both walked up to Tom, and Kent confirmed he had finished third to Dave and Chris Spenser of Tortola. Even though Kent relinquished his award, Tom refused to make a public correction at the awards banquet, just saying "We'll take care of it."
So why would he say to you on Tuesday that the posted results were correct when he was previously told by Kent they were not? If you look at last year's results, both BVI racers and STT entries were included. Plus, looking at this year's overall results, those omitted had "VI" as their "state" of residence. So, how did this error happen?
Dave never got the just recognition from Tom and the event that would have been so easy to do. Fear of admitting that a minor error had been made ruled judgments.
Chris Haigh
St. Thomas

Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
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May 9, 2002 – The Public Services Commission decided Thursday, after a special meeting on an unrelated matter, to send two or three of its members to Japan to investigate and tour the Thermoselect gasification facility there.
Last Friday, PSC hearing examiner Rosalie Simmonds Ballentine recommended that the PSC qualify Caribe Waste Technologies Inc. as a "small production facility for each of the three facilities for which CWT has submitted an application. CWT proposes to use the Thermoselect gasification process in its proposal to develop a plant or plants to process all of the territory's solid waste matter.
The commission has not yet acted on Ballantine's recommendation.
Desmond Maynard, PSC chair, said touring the facility in Japan would "round out the members' knowledge by getting a close-up look at the operation." He suggested making the trip after the end of May. He said the PSC would make a decision on the CWT certification after the trip.
The Thermoselect facility is located at Kawasaki Steel in Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo.
CWT was selected by the Turnbull administration last year to build and operate a plant on St. Croix that would replace the federally condemned Anguilla and Bovini landfills, where the Virgin Islands' solid waste now ends up. Selling the power to WAPA for a projected $11 million to $12 million annually over a 30-year period was an essential element of the proposal. Should the commission decide in CWT's favor, it could direct WAPA to buy power from the company — something the utility does not want to do.
WAPA's then-executive director, Joseph R. Thomas Jr., said last year that the utility can supply the territory's power needs on its own and that CWT's proposed technology has not been commercially proven. The WAPA board adopted this stance in November, prompting CWT to take its case to the PSC. WAPA based its decision on reports from a number of expert analyses of the Thermoselect plants in Karlsruhe, Germany, and Japan.
Expert opinions differ on whether the Thermoselect technology is proven.
James W. Galambas, executive engineer of Energy & Environment Engineering of Englewood, Colorado, told the WAPA board last September that neither that technology nor the technology of the Jenbacher engine — which in a modified form CWT plans to use — are commercially proven for processing solid waste into a gas and generating electricity.
Thomas Morton, a mechanical engineer and vice president of Montenay Power Corp., which together with its parent company operates more than 100 waste-to-energy facilities throughout the world, says Montenay considers Thermoselect a proven technology. He said in a statement provided to Ballentine that his company did a thorough evaluation of the technology and that its engineers participated in the start-up and operation of the Karlsruhe facility.
Maynard said the PSC will finalize the travel plans next week. He emphasized that the commission, and not CWT, will pay for the travel costs.

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May 9, 2002 – The Public Services Commission decided Thursday, after a special meeting on an unrelated matter, to send two or three of its members to Japan to investigate and tour the Thermoselect gasification facility there.
Last Friday, PSC hearing examiner Rosalie Simmonds Ballentine recommended that the PSC qualify Caribe Waste Technologies Inc. as a "small production facility for each of the three facilities for which CWT has submitted an application. CWT proposes to use the Thermoselect gasification process in its proposal to develop a plant or plants to process all of the territory's solid waste matter.
The commission has not yet acted on Ballantine's recommendation.
Desmond Maynard, PSC chair, said touring the facility in Japan would "round out the members' knowledge by getting a close-up look at the operation." He suggested making the trip after the end of May. He said the PSC would make a decision on the CWT certification after the trip.
The Thermoselect facility is located at Kawasaki Steel in Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo.
CWT was selected by the Turnbull administration last year to build and operate a plant on St. Croix that would replace the federally condemned Anguilla and Bovini landfills, where the Virgin Islands' solid waste now ends up. Selling the power to WAPA for a projected $11 million to $12 million annually over a 30-year period was an essential element of the proposal. Should the commission decide in CWT's favor, it could direct WAPA to buy power from the company — something the utility does not want to do.
WAPA's then-executive director, Joseph R. Thomas Jr., said last year that the utility can supply the territory's power needs on its own and that CWT's proposed technology has not been commercially proven. The WAPA board adopted this stance in November, prompting CWT to take its case to the PSC. WAPA based its decision on reports from a number of expert analyses of the Thermoselect plants in Karlsruhe, Germany, and Japan.
Expert opinions differ on whether the Thermoselect technology is proven.
James W. Galambas, executive engineer of Energy & Environment Engineering of Englewood, Colorado, told the WAPA board last September that neither that technology nor the technology of the Jenbacher engine — which in a modified form CWT plans to use — are commercially proven for processing solid waste into a gas and generating electricity.
Thomas Morton, a mechanical engineer and vice president of Montenay Power Corp., which together with its parent company operates more than 100 waste-to-energy facilities throughout the world, says Montenay considers Thermoselect a proven technology. He said in a statement provided to Ballentine that his company did a thorough evaluation of the technology and that its engineers participated in the start-up and operation of the Karlsruhe facility.
Maynard said the PSC will finalize the travel plans next week. He emphasized that the commission, and not CWT, will pay for the travel costs.

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May 9, 2002 – The Public Services Commission decided Thursday, after a special meeting on an unrelated matter, to send two or three of its members to Japan to investigate and tour the Thermoselect gasification facility there.
Last Friday, PSC hearing examiner Rosalie Simmonds Ballentine recommended that the PSC qualify Caribe Waste Technologies Inc. as a "small production facility for each of the three facilities for which CWT has submitted an application. CWT proposes to use the Thermoselect gasification process in its proposal to develop a plant or plants to process all of the territory's solid waste matter.
The commission has not yet acted on Ballantine's recommendation.
Desmond Maynard, PSC chair, said touring the facility in Japan would "round out the members' knowledge by getting a close-up look at the operation." He suggested making the trip after the end of May. He said the PSC would make a decision on the CWT certification after the trip.
The Thermoselect facility is located at Kawasaki Steel in Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo.
CWT was selected by the Turnbull administration last year to build and operate a plant on St. Croix that would replace the federally condemned Anguilla and Bovini landfills, where the Virgin Islands' solid waste now ends up. Selling the power to WAPA for a projected $11 million to $12 million annually over a 30-year period was an essential element of the proposal. Should the commission decide in CWT's favor, it could direct WAPA to buy power from the company — something the utility does not want to do.
WAPA's then-executive director, Joseph R. Thomas Jr., said last year that the utility can supply the territory's power needs on its own and that CWT's proposed technology has not been commercially proven. The WAPA board adopted this stance in November, prompting CWT to take its case to the PSC. WAPA based its decision on reports from a number of expert analyses of the Thermoselect plants in Karlsruhe, Germany, and Japan.
Expert opinions differ on whether the Thermoselect technology is proven.
James W. Galambas, executive engineer of Energy & Environment Engineering of Englewood, Colorado, told the WAPA board last September that neither that technology nor the technology of the Jenbacher engine — which in a modified form CWT plans to use — are commercially proven for processing solid waste into a gas and generating electricity.
Thomas Morton, a mechanical engineer and vice president of Montenay Power Corp., which together with its parent company operates more than 100 waste-to-energy facilities throughout the world, says Montenay considers Thermoselect a proven technology. He said in a statement provided to Ballentine that his company did a thorough evaluation of the technology and that its engineers participated in the start-up and operation of the Karlsruhe facility.
Maynard said the PSC will finalize the travel plans next week. He emphasized that the commission, and not CWT, will pay for the travel costs.

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May 9, 2002 – The Senate Rules Committee approved new names for a St. Thomas school and a St. Croix police facility and four nominations to public bodies on Thursday, while holding one other nomination for further consideration.
The panel also approved three bills honoring Virgin Islanders.
The renaming bills call for changing the name of Peace Corps Elementary School on St. Thomas to the "Lucille V. Roberts Elementary School," and for designating the pavilion building at the Police Department's Patrick Sweeney Headquarters on St. Croix as the "George A. Farrelly Pavilion."
Nominees receiving approval were Percival Edwards, Carmen Gonzalez and Joseph Samuel for seats on the V.I. Conservation District Board of Supervisors, and Ilma Christian for a second term on the Historic Preservation Commission.
Earl Haase also was considered for the Conservation District board. Sen. Adelbert Bryan objected to his nomination and asked that Haase provide the committee a copy of his college transcript. A Legislature release stated that in information submitted to the office of Sen. Carlton Dowe, the committee chair, Haase had said he holds a bachelor of arts degree. In testimony Thursday, he said he has an associate of arts degree.
According to the release, Dowe, "reassuring Haase that the objection to his nomination was nothing personal, said that all information that comes before his committee must contain the truth."
The bills of commendation recognize the contributions of Louis Jackson, Luna I. Fleming-Claxton and Dr. Aida P. Khatchadourian. Fleming is cited for her decades of service and devotion as an educator. The bill honoring the doctor also would name the anesthesia section at Roy L. Schneider Hospital the "Dr. Aida P. Khatchadourian Anesthesia Department."
Those measures and nominations approved Thursday will now go before the full Senate for a final vote.
Committee members present in addition to Dowe and Bryan were Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino A. White Sr. The other two members, Sens. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen and Almando "Rocky" Liburd, were not present.
The agenda for the meeting circulated in advance also had included consideration of the proposed Infrastructure Maintenance Act of 2001. The bill calls for creating separate funds for St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island for street lighting, road maintenance and potable water service, and for earmarking the property tax and gasoline tax revenues collected on each island, respectively, for those purposes.

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May 9, 2002 – The Senate Rules Committee approved new names for a St. Thomas school and a St. Croix police facility and four nominations to public bodies on Thursday, while holding one other nomination for further consideration.
The panel also approved three bills honoring Virgin Islanders.
The renaming bills call for changing the name of Peace Corps Elementary School on St. Thomas to the "Lucille V. Roberts Elementary School," and for designating the pavilion building at the Police Department's Patrick Sweeney Headquarters on St. Croix as the "George A. Farrelly Pavilion."
Nominees receiving approval were Percival Edwards, Carmen Gonzalez and Joseph Samuel for seats on the V.I. Conservation District Board of Supervisors, and Ilma Christian for a second term on the Historic Preservation Commission.
Earl Haase also was considered for the Conservation District board. Sen. Adelbert Bryan objected to his nomination and asked that Haase provide the committee a copy of his college transcript. A Legislature release stated that in information submitted to the office of Sen. Carlton Dowe, the committee chair, Haase had said he holds a bachelor of arts degree. In testimony Thursday, he said he has an associate of arts degree.
According to the release, Dowe, "reassuring Haase that the objection to his nomination was nothing personal, said that all information that comes before his committee must contain the truth."
The bills of commendation recognize the contributions of Louis Jackson, Luna I. Fleming-Claxton and Dr. Aida P. Khatchadourian. Fleming is cited for her decades of service and devotion as an educator. The bill honoring the doctor also would name the anesthesia section at Roy L. Schneider Hospital the "Dr. Aida P. Khatchadourian Anesthesia Department."
Those measures and nominations approved Thursday will now go before the full Senate for a final vote.
Committee members present in addition to Dowe and Bryan were Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino A. White Sr. The other two members, Sens. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen and Almando "Rocky" Liburd, were not present.
The agenda for the meeting circulated in advance also had included consideration of the proposed Infrastructure Maintenance Act of 2001. The bill calls for creating separate funds for St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island for street lighting, road maintenance and potable water service, and for earmarking the property tax and gasoline tax revenues collected on each island, respectively, for those purposes.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

May 9, 2002 – The Senate Rules Committee approved new names for a St. Thomas school and a St. Croix police facility and four nominations to public bodies on Thursday, while holding one other nomination for further consideration.
The panel also approved three bills honoring Virgin Islanders.
The renaming bills call for changing the name of Peace Corps Elementary School on St. Thomas to the "Lucille V. Roberts Elementary School," and for designating the pavilion building at the Police Department's Patrick Sweeney Headquarters on St. Croix as the "George A. Farrelly Pavilion."
Nominees receiving approval were Percival Edwards, Carmen Gonzalez and Joseph Samuel for seats on the V.I. Conservation District Board of Supervisors, and Ilma Christian for a second term on the Historic Preservation Commission.
Earl Haase also was considered for the Conservation District board. Sen. Adelbert Bryan objected to his nomination and asked that Haase provide the committee a copy of his college transcript. A Legislature release stated that in information submitted to the office of Sen. Carlton Dowe, the committee chair, Haase had said he holds a bachelor of arts degree. In testimony Thursday, he said he has an associate of arts degree.
According to the release, Dowe, "reassuring Haase that the objection to his nomination was nothing personal, said that all information that comes before his committee must contain the truth."
The bills of commendation recognize the contributions of Louis Jackson, Luna I. Fleming-Claxton and Dr. Aida P. Khatchadourian. Fleming is cited for her decades of service and devotion as an educator. The bill honoring the doctor also would name the anesthesia section at Roy L. Schneider Hospital the "Dr. Aida P. Khatchadourian Anesthesia Department."
Those measures and nominations approved Thursday will now go before the full Senate for a final vote.
Committee members present in addition to Dowe and Bryan were Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole, Norma Pickard-Samuel and Celestino A. White Sr. The other two members, Sens. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen and Almando "Rocky" Liburd, were not present.
The agenda for the meeting circulated in advance also had included consideration of the proposed Infrastructure Maintenance Act of 2001. The bill calls for creating separate funds for St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island for street lighting, road maintenance and potable water service, and for earmarking the property tax and gasoline tax revenues collected on each island, respectively, for those purposes.

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May 9, 2002 – The Public Services Commission gave the green light on Thursday for the proposed sale of the St. Croix Alumina facility.
George H.T. Dudley, company attorney, brought the matter before the commission at its meeting on St. Croix last Friday because in the past, he said, the company had supplied water to Hovensa — an action that might be seen as placing it in the category of a public utility.
The commission said it would make a decision within a week, based on what its own attorney, Frederick Watts, recommended. The board asked Watts to determine:
– What would occur if representations in Dudley's letter to the board upon which it would base its decision were untrue.
– What would occur if the new owners were to begin selling water or power to the public.
Watts said Thursday that Dudley asked the board to base its decision on the past practices of St. Croix Alumina. Dudley had said in his letter that there were no sales of power or water by his company, and that swaps were limited to transactions with Hovensa.
Watts advised the commission that should Dudley's statements prove to be untrue, the PSC could institute litigation seeking to have the sale set aside. If the purchaser of the plant should choose in the future to enter the business of "providing electric power or water supply services," it would be deemed to be a public utility in accordance with the V.I. Code, and thus subject to regulation by the PSC.
The commission voted unanimously to allow the sale, with the provision that should the new company seek to sell water or power in the future, it would require PSC approval to do so.
The meeting was held in the Education Department teleconference room on St. Thomas. Voting for the approving the sale were the commission chair, Desmond Maynard, and members Jerris Browne, Valencio Jackson, Luther Renee and Alecia Wells. Alric Simmonds and Verne David were absent for the vote, although David appeared later in the meeting.

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May 9, 2002 – The 27th annual Clambake to benefit the St. Croix Animal Shelter will take place from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, at Duggan's Reef Restaurant.
The event is sponsored by The Prosser ICC Foundation. There will be food, live music, raffle, cash bar, field games for the kids and prizes.
Tickets are $30 for adults in advance, $35 at the door; children 6 to 12 are $10. Tickets are available at the Animal Shelter, staff and board members, Turtles Deli, Karavan West Indies, The Goldworker and the Veterans Offices.
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May 9, 2002 – In a National Tourism Week message, Delegate Donna Christian Christensen said in a release Thursday that she plans to introduce legislation in Congress "to study potential sites to be designated as National Heritage Areas in the territory."
Christensen said tourism "remains the backbone of the Virgin Islands economy, providing the capital behind our progress and our way of life."
She added, "I believe that heritage and cultural tourism can be maximized, especially on St. Croix, and I intend to explore the ways to make it happen."

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