May 7, 2002 – Tuesday's seven-hour session was only the beginning of the Senate Finance Committee's probe into the Water and Power Authority's financial status and management practices, the committee chair, Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, made clear.
Hansen stated that after an April 16 hearing where WAPA board chair Carol Burke was the only "invited" witness to appear, questions had been left unanswered. She showed a videotape segment of that hearing in which Burke responded to questions about the moving expenses of chief financial officer Robert Vodzack and about an impasse between WAPA employees and then-executive director Joseph R. Thomas Jr.
Hansen asked Burke Tuesday how the board plans to recoup "mismanaged" funds from Thomas for what she termed unauthorized personal amenities and the moving expenses in excess of a $6,000 cap that were paid to Bob Lynch Trucking & Shipping to ship Vodzack's car and household belongings from Pennsylvania.
"At the last special session called by the board, Mr. Thomas offered that he and the board come to a settlement based on his tenure and suggested that we come to amicable terms." Burke said. She said Thomas presented a six-page document but that the board did not use it to formulate the settlement plan.
Burke said the severance agreement covered six areas: termination, severance compensation, additional compensation, covenant, entire agreement and severability.
The agreement provided that Thomas was to receive two lump-sum payments of $150,000 and $19,538, as bonus and leave pay, by the close of business on May 6, 2002, and that he would have the same or a similar health and benefits package for one year. The agreement was signed by Thomas, Burke and the board secretary, Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Andrew Rutnik.
"Mr. Thomas isn't doing bad," Hansen said Tuesday. "He spends without authorization, he goes beyond his limit, the board determines it's a violation and the board rewards him with compensation."
When Burke could not detail the board's plan to recoup the funds, several senators compared Thomas's actions to those of former V.I. Lottery commissioner Alec Dizon, who was sentence to prison for defrauding the government, and former Public Works Commissioner Ann Abramson, who is serving time for making false claims and statements regarding federal funds.
Strong suggestions for a successor
Hansen set the tone Tuesday in saying the Legislature has oversight for WAPA as a public utility. "What kind of mocko jumbie type of attorneys that we have that can tell you that the legislature has no jurisdiction? These are serious times for serious business," she said.
Burke said Glenn Rothgeb as acting executive director is currently the official spokesman for WAPA.
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole said, "I believe it's a V.I. company, and we in the V.I. have qualified individuals to mange this company." The comment brought applause from the audience in the chamber. Several senators made it clear they want to see Rothgeb, a 24-year WAPA veteran, as the next executive director. "We must make up our minds that even if errors are made, we must make sure jobs go to people here," Dowe said. "This kind of madness has got to stop. We can't continue to do this." He said he was thankful to former governor Juan Luis, who appointed him as fire chief at the age of 25 with a degree in fire services.
Senators also questioned Vodzack's employment agreement. WAPA legal counsel Cathy Smith said it is a binding contract, but Burke said it was not authorized by the board or signed by Thomas. Burke said Vodzack will remain on the payroll for the time being.
The agreement was signed on Sept. 25, 2001, by a WAPA human resources employee on behalf of human resources director Glenworth Byron. In testimony, Byron said one of his tasks is the recruitment of and negotiation with personnel based on the director's initiative. "You can't be blamed, Mr. Byron," Hansen said. "The board should be the ones to review and refuse."
Hansen said Rothgeb has been in charge of WAPA in an interim capacity about a dozen times over her 16 years in the Senate. "If this WAPA board does not elect you this time, this Legislature will have to do something," she told him. "Don't make that mistake again," she advised Burke who had pushed for Thomas's confirmation a little over a year ago.
Subpoenas bring people and paperwork
Except for Thomas, all witnesses who had been subpoenaed to testify Tuesday were present: Rothgeb, Vodzack, Smith, Byron, comptroller Maurice Sebastien and systems planning director John Christian. Burke was "invited" to testify, not subpoenaed.
The committee also had subpoenaed 30 items of WAPA documentation in April. Post auditor Kris Ramkissoon told the senators the documents had been submitted Tuesday morning, but he could not confirm the content of the four large 3-inch binders.
The items requested were for the period April 1, 2001 – April 6, 2002. They include contractual agreements for goods and services, insurance policies, invoices, checks issued to officials and board members, reimbursements, financial reports, leases, audits, a curriculum vitae for Thomas and one for Vodzack, "private plate motor vehicles" and other documents.
Sebastien submitted documents including detailed meter-reader tasks and contractual arrangements with J.R. Thomas Associate Inc. and J & R Thomas Associates. Byron submitted a list of WAPA employees eligible for early retirement at hazardous duty pay that was originally submitted to the Government Employees Retirement System last Nov. 15. Smith said that all requested documents were submitted.
"I personally cannot review those documents and intelligently pursue the issues," Cole commented. Then he asked Rothgeb, "How is our cash flow at WAPA? My concern is the financial stability of WAPA and its bonding capacity."
In response to Cole's request to have copies of documents in advance of hearings, Hansen commented: "That's why we have a continuation meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] on St. Thomas." And, she added, "Certainly tomorrow will not end it."
Other issues discussed included meter-reading procedures and staffing, energy consumption and rates, the status of a temporary restraining order requested by Thomas after the April employee unrest, and fuel conservation methods. Hansen asked for a detailed listing within 30 days of all WAPA equipment and its energy loss and output capacity.
Present for the roll call were Sens. Cole, Dowe, Alicia Hansen and Norman Jn Baptiste. Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg was absent. Sens. Norma Pickard-Samuel and Douglas Canton Jr. were excused.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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 7, 2002 – Tuesday's seven-hour session was only the beginning of the Senate Finance Committee's probe into the Water and Power Authority's financial status and management practices, the committee chair, Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, made clear.
Hansen stated that after an April 16 hearing where WAPA board chair Carol Burke was the only "invited" witness to appear, questions had been left unanswered. She showed a videotape segment of that hearing in which Burke responded to questions about the moving expenses of chief financial officer Robert Vodzack and about an impasse between WAPA employees and then-executive director Joseph R. Thomas Jr.
Hansen asked Burke Tuesday how the board plans to recoup "mismanaged" funds from Thomas for what she termed unauthorized personal amenities and the moving expenses in excess of a $6,000 cap that were paid to Bob Lynch Trucking & Shipping to ship Vodzack's car and household belongings from Pennsylvania.
"At the last special session called by the board, Mr. Thomas offered that he and the board come to a settlement based on his tenure and suggested that we come to amicable terms." Burke said. She said Thomas presented a six-page document but that the board did not use it to formulate the settlement plan.
Burke said the severance agreement covered six areas: termination, severance compensation, additional compensation, covenant, entire agreement and severability.
The agreement provided that Thomas was to receive two lump-sum payments of $150,000 and $19,538, as bonus and leave pay, by the close of business on May 6, 2002, and that he would have the same or a similar health and benefits package for one year. The agreement was signed by Thomas, Burke and the board secretary, Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Andrew Rutnik.
"Mr. Thomas isn't doing bad," Hansen said Tuesday. "He spends without authorization, he goes beyond his limit, the board determines it's a violation and the board rewards him with compensation."
When Burke could not detail the board's plan to recoup the funds, several senators compared Thomas's actions to those of former V.I. Lottery commissioner Alec Dizon, who was sentence to prison for defrauding the government, and former Public Works Commissioner Ann Abramson, who is serving time for making false claims and statements regarding federal funds.
Strong suggestions for a successor
Hansen set the tone Tuesday in saying the Legislature has oversight for WAPA as a public utility. "What kind of mocko jumbie type of attorneys that we have that can tell you that the legislature has no jurisdiction? These are serious times for serious business," she said.
Burke said Glenn Rothgeb as acting executive director is currently the official spokesman for WAPA.
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole said, "I believe it's a V.I. company, and we in the V.I. have qualified individuals to mange this company." The comment brought applause from the audience in the chamber. Several senators made it clear they want to see Rothgeb, a 24-year WAPA veteran, as the next executive director. "We must make up our minds that even if errors are made, we must make sure jobs go to people here," Dowe said. "This kind of madness has got to stop. We can't continue to do this." He said he was thankful to former governor Juan Luis, who appointed him as fire chief at the age of 25 with a degree in fire services.
Senators also questioned Vodzack's employment agreement. WAPA legal counsel Cathy Smith said it is a binding contract, but Burke said it was not authorized by the board or signed by Thomas. Burke said Vodzack will remain on the payroll for the time being.
The agreement was signed on Sept. 25, 2001, by a WAPA human resources employee on behalf of human resources director Glenworth Byron. In testimony, Byron said one of his tasks is the recruitment of and negotiation with personnel based on the director's initiative. "You can't be blamed, Mr. Byron," Hansen said. "The board should be the ones to review and refuse."
Hansen said Rothgeb has been in charge of WAPA in an interim capacity about a dozen times over her 16 years in the Senate. "If this WAPA board does not elect you this time, this Legislature will have to do something," she told him. "Don't make that mistake again," she advised Burke who had pushed for Thomas's confirmation a little over a year ago.
Subpoenas bring people and paperwork
Except for Thomas, all witnesses who had been subpoenaed to testify Tuesday were present: Rothgeb, Vodzack, Smith, Byron, comptroller Maurice Sebastien and systems planning director John Christian. Burke was "invited" to testify, not subpoenaed.
The committee also had subpoenaed 30 items of WAPA documentation in April. Post auditor Kris Ramkissoon told the senators the documents had been submitted Tuesday morning, but he could not confirm the content of the four large 3-inch binders.
The items requested were for the period April 1, 2001 – April 6, 2002. They include contractual agreements for goods and services, insurance policies, invoices, checks issued to officials and board members, reimbursements, financial reports, leases, audits, a curriculum vitae for Thomas and one for Vodzack, "private plate motor vehicles" and other documents.
Sebastien submitted documents including detailed meter-reader tasks and contractual arrangements with J.R. Thomas Associate Inc. and J & R Thomas Associates. Byron submitted a list of WAPA employees eligible for early retirement at hazardous duty pay that was originally submitted to the Government Employees Retirement System last Nov. 15. Smith said that all requested documents were submitted.
"I personally cannot review those documents and intelligently pursue the issues," Cole commented. Then he asked Rothgeb, "How is our cash flow at WAPA? My concern is the financial stability of WAPA and its bonding capacity."
In response to Cole's request to have copies of documents in advance of hearings, Hansen commented: "That's why we have a continuation meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] on St. Thomas." And, she added, "Certainly tomorrow will not end it."
Other issues discussed included meter-reading procedures and staffing, energy consumption and rates, the status of a temporary restraining order requested by Thomas after the April employee unrest, and fuel conservation methods. Hansen asked for a detailed listing within 30 days of all WAPA equipment and its energy loss and output capacity.
Present for the roll call were Sens. Cole, Dowe, Alicia Hansen and Norman Jn Baptiste. Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg was absent. Sens. Norma Pickard-Samuel and Douglas Canton Jr. were excused.

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 7, 2002 – Tuesday's seven-hour session was only the beginning of the Senate Finance Committee's probe into the Water and Power Authority's financial status and management practices, the committee chair, Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, made clear.
Hansen stated that after an April 16 hearing where WAPA board chair Carol Burke was the only "invited" witness to appear, questions had been left unanswered. She showed a videotape segment of that hearing in which Burke responded to questions about the moving expenses of chief financial officer Robert Vodzack and about an impasse between WAPA employees and then-executive director Joseph R. Thomas Jr.
Hansen asked Burke Tuesday how the board plans to recoup "mismanaged" funds from Thomas for what she termed unauthorized personal amenities and the moving expenses in excess of a $6,000 cap that were paid to Bob Lynch Trucking & Shipping to ship Vodzack's car and household belongings from Pennsylvania.
"At the last special session called by the board, Mr. Thomas offered that he and the board come to a settlement based on his tenure and suggested that we come to amicable terms." Burke said. She said Thomas presented a six-page document but that the board did not use it to formulate the settlement plan.
Burke said the severance agreement covered six areas: termination, severance compensation, additional compensation, covenant, entire agreement and severability.
The agreement provided that Thomas was to receive two lump-sum payments of $150,000 and $19,538, as bonus and leave pay, by the close of business on May 6, 2002, and that he would have the same or a similar health and benefits package for one year. The agreement was signed by Thomas, Burke and the board secretary, Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Andrew Rutnik.
"Mr. Thomas isn't doing bad," Hansen said Tuesday. "He spends without authorization, he goes beyond his limit, the board determines it's a violation and the board rewards him with compensation."
When Burke could not detail the board's plan to recoup the funds, several senators compared Thomas's actions to those of former V.I. Lottery commissioner Alec Dizon, who was sentence to prison for defrauding the government, and former Public Works Commissioner Ann Abramson, who is serving time for making false claims and statements regarding federal funds.
Strong suggestions for a successor
Hansen set the tone Tuesday in saying the Legislature has oversight for WAPA as a public utility. "What kind of mocko jumbie type of attorneys that we have that can tell you that the legislature has no jurisdiction? These are serious times for serious business," she said.
Burke said Glenn Rothgeb as acting executive director is currently the official spokesman for WAPA.
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole said, "I believe it's a V.I. company, and we in the V.I. have qualified individuals to mange this company." The comment brought applause from the audience in the chamber. Several senators made it clear they want to see Rothgeb, a 24-year WAPA veteran, as the next executive director. "We must make up our minds that even if errors are made, we must make sure jobs go to people here," Dowe said. "This kind of madness has got to stop. We can't continue to do this." He said he was thankful to former governor Juan Luis, who appointed him as fire chief at the age of 25 with a degree in fire services.
Senators also questioned Vodzack's employment agreement. WAPA legal counsel Cathy Smith said it is a binding contract, but Burke said it was not authorized by the board or signed by Thomas. Burke said Vodzack will remain on the payroll for the time being.
The agreement was signed on Sept. 25, 2001, by a WAPA human resources employee on behalf of human resources director Glenworth Byron. In testimony, Byron said one of his tasks is the recruitment of and negotiation with personnel based on the director's initiative. "You can't be blamed, Mr. Byron," Hansen said. "The board should be the ones to review and refuse."
Hansen said Rothgeb has been in charge of WAPA in an interim capacity about a dozen times over her 16 years in the Senate. "If this WAPA board does not elect you this time, this Legislature will have to do something," she told him. "Don't make that mistake again," she advised Burke who had pushed for Thomas's confirmation a little over a year ago.
Subpoenas bring people and paperwork
Except for Thomas, all witnesses who had been subpoenaed to testify Tuesday were present: Rothgeb, Vodzack, Smith, Byron, comptroller Maurice Sebastien and systems planning director John Christian. Burke was "invited" to testify, not subpoenaed.
The committee also had subpoenaed 30 items of WAPA documentation in April. Post auditor Kris Ramkissoon told the senators the documents had been submitted Tuesday morning, but he could not confirm the content of the four large 3-inch binders.
The items requested were for the period April 1, 2001 – April 6, 2002. They include contractual agreements for goods and services, insurance policies, invoices, checks issued to officials and board members, reimbursements, financial reports, leases, audits, a curriculum vitae for Thomas and one for Vodzack, "private plate motor vehicles" and other documents.
Sebastien submitted documents including detailed meter-reader tasks and contractual arrangements with J.R. Thomas Associate Inc. and J & R Thomas Associates. Byron submitted a list of WAPA employees eligible for early retirement at hazardous duty pay that was originally submitted to the Government Employees Retirement System last Nov. 15. Smith said that all requested documents were submitted.
"I personally cannot review those documents and intelligently pursue the issues," Cole commented. Then he asked Rothgeb, "How is our cash flow at WAPA? My concern is the financial stability of WAPA and its bonding capacity."
In response to Cole's request to have copies of documents in advance of hearings, Hansen commented: "That's why we have a continuation meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] on St. Thomas." And, she added, "Certainly tomorrow will not end it."
Other issues discussed included meter-reading procedures and staffing, energy consumption and rates, the status of a temporary restraining order requested by Thomas after the April employee unrest, and fuel conservation methods. Hansen asked for a detailed listing within 30 days of all WAPA equipment and its energy loss and output capacity.
Present for the roll call were Sens. Cole, Dowe, Alicia Hansen and Norman Jn Baptiste. Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg was absent. Sens. Norma Pickard-Samuel and Douglas Canton Jr. were excused.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix 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 7, 2002 – For St. Thomas and St. John television watchers, the CBS network channel is now local, rather than a cable feed from Erie, Pennsylvania. CBS affiliate station WVXF went on the air a month ago on Channel 17, received via an antenna. On May 1, it was picked up by Innovative Cable TV's Channel 9 on St. Thomas and St. John.
Bob Austin at Moxie Marketing said WVXF also expects to start broadcasting soon on Innovative Cable's Channel 10 on St. Croix. He said the station now reaches St. Croix on antenna Channel 17, but reception is not good. "They'll put a repeater on St. Croix," he said, and service is expected to improve in June.
The company is broadcasting initially on a low-power antenna but expects soon to install a high-power antenna so the station will reach Tortola and eastern Puerto Rico, Austin said.
WVXF programming consists of a basic CBS package which does not include three popular syndicated programs that had been available locally on the CBS cable feed — "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy."
"There's quite a big price tag" for acquiring those shows, Austin said. In order for the station to add the programs, he said, it would take support from a major advertiser who wanted to spend in a month more than most local advertisers spend in a year.
Austin said the company is in negotiations with the syndicators of the shows in the hope that they'll cut their prices. "The problem in dealing with them, especially Oprah, is that they're tough nuts," he said.
Maverick Productions and Maverick Media are handling the WVXF account and will create local advertising to air on the station, Austin, who founded Austin Advertising on St. Thomas more than 20 years ago, said.
He said the new station is owned by Atlantic Broadcasting Co., which bought the old WBNB-TV license after what was then Channel 10 was badly damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and never returned to the air. The studios and transmitter for WBNB — also a CBS affiliate — were located atop Haypiece Hill in Sub Base, where WTJX/Channel 12 is today.
Nelson Claridge, the local Atlantic Broadcasting representative, said the company is owned by Gary George of Wisconsin.
Atlantic is broadcasting from Mountain Top but has no other facilities for now, Austin said. He said Federal Communications Commission rules require that cable companies carry local network affiliates where they exist, instead of receiving network stations from afar. "It's the must-carry rule," he said.
Adrian LaBennett, Innovative Cable TV general manager, could not be reached for comment.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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 7, 2002 – For St. Thomas and St. John television watchers, the CBS network channel is now local, rather than a cable feed from Erie, Pennsylvania. CBS affiliate station WVXF went on the air a month ago on Channel 17, received via an antenna. On May 1, it was picked up by Innovative Cable TV's Channel 9 on St. Thomas and St. John.
Bob Austin at Moxie Marketing said WVXF also expects to start broadcasting soon on Innovative Cable's Channel 10 on St. Croix. He said the station now reaches St. Croix on antenna Channel 17, but reception is not good. "They'll put a repeater on St. Croix," he said, and service is expected to improve in June.
The company is broadcasting initially on a low-power antenna but expects soon to install a high-power antenna so the station will reach Tortola and eastern Puerto Rico, Austin said.
WVXF programming consists of a basic CBS package which does not include three popular syndicated programs that had been available locally on the CBS cable feed — "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy."
"There's quite a big price tag" for acquiring those shows, Austin said. In order for the station to add the programs, he said, it would take support from a major advertiser who wanted to spend in a month more than most local advertisers spend in a year.
Austin said the company is in negotiations with the syndicators of the shows in the hope that they'll cut their prices. "The problem in dealing with them, especially Oprah, is that they're tough nuts," he said.
Maverick Productions and Maverick Media are handling the WVXF account and will create local advertising to air on the station, Austin, who founded Austin Advertising on St. Thomas more than 20 years ago, said.
He said the new station is owned by Atlantic Broadcasting Co., which bought the old WBNB-TV license after what was then Channel 10 was badly damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and never returned to the air. The studios and transmitter for WBNB — also a CBS affiliate — were located atop Haypiece Hill in Sub Base, where WTJX/Channel 12 is today.
Nelson Claridge, the local Atlantic Broadcasting representative, said the company is owned by Gary George of Wisconsin.
Atlantic is broadcasting from Mountain Top but has no other facilities for now, Austin said. He said Federal Communications Commission rules require that cable companies carry local network affiliates where they exist, instead of receiving network stations from afar. "It's the must-carry rule," he said.
Adrian LaBennett, Innovative Cable TV general manager, could not be reached for comment.

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 6, 2002 – "There's no excuse for anyone to live on St. Croix and bike and swim and not try it." That was Rachel Witty's explanation of why she was taking part in the 2002 Half Ironman triathlon.
Residents dotted the roadsides in the early-morning hours Sunday, dragging their loved ones along sleepy eyed to experienced the Virgin Islands premier sporting spectacle. For Witty, it was the moment she'd been anxiously waiting for.
She enjoyed nature and the golden sunsets on the West End from 1997 through 2000, then flew to Chicago for a change of pace. "I think it's the island way of life," she said, that brought her back home. She laced up her running shoes for a some local events including the Best of the West and the Endurance Sports East End Triathlon, but it was just her sheer joy of running that lead her to tackle the Half Ironman course.
"When you haven't done one at all and do it one step at a time, you'll be surprised where determination takes you," she said. The course was arduous and windy, she added, but "when you look around and see so many people out there, it's worth the effort."
According to radio announcer Jonathan Cohen, "The number of locals seems to double each year." The results posted on the triathlon web site showed 21 U.S. Virgin Islanders and two from the BVI out of 520 finishers.
Why would anybody do this? Well, there is the money, equal amounts for men and for women: $7,000 for first place, $4,500 for second, $2,250 for third. And bonuses of $500 for the first out of the water, $250 for the first up "the Beast" and $100 for the first to run around the town. But only a few of the hundreds of competitors take home any part of the $50,000 purse.
"It was really amazing to see people from all ages and races who came out from all over the world to participate in this grand event," said 14-year-old Semoya Phillips, who with her brother and a niece cheered bikers on as they pedaled through the Golden Grove area then headed southward up the hill to the Melvin Evans Highway.
Bikers responded in appreciation, calling out "thank you" to the spectators, some giving a thumbs-up, waving or saluting with an upward fist.
"My mom dragged me out of my bed," Semoya confessed, "but it was well worth the experience anyway. I would definitely want to volunteer again."
More than a hundred volunteers came out to lend a hand, among them 24 members of the St. Croix Educational Complex Honor Society who eagerly awaited their assignments. For some it was community service; for others, just a first-time spectator event. "This is the first time I've done this," 10th grader Clinton Williams, assigned to the Sion Farm station, said. "I had real fun cheering them on. There were a lot of spectators out there."
Husband and wife team Dennis and Sarah Smith organized teams, handed out T-shirts and loaded taxis waiting to shuttle volunteers through barricaded streets to their appointed spots. Police Capt. Floria Samuel parked her SUV up to detour cyclists from straying off course. "I was not scheduled to work, but I came out here to see where the department needed help," she said.
The day began with cool, crisp trade winds transitioning to gorgeous aqua-blue skies with clouds that dotted like powder puffs. One biker said afterward that as she biked up the most arduous part of the course, "the Beast," which ascends up a three-tiered mountain from the Sunterra Carambola Beach Resort to its golf course, she was cooled off by the morning dew and sprinkles from a passing cloud.
There were casualties, of course. Rebecca Box saw her quest end when her bicycle tire suffered a large gash from an unknown item. As she tearfully asked herself "Why?" she meekly told a sympathetic listener that her husband would be disappointed that she had not secured a spare tire and repair kit to the frame of the bike. "I was doing so well," she said as she lost her place in the top 50.
As riders sped past Box, some called out their concern, one female cyclist saying "I'm sorry." Then there was Chris Braga from Long Island, New York, who turned his bike around and returned to offer his assistance, unconcerned about the minutes being lost. His sportsmanship and humanity was an impressive lesson for the group of seven volunteers monitoring that station.
After some consoling by volunteers, Box became one of the onlookers, joining in cheering on the cyclists, warning them of the uneven asphalt corner as they angled up the hill. "Watch the corner! Be careful! Slow on the corner," they shouted.
The first biker rode through the Golden Grove station in Frederiksted around 8:30 a.m., followed by the Harley-riding race course marshals with photojournalists and videographers facing to the rear, positioning themselves to get that prize-winning image.
"They can't follow each other more than 20 feet," said Vernon Smith, a race marshal in his bright yellow T-shirt, astride his Sundiro Eagle from Mongoose Scooters. He had worked the midnight-to-8 shift on the Hovensa docks but he said he would not have missed the race.
Before the race, Adopt-an-Athlete lodging coordinator Helen Bourgeois talked with admiration about a local, dreadlocked triathlete named Mario. She said she didn't know his last name, but had admired his tenacity and consistency over the years. "He is a true hero. I anticipate his entry each year," she said.
Bourgeois, who has helped with the St. Croix triathlon from the start in 1988, recalled the first time that Mario Graham came to register for the event. He didn't have the money for the entrance fee, she said, but a group of volunteers pitched in to help. "Mario could barely swim; he came in last," she said, but that did not stop him. "He hopped on this rickety bike, pushing it along the way."
She described Graham as a hard-working local fisherman of little means and a large family to support, but determined to succeed as a triathlete. "The next year or so, someone bought him a bike, and his swimming also improved," she said, and the improvements were consistent over the years. "In my 14 years with the triathlon," she said, "I have never seen anyone with so much desire. Those athletes are very goal oriented, and so is Mario."
This year, Graham finished the course in 7:37:50, 38 seconds behind Kevin Lenahan of St. Thomas.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix 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 7, 2002 – The territory's former top narcotics officer was convicted Tuesday of perjuring himself by falsely testifying about his past when he was on trial for police brutality last year.
A jury in U.S. District Court found Wayne Chinnery guilty of four counts of perjury. Chinnery was known as the "drug czar" when he served in 1999 and 2000 as the governor's drug policy adviser and head of the police Narcotics Strike Force.
The jury found that Chinnery lied during his October 2001 trial when he told jurors that he received a bachelor's degree from Hofstra University, had a law degree from Hofstra, that he was an attorney and had worked as an attorney for law firms in the Virgin Islands.
Evidence at the two-day perjury trial this week showed that Chinnery never graduated from any college or university, never attended law school and failed the Virgin Islands Bar examination.
"This case is about getting the truth," Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Jenkins told jurors. "If a jury doesn't get the truth, it can't make the proper decision."
Chinnery, a former candidate for governor and for the Virgin Islands Senate, was on trial in October 2001 on charges that he beat a woman with his pistol while on a Narcotics Strike Force sweep in Hospital Ground. He testified in that trial about his qualifications to head the Narcotics Strike Force and said he did not use his pistol to hit the woman.
Chinnery testified at the time that he was justified in using force as a law-enforcement officer. A jury acquitted him of all charges in that case.
Jenkins said Chinnery lied about his background to build his credibility before the jury. Chinnery had no previous law-enforcement experience and no college degree, which Virgin Islands law requires for a person to serve as drug czar.
Defense attorney George Hodge said Chinnery admitted that he had lied on the witness stand, but the false testimony was not material to the charges of assaulting the woman.
Although this week's jury found that Chinnery perjured himself during the assault trial, he cannot be tried again on the earlier charge because it would violate his constitutional rights against being placed in double jeopardy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugh Mabe said.
Chinnery faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for perjury. District Judge Thomas Moore has not set a sentencing date.
Gov. Charles Turnbull removed Chinnery from his duties as drug czar in 2000 shortly after Chinnery was charged with domestic violence in connection with an assault on his former girlfriend. Those charges were later dropped when the woman testified that Chinnery had not hit her.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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 7, 2002 – The territory's former top narcotics officer was convicted Tuesday of perjuring himself by falsely testifying about his past when he was on trial for police brutality last year.
A jury in U.S. District Court found Wayne Chinnery guilty of four counts of perjury. Chinnery was known as the "drug czar" when he served in 1999 and 2000 as the governor's drug policy adviser and head of the police Narcotics Strike Force.
The jury found that Chinnery lied during his October 2001 trial when he told jurors that he received a bachelor's degree from Hofstra University, had a law degree from Hofstra, that he was an attorney and had worked as an attorney for law firms in the Virgin Islands.
Evidence at the two-day perjury trial this week showed that Chinnery never graduated from any college or university, never attended law school and failed the Virgin Islands Bar examination.
"This case is about getting the truth," Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Jenkins told jurors. "If a jury doesn't get the truth, it can't make the proper decision."
Chinnery, a former candidate for governor and for the Virgin Islands Senate, was on trial in October 2001 on charges that he beat a woman with his pistol while on a Narcotics Strike Force sweep in Hospital Ground. He testified in that trial about his qualifications to head the Narcotics Strike Force and said he did not use his pistol to hit the woman.
Chinnery testified at the time that he was justified in using force as a law-enforcement officer. A jury acquitted him of all charges in that case.
Jenkins said Chinnery lied about his background to build his credibility before the jury. Chinnery had no previous law-enforcement experience and no college degree, which Virgin Islands law requires for a person to serve as drug czar.
Defense attorney George Hodge said Chinnery admitted that he had lied on the witness stand, but the false testimony was not material to the charges of assaulting the woman.
Although this week's jury found that Chinnery perjured himself during the assault trial, he cannot be tried again on the earlier charge because it would violate his constitutional rights against being placed in double jeopardy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugh Mabe said.
Chinnery faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for perjury. District Judge Thomas Moore has not set a sentencing date.
Gov. Charles Turnbull removed Chinnery from his duties as drug czar in 2000 shortly after Chinnery was charged with domestic violence in connection with an assault on his former girlfriend. Those charges were later dropped when the woman testified that Chinnery had not hit her.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix 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 7, 2002 – The territory's former top narcotics officer was convicted Tuesday of perjuring himself by falsely testifying about his past when he was on trial for police brutality last year.
A jury in U.S. District Court found Wayne Chinnery guilty of four counts of perjury. Chinnery was known as the "drug czar" when he served in 1999 and 2000 as the governor's drug policy adviser and head of the police Narcotics Strike Force.
The jury found that Chinnery lied during his October 2001 trial when he told jurors that he received a bachelor's degree from Hofstra University, had a law degree from Hofstra, that he was an attorney and had worked as an attorney for law firms in the Virgin Islands.
Evidence at the two-day perjury trial this week showed that Chinnery never graduated from any college or university, never attended law school and failed the Virgin Islands Bar examination.
"This case is about getting the truth," Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Jenkins told jurors. "If a jury doesn't get the truth, it can't make the proper decision."
Chinnery, a former candidate for governor and for the Virgin Islands Senate, was on trial in October 2001 on charges that he beat a woman with his pistol while on a Narcotics Strike Force sweep in Hospital Ground. He testified in that trial about his qualifications to head the Narcotics Strike Force and said he did not use his pistol to hit the woman.
Chinnery testified at the time that he was justified in using force as a law-enforcement officer. A jury acquitted him of all charges in that case.
Jenkins said Chinnery lied about his background to build his credibility before the jury. Chinnery had no previous law-enforcement experience and no college degree, which Virgin Islands law requires for a person to serve as drug czar.
Defense attorney George Hodge said Chinnery admitted that he had lied on the witness stand, but the false testimony was not material to the charges of assaulting the woman.
Although this week's jury found that Chinnery perjured himself during the assault trial, he cannot be tried again on the earlier charge because it would violate his constitutional rights against being placed in double jeopardy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugh Mabe said.
Chinnery faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for perjury. District Judge Thomas Moore has not set a sentencing date.
Gov. Charles Turnbull removed Chinnery from his duties as drug czar in 2000 shortly after Chinnery was charged with domestic violence in connection with an assault on his former girlfriend. Those charges were later dropped when the woman testified that Chinnery had not hit her.
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 7, 2002 – Positive measures to approach the territory's education crisis will be discussed in a public forum on Saturday by many of the Virgin Islands' most knowledgeable stakeholders, including the student body presidents of the four public high schools.
However, newly designated acting Education Commissioner Noreen Michael will not be among them. She will be on Tortola with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull attending a U.S.-British Virgin Islands Friendship Day ceremony, Government House confirmed Tuesday.
And an aide to St. Thomas-St. John Superintendent Rosalia Payne said Tuesday afternoon that "It's a toss-up" as to whether Payne will attend the forum. Her St. Croix counterpart, Terrence Joseph, is scheduled to participate.
The forum, which will be held at the Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is one in an ongoing series sponsored by the Virgin Islanders for Democratic Action Club, whose chair is Sen. Lorraine L. Berry. The club presented a forum on the territory's economic future last November and another on problems within the V.I. insurance industry in January.
Berry said she sent invitations out in ample time for all to arrange to attend Saturday's forum. In fact, she said, the forum was postponed from April 6 to accommodate some officials who couldn't make that date, including then-Commissioner Ruby Simmonds, who was scheduled to be off island.
"It is our contention that out of the present crisis, a rebirth in education is possible," Berry said. "It will be a constructive discourse. The planned dialogue is calculated to develop solutions to bring about positive collaboration for education reform so badly needed in these islands."
The forum was planned long before it was learned last week that the territory had lost its appeal of a decision last November by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools to withdraw accreditation of Charlotte Amalie, Central and Ivanna Eudora Kean High Schools. (See related stories by typing the keyword "accreditation" into the search engine at the bottom of this page.)
Education is in crisis not only in the Virgin Islands but nationally, Berry noted in a message to forum participants. She quoted a sobering excerpt from a report by the U.S. Commission on National Security issued earlier this year: "Second only to a weapon of mass destruction detonating in an American city, we can think of nothing more dangerous than a failure to manage properly science, technology and education."
Along with Joseph, those scheduled to take part in panel discussions during the forum are:
– Dr. Laverne Ragster, University of the Virgin Islands provost and president-elect.
– Board of Education members Malik Sekou of St. Thomas-St. John and Claudette Peterson of St. Croix.
– Leroy Trotman, deputy Education commissioner for curriculum and instruction.
– Verona Dore and Anthony Kiture, Education Department assistant human resources directors for St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John, respectively.
– Anna Lewis, Education state director of vocational and adult education.
– Patricia Nathan, Education district director for curriculum, asssessment and technology.
– American Federation of Teachers local presidents Vernelle deLegarde of St. Thomas-St. John and Tyrone Molyneaux of St. Croix.
– Carver Farrow, the president of the Education Administrators Association.
– Margarita Benjamin and Ira Hobson, presidents of the Parent Teacher Student Associations in the two districts.
– UVI faculty members Richard Hall and Richard Moore.
– Student body presidents Chevelle Leonard of CAHS, Eartha Peterson of CHS, Klarice George of EKHS and Makeda Okolo of Education Complex.
Officially representing the Education Department are Dore, Joseph, Kitture, Lewis, Nathan and Trotman.
Berry also said Turnbull announced Tuesday that Manuel Justiz, dean of The University of Texas College of Education and an adviser to the governor, is in the territory. Turnbull, in his January State of the Territory address, announced the appointment of Justiz as his "assistant to the governor for education affairs, including our efforts to retain our accreditation."
Berry added, "My hope is that if Dr. Justiz is on the island, that he would come and participate" in the Saturday forum.
Among issues to be addressed, Berry said, is the need to comply with the strict provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, President Bush's education reform package that has his Reading First initiative as its centerpiece.
The territory was invited to send a team of education policy advisers and officials who direct education policy and programs to an orientation to the Reading First program in February. Those who attended were Turnbull and Simmonds. (See "Governor at D.C. orientation for educators".)
Berry said one of the mandates of the new act is that all teachers must be certified by 2004. "We should not be caught off guard," she said. "The federal role in education is going to have a major impact on the V.I. — the testing and certification of teachers. How we can fast track this process is one of the issues I have asked the panelists to investigate."
Also at the forum, Ragster will present a draft report of UVI's evaluation of the Education Department's administrative efficiency. The study, mandated by legislation Berry introduced last year, includes an analysis of the department's budget in relation to the services it is expected to provide.
For the panel discussions, Berry said, participants have been asked to provide input on four basic objectives:
– Identifying barriers to academic success and creating a plan for improved parent and community involvement.
– Establishing a network for faculty and administrators to create a two-year professional development plan.
– Establishing communications and support systems between teachers and students.
– Defining policy issues on access to services, public engagement, school-university connections and teacher training.
And underlying all of the discussions will be the schools' loss of accreditation, and how to regain it.
The forum is open to the public without charge. It will be broadcast live on WIUJ radio, 102.9 FM.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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.