The paper was before the Executive branch of Government at their meeting of Wednesday 1st February, 2012.

Mr. Falukner, a Virgin Gordian, will replace former Chairman and current Speaker of the House of Assembly Honorable Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe. It is unclear who the other members of the Board are.

Former Legislator Black Gets Job At Bank

Meanwhile, the same source told this news site that former NDP 8th district representative and Minister for Education and Culture Lloyd K. Black will be taking up a new appointment at the NBVI- reportedly as the head of its credit division. No other details were forthoming as to commencement of appointment, salary and contract teams.

Faulkner’s Background

Clarence Faulkner Jr., an indigenous Virgin Islander, grew up in the Valley, Virgin Gorda, and is the only son of five children born to Cordella and Clarence Faulkner Sr. Mr. Faulkner Jr., attended the Bregado Flax Educational Centre on Virgin Gorda.

Current Speaker of the House of Assembly Honorable Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe (left) held the position of Chairman of the National Bank of the Virgin Islands’ Board. Lloyd K. Black will be taking up a new appointment at the NBVI reportedly as the head of its credit division.

After graduating from High School on Virgin Gorda, Faulkner enrolled at St. Mary’s University in Canada where he studied both accounting and finance and graduated with a double degree in 1996.

After graduating from college, Faulkner returned to the VI where he landed his first job working at Harney Westwood & Riegels. In 1999 he joined the Social Security Board where he has been ever since.

He has risen through the ranks and now Faulkner’s job is to manage the Board’s portfolio of investments.

In 2002 he earned an MBA from Wright State University through the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

Speaking during the weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club of Tortola in July of 2010, Mr. Faulkner told the public that the Investment Fund of the Social Security Board (SSB) now stands at $342M.

Faulkner told the Rotarians that the SSB investment funds have been doing well in light of the financial crisis because of extensive due diligence.

The Investment Manager stated in the same speech that three years ago, just before the financial crisis hit, the fund was valued at $301M and at the peak of the crisis it dropped to $277M.

Now, to be perfectly fair to Mr. Walker, he should have stated that flights from certain parts of that great Canadian landmass to Beef Island were impractical, and he was probably referring to the eastern part of Canada; he was therefore correct in inferring that flights from certain parts of Canada to these Leeward’s were not in play. Not today in any case

OK, Mr. Walker, in his article, then went on to further reveal how Yahoo Finance, a US media, described JetBlue as the worst airline for on time flights, and that ‘’almost one in eight flights was an average of 65 minutes late. This was attributed to the use of Boston as a hub and the resulting bad weather which comes primarily in our high season.’’ Interesting!

He then described, and on the same note, how that same media tagged American and American Eagle as the worst airline for baggage and passenger service, stating that a passenger even concluded that ‘’ American has stopped treating us as people, and started treating us as freight.’’

This Pilgrim fully agrees, despite the airlines’ savvy advertising, with the assertion that American sometimes acts like its customers are trash. And he has personally experienced rudeness from its airline staff en route to Dallas some years back, so he is not surprised that American is presently in Chapter 11.

The lesson here is this one: customer service is king, and one bad experience cancels out all the good a business may have done in the past. That is just the way it is. Today, American announced it was shedding 13000 jobs: why is this Observer not surprised! It appears that customer service ceased being a priority with American some time back.

One more thing: this wannabe test pilot has noticed that Mr. Walker appears to be searching, even digging, for every reason, no matter how obscure and remote, for asserting that the Virgin Islands is neither ready, or capable, of catering for large jet aircraft flying in from major population centers. In this Pilgrim’s opinion, the Writer is simply wrong in his many highly informative exertions.

Now, in light of the National Democratic Party Government’s recent announcement, that it was intending to expand airport infrastructure in the Virgin Islands to cater for larger and more powerful jetliners in the near future, the debate on this issue takes on a wholly different direction, and even complexion. It is no longer a debate on the whether or not, and why, or if; but the what, when, and where.

OK, and getting back to the obviously very well informed William walker, and another article that caught the attention of this Pilgrim was a narrative that appeared in the BVI Beacon of December 21, 2011, titled ‘’ Critical eye cast on airport expansion,’’ and yes it lived up to its title: it was critical and insightful.

Mr. Walker in that rendition asserted that ‘’ if one wants to predict the tourist season, follow the Dow Jones average.’’ That the tourism industry in the Virgin Islands ‘’ over the last 30 years has consistently followed the state of the United States, and to a lesser extent, the United Kingdom, economy.’’

Good point sir and instructive: the Department of Tourism should use these figures as a spur to looking for markets in other places, such as Pacific Asia, the European Community, and Latin America, and begin to wean itself off the overwhelming dependence of Virgin Islands tourism on the US and British economies. Do bear in mind that the economic outlook for the Western economy is as bleak as it can get these days.

This is owing to the fact that the Western economies are being crushed by unsustainable debt, and projected to grow very slowly economically in the coming years, with consumers anxious about their futures and well being. The Western, especially European banking system is furthermore very shaky this February, 2012. And the housing market, a pointer to US and British economic growth, remains languishing in the doldrums.

Latin America, led by Brazil, and the Asian Pacific with China as hub, is on the other hand growing strongly, although there are signs that slow growth in the West is beginning to act as a drag on these economies. And the focus for the Tourism Board needs to shift somewhat towards a strategy of marketing in these regions.

One bright spot in the West, and worthy of note for Virgin Islands tourism, is a booming German economy, with the German national, a prodigious and affluent tourist and traveler. This is a result of Germans possessing high equity levels springing from a longstanding culture of thrift, and an export machine second to none. A Virgin Islands tourism agent based in a major German City will be of much greater value today, than putting that agent in a recession hit geography with growing unemployment.

More to the point, Mr. Walker appeared to be in full agreement with the majority of stakeholders in tourism, when he wrote that ‘’the Virgin Islands needs to be easily accessed and competitive.’’ He further insisted that ‘’airline connections to Beef Island have never been absolutely optimal.’’ He went on to inform that airlines do not schedule their flights randomly; but lately and more than ever airlines are determining schedules ‘’ based on profit margins. The airlines are now in a tight economic position that does not permit empty seats, unless those seats give access to other more profitable routes. And this is never true of the Caribbean.’’

That may be true, but then a number of airlines appear to have started flying directly into the Eastern Caribbean from Canada and the USA, so things are not as bad as they seem. In any case, that type of risk is always a factor in any type of commercial decision. Many a time, whether there is an effective and profitable market for a service or not, is only ever discovered when you begin to trade, feasibility studies notwithstanding. Business always entails risk. The Writer further advised that the Department of Tourism and its allies ‘’ should make every effort to reduce the sharp difference between the high season and the low,’’ explain how that is done sir!

Now, and returning to the ubiquitous American Airlines, this behemoth is in financial trouble today, or so it appears, but it certainly isn’t the only airline capable of flying into the West Indies. This US Carrier is for all intents and purposes, certainly not omnipotent, especially in regard to these Antilles and our international travel dynamic. The American Airlines headlock on Virgin Islands air travel is coming to an end, a good thing.

The Beacon Contributor stated that ‘’ it is improbable that American is going to look with favour on expansion into the Caribbean. Such a move would indeed be against the company’s current policy of contraction on non profitable routes.’’ But isn’t that American’s affair? The Virgin Islands can understand American’s plight, even shed a tear, but life goes on!

American is certainly not the only airline with the potential for flying into these islands from the USA. In any case, that company’s commercial and marketing savvy is very much lacking in this Observer’s opinion. American appears to be increasingly anachronistic these days: a regional monopoly that probably needs to be put to rest!

To be continued

In giving a breakdown of the funds allocated towards the project, Hon. Vanterpool stated, “$588,000 are for the contractors, the purchase orders cost $128,908 and the agreements for the purchase orders amount to $149,088.”

“The procurement for the materials will be imported and will be here in another week’s time,” Hon. Vanterpool said.

He further added that the monies for the project came from a pre-approved loan that was borrowed from Banco Popular.

Physical works are expected to commence in another two to three weeks. Photo: VINO

And with the anticipation of the project to begin in two to three weeks, Hon. Vanterpool is buoyant that phase one will be completed within three months following its commencement.

The long term solutions to the sewerage woes in the capital will be replacing the present pumping station and treatment of sewerage on the western side of Road Town, according to the Minister.

On August 12, 2010, CBE Engineering Associates signed a $1,976,307.50 contract with the then Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government for the management, engineering and construction supervision services for the national sewerage project that comprised East End and Road Town.

For the Road Town aspect, CBE conducted the construction management for the inspection of over 2,500 feet of existing sewers in the city’s service area for the identification of sewer lines that are in need of repairs and /or replacement.

Furthermore, the engineering design, programme and construction management for the removal and replacement of approximately 2,000 feet of abandoned or compromised gravity sewers in the Road Town service area were also concluded.

Gusting winds of up to 20 knots added to the eventful start to the day’s racing which had already been delayed when Sorceress, entering in the Racing Division, ran aground.

Fortunately they were able to recover the boat and made it to the start line!

Racing division held two races. Their course consisted of an upwind leg to Brandywine Bay, a downwind leg to Nanny Cay, and finally an upwind leg to the finish line of the Royal BVI Yacht Club.

Race one had one lap of the course, Race two had two laps of the course. Both races had identical results, Pipe Dream taking first place, Rushin’ Rowlette second and Firewater third.

The Cruising class of yachts also sailed to Brandywine Bay, then crossed the channel to round the South side of Dead Chest and Peter Island. They then came back across the channel to Nanny Cay, and finally upwind to the finish.

The weather conditions gradually lightened as the day progressed, and towards the end of racing winds and sunshine were perfect Caribbean sailing conditions!

Prize giving was held at the Royal BVI Yacht Club, and presented by his Excellency the Governor Boyd McLeay. The Governor raced on board Reba, winners of Cruising Class.

Prizes from sponsors Latitude 18 were awarded to Cruising Class, and prizes from The Royal BVI Yacht Club to Racing Class. Mr. Chris Haycraft received the Governor’s Cup trophy from the Governor on behalf of Pipe Dream.

Mr. Haycraft also presented a booby “prize” to Sorceress, a gift certificate for salvage work from Mr. Rowlette’s Husky Salvage business, as a joke to commemorate their running aground.

Mr. Rowlette himself also received a similar booby prize, for touching bottom himself during the course of the day!

Her sentiments were expressed by other workers from DMV and other workers from around the area who were busy purchasing their lunches today with many expressing satisfaction with the quality of food being sold.

Several first time customers were also very pleased with the prices and variety of products in the store with one stating, “This was needed here a long time”, and another added, “I don’t have to drive to town now once they keep this up.”

The Food Store which is owned by the O’Neal family is a convenience store and deli which stocks a variety of products at reasonable prices.

Irene Penn-O'Neal and her daughter Zubida O'Neal cut the ribbon to open their family store.

According to Irene Penn-O Neal, former At-Large representative of the Virgin Islands under the Virgin Islands Party ticket, the store is a family business which is opened with mixed emotions as the family step out in faith.

“We the O’Neal family has begun a venture this morning to step out in faith and trusting that God has brought us this far and I know my God will take us further,” said Mrs. Penn O’Neal who thanked everyone for the role they played in helping her to get the store to where it was to be opened.
The businesswoman had thanks foremost to God stating that without him nothing was possible. She also thanked National Bank of the Virgin Islands who was her lending institution.

Mrs. O’Neal, who resides in the 3rd district where her business is located, said the “little district” is developing and she is proud to be part of that development.

Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser is appealing to the public to give Pockwood Pond a chance.

Give Pockwood Pond a Chance
District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser RA who was among the guests at the ceremony said he will “encourage everyone he comes in contact with to give Pockwood Pond a chance”.

The former Communications and Works Minister congratulated the O’Neal family for taking the initiative to set up the business in their district.

Hon. Fraser noted that a year ago the Department of Motor Vehicle was moved to the area and he was pleased with Government’s initiative for other districts to develop financially.
He also saw the need for a parts store and insurance store in the complex which will attract customers, citing the location of the DMV there.

A family checking out The Food Store this morning after it was opened to the public.

“The main stream view right now is, I mean you wear a shirt from any other particular group or anybody else wearing a particular shirt from a particular nationality or culture and it is not ridiculed in the way you will be ridiculed. I mean I didn’t say anything to anybody, I just walked around in the clothing and all of a sudden I am a target for ridicule, just for wearing the clothing. I mean I didn’t say take off your shirt that you are wearing, you should be wearing a shirt like mine, I didn’t say anything like that,” Mr. Wheatley added.

The talk show co-host and public activist, who unsuccessfully contested for an At Large seat with the People’s Patriotic Alliance (PPA) at the November 2011 elections in the Virgin Islands, noted that it was ironic that, “people don’t know a thing about Thanksgiving historically and we honour it, Halloween comes and we honour it, we honouring the Easter bunny all types of stuff.”

According to Wheatley, there is need for us to honour our elders and our ancestors since there is nothing wrong with that.

Meanwhile, this year’s theme for Black History Month is “Black Women in American Culture and History”.

Meanwhile, a request from the North Carolina District is seeking the extradition of Hodge to face conspiracy to import cocaine in that jurisdiction.

First up on the stand was Ms. Evans, head of the Governor’s Office, and was examined by former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Terrance Williams about her knowledge of the correspondence between the US Embassy and the Governor’s Office.

According to her, she received diplomatic notes indicating the US’s intention to have the men extradited. Evans also revealed that Governor Boyd McCleary sought the legal advice of the Virgin Islands’ Attorney General Office and the Foreign Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom (UK) before signing the necessary documents for the hearing to commence.

She was cross examined by Julian Knowles, QC and Patrick Thompson on Governor McCleary’s asking for advice from the AG or FCO, to which Evans replied that he would have.

Knowles and Herbert McKenzie are representing Hodge, Beazer is represented by Richard Rowe; Tana’ania Small-Davis is representing Skelton; Harrigan by Thompson and Valdez has secured the services of Daniels.

Williams and Crown Counsel Valston Graham appear for the Crown.

Hodge and Valdez cover their faces while arriving at the court this morning. Photo: VINO

Furthermore, Chief Inspector Murray, who is currently on the stand, revealed that on September 3, 2011 he saw Bob Hodge at the Magistrate’s Court and give him a copy of the provisional warrant.

Since their arrest on August 24, 2011 at their respective homes, Hodge, Skelton, Beazer and Harrigan have captivated the Territory with their alleged shenanigans in evading the law in their drug operation that first caught the attention of law enforcement officers in 1998.

Apart from the conspiracy offence, the quartet is charged with conspiracy to import a controlled drug, while Hodge is also charged with the unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm, unlawful possession of explosives, one count of acquisition and possession of used proceeds of criminal conduct. In addition to that, he is facing four counts of being in possession of cocaine with the intent to supply and four counts of importation of cocaine.

Harrigan, a Customs Officer, is facing two counts of abuse of authority in facilitating the entry of persons for illegal purposes into the Territory, one count of acquisition and possession of used proceeds of criminal conduct and one count of criminal proceeds, and bribery by a public officer.

Additionally, Skelton and Beazer are both charged with one count of acquisition and possession of used proceeds of criminal conduct, four counts of being in possession of cocaine with the intent to supply and four counts of importation of the controlled drug respectively.
However, these charges are pending.

During a court hearing on August 27, 2011, Crown Counsel Valston Graham told the court that throughout the years Hodge and his alleged accomplices allegedly picked up some 4,518 kilogrammes of cocaine from airdrops in VI waters, with Beazer and Skelton allegedly assisting in the recovery of the illegal substance.

Beazer as he is about to enter the High Court this morning, February 3, 2012. Photo: VINO

“I want to applaud the Government for recognising and correcting its mistake in asking Commissioner of Customs Wade Smith to take such a long vacation all at once….It’s a good sign when we see a Government recognising its mistake and making corrections right away. It shows a sign of humility and it shows a sign that they are listening and they are acting in the best interest of our Territory.

Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith had announced on February 1, 2012 at a press conference at the Central Administrative Complex that Mr. Smith’s leave had been deferred since it would not have been convenient since Government was introducing new initiatives at the ports of entry.

Smith’s leave was to take effect on February 6, 2012 for some 200 days. “I have therefore asked that his requirement for leave be deferred to a more suitable and mutually agreeable time frame to allow the work of the department to proceed unimpeded,” he disclosed.

Cromwell Smith stated that Government’s recognition of its mistake and correcting it was a “good sign”.

When questioned if he was aware that Smith was to be sent on leave, was going on leave, why it wasn’t handled differently and if he was pleased with how it was handled, the Premier responded: “The situation was being handled but it was pre-empted by information being given out, leaked out and so this pre-empted the process which was being instituted by informing myself and the officer.”

He had also stated that he was unaware that Smith was to be sent on leave up until that time.

On a different note, Cromwell Smith also applauded the Government for reducing the duty on imports, stating “so that we could get lower prices on necessities and establishing a monitoring process to make sure that the savings are passed on to the consumers even though of course we shouldn’t have to monitor the business community, they should know that their responsibility is to pass on those savings”.

“A number of businesses have already come forward to offer jobs to these young people, and I thank you for exercising sound corporate citizenship. We now need the support of a larger cross section of our business community to join this effort,” Hon. Walwyn charged.

In his plea to the business community, the Education Minister pointed out that owning businesses in the Virgin Islands (VI) come with the responsibility of training youths and assisting Virgin Islanders in realising their professional aspirations.

“When our youths are productively engaged it sets the stage for thriving communities that filters into social, educational, and economical aspects of our lives, our Territory,” Hon. Walwyn further stated.

Hon. Walwyn is urging the business community to come out in their numbers.

The Minister also noted that in his personal interaction with the registrants, he realised that “they are prepared to take on work challenges as they are now aware of their role in advancing the Territory”.

“The VI stands to gain a cohort of eager and gainfully employed young people. Their energy and talents will be needed to advance our economy as they provide the necessary labour that can be trained to fit our organisations, culture and add to its goals,” Hon. Walwyn added.

Over the past week and a half, registrants have been attending work readiness seminars aimed at matching youths with best suited jobs based on their aspirations and personalities, promote good work ethic, understand appropriate work behaviour and teach youths the confidence needed to win any employer.

The training sessions, which conclude today February 3, 2012, were facilitated by Judith Vanterpool and Albert Wheatley. The sessions covered customer service, team building skills, personality profiling and effective communication between colleagues, supervisors and managers.

Tamisha Georges, Aneek Peters, Amondora Creese and Tyalia Nibbs will now join Payne on the Referees’ panel.

Whilst the initial step qualifies them to officiate at domestic matches, it also represents the first step towards becoming a NORCECA Regional Referee and from there another step takes them to International Volleyball Federation qualifications.

The “Fab Four” will hardly have time to celebrate their achievement as the BVIAVA has already announced that the 2012 season will start on Saturday February 11, 2012 with an official opening ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

The first round of games will commence immediately after the ceremony with both events scheduled for the Multi Purpose Sports Complex.

The Legends are defending 2011 Champions, but with new teams to face in 2012 they will have to be on top of their game in 2012.

This year’s league will feature 4 male and 5 female teams in the A division and such is the resurgence of the sport that the Association is able to re-introduce a B division league of 4 Secondary School teams.

Included in the men’s line up is 15-time Champion team the Terminators, who will also be defending their 2011 Title. Joining them are Just Dream, which is a new combination of players from Just bless and the Dream team. The Future is back and will be looking to improve upon their playoff appearance last year. Raw Power rounds off the entrants.

In the Women’s League there has been some interesting developments team wise.

The Legends is back as 2011 defending Champions as are last season’s Runners Up Raw Power. Then there are the new teams Phoenix Red, who were formerly known as the Volcanoes, Phoenix Black, formally the Tornadoes and new comers Phoenix Blue. The Blues will also be the youngest team in the league.

The “B” League will feature two teams from Elmore Stoutt High School, one team from the Seventh Day Adventist School and the other from Cedar International School.