On today's WTJX NewsFeed, the territory celebrates Liberty Day honoring the legacy of St. Croix native David Hamilton Jackson. Before they took the ceremonial stage, we caught up with Keynote speaker, Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach, Raymond Williams, President of the Grove Place Action Committee, and Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett on Jackson's influence. The VI Department of Agriculture announced the reopening of the St. Croix Abattoir. Senator Franklin Johnson, who has been vocal about the abattoir's closure, provides us with some insight on its reopening. Dr. Esther Ellis, Territorial Epidemiologist for the Department of Health, provides details about the department's new project titled "Safe Haven: A Lead-Free Family Initiative," aimed at increasing awareness about lead exposure and conducting blood lead level pediatric testing. During a recent meeting, the Government Employees Retirement System reported a significant financial turnaround. We speak with GERS Administrator, Angel Dawson.
TRANSCRIPT:
It's 5 p.m.. Welcome to the WTJX Newsfeed In today's top stories. The Territory celebrates Liberty Day, honoring the legacy of St Croix native David Hamilton Jackson. We speak with Lieutenant Governor Tragenza Roach and Delegate to Congress. Stacey Plaskett. Dr. Esther Ellis Territorial, epidemiologist for the Department of Health, provides details about the department's pediatric led testing initiative. During a recent meeting, the Government Employees Retirement System reported a significant financial turnaround to its Board of trustees.
We speak with Administrator for GERS Angel Dawson. These stories and more on today's WTJX News Feed from the Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System Studios on Saint Thomas. This is the W TJX News Feed with Marcellina Ventura-Douglas welcome to the WTJX News Feed, bringing you the latest news and updates throughout our community. The territory celebrated Liberty Day, honoring the legacy of St. Croix native David Hamilton Jackson, a Labor leader and father of the Free Press in the Territory.
Lieutenant Governor Tragenza Roach, was the keynote speaker at this year's annual ceremony held at the David Hamilton Jackson Park in Estate Grove Place. Lieutenant Governor Roach remarked on the lessons we can learn from Judge Jackson and how we can apply those lessons to current social and political issues. We would probably all admit that we are living in a time of narcissism that so many people are only concerned with the image.
They now have followers in every platform. They are like some of the things that they see or they believe. And it's so difficult to take out from that narcissism. The focus on community. In keeping with the years long tradition, Raymond Williams, coordinator of the Grove Place event honoring the legacy of St. Croix native David Hamilton Jackson. Celebrating this year again.
Yet some 80 90 years almost later David Hamilton Jackson We call him the Black Moses. His impact on our community, on the Virgin Islands has made significant significance for me because just standing in this environment, because of him and others in that group, we were able to own property. He went to Denmark to defend an increased wages. He was a mentor to a lot of people and committed.
Today I stand here as a multi generational person leader that gave and continue to give delegates a Congress. Stacey Plaskett remarked on how Jackson's advocacy for civil rights and social justice influenced her own beliefs. D. Hamilton Jackson really has inspired so much of my own work, and in particular coming to Washington. When I first came in 2014, people talked about the role of a delegate and what we were relegated to.
D. HAMILTON Jackson on his own with the Virgin Islands people behind him went to the authorities in Denmark, went to kings and queens and advocated for us, was able to win on our behalf. I think of that is our heritage, our calling to be able to speak truth to power. D. Hamilton Jackson. His last, most lasting phrase to us was “Do my people do” not “speak
My people speak”, not type. On social media, my people type. But to actually do something, be involved, be out there, be a part of the community, and be the change. Funeral services were held today at the Charlotte Amalie High School's Ruth Thomas Auditorium for the late former Senator Lloyd Williams. Senator Williams serve in the 10th through the 15th legislatures of the Virgin Islands. At the start of the week.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. Declared a state of emergency in response to the ongoing water crisis on the island of Saint Croix. The Department of Health announced its initiative for pediatric led testing on St. Croix. We spoke with Dr. Esther Ellis, territorial epidemiologist for the Department of Health, on their initiative. The Department of Health has launched this new project titled Safe Haven, A Blood Free Family Initiative.
And really the objective of that initiative is to increase awareness about lead exposure and also conduct blood lead level testing for children. It's important to remember that lead exposure can have an impact from the womb and early childhood development, which impacts attention spans, hyperactivity and IQ levels. So we're really looking at the risk of light exposure, not just in children, but pregnant women and also in adults
it can even cause irritability and aggressive behavior and lead to negative impacts virtually in every system of the body. Yesterday, the department began its pilot program testing at the Alfredo Andrews Elementary School. This weekly pilot at the project at the Alfredo Andrews Elementary School. And we'll be testing all there only for the remainder of this week. On Monday, November six, the Department of Health Division will offer blood lead testing for all children, 0 to 6 years old on the island of Saint Croix.
This will be 8:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the community health van, which is parked adjacent from the department's modular red modulars at the state Richmond Estate Richmond and Christiansted. And there's a particularly particular link to register as well. For a child to be tested, a parent or guardian must register the child on our online portal and give consent for the child to be tested.
I can provide that link. It's going to be available today, Wednesday, and you can also access it a little bit easier for you to find maybe as the DOH.VI.GOV website and our Facebook page, which is at Virgin Islands. DOH And just to highlight who this testing is going to be provided at no cost to the child.
And one of the reasons why we're doing this blood lead level testing is it will allow us to develop a baseline to determine the health impacts of lead in children. As we look toward a lead free future. And our long term goal is to test approximately 1000 children and young children starting on the island of Saint Croix. And as resources become available, expand that testing.
Dr. Ellis continued, There's also a hotline. I know we've had a lot of people calling in, wanting to get their children tested for lead their blood tested for lead. If you can't register online, you can also call our hotlines and someone that answers the phone can help walk you through the registration process. The hotline is also open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
And those numbers are 7126299 or 77615192. The other website or the registration once it opens up to the public for those that want to do it online health.usvi.care/pediatric-lead-testing. During a recent meeting, the Government Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees received the report of significant financial turnaround for the system.
GERS reported a positive cash flow of 18.5 million. In contrast to the previous year's deficit of $31 million, we spoke with administrator for GERS Angel Dawson on the pension systems financial well-being. I would actually take you back to my testimony at the Legislature back in August, where we testified that while the the funding or the special purpose vehicle that was established has been very helpful, the issue that we would continue to have is that the the annual payments over the next 30 years are not even.
So there's a period where we're getting like, for instance, this year we're scheduled to receive 158 million and I've received 124 for the fiscal year so far with the balance of 34 million expected hopefully before the end of this calendar year. But then in subsequent years, and I don't have my information right in front of me, but it goes down to like 89 million somewhere in that range.
So a lot of the funding, which is in excess of $3 billion, is going to come on the back end of the of the funding note. So for the early years it's possible and we project that there's a period of about 2 to 3 years where the GERS could actually be facing a I don't want to call it an insolvency, but to be facing deficits.
So we have to be very careful and certainly build our reserves and to be able to weather that that expected shortfall and short term, we're fine. But we you know, we can say that that all of our challenges are behind us. We have to be very careful and manage our resources very carefully as well. In our discussion with Administrator Angel Dawson, he provided clarity to reports that board member trustee Nelon Bowery wanted better financial reports from the system.
Well, it's not the financial statements in the sense of the audited financial statements that are issued, and we actually just received our 2022 audited financial statements which are independent and audited. He was referring to some of the supplemental tables and information that was provided at the board meeting where even Trustee Barry, who asked the question, indicated that the information is all there.
However, it could have been presented by our financial departments a little bit clearer. Well, I understand that they have presented it exactly the way that it was previously agreed with the board before my arrival, But I'll be working with the finance division to to make it perhaps a bit clearer. The information is all accurate, but it may be it can be presented a bit clearer.
The Brian Roach administration's solvency plan for GERS is to utilize the rum cover over matching funds. It does so with the anticipated rate change of $13.25 versus the $10.50 and its current state. The expectations of the payments are predicated on the 1325 per gallon versus the current 1050 and this would explain since the extender was not yet passed by Congress.
Why we received less than 158 million. That was that is pledged or was perhaps for fiscal year 2024. However, there is some degree of confidence that has been expressed about the extent there will at some point be approved and we will receive the shortfall of $34 million, more or less, within the fiscal year. So I have reason to be hopeful that there will in fact, happen.
Mr. DAWSON remarked on whether the apparent expedited changes in the system could be attributed to the change in leadership. Well, I have been very clear in pointing out in various testimonies that I do have a good team, senior leadership team at the GERS, and I work very well with them. Some of these items were clearly already in progress.
But, you know, good leadership certainly helps to move things along smoothly and quickly. So I would want to believe that my experience together with the experience of the team, makes a great combination. And that's why you're seeing the progress that you're seeing. Recently, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture announced the reopening of the St. Croix abattoir. The department stated they took a necessary hiatus to focus on key maintenance concerns and during the temporary closure, focused heavily on machinery maintenance and parts replacement.
Senator Franklin Johnson has been a vocal advocate about the abattoir reopening. Making comments as recently as a September hearing to Commissioner of Agriculture here, Dr. Lewis Peterson, who spoke about the abattoir. Again, I think lately I know of farmers who are losing their stock cattle in particular because of the abattoir continuously opening and closing and you are not in the position at the time, but I would need someone to please tell me a little bit about how much money was just put into that abattoir for it to be closed again.
And St Thomas's, even once they got to get the animal across. But I know of a farmer who continues off to take his truck to dig a hole and bury his cattle because of the abattoir not being able to slaughter his animal. And you're talking about losing an animal 2000, 3,000 pounds. That's a lot of money going to waste and a lot of beef Don't always help me at all.
The status doesn't. So much money was invested in the abattoir. And how soon will we get this slop to run properly? So Senator really as of today, and since May 1st, we have invested $52,000 in refurbishing the abattoir. We caught up with Senator Franklin Johnson to speak on the reopening of the abattoir and whether he has been in contact with farmers since the opening of the facility.
I still got some reports that it is not only in operation, there are still some issues with it. I haven't spoken to the Commissioner since he made the announcement of the opening. I intend to have some conversation with him. You have answered my call when I call him and I appreciate that. And we have had some candid conversation because I said to them, very clear that there are farmers that are losing their livestock and have to dig a hole and pretty much buried the carcass.
And, you know, that's a very serious situation for a farmer that has a cattle to lose three or 4,000 pounds of meat because of abattoir is not in operation. I have been told from the Commissioner since this information of it being open so I can see the magnitude of how good the operation is thus far. I definitely will be looking into the matter to find out about the conditions of the other globe, as is fully operating in my conversation with the Commissioner.
He was explaining to me that the facility is good, the equipment is bad, and I think there was. Why are we not buying new equipment and continuously trying to fix these equipment as this thing can play in a couple years? Well, and if we had come to the legislature and said, look, we need this amount of dollars to buy the proper equipment to fix this facility, I don't see which one of the senators or any one of my colleagues would say no to that, you know, because its timing is very serious cause we are out here on our own and God forbid I should care.
What do we do is amazing. And it's very important that we encourage our livestock farmers to increase the growth of their poultry, their beef their pork in case there is this disaster as we know it is. Why? Blumenauer And the East and it's a very serious situation for us here where we depend on everything coming in and we have to be able to sustain ourselves in the case of emergencies somehow.
And farming is the road to go. So I definitely will be reaching out and action. The status of the abattoir, how up to date is it and what needs to be done to make sure that we meet our farmers need that they can, you know, do their livestock and do it well. While the Department has announced the reopening on St Croix, the St Thomas abattoir has been closed for several years and is reported to be in disrepair.
I think that is a whole different animal that we went out to build a brand new facility under the same terms and they are livestock farmers already and not as much as in, but they are. And once they are people that has this interest, it will need to meet the needs of our community, especially when it comes to farming.
We made several attempts to receive comment on the reopening from commissioner Dr. Louis Petersen. For those interested in abattoir services, call the department at 3407780997 EXT 3305. After running aground off the coast of Saint Thomas, the Bonny G has now been moored at the Crown Bay Stanfill dock as of yesterday. Ricardo Castro Dad the public information officer for the U.S. Coast Guard sector, San Juan and the U.S. Virgin Islands, gave the details.
The Bonny G. Vessel ran aground on four October, and that day they responded. And our forces in the US Virgin Islands to help rescue the two people who were who abandoned the Bonny G following the grounding. And they were able to assist them and bring them into to safe harbor. No injuries were reported, but the vessel was left aground.
And then from that point on, there was an incident command established and a series of agencies that came together, Coast Guard, federal and local agencies under an incident command to work with the responsible parties and the entities that were hired by the responsible party to help them work on the pollution removal threat from the vessel. And at that point they hired the National Response Corporation completely Marine LLC to work with the collision removal, remove all the oil and diesel and lube oil from the vessel and the affected tanks prior to doing the salvage operation.
So that was first accomplished. It was initially reported to the Coast Guard approximately 13,000 gallons of diesel and approximately 700 gallons of crude oil for the vessel. But those were preliminary reports from probably sometime next week. We don't know exactly how much material was removed officially, but for now, that that's just the estimate that we have. And then, Don, John Smith was able to work during the end of last week and during the weekend to prepare the vessel for for refloating.
We had to wait a couple of days because of the weather and execute the operation yesterday. So they worked all day with two talks to we thought the vessel and tow it to safe harbor at the Southfield Dock where it's currently moored. The Coast Guard is also continuing its monitoring of the diesel spill that was reported by the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. Clean up efforts.
And so since we came to know about the incident and the and our ship report was accomplished, cleanup efforts had been underway at the facility and a lot of progress has been made. So just to briefly summarize, what that entails, basically is a tank that basically had the discharge has been emptied out and all that remains in the tank is sludge and residual oil.
And they're going to be working to further empty empty that out. But the product there, as has basically been reduced to sludge and the residual material, the secondary tank, everything has been collected from that tank. The secondary containment, I'm sorry, which is what was breached and later went to the soil that has all been emptied out. And what they're looking to do with with that secondary containment is decontaminate it and assess where the breach may have occurred and see if they can identify that and then work is still being accomplished on the last site where they dug deeper trenches and collection points to better collect the material that is still on the soil.
And then they'll be determining at a later point how much soil they're going to have to remove that has been contaminated. No impacts at this point to the waterway, but it's something that we're closely monitoring and will continue to monitor as we continue in the news feed. We turn now to our regional report. A United Nations expert on human rights in Haiti said Tuesday that he is alarmed by the rapid spread of gang violence and the bleak future awaiting children in the country.
Reporting from AP News shares remarks from William O'Neal, who spoke after a week long visit to Haiti. His second visit for the year. The spike in violence is said to have displaced more than 200,000 people. An estimated 200 gangs operate in Haiti, with the largest groups controlling up to 80% of the capital of Port au Prince. O'Neal noted that a major challenge is the fact that many gang members are children and said that it would be necessary to implement rehabilitation and reintegration programs for the vast majority.
He noted that gang violence has spread to previously peaceful areas in Haiti, central and northwest regions, and that more than an estimated 500,000 children have no access to education given the spike in violence. Haiti's national police, which is reportedly understaffed and under-resourced, have struggled in its fights against gangs, with only some 4000 officers on duty at the time in the country of 11.7 million people.
In our final update on the News Feed, we turn now to the territory's weather forecasts. Here's the latest look at the short term forecast for the Virgin Islands. Our meteorologist Eric Weglarz. Bright sunshine continues this afternoon at Saint Croix. There is the chance for a few showers. Right at sunset, temperatures will hold in the upper eighties and then fall gradually towards sunset.
Temperatures at saint thomas and saint john will also be similar in the upper eighties to near 90. But falling as the afternoon goes on and the chance for a scattered shower or two is possible at sunset tonight at Saint Croix will find scattered showers early and then probably cloudy skies after midnight. Lows will fall back into the middle and upper seventies once in the east at 10 to 15 miles per hour.
At Saint Thomas and Saint John will find scattered showers again early and then decreasing clouds after midnight. Lows will fall back into the upper seventies to near 80 Windsor, but stronger at 15 to 20 miles per hour, gusts as high as 25 by early Thursday morning. Thursday features sunshine giving way to increasing clouds and scattered showers at Saint Croix.
Temperatures are similar to this afternoon in the upper eighties to near 90, once in the east at 15 to 20 miles per hour. And at Saint Thomas and Saint John, we'll find sunshine early and then clouds increasing through the afternoon. Chance for a few scattered showers as well. Temperatures will reach the upper eighties to near 90. Winds again remain fairly strong at 15 to 20 miles per hour out of the east.
More sunshine as we go into the end of the workweek and into the weekend. That's the latest look at your short term forecast. I'm meteorologist Eric Weglarz. We are at the end of today's WTJX news feed. I'm Marcellina Ventura-Douglas. Join me every weekday at 5 p.m.. Be sure to download the WTJX app. And if you missed a part of our news, listen to it on demand wherever you get your podcasts.
We now return to All Things Considered.
