Thursday, June 1, 2006

by Susan Mann
Caribbean Net News St John Correspondent
Email: susan@caribbeannetnews.com

ST JOHN, USVI: US Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress, Donna Christensen, announced Wednesday that the Virgin Islands will receive $2.7 million in Homeland Security funding under three of its major programs.

The Department announced that the territory will receive $1,560,000 from the State Homeland Security Program, which provides assistance to states and territories to prevent, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism.

The US territory will also receive $1,130,000 from the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, which supports prevention activities such as information sharing, target hardening, threat recognition, interoperable communications and interdiction efforts.

In addition, the territory will receive $57,177 from the Citizens Corps Program, which promotes citizen preparedness and engages citizens in all-hazards prevention, protection, response and recovery.

Delegate Christensen said in a written statement," I am pleased that the Virgin Islands continues to successfully apply for and receive Homeland Security funding so that as part of the American family, we can be prepared in the event of a terrorist attack."

She further pledged to continue to work to ensure that the US territory gets its fair share of funding.

Christensen's request for additional Homeland Security funding was met with skepticism in recent months by her congressional colleagues. However, the Delegate was quick to clarify the territory's need for strategic planning to address potential terrorist attacks in the USVI.

Area(s) of particular concern were; the territory's oil refinery, the Charlotte Amalie harbour, and certain fiber optic links. The USVI has implemented numerous readiness procedures to address international terrorism on all fronts.

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