Caribbean Net News: Move to recall US Virgin Islands senators

ST CROIX, USVI: Voters on St Croix in the US Virgin Islands have initiated a petition to recall three senators who voted "yes" to a measure giving hefty pay raises to themselves, the governor and lieutenant governor. The petition also includes one senator who was absent from the vote.

The increases boost the governor's salary $70,000 from $80,000 to $150,000 per year. The lieutenant governor's salary increases $50,000 from $75,000 to $125,000 a year. Senators' salaries are now tied to the lowest paid commissioner, taking them from $65,000 to $85,000 a year.

Recall petitions are being circulated around the island and are available at several business locations. Organizers say much of the electorate is incensed that the officials would grant themselves a raise when there are many community improvement projects that have not been funded and the island's infrastructure is suffering due to lack of funds. However, the number of signatures to force a recall may be a daunting task for the organizers.

Former Governor Charles Turnbull signed the raises into law in his last official act after serving two terms or eight years as the territory's chief executive. Newly inaugurated Gov. John deJongh, who took his oath of office January 1, will be the recipient of the new increase; however a section in the newly signed law reportedly provides three months retroactive pay at the new salary level for the outgoing governor and his second in command. VI governors are limited to serve two consecutive terms. The Senate raises will take effect when the new Legislature is sworn in Monday, January 8.

The raises were passed in a special Legislative session called by Turnbull on December 28. Voting yes was Senate President Lorraine Berry, Senators Roosevelt David, Pedro "Pete" Encarnacion, Juan Figueroa-Serville, Louis Hill, Norman Baptiste and Senate vice president Ronald Russell.

Senators Liston Davis, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Shawn Michael-Malone, Terrence "Positive" Nelson, Usie Richards and Celestino White voted against the bill. Two senators -- Craig Barshinger and Neville James -- were absent from the session.

Organizers say because the special session was called "at the eleventh hour" by Turnbull when Sen. Barshinger was off island visiting family and unable to get back to the territory in time for the session � he has a reprieve. However, they have opted to include Sen. James, whose absence they characterize as "unexcused," because he was on St Croix while the session was taking place in St Thomas. Sen. James subsequently issued a press release stating that his absence was a protest against the raises and that senators "should have walked off the floor" to prevent the vote from passing.

Under VI law, half the number of people who voted in the last election, plus one, need to sign the petitions to make them valid. The Elections Board then certifies the signatures, giving the Senate 60 days to decide whether to hold a recall election.

In the 2006 General Elections, 17,382 persons cast votes on St Croix. This figure does not represent the voters who cast votes on St Thomas because the recall is presently concentrated on the island of St Croix. Therefore only half of that island's electorate is needed to sign the petition. 18,068 persons voted on St Thomas, for a total vote in the Territory of 35,450 votes.

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