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4
1963 ANNUAL REPORT
THE GOVERNOR OF THE
Virgin Islands
To the
Secretary
of the
Interior
for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30
THE GOVERNOR OF THE
Virgin Islands
To
the
Secretary
of the
Interior
for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30
-Annual Report
1963
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing OflBce
Washington, D.C., 20402
- Price 40 cents
stach-
Contents
Page
General Information
1
Highlights of the Year
8
Legislation
1"
Ofl&ce of the Government Secretary
17
Department of Education
23
College of the Virgin Islands
31
Department of Health
33
Department of Social Welfare
45
Department of Commerce
53
Department of Agricnlture and Labor
61
Virgin Islands Employment Security Agency
65
Department of Public Works
67
Department of Finance
71
Office of the Director of- the Budget
78
Department of Housing and Community Kenewal
84
Department of Property and .Procurement
92
Department of Law
94
Department of Public Safety
95
Municipal Courts
101
Office of the Probation Officer
104
Planning Board
106
Division of Personnel
107
Human Relations Commission
109
Traffic Advisory and Safety Committee
110
Public Utilities Commission
HI
Selective Service
112
Conclusion
114
in
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2009 with funding from
Boston Library Consortium IVIember Libraries
http://www.archive.org/details/annualreportofgo1963virg
1963 Annual Report
of the
GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Ralph M. Paiewonsky, Governor
General information
Geography
A part of the curving Antilles chain separating the Caribbean Sea
from the Atlantic Ocean, the Virgin Islands of the United States are
located about 40 miles east of Puerto Rico and some 1,400 miles south-
east of New York City.
More than 50 islands and cays of volcanic origin are included in
this West Indian territory, but only 3 presently are of any population
or commercial
significance.
The largest of these,
St. Croix, has 84
square miles of land, much of it flat and suitable for agricultural use.
Forty miles to the north of St. Croix lie the islands of St. Thomas and
St. Jolm which rise from the same submarine plateau.
St. Thomas,
with 28 square miles, and St. John, with 20 square miles, are rugged
mountainous islands with peaks reaching a maximum height of 1,500
feet above sea
level.
Between these two islands and St.
Croix, the
Caribbean Sea deepens to 15,000 feet.
The steeply sloping mountain sides on
St. Thomas and
St. John
drop abruptly to the sea, leaving very
little tillable land.
On
St.
Croix, sugarcane still is thermain crop, though of diminishing economic
feasibility.
However, farming with machine cultivation
is making
food crops an attractive new enterprise for both
local and export
markets.
The limited agricultural resources of St. Thomas are compensated
in large degree by the harbor.
Once an important shipping center,
Charlotte Amalie now has become one of the world's most popular
ports of call for cruise ships.
.The beautiful Virgin Islands National Park is the principal attrac-
tion on St. John.
Here, the fabulous beaches and rugged mountain
2
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
scenery give this small, thinly populated island a special charm all
its own.
The semiarid tropical climate of the islands, with a temperature
average of about 80 degrees, varies little between summer and winter.
The heat of the tropical sun
is tempered by the trade winds, and
temperatures range from a low of 69 degrees in winter to a high of 91
degrees in the summer.
The tropical flora includes hibiscus, bougainvillea, flamboyant, ole-
ander, poinsettia, African tulip, frangi pani, lignum vitae, and a host
of other beautiful flowering trees and shrubs.
Sea grape, mahoe, and
mangrove line many of the shores, and the royal and coco palms find
a
naturally good environment.
Native
fruit
trees
include mango,
soursop, lime, guava, sugar apple, avocado, papaya, genep, and mam-
mee apple.
Stone, sand, and gravel provide local building materials, but there
are no minerals of commercial significance.
Fish
is an important ingredient in the native diet, but there is no
large commercial fishing industry.
Grame
fishing
is a growing and
exciting sport, with sailfish, tarpon, marlin, king fish, wahoo, Spanish
mackerel, and tuna among the catches.
History
The trade winds which blow down from southwestern Europe and
Madeira brought Christopher Columbus to Santa Cruz, now known
as St. Croix, on his second voyage to the Western Hemisphere in 1493.
There, he sailed into the estuary of Salt River in search of fresh water.
Columbus also sighted St. Thomas, St. John, and the British Virgin
Islands which he named "Las Virgenes" in lionor of St. Ursula and
the 11,000 virgins.
The warlike Carib Indians occupied the Virgin Islands at the time
of Columbus' discovery, and their hostility defeated colonization until
about
1555, when they w^ere driven off the islands by the forces of
King Charles V of Spain.
During the I7th century, France, England, Spain, Holland, and
Denmark jockeyed for control of various islands in the West Indies.
Sugar was the prize.
The importance of this product at that time is
indicated by the fact that Great Britain seriously considered whether
to keep Canada or the French Island of Guadeloupe in the negotia-
tions that ended the Seven Years' War in 1763.
In 1671 Denmark chartered its West India Co. and began colonizing
St. Thomas and St. John.
St. Croix was bought from France in 1733
and remained under Danish control, except for a brief English occu-
pation during the Napoleonic Wars, until 1917.
^ REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
3
Under Denmark's liberal trading laws and
policy of neutrality,
the Virgin Islands flourished.
Charlotte Amalie became a famous
Caribbean port and prospered in a booming trade with the New Eng-
land States.
Sugarcane plantations and windmills for grinding cane
dotted all tliree Danish islands.
It
is said that pirates, among them the notorious Captain Kidd,
were given sanctuary and commercial privileges in return for sparing
the islands from their depredations.
As a collateral to the sugar industry, slavery was introduced in the
1680's.
Twice the slaves revolted.
Once, after a bloody mutiny on
St. John, they held that island
for 6 months,
until French forces
were sent from Martinique to aid the Danes.
Tradition says that the
slaves ended their bondage by mass suicide, either by jumping from a
cliflf or shooting themselves on the rugged north shore of the island.
Slavery was abolished in 1848, and the commercial importance of
the Virgin Islands diminished, as sugarcane became more and more
a marginal crop compared with more competitive conditions in Cuba
and elsewhere.
The United States first became interested in acquiring the Danish
Virgin Islands during the American Civil War. A purchase agree-
ment was negotiated, but the Senate refused to ratify it in 1870.
To
forestall German seizure and make available the St. Thomas harbor
as a base for the U.S. Navy during World War
I, a treaty for pur-
chase of the islands for $25 million was agreed upon in 1916 and
ratified the following year.
The United States assumed control of the
Danish West Indies on March 31, 1917.
Government
The Danish system of government and legal code was continued
from 1917 to 1931.
Militaiy, civil, and judicial power all were vested
in the Governor appointed by the President.
The islands were under
the administration of the U.S. Navy, and all Governors appointed
were naval officers.
When
the United States purchased
tlie islands, natives who were
not citizens or subjects of other comitries were given the status of
"inhabitants of the Virgin Islands entitled to the protection of the
United States."
Then, on February 25, 1927, full American citizen-
ship was granted them.
An Executive order of the President transferred jurisdiction over
the Virgin Islands from the Navy to the Department of the Interior
on February 27, 1931.
The first civilian Governor was appointed at
that
time.
4
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
On July 22, 1954, the Congress enaxited the Revised Organic Act,
under which the Virgin Islands now are governed.
Distinct execu-
tive, legislative, and judicial branches were designated.
Executive authority is exercised, under supervision of the Secretary
of the Interior, by the Governor who
is appointed by the President
with advice and consent of the Senate.
The Governor's responsibili-
ties include execution of all local laws, supervision and control of all
activities of the executive branch, appointment of officers and em-
ployees,
including the commissioners of the executive departments.
The seat of government
is Charlotte Amalie,
St. Thomas, and the
Governor is represented by administrative assistants in St. Croix and
St.
John.
The Virgin Islands have a one-house legislature, composed of 11
senators, 2 each from St. Thomas and St. Croix, 1 from St. John, and
6 elected at large.
Every bill passed by the legislature must be signed
by the Governor before
it becomes law.
If the Governor's veto of a
bill
is overridden by a two-thirds vote of the senators, he then must
either approve the bill or submit
it to the President for final action.
Judicial power is vested in Virgin Islands municipal courts and in
a Federal district court.
The latter has certain local jurisdiction as
well as authority
in cases arising under Federal law.
The district
judge and district attorney are appointed by the President.
Finances and Taxes
The government of the Virgin
Islands derives
its revenues from
local taxes and Federal
excise taxes on goods manufactured in the
islands and shipped to the United States.
About one-third of the total revenues come from income taxes under
an act of Congi-ess which provided that the Federal income tax sched-
ules be applied as a local income tax in the
islands.
Another third
comes from other local taxes such as property, gross receipts, trade
and excise taxes, customs dues and license fees.
Excise taxes collected
in the United States on Virgin Islands products and returned to the
local government as matching funds account for the remaining third.
Combined local revenues and matching funds provided an operat-
ing and capital budget of over $20 million in fiscal 1963, as compared
with $17,400,000 in fiscal 1962.
In addition, the Virgin Islands participate in federally supported
programs such as public housing, urban renewal, and various health
and educational projects on much the same basis as the States.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
5
Virgin
islands
Corporation
The Virgin Islands Corporation
is wholly owned by the Federal
Government.
It is the instrument through which a number of func-
tions
necessary
to
the
islands
are
managed.
VICORP's
major
activities are the growing of sugarcane, operation
of a raw sugar
mill, generation and distribution of electric power, land management
and conversion of salt water to fresh in St. Thomas.
The objective of VICORP management is to make the Corporation
self-sustaining.
Previously, the Federal Government underwrote the
losses.
However, losses now are made up from the local government's
matching funds.
Since the main contributor to such losses has con-
sistently been the sugarcane operations in
St. Croix,
it
is planned
to phase out this activity over a period of several years in favor of
more economically sound operations.
In addition to public utilities and sugar production, VICORP has
authority over several former military
installations
in
St. Thomas
which include the airport, several docks, hotels, factories and housing
units, as well as the golf course.
Next to the government, VICORP
is the largest employer in the
islands.
During the peak period
in
fiscal
1963,
1,187 persons were
working for the Corporation, including 550 British West Indian cane
harvesters.
Economic Development
Tourism,
agriculture, and small manufacturing concerns are the
main commercial factors in the economy.
Tourism has replaced rum production as the largest industry and
now generates income for the islands of more than $40 million per
year.
Agriculture still consists largely of growing sugarcane for the
milling
of raw
sugar.
However, programs
for food
crops,
dairy,
and meat
production
are being
developed.
For many
years, raw
sugar, rum,
jewelry, and
metal
parts
accounted
for most
of
the
shipments out of the islands, but in 1962, watches, watch movements,
and woolen fabrics took the lead in commodities exported to the U.S.
mainland.
The government has taken vigorous steps to attract stable, small
manufacturing
industries which would
guarantee year-round
em-
ployment at higher wages in order to attain a higher standard of
living.
Also under way
is the building of an alumina plant in St.
Croix at a cost of $25 million, which will employ about 400 workers
on a permanent basis when in full capacity operation.
6
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Over 10 years ago, the local government inaugurated an industrial
development program through the use of tax
incentives.
The en-
abling act for this program was revised in November 1961, to further
attract and encourage private investment from the outside.
Under
this program, industrial concerns, hotels, guest houses, and housing
projects may be granted tax exemption up to 10 years and the return
of 75 percent of income taxes in the form of a subsidy.
Also, some
manufacturers
take
advantage
of
section
301
of
the
U.S.
Tariiff
Act which permits duty
free entry into the United States of items
made in the Virgin Islands that contain not more than 50 percent of
foreign raw material.
Population
The last official census of the Virgin Islands of the United States
was conducted as of April 1, 1960.
The report of that census showed
a
total population
for
all
three islands of 32,099.
The bureau of
vital
statistics now estimates the population as of the end of
fiscal
1963 at 35,000.
Of the total given in the 1960 census, 15,930 were male and 16,169
female; 18,017 were residents of urban communities and 14,082 were
rural;
8,892
were
enrolled
in
schools.
The
total
labor
force was
11,334, of which 7,363 were male and 3,971 female.
The percent of
the civilian labor force unemployed was 3.4 percent or a total of 383.
Of the 32,099 persons listed in the 1960 census, 14,973 resided on
St. Croix, 16,201 on St. Thomas, and 925 on St. John.
English
is
the
traditional language of the
islands.
The people
are religious and worship in churches which include Roman Catholic,
Episcopalian
(Anglican), Lutheran,
Methodist, Orthodox
Jewish,
Moravian, Seventh Day Adventist, Pilgrim Holiness, Christian Mis-
sion, Dutch Reformed, and Baptist.
Health and
Education
With per capita income the highest in the Caribbean, living con-
ditions are approaching mainland standards.
The climate eliminates
the need for home heating and heavy clothing, thus contributing to
good health.
Housing, which was the No. 1 problem a few years ago,
is steadily improving, with the building of both public and private
modern projects.
Modem hospitals or clinics provide medical and surgical services
to the three islands, and public health programs have been expanded
to take care of school and family requirements.
The
literacy
rate
is comparable
to that of
the mainland.
The
public school system goes from kindergarten through high school.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
7
Upgrading of instruction, curriculums, and physical facilities is being
expedited at all educational levels.
In fiscal 1963, the College of the
Virgin Islands opened
its doors to
its
first freshman class and now
offers the first local educational opportunity beyond the 12th grade.
Communications and
Transportation
A modern dial telephone system now serves all three islands, and
worldwide telegraph service
is available.
Radio and television sta-
tions provide popular programs, and there are several newspapers
serving the "islands.
Transportation to the Virgin Islands is mainly by airplane, except
for
cruise
ship
passengers.
In
the
islands,
cars,
buses, and
taxis
are driven on the left-hand side as in England.
Roads and streets are
being steadily improved.
Highlights of the Year
The fiscal year 1962-63 saw the Virgin Islands move ahead in local
application of the President's plans for economic, social, and cultural
progress.
A
significant record of achievement was made through
close cooperation of the Department of the Interior, the Congress, the
Virgin Islands Legislature and the local administration.
While the progress was gratifying, it must be understood that the
islands
still have a lot of catching up to do.
Problems continue to
bear a strong resemblance to those of emerging, underdeveloped areas
which too long have languished in the economy of bygone centuries.
In addition to the problems of catching up, the mixed blessing of
accelerated population growth requires a projection of needs and ad-
vance planning, if the islands are to continue their forward motion.
At year's end, the bureau of vital statistics estimated the resident pop-
ulation at 35,000.
From 1950 to 1962, the rate of live births had in-
creased by 16 percent and the death rate from all causes had decreased
by 25 percent.
Wlien this growth rate is projected, it is apparent that
the islands may have a resident population of 50,000 by 1970.
Add
to this the skyrocketing influx of tourists and alien workers, and the
requirements become formidable for government services.
Fortunately, the economic growth of the islands promises to keep
pace with the expanding needs.
Revenues to the local government
from all sources in fiscal 1963 totaled $12 million as compared with
$11 million in fiscal 1962.
Tax schedules were revised to increase re-
ceipts in future years, and steps were taken to strengthen collections.
Breakthrough
in
Housing and Community Renewal
On June 2, 1963, dedication of the Oswald E. Harris Court in St.
Thomas dramatized the strides being made in public housing.
This
provided new dwellings
for 300
families formerly housed
in
sub-
standard
structures.
By
year's end, more than 5,000 persons were
living in 1,094 modern housing units built by Federal and local public
funds.
Forthcoming occupation of the Ralph de Chabert project in
St. Croix will add another 264 units, and local government emergency
housing now under construction will contribute 88 more apartments
and houses in the next few months.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGEST ISLANDS
9
Stepped up response to housing needs was accomplished by two
important
organizational
steps
taken by
the
islands
government.
First, a department of housing and community renewal, with cabinet
rank, was established
at- the beginning of the year to coordinate all
housing programs and qualify the Virgin Islands for full participa-
tion
in
Federal
aid.
Second, the Virgin
Islands Urban Kenewal
.Board was set up and recognized by the Federal Government as the
local
agency
for
administering
federally
assisted
slum
clearance
projects.
With
establishment
of the urban renewal
board, comprehensive
plans
for demolishing the slums and relocating
their
residents
in
modern, sanitary housing were activated.
New College
of
the
Virgin
Islands
The sununer of 1963 will long be remembered for the founding of
the College of the Virgin Islands.
As the fiscal year ended, the col-
lege was preparing to open its doors to the first class.
Some 46 fresh-
men were expected to enroll as full-time resident students, and about
200 part-time students had indicated their intentions of taking courses.
Elementary and Secondary
Schools
In
the public elementary and secondary
schools, the pressure of
growing school population continued to cause a classroom shortage
which was
a-cute
in some
areas.
However, the teacher-pupil
ratio
was reduced
still further, and new classrooms either just completed
or under construction will alleviate the overcrowding in the very near
future.
Sitting in special session the last month of the fiscal year, the legis-
lature approved a new pay plan for teachers and other professional
personnel.
The new plan
will
provide
salary
increases averaging
$849 per person and should go a long way toward making teaching
jobs in the Virgin Islands more attractive to both local residents and
teachers who must be recruited on the mainland.
The department of education was completel}- reorganized and oper-
ated under this new organization plan for the first time in fiscal 1963.
Following visits from three off-island teams of educators, it is con-
fidently expected that two of the public high schools will be accredited
in the very near future.
Health
Conditions
Continue Good
There was an overall improvement in mortality statistics in fiscal
1963 with a new alltime low reported in the death rate, and correspond-
10
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGEST ISLANDS
ing record lows in infant, neonatal, maternal, and fetal deaths.
The
live birth rate increased to a new high of 38.8 per thousand, as com-
pared with 34.7 the previous year.
Aside from a short-lived epidemic of diarrhea among children, there
were no serious outbreaks of any kind.
Hospital and clinic facilities on all three islands were taxed by the
expanding case loads.
This was particularly true of the Knud Han-
sen Memorial Hospital in St. Thomas, where the census of general
surgical and medical cases ran 104 percent of capacity, forcing the use
of hallways and other service rooms as bedrooms.
Toward the end of
the year, however, funds became available for construction of separate
quarters for house physicans and other changes which will add 16 new
beds.
In St. Croix, transfer of the outpatient clinic from the main build-
ing of the Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital made way for exten-
sive remodeling which will greatly improve services.
Renovation and
remodeling of the Calabash Boom Clinic on St. John was commenced.
However, long-range solution of the problem of adequate
facilities
will only be achieved with the construction of new multimillion-dol-
lar health centers now being planned for St. Croix and St. Thomas.
Funds were provided for a survey of needs, planning and design of
these facilities, with construction expected to be started within 5 years.
Renovation and remodeling of the old hospital buildings
in
St.
Thomas made room for an expanding division of public health.
The
bureau of mental health was strengthened.
A full-scale attack was
launched on the growing problem of parasites, which school examina-
tions revealed
as affecting 40 percent of the children in the lower
grades.
Home care programs were augmented, and mosquito control
efforts were redoubled.
Additions to the roster of
specialists serving the department of
health included an internist, orthopedic surgeon, radiologist, surgeon,
obstetrician, pediatrician, anesthesiologist, and parasitologist, as well
as two psychologists, a physical therapist, and a health educator.
Public Works
Facilities
Highway and street improvements were made.
Water and sewage
disposal systems were
extended.
Garbage
collection was increased
fourfold.
Also, the department of public works made general im-
provements in its responsibilities for maintenance and housekeeping.
Harbor and
Airport Improvements
Transportation and tourism will
benefit by spectacular improve-
ments to the harbors of both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
11
At the year's end, the major part of the comprehensive improvement
project for Charlotte Amalie harbor was nearing completion.
When
completed, the project will add 119 additional acres of usable deep-
water harbor, approximately 50 acres of reclaimed land, and 3,300 feet
of bulkhead waterfront for use by commercial and pleasure craft.
At Christiansted, a new $1,107,000 dock will soon he ready for serv-
ice.
This dock is part of a long-range plan of waterfront improve-
ment which will include a new waterfront highway and access streets
to keep pace with the growing needs for traffic and cargo handling.
$41
Million
Tourist
Industry
Industrial development and commerce were at a record high in fiscal
1963, with tourism leading the way with a total of $41,000,070 brought
into the islands.
This is an increase of $5,925,000 over the previous
year.
Bank deposits also reached a new high of $51,700,000 and bank loans
shot up to a new record of $32,200,000.
It is estimated that 331,000 visitors came to the Virgin Islands, as
compared with 291,000 in
fiscal 1962.
One hundred and sixty-three
cruise ships visited St. Thomas, 32 more than the previous year.
In
St. Croix, four cruise ships visited the new deepwater pier at Frederik-
sted.
The department of commerce has made advance plans to
at-
tract as many as 40 cruise ships to this new facility in the coming
tourist season.
Eight new manufacturing industries were established in the islands
during fiscal 1963.
Exports in 1962 scored a phenomenal rise to a total
of 20,064,920, an increase of 119 percent over the previous year.
Tex-
tile products, watches and watch movements, and rum were the chief
exports.
Improved insular communications came with inauguration of the
new dial telephone system on all three islands.
Throughout the year, there were strong indications that the steady
commercial growth is only the beginning of a long-range development
which will see the economy of the islands increase to many times its
present size.
Food
Crops
Exported
to Mainland
Efforts were expanded during the
fiscal year
to provide a more
diversified and more profitable agricultural program, particularly on
St. Croix.
Following the successful growing and exporting of cucumbers to
a mainland
pickle manufacturer, the department
of agriculture
is
expanding production of food crops as a pilot project to interest island
12
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS
farmers in such activities.
Crops which can be grown and marketed
very
profitably
include
tomatoes,
peppers,
okra,
papayas,
and
avocados.
The dairy industry on
St. Croix now
is a flourishing enterprise,
and the department
is fostering the development of a modern, fully
inspected beef, mutton, and pork industry.
First
Inventory
of Government
Property
During the year, the department of property and procurement com-
pleted the first physical inventory of government-owned property ever
made.
This will be kept as a running inventory, and full account-
ability has been established for the components.
In addition to its purchasing and property functions, the department
began plans for establishing a new bureau of weights and measures
in the near future.
Housing
for Aged
Project
The department of social welfare commissioned a well-known Swed-
ish architect to draw up plans for a public housing facility for the aged
in
St. Thomas.
These plans were so advanced and the project so
experimental, that Federal authorities decided to undertake the de-
velopment as a model for other communities.
Other improvements in care
for the aged included an expanded
program for the Herbert Grigg Home in St. Croix and appropriation
of funds for an addition to the Queen Louise Home in St. Thomas.
Revenues
at
Ailtime High
Revenues increased about 8 percent to a new ailtime high of nearly
$12 million in
fiscal 1963.
To meet the ever-increasing cost of new
government services and the new pay plan, an increase in the local
gross receipts tax of from
1 percent to 2 percent was passed by the
legislature.
Steps were taken to reorganize the tax division of the
finance department to strengthen enforcement of tax laws and facili-
tate collections.
Lavy^ and
Public
Safety
The new department of law functioned effectively in drafting legis-
lation, preparing legal opinions, and representing the government in
court actions.
During the year, the attorney general and his assistants
represented the government in 5,000 matters in the municipal courts,
21 in the district court and 2 appeals before the Circuit Court of Ap-
peals for the Third Circuit.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
13
An
increased
crime
rate
necessitated
the
development
of new
methods and techniques of crime detection and police action.
Plans
were made to add several new police specialists to the department
early in the next fiscal year.
A training program was conducted in
conjunction with the Cincinnati (Ohio) Police Department.
New
Election Code
The
legislature passed a new
election code, establishing primary
elections, thus enabling the people
to vote directly
for candidates
running for the territorial committees.
This supplants the convention
system which was dominated by small political clubs.
The first elec-
tion to be held under the new code was scheduled for November 1, 1963.
While aspirations for self-government had a temporary setback in
the Congress, the local government continued strengthening its opera-
tions and training its officials for the time when greater autonomy will
be granted.
Congressional
Action
Supported
The Governor and his administration concentrated much effort on
preparing information needed by the Congress on several pieces of
Federal legislation affecting the Virgin Islands in major ways.
In order to meet projected needs for health, education and public
utility facilities, the local administration has sought from the Congress
a law which
will authorize the Virgin Islands Government to issue
bonds for financing such projects.
Also, an act which would enable
the Federal Government
to give
title
to the
local government for
certain submerged and reclaimed lands on the shores of the islands was
sought.
At year's end, favorable action on both of these bills was
expected.
Congressional tightening of customs restrictions on purchases by
American tourists abroad threatened to impair the growth of tourism,
the No.
1 industry of the Virgin Islands.
The local administration
petitioned the Congress for preferred treatment, and the islands were
granted the continuation of the special $200 exemption for 9 months
ending March 31, 1964.
This was a temporary measure taken to give
the islands government a chance to prepare a brief in support of its
position.
Such a brief was in process of preparation at year's end.
Industrial development of the islands was inhibited by proposed
legislation and rumors of other bills to be presented which might re-
duce the advantages offered certain new industries to induce them to
set up shop
in the Virgin Islands.
These bills concerned the pro-
visions of section 301 of the amended Tariff Act of 1930, which allowed
for products of the Virgin Islands to be imported to the U.S. mainland
721-848 O—64
2
14
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS
duty free, so long as a minimum of 50 percent of the cost of such
items was incurred by production expenses in the islands.
Some ques-
tion had been raised concerning possible abuses of section 301 and
possible detriment to the mainland woolen goods industry.
To pro-
tect against any such
abuses, the
legislature enacted
a law which
empowered the Governor to set quotas for various classifications of
woolen yard goods produced
in the Virgin Islands which would be
taxed at the rate of only 1 cent per yard.
This quota would be estab-
lished at a level which would eliminate possible abuse or excessive use
of the provisions of section 301.
Any yard-age above the quota would
be taxed at the rate of 65 cents per yard.
' To facilitate application of
this quota law, the Governor^ appointed a hearing, board to investigate
operations of the textile firms involved and recommended quotas.
At
year's end, substantial progress had been made in ironing out the prob-
lems of continued application of section 301 in the economic develop-
ment of the islands.
Virgin
Islands
Corporation
The charter for the Virgin Islands Corporation expires in 1969 and,
in all probability, it will not be renewed.
The Congress repeatedly has shown
its unwillingness to provide
funds for underwriting
losses of unprofitable VICORP
activities.
Hence, these losses are now appropriated from funds that ordinarily
would accrue to the local government for use in other public services.
The local government is desirous of eliminating this burden and chan-
neling the money eaten up by these losses into much needed health,
education, and other critically needed facilities.
VICORP Sugar Operation
The operation of the sugar factory and collateral use of VICORP
land for cane production in
St. Croix has been a consistent money
loser.
The loss can be expected to cost the local government approx-
imately $400,000 a year, except under very unusual market years which
do not recur more than once in a decade or score of years.
During
fiscal 1963, VICORP sugar losses, which must be made up out of the
local funds for fiscal 1964, amounted to $480,000.
Federal authorities
have decided, and the local administration agrees that these costly
sugar operations must be phased out before the expiration of the
VICORP charter.
To this end, 1,700 acres of land now used for sugarcane had been
offered for sale by VICORP.
Two responsive bids were received.
The most attractive of the two was for transforming this acreage into
citrus groves and establishment of a frozen orange juice plant.
The
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
15
total investment would have been $20 million, wholly financed by pri-
vate capital.
This proposal was opposed by the sugar interests, even
though they did not see fit to bid for the land and continue its use for
growing sugarcane.
Study revealed that the subsidized profits of private cane growers
were concentrated in a
relatively few hands, and the local govern-
ment took the position that the VICORP sugar factory should be
offered
for
sale
so
that
the sugar operations
could continue
as a
completely private enterprise.
At year's end, steps for phasing out
the VICORP sugar
activity
still were under consideration by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Power and Water
Utilities
Although profitable, the operation of power-generating plants on
St. Croix and St. Thomas and the sea water distillation plant on St.
Thomas by VICORP have not been entirely satisfactory either to the
Corporation or to the local government.
Lack of an appropriation to provide the necessary capital to expand
the power-generating
facilities to meet the ever-increasing needs of
this fast-growing comjnunity has created a serious problem.
The Board of Directors of VICORP voted to sell the generating
facilities to the Virgin Islands Government.
These
facilities were
declared surplus and
it was recommended that
the}'^ be disposed of
through the General Services Administration to the local government.
Legislation
To keep abreast of the legislative needs of the islands, five sessions
of the legislature were held during
fiscal
1963.
In addition to the
regular session of the Fifth Legislature, from January 14 to March 14,
three special sessions of the Fourth Legislature and one of the Fifth
were required.
Cooperation between the executive and
legislative branches was
good and
resulted
in
a
record
of
progressive
legislation.
At the
special
session
called August
1,
1962,
10
bills were proposed and
approved.
These included five resolutions.
At the October 5, 1962,
special session, one bill was proposed and adopted.
At the Decem-
ber 4, 1962, special session, three bills, including two resolutions, were
proposed and approved.
During the regular session, beginning Jan-
uary 14, 1963, 154 bills were passed, including 30 resolutions.
Three
bills were withdrawn, 4 incorporated in other bills, 41 referred to com-
mittees for further study, and 1 bill adopted by the Boy Scouts sitting
as senators for a day had no legal effect.
There were 32 bills proposed at the June 17, 1963, special session.
Twenty-six were adopted, including two resolutions ; five were dropped
and one rejected.
Twenty-four of those passed were approved by the
Governor and the remaining two required no executive action.
16
Office of the Government Secretary
Personnel: Jfi
Operating appropriation: $297^89Jf.
The close of fiscal 1963 found all St. Thomas-based agencies of the
office of the government secretary housed in the administration build-
ing.
This was the culmination of a 2-year effort by the government
secretary.
It is now possible for persons to transact business involv-
ing the several agencies under the jurisdiction of this office without
having to commute among three or four different and widely separated
buildings as heretofore has been the case.
Administratively, control
of the many functions of the agencies of this office is greatly enhanced
The activities of the year included the important function of com-
piling and publishing all legal documents for the government of the
Virgin
Islands, including supplements to the Virgin Islands Code,
Virgin Islands Rules and Regulations, Virgin Islands Register, Virgin
Islands Session Laws, and Slip Laws of the Virgin Islands.
The following
table
reflects the number of
acts and
resolutions
which have been passed, approved and processed through this office
during the past 5 years
18
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
The need for amending the existing licensing laws has become appar-
ent with the ever- increasing number and variety of businesses being
attracted to these islands, many of which are not covered by existing
statute.
Recommendations designed to correct this situation are being
prepared for the Governor's consideration and possible presentation
to the next regular session of the legislature.
Act No. 923, Fifth Legislature, approved January 25, 1963, provides
that any person doing business in the Virgin Islands under any name
other than his own, and every copartnership or association of indi-
viduals, except corporations, doing business in the Virgin Islands,
resident or nonresident, shall fileMn the office of the government secre-
tary a certificate setting forth the -designation, najne or style under
which business
is to be conducted, the location of such business, a
brief description of the kind of business to be transacted under such
name, and the true and real name or names of the party or parties
conducting or intending to conduct same.
Steps were taken to imple-
ment the provisions of this newly enacted legislation.
As of the close
of the fiscal year, 172 trade names were registered and fees collected
for the filing of certificates of registration amounted to $860.
Articles of incorporation were filed by 197 new corporations during
fiscal 1963—24 foreign and 173 domestic—-as compared with 183 dur-
ing fiscal 1962. A total of 798 corporations now exist—682 domestic,
82 foreign, and
34 nonprofit.
Renewed and intensified efforts con-
tinue to weed out those corporations which are delinquent in the pay-
ment of franchise taxes or otherwise fail to meet their legal obliga-
tions.
As a result, 99 corporations were dissolved during fiscal 1963.
The following Comparative table reflects the increase in corporate
activity over the past 5 fiscal years.
Comparative table—
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
19
Trademark and patent activity showed a decline in the number of
registrations recorded.
The following is a comparative table for the
past 5 fiscal years.
20
REPORT
01 THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Title
18 of the Virgin
Islands Code, as amended, placed on the
government
secretary the responsibility for the general supervision
of the elections and the coordination of the activities of the boards
of elections.
The 1962 general elections saw 27 candidates competing
for 11 seats in the Virgin Islands Legislature.
Of a total of 12,301
voters registered in the Virgin Islands—6,129
in St. Croix; 5,819 in
St. Thomas; 353 in St. John—a total of 8,794 persons cast their vote
as compared with the 1960 general elections when
a
total of 7,659
persons cast their vote out of 10,678 registered voters.
Subsequently,
the Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands during its Januar\' 1963
regular session passed bill No. 1800 (Act 936), approved February 20,
1963, which repealed title 18 of the Virgin Islands Code concerning
elections and enacted a new title 18.
This bill provided, among other
things, for a supervisor of elections, thus removing from this office the
supervisory responsibilities over elections heretofore assigned.
The
following
is statistical information regarding voting since 1958, the
year the Virgin Islands Code was enacted.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR Of THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
21
of the year there were 49 applications pending the availability of
additional funds.
Board
of
Control
of Alcoholic Beverages
The board of control of alcoholic beverages prescribed and enforced
the regulations pertaining to the sale of distilled spirits.
U.S. excise
taxes on rum and other products contributed $7,761,935 in revenues to
the Virgin Islands Government in 1963 on the 741,260 proof gallons
shipped in 1962.
Office
of the Tax Assessor
Real property assessments and taxes have shown a remarkable in-
crease between
the
years
1958 and
1962.
The
following
detailed
charts
reflect the
effect of the implementation of the real property
assessment program.
Assessments and taxes, 1958-62
Island
22
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
, Total assessments and taxes—St, Thomas, St. Croix, and
St.. John, 1958-62
Department of Education
Personnel:
61^9
Operating appropriation: $S^151i,^28
Under the guidance of a completely reorganized department, educa-
tion made significant progress during the fiscal year of 1962-63.
The board of
education adopted a statement of philosophy and
objectives which set down broad guidelines for the department.
This
strategic statement affirmed that "the American system of free and
universal education
is the greatest safeguard of the freedom of the
people
and
is
the
best
guarantee
of
their
social
and
economic
well-being."
It recognized the rapid changes and the need for adaptation facing
the islands, affirmed the fact that the community is committed by choice
to the United States, and committed the school system to a large scale
effort to conform its standards to those of the best educational systems
on the mainland.
The teacher-pupil ratio was reduced substantially to a systemwide
average of about 1 to 36.
Although the classroom shortage continued,
the problem was greatly alleviated by new construction and remodel-
ing on
all three islands, and plans were laid for furtlier substantial
additions to the school plants in the next fiscal year.
The quality of both instruction and curriculum were upgraded and
collateral programs were expanded to provide the youth of the Virgin
Islands with extracurricular
activities comparable with progressive
mainland communities.
As a result of progress made and plans for the future, it is confidently
expected
that two
of the Virgin
Islands public high schools
will
receive accreditation in the very near future.
Nonschool
activities of the department also were enlarged to pro-
vide better public library service, expanded adult education oppor-
tunities, and improved vocational rehabilitation services.
Enrollment
The number of pupils in the public schools increased from 7,624 in
fiscal 1962 to 8,201 in fiscal 1963, a rise of 7.57 percent.
It is estimated
that there will be an increase of 35 percent by fiscal 1968.
The break-
down of enrollment from June 1959-63 is as follows
23
24
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
A seagoins schoolbus carries some 50 hish school pupils and teachers from
St. John to
St. Thomas.
Above, some of the boys are seen on the foredeck enjoying
their daily
cruise across waters once sailed by
Sir Francis Drake on
his
historic expedition against
Puerto
Rico.
In St. Croix, bids were invited for eight classrooms to be added to
existing schools.
Plans were nearing completion for an eight-class-
room elementary school to be built at Grove Place.
Under construc-
tion by year's end were one shop each and one gymnasium each at
Claude O. Markoe School
in Frederiksted and Christiansted High
School.
In St. John, a second floor of four classrooms was added to Sprauve
School.
At the close of the year, contracts were awarded for 10 general
purpose classrooms, a gymnasium, and a music suite consisting of a
band room and a choral room at Charlotte Amalie High School.
Curriculum and
Instruction
With reorganization of the department, a division of curriculum
and
instruction was
established.
For
the
first
time,
instructional
programs were placed under the supervision of specialized bureaus of
elementary education, secondary education, pupil personnel services,
school library and instructional materials services, and research.
Competent professional staff was employed to direct the activities
of the new division and its component bureaus to coordinate curricu-
26
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
lum development,, step up the inservice training program, and improve
administrative and supervisory activities.
New textbooks were
. selected and purchased.
Report cards were
revised.
Promotion
policies
were
modernized. A
social
studies
framework was created
for grades from kindergarten through the
senior year of high school.
A modern mathematics program was
initiated. A Spanish program for fifth and sixth grades was planned
for the coming year, as was a pilot program for the mentally retarded.
An elementary course of study was drafted.
Fine arts programs were
expanded in
all high schools.
A central audiovisual service was in-
augurated.
Counseling and testing programs were
intensified, and
secondary school curriculums were expanded and improved by master
scheduling.
At the request of the history committee of the department, a project
was instituted to write a textbook to be used in teaching history of the
Virgin Islands.
The text was completed and published.
Survey
of
Public
Education
New York University agreed to conduct a survey for evaluation and
analysis of every aspect of education in the Virgin Islands and
to
make recommendations for future growth and development.
Following close on the heels of a 2 year "cra,sh program"' of educa-
tional improvement, this survey is expected to be of tremendous value
for advanced planning.
A report of findings and recommendations
is expected by December 1, 1963.
Accreditation
of Secondary
Schools
A program
to
achieve
accreditation
for
the
islands'
secondary
schools was launched in fiscal 1962 and continued during the past year.
After a year and a half of local preparation and self-evaluation,
three teams of off-island educators came to the Virgin Islands to eval-
uate the secondary schools in March 1963.
Subsequently, they reported
their
findings
to the Secondary Commission
of the Middle States
Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges.
The evaluation reports commended the progress of the schools in
many areas and made recommendations for improvement.
As prog-
ress continues. Virgin Islanders may look forward to accreditation of
two of their high schools in the very near future.
Unification
of School System
Geographical and other differences in the makeup of the three U.S.
Virgin Islands have fostered a historical separation of their schools.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
27
To overcome this and coordinate the programs of all the schools, a
comprehensive program of insular communication was inaugurated.
As part of this program, teachers, supervisors, principals, and other
administrators traveled between islands regularly to meet and discuss
systemwide problems.
Special projects such as report card revision,
textbook selection, and review of promotional policies were mutually
agreed upon through study by interisland committees.
Auxiliary
Services
The school lunch prpgram, wliich provided free lunches to some
7,000 pupils daily, continued to be one of the most successful auxiliary
services.
This program assures that every Virgin Island boy or girl
of school age can obtain at least one healthy, nutritions meal each day.
The school lunch program operates with a staff of 110 people on a
budget of $364,827.
To improve the service, two summer workshops were held for the
employees during the year, and principals were placed in charge of
the lunch program in their respective schools.
From September 1962 through May 1963 a total of 1,043,837 meals
were served at a cost of $273,630.69.
During fiscal 1963, transportation was provided to a daily average
of 1,522 pupils on all three islands.
The department does not operate
its own schoolbus system, but pays commercial bus companies on a
contract basis for the service.
For the past fiscal year, this service
cost
$101,226.
As the demand
for expanded schoolbus service
in-
creases, the department is studying the desirability of a department-
operated system.
It is estimated that such a system would reduce the
cost
of
pupil
transportation by
one-third
after
the
initial
cost of
equipment has been met.
Sports and
Recreation
Sports and recreation both within and outside the school system
received new impetus from the appointment of a sports promoter in
the department.
The first track meets held in the islands for many
years were
received
with
enthusiasm.
Promotion
of
other major
sports, involving many more participating athletes, kindled new com-
munity interest and revitalized organized athletics.
The return of a
highly qualified Virgin Islander to the post of recreation chief toward
the
close of the year
is expected to give a new
lift to sports and
recreation on all three islands.
28
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Vocational
Education and
Out-of-School
Training
A prog:i',am of vocational training in each of the tliree high schools
met with increasing popularity with the students, as did adult classes.
The year saw the largest number of vocational graduates since voca-
tional education was introduced into the islands.
It was significant
that three of the top six students in the graduating classes were voca-
tional students, and several others walked away with other honors.
The
first inschool training. in hotel service was started during the
year, and retail sales courses were reintroduced.
Both these programs
went very well and are expected to provide a more efficient pool of
talent for the Virgin Islands tourist itidustry.
The boys
in
the
vocational program
at Charlotte Amalie High
School completed a two-bedroom cottage which was begun as a part of
classwork 2 years ago.
This cottage will be used as a home economics
laboratory
as
part
of
the
training
facilities
for
the community's
future homemakers.
In cooperation with the Virgin Islands Employment Service, proj-
ects were planned for programs to be initiated under the manpower
development and training act.
Pilot projects were designed for St.
Thomas.
Courses progressing satisfactorily are for training of nurse-
aid-ambulance-attendant
and
clerk-typist.
Classes
meet
Monday
through Friday, 4 hours per night for a stipulated maximum number
of hours.
Upon completion of the programs, each student
will be
given a certificate and be referred to the employment service for job
placement.
Vocational
Rehabilitation
Financed jointly by Federal and local funds, the bureau of voca-
tional rehabilitation offers services to physically handicapped adults.
During
fiscal
1963,
there were
121
cases
in referred
status.
Of
these, 29 were accepted for service, leaving a total of 92 still in referred
status.
Of an active case load of 82, 32 were closed as rehabilitated.
They were placed
in
jobs
suitable
to
their
interests and
abilities.
One case was
closed before rehabilitation could be completed.
Of
the 49 cases in active status, 10 were ready for employment and 4 were
working.
The sheltered workshop in St. Croix continued successful work with
the severely disabled and aged.
Fifteen clients are working in the
shop, and the demand for items they make far exceeds the supply.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
29
Public
Libraries
Three public libraries are administered by the department of educa-
tion through its bureau of libraries.
During fiscal 1963, they served
more visitors and circulated more books than in any previous year.
The number of calls by adults increased from 6,250 to 7,000, and
visits by
juveniles
rose from
13,500
to
15,000.
Total
circulation
increased from 41,563 to 85,345.
Business and
Auxiliary
Services
The division of business and auxiliary
services provided logistic
support for the educational programs
of the department.
Though
limited by personnel problems, this division carried on
its work in
four major areas:
(1) business and accounting section, (2) property
and procurement section, (3) school lunch program, and (4) auxiliary
services, maintenance, and transportation.
Budget
The
department of education enjoyed the most adequate budget
it has ever had
in
fiscal
1963.
The
total
available for operations
amounted
to $3,478,299.13.
The breakdown of local and Federal contributions for operations
follows
A. Virgin Islands
apjyrojrriation—Fiscal year 1962S3:
Division
Appropriation
Administration
$266, 600. 00
Educational programs
2, 5T4, 881. 00
Community programs
Public recreation
194, 333. 00
Public
libraries and museums
99,764.00
Vocational
rehabilitation
18, 750. 00
Total
3, 154, 328. 00
B. Federal inataliing funds and grants—1962-63:
Activity
Amount
National Defense Education Act (Titles III, VA, and X ) __
$59, 181. 62
Vocational
education
55, 406. 50
Rural
libraries
6,382.00
School
lunch
48,917.00
Special Federal grant
(874)
108,841.00
Vocational
rehabilitation
45, 243. 01
Total
323, 971. 13
721-848 O
- 64
-
3
30
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS
C. Toted fvmds available—1962-63 :
Virgin Islands
appropriated funds
$3, 154, 328. 00
Federal matching funds and grants
323, 971. 13
Total
-.
3, 478, 299. 13
5-year comparisons
1958-59
$1, 428, 860
1959-60
1,858,807
1960-61
2, 142,812
1961-62
2, 574, 418
1962-63
3, 154, 328
College of the Virgin Islands
Following enabling legislation early in 1962, the board of trustees
took office in August of that year and, in September, appointed the
institution's firet president.
The fiscal year 1962-63 was a period of organization, culminating at
year's end
in a fully staffed institution, ready
to open
its doors to
the first class.
The new president arrived in St. Thomas in January
1963, and took over the job from an interim administrator who had
been doing the preliminary work of preparing the campus
site at
facilities formerly occupied by a U.S. Marine Air Detachment.
Faculty and other staff members were
recruited.
Two buildings
were renovated
to
serve
as classroom-administration
building and
provisional student center.
In
less than
6 months, the college ad-
ministration, with the help of various government and private agencies
and broad public support, was ready to receive the first class.
Indi-
cations were that there would be about 45
full-time freshmen and
some 200 part-time students for the first term.
Half the college's faculty holds Ph. D. degrees from leading uni-
versities.
The curriculum has been worked out on a basis that will
make
credits acceptable
to leading colleges
and
universities when
transfer
is made.
It
is expected that a number of the top mainland
institutions soon will grant such recognition.
Development Program
Beginning
Plans for the college's second year call for a full-time enrollment of
100, a faculty doubled in
size, an expanded evening program, and
the completion of a new dormitory and a library designed for 80,000
volumes.
The
third new building scheduled for erection
is a com-
munity cultural center, which will contain a variety of facilities for
instruction and performance in the arts.
From
its beginning, the board of trustees of the college has been
committed
to the idea of a college which will serve both the needs
of the Virgin Islands and appeal to students from abroad—particu-
larly
the
continental United
States,
other Caribbean
islands, and
Africa.
Through such anintercultural educational community,
it is
felt that the most productive climate for higher learning can be cre-
ated in the Virgin Islands.
31
32
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGEST ISLANDS
At present, the college offers 2-year transfer liberal arts programs
in science and mathematics, engineering, teacher education, social sci-
ence, and the humanities.
It also offers 2-year terminal occupational
programs in business management, accounting, hotel and resort opera-
tion, executive secretarial studies, electrical and electronics technology,
and construction technology
; nursing will be added next year.
The
college grants the associate in arts degree.
Four-year
Courses Soon To Be Offered
AVliile
believing
that
these
2-year
programs
will
provide
the
soundest basis for the college's establishment, the board is also plan-
ning to extend one or more of the curricula to 4-year status at an
early
date.
Because of the
critical need for better preparation of
teachers
in the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean, the program in
teacher education
is the first one to be considered for such advance-
ment, now projected for 1964-65.
Among the program goals of the college, two are especially worthy
of note.
The college plans to establish a Caribbean Affairs Institute
within the
college's
first year and expects
to appoint
its
director
shortly.
The institute would undertake sponsored research on Carib-
bean problems, coordinating its activities with related research under-
takings at the University of Puerto Rico and the University of the
West Indies.
Another
project scheduled for early development
is
an
international
training
center.
The
center might
devote
itself,
among other activities, to the training of staff and field administra-
tors for community development programs.
The first phase of this
development took place during January and February of 1963, when
the college played host to a large Peace Corps group preparing for a
school-building assignment in Gabon, West Africa.
The successful establishment of the first institution of higher learn-
ing in the Virgin Islands promises to enrich greatly the most im-
portant resource of the territory—its people.
Department of Health
Personnel: 586
Operating ap'pro'pridtion: $2^91^43
The state of health for the year was generally good, except for a
short-lived epidemic of diarrhea affecting about 130 children in St.
Thomas during February and March.
There were no other serious
outbreaks of any kind.
There was an overall improvement in mor-
tality statistics, with the death rate reaching a new low of nine per
thousand population.
The infant death rate was 29.1
; neonatal death
rate, 20.4; maternal death rate, 0; and fetal death rate, 35.6.
There
was an increase in live births from 1,194 in 1961 to 1,375 in 1962, rais-
ing the birth rate from 34.7 to 38.8 per thousand population.
Services
were expanded and
improved,
as new
additions
were
made to the
staff.
An
internist, orthopedic surgeon, and assistant
obstetrician were added in St. Thomas.
Toward the end of the year,
a radiologist, surgeon^ obstetrician, pediatrician, and anesthesiologist
were added
in
St.
Croix.
The house
staff on each island was
in-
creased.
In
public
health,
a
school
psychologist
and
a
regular
psychologist joined the bureau of mental health.
A
parasitologist
was added to strengthen the attack on parasitic infection.
The home
care program was augn>ented with the services of a physical therapist,
and a health educator was added to meet an urgent need in the field of
maternal child health and crippled children.
Increasing needs for
departmental
services were
felt
in almost every
facet of work, as
exemplified by an increase of
14.5 percent in surgical operations at
Knud Hansen Memorial Hospital in St. Thomas.
Significant improvements and extension in program were achieved.
The cancer detection program was
intensified.
Clinics were orga-
nized to mount a full-scale attack on parasitic infection.
The school
health examinations were completed. A team from Columbia Univer-
sity wound up its project for standardization of intelligence tests in
the Virgin Islands.
An inservice training program was conducted
in public health, and plans-were made for inservice training of sani-
tarians in July 1963 and July 1964.
Seminars in the care of pre-
mature infants were held by a staffsmember of the Cornell University
Medical School.
Nurses for maternal and child health and crippled
children's
services were
trained
at Teachers
College
of Columbia
University.
The operating room supervisor of the St. Thomas hos-
pital took a refresher course at Grace New Haven Medical Center.
33
34
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGEST ISLANDS
Hospital and clinical facilities were expanded and improved.
The
new laboratory was occupied at the Charles Harwood Memorial Hos-
pital in St. Croix, providing a significant improvement in that service.
Extensive remodeling at that hospital made space for a new pediatric
service, with attached play area, in the former outpatient area.
The
emergency room and X-ray division were completely renovated and
modernized.
By the close of the year work had been almost finished
on additions to cistern capacity, cold storage facilities, solarium, and
supply areas.
In
St. Thomas ground was broken for new quarters for the hos-
pital's house
physicians, and
installation
of
a new
high-pressure
boiler was begun.
Work was
also started on complete remodeling
and reassignment of third floor areas to provide extra beds for the
hospital's general surgical and medical patients.
Plans were
initiated and an appropriation was made for studies
leading to the design of modern new health facilities including a 200-
bed hospital in St, Thomas and a 200-bed hospital in St, Croix,
In
St, John, a complete renovation and remodeling of the Cala-
bash Boom Clinic was started, and final plans were made for new
nurses' quarters.
To improve public health facilities, the clinics at French Town and
Dorothea in St, Thomas and at Grove Place in St, Croix were thor-
oughly remodeled.
Also, on St, Thomas, additional remodeling of the
old hospital buildings provided more adequate space for such pro-
grams as nutrition, mental health, and parasitology.
Vital
Statistics
for 1962
Once again, a new live birth record was established.
The calendar
year of 1962 welcomed a total of 1,375 infants.
This was an increase
of 181 over the previous record of 1,194 in 1961.
The birth rate was
38.8 per 1,000 estimated population.
St, Thomas was the chief contrib-
utor to the population, with 776 live births as against 661 in 1961.
For
St. Croix, the total was 559, compared with 505 in 1961.
In St. John,
40 live births was the highest for that island since 1919 and a marked
increase over the 28 reported in 1961.
Twenty-four births to St. Jolm
mothers occurred in St. Thomas but were credited to St. John.
In St. Croix, 95.3 percent of all live births occurred in hospitals
; in
St, John, 97.5 percent; in St. Thomas, 99.4 percent.
The figure for
all three islands was 97,7 percent.
In
1962, the number of deaths decreased for the second straight
year.
There were 321 deaths for a rate of 9 per 1,000 estimated popu-
lation, the lowest on record for the Virgin Islands,
In
1961, there
were 326 deaths for a rate of 9,5,
In St, Croix, there were 155 deaths
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
35
for a rateof 9.&, a<decreaseirom.'1961 when there were 164 deaths and
R rate of 40.6.
: In St; John, there were 10 deaths in both years, with
a rate of 10.3 in 1962 as compared with 10»5 in 1961.
There were 156
deaths in St. Thomas, with a rate of 8.4.
This was a slight increase
over the 152 deaths in 1961, but the rate remained the same—8.4.
Of deaths in the Virgin Islands, 25 were nonresidents, 8 occurring in
St. Croix, and 17 in St. Thomas.
For the Islands, 45.8 percent of
all deaths were of persons 65 or
more years old.
The figures for St. Thomas and St. Croix were 41.6
percent and 51.6 percent respectively.
Age distribution by percentage of total and leading causes of death
follow
:^
Age distribution
Virgin Islands
Total
Percent
St. Croix
Total
Percent
St. Thomas and
St. John
Total
Percent
Total
Under
1 year
1 to 4 years.
5 to 14 years
15 to 24 years
25 to 44 years
45 to 64 years
65 to 74 years
75 years and over
Age unknown...
321
100.0
100.0
100.0
12.5
4.4
1.2
4.4
9.7
21.8
17.1
28.6
.3
9.0
4.5
6.4
8.4
19.4
19.4
32.3
.6
15.7
4.2
2.4
2.4
10.8
24.1
15.1
25.3
Leading causes of death—Virgin Islands
Number
36
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Number
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
37
Division
of
Hospitals and Medical
Services
St. Croix
The Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital in Christiansted and the
Ingeborg Nesbitt Clinic in Frederiksted handled a total of 2,549 admis-
sions resulting in 22,721 inpatient days.
The heavy workload long
evident in St. Thomas now exists in St. Croix.
However, an aggres-
sive effort was made to step up recruiting and budget for the employ-
ment of additional
staff, both professional and subprofessional.
At
year's end, arrangements had been completed for employment of a
radiologist,
surgeon,
obstetrician,
pediatrician, and
anesthesiologist
for the medical staff in St. Croix.
At this writing, final plans are being made for the addition of a 12-
bed unit to the clinic in Frederiksted and the erection of a combined
maintenance shop and motor pool facility to accommodate activities
now temporarily crowded into the ground floor of the Christiansted
hospital.
St. Thomas
The Knud-Hansen Memorial Hospital in St. Thomas admitted 3,455
patients during fiscal 1962-63, the largest number of admissions in any
year since
its opening
in
1953.
Outpatient
clinic
visits, including
both hospital and public health services, numbered 34,305.
Visits to
the emergency room reached an all time high of 9,271, while the emer-
gency nursing staff administered some 28,916 treatments on orders of
the full-time house physicians.
The medical records room handled
over 56,000 requests for patient records.
Plans for constructing a new surgical wing atop the hospital were
abandoned when
it became e^Hident that this would not satisfy equally
urgent needs for expansion and modernization of the auxiliary facil-
ities.
The medical- and surgical ward added four beds by taking over
the pediatric playroom.
To further alleviate pressing needs, plans
were drawn to construct a four-apartment building to house the house
physicians on the hospital grounds.
The long unused portion of the
tuberculosis ward will be transferred to general service use, adding
some 16 beds.
The hospital recorded 820 surgical operations, of which 387 were
classified as major.
The surgical
staff includes three full-time sur-
geons, one- ophthalmologist, and two surgical consultants.
The ortho-
pedic service was increased by the return of one doctor following train-
ing in orthopedic surgery on the mainland.
With his return, a weekly
orthopedic clinic on St. Croix was scheduled.
38
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGEST ISLANDS
There were 50,649 laboratory examinations,
all performed by one
supervisor, two technicians, and one assistant technician.
A quali-
fied Virgin Islander was appointed laboratory supervisor during the
year, and an additional medical technologist has been authorized.
Neuropsychiatric
Services
The neuropsychiatric unit of the Knud-Hansen Memorial Hospital
has had a thorough facelifting in
its facilities and as a consequence
has been
able to render improved
services along modern
patterns.
Improvements were made possible through cooperation and donations
by private individuals and the St. Thomas Mental Health Association.
Approximately 800 outpatient clinics were held.
For inpatients, regular occupational therapy has been introduced
by
employment
of
a
full-time
occupational
therapist.
The new
facilities and improved atmosphere of the recreational therapy unit
have led to more diversified activities.
St, John
Services on
St, John were expanded, with
6,100
visits recorded
at the two clinics.
House calls by the resident physician numbered
460.
The clinic at Calabash Boom is undergoing extensive renovation
to provide better facilities for that area.
The problem of obstetrical
service on St. John
is being temporarily alleviated by health educa-
tional measures and personal appeals to the mothers to have their
babies
in
the
St. Thomas
hospital.
The
St. John
clinics are not
staffed or equipped to provide 24-hour care of acceptable standards.
Transportation will be improved with the delivery of a new ambu-
lance in the fall of 1963.
Division
of
Public
Health
Services
Progress of public health services in any community depends upon
improvement in many related fields such as housing, education, sani-
tation, and citizen attitudes toward health.
Fiscal 1963 saw numerous
improvements in these related fields.
A program of cooperation w^ith the faculty of the Michigan Uni-
versity
School
of
Public Health was
carried on during the year.
Groups from the division of public health services which benefited
were health education, public health practice, nutrition, public health
nursing, environmental sanitation, business administration, and medi-
cal social services.
Recently, the community has been
afflicted by small outbreaks of
entero-pathogenic E.
coli
infection.
It has been noted that infants
and
children
suffer symptoms
of
this
infection,
whereas
infected
REPORT or THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
39
adults show
no symptoms
but
probably become
carriers.
Miajor
parasitic
disorders such
as
ascariasis and amoebiasis are being
at-
tacked with a new parasitic control program. A full-time parasitolo-
gist has been employed.
He works closely with clinic physicians and
public health nurses to combat parasitic disorders through the team
approach.
For
several
years,
health problems
affecting both the American
and British Virgin Islands have been discussed widely in the Inter-
Virgin
Islands
Conference.
At
the
last
meeting,
a subcommittee
was formed, consisting of members from the Department of Health
of St. Thomas and Tortola and administrative officers of both islands.
The committee reviewed the many basic problems involving immigra-
tion, immunization and emergency care of aliens.
Special study was
made
of
the
problem
created by
the
increasing number
of
alien
maternity cases attended at Knud-Hansen Memorial Hospital in St.
Thomas.
The public health services participated in a juvenile delinquency
conference in close cooperation with the youth council.
Several rec-
ommendations
were
presented
for
the
psychological
testing
and
evaluation
of
juveniles who show
tendencies toward
delinquency.
Psychiatric services have been
a regular part of this program.
Bureau
of
Health
Education
The bureau has continued
to stimulate interest in health matters
among citizen groups.
Areas stressed particularly during the fiscal
year
included
accident
prevention,
screening
for
cervical
cancer,
"clean-up" activities, dental health, heart disease, immunization, in-
testinal parasite control, and periodic physical examinations.
The bureau responded
to many
requests from
schools and other
agencies for films and literature, particularly on dental health, nutri-
tion, and venereal disease.
Addition of another health educator, now
assigned
to the maternal and child health and crippled
children's
program, will help develop more effective health education services
to the schools.
In
addition
to
radio,
television and
personal
presentations,
the
bureau has conducted film programs for the health department staff,
other governmental agencies, schools, and civic groups.
Public
Health
Nursing
An increased load has been placed on the public health nursing
staff by expanding programs such as the papanicolau screening pro-
gram
for cervical cancer control, the home care program and the
40
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
parasitology control program.
Population shifts in the islands have
necessitated
substantial
revision of nursing
districts.
The increase
in
field
clinic sessions
is making necessary further additions to the
nursing staff.
A closer working relationship was developed with health education,
mental health, medical social services, sanitation, social service, and
child welfare.
There has been marked improvement in referral of
patients among these services, resulting in better care and solution
of some mutual problems of long standing.
Bureau
of Mental
Health
One of the bureau's original goals was realized when standardi-
zation of psychological
tests for the Virgin Islands was completed
by a Columbia University team.
The test project known as VISIT
(Virgin Islands Standardization of Intelligence Tests) was a major
project of the year.
Another highlight was a cooperative program
with Cornell University dealing with patterns of child development
and personality structure of the Virgin Islands child.
In cooperation with the department of education, a mental health
program was initiated in the schools.
The bureau sponsored a series
of group development seminars for staff members from the depart-
ments of education and health, as part of the mental health inservice
training program.
Steps have been taken toward establishment of a diagnostic and
treatment center for the mentally
retarded. A census of retarded
children has been maintained by the bureau
for 4 years and case
finding continues as a regular function of the clinic team.
The
bureau
of mental
health
entered
into
a
contract
with
the
College of the Virgin Islands to conduct research.
One project will
be a longitudinal study of the
first class admitted to the college.
Bureau
of
Dental
Health
Increased services of the bureau were made possible by addition to
the staff of a dentist in Frederiksted, a dental assistant and a clerk-
stenographer in St. Thomas.
The clinic load shows a steady increase.
Administrative
visits
to
St. Croix and
St. John have helped to
coordinate programs in the three islands. A survey was conducted at
the Lockhart School, Lincoln School, Dober School, and Nisky School
to determine the effect of fluoridation on the dental health of children
who drank sodium-treated water.
A definite beneficial effect in caries
reduction rate was observed
in children who drank the fluoridated
water.
A similar fluoridation project is recommended for the Chris-
tiansted elementary schools.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
41
Bureau of Environmental Sanitation
Water supply, sewage disposal and substandard housing continued
to cause the most troublesome environmental health problems during
the 1962-63 fiscal year.
More modern housing, both public and pri-
vate, must be provided to facilitate slum clearance and eliminate the
antiquated night-soil removal system.
A minimum of nine samples of water are collected weekly from the
potable water systems of St. Thomas and St. Croix for testing.
Indi-
vidual
water
supplies
of
all
business
establishments,
schools, and
government buildings serving 50 or more people per day are batch
chlorinated once a week.
Samples for bacteriological analysis are
taken from these systems regularly.
Milk now produced in the Virgin Islands
is of good quality, with
a standard plate count of less than 3,000 and a coliform count ranging
from
to 3 per milliliter.
Pasteurized milk also
is imported from
dairies in Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas now
is receiving portions of
its supply from
St.
Croix.
Both milks are sanitary and of good
quality
as processed
in the plants.
However, refrigeration during
shipment remains a problem.
Two hundred and eight restaurants, taverns, bars, hotels, and other
eating and drinking establishments were routinely inspected
in St.
Thomas.
Twenty-two Avere inspected in St. John and 116 in St. Croix.
Addition of new "packer" type trucks resulted in extension of the
garbage and refuse collection service.
Maternal
Child Health and Crippled
Children's Services
The administrative staff of the division was expanded during the
fiscal year to provide offices in Christiansted and Frederiksted on St.
Croix and
also on
St. Jolm. A full-time health educator also was
added.
The
services
to premature infants were reviewed by a pediatric
consultant from Cornell University, who conducted seminars on "New-
born Care of Prematures" in St. Thomas and St. Croix.
A doctor-
nurse team was sent to the mainland to attend the Premature Institute
at Cornell.
Most of the buildings used from clinic purposes underwent exten-
sive repair and renovation, with new equipment added.
Service
in specialty clinics was increased.
Additional orthopedic
clinics were established in St. Croix.
Services of the orthopedist were
increased from
12
to
18
sessions.
The ophthalmology
clinic
in
St.
Croix was set up on a regular referral basis.
Referrals for services
not available in the Virgin Islands also increased over previous years.
42
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
School health examinations were conducted in selected ^ade tlirough-
out the islands, with foUowup services for defects found.
Information gathered at the biennial conference for maternal child
health nurses held in California will be helpful in the local program
which is expected to get underway soon.
The division staff also took
active roles in the conference held locally regarding this problem.
Division
of Veterinary Medicine
The control and eradication of animal diseases constitute the prime
responsibility of the division.
Operation of the abattoirs in St. Croix
and St. Thomas was transferred to the department of agriculture and
labor during the fiscal year.
A program of brucellosis testing in St. Croix was cx^mpleted, and
it
is expected that all three Virgin Islands now will be declared bru-
cellosis free.
At the moment, the State of New Hampshire is the only
area under the American flag to be so designated.
To keep the islands
free
of
this
disease,
the
following measures
were
taken:
careful
screening of imported cattle, ring tests on all milk samples quarterly,
collection of blood samples from abattoirs, and periodic blood testing
of
all
cattle.
The Federal Quarantine Division has assisted in the
inspection
of
animals imported from
the
British Virgin
Islands.
Numbers brought in during the year were 586 cattle and 1,440 goats
and swine.
The dairy industry in St. Croix has shown amazing development.
Production has exceeded 4,000 quarts a day.
Summary of vital statistics. Virgin Islands and each island: 1961 and 1962
[Birth and death rates per
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
43
Department of health statistical data for year ending .June SO, 1963
Charlotte
44
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Virgin Islands Department of Health—Comparative statistical data
KNUD-HANSEN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, ST. THOMAS
Number of admissions..
Patient days in hospital
Number of clinic visits..
Number of emergency room visits.
Major surgical cases
Minor surgical cases
Number of X-ray examinations. .
Laboratory examinations
Number of physicians
Number of graduate nurses
Number of practical nurses
Number of nurses' aides...
1958-59
2,978
39,564
28,372
4,441
271
410
1959-60
2,878
40, 631
19, 934
5.720
263
279
3,722
40,968
11
14
17
41
1960-61
3,078
33,081
20,703
7,616
274
347
4,339
42,800
10
28
17
34
1961-62
3,388
34,574
23,017
7,949
320
398
5,239
52, 108
12
26
26
34
1962-63
3,455
37,388
34,305
9,271
387
433
6,448
50, 649
17
34
29
35
CHARLES HARWOOD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, ST. CROIX
Number of admissions
Patient days in hospital
Number of clinic visits
Number of emergency room visits,
Major surgical cases
Minor surgical cases
Number of X-ray examinations
Laboratory examinations
Number of physicians
Number of graduate nurses.
Number of practical nurses...
Number of nurses' aides
2,069
21,556
19,366
277
198
2,146
31,575
7
22
1,976
17, 929
14,323
2,497
33,428
2,208
Department of Social Welfare
Personnel:
lJi.5
General
Operating appropriation: $ip98yJfi6
In the fiscal year 1963, the department made notable progress in its
Federal and insular activities.
There was an increase in scholarships
for
professional
social work
training.
Plans were completed
for
securing Federal public housing funds for constructing an aided Self-
Care Home for the Aged on St. Thomas.
A master plan was devel-
oped
for constructing cottages and improving the program of the
Insular Training School on
St. Croix.
The department was ably
assisted by
the board
of
social
welfare, and the aging and youth
commissions.
The local public assist-ance program, however, is still hampered by
the limitation of Federal participation to $330,000 and of this amount
$18,750 can be used only
for medical care to recipients of old-age
assistance.
Every effort should be made to have the Federal partici-
pation in the Virgin Islands program on the same basis as for the
States.
Public
Assistance
The outstanding achievement of the public assistance division has
been the implementation of the Social Security Amendments of 1962.
In accordance therewith
titles
I, IV, X, and XIV of the Virgin
Islands State Plan on Prescribed Social Services were amended and
approved to become effective July 1, 1963.
46
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Comparison of caseloads and expenditures
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
47
Total cost
of assistance program, including administration, 1959-63
Category
DAA..
ADC
AB..-.
AD....
MAA.
Total Federal category.
GA
Trust funds
Emergency and special aid.
Total local category..
Grand total
1959
$199, 824. 92
151,113.88
7, 637. 51
36, 684. 08
395, 260. 39
49,911.84
,586. 00
6, 482. 76
56, 980. 60
452, 240. 99
1960
$200, 763. 47
182, 509. 79
8, 005. 86
41, 357. 30
432, 636. 42
49, 092. 69
822.00
5, 777. 57
55, 692. 26
488, 328. 68
1961
$222, 690. 29
213, 981. 57
7, 941. 73
47, 308. 70
11,523.76
503, 446. 05
60, 047. 77
716.00
763. 06
61,526.83
564, 972. 88
1962
$265, 529. 05
256, 519. 50
8, 041. 52
47, 049. 87
44, 540. 86
621, 680. 80
76, 655. 70
1, 132. 75
19, 742. 53
97, 530. 98
719, 211. 78
1963
$258, 920. 32
262, 120. 81
7, 900. 20
44, 354. 38
46, 047. 07
619, 342. 78
89, 681. 51
1, 180. 75
6, 717. 55
97, 579. 81
716, 922. 59
Sharing of total cost of assistance program including administration
48
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Location of children receiving service June
30, 1963
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
49
Detention
Care
On St. Thomas, land was assigned for a youth care center.
Con-
struction plans will be completed early next year.
A similar facility
on St. Croix was included in the master plan for the training- schools.
Ten children received detention care in
St. Thomas.
The juvenile
center provided care for a total of 21 boys (St. Croix, 19
; St. Thomas,
2) with enrollment averaging 12 boys.
Other
Services
During the year, the division processed 7 (St. Croix, 2; St. Thomas,
5) adoption petitions for the courts and completed 6 (St. Croix, 2; St.
Thomas,
4)
agency
placements.
The
division
screened
125 needy
children (100 boys, 25 girls) for summer camp.
The number of day
care centers increased from 4 last year to 10 (St. Croix, 6
; St. Thomas,
3
; St. John, 1 )
.
An average of 72 children per month, as compared
with 47 per month last year, used this service.
The youth commission
sponsored a Governor's Conference on Juvenile Delinquency in May
and reactivated youth organizations on all three islands.
The child welfare program is summarized in the following tables*
Cost of child welfare
50
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Division of Institutions and Special Programs
Homes
for the Aged
St. Thomas.—The Queen Louise Home, capacity 24 beds, provides
custodial care for the aged and infirm.
At yearend, there were 20
persons in residence.
During the year, there were 11 admissions and
8 deaths and 1 person returned home.
A nurse-aide was added to the
staff and provisions made for better medical coverage.
The
Corneiro Home
is a
shelter-care home,
capacity
25
rooms.
During the year there were 5 admissions, 1 death, and 3 persons moved,
leaving a total of 28 residents at the end of the year.
Several rooms
were repaired during the year, but the buildings are still in poor con-
dition and in need of major repair.
St. Croix.—The Aldershville Home is a slielter-care home, capacity
25 rooms.
During the year there were 3 admissions, 1 death, 1 person
moved and 1 transferred to a custodial care home, leaving a total of
28 residents.
An overall improvement program was nearing comple-
tion at yearend.
The Herbert H. Grigg Home is a multifimction institution serving
as a home for the aged, a residential
facility, and a nursing home.
There were 33 admissions, 17 deaths, 3 discharges, leaving a total of
118
residents.
The morale of
residents was
vastly improved and
greater emphasis placed on restoration of function, rehabilitation, and
maintenance of a homelike atmosphere.
National recognition of our homes for the aged was accomplished
by membership in the American Association of Nursing Homes.
Special Programs
Cancer Care.—It was necessary to continue to send Virgin Islands
patients for care at the Puerto Rico Cancer League.
During the year,
five new cases in St. Croix and nine in St. Thomas were referred.
For
the
first time, the program was financed completely by government
funds.
Expenditures
amounted
to
$8,480.45
as
compared
with
$7,219.25 last year.
Services to the Mentally III.—A limited amount of casework service
is provided
for mental
patients hospitalized
in the Virgin Islands
while in institutional care and when being disc/harged.
The division
has full responsibility for planning and arranging the escort and re-
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
51
turn of mental patients from
St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington,
D.C., where 133 such patients are hospitalized.
Two patients were
returned from St. Elizabeths and were provided after-care casework
services.
Surplus Foods
Distribution Program
Approval was received during the year to extend distribution to
needy families who are ineligible for public assistance but who are
in poor economic circumstances.
Surplus commodities have been dis-
tributed
to public
assistance
clients, hospitals, homes for the aged,
baby clinics, and other institutions since the program's beginning in
July of
1961.
The
overall
caseload
increased from
1,374
families
representing
2,385
persons
to
1,422
families
respresenting
2,660
persons.
Federal surplus commodities received
Commodity
52
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Expenditures
The growth of the department of social welfare may be summarized
in the following chart which shows appropriations by the local legisla-
ture for social welfare over the past 5 years
Operating budget—Local appropriations
Office of the commissioner.
Bureau of business management
Division of public assistance
Division of cliild welfare
Division of institutions and special programs .
Herbert Qrigg Home
--.
Total.
1959
1960
$24, 400
40,000
214,800
118, 000
40,000
437, 200
$27,000
41, 628
254, 558
138, 275
70,600
532, 061
1961
$29, 977
45,614
308, 558
172, 487
91, 030
647, 666
1962
1963
$30, 032
67, 039
376, 781
199, 163
192, 142
$54, 286
79, 946
452, 600
215,349
121, 545
174, 770
1, 098, 496
Department of Commerce
Personnel: 79
Operating appropriation: $936^/79
Foreword
The economic growth and development of the Virgin Islands reached
new heights in fiscal 1963, as revealed by all statistical indicators.
The
administration's motivating force to stimulate and expand this record
growth is the department of commerce.
Principal divisions of the department are the visitors bureau, for-
merly the tourism division; the division of trade and industry, and
the marine and aviation services division.
The department also op-
erated the Virgin Islands News Bureau in fiscal 1963.
However, at
year's end, the functions served by this bureau were transferred to a
newly
authorized Virgin Islands Government News Bureau which
operates under the office of the Governor to coordinate all news and
public relations activities of the government.
The department of commerce maintains government information
centers at Rockefeller Center in New York City and in Old San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
Also, this department is responsible for advertising and
promotion of the Virgin Islands rums, and the commissioner is chair-
man of the Virgin Islands Rum Council.
The commissioner of commerce also serves as liaison officer to the
U.S. Travel
Service
in Washington and
as Administrator
for the
Virgin Islands of the Area Redevelopment Administration of the U.S.
Department of Commerce.
He
also
is chairman
of the Economic
Development Board of the Virgin Islands and a member of the stand-
ing committee of the Caribbean organization.
That the accelerated program for development is achieving excellent
results is revealed in the following record high statistics.
Tourism
Leads
in
Record
Economic Growth
Tourist expenditures reached an alltime high of $41,070,000 as com-
pared with $35,145,000 in
fiscal 1962 and $25,817,000 in
fiscal
1961.
The increase in tourist expenditures of $15,253,000 in the past 2 fiscal
years is more than the total tourist expenditures for the Virgin Islands
in any fiscal year up to and including fiscal 1957 and almost as much
as the total tourist expenditures in fiscal 1958.
53
54
• REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Per capita income hit a new peak for the Virgin Islands of approxi-
mately $1,200 in fiscal 1963—the highest in the Caribbean.
Total bank deposits in the Virgin Islands on January
1, 1961, were
$35 million and at June 30, 1963, were at an alltime high of $51,700,000,
an increase of $16,700,000, or almost 50 percent.
Even more impor-
tant, total bank loans in the Virgin Islands on January
1, 1961, were
$16,500,000 and at the close of fiscal 1963 were at an alltime peak of
$32,200,000, an increase of almost 100 percent.
Advertising and Promotion
The department's advertising program which had been initiated the
previous year continues in all media.
New markets were studied and
developed for greater effectiveness.
Tourist interests as well as sea
and
air carriers continued to place individual advertising in coop-
eration with that scheduled for the government which gave the over-
all program the value of greater scope and impact.
The department is cooperating in, and is hopeful that fiscal 1964 will
see, the establishment and operation of hotel inservice programs at
both the high school and college levels to train Virgin Islanders for
managerial positions in this industry.
New
Businesses Encouraged
The trade and industry division continued its work of offering advice
and assistance to new businesses Which were considered suitable for
location in the Virgin Islands. A total of 8 new industries were estab-
lished during the past fiscal year, making a total of 20 new industries
for the past 2 fiscal years—a record for any previous like time period
in Virgin Islands history.
New businesses established during this
last
fiscal
year
include watch assembly
plants, a
chemical
plant,
jewelry manufacture, manufacture of women's slacks, a knitting mill,
and a rice polishing plant.
Trade and Commerce
Rise
Imports into the U.S. Virgin Islands reached a new high of $61,803,-
509 in calendar 1962, and exports a new.high of $20,064,920, an increase
of 119 percent over calendar 1961.
It
is important to note that the
balances of payments
deficit
is not as serious as
it appears.
Retail
tourist establishments sold $22,270,000 in gifts, liquor, and fashions to
tourists, most of which were items imported into
the U.S. Virgin
Islands and do not appear in export statistics.
A new jet airstrip at the Alexander Hamilton Airport in St. Croix
has seen the inauguration of nonstop
jet service by Pan American
The
Virgin
Islands
has become
headquarters
for more and
more
charter
boats, and
sport fishing came into
its own
in
fiscal 1963 with fhe discovery of fabulous new fishing
grounds off St. John.
World Airways from New York.
It is expected that scheduled flights
will increase with the further development of the airstrip to nonre-
stricted jet length use.
Work commenced on dredging the St. Thomas Harbor which will
be completed in September 1963.
Work also commenced during the
fiscal year on the construction of new dock facilities at Christiansted,
St. Croix, and
it
is expected to be completed and turned over to this
department for operation in October 1963.
At the present time, there
is an increase of almost 2,000 percent
(215,000 air passengers in fiscal 1963, and 12,650 in fiscal 1950) since
fiscal 1950 in numbers of air passengers carried to the Virgin Islands.
Aside from cruise ships, which bring only day passengers, there are
no means of transportation other than air for a tourist who wishes
to visit the Virgin Islands for more than
1 day.
Visitors Bureau
The visitors bureau handled and supervised, in conjunction with
the New York, San Juan, and
St. Croix offices, the distribution and
56
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS
mailing of almost 500,000 pieces of assorted literature pertaining to
tourism.
During
the
past
year,
this bureau made approximately
105,000replies to the traveling public's inquiries.
Approximately
:22
important .groups
visited the Virgin Islands
during fiscal 1963 totaling approximately 2,500 persons.
During this
same period, a total of 163 cruise ships carrying a record 64,239 pas-
sengers
visited the Virgin Islands.
This compares with
131 ships
carrying 57,799 passengers during fiscal 1962. Two of the cruise ships
calling at
St. Thomas also visited Caneel Bay, St. John, during the
month of October 1962. A total of four ships visited the island of
St. Croix using the new
facilities at the Frederiksted pier.
These
ships carried a total of 1,864 passengers.
The following chart shows the tourist
statistics for the past 10
years
Fiscal years
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
57
news bureau
function
is a
vital
link with the
ever-increasing and
important tourism development program.
Rum
Council
Residents of the United States continued to purchase the Virgin
Islands rums at an increased
rate.
The rum council continued
its
national advertising and sales promotion program begun in fiscal 1962.
Rum
exported from
the Virgin Islands during
fiscal 1963 totaled
840,341 proof gallons, an increase of almost 13 percent over 1962.
6-Year Comparison
Proof gallons
1959
523,513
1960
618, 170
1961
720,758
1962
741,260
1963
840, 341
Excise tax payments on shipments to the United States during
fiscal 1960, 1961, and 1962 include approximately $1,070,000 of alco-
holic spirits other than rum.
Although the rum promotion budget
is inadequate by comparison
to competition from the rums of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands Rum
Council has set a goal of $8,500,000 for the return of internal revenue
taxes for rum shipped into the United States for fiscal 1964.
Marine and Aviation
Services
This division supervises and operates the government-owned docks,
wharves, and airports and has charge of registering and
licensing
small boats, both private and those for public hire.
The service at present consists of the harbor division, St. Thomas,
covering
all marine activities in the islands of
St. Tliomas and
St.
John; the harbor division, St. Croix, covering all marine activities in
the island of
St. Croix; and the Alexander Hamilton Airport,
St.
Croix, covering all aviation in the island of St. Croix.
Tlie airport in
St. Thomas has not yet been turned over to the operational manage-
ment and control of the marine and aviation services.
This property
which has been reported as excess by the Navy Department will be
acquired by the territorial government in the near future.
The dredging work
at Christiansted harbor has been completed.
The construction of the new dock
in Christiansted harbor has not
yet been completed, but it is anticipated that it will be ready for com-
missioning about October
of
this
year.
On June
2,
1963,
a
ship
collided with the pier at Frederiksted, doing extensive damage.
The"
damage is amply covered by insurance and it is expected that repair
work will soon start.
58
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Frederikstcd, with
its deepwater pier on
St.
Croix,
is rapidly coming
into
its own as a
popular Caribbean
cruise
port.
Above,
the
Bergensfjord and
Riviera
Prima,
with a
combined capacity of 1,000 passengers, are moored at the
pier.
Some 40 cruise ships
are expected to
call
at
Frederiksted during the winter season.
Shipping at the port of Charlotte Amalie,
St. Thomas
Fiscal year
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
59
Alexander Hamilton
Airport
Travel by
jet aircraft to and from
St. Croix started during the
year and has continued without mishap to person or equipment.
Ac-
commodation for medium and small size aircraft has been provided
by taxiway and parking area.
The water system has been improved
by two wells and should work out satisfactorily.
The following traffic took place during the fiscal year
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
Harry S Truman Airport:
Military aircraft
Scheduled airlines
Nonscheduled and private.
Air taxi
...1
Passenger arrivals
Passenger departures
Total revenues
Alexander Hamilton Airport:
Military aircraft
Scheduled airlines
Nonscheduled and private.
Passenger arrivals
Passenger departures
Total revenues
1,166
6,372
1,208
910
7,001
2,598
659
7,597
3,266
1,082
10, 117
3,846
93, 397
(')
$39, 913
340
1,520
1,800
43, 621
42, 865
$21, 817
125, 384
(')
$27, 206
360
2,504
(')
95, 536
96, 665
$25, 387
120, 717
129,883
(')
400
2,865
2,880
68,829
68, 748
(»)
189, 496
181,651
(')
2,000
3,655
2,892
86. 366
88. 624
(')
939
8,737
2,101
4,017
211, 600
248,536
$43, 183
2,248
3,268
3,606
123. 774
126, 937
$76,695
1 Figures not available.
Division
of Trade
Eight new manufacturing industries were established during fiscal
year 1963, less than fiscal year 1962, but greater than all other previous
fiscal years.
Calendar 1962 was a
significant year for the Virgin
Islands with respect to the volume and composition of external trade.
Total imports climbed to $61,803,509, representing a dollar increase of
$11,052,483 over the previous year and a corresponding increase of 26
percent.
The volume of exports represented a phenomenal rise over
exports of the previous year.
The 1962 exports were valued at $20,-
064,920 compared with exports of $9,133,124 in the previous year, or an
increase of 116 percent.
Of the total exports, $19,118,647 were shipped
to the United States.
Textile processing accounted for 46 percent of
exports to the United
States, while watches and watch movements
were 13.5 percent of the exports.
Comparison of imports and exports—Total
%'/
*y
Tourism became a
$41
million
industry, the
islands'
largest,
in
Fiscal 1963.
Hundreds
of thousands of visitors like the ones above enjoyed
free port shopping
in the picturesque
stores of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
Comparison of imports
Department
of
Agriculture and Labor
Personnel : 78
Operating appropriation : $334;700
Division
of
Agriculture
Gains have been accomplished to develop export markets for vege-
tables grown on St. Croix.
A contract was signed for the growing of pickle cucumber, the crop
was sent by air cargo to the mainland and the program was successful.
After summarizing the production records of the pickle cucumber
crops,
it was found that in comparison with sugarcane, the cucumber
ojBfered
a greater net return per acre
(sugarcane, $1S3;
cucumber,
$248).
Besides, the cucumber crop was produced in one-third the
time required to produce a sugarcane crop.
This
office recognizes that only during the winter months would
prices be high enough to permit the mainland marketing of local vege-
table
produce.
The conclusion
is that with a well organized
and
efficient marketing organization, adequate rainfall or irrigation, equip-
ment and financing, every acre of soil with good topography can be
put to good economic farm use.
Most of the vegetable production program was conducted at the
newly
acquired acreage
at Estate Lower Love.
Among the other
crops, the following acreage and production were recorded
Crop
62
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Sugarcane Subsidy Program
Under the Sugar Cane Act, applications of 127 farmers were certi-
fied to receive subsidy payment for sugarcane delivered to the factory.
At
the rate of $1 per ton of cane, total subsidies paid amounted to
$30,759.
Nine farmers received subsidies from $1,500
to $2,000;
1
farmer received from $1,000 to $1,499; 7 farmers were in the bracket
from $500 to $999
; 26 farmers received between $100 and $499
;
13
farmers received from $50 to $99 and the great majority of 71 farmers
received subsidies in the $1 to $49 bracket.
No appropriation was
made for this subsidy after June 30, 1963.
Swine Improvement Program
This program continues to supply baby pigs and breeding service
to farmers who wish to upgrade their herds.
Soil
Conservation
Service
Early this year, the Soil Conservation Service was transferred from
the Virgin Islands Corporation to this department with an appropria-
tion of $100,000 from matching funds.
The dam construction pro-
gram
is serving a pressing need.
Fifteen dams forming reservoirs,
ranging from 163,000 to 750,000 gallons were completed on the three
islands.
In order to speed up this work, all efforts are being made to
replace the old,
inefficient equipment with new efficient models.
Abattoir
The St. Croix Abattoir at Estate Anguilla is almost completed.
It
is expected that this new plant w411 help to open new horizons for the
local beef cattle industry.
During this period, 629 animals were slaughtered at the abattoir in
St. Thomas.
Parks and
Beaches
Several thousand ornamental plants were used to beautify the many
parks of the Virgin Islands.
The new Isaac Boynes Park at Estate Grove Place was completed.
This park set a time and cost record for the completion of this type of
recreation area. A new bandstand, children's playground, drinking
w^ater
facilities, ornamental plants and lawns have transformed this
former neglected area into a spot of which
all citizens are proud.
Cramer Park, on the eastern end of St. Croix, serves the public and
visitors daily, and continues to be the No.
1
holiday and weekend
resort.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
63
Other
Activities
The development of new headquarters at Estate Lower Love is in
progress.
It
is expected that this new Agriculture Center would be
the seat of
all expansion of local industry.
All of the fields are in
good tilth through the use of the department's agricultural equipment.
Some important jobs to be accomplished before the end of the cal-
endar year 1963 are construction of a new modern office building, and
fencing of the entire farm.
Other installations planned for the future
include buildings for vegetable packing and distribution, tractor sheds
and workshops, and irrigation equipment.
Physical development of this site and agricultural programs will
be conducted simultaneously.
Workmen's Compensation
During the year a total of 786 injuries were reported which, to-
gether with a number of cases carried over from the previous fiscal
year, resulted
in the adjustment of 775
cases.
In processing these
reports,
1,279
separate awards were made.
The total money value
The assembly
oF watches has become one
of the leading new
industries
in
St.
Croix.
Labor is being trained in such occupations, thereby earning more than the wages for menial
work.
The result
is a steadily rising standard of living in the Virgin Islands.
64
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGrN" ISLANDS
arrived
at
in the disposition of the cases handled was $117,302.90,
which
is explained in the following breakdown
Temporary
total
disability
$47, 079. 82
Permanent
total
disability
5, 359. 86
Permanent
partial
disability
31,438.25
Medical
costs,
including
transportation and physicians
fees
33, 424. 97
Total
117, 302. 90
Wage and Hour Administration
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, overtime and back wages were
collected from employers totaling $16,334.35.
The major portion of
this figure covered overtime and resulted from employers' failure to
comply with the provisions of Act No. 791 relating to overtime pay
for the sixth day in a given workweek.
As in the previous year, most of the individual complaints of wage
violations received were filed by nonresident workers.
Two studies regarding prevailing wages were completed under the
provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Chapter of the Virgin Islands
Code.
The wage rates arrived at as a result of these studies are being
used by the employment service
in the employment of nonresident
workers and are higher than the minimum rates established by the
wage board.
There are five wage orders in effect covering industries in the Virgin
Islands as of June 30,
1963.
In conformity with Act No. 791, the
wage board has to continue
its work during the 1964
fiscal year by
reviewing previous wage orders to fix at least three categories in each
industry.
Before
this
act
became
law,
the
board
fixed
a
single
minimum rate in several industries.
Division
of Apprenticeship and
Training
This division received a total of 90 applications for apprenticeship
and 17 applications for training.
There were 43 placements made in
apprenticeship of which 38 were active as of June 30, 1963.
Programs
registered
for apprenticeship
included
automechanics,
carpenters, masons,
diesel mechanics,
electricians, engineering aids,
radio electricians, survey-draftsmen, watch repairmen, and welders.
All applicants for training were placed and these were all former
telephone operators on St. Croix.
Office
of Veterans
Affairs
This
office made a total of 2,067 contacts with veterans and their
dependents,
servicemen
and
their
dependents,
representatives
of
government agencies (insular and Federal), private enterprises, and
other interested persons.
Virgin Islands Employment Security
Agency
Personnel: 35
Operating Federal grants: $125^812
During the
fiscal year,
tlie legislature enacted a law creating the
employment security agency, an independent agency under the office of
the Governor.
Placement
Services
Total nonagricultural placements
for the
fiscal year were
1,450.
For. the purposes
of comparison, there are
listed below placement
activities for the fiscal years 1959 through 1963.
66
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Counseling,
Testing,
and
Related
Services
to
Industry and
Labor
All segments of the labor force are entitled to the services rendered
by
the Virgin
Islands Employment
Service.
The
services
offered
include occupational testing and counseling.
The employment
service placed 375 persons
in the under-20 age
group, 128 in the 45-and-over group, 17 handicapped persons, and 48
veterans and ex-servicemen.
Federal Unemployment Insurance
Activities
The Virgin Islands Employment Service administered Federal un-
employment insurance programs for Federal employees and ex-service-
men.
Employees
of
the Virgin
Islands Corporation
in
St. Croix
constitute the largest single group of workers covered under the pro-
gram.
Payments of
benefits
to
these workers were
slightly lower
than during fiscal 1962, and continued to follow the seasonal pattern
w^hich emerged in previous years.
Department of Public Works
Personnel:
Operating appropriation:
$2^72J^^990
Permanent^ 327
Special projects appropriation :
$32^799
Per diem^ 622
Matching funds appropriation: $Jp^390p09
Foreword
Population growth and commercial expansion created a record de-
mand for public
facilities and services in
fiscal 1963.
This was re-
flected in increased workloads for every division of the department
of public works.
To meet the increasing needs, $2,617,862 was obligated for such func-
tions as
street and road maintenance, garbage and trash
disposal,
distribution of water, maintenance of sewer and water facilities, up-
keep and repair of public buildings and other structures.
In addition to these continuing services, 58 essential public projects
were undertaken,
at
a cost of $4,248,259 under the internal revenue
matching fund.
Street Cleaning and Garbage Removal
Service
The amount of garbage and trash hauled to sea and island dumps
was nearly four times that for fiscal 1960.
Greater efficiency in this
work was made possible by additional equipment on all three islands
and relocation of the trash dump to a more accessible location in St.
Thomas.
The area coverage of garbage and trash removal services
also was increased.
Night-Soil Removal
Service
In the fiscal year, 210 homes and other properties were connected
to the
salt water and potable water systems.
However, there was
a reduction of only 47 cans for collection.
This was largely due to
increased occupancy of superficiary houses and substandard quarters
by transient
workei-s employed on private construction
projects
in
St. Thomas.
The night-soil system has been practically eliminated
in Frederiksted, and the reduction of 47 cans was recorded mainly
in Christiansted.
67
68
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Water Supply
The amount of potable water supplied to Charlotte Amalie in fiscal
1963 was greatly
increased.
The
sea water
distillation plant and
barges from Puerto Rico supplied 189,599,400 gallons, an increase of
79,573,400 over fiscal 1962.
The 6-inch water main from Bourne Field
has become inadequate and the water pressure in outer areas of the
system dropped
to such
a degree that
large
sections of Charlotte
Amalie are not served.
A project for installing a larger main and a new pumping and
treatment plant was set up under the accelerated public works pro-
gram.
It is expected that work will begin on this project in November
1963, and will be completed during March of 1964.
At the same time,
there must be an increase in the amount of water available for distribu-
tion.
This will be effected by use of a barge capable of hauling
1
million gallons from Puerto Rico on each trip.
Long-range plans also
have been made for enlargement of the sea water distillation facilities
in St. Thomas.
The water problem in Christiansted and Frederiksted is not critical.
However, plans have been made to add more wells in the La Grange
area serving Frederiksted and to pipe water from the Barren Spot
area to Christiansted.
Matching Fund Programs
Fifty-eight projects financed by internal revenue matching funds
were underway in
fiscal
1963.
For these, the department of public
works obligated a total of $4,248,259.
Fifteen of the major projects
were for schools, 11 were for renovation of public buildings, and 10
were for road and street construction.
At year's end, the dredging phase of the St. Thomas harbor improve-
ment program was nearing completion. A huge hydraulic dredge
was brought in to remove some 1 million cubic yards of
fill, thus re-
claiming about 50 acres of submerged land in the Crown Bay and Long
Bay harbor areas.
These reclaimed areas will be bulkheaded to pro-
v^ide an additional 3,300 feet of waterfront suitable for use by smaller
commercial and pleasure craft.
The harbor itself will benefit from the
addition of 119 acres of deepwater maneuvering space.
In Christiansted, the dredging of channel and harbor has been com-
pleted to a minimum depth of 16 feet and a new million-dollar dock
will soon be ready for service.
Public
Buildings
A program of preventing maintenance was initiated for government
owned and controlled buildings, and general maintenance was greatly
70
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
PUBLIC WORKS STATISTICS—Continued
Utilities and inspection—Continued
NUMBER OF INSTALLATION PERMITS
Department of Finance
Personnel: 158
Operating appropriation: $865y^^l
Department's
Operations,
Programs, and
Policies
During fiscal 1963, the division of accounting was reorganized and
expanded to accommodate- the centralization of the accounting system.
In addition to general ledger accounting, this brought budgetary ac-
counting
for
all government departments and
agencies within
its
operation.
Weaknesses in certain
activities have been identified and, nearing
the end of the fiscal year, positive action was taken to strengthen them
and to establish controls to improve the efficiency of the centralized
operations.
As a result of problems encountered with the implementation of the
new system, general ledger accounting and. financial reporting which
for the past three years had shown steady and satisfactory improve-
ment were greatly hampered in fiscal 1963.
The audit
division continued to be severely handicapped by the
difficulty in recruiting qualified personnel.
The systems and review
section functioned during most of the year with only
half of
its
authorized staff.
The revenue audit section was fully staffed for only
a few months of the fiscal year.
Consequently, the audit program was
very restricted, with the audit of the Virgin Islands Lottery being the
only major audit completed outside of certain routine examinations.
Much of the work of the tax division cannot be reflected in immediate
revenue for the treasuiy.
A substantial amount of revenue must come
from the investigation and audit of tax returns and other tax sources
but in all cases the taxpayer may appeal for redeterminations, on sev-
eral levels, up to the courts, and after each appeal there
is a period
of at least
1 month before action may be taken.
This has been the
case during the fiscal year, but certain activities and accomplishments
will
in the near
future
reflect themselves
in a more
effective and
efficient enforcement of the tax laws, as follows
1. The staff of the tax division has been doubled with emphasis
on the nonclerical employees for audit work (through the revenue
agents) and collection and enforcement activities (through the
revenue officers).
Included among the new personnel are four
71
72
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
former employees of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, two of
whom have had substantial training and experience as revenue
agents.
2. The total number of
field examinations and audits of tax
returns and business records, and the amount of unreported tax
determined by such audits and examinations have increased sub-
stantially—although most of the revenue agents have been em-
ployed by the division for less than 6 months of the fiscal year,
and the fact that most of the agents have not received specialized
training
in income
tax law from
the U.S.
Internal Revenue
Service.
3. Three revenue officers and one office (revenue) agent received
specialized training from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and
one other employee was granted educational leave to complete a
college accounting course
in the United
States.
Furthermore,
most of the employees are now receiving instructions in income
tax law through correspondence courses from the U.S. Internal
Revenue
Service, and arrangements have been made with the
Service for other revenue agents to be sent from the tax division
to their training courses in the United States.
4. Regulations and procedures have been written and issued
to cover some of the more important activities and requirements
for administration of the division and enforcement of the tax laws.
Much of what has been accomplished during the year may be at-
tributed to the personal interest and cooperation received from the
Office of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
The collection and enforcement section which was activated during
the fiscal year progressed slowly during the year with only a skeleton
staff.
This
section
is responsible for the maintenance of accounts
receivable records, for followup on outstanding accounts and for ini-
tiating enforcement actions.
At the close of fiscal 1963, enforcement
action
has
been
initiated
on
all
delinquent
outstanding
accounts.
This enforcement action has resulted
in the liquidation of
a large
number of outstanding past due accounts, thereby bringing badly
needed revenues into the treasury.
The treasury division processed a total of 175,702 checks during the
fiscal year 1963, as compared with 110,030 checks processed during the
previous fiscal year.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
73
Financial Information
General and Matching Funds
Following a trend established over recent years, the revenues col-
lected and expenditures made by the government of the Virgin Islands
during the fiscal year were the highest ever recorded.
Total revenues for the general and matching funds amounted to
$19,670,156.45 of which $11,987,627.86, or 60.94 percent were for the
account of the general fund, and $7,682,528.59, or 39.06 percent were
for the account of the matching fund.
In the case of the general
fund, revenues collected in fiscal year 1963 represented an increase of
8 percent over those collected during the previous fiscal year.
Match-
ing fund revenues collected represented an increase of 21.10 percent
over revenues collected in the previous fiscal year.
The comparative statement of revenues and receipts appended here-
to presents a picture, in
considerable detail, of the revenues collected
into the general and matching funds over the 5-year period beginning
with fiscal 1959 and ending with fiscal 1963.
The statement shows in
the top portion the amount of revenues derived each
fiscal year by
source, and the percentage of each item in relation to the total reve-
nues collected.
In the lower portion, the percentage of increase or de-
crease of each revenue item and the total are shown.
Total
expenditures
for
the
fiscal
year amounted
to
$1,713,232,
1963 amounted to $17,867,582.94 of which $13,003,635.67 or 72.78 per-
cent were from the general fund and $4,863,947.27 or 27.22 percent
were from
the matching fund.
General
finid expenditures
repre-
sented an
increase
of
25.80 percent over the previous
fiscal
year.
Matching fund expenditures represented an increase of 6.8 percent
over the previous fiscal year, indicating accelerated activity in capital
improvements throughout the Virgin Islands.
Essential
Projects Fund
Under the provisions of the Organic Act
(subsection 28(b)), at
the beginning of each fiscal year, the excess of funds in the single "i"
matching fund not needed to liquidate obligations incurred during the
fiscal year, or outstanding encumbrances of previous
fiscal years,
is
transferred to the essential projects fund.
This year the receipts into
the fund from this source amounted to $2,012,433.82, compared with
$2,551,169.12 received during fiscal 1962, a decrease of $538,735.30, or
21.12 percent.
74
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Total expenditures for the
fiscal year amounted
to $1,713,232.00,
compared with $2,425,709.29 for fiscal 1962, a decrease of $712,477.29,
or 29.37 percent.
Road Fund
This fund was established in 1957 by legislative enactment which
provided that all taxes upon the sale of gasoline and all fines imposed
by the courts for violation of traffic laws should be deposited therein.
During the fiscal year net revenues collected and deposited into the
road fund amounted to $311,686.74, an increase of $26,980.62, or 9.48
percent over those of fiscal 1962.
Of this amount, $274,403.24 repre-
sented collections from taxes on the sale of gasoline, and $30,298.50
from the collection of fines imposed for violation of traffic laws, $6,975
represented refunds on prior year's expenditures, and there was an
overdeposit of $10.
Marine and
Aviation Fund
The marine and aviation fund was established
in October 1960
by legislative enactment which provided that all revenues and receipts
collected from activities applicable to the harbors and airports of the
Virgin Islands be deposited into this fund.
During the
fiscal year
revenues deposited into the marine and aviation fund amounted to
$426,451.97.
Of
this amount $134,866 were contributions from the
general fund, $154,398 represented harbor fees collected by U.S. Cus-
toms, $40,119.25 were for pilot fees; rents and concessions amounted
to
$33,653,04;
and
other
harbor,
airport,
and
miscellaneous
fees
amounted to $63,415.68.
Expenditures for the same period amounted to $266,319.47.
The
fund
is used for the operation of harbors and airports within the
Virgin Islands owned by the territorial government.
Federal
Contributions
During the
fiscal year the Federal Government's contribution to
grant-in-aid programs and other programs amounted to $1,607,268.61,
an increase of $255,542.85 or 18.90 percent over similar contributions
of the previous fiscal year.
The other funds not highlighted here represent funds which are
segregated
for
specific programs and
functions not generally
con-
nected with normal governmental operations.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
75
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REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
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REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
77
GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Comparative statement of revenues and
receipts,
fiscal years 1959-6
GENERAL AND MATCmNO FUNDS
Percentage of annual Increase (decrease)
General fund:
Real property taxes
Income taxes
Inheritance taxes
Stamp taxes
Trade excise and gross receipts taxes.
Custom duties
Licenses, fees and permits.
Corporation franchise tax...
Fines, forfeits, and penalties
Interest on government funds
Other income
Total general fund.
Matching fund:
Internal revenue matching contribution
Interest on government funds
Contributions
from
other
funds
(reimburse-
ments)
,
Total matching funds.
Grand total
1958-59
Percent
(0.80)
36.38
185.31
92.39
23.13
(3.48)
3.66
91.01
53.65
(1.51)
25.55
14.61
(54. 41)
52.00
1959-60
Percent
34.87
41.74
(39. 38)
(26. 41)
33.75
71.03
22.85
269. 69
35.65
(81. 64)
38.94
38.80
26.98
84.56
(13. 18)
25.88
33.20
1960-61
Percent
(6. 59)
29.82
84.87
57.89
14.48
11.34
12.38
(1. 70)
(14. 76)
263. 87
28.51
20.91
32.06
224.67
81.98
33.43
26.03
1961-62
Percent
43.44
28.50
(11. 78)
20.23
21.96
73.02
16.54
23.25
17.03
98.35
23.87
26.59
(4. 94)
(30. 44)
36.19
(5. 46)
12.70
1962-63
Percent
18.19
4.97
(53. 23)
(.63)
17.25
(13. 16)
13.97
77.41
90.50
96.60
51.65
24.44
19.25
112.41
721-848 0—64-
Office of the Director of the Budget
Personnel: 5
Operating appropriation: $39^90
The Governor's budget document and budget message, comprising
two volumes of suggested departmental appropriations, justifications,
revenue sources, and personnel budget requests was submitted to the
legislature on January 14, 1963.
For operating appropriations, the Governor's budget document rec-
ommended a total of $16,954,232
(as compared with over $19 million
requested by the various departments and agencies).
When passed
by the legislature in March 1963, the budget total was $16,513,396 from
which the Governor item vetoed $872,200, leaving a net budget of
$15,641,196 which was increased in a June special session by $1,943,-
320 to a revised total of $17,584,516.
The
capital budget reconmiended by the Governor for matching
funds totaled $4,500,000.
As passed by the legislature and approved
by the Governor, the capital budget was $4,491,500.
The office of the director of the budget controls the budget by issuing
quarterly allotments or apportionments to the various departments and
agencies.
This office also watches the monthly reports of obligations submitted
by the department of finance in order to determine whether depart-
ments are keeping safely within their apportioned funds or whether
there are trends indicating possible deficiencies;
The director of the budget represents the Governor at all sessions
of the legislature, in order to present the Governor's views on legis-
lative proposals.
This type of coordination between the executive and
the legislative branches of the government has been of considerable
assistance in furnishing the legislature with firsthand information on
executive policies and, at the same time, furnishing the Governor daily
with legislative trends as they may affect executive policy.
This office also issues monthly revenue reports with percentage and
trends and monthly allotment reports for the information of the Gov-
ernor and the legislature.
Total revenues for the fiscal year 1963 were
$12,099,978, an increase of 8.67 percent from the previous year.
Total
appropriations were $17,215,206, an increase of 24.33 percent from
total appropriations oi the preceding fiscal year,
78
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
79
Here are tables of major revenue increases between 1960 and 1962
and major
operating
appropriations for the same period
(figures
rounded out to nearest thousand dollars)
:
I960
1963
Increase
Total revenues
Income taxes
Real property taxes
Trade and excise taxes.
Gross receipts taxes
Customs dues (gross) _ .
Education
Public works
Health
Welfare
Safety
Commerce and Tourism
Total budgets
$7,274,000
4, 332, 000
374. 000
752,000
434,000
457, 000
1,853,000
1,920,000
1, 967, 000
521, 000
560, 000
221,000
9, 112, 580
$12,000,000
7, 582, 000
589,000
1,084,000
832.000
1,220,000
3,123,000
2, 695, 000
2,991,000
1,079,000
897.000
645,000
17, 215, 206
Percent
64.97
75.02
57.49
44.15
91.70
166. 96
68.54
40.36
52.06
107. 10
60.18
191. 85
88.92
Operating budget—fiscal year 196S
[June 30, 1963]
Act No.
Appropri-
ated
AUotted
Unallot-
ted
835
877/907/948
877/948
877/948
877/907/948.
877/1014/1015..-.
877
877/907/948
877/907/1034
907
877/9'o'779"2b/i634r
877/907/917/948..
877/907/1034
877/907/917/1000-
877/907/930/948.
877/^8
877/907/948/1034
877/948/1003
877/948
877/917/930/948/1000
877/948
877/907/917
877/1003.
877/948..
877/1034.
877/1034.
877/1034.
1003
The legislature
Office of the Governor
Governor's contingent fund...
Office of the budget director
Virgin Islands Planning Board
Division of personnel
Probation and parole office
Administrative assistant, St. Croix
Administrative assistant, St. John
Human relations office
Government secretary's office
Department of law
Department of finance
Department of education.
General fund: $1,635,273.
Matching fund:
$1,487,893.
Department of commerce
Department of health
General fund:
$1,491,843.97.
Matching fund:
$1,500,000.00.
Department of public safety
Department of public works
Department of social welfare
Department of agriculture and labor
Department of property and procurement...
Department of housing and community re-
newal.
Municipal court, St. Thomas, and St. John
Municipal court, St. Croix
Board of election, St. Thomas
Board of election, St. Croix
Board of election, St. John
Office of the supervisor of elections
$200,
257,
54,
39,
59.
212,
31,
57,
35,
10,
297,
119,
865,
3,154,
000.00
100.00
550.00
090.00
090.00
230.00
100.00
380. 00
500. 00
000.00
894.00
210.00
441. 00
328.00
663, 167. 00
2,991,843.97
919, 175. 00
2, 724, 990. 00
1,098,496.00
334, 700. 00
282, 902. 00
105, 970. 00
42, 150. 00
39, 850. 00
16, 000. 00
18, 000. 00
3, 600. 00
15, 000. 00
$200,
207,
51,
38,
57,
211,
30,
55,
35,
9,
296,
119,
865,
3,123,
000. 00
100. 00
550. 00
371.00
790.00
380. 00
320. 00
160. 00
500. 00
450. 00
722. 00
210.00
441. 00
166. 00
644,791.00
2,991,843.97
897, 827. 00
2, 695, 350. 00
1,078,901.00
327, 961. 00
272, 652. 30
103, 865. 00
41,550.00
39. 850. 00
15,000.00
16. 800. 00
3, 600. 00
15, 000. 00
$50, 000. 00
3, 000. 00
719, 00
1,300.00
850. 00
780, 00
2, 220. 00
550.00
1,172.00
31, 162. 00
18,376.00
21,348.00
29, 640. 00
19, 595. 00
6, 739. 00
10, 249. 70
2, 105. 00
600.00
1,000.00
1,200.00
Total
14,648,756.97
14,446,151.27
202,605.70
80
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Operating budget—fiscal year 1963—Continued
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Act No.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
81
Operating budget—fiscal year 1963—Continued
CONTINtTED PROJECTS
Act No.
82
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGEST ISLANDS
Summary of matching fund appropriations,
fiscal year 1963
Project
No.
Project
Appro-
priated
Released
by interior
Allotted
Unallot-
ted
VI-2.
VI-5.
VI-6.
VI-7.
ST-111.
ST-112.
ST-113.
ST-114..
ST-116..
ST-117.-
ST-118--
ST-119..
ST-127..
VI-13—
ST-103--
ST-120-
ST-121.
ST-122.
ST-102.
ST-123.
Contingencies to be used for various projects
in the discretion of the Governor.
For administration,
inspection, and
oflBce
and
field engineering on matching fund
projects including but not limited
to the
positions ot
1 architect at $7,500,
1 engineer
at $7,500, 1 civil engineer at $7,500, 1 drafts-
man at $4,400,
1 engineering aid at $4,400,
2 engineering aids at $4,800 each.
Contracted
architect-engineer
services
for
designs
of
programed
future
matching
funds projects.
For construction of wells, dams, and general
engineering for soil conservation.
St. Thomas
For improvements at Magens Bay
For redevelopment program at Altona
For roads and streets islandwide as follows:
(a) Widening and paving of road con-
necting
Catherineberg
to
Agnes
Fancy and Nordsidevej.
(6) For opening
of new
road through
homestead
plots
at
Hospital
Ground.
(c) Construction of Homestead Road at
Upper Estate Lindberg Bay to the
Estate Dorothea Highway.
(d) Road improvements at Domini and
Adel
Gade,
Contant
(2
sections)
Agnes
Fancy;
concrete
paving
of
"Firebum
Hill"; improvements to
St. Peter Mountain Road and Har-
mony-Casi Hill Highway.
For
increase
in water
storage
facilities
at
East End and South Side
($20,000); pot-
able water extensions to Contant, Mahog-
any Gardens, and other
areas; and
salt
water
and
sewer
extensions
Including
pumping equipment.
Equipment
for public works activities, in-
cludtag
road
construction and
mainte-
nance equipment and additional garbage
trucks.
Addition (not less than 8 rooms) and repairs
to
Queen
Louise Home and
repairs
to
Corneiro Home.
Educational facilities:
(1)
Repairs, renovations and improve-
ments to buildings.
(2) Addition
of
3
shop
buildings
at
Charlotte Amalie High School.
(3) Addition to Charlotte Amalie High
School, including gymnasium.
Construction
of second
floor
addition
to
Knud Hansen Memorial Hospital and al-
teration to existing operating rooms.
Repairs, alterations, improvements to and
equipment
of Rnud Hansen Memorial
Hospital including provisions for isolation
unit and additional general medical bed
space and
also including construction
of
living quarters for resident staff.
For feasibility studies, engineering and ar-
chitectural design, and preliminary plans
and specifications
for new hospital facili-
ties in the Virgin Islands.
Renovation and
repair
or
construction
of
building for the department of finance.
Repair of administration building
For acquisition and redevelopment at Hon-
duras,
Demarara,
and
Ross
Estate-
Taarneberg.
For renovation and extension of buildings at
Kronprindsens Gade
for use by depart-
ment of social welfare and other govern-
ment agencies.
For
construction
of
detention
home
for
youth.
For street lighting at Contant, Mahogany
Gardens,
Anna's
Fancy,
Hospital
Grounds and other areas.
$25,000
75,000
50,000
100,000
20,000
300, 000
300, 000
75, 000
40, 000
100, 000
84, 000
450, 000
1,000
99,000
100,000
50,000
10,000
100,000
100, 000
50,000
20,000
$25,000
75,000
50,000
100,000
20,000
300,000
287,500
$25, 000. 00
75, 000. 00
50, 000. 00
100, 000. 00
20, 000. 00
300, 000. 00
287, 500. 00
12, 500. 00
150, 000
137, 500
137, 500. 00
75, 000
40, 000
100, 000
84, 000
450, 000
1,000
99,000
100,000
75, 000. 00
40, 000. 00
100, 000. 00
84, 000. 00
450,000.00
-.
993.53
99,000.00
-.
12, 500. 00
6.47
100,000.00
50, 000
50, 000. 00
10,000.00
100,000
50,000
20,000
15.52
50, 000. 00
20,000.00
100,000.00
99, 984. 48
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGEST ISLANDS
83
Summary of matching fund appropriations, fiscal year 1963—Continued
Project
No.
Department of Housing and Community
Renewal
Personnel: 21
Operating appropriation: $105^70
The department of housing and community renewal, created by
Act No.
903, approved June
18,
1962, ^was established on July
26,
1962, when the first commissioner of housino; and community renewal
was appointed.
On September
1,
1963,
activities of the homestead
and home loan programs were officially transferred to the department
of housing and community renewal from the department of property
and procurement.
The emergency housing program was transferred
from the social welfare department.
Several housing and community
development activities have been initiated, including the Altona Com-
munity Development, the Demarara Community Development, and
the Hospital Ground Emergency Housing Apartments in St. Thomas
the Estate Profit Community Development, Richmond Gardens Emer-
gency
Housing
Apartments, and
Camporico Emergency
Housing
Apartments in St. Croix.
Legislation was enacted also to provide for
the acquisition of approximately 80 acres of vacant land at Estate
Contant,
St. Thomas, for a middle-income housing development.
Considerable
progress
has
been made
during
the
first year
of
existence of the department in the actual construction of houses and
also
in
preparation
of
plans
for an
accelerated program of com-
munity development in the ensuing fiscal year.
Possibly
the
most
important
piece
of
legislation
dealing
with
housing and land distribution enacted by tlie Legislature of the Virgin
Islands during the 1963 regular session was Act No. 991
(Bill No.
1799)
to amend Title 29, Virgin Islands Code, by adding thereto a
new
chapter
IX,
entitled "Home Ownership
and
Development."
This measure was approved by 'the Governor on March
27,
1963.
Act No. 991 provides for a long-range program of land acquisition and
home construction throughout
the Virgin
Islands.
AVhile the law
will be administered by the department of housing and community
renewal,
it provides for an advisory committee to assist in
its imple-
mentation.
The Governor is authorized to issue bonds, borrow from
public or private trust funds, or from government insurance funds
for the purposes of procuring moneys to be loaned, appropriated,
contributed, or granted to the department for use in connection with
84
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
85
any moderate income housing project recommended by the committee,
provided that the total amount of funds provided shall not at any one
time exceed $5 million.
Under this act land will be acquired and
subdivided into plots of not more than cne-half an acre. A moderate-
income house will be constructed on each plot to be sold to eligible
families to be paid for in full over a period not to exceed 30 years,
at 5 percent interest.
The Altona Community Development
The Altona Community Development was authorized by Act No.
673, approved May 16, 1961, for the purpose of resettling occupants
of superficiary houses in the Altona area in safe, sanitary, and decent
owner-occupied houses.
These families were threatened with eviction
by the landowners and they had no place to relocate their shacks.
Eight middle-income homes were constructed in the Altona Com-
munity Development ranging in cost of construction from $8,000 to
$10,000.
These
three-bedroom
units
have
been
assigned
to
eight
families who
were
previously
residing
in
dilapidated
superficiary
houses
in the
area.
They
will have a period of 20 years for
full
payment of the purchase price at 5 percent interest.
A contract for 50 additional houses has been awarded to a private
firm, and construction will begin early in the next fiscal year.
An
engineering layout of the entire 15 acres has been made, and
it
is
expected that a total of 110 lots will be made available for construction
of middle-income homes.
Four of the existing buildings are of sound
construction and
will
be allowed
to remain.
The owners of these
buildings will be allowed to purchase the lots on which the buildings
are located. A census of the families residing in this area has indi-
cated that there are 175 who are eligible to purchase these middle-in-
come homes.
However, only 110 families can be relocated on the land
acquired by
the government, and additional land
will have
to be
made available in the future.
The Demarara Community Development
The Demarara Community Development
is similar in scope to the
Altona Community Development, and
it was established by Act No.
1006, approved April 2, 1963, for the purpose of relocating occupants
of superficiary houses in the area.
This development is designed to
eliminate
a slum and
blighted
area on
the Veterans Drive
at the
entrance
to the French
Village
in
Charlotte Amalie,
St. Thomas.
This area, comprising approximately 3 acres, is now an eyesore and
badly in need of redevelopment.
At the close of the fiscal year efforts
were underway to acquire the area.
86
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
The panorama of progress in St. Thomas
is seen
in the above view of new public housing
and school expansion.
Dedication of the Oswald E. Harris Court,
left, added 300 new
units
for
low-income
families.
In
the harbor
is a huge dredge
at work widening and
deepening the turning basin of Charlotte Amalie harbor.
Estate
Profit Community Development
The Estate Profit Community Development, St. Croix, was author-
ized by Act No. 955, approved March 4, 1963, as amended.
Under
this law the commissioner of housing and community renewal
is au-
thorized to undertake a program of community development including
buildings for public health clinics, nursery and kindergarten schools,
recreation centers,
etc. The government-owned land at Estate Profit
has been subdivided into 132
lots to provide for the relocation of
families evicted from private estate lands.
To date, 132 families have
entered into leases with the government for lots, 47 have completed
construction of their homes, 70 homes tire under construction, and 15
lots are vacant.
The Estate Profit Community Development Act also
provides for the commissioner of housing and community renewal to
establish and encourage a self-help program of community housing
and community betterment.
At the close of the fiscal year, construc-
tion had begun on the first of three low-cost houses to be used for the
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGEN ISLANDS
87
purpose of demonstrating to the lessees how a safe, sanitary, and decent
house could be constructed at low cost.
Middle-Income Housing
The major housing problem in the Virgin Islands is in the middle-
income housing
field.
Negotiations have been entered into for the
acquisition of approximately 80 acres of land at Estate Contant, St.
Thomas, for the development of a middle-income housing program by
the department of housing and community renewal.
An effort is also
being made to acquire about 200 acres of land in St. Croix for the same
purpose.
These areas will be developed under the provisions of Act
No.
991, approved March 27, 1963, entitled "Home Ownership and
Development."
Under this act the government of the Virgin Islands
is authorized to issue bonds not exceeding $5 million for moderate
income housing projects.
A rental apartments project is also in the planning stage to be con-
structed on government-owned land at Bluebeard's Castle Estate, St.
Thomas.
This project which
will be comprised of 129 apartment
units will be financed by a direct mortgage loan of $3 million from
the Housing and Home Finance Agency.
The Emergency Housing Program
An important function of the new department of housing and com-
munity renewal
is the construction and administration of low-rent
housing projects, financed completely by the local government for the
relocation of families who have been legally evicted by the courts or
who are residing in dilapidated slum buildings.
With an upsurge in
the general improvement of the local communities, owners of private
properties are desirous of renovating their properties.
The enforce-
ment of the Sanitary Code requiring the installation of m.odern sani-
tary
facilities in
all buildings has also accelerated the demand for
housing relocation.
At the close of the fiscal year, there were on file
in the department of housing and community renewal, 512 applica-
tions (2,301 persons) in St. Thomas for emergency housing; 119 (493
persons)
in Cliristiansted ; and 36 (174 persons)
in Frederiksted, St.
Croix.
At the close of the fiscal year only 65 families (392 persons)
had been housed in St. Thomas, and 78 families (284 persons)
in St.
Croix.
The department also is required to provide housing for the reloca-
tion of families from the urban renewal project areas.
During the fiscal year, 16 units of emergency housing were com-
pleted at Richmond Gardens, Christiansted, St. Croix.
Work on 32
additional units in the same area was begun under private contract.
88
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Sixteen units of emergency housing at Camporico Village, Frederik-
sted, St. Croix, were nearly completed and should be ready for occu-
pancy early in the next fiscal year.
In
St. Thomas, 40
units
of emergency housing
at the Hospital
Ground Apartments were nearing completion at the close of the fiscal
year, 8 additional units were completed at Estate Nadir and will soon
be occupied.
A three-bedroom emergency house was constructed on
private land at Anna's Fancy, St. Thomas, under Section 203 (b) , Title
29 of the Virgin Islands Code, as amended, which requires repayment
over a period of 20 years.
It has been occupied.
Plans are now underway for a crash program of emergency houses to
be constructed on lots leased from the Virgin Islands Corporation in
St. Thomas.
These houses w^ill be built of wood in order to expedite
the construction.
In St. Croix additional houses will be constructed
at Kichmond Gardens and at Camporico Village for relocation of dis-
placees from the urban renewal project areas, and for other families
displaced by private action.
Emergency housing units on St. Thomas and St. Cro
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGDST ISLANDS
89
Work was started on the subdivision- of the remaining 35 acres of
land
at Anna's Hope Development in St. Croix.
It
is anticipated
that
this work
will be completed and
allocations made during the
first quarter of fiscal 1964.
Approximately 65 quarter-acre plots are
expected from this area.
Workable Program
for Community Development
The workable program for community development for the Virgin
Islands was certified by the Housing and Home Finance Agency to
expire on September 1, 1963, at which time recertification is required.
This program
is necessary
in
order that
the Virgin
Islands may
qualify
for Federal funds for public housing, urban renewal, and
otlier community development activities.
During the year progress was made
in drafting a new building
code and
a housing code.
These important measures will be sub-
mitted to the legislature during the next fiscal year.
Community Renewal Program
A grant of $72,800 was made by the Housing and Home Finance
Agency
for
a community
renewal program study
for the Virgin
Islands.
This will be matclied by services from the local government
valued at $44,522.
To date a work program has been approved, which
includes
(1) a general survey of the renewal needs in the urban areas
of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John;
(2) evaluation of the com-
munity's requirements and resources for urban renewal action; and
(3) development of a long-range program for renewal action.
It is
expected that the study will be completed by May 1964.
It will be
used
as the basis
for determining the type of treatment needed in
neighborhoods
for redevelopment and an
all-out attack on existing
blight and preventing
its spread.
Virgin
Islands Housing
Authority
The Virgin
Islands Housing Authority, successor to the Virgin
Islands Housing and Urban Renewal
Autliority,
is engaged in the
management and development of public housing projects
operated
with Federal financial and technical assistance.
The Oswald E. Harris
Court, a 300-unit development, was completed and occupancy initiated
on June 1, 1963.
The 264-unit Ralph de Chabert Place, which has been
close to completion since October 1962, has not yet been accepted for
occupancy due to certain major deficiencies which must be corrected
in order to insure the safety and convenience of the prospective resi-
dents.
Required corrective work
is now
in progress.
90
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Of four projects totaling 480 units in the planning stage, one of
200 units in Christ iansted, St. Croix,
will be advertised for bids in
July 1963—preliminary drawings for another, of 32 units, to be built
in St. Thomas have been approved.
With the creation of the Virgin Islands Urban Renewal Board,
the responsibility for the administration of the federally aided urban
renewal program was delegated to that agency.
Prior to the transfer
of that
function, survey and planning applications for the Water
Gut, Barracks Yard, and Lagoon Street urban renewal areas were
completed by the housing authority.
Virgin
Islands Urban Renewal
Board
On October
11,
1962, the Virgin Islands Urban Renewal Board
was officially designated a local public agency by the Government of
the United States to administer the urban renewal program in the
Virgin
Islands.
On January 18, 1963, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands adopted
resolutions
approving
three
urban
renewal
plans
for
the Virgin
Islands
Barracks Yard, /St. Thomas.—7.69 acres with 108 families involving
475 persons.
Work to be done: Clearance of blighted area; develop-
ment of a government center and residential housing, with conserva-
tion and rehabilitation of structures having historical and architec-
tural
value.
Water Gut, Christiansted, St. Croix.—26.43 acres with 210 families,
involving 593 persons.
Work to be done
: Clearance of blighted area
development of
a waterfront highway, commercial and residential
resorts; conservation and rehabilitation of structures with historical
and architectural value.
Lagoon Street, Frederiksted, St. Croix.—3.30 acres with 54 families,
involving 265 persons.
Work to be done
: Clearance of blighted area
;
redevelopment of safe, decent, and sanitary housing with some con-
sideration as to warehousing possibilities.
One of the major activities initiated during the year was the reloca-
tion of 43 families and 8 elderly individuals (241 persons) displaced
from the Barracks Yard project area, approximately 50 percent of
the workload.
On February
21,
1963, the loan and grant contract between the
Government of the United States and the government of the Virgin
Islands made available the following funds for development of these
programs
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
91
Area
Department of Property and
Procurement
Personnel :
l^lf.
Operating appropriation : $282^02
Division
of Procurement and Supply
Purchase orders issued by the division amounted to 10,336 with a
value of $8,732,351.18.
5-year comparison
1959
$3,314,952
1960
3, 051,502
1961
6,098,554
1962
6,582,993
1963
8, 732,351
These totals inchided 343 supply contracts valued at $829,106.12; 34
construction
contracts amounting
to
$3,985,358.85;
25
professional
contracts in the amount of $615,786.80
; 115 purchases made under con-
tracts of the General Services Administration, Federal Supply Serv-
ice,
in
the
amount
of
$103,439.66;
9,684
open
market
purchases
amounting
to
$2,855,946.50.
Excluded from
the above
totals
are
"over-the-counter" transactions of less than $50 and "more or less"
contracts.
The largest and most significant transaction was the awarding of a
contract for $1,667,440 for construction of the Crown Bay Bulkhead.
The limitation for direct "over-the-counter" purchases was increased
from $10 to $50, and new rules and regulations were adopted for this
type of purchase.
The net result was that the departments were given
greater latitude in obtaining small quantities of supplies.
The central warehouse, although handicapped by lack of sufficient
capital, showed a small increase in total sales.
Property
Division
Since the completion of the physical inventory of
all accountable
government
property,
the
division
has
been
maintaining
current
records of acquisitions and disposals.
Complete listings of govern-
ment-owned property as of June 30, 1963, are being prepared and will
be distributed to all departments.
92
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
93
Federal surplus property allocated to the Virgin Islands in
fiscal
1963 amounted to $15,342.11 compared to $4,561 in fiscal 1962.
The
Virgin Islands are considered an "under region" and received No. 1
priority in the allocation of surplus property.
Land
Division
The termination of the home loan and homestead functions of this
division was accomplished when the employees of the program were
transferred to the department of housing and community renewal dur-
ing the early part of the
fiscal year.
There was very
little accom-
plished in the field of price and rent control due primarily to the lack
of effective legislation.
A new weights and measures law has been
enacted and personnel for administering it will be trained.
721-848 O
- 64
- 7
Department of Law
Personnel: 16
Operating appro2)riatlon: $119,210
The legislature authorized appointment of an additional assistant
attorney general, thus increasing the legal staff of the department of
law to include the attorney general and four assistants.
Increased demand
for
legal
services during
the
fiscal year was
directly attributable to expanded activities of the other departments
and agencies.
Establishment of the new department of housing and community
renewal created the need for the department of law to assist
in the
work of property acquisition, housing regulations, and the drafting of
legislation
to
implement
the
stepped-up
housing
programs.
The
department
also undertook
the
legal work
for the College of
the
Virgin Islands.
Forty-nine formal
legal opinions were written
in response to
re-
quests
for
legal
advice from
tlie Governor, executive departments,
boards, commissions, and other agencies of the government.
During the year, the legal staff prosecuted more than 5,000 criminal
matters in the municipal courts in Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted,
Frederiksted, and Cruz Bay.
A special assistant was added to the
staff to make possible fuller investigation and action on complaints
referred by the department of public safety or brought directly by
private citizens.
The department of law investigated and settled, with approval of
the Governor, claims up to $1,000 against the government involving
personal or property damage.
The program
for
collection
of
delinquent
accounts owed
to
the
department of finance, health, and public works was handled on an
intensified basis.
In the district court, the department of law represented the govern-
ment in 21 cases and argued 2 before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Third Circuit.
More than 150 separate items of local
legislation were drafted or
reviewed by the attorney general's office, and the legal staff appeared
before the legislature with the director of the budget, who also serves
as the Governor's liaison
officer with the senators, on an increased
number of occasions during fiscal 1963.
94
Department of Public Safety
Personnel: 168
Operating appropriation: $919^76
General
The increase in population and growth of industry and tourism con-
tinue
to
intensify
the already
critical demand
for
police
services.
This task is further complicated by a decentralized pattern of living
which prevails throughout the 132 square miles of the territory.
To
cope with the situation and the changing needs of the growing insular
community, the department undertook the accomplishment of the first
phase of an action program designed for more effective utilization of
its manpower within the police division.
A territorywide training program in modem law enforcement tech-
niques was conducted.
A study of the photographic laboratories in
both St. Thomas and St. Croix was undertaken in collaboration with
the Federal Bureau of
Investigation,
resulting
in improvement of
their operation.
A troubleshooting squad was organized to cope with
the growing number of teenage gangs springing up throughout the
St. Thomas community, and
the
attorney
general's committee on
juvenile delinquency was created.
Steps were initiated leading to the establishment of a police library
by the acquisition of books and treatises on police administration and
law enforcement.
The license bureau, as a result of an organization
and method study, standardized its records management and its sta-
tistical procedures and, in collaboration with the department of
fi-
nance, established simplified accounting and auditing procedures. A
request for the services of two qualified investigators was approved to
combat more effectively, the rising crime rate.
A new deputy commis-
sionership was created in St. Thomas charged with full responsibility
for the administration and coordination of the activities within the
district.
Vacated by resignation was the position of deputy commis-
sioner for the St. Croix District.
New positions also were filled within
the ranks by promotion and reorganization w'hich resulted in a gen-
eral bolstering of morale.
95
96
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Bureau
of Criminal
Investigation
Two investigator positions were approved to
increase the effective-
ness of both the bureau in St. Thomas and that in St. Croix.
During
the year
1,427 criminal
cases were investigated
as compared with
1,242 for the previous year.
The increase in the number of criminal
cases, when taken in proportion to the total population, continues to
be minute.
However, the department is concerned with the reflection
within this group of the number of cases attributed to minor offenders.
The following chart gives a summary of the type« of cases handled
during the
fiscal year 1963:
Number of criminal cases handled
Type
Criminal iiomicide;
Manslaughter
Manslaughter by negligence.
Rape
Robbery
Aggravated assault
Burglary.-
Petit larcency
Grand larceny
Auto thefts
Other assaults
Forgery
Embezzlement and fraud
Stolen property
Weapon-possession
Sex offenses
Offenses against family
Drunkenness
Narcotic drug laws
Disorderly conduct
Gambling and vagrancy
All other offenses
Total.
St. Thomas-
St. John
1
1
15
5
23
120
90
289
4
19
39
1
8
7
1
10
1
65
St. Croix
7
2
15
3
28
170
197
103
10
7
13
1
16
14
1
23
2
116
728
Total
3
30
8
51
290
287
392
14
26
52
2
24
21
1
1
33
3
181
1,427
5-year comparison— Total number of criminal cases handled
1959.
338
1960
406
1961
669
1962
1,242
1963
1,427
Patrol
Bureau
Despite increased productivity, demands for police service continued
to exceed the patrol forces' best efforts.
Manpower was spread dan-
gerously thin throughout the main cities in the islands of St. Thomas
and
St.
Croix.
Even though
efforts
were made
to overcome
this
situation through recruitment, the rate of attrition in the loss of per-
sonnel through resignations and other factors severely reduced the
number of patrolmen available and adversely influenced the level of
service.
Despite this condition, inservice training brought encourag-
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
97
ing
results
in
efficient
"frontline"
police performance.
It further
resulted
in
the establishment of better police-community
relations.
Highway
Patrol
The intensified campaign to provide more safety on the public high-
way was continued with particular attention being given to the island
of
St.
Croix.
Despite
increased
surveillance of the roads
in both
districts, the number of deaths from accidents increased from 4 in the
previous year to 13 for this year.
The number of
traffic accidents
increased to 1,416 as compared to 924 for the previous year.
A total
of 238 driving licenses were suspended.
The situation will continue to
grow more
serious
with
the
ever-increasing number
of
registered
vehicles moving over the public roads and highways.
To meet this
problem,
it will be necessary to increase the flexibility of the patrol
through
replacement
of
mobile equipment and
the
acquisition
of
additional new units within both districts.
Vehicular registration and licensing—Virgin Islands
Motor vehicles—private. .
Taxicabs and rented cars..
Trucks—pickups
Buses
Trailers
Motorcycles
Motorbicycles.
Motorscooters
Tractors
Bicycles..
Drivers' licenses:
Private
Taxi
Learners' permits
Motor vehicle transfers
TraflBc tickets issued
,
Fees from registration
Fines for traffic violations .
visitors' permits...
3,414
1,009
479
32
665
3,578
859
769
825
$95, 674
10, 005
9,719
3,027
1,237
1,206
30
47
136'
713
6,064
600
1,026
1,005
1,877
$117,078
15, 429
14,846
1961
3,610
1,339
1, 537
35
28
91
16
82
11
385
6,772
1,063
1,131
1,061
2,888
$136, 275
21,785
15,194
1962
4,185
1,371
1,782
31
28
72
24
96
5
850
7,848
1,419
1,561
1,640
2,682
$163, 736
25,215
21, 907
1963
4,736
1,712
1,802
66
27
53
19
161
12
644
8,719
988
2,018
2,060
3,189
$168, 061
29,266
22, 491
1962
St.
Thom-
2,251
951
803
10
11
29
46
5
410
3,780
850
1,021
997
1,784
St.
Croix
1,934
420
979
21
17
43
24
50
440
4,068
569
540
643
1963
St.
Thom-
2,854
1,183
883
50
5
22
96
11
272
4,356
685
1,383
1,165
1,915
St.
Croix
1,882
529
919
16
22
31
19
65
1
372
4,363
303
636
895
1,274
Law Enforcement
The following figures show the activities of the police division as
compared with the previous 4 fiscal years
98
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
99
30 percent of the inmates are engaged in the making of belts, furniture,
fish nets, and ornaments.
Others are engaged in such skilled tasks
as upholstering and radio repairs.
Money received from these spare-
time occupations is used in part by the inmates to assist in the support
of their families.
Fire
Division
The fire division responded to 243
fire calls as against 178 for the
previous year.
The fire losses in St. Thomas and St. Croix amounted
to
$69,199
as
against
last
year's
losses
of
$34,378.
Standing out
most
prominently
are
tlie
large
losses which were suffered
in
St.
Croix during the
fiscal year due to sugarcane fires—some 248 acres
were damaged or destroyed with a value of $52,185.
The
fire division acquired two trailer-mounted pumps capable of
delivering
1,000
gallons
of water
per minute
one-half mile away
from the point of suction lift.
The legislature appropriated the sum
of $20,000 for the purchase of two water tank trucks for the island of
St. Croix.
The need for additional firefighting equipment to protect life and
property
is very
critical.
There
is also an immediate need for an
eflfective system of radio communications inter- and intra-island.
Civil
Defense
During the year, the civil defense organization initiated its disaster
plans and developed an operational survival plan for the territory.
Steps were taken to improve the warning capability of the St. Croix
organization by
the
installation of additional outdoor warning
de-
vices
at
strategic points
in the central and western
sectors of the
island.
Action was taken
to stock designated fallout shelter spaces in the
island of
St. Thomas with food, water, medicines, and radiological
detection kits.
A territorywide exercise, "Operation Top Hat," was
conducted during June 1963.
Reports from
all sources declared the
exercises highly successful.
The emergency resources planning committee for the Virgin Islands
was created
in December
1962.
Some 14 different task groups are
presently engaged in the preparation of postdisaster plans which will
affect all segments of insular economic activity.
Home Guard
The St. Thomas Home Guard unit rendered notable assistance to
the police division and civil defense.
Special duty units were made
100
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS
available to the Virgin Islands Corporation at the Harry S Truman
Airport, and to the St. Thomas Park Authority at Magens Bay for
auxiliary^
police
duty.
Commendations
were
received
by
the
St.
Thomas miit for the conduct of
its operations in these specific areas
and throughout the community.
The St. Croix unit, activated dur-
ing the previous
fiscal year, was granted space at King's Hill on
a
temporary
basis
in which
to
establish
its
headquarters.
Uniform
procurement for this group was accomplished.
The major problem
still remains that of finding suitable permanent quarters for both the
St. Thomas and the St. Croix units.
There are 57 home guard mem-
bers in St. Thomas and 25 in St. Croix.
Police and
Fire Commission
The commission held seven hearings for the year involving such
charges as insubordination, conduct unbecoming an officer, and neglect
of duty.
Suspensions ranging from 5 to 15 days were ordered in five
cases and two of the cases were dismissed.
Parole Board
The parole board held its regular twice-a-year meetings and appli-
cants for parole were heard and cases reviewed.
At the December
1962 meeting 12 cases came before the board for recommendation.
Of
that number, five were recommended for parole and later approved
by the Governor.
In May 1963, 12 cases came before the board for
examination ; of that number 5 were recommended for parole and later
granted parole by the Governor.
Budget
The
actual obligations incurred for operating the department of
public safety over the past
fiscal
years may be observed from the
following comparative chart
Comparison of actual obligations, fiscal years 1959-63
1959
I960
1961
1962
1963
Commissioner's office
Police and prison division
Fire division
Civil defense .__
Home guard-
Police and fire commission
Parole board
Training, including 2 police instructors.
Traffic advisory and safety commission.
Total
_
$29,715
335. 256
90.944
1,518
396
29
$31,018
401,382
116.731
2,618
1.267
110
192
$80, 751
482. 998
129.660
2,434
3.951
251
112
$98, 789
548. 293
134.003
5,617
2,683
261
95
457, 926
553.318
700.157
$101,011
560. 1S6
162, 927
17.584
7,080
349
120
4.800
854,126
The Municipal Courts
Personnel : 13
Operating appropriation: $82,000
St. Thomas and
St. John
During the year a total of 4,094 cases were disposed of in the munic-
ipal court.
Divisionally, they are as follows, including preliminary
hearings
Oriminal division
2, 547
Civil
diviskin
233
Small
claims
division
663
Juvenile and domestic
relations division
258
Conciliation
division
393
Total
4, 0&4
Two hundred and fifty-five applications were made for marriage
licenses.
Of these, 236 marriages were reported, as follows
Anglican Church
29
Apostolic
faith
2
Calvary
Baptist Church
4
Church of God
1
Jewish synagogue
3
Lutheran
Church
17
Methodist Church
51
Moravian
Church
25
Municipal
court
50
Pilgrim
Holiness Church
2
Roman
Catholic Church
50
Seventh Day Adventist Church
2
Total
236
During the year there was one coroner's inquest held.
In this case
the deceased was found
to have met his death through accidental
means.
Extensive renovation work in the courtroom and offices, including
repainting,
tiling, and
air conditioning of
offices was accomplished
during the fiscal year.
The total cost of operating the mimicipal court was $35,132.39. A
total of $29,644.85 was collected from court fines, notary fees, court
costs and fees, and other miscellaneous charges.
Comparative figures covering a 5-year period are given below.
101
102
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR
OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Comparative figures
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
103
Seventh Day Adventist Church
:
Pentecostal Church
7
Pilgrim
Holiness Church
10
Spanish
Methodist
Church
of God
2
Jehovah Witness
3
United Brothers in Christ
1
Total
187
The
municipal
court
of
St.
Croix
collected
revenues
totaling
$21,549.50 from notary fees, miscellaneous police and court fees, court
fines, court costs and other charges, representing an increase of ap-
proximately 26
percent over the
court's revenues of the preceding
year.
The
total
cost of operating
the municipal court was
$33,593.47.
This figure
is derived from the actual obligation documents in the
court's office, as tlie accounting is handled by the department of finance
in
St. Thomas.
This amount does not include the salary of $5,800
for the reporter-secretary which was not filled during the fiscal year
1963.
Comparative figures—5-year period
Office of the Probation Officer
Personnel : 5
Operating appropriation: $31^00
During
fiscal
1963, 40 cases were received, making a total of 142
cases handled during the year.
Of this amount, 19 cases were termi-
nated during that time.
A total of 1,000 investigations were made during the year. A total
of 773 reports were written for an increase of 590 over the previous
fiscal year. A breakdown of the reports is as follows
634 on inmates at Riclimond Penitentiary
101 to the courts
26 parole
1 )oard
12 for other states
A very high rate of adjustment to probation and parole was experi-
enced during the year.
Of the 145 individuals on supervision, only 2
committed offenses which necessitated revocation.
One was a parolee
and the other a probationer.
Parole Board
Plans were made during the
fiscal year for a major overhaul of
the Virgin Islands penal and correctional system.
Steps are being
taken to implement recommendations made by the U.S. Director of
Prisons in his report to the Governor, following his survey last year
of the local system.
The report, recommended construction of a new, modem, and versa-
tile institution for the custody, treatment, and rehabilitation of adults
charged with or convicted of crime and for detention of the more
serious young offenders.
It further recommended reorganization of
the administrative structure for operating correctional facilities and
complete modernization of statutes and regulations with regard
to
prisons, parole, probation, and young delinquents.
The report called
for reconsideration and revision of present
policies with regard to
budget and salaries for correctional personnel, parole board facilities
and officers, probation officer servi^^'^ to district and municipal courts
and detention of young boys under police supervision.
The Governor appointed two committees, both headed by the chair-
man of the parole board.
One committee was charged with recom-
104
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
105
mending a site for the new prison.
The other was to implement the
other recommendations of the U.S. Director of Prisons.
In its report, the prison site committee recommended a tract of 150
acres of land in the Christiansted District of St. Croix.
Negotiations
were commenced for purchase of this land from the Virgin Islands
Corporation.
Terms for acquisition of the site are now under active
consideration by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and early
agreement is expected.
The Governor then will seek necessary author-
ization by the legislature to buy the
site and push on toward early
construction of the new prison facility.
The chairman of the committee to implement further recommenda-
tions of the U.S. Director of Prisons held 4 days of conferences with
the Director
in Washington.
As
a
result
the Director agreed to
assign members of his staff to work on preliminary plans for the new
prison, revision of the Virgin Islands Code to include drafting of a
new comprehensive
correctional
law, and new
prison routines
for
Richmond Penitentiary pending removal of prison operations from
jurisdiction of the department of public safety.
With the assistance of the ILS. Director of Prisons, the possibility
of Federal aid in financing the new penitentiary was explored.
It is
hoped that funds may be secured under the Public Works Act by
the Area Redevelopment Administration which in turn would allot
funds to the Community
Facilities Administration for reallocation
to the Virgin Islands.
Planning Board
Personnel : 10
Operating a/ppropriation : $59^90
Work
continued
during
fiscal
1963 under
the contract with the
Housing and Home Finance Agency for the urban planning assistance
grant of $11-3,875, the first such grant in the Virgin Islands.
This is
for preparation of topographic maps and comprehensive plan studies
for guiding the future development of the three islands.
The planning board this year administered zoning and subdivision
regulations enacted by the legislature.
A number of applications for
exceptions and variances were considered.
To facilitate this, biweekly
meetings were lield in St. Thomas and
St. Croix.
One meeting was
conducted at Cruz Bay, St. John.
Public hearings also were held on
the same schedule.
During the year, a study was conducted and recommendations made
for a new post
office
site.
Conferences were held with the Federal
officials involved concerning parking facilities and architectural treat-
ment of buildings.
The board also assisted the College of the Virgin Islands with re-
spect to sites and architecture for development of its campus.
Other
services rendered were for preservation of historic architecture, review
of legislation for housing aids, formulation of trailer park regulations,
and policies pertaining to houseboats.
Training of a Virgin Islander for the post of city planner was con-
tinued in the Graduate School of Planning at Harvard University.
106
Division of Personnel
Personnel : 16
Operating appropriation: $96^900
Legislation of significance to personnel administration, which was
passed and received executive approval during the past years,
in-
cluded:
(1) A
bill to permit earlier retirement of legislators;
(2)
a
bill to prohibit nonmerit discrimination in the public service;
(3)
a
bill to revise the pay plan for employees in the classified service of the
government of the Virgin
Islands.
This
latter
bill
is perhaps the
most significant piece of legislation to affect the salary administration
of classified employees for several years.
Also included in an appropriation bill passed and approved during
the past year was a provision authorizing the Governor to grant in-
creases in salaries to unclassified employees which in his discretion will
be comparable to increases granted in the new pay plan to classified
employees.
Employee training has been given continued emphasis.
Twenty
officers of the government attended an intensive course in management.
The
course
was
so
successful
that
discussions
were
immediately
entered for repeating the course in St. Thomas and holding a similar
seminar in St. Croix.
During the
past
year, the Governor delegated
several
personnel
functions to the director of personnel, thus permitting independent
approval by this officer of a wide range of personnel transactions.
The following
is
a departmental breakdown of
positions
in
the
classified and unclassified service as of June 30, 1963
107
108
HEPORT OF THE GOVERNOR
OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Number
of
positions
by
departments
{classified
and
unclassified—Executive
branch
'
Departments
Human Relations Commission
The work of smooth enforcement of the
Islands' comprehensive
Civil Rights Law was aided by the continued efforts of the Governor's
Human Relations Commission in fiscal 1963.
The commission quietly investigated complaints submitted to it and
worked to settle these by mediation.
Wliere misunderstandings ex-
isted, conciliation was used to settle these differences in an atmosphere
of reason and without recriminations.
While there are no statistics
to highlight the work of the commission, the results of this work are
evident in the fair and equal treatment of all citizens without regard
to race, creed, or color.
109
721-848 O
- 64
- 8
Traffic Advisory and Safety Committee
Growth of the urban areas in the Virgin Islands and the steadily
increasing number of motor vehicles has contributed to
traffic and
parking problems.
To cope with these problems, the traffic advisory and safety commit-
tee, authorized by the Fourth Legislature, undertook a comprehensive
survey of traffic patterns to assess the most pressing needs.
A 10-point traffic plan was prepared and recommended for the town
of Charlotte Amalie, where problems are the most aggravated.
This
plan included projects
for rerouting, widening and improving key
streets, covering gutters, cutting new roads and extending existing
ones, building connecting bridges, painting lines to define traffic lanes
where needed, installation of traffic lights, and expansion of down-
town parking areas.
Estimated cost of the plan is $400,000.
Recom-
mendations for
its adoption were submitted to the Governor for re-
ferral to the legislature.
110
Public Utilities Commission
At the beginning of the year, the West Indian Company, Ltd.,
petitioned for an increase in its schedule of storage rates.
Company
representatives stated that in recent years the transit warehouses had
become hopelessly congested because consignees would not pick up
shipments when
they
were
ready.
This
situation was
producing
higher operating expenses and lower efficiency in sorting cargo.
The
company contended and the commission agreed that an increase in
storage rates would prove to be an effective incentive for people to call
for their cargo within a reasonable length of time after notices of
arrival had been received.
The commission held
several
public hearings concerning a
later
petition from
the West Indian Company
for an
increase
in
their
landing and loading charges.
The public and representatives of the
local government were invited and did attend.
On June 6, 1963, the
commission approved an increase of 20 percent to become effective as
of that date.
However, since the company had requested a 25 percent
increase, it was agreed that the company would be allowed to present
such rebuttal evidence upon the testimony heard as it might wish at
some future date.
To this date, the company has not presented such
rebuttal evidence.
The commission approved a petition from the Manassah Bus Line,
which has an exclusive franchise for the island of
St. Thomas, to
institute bus service between Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook—five
trips daily at a fare of 40 cents per trip.
A number of matters were presented by the Virgin Islands Tele-
phone Company.
During the year the Commission
1. Approved regulations concerning joint user service, deceased
subscribers, and lease and sale of property
2. Approved temporary schedule of rates, submitted jointly by
the Virgin Islands Telephone Company and All America Cable
and Radio, for interisland telephone service, upon condition that
an amended application for approval of the rates would be sub-
mitted at a later date (this amended application would be based
on actual experience with the news system)
;
3. Authorized the company to initiate a 50 cents per telephone
per month charge for unlisted telephone service.
Ill
Selective Service
Personnel: 5 compensated
Operating appropriation: $29,954.
25 uncompensated
Registration of men attaining the age of 18 years was continued as
required by law.
This brought the total of registrants to 5,764, rang-
ing between
18 and 40 years
of
age,
in
fiscal
1963.
There were
435 new
registrations, slightly
less than the 445 registered in
fiscal
1962.
However, the trend over the past few years continues to reflect
the higher birth rate experienced during World War II.
Of the approximately 2,100 men who have entered service since 1950,
1,415 have been inducted through the Selective Service process, while
approximately 700 entered through direct enlistment.
The two local boards, one serving St. Thomas and St. John, and the
other serving St. Croix, met monthly to complete 1,150 classification
actions—none of which was appealed to the Virgin Islands Appeal
Board. A sizable number of these actions were reclassifications of
Class I-A registrants with children to Class III-A, and the reclassifi-
cation of certain registrants to the new Class I-Y, a classification re-
served for those registrants not now qualified for induction but who
are presumed to be qualified generally in time of national emergency.
Both classes represent deferments.
Examinations More
Stringent
Preinduction physical examinations were administered to 121 regis-
trants at armed forces examining stations.
Of these, 50 were found
acceptable and 71 were not acceptable.
The tabulation indicates re-
sults over a period of five years.
While no particular trend
is indi-
cated in these results, it is noteworthy that the difference in the accept-
ability rate occurring between 1959 and 1960 is due to the adoption of
more critical testing standards, which were again raised in the closing
months of this fiscal year.
112
REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
113
Conclusion
The Governor of the Virgin Islands took office with a firm resolve
to move ahead in all the
social, economic, and cultural programs so
aggressively initiated and pushed forward by the Federal administra-
tion.
The people of the Virgin Islands and a majority of their elected
leaders
joined
forces with the Governor and supported
these pro-
grams as a renewal of their Bill of Human Rights under American
democracy.
There has been a
lot of catching up to do.
In some areas, there
still is.
However, the foregoing report is graphic evidence of progress
being made on
all fronts.
In many cases, the Virgin Islands have
set the pace, with housing and educational projects which will be used
as models for other communities on the U.S. mainland and in countries
around the world.
The resolve to move ahead can never be terminated so long as the
will to progress is alive.
In the Virgin Islands, for example, teacher-
to-pupil ratios which once ran as high as 80 to 1 have been reduced
to an average of 35 to
1.
This
is progress, but
it
is accepted that
further improvement must be made.
In housing, substandard areas
are being renewed and families relocated in modern, low-rent public
housing projects.
However, it is recognized that this is a continuing
process that always must be carried forward.
Hospital and medical
facilities have
steadily
been
expanded,
but
present and
projected
needs call for herculean efforts in the future.
The conclusion of this report is that the broad majority of the people
understands and
accepts
the
responsibility
to move ahead toward
social, economic, and cultural goals far beyond present achievements.
Its further conclusion
is that the Virgin Islands, by virtue of this
mature acceptance of responsibility,
is justified in
its hopes to soon
acquire the right to elect its own Governor and be represented by an
elected delegate to the Congress.
114
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
; 1964
O—721-848