DS9 Document EFTA01079132

USVI 171st YEAR TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015, NO.143 Trustworthiness questioned Residents, senators react to Villagate lease deal MAUNA TUCKER sr. CR= — Residents and pub- lic ofticz.ls weighed in on The Avis' stay that uncovered a lease agree- ment for Gov. Kenneth Mappb St Thomas rental that he had swoon to the public did not oast Reactions ranged from =prise to queszcns regarding trustwor- thir.ess of an administration that advocated tmnsparency. The 12-page lease agreement. Bra obtained by The Avis. Proved the governor and his staff 'mew as erely as Jan. 22. or 17 days after his inaugundion, that his St. Thomas rental would cost 514.500 as of March I. On Monday. pcmocratic State Char Cad Benjamin said he was liabbegastee with the information he read in the Sunday-Monday edi- nonofT eMt conearzig the lease 14y problem with Mr. Mapp is that be says one thing and does the Mapp campaign disclosure Lacks supporting proof, documents BRUNEI' KNIGHT ST. CROIX - Oov. Kenneth Mappli cam- paign disclosure has been Bled. but is absent of supporting proof and decuments as required by law and dearly stated on campaign finance disclosure forms. The governor's campaign committee trea- surer submitted a 17-page document to the Elections System of the Virgin Islands on June 17. but failed to provide the system with a sin- gle supporting document or proof as required. The forms Lnstruct candidates to provide copies of checks. money orders or receipts as baek-up information. other.' he said. adding the gover- nor has been inconsistent since taking dike. 1 am afraid he will lose the trust of the folks. tf he continues like this.' he said. Benjamin said he expected more from the Mapp Administration and the governor's inoorsistewy is not 'good for the government' Vfe all need to week together to bring about a better Winn Islands for everyone.' he said- Benjamin said he hoped the goo- emorcouk era rake himsdf raid do what he has to do for the people of the Vngin Iskuvls: As recently as last week. Mapp maintained the monthly cost was $12.500. the amount he Sint used co Feb. 12. about a week after The AM first broke the story about the rental- That figure was contradic- tory to the S4.0001=1* quoted by his spokesperson Kimberly Jones. He said he wanted to correct the 'mistake' printed. Al Frankti director of Our Town Fredniksted. said he was -am sm- lased by anything orkh the gov- ernment: -All sorts of things happen Lei government that people don't =ow. but what I read was sad.' Fra.nIclin said. While the territory is struggling to recover dunng this time. it is sad that we are hearing VLLAGATE, PAGE 5 Treats and Tiaras (Above)2015 St John Festival Chain Shama Harney receives her crown lean Kyrele Thomas stemmas:in ceremony held Sunday in Cruz Bay. Boos Mar- 'nay and Thomas we new graduates of the Charted* Arne* hash School. who noshed bpi high sehocadkicass oe June 14. (Left) Pie? Oh my — Myah Poe- ediffirdei Mr bid appearance as a vendor at the St John Festiva. Foot Fair wftlt a Sited Sweat potato Pit Page S. EFTA01079132 tomened. a utility pole snapped as well: he said. All but a small number of customers on Feeder 10A had their sense restored as of late Wednesday. Greaux said. . 4 , , s u p . . . % ' e a 1 . We have issues nom customer service to lack of services.' she said. Rivera-Oteilly also inquired how much of the DOL's appro- priated funds throughout the year make It to VI youth. it S Intend- 'ed to b-asellt. She said she has received complaints of the sum- mer lob selection programs being DOL Commissioner nominee Catherine Hendry in response said there was no mitten policy in place to govern the selection process. During her testimony. which sacs ois w rwu. sate 16-24. Hendry said. To date. 445 of those in that age group have been registered to participate in this work experience program- -It's not enough. We must do more for the youth and the unit that services them.' Hendry said. -The youth need to see. hear. and wake up to labor.' • Hendry said DOL also offers the Jobs for Aznermas Graduates Vir- gtn Islands or JAGVI. an in-school program to help students find their way to graduation and equip them with the skills to and and retain ayob. Hendry told senators that VI youth is pan of the DOLS ;alma- WAPA line crews respond to small service interruptions on St. Thomas and St. Croix Residents in the Fmrschtown Service Interruptions also were area lost power Just before 2 reported in Sorgenfri on St. p.m. Wednesday after a trailer Thomas and portions of the Mick bit a utility pole. East End on St Croix. Greaux Line crews from the Water said for about a half-hour and Power Authority worked Wednesday service was inter- through the afternoon following muted on a portion of Feeder the incident about 1:30 p.m. 7A affecting the Sorgenfri area to make repairs in the area/ and the Ridge Road feeder. ser- The trader Matt 'Impacted Sting some areas in the south- both telecommunications and eastern end of St. Thomas. power lines in the vicinity of On St Crccc Feeders IA and the Joseph Aubam ball park 6A were realised to power after at about 1:30 Wednesday. service interruptions. but spokesperson Jean Greaux Greaux said that as of 3:30 said. p.m. Wednesday small areas 'Not only were the Imes were tn Cotton Valley. South Grape- tree Bay. Teague Bay. Estate Boetzberg. Morning Star and Solitude were without service. line craw were dispatched to restore power as quickly as possible. he said. Loco o.n.o. "...so 2015 request of $4.184.143. Hendry noted this years budget request 'reflects the economic challenges being faced by the ten It must be utilized wisely in order to take care of our needs and to enable the Virgin Islands Department of labor to cant' out its local and federal mandates. and fully accomplish its mission to administer a system of effective programs and services designed to develop. protect and maintain a viable workforce.' Hendry said. She said the department is crit- ically understaffed in Its locally- funded programs and that leder- DISCLOSURE FROM PAGE 1 &ion. ono on ins oo. ants as of June 15 due in inter- est payments on Mast Fund loans Is $74.5 million she said. adding that because of the outstanding debt. employers received reduced Federal Unemployment Tax Act credits. 'The Unemployment insurance taxes that are collected from Iambic employers are deposited on behalf of the Virgin Islands into a Federal Unemployment Trust Fund: Hendry said. 'Monies from this fund are used solely to pay ben- efits to eligible unemployed Magus Islands workers.' The outstanding debt. she said. negatively affects every =able MAW, ye. yff v. • — ...oa— ks an additional reduction for the 2014 tax year. However. once the debt remains unpaid the penalty will continue to increase. Also Monday. senators teamed that even while the deparoasent is struggling with the Workes Com- pensanon Fund. DO:. Ls paying 33222.003 annually to rent space at Estate Coakley fora 20-year period. Seat Kurt Wale. who noted that the St. Thomas DOL office was costing 8250.000 annually. said that by the time the St. Croix lease is up. DOL would have paid over $6 million just to use the Protract. M an example. the documents noted the Mapp-Potter campaign received 510.000 on May 15. 2014. to 'start the camjaalgrs.- It also notes that 510.000 was donated on Aug. 10 and Nov 6 of 2014 to fund the campaign. but does not provide copies of checks. money orders or receipts as back-up Information required by the Elections System. The dis- closure also listed the campaign raising 3131.281.09 In other event* but does not list the name of the events or provide docu- mentation In total the Mapp-Para cam- paign said It raised $221.442.09 through food and daink sales. a 50/50 rattle and five major fundraising vests. but again does not provide documentation- The Elections System form instructs the candidate to pro- videone original dccument' for proof of event — such as a food sale ticket — for back-up infor- mation. No such proof was pro- vided. Five events were listed under a form titled the Contributions Other Receipts FORM 1-G. It states the five events all took place in October 2014 and raised a total of 890.161. but only gives the date the event was held, the price of tickets and total amount raised at each event The duckente lists sere al tom- pontes and individuals that donat- ed to the Mapp-Potter 2014 Cam- paign for governor of the Virgin Islands. however. it does not pro- vide receipts or copies of checks or money orders. On MUM it The Avis was 'he fat to Wet me campaigns of Mapp and so Ireshman wars Halligat• Of St MOT'S and Kin Voss of St Coax - had mimed Itio.kn 21 deocline tot* carreann force dulosures. Vat find showers Toe Ave report and Karen- an Sled in May. Both paid aceurrutatett Mein The Avis learned of the delays in filing after visiting the Elections System's Sunny Isle location in March and requested to view dis- closures for the 2014 election_ At the time. The Am was pro- vided with two very large binders of copies of various oziginal doc- uments including receipts and checks when asked to see the Ctuistlansen-Ottley campaign Brans disclosure On Monday. The Am again asked to review the ChttsUansan• Ottley campaign finance disclo- sure. but was unable to do so because it was locked in the office of the Supervisor of Elections Car- oline Fact Fawkes is cur fitly off island and dart not return calls for com- ment by The Avis. Fawkes was approached last week about view- ing the documents submitted by the Mapp campaign team attar the governor announced at a press continence it had been filed. In accordance with the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1972. campaign finance laws are set in place to restrict the Influence wealthy individuals and special alter:St groups may have Mt the DISCLOSURE, PAGE 5 EFTA01079133 TuESaw, JUNE b, 2015 WS* Piths 6 DISCLOSURE • FROM PAGE 4 election process. It also limits the amount an indlyidual can donate to a candidate. enforces campaign laws and attempts to make lections transparent. Campaign finance filings also allows the public access to Information such as what cor- porate entities donated to which candidate. Under the VI Code. Title 18. Elections Chapter 29 — Dis- closure and Limitations on Campaign Contribu- tions requires: Id) The treasurer of each political committee shall keep a detailed and exact account of: (1) all contributions made to or for such committee: (2) the identillcaUon of every person making a contri- bution. or aggregate contribu- tions of over 100: (3) all ccp;nditures made by or on behalf of such com- mittee: and N) the identification of every person to whom any expenditure Is made. the date and amount thereof. and the name and address of and office sought by each candidate on whose behalf such expendi- ture was made. VILLAGATE. FROM PAGE 1 (e) The treasurer of each political committee shall obtain and preserve. for such period of time as is determined necessary by the Supervisor. receipts for expenditures made by or on behalf of the political • committee over $100. and for any such expenditure in a leaser amount if the aggregate amount of such expenditures to the same person during a calendar year exceeds S100. The documents filed by the Mapp-Potter campaign also states that two black-tie events were held. one in New York and the other at the Buc- caneer Hotel on St. Croix. The other rent was a Caribbean dinner at Din Carina Bay Resort and Casino. • The Mapp-Potter campaign disclosed that during the peri- od of 'May 14 to December 14.' a total of 6175.113 was contributed by individuals and companies. The Mapp-Potter campaign also disclosed that the total amount raised from events and fundraising amounted to 6426.555.09. The form notes the eyents or fundraising activities where these receipts were collected are listed regardless of the amount received, however, there were no receipts included in the [11- The Itemized Expenditures Form 2-A is blank and the campaign instead attached what it titles: "Mapp-Potter Campaign 20.14 Itemized Expenditures Form 2-A: Form 2-A requests copies of checks. invoices: receipts and all documents Co support expenditures. The CaMpal provides total expenditures for utilities. travel. supplies. repairs and maintenance. advertising. refit. permits. bank charges. donations arid Photographed are the campaign finance disclosure tinge Ian both the Mapp-Potter and ClxistensenCier My gubernatorial campaign teems. The photo of tea Chiistansan-thaey campaign finance disclosure (left), Bed baby tie Jan 21 *Nana. was photographed that month and the Mapp-Potty campaign finance (14408fire (above) was PbotodraPhed on Manday lam lated consulting fees fora total of $422. 105.06. There are no receipts attached as request- ed by the Elections System. The Form 2-B titled Other Disbursements. Is left blank. The Mapp-Potter campaign also states that no loans were borrowed and lists 'not applic- able for following forms: The Contributions Other Autho- rized Committees Form I -E: Contributions Loans made or Guaranteed by the Candidate Form I -F: Debts and Obliga- tions Contributions Receivable. Debts and Obligations fl •p=- dilates Payable and the Non- monetary Contributions liana. The document was signed by the campaign treasurer. which was identified as Blind Richard. Mapp. at the June 17 press conference, said that fines associated with a late filing were paid. The documents pro- vided to The Avis showed that on June 17. Richard slaved a check for 61.020 in 'ate fees payable to the Elections Sys- tem. Anne A•1••••• • EFTA01079134