With tropical storm Emily hovering down near Barbados, uncertain in which direction to strike, it’s difficult to pay attention to other news. But some recent events deserve comment.
Former Sen. John Tutein’s indictment was announced Tuesday. He’ll be arraigned Sept. 1 on federal and territorial charges of attempting to bribe Sen. Allie-Allison Petrus to support legislation favorable to Innovative Communications Corp., owned by the Virgin Islands’ own communication mogul, Jeffrey Prosser.
This sensational accusation got even wilder with the disclosure in the indictment that among the inducements allegedly offered Petrus was a mobile TV broadcast van. What does a mobile TV broadcast van have to do with this case? Why would Petrus want this esoteric piece of equipment? Where would Tutein find one to give him? So far as we know, the only such van belongs to public television station WTJX and was last seen parked behind the studio atop Sub Base, waiting for the next Carnival parade.
Perhaps the Daily News, whose headlines now can be read from a passing vehicle, maybe even a mobile TV broadcast van, could look into these strange goings-on? Except that Prosser now owns the newspaper, which must be a source of embarassment, if not concern, to the news staff. In any event, this is a story to be followed.
Meanwhile, Gov. Charles Turnbull says he’ll ask the courts to uphold his veto of a Senate bill that ordered him to reorganize his Executive Branch. Turnbull and Senate leaders should talk this over, work it out. The courts are traditionally leery of getting involved in disputes between the other two branches of government, and Turnbull was going to reorganize Government House anyway. Bottom line here: We’ve got more important problems to take care of.
The good news, bad news award goes to the government for its intention to pay off a $35 million short-term loan it took out earlier this year. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the government is going to pay off that loan by floating a $100 million bond issue that will take us deeper into debt.
The winner of the most optimistic declaration of the week award has to be Rudolph Krigger, financial guru to the governor, who declared that the territory’s bond issues are popular because they’re exempt from all income taxes. Well, yes, until investors begin to worry about whether the Virgin Islands can pay off the bonds when the time comes.
Finally, there’s cheerful news for the University of the Virgin Islands — if it plays its cards right.
St. Croix’s first gambling casino just might open by the end of the year. We know this because Public Works next month is going to start repairing the South Shore road, otherwise known as Pothole Heaven, on the big island. That’s the road you have to take to reach the casino.
And residents of St. Croix shortly will be taking classes in how to deal blackjack, spin the roulette wheel and supervise a craps table. The classes will be taught — get this — by a Professor of Gaming from the Community College of Southern Nevada. For Southern Nevada, read Las Vegas.
UVI, as a result of its latest reorganization, now sports a president, four vice presidents, one provost and two chancellors. (Or is it two provosts and one chancellor? The mind reels.)
President Orville Kean wants more money from the Legislature for his underpaid faculty. He’s missing a bet by not establishing on the St. Croix campus a Department of Gaming, perhaps under the Mathematics and Science Division, that would supply casinos a steady supply of college-trained dealers. The casinos would pay the government. The government would pay UVI. The university’s financial people could apply some of the money to salary increases for English teachers.
In Las Vegas this is known as skimming, and it’s illegal. But this is our university we’re talking about, not some community college in Las Vegas.
Four vice presidents, two chancellors and a provost. Is that what they call a full house?
Editors' Note: Frank J. Jordan is a local radio commentator, former UVI journalism professor and former NBC News executive.