{"id":12149,"date":"2014-11-10T10:59:18","date_gmt":"2014-11-10T10:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=12149"},"modified":"2014-11-23T17:10:04","modified_gmt":"2014-11-23T17:10:04","slug":"opinion-let-virgin-islanders-purchase-hovensa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=12149","title":{"rendered":"Opinion: Let Virgin Islanders Purchase HOVENSA"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the wake of the ABR VI Operating Agreement currently before the Senate for ratification, and other groups\u00a0still vying for a\u00a0chance to bid<\/a><\/span> on the HOVENSA opportunity,\u00a0St. Croix attorney Ronald E. Russell, Esq., of The Russell Law Firm, LLP, believes the defunct refinery\u00a0should be purchased by the people of the Virgin Islands, particularly St. Croix residents.<\/p>\n

Russell will\u00a0testify today, Nov. 10, at the Senate’s Committee of the Whole meeting on HOVENSA, which will take place at\u00a0the Legislature building in Frederiksted at 4 p.m. Below, please find Mr. Russell’s\u00a0written testimony, as submitted to the VI Consortium<\/em>.<\/p>\n

—————-<\/p>\n

Consider HOVENSA being acquired by the people of the Virgin Islands. The\u00a0government, on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, could draft and\u00a0complete a detailed HOVENSA acquisition agreement. As we understand it,\u00a0there was only one response to the RFP. That response came from the buyer\u00a0who has never ran an oil refinery. So how do we stack up against the current\u00a0proposal to buy? We already own much of the property that HOVENSA use. The\u00a0leased lands, submerged land, and access to the ports, contaminated water\u00a0are\u00a0the property for the people.<\/p>\n

This agreement could include a GERS partnership, ownership, and partial\u00a0funding relationship \u2013 consider WICO in St. Thomas? The financing\u00a0arrangement naturally must include prior agreements; prior breaches of\u00a0agreements; and all legal matters still pending and that may need re-opening. It\u00a0should include the federal government, with direct assistance from the\u00a0Department of Interior, the Office of the President and the Departments of\u00a0Transportation, Homeland Security and Commerce.<\/p>\n

This agreement could include WAPA moving its entire operation (i.e. water and\u00a0power generating, distribution etc.) to the HOVENSA complex \u2013 Cost of\u00a0Electricity and Water significantly reduced, the hazards of the residential location\u00a0of WAPA resolved, better environmental mitigation and control in the enclosed
\ncomplex. HOVENSA\u2019s power plant can generate Power from multiple sources.\u00a0The reduction of the cost of energy would significantly impact St. Croix\u2019s people\u00a0our economy and the territory. HOVENSA can provide water for farming, drinking and many other uses. Water can be sold, exported and used for several other
\ntype industries.<\/p>\n

This agreement could move and\/or consolidate our Waste Management\u00a0Authority, Public Works Department, Energy Department, Port Authority and\u00a0Waste to Energy initiative in one area on St. Croix. All HOVENSA and St. Croix\u2019s\u00a0Environmental issues, created by HOVENSA, could be addressed in a\u00a0wholesome process, involving the watchdog environmental groups, the\u00a0government agencies and those from the private sector, including HOVENSA.\u00a0The environmental cleanup and challenges can be addressed with SEA, all our\u00a0schools, our non-profit groups and the resources and money available. This plan\u00a0should be submitted to the people.<\/p>\n

HOVENSA\u2019s acquisition can help solve our waste to energy issue with the use of\u00a0its facilities, high technology and vast amounts of land. Imagine the recycling,\u00a0manufacturing of waste to consumer products, and the limitless possibilities of exporting from the VI because we are using the plants designated for
\nmanufacturing on the South Shore of St Croix.<\/p>\n

The HOVENSA complex already includes many of the services listed above, with\u00a0the added dimensions of excellent security, special access, well-built structures\u00a0and large tracts of land for expansion. The storage facilities and the port of entry\u00a0for ships would be a huge advantage to stimulate creative entrepreneurs and\u00a0spin-off businesses. Remember exports from the Virgin Islands could generate\u00a0much income from the mainland and possibly tax deductions from the federal\u00a0government.<\/p>\n

How do we do it? Well there needs to be at least five teams of experts,\u00a0consultants and advisors that would compose and revise this agreement. Those\u00a0five groups are can be generally identified as: Technical Experts; Financial\u00a0Experts; Legal Experts; Economic Experts, and Political Advisors and Officials.\u00a0We have the talent here: Consider \u2013 Gustav James, Warren Mosler, Retired\u00a0Judge Verne Hodge, Dr. Simon Jones Henderickson and elected officials.\u00a0Groups of 5 to 7 should suffice for our teams. We have the talent, the expertise,\u00a0the education, the experience and individuals for these esteemed groups.\u00a0Please join us in our quest to make this territory a beacon of hope, promise,\u00a0prosperity and stability for the Caribbean and our great nation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Submitted by:<\/p>\n

Ronald E. Russell, Esq.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author, and do\u00a0not necessarily reflect the views and opinions\u00a0of the staff and management of the VI Consortium.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the wake of the ABR VI Operating Agreement currently before the Senate for ratification, and other groups\u00a0still vying for a\u00a0chance to bid on the HOVENSA opportunity,\u00a0St. Croix attorney Ronald E. Russell, Esq., of The Russell Law Firm, LLP, believes the defunct refinery\u00a0should be purchased by the people of the Virgin Islands, particularly St. Croix […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12152,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,4,147],"tags":[735],"yoast_head":"\nOpinion: Let Virgin Islanders Purchase HOVENSA - V.I. 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