US Virgin Islands News

Christensen backs Clinton

The Hillary Clinton campaign announced its endorsement by U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen.  The six-term delegate was named a Co-Chair of Hillary's U.S. Territories Campaign and a member of the Campaign's Health Care Task Force.

"We need change, and Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to deliver it," Congresswoman Christensen said. "Hillary is ready to lead this country on her first day in the White House and her health care platform - and its emphasis on ensuring health equity - is exactly the direction we need to be heading."

Red Hook ferry opening set

The Virgin Islands Port Authority said its new $10 million ferry terminal will be open for business in about two weeks.  Building tenants, including a liquor store and a bar, are in the process of moving in ahead of the Sept. 25th date, according to a report in the Virgin Islands Daily News.  A spokesman for the Authority said he thinks it will be a "pleasant area" for people, once the food and drink facilites are operating.  He said both ferry companies servicing St. John are expected to have ticket counters.

Figuring your new property tax bill

Every villa owner is waiting to find out what the government does with its new property revaluation data.  With the island's estimated assessments rising by factors of 2 to 10, many fear their tax bills could climb accordingly.

Maybe not, according to a report in the Virgin Islands Daily News.

Nathan Simmonds, a senior policy adviser to the Governor, told the V.I. Senate that while the average property value, on all three islands, rose 60%.  Realizing that boosting tax bills that much could cause "undue hardship," he said the government intends to tax only 30% of the increase in property value.

My thinking is informed by this Daily News report.  Do your own calculation. Your mileage may vary.

Simmonds said the new tax bills will be mailed by November.

Tipping the Villa Greeter

There are a lot of outstretched hands looking for a tip between the St. Thomas airport and the Cruz Bay ferry dock, including baggage porters, taxicab drivers, and ferry luggage loaders. Is the person who greets you on St. John another one?

Greeters are part of the villa rental package. They meet you at the ferry dock, take you to a car rental pickup, and then lead you to your house. The greeter's service is worth $50. That's what one villa management company charges owners when guests arrive off-hours, like late at night or on Sundays.  If every thing's on time (on St. John?), it's about an hour's work.  So, that cost has been figured into your rental rate. Greeters are paid by the rental company.

Some island visitors wonder, though, "Should I tip the greeter?" 

What do you think? Make a comment here.

Bordeaux, Lucy's are top Coral Bay picks

Chateau Bordeaux has been voted the top restaurant in Coral Bay by readers of News of St. John.  Perched high over Coral Bay with an astounding view of East End and the BVIs, its dinner offerings include Mahi Mahi, escargot, lobster tail.  Here's the menu.  There are no prices on this online version of the menu, so beware - it's not cheap.  The phone is 340-776-6611.

Second place goes to Miss Lucy's, whose original owner was also a cab driver, whose island tours were the best! The restaurant is located way outta town along the south shore and is best known for its Sunday brunches with live jazz, Lucy's is a long-time favorite.  There are a handful of tables on the beach - arrive early (very!) to get one. The phone is 340-693-5244.

Caneel vs. Gallows

The St. John forum at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com is hosting an interesting debate about the differences between Caneel Bay and Gallows Point. 

It's kind of like, "Tastes Great! Less Filling" because when you come down to it, nothing beats renting a villa ... but, I digress, if not pander.

The Caneel-ites tout the resort's easy access to seven fantastic beaches and great food, and "a feeling of being at a resort back in time, probably the most relaxing place I have ever been," said Traveler22.  "We definitely felt pampered while we were there," added St. John Lover, who went on to say, "But we could only afford a couple days."

Bar Wars: The Video

You couldn't be there?  "Alza317" was and posted this video, "Maho Bay Boys Dominate Bar Wars."

Beware, there is much screaming and one young female who really can screech.  Teams of waiters and bartenders have to deliver the goods through obstacle courses set up on the beach and in the water there at the Beach Bar at Wharfside. The late July event was all in good fun and the proceeds go to a worthy cause, the Animnal Care Center.

Booking for '08? You might do it now.

The Virgin Islands Daily News published two stories last week that have been gnawing at me.  They were headlined, OMB chief projects V.I. revenue will increase $26 million and, a day later, DeJongh submits $15.3 million supplemental spending bill.

Debra Gottlieb, the director of the Office and Management and Budget, told the Senate Finance Committee that "anticipated increases in real property tax collections based on newly assessed values" are the reason.  And even before any Senators had sniffed the smell of new money, the Governor came in on top of them to propose new ways to spend it. When the initial property re-revaluation numbers came out, I waited for Senators to put 2 and 2 together.  The Governor beat them to it.

Now, thanks to the unbelievable increases in St. John real estate assessments, and with property owners unsure only of how high their new taxes will be, it appears the government is eagerly waiting to see the trough filled.

I don't think it's unreasonable for  corrections officers to get long-delayed overtime payments, or for firefighters and supervisors to receive their also long-delayed raises and to pay other personnel and health services costs.  These bills were way overdue.

What could this mean to you? Real estate taxes are part of a busines's operating costs - doesn't matter whether it's a restaurant, a gift shop, or ... a hardware store, a supermarket, a fruit stand, a timeshare development or .... dare I say ... a villa.

It's simple mathematics.  If a villa, condo, resort or timeshare has been socked with a 500% higher assessment, the owner knows real estate taxes are going to up. What do we know about business costs? "Business" doesn't pay them.  The consumer does.

This is why every vacationer and visitor to St. John has a stake in the revaluation process of properties on St. John.  Bottom line advice: book your next villa stay asap.

Lime Inn tops for moderate budget dining in Cruz Bay

The Lime Inn is the best bet for a reasonable night out for dinner with your sweetie and/or the kids, according to results of our week-long poll on Cruz Bay restaurants.Specializing in seafood, Caribbean lobster, and known for its Wednesday night Shrimp Feast, the Lime Inn has been an island favorite for almost 20 years.

Other old reliables finishing near the top of the voting included Morgan's Mango, featuring South American spicy specialties; Rhumb Lines, known for 'Asian fusion'; the Fish Trap, specializing in, what else?, fish and some imaginative Asian-inspired treatments of old favorites; Banana Deck and its solid bar food, and Cafe Roma, serving up pasta and pizza.

Here are the results of our poll:

• Lime Inn  24%
• Morgan's Mango 13%
• Rhumb Lines 13%
• Fish Trap 13%
• Banana Deck 11%
• Café Roma 10%
• Sun Dog Café 4%
• Inn at Tamarind Court 4%
• Happy Fish 3%
• Compass Rose (Pastory) 2%
• Satyamuna 1%
• China Shack 1%

Vote for favorite Coral Bay restaurant

While Coral Bay is rapidly developing ... 'cause that's where the available land is ... it's still kind of laid back and relaxed.  Which explains why its choices for a meal are all over the map. From a fantastic budget breakfast at the Donkey Diner to a moonlit, waterside dinner at Miss Lucy's, the variety is broad.

Frankly, Coral Bay is often a state of mind.  Its restaurants range from tacky to white tablecloth.  Enjoying Coral Bay is easy to do.  Sometimes you're in a rock-and-roll state of mind, other times you're looking for smooth and relaxing. So, in choosing a Coral Bay restaurant or bar, vote for the one where you have the most fun and the best memories.