US Virgin Islands News

A solution to 'the iguana problem'

Iguanas are no laughing matter. 

Word that the Westin Resort was conducting roundups of the lizards on its property, and ‘relocating’ them elsewhere on the island,  amused some people, angered others.

To the Westin, the iguanas were a nuisance at best, perhaps a possible concern for children at least.

But across the water, on Puerto Rico, they are a real problem - and a solution is to encourage people to eat iguanas.

“Iguanas are wracking havoc on the island, chewing up plants and crops and burrowing under roads and dikes,” the Wall Street Journal reported last month.  The lizards are “highly fertile”, too, and now “outnumber humans in this U.S. territory.”

Puerto Rico is encouraging entrepreneurs to establish iguana export businesses, to sell meat to “many Central Americans (who) go gaga for iguana.  They eat it roasted and in stews.”  One man sees the opportunity and has established Best Iguana Puerto Rico Meat, east of San Juan.

Boca Grande, Fl. has also had a problem with iguanas.  George Cera, the Original Iguana Hunter, has seen it up close and has written a book including “an ominous warning about (Iguanas’) impact on Florida's eco system. ”

Could iguanas be a threat to the ecology of St. John? What’s your opinion?

Barshinger wins, gasoline tops $4.50/gal

• Senator Craig Barshinger easily beat three competitors for the Democratic nomination for the At Large Senate seat.  The closest competitor to Barshinger’s 2,154 votes was St. Johnian, Andy Rutnik with about 1,500.
• The price of gasoline is up.  E&C is selling regular for $4.65 a gallon, according too the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (which Rutnik used to run).

Solar on St. John gets backing

In an effort to beat a deadline for applying for a federal planning grant, the territorial government office has backed a plan to explore deploying 45 acres’ worth of solar panels on the island. 

The St. John Source reported VI Energy Office has created a partnership with the Clean Coalition to devise a plan for the massive project which could deploy solar panels over nearly one square mile. 

The Water and Power Authority endorsed the partnership and development of a funding request from the Department of Commerce to study the solar idea on the island.

WAPA doesn't think all the solar panels have to be in one place; that some could be on residences' roofs.

Villa owner wannabes: C’mon in, the water’s fine

The real estate marketplace is strengthening, according to Holiday Homes of St. John.

“The market is experiencing an increase in the number of home sales, with an accompanying increase in the average sales price,” the Realtor’s summer newsletter said. Furthermore, “There have been surprisingly few foreclosures to report.” Sales year to date include 21 homes.

Inventory as of this week stands at about 165 homes, 10 fewer than a few weeks ago, indicating that the usually-soft summer selling season has not been the case.

Land sales are also up strongly, 145% over the first six months the of last year, the newsletter said.

“It’s been hard for most (home) owners to get over their idea of what they might have sold for a few years back,” Holiday Homes said. 

The real estate firm is optimistic that the second half of the year will be good for sales. “Buyers realizer the market has bottomed out, but there is still time to buy now.”

For sale: the Beach Bar

This is a shocker!  Is this on the level?

The most popular bar/restaurant on the island can be yours for $1.8 million, according to an online real estate site.

The Beach Bar, on the Cruz Bay waterfront at Wharfside Village, has been there for a dozen years, although not under the same owner. 

"No owner financing, Cash sale only," adds the listing, posted at BizBuySell.com. 

Reason for selling: "Family issues force a move stateside."

A description says the 60-seat indoor/outdoor business does "large liquor and food" business and "HUGE volume sales."  A year-old merchandise shop is "growing steadily" with "huge potential for all around sales increases."

Something else interesting, under the heading, "Who knew"?, the Beach Bar deal comes with a one-bedroom apartment with kitchen and bathroom.

"If you want to live in paradise and operate a very profitable, amazing biz then this is the place for you," says the offering.

• Beach Bar sale listing

Proposed: 20 acre solar energy farm

The Clean Coalition thinks it has a solution to the outrageous cost of electricity on St. John.  While a kilowatt of juice costs 8.5 cents in Maine, where at least half the homes heat with fuel oil, the cost is nearly five times as much on St. John.

Clean Coalition says it has a better idea: find land on the island, fill it with solar panels, generate power and reduce electricity bills as much as five percent.  If the project produced more electricity at times than the island needed, it would be sold to the Water and Power Authority.

The Coalition’s director, Craig Lewis, said the cost of the project could be as much as $45 million.

Photo courtesy of Solar Jeff

But not to worry about the money, he said. “It was explained that, were residents so inclined, they could invest in the projected $45M project and get a tidy return on their money,” said Solar Jeff, an alternative energy consultant on the island. “Lacking that, we were informed, ‘outside’ investors would be happy to finance the construction. And, of course, there is always the chance of a nice Federal grant.”

Also attending the meeting were the CEO of WAPA,  Senator Craig Barshinger, and Craig Lewis of the VI Energy Office.

Now, all they need is the land.

• Solar Jeff, energy consultant
• Clean Coalition

Less VI money may go up in flames

Festival photo by Yelena Rogers

The 4th of July fireworks may be a little less bright next year when the St. John Festival winds up.

That’s because the Carnival Committeee budget recommendation to the VI Senate to fund the festival is for $231,000, That is $19,000 less than last year.  

Festival organizers had wanted a large increase in funds to allow the purchase of two tents a well as cargo containers, according to the St. John Source’s report pod a senate budget meeting.  Leona Smith, who heads up the Festival Organization, said the tents would solve the problem of bad weather that’s affected the week-long event several times in the last five years.

Entertainment is the Festival’s biggest expense, the money going to performers who entertain at the Cruz Bay bandstand and elsewhere.  The group planned to spend $100,000 on the artists.  Promotion and advertising costs were budgeted at $75,000 the Source said.

• Read the full Source story here
• This year's Festival ended with a bang!

St. John: Another new restaurant

There's a new restaurant going into the old Stone Terrace location in Cruz Bay, near the Beach Bar and the Fish Trap.

Cruz Bay Realty tweeted The Terrace is expected to open in October.

 

In January of 2010, the spot was home to Cactus on the Blue which, initially, garnered great reviews for its upscale Mexican food and Margaritas.  Trip Advisor still rates it four stars, even though recent ratings have been poor.

In other restaurant news, Islandia Real Estate's blog has a post highlighting some recent deals and suggesting the off season's been a good one for business.  

One of the "Contracted" properties featured is the old Voyages de St. Jan building in Coral Bay.  Last thing we heard about that spot, a year ago, was a plan to turn it into a restaurant and hotel.

St. John’s Brent Lynn wins Triathalon

Brent Lynn, a villa property manager with Catered To, was first across the finish line in the men’s section of the 13th Love City Triathalon this weekend.  Theresa Harper of St. Croix was the first woman to complete the full course.

The St. John Source (its complete report of the event is here) said Lynn, 33, had a time of one hour, 55 minutes and 57 seconds,. Harper, 46, did the route in one hour 59 minutes and 9 seconds, just about three minutes slower.

Almost two dozen competitors contested along the full triathlon course which included a 14-mile bike ride, half-mile swim, and four-mile run.