Carlton Dowe Selected as New Director of the VI Port Authority

THIS ISSUE Page 2

• New Aircraft Lift Improves

Disabled Passenger Experience

• Lindbergh Beach Clean-up

Page 3

• CEKA Taxiway A Rehab

Underway

Page 4

• New Board Officers &

Committee Members

Page 5

• Crown Bay Dredging Project

Page 6

• Doing Business with VIPA

• Containerport Paving Begins

• VIPA 50th Anniversary

Countdown

Page 7

• 2013 VIPA Employees of the

Year

• 10,000-Step Challenge

Page 8

• CSM 2013 Seatrade Cruise

Convention

• CEKA 2013 Mock Drill

• Upcoming Employee Seminars

The Virgin Islands Port Authority welcomed its new executive director, Carlton Dowe, who officially took the helm on Jan. 15, 2013. Dowe is responsible for the operations and all staff of the Authority. He reports directly to VIPA’s nine

-member governing board of directors.

Dowe’s professional life is marked with successful public service. He has over 24 years of management experience serving as a

firefighter, rising through the ranks to become the youngest fire chief in U.S. Virgin Islands history. Dowe also served as a deputy U.S. marshal, and director of the VI Fire Services. He served five terms as a senator in the VI Legislature representing the district of St.

Thomas and St. John.

His past successes have proven Dowe to be a visionary and a successful change-agent. Dowe brings proven experience as a negotiator, collaborator and an insightful communicator. His accomplishments prove that he is able to inspire and energize others to work towards achieving common goals, and that he is well skilled at creating consensus among divergent groups. He is also a strong advocator of local talent development. Education accreditations include an Associate of Science Degree in fire science and ethnology, an Associate of Arts degree in fire administration from Miami Dade Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York. He is a member of the Association of Retired Fire Chiefs and

the Association of Retired Firefighters.

Carlton Dowe

A PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PORT AUTHORITY Volume 9 Issue 1 www.viport.com 2013 Spring Edition

Page 2 VIPA Portfolio—Spring 2013

VIPA Spruces Up Lindbergh Bay Beach The Virgin Islands Port Authority has launched a massive clean up of Lindbergh Bay Beach. The beach, located adjacent to the airport, is a popular attraction for tourists as well as locals.

VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe said the Port Authority’s maintenance crew invested a lot of man hours to remove garbage and cut down shrubbery at the beach. He encourages the public to keep the beach clean and to remove all trash from the beach after parties. Dowe said, “I hope that the members of our community do their part to keep one of our most popular beaches clean so that it can be fully enjoyed by everyone.”

A new BAR 35 passenger board ramp will help disabled travelers board airplanes.

New Aircraft Boarding Ramp Lift Improves Travel Experience for Passengers with Disabilities

Airlines at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas were excited to learn that the VI Port Authority had received a new BAR 35 passenger boarding ramp. This non-mechanized aircraft boarding ramp provides assistance to passengers with special boarding and deplaning needs. The BAR 35 machine provides mechanical stairs and a lift for travelers, and is designed to support the various types of aircraft that currently service the airport on St. Thomas. VIPA Executive Director Dowe said that the lift cost $52,537

and was purchased by the Port Authority.

Dowe said that all airlines may request the use of the portable wheelchair lift through the CEKA airport manager’s office at (340) 774-5100. A

maintenance and usage fee of $100 is charged per use.

Lindbergh Bay Beach, St. Thomas

The VIPA Portfolio is published by: The Virgin Islands Port Authority P.O. Box 301707 St. Thomas, VI 00803-1707 Tel: (340) 774-1629 Fax: (340) 774-0025 Web site: www.viport.com E-mail: info@viport.com Honorable John P. deJongh Jr. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Honorable Gregory L. Francis Lt. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Mr. Robert O’Connor Jr. Chairperson of the Board Private Sector Member, St. John The Honorable Beverly Nicholson-Doty Vice Chairperson of the Board Commissioner of Tourism Mr. Allison Petrus Secretary of the Board Private Sector Member, St. Thomas The Honorable Darryl Smalls, P.E. Commissioner of Public Works The Honorable Albert Bryan Jr. Chairman, Economic Development Authority Board and Commissioner of Labor The Honorable Vincent Frazer, Esq. Attorney General Dr. Yvonne E. L. Thraen Private Sector Member, St. Thomas Mr. Gordon A. Finch Private Sector Member, St. Croix Mr. Manuel Gutierrez Private Sector Member, St. Croix Mr. Carlton Dowe Executive Director Mr. David W. Mapp Assistant Executive Director Monifa A. Marrero Editor & Layout Gail L. Chinnery Assistant Editor Julice Harley Assistant Editor

Established on Feb. 11, 1969, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) is a semi-autonomous agency that owns and manages the two airports and the majority of the public seaports in the United States Virgin Islands. We are also charged with controlling the harbors in the territory. VIPA is a critical arm of the USVI economy, and is committed to maintaining and developing the airports and seaports of the territory to accommodate the current and future demands of its users. The Port Authority is self-supporting and receives no tax revenues from the U.S. Virgin Islands government.

VIPA Portfolio—Spring 2013 Page 3

Resurfacing work of the Cyril E. King Airport Taxiway A continues.

CEKA Taxiway A Rehab Underway

Resurfacing of Taxiway A—which provides access to and from the Cyril E. King Airport Terminal on St. Thomas—began in February. The project will complete the necessary pavement repairs to the entire Taxiway A East and includes a small portion of Taxiway A West at the hold position to Runway 10. The $8.9 million dollar project is funded via an Airport Improvement Projects grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA will pay 90 percent of the cost and the remaining 10 percent will be funded by the Port

Authority.

Better Roads Asphalt Corporation of St. Thomas, the project contractor, will complete the work in several phases and sub-phases. The first three phases will consist of replacing apron and taxiway asphalt pavement with a 12-inch reinforced concrete pavement including under drain, marking, lighting and other associated work. The entire project is estimated to take approximately 390 days to complete. Most of the work will be done between the hours of 11:00p.m. and 5:30a.m. to minimize any interruption in normal

airport operations since CEKA only has one runway.

Did you know…?

What we now know as the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas was once part of a mangrove lagoon called Mosquito Bay - later named Lindbergh Bay. The first passenger plane to land on USVI soil was La Nina, owned by Aerial Express Co. of San Juan, which landed in Bourne Field on St. Thomas in 1928 carrying its pilot and four passengers. Most of the land in Lindbergh Bay was owned by the Moron family and was sold to the government in 1932 for $20,000. The government later built an air base called Bourne Field, comprised of two 1,600-foot sod-surfaced runways which were used by the U.S. Marines as an outlying training field. A naval hangar constructed in the 1930’s would serve as the island’s airport and named in honor of President Alexander Hamilton. In 1935 the U.S. Navy also dredged and filled portions of Lindbergh Bay to combat dengue fever outbreaks.

The VI Port Authority was created in 1969 to manage the USVI’s airport and seaports. Due to increased tourist visits and an unfortunate airplane crash in 1976, it was decided that St. Thomas needed a larger airport. Construction of a new terminal and runway in Lindbergh Bay began in 1978. The old runway was extended from 4,200 feet to 7,000 feet. To this day, CEKA has one of the largest, deep-water dredged runways in the Caribbean. The runway was completely resurfaced by the Port Authority in Dec. 2011. CEKA Road Repaired

The road leading to the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas was recently

resurfaced by the USVI Department of Public Works and the VI Port Authority

to correct long-standing faults in the road that resulted in numerous potholes

and asphalt failure. The road to the airport is under the federal roadway

system, and therefore under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public

Works who hired project contractor Better Roads Asphalt Corporation to

perform the work.

Page 4 VIPA Portfolio—Spring 2013

VIPA Board Elects New Officers IPA Board Elects New

The VI Port Authority Board elected its new officers at its Jan 18, 2013 board meeting:

Robert O’Connor Jr. Beverly Nicholson-Doty

Board Chairman Robert

O’Connor, Jr. appointed to the

board for his fifth term in

September 2011, representing the

island of St. John. O’Connor is an

entrepreneur and business owner.

He owns O'Connor Car Rentals

and St. John Development Corp.

He also served as a senator in the

17th and 18th Vl Legislature.

O'Connor served as director of

equipment maintenance for the

Department of Public Works. He is

a member of the VI Commission

on Judicial Disabilities, the

Chamber of Commerce and the

Virgin Islands Girl Scout Board.

He is also a charter member of the

St. John Lions Club.

Board Vice Chairwoman

Beverly Nicholson-Doty is the

Commissioner of the USVI

Department of Tourism and

serves as an ex officio member on

the VIPA Board. Nicholson-Doty

formerly served as the executive

director of the St. Thomas-St.

John Hotel & Tourism

Association. In addition to an

extensive background in

marketing, she was also selected

as Executive Director of the Year

in 2000 by the Caribbean Hotel

Association. Nicholson-Doty was

elected to three consecutive terms

as vice president of the Caribbean

Society of Hotel Association

Executives.

Board Secretary Allison Petrus

serves as a private citizen

representing the district of St.

Thomas/St. John on the VIPA

board. He was appointed to serve

on the board from June 27, 2012

through June 27, 2015. Petrus

owns and operates four Subway

franchises and PG Gas Station on

St. Thomas. He has worked as a

financial analyst for the Florida

State Comptroller’s office, and

served as a senator in the

Legislature of the U.S. Virgin

Islands from 1995-2000. Petrus is

also a veteran of the U.S. Army

and the founder and producer of

the award-winning locally

televised show, Graffiti Street.

VIPA BOARD 2013 COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Finance: Manuel Gutierrez Jr.—chair; Allison Petrus; Vincent Frazer, Esq.; Robert O’Connor Jr.; Gordon Finch Property: Vincent Frazer, Esq.—chair; Darryl A. Smalls, Gordon Finch, Manuel Gutierrez Jr.; Allison Petrus

Personnel: Albert Bryan Jr.—chair; Beverly Nicholson-Doty; Darryl A. Smalls; Dr. Yvonne Thraen

Projects & Operations: Robert O’Connor Jr.— chair; Gordon Finch; Darryl A. Smalls; Beverly Nicholson-Doty; Dr. Yvonne Thraen

Marketing: Beverly Nicholson-Doty—chair; Robert O’Connor Jr.; Albert Bryan Jr.; Dr. Yvonne Thraen

Allison Petrus

VIPA Portfolio—Spring 2013 Page 5

Crown Bay Dredging Project Moves Forward

The Virgin Islands Port Authority submitted a joint

application to the VI Coastal Zone Management

Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to

dredge the East Gregerie Channel in Crown Bay, St.

Thomas. The joint application proposes to dredge the

north side of the Crown Bay Cruise Ship Dock and the

East Gregorie Channel to 11 meters. This dredging is

intended to accommodate existing and future cruise ships

and improve navigational safety during arrival and

departure maneuvers. The turning basin has been

positioned to minimize the impact on the marine

environment to the greatest extent possible. The estimated

quantity of material to be dredged is 193,100 cubic yards – of which 54,500 cubic yards is rock.

The application to CZM and the USACOE includes a proposal to transport the dredged material to the

island of St. Croix. The dredged material will be useful for construction projects. It will be stored at

the Rock Quarry which sits on Port Authority-owned property on St. Croix until it is dry enough to be

used by VIPA, the VI Department of Public Works and other private entities.

The entire permitting process is expected to be completed by December 2013. If the permit is

approved, VIPA Executive Director Dowe said the Port Authority is prepared to advertise a bid for a

contractor to perform the dredging immediately. “Within 60 days we should have a contract in place

with a company to perform the dredging. It will take an additional three months to mobilize and

transport dredging equipment and materials needed to dredge the channel from the mainland to

St. Thomas,” said Dowe. He anticipates that by May 15, 2014 the dredging should begin, and that the

entire project should be completed between May 2015 to February 2016 – depending on the

characteristics of the rock being dredged in the channel.

VIPA has paid for all studies and consultants necessary to prepare the permits via funds in its FY 2013

budget. The VIPA Board is currently determining the best option to finance the actual dredging.

VIPA plans to dredge the East Gregorie Channel to accommodate the Freedom Class cruise ships on the northern side of the dock in Crown Bay.

East Gregorie Channel

Crown Bay Harbor, St. Thomas

Page 6 VIPA Portfolio—Spring 2013

Doing Business with VIPA Leases Approved by the Governing Board January through March 2013

• US Air Force Hurricane Hunters—approved a lease of one year with four one-year options to

renew, not to extend beyond Dec. 31, 2017.

• Sun and Sand Beachwear—existing lease amended to include a three-year option.

• Ocean Rent-A-Car dba Your Choice Café– approved a two year lease from Feb. 1, 2013 through

Jan. 21, 2015 to operate an ice cream shop in Building G-4, Crown Bay Center.

• Iris Martinez—approved lease renewal for two years from March 1, 2013 through Feb. 2, 2015.

• Sandals for You—approved lease renewal for three years for space at the CEKA terminal.

• Gloria George—approved three year lease with three-year option to renew for space at the Urman

Fredericks Marine Terminal in Red Hook.

• Jacqueline Warner dba Island Ambrosia— approved two-year lease for space at Crown Bay Center.

• Omni’s Inc.—approved lease assignment for space at Crown Bay Center to Skagway Jewelry, Co.

for the remaining term of the lease and an additional five-year option under the existing terms.

On February 11, 2013…

The Virgin Islands Port Authority celebrated its

44th anniversary!!! Happy birthday VIPA!!! Next year,

the agency will commemorate 45 years of operation in the

U.S. Virgin Islands and begin its countdown to VIPA’s

Golden 50th Anniversary on Feb. 11, 2019.

Container Port Paving

Concrete paving was resumed at the Wilfred

“Bomba” Allick Port on St. Croix on Feb. 11th.

After completion of this work, vessels will be able

to use the second berth at this busy transshipment

facility. The repairs were included in VIPA’s

fiscal year 2013 budget. Work is anticipated to be

completed by April. The Container Port on St. Croix is the islands’ major transshipment port.

VIPA Portfolio—Spring 2013 Page 7

CCCCLAXTONLAXTONLAXTONLAXTON E. DE. DE. DE. DAVISAVISAVISAVIS (center)

Storeroom Dispatcher Purchasing Office

Administration & Finance Department St. Thomas/St. John

Date of hire: May 23, 1995 Supervisor: James Tamar, Purchasing Supervisor

MMMMANUELANUELANUELANUEL GGGGARCIAARCIAARCIAARCIA (center)

Custodian Aviation Division

Henry E. Rohlsen Airport Terminal St. Croix

Date of hire: January 15, 1990 Supervisor: Juanita Sanes, Custodian Supervisor

Khaliah Rieara, Milton Potter and Michelle Johnson VIPA, St. Thomas

VIPA Employees Accept “10,000 Steps” Challenge

On any given Saturday around 5:30 a.m. you will find a group

of Port Authority employees gathering —equipped with

water, headphones connected to music players, and dressed in

exercise gears. These employees have joined other

government employees, friends and family members in the

10,000-Step Challenge. The challenge is to take at least

10,000 steps as part of your exercise regime as you increase

your physical activity and walk your way to better health.

The challenge is on-going. VIPA employees on St. Thomas/

St. John meet at the government parking lot in town adjacent

to the Superior Court. On St. Croix, employees meet at the

St. Croix Majorettes Headquarters in Peter’s Rest.

Julice Harley and Gail Chinnery of VIPA and Judie Hobson of the West Indian Company, Ltd. represented the US Virgin Islands at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami Beach, Florida held March 11th through 14th at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

VIPA, Tourism and WICO Represent the USVI at the Annual Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention

The Virgin Islands Port Authority, the

Department of Tourism and the West Indian

Company, Ltd. partnered to promote the U.S.

Virgin Islands as a premier Caribbean destination

at the annual Seatrade Cruise Shipping

Convention in Miami Beach Florida. The four-

day convention was held March 11th through

14th, and the USVI was represented by a 600

square-feet booth strategically placed at the heart

of the “Caribbean Village” section of the

convention floor.

VIPA plans to participate in the convention next

year as Cruise Shipping Miami celebrates the

30th anniversary of the Seatrade convention to

be held on March 10-13, 2014 at the Miami

Beach Convention Center, Miami, Florida

UPCOMING VIPA EMPLOYEE

TRAINING SEMINARS

•Sexual Harassment

•Customer Service

Dates, Times & Locations

to be Announced

In accordance with Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) requirements, the Virgin

Islands Port Authority conducted a Mock Disaster

Drill at the Cyril E. King Airport in January. The

drill was conducted to test communication, local

resources and response time between airport

personnel and the island’s emergency agencies in

the event of a real disaster.