News of St. John

One villa manager reports paying almost twice as much as usual, $500 a truckload, for water for his rental properties, in the face of what’s resulted from a two-month deficit of rain.  The water was barged over from St. Thomas because none was available on St. John.

On top of that, a reverse osmosis plant on St. John, which produces potable water, was offline for almost two weeks this month.  It’s now back operating, according to the St. John Source. 

Henry Boyd, a water hauler, said the Water and Power Authority doesn’t have enough money to connect a supply pipe from St. Thomas.  He blames the local government for strangling the utility by not paying its own power and water bills.

Dennis Demar, of Vacation Homes, doesn’t blame tourists for all the water shortages at properties he manages.  He also cites landscapers and drip irrigation systems.  He said there is no way to turn them off, even if rain is falling, and there is no way to know if they’re not working right unless they are spitting gushers of water into the air.

The nearly month-long island-wide water shortage has been helped in the past week by some pretty wild weather.  Heavy rains and flash flood warnings were expected this weekend, but don’t seem to have shown up as forecast. During the month, 2 inches of rain has fallen, slightly more than usual for April.  A weather predictor in Puerto Rico, quoted by the Virgin Islands Daily News, warned Friday that 2 inches more could fall this weekend, but statistics from Weather Underground indicated late Sunday no such deluge.  Islanders were mighty disappointed when the hoped-for rain (sorry tourists!) didn’t arrive – leaving cisterns still emmmm-teee!

Lots of people dream of coming to St. John to run their own business.  The opportunity to buy in has probably never been greater.  While historically there have been about half a dozen businesses listed with real estate brokers, there are now 16 offerings.  They include St. John Dive Adventures and its boat at Coral Bay ($150K), the newly-listed Duffy’s Love Shack leasehold (trade name does not transfer) ($650K), the Turquoise Turtle gift shop near the ferry dock ($325K), and Dr. Cool Inc.’s air-conditioning business ($350K). 

Why are there are so many businesses available?  Probably, why there are almost twice as many residential properties on the Multiple Listing Service (63).  Every owner has his or her reasons.

Here’s why your rental villa managers ask you to conserve water … there ain’t any!

The Water and Power Authority reportedly closed the island’s standpipe for water delivery trucks at noon today.  One resident says there was no water available for  delivery to homes and rental villas last Thursday and Friday.

The National Weather Service agrees all three islands are extraordinarily dry.  Less than an inch of rain fell during February and March, making February the driest ever and this March, the second-driest.  A territory-wide ban on burning permits also continues at the order of the Fire Service.

St. John was voted the Best All-Around Destination by readers of Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine.  Four of the island’s hotels also were honored in the 2005 Best of the Caribbean balloting.  Caneel Bay Resort was Best Resort for a Wedding; the Westin St. John was named Best Large Hotel; Maho Bay took the title of Best Eco-Resort, and Cinnamon Bay Campground was voted second in the Eco-Resort category. St. John was also named Best Snorkel Destination. Results of the balloting were announced during the V.I. Hotel and Tourism Association’s symposium for travel agents and professionals.

The territory’s islands, hotels, restaurants, and beaches received 8 "Best" citations, the same number of first-place awards as last year, according to a report by the Virgin Islands Daily News.  St. Thomas was voted best for shopping and cruise port.

The Virgin Island’s newly-hired public relations firm said its first order of business will be to launch a new interactive Web site. Maggie Booth, of New York’s M Booth, told an audience of travel industry professionals Sunday at the St. John Westin, the site will be “our first major initiative” and it will be done by June 1.

Booth’s firm recently won a contract for promoting island tourism, replacing the Martin Agency which had the job for nine years. She said other promotional ideas include having chefs from the islands appear in New York during Caribbean Week, according to a report of her remarks published by the St. John Source. Window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue and a promotion at Grand Central Station are also possible, she said.

The V.I. Hotel and Tourism Association also described its promotional efforts, which began with $100,000 contributed by American Express and nine hotels. Beverly Nicholson, president of the group, said there are now a dozen members supporting the effort. The association showed several TV spots it produced along the theme, "It’s just easier," in the VIs.

Blaming higher fuel costs, one of the three companies which operates car barge service from St. John to Red Hook will boost its round trip fare from $35 to $50 beginning Friday, April 15.  One-way fares will be boosted from $22 to $30.

Cheri Jackson, manager at Boyson Inc., said, "We have no choice," the Virgin Islands Daily News reported.  Boyson runs two barges, the General and General II.  "It’s nothing that anybody wants to do. But we’re operating a business and we have no choice.  It’s simple economics," she added.

The two other barge operators, Global Marine and Republic Barge Service have not boosted rates, but it may be only a matter of time.  Global’s Stanley Hedrington said he may raise rates and if he does, he will also increase service.  He’s considering expanding his hours to include runs until midnight.  Anecia Sewer, whose Republic company operates the Captain Vic, told the newspaper her company is not boosting prices at the moment.  "We realize that car ferries are the umbilical cord that connects the islands, and our customers depend on it," she said.