grande bay

After decades of lax money handling procedures, ticket sellers for St. John's two ferry companies will begin giving receipts to passengers. 

The giant step to accountability comes along with the installation last week of computerized ticketing by Varlack Ventures and Transportation services.  The system was paid for by the companies at a cost of $100,000, according to the Virgin Islands Daily News report of the ticketing system. (Full story here.)

Sellers will use computer terminals to issue tickets and luggage tags while crew members use a hand-held scanner to check in passengers and track the bags.

S believes the ferry companies' bought the ticketing system as a way of preparing the VI government to be more open to allowing for fare increases and operating subsidies.  For years, the Public Service Commission has complained that the financial records of the ferry operators are confused and unreliable.

The Iguana is amused that computers will be used for ticketing.  Frankly, he doesn't believe the equipment will be operable for very long.  He is reminded of a change of airplanes in San Juan once, on his way to St. Thomas.  "I have a ticket," he showed an agent behind a counter at the terminal.  "It was issued by the computer."  The agent said, "We don't have computers."

Anyone want to bet how long those ticket/luggage tag scanners function?

If it seems like you sleep better when you're on island, you're not imagining it. 

The Centers for Disease Control reports the best rested Americans live on island territories and the state of Hawaii.

A nationwide survey of 403,981 people asked, "During the last 30 days, for about how many days have you felt you did not get enough rest or sleep?"

Folks from West Virginia said they were sleep-deprived 19 days, the highest number in the survey. Virgin Islanders were well down the list at 9.6 days.  In fact, the Virgin Islands was fourth-best for slumber, while Utah and Kentucky were at the bottom of the list (worst).

• Read the CDC study report at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5842a2.htm

GenBug, an island visitor, spotted this little beauty parked in that oh-do-dear spot next to Connections.

GenBug's got a lot of St. John photos.  See 'em at http://www.flickr.com/photos/genbug/sets/72157622553719613/. (I love Island Dog.

There's lots of talk and some action – finally! – about developing the Creek, the waterfront area where the car barges used to dock.  Now it's used mainly as a truck/taxi/van parking lot and for cruise ships to deliver their day visitors.  But before that happens – and it's a long way off – the Creek needs some cleaning.

Heavy rains a year ago drove runoff and sediment from the hills, into the waters around St. John.  Thanks to currents, lots of the dirt ended up in the Creek and actually formed little islands, reducing the navigable waters for cruisers and boat owners who use the Creek or the National Park Service dock.

So, the Deputy Inquiring Iguana was not surprised to see dredging operations underway at the Creek. 

Think of it as underwater plowing to smooth out the creek bed and allow boats to go to and fro.  Mark Hardgrove, the VI National Park Superintendent, said that in some places the water level came up as much as two-and-a-half feet.

It's all about the timing, isn't it?  When there's a possibility of trouble, well, you take precautions.

That's why many home and business owners have hurricane shutters.  First hint of a storm, the wood/metal protection goes up.

So you have to wonder, deeply, about the First, the bank in Cruz Bay across from Woody's. In the past week, they put up hurricane shutters. 

A Deputy Inquiring Iguana pointed out the installation, finding it odd that the metal went up this late in the season, which ends Nov. 30. "Maybe someone went postal and drove their Jeep through the window," the DII speculated.

Sheets of paper attached to the shutters say, "Please use extreme caution around shutters. Very sharp edges."

Wanna bet the shutters are still there at Christmas?

Despite opposition from two VI Commissioners, the Public Service Commission approved fare increases for St. John ferry service this week.

The new rates, $6 from Red Hook to Cruz Bay and $12 between St. John and Charlotte Amalie, will go into effect Monday, Nov. 9, according to the St. John Source.

The PSC approved the rate increase after twice reviewing financial records from the ferry companies, Varlack Ventures and Transportation Services.


In its report of the PSC meeting, the St. John Source said there is reason for concern about continuation of St. John-Charlotte Amalie service.  The ferry companies complain it is a money loser during the summer.  They have proposed eliminating the route July to November, as well as cutting two Red Hook round trips.

It's interesting that Gov. de Jongh released statements in opposition to the ferry rate hikes just a few days before the PSC meeting and vote.  As the Inquiring Iguana pointed out this week, too, it's verrrry interesting that in reporting his own Commissioners' resistance , the Governor didn't make his own position known. By the way, the he appoints the PSC's voting members.

The Iguana thinks the Governor looked the other way on this one, tried to still have his cake and eat it too. A cynic would ask, at the least, whether Varlack or TS contributed to the Governor's election campaign.

Read the Source story at http://stjohnsource.com/content/news/local-news/2009/10/30/psc-approves-ferry-rate-hikes.

Commissioners of two VI departments agree that this is no time to raise ferry fares. 

Statements against proposed rate increases were released by Gov. John de Jongh although he, personally, did not say he's against them.

The Commissioners of Licensing and Consumer Affairs and Public Works did. 

DCLA chief Wayne Biggs wrote to the Public Service Commission, which is weighing the requests from Varlack Ventures and Transportation Services, saying "Our residents cannot currently entertain any … additional burdens."

Darryl Smalls, head of Public Works, agreed. He said, "The department recommends that the current fare structure remains the same," although he did encourage the ferry companies services to seek more subsidy money from the VI government.

DLCA chief Biggs explained his opposition citing the recession and its impact on St Johnians (and visitors).  "The current cost of basic needs is substantially higher … Power and basic utilities have also increased significantly. Prices at the grocery checkout are easily described as astronomical." He also pointed out St. John’s relative reliance on St. Thomas … places its residents in a unique situation where frequent travel to St. Thomas is a necessity rather than a luxury."