The Daily News Of The Virgin Islands

COLLEGE PLAN A 'DOWN THE DRAIN'

Governor's Plan B For Land Gets Try

Governor Paiewonsky said yesterday that he would put his "Plan B" into effect in an effort to acquire Bourne Field land for the Virgin Islands College.

Plan A, which Rep. Leo O'Brien (D-N.Y.) said recently is "down the drain" at this time, was a measure before Congress to get land in the Trade Winds Hotel area transferred from Virgin Islands Corporation to the insular government, VICorp presently administers the land for the Department of Navy.

The alternate plan involves having the U.S. Navy, owner of the land, declare it surplus, which it has said it would.

The land will then be claimed by the General Services Administration the house-keeping arm of the federal government.

GSA will in turn inform the various federal departments of the availability of the land.

However, because of previous agreement, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare may have priority to the property.

The department in turn would allot the land to the V.I. government, providing the latter meets the requirements set up by the department in utilizing the property for educational purposes.

Yesterday, Dr. John A. Wallace, acting president of the college, stated optimistically that "I don't see any problem in obtaining surplus land for the college, provided the land is turned over to the local government, the department has set up public benefit allowances for the transfer of such land.

While the allowance formula applies only to surplus real property being sold for on-site use,

(See PLAN "A" page 10)
PLAN "A"
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It is possible that the Virgin Islands government could get the land free.

Outlined in the formula are several allowances that could amount to 100 per cent.

For example under the classification of colleges and universities, there is a 40 per cent for basic public benefit allowance, which in part includes proof of current need, ability to operate and maintain, and suitability of facilities or adaptability for conversion.

There is also a 20 per cent for tax support allowed for any appropriation or allotment of public revenue for operation of the educational institution.

Then there is a 30 per cent allowance for inadequacy of existing school plant facilities, together with a 10 per cent allowance for the introduction of new instructional programs.