The Home Journal

CLOCKING THE TOWN

One of the main criticisms against the way in which the Virgin Islands Corporation is operated was highlighted in St. Croix this week when Congressman Earl Chudoff of Pennsylvania, chairman of the subcommittee on Public Works and Resources of the House Government Operations Committee held hearings there.

VICORP has made a loan of more than $100,000 to a corporation to build guest houses and a golf course in St. Croix. At the same time, the applications of several small business men and farmers were rejected. Mr. Chudoff wanted to know why VICORP turned down the request for a loan made by a man who wanted to start a chicken farm, but would pour out large sums to big shots, some of whom do not even reside in St. Croix.

That was not the intent of Congress when it formed the Corporation, and when he gets back to Washington Congressman Chudoff says he intends to do something about it.

Governor Gordon appeared to be riled at his Acting Commissioner of Public Works, Rudy Galiber, when the latter indicated to the Congressional committee that a $5000 contract for a water survey appeared to be too small to give the islands exactly what they wanted. When he got a chance to speak, the Governor said it was "presumptuous" for anyone to suggest that because the government is spending only $5000 it is not going to get what it wants. No doubt, Galiber "led with his chin" in replying to the Congressman's question, but it seemed odd that the public works officer was not informed about the contract.