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Dal1 ly reIws., 1 1 /O3/95
Expansion of Hamilton airport
sound for economy, environment
*Many of us probably have
thrown up our hands in frustration
after Hurricane Marilyn devastated
the Virgin Islands more than a
month ago. The V.I. economy -
particularly St. Croix's was
struggling before the storm hit the
islands. For many, the storm made
it worse.
It seems that after Hurricane
Hugo hit the Virgin Islands in 1989,
the economy of St. Croix never
really recovered from the destruc-
tion it caused mentally and to some
extent physically. We pick up the
local newspapers and read "this or
that" business is going out of busi-
ness. Too often, many of us look on
the negative side of life and never
give the positive side a chance.
As a people, most of us tend to
fuss instead of doing something
positively for the environment and
the economy. Hurricane Marilyn
devastated the Virgin Islands but
that doesn't mean we should roll
over and die. Disasters do bring
opportunities. For example, more
cruise ships are coming to St. Croix
shores. But we should never lose
sight that our economy must be
diversified.
iOasee
Davis
Our
NmhBlu-Mm
This week, the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency men-
tioned that more than 15.000 people
in the Virgin Islands have lost their
jobs because of the storm. A lot of
these jobs probably were tourism
related.
Recently. St. Thomas had
mocko jumbies dancing in the
streets and the steel orchestra play-
ing to welcome cruise-ship passen.
gers to the island.
In my opinion, the future of
these islands' economy does not
look too bright if we continue to
depend upon tourists as our major
source of income. While St. Croix
is enjoying a booming cruise-ship
traffic. the question is. "How long
will this boom continue?"
On the positive side. the expan-
sion of Alexander Hamilton Airport
is coming. This project will pave
the way, along with the new Fred-
eriksted pier. for increased travel
and tourism. However, the airport
expansion could be the center of
transportation which would lead to
a new industry and contribute sig-
nificantly to the Virgin Islands'
economy.
The Southshore industrial area is
one of the 18 Areas of Particular
Concern voted into law in 1994.
This area extends from Cane Gar-
den Bay to Betty's Hope at the west
end of Manning Bay southwest of
Alexander Hamilton Airport. The
shoreline and inland areas are the
most heavily industrialized and
developed in the territory. They
include Hess Oil Virgin Islands
Corp.'s refinery, the V.I. Alumina
Corp.'s bauxite processing plant,
other smaller industries and the
Anguilla dump.
The'Alexander Hamilton Airport
project also will move Route 64
more close to the shore.
But this shore once had an
extensive mangrove forest lagoon,
which was filled in the 1960s to
create land for many industries
V See OLASEE. page 19
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