Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of: Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

Ten days ago Sen. George LeMieus (R), from Florida proposed a bill that would have ruined the Virgin Island economy! This week, through the behind the scenes efforts of Gov. deJongh from the USVI and several of the Territory’s influential friends were successful in having it voted down by the U.S. Senate!!!

“The Rum Cover-Over War” was one worth fighting. A war starts generally because one territory is angry with another, and they want to punish the people they are angry with. Well, the offending party in this war is Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is angry that the giant liquor conglomerate, Diageo, did not renew an agreement with a rum distillery in their territory. It happens to be the distillery that produces Captain Morgan’s label representing significant jobs and BIG revenue to any territory that has the contract.

Because they didn’t renew their contract with Puerto Rico, Diageo contracted with the US Virgin Islands to build their new distillery on St. Croix with a 30 year lease and a rum production agreement. The agreement has the USVI providing tax benefits for the contract and the USVI would begin to receive the Cover-Over funds that had been paid to Puerto Rico for so many years. Puerto Rico didn’t like it that Diageo pulled out of their territory and are now setting up shop in the USVI. So, that is why Senator LeMieus proposed the bill so he could appear to be a supporter of the many Puerto Ricans who live in Florida and are potential voters for his re-election.

Puerto Rico claims it is an inappropriate use of the cover-over money and excessively awards a foreign company. The rum cover-over payment is currently based on the production of rum in a specific Territory. Senator Lemieux’s proposal would have instead based the allocation on population. The population of Puerto Rico is 3.9 million, compared to almost 110,000 for the USVI territory. Do you think he has Puerto Rico’s interest in mind? Of course he did. Gov. deJongh said the proposal ignored almost 100 years of federal precedent and counter to all Congressional intent, and it would have severely harm the USVI economy in favor of Puerto Rico.

“The proposed amendment takes excise tax revenue paid by Virgin Islands rum makers on rum produced in the Virgin Islands and directly transfers it to Puerto Rico’s government coffers,” deJongh’s statement said. “Puerto Rico would end up with billions of dollars generated by rum production in the Virgin Islands. … Sen. LeMieux is directly attacked his fellow Americans in the Virgin Islands by doing Puerto Rico’s bidding.” Gov. deJongh continued by stating, “By promoting this amendment, Puerto Rico now seems willing to walk away from the long history of friendship and collaboration, which has linked America’s two Caribbean possessions.”

This phase of the “Rum Carry-Over War” has now ended. Let’s hope that each of these Caribbean U.S. Territories can move on to addressing the needs of their citizens instead of wasting the Congress’s time by proposing bills that have business to even be addressed. I look forward to any of your opinions and comments regarding this Rum War that just ended with the USVI – 1 and Puerto Rico – nil. Until next time…your Caribbean lifestyle reporter continues his work!

By: Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

For the past 34 years, Jim Walberg has hosted a campout for any men and boys who want to attend. The location of this event is Leavitt Meadows Wilderness Campground along the West Walker River on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California at 7,500 feet. This year we had 52 men and boys who enjoyed a time of expanding friendships while enjoying camping and fishing.

This adventure was never meant to be a well guarded tradition. It started by just three men and their boys going camping and fishing for the first time along one of the most picturesque trout streams in the Sierra Nevada mountains 34 years ago. I was one of those three men. The next year we said, “Well, let’s go camping again along the Walker River.” We just kept doing going camping in July each year at the same campground, and more and more men and boys joined us along the way.

What has unfolded over these past 34 years is a time of male bonding, learning about the outdoors, teaching each other about the respect that Nature requires, and learning about the Native Americans that lived and thrived in this exact location of California – the Piute Nation. The rules that are a part of this campout are very simple; 1) With guidance from men, the boys are free to explore all aspects of this special region; 2) Mom’s are not informed about the events of this trip unless it is critical for them to know; 3) No electrical devices that make noise are allowed; 4) The only trout that are kept are ones that will be eaten that day. All the rest are released; 5) Each man and boy are expected to respect and protect each other each day. If they there are moments when boys are being boys and there is unacceptable behavior others intervene and make it right.

Many of the boys that are gathered into this brotherhood are from single parent families where there is no father figure. The deal is that just because the man doesn’t have a son, he can still join the annual event by finding a boy that would benefit from discovering the “magic” of five days in the outdoors. And, we had men and boys who have come from Nashville, St. Louis, Scottsdale, San Diego, Portland, Denver, and many more cities across the country. Most of them first started their participation when they lived in California. But, as they moved to other areas of the country, they kept coming back on the fourth Wednesday of July to join us for this magical reunion of those few fortunate men and boys.

Because we have spent so many years in this region of the Sierras we know it like the back of our hand. There is more to do in those five days than is possible. We have named the places that we hike and drive to for a day of trout fishing; The Swimming Hole; The Meadow, Girl Scout Camp, Rattlesnake Canyon, Roosevelt Lake, Lane Lake, Secret Lake, and many more. There are also field trips that are taken; Bodie State Park ; lunch at Walker Burger; a night time visit to the ghost houses at the abandoned 100+ year old trading post that is just a quarter of a mile from our campsite. And, the finale of the annual campout is the Saturday night campfire talent show. This year one of the dad’s put on a harmonica concert that dazzled all of us. We also have the two most coveted awards made to the boys at the Saturday night campfire; The Pig Pen Award for the dirties kid of the campout; and, The Butt Head Award for the kid who has done the dumbest things during the campout.

Everyone who attends this event is transformed because of spending five days with so many amazing men and boys in midst of one of Nature’s most beautiful spots in California. If you want more information on this unforgettable experience, please contact me. I guarantee that it is worth the effort to attend. Until next time, your East Bay lifestyle detective remains on duty.