USVI governor explains new property tax strategy

Lots of interesting stuff in this article from CaribbeanNetNews:

ST THOMAS, USVI: Governor John deJongh Jr. and Lt. Governor Gregory Francis, along with Tax Assessor Roy Martin and other US Virgin Island government officials, met behind closed doors with members of the Legislature on September 27, to review the current status of real property taxation in the Territory and to outline the Administration’s proposals.

While the public learned about the scheduled meeting as a result of a routine announcement from the Senate Floor, no members of the news media or other interested parties were permitted to attend the meeting. This was an unpopular choice on the part of Government House because no reason was given for the closed meeting, and many local residents, recently stunned by the increases reflected by their new tax bills were eager for any word of a possible remedy.