Juan Mujica, Vice President of Operations for Kazi Foods of the Virgin Islands, announced earlier today the closure of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant located at Buccaneer Mall on St. Thomas. “The lease for this facility is due to expire in a few weeks,” Mujica explained, “and the rent on this particular restaurant is more than four times that of some of our other restaurants on St. Thomas. We attempted to negotiate with the landlord, but could not reach a mutually agreeable position.”

Continue Reading Kazi Foods Closes Buccaneer Mall Restuarant

Thomas Joseph Dunn, III, age 57, of Estate Elizabeth, St. Thomas passed away Monday evening at his home after a prolonged battle with cancer. Dunn, born in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, was a long time resident of St. Thomas where he resided since 1980. He was known to one and all as “Tom” and upon his death was on leave from Innovative Telephone Company, where he served as Director of Public Relations. 

"I had the fortune to work with Tom early in his St. Thomas career when he had the restaurant, The Green Parrot." said St. Thomas attorney Tom Bolt.  "Later we worked at the Legislature together on a number of pieces of economic development legislation.  Tom was also a member of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas II.  You could say that Tom ‘pushed the envelope’.  He always challenged us to do our very best." Bolt said. 

 

Continue Reading Community Activist Tom Dunn Dies at 57

American Counsel Association President Tom Bolt welcomed the delegates to the European Circuit Annual Conference in Rome at opening reception at the Hotel de la Ville.  Bolt with Gerard McDermott, Q.C., President of the European Circuit of England and Wales, and Andrew Colvin of Studio Coggiatti, the co-sponsor of the opening reception.

In opening remarks, ACA President Bolt noted that each of the delegates were a part of history in the first meeting of the American Counsel Association, the oldest association of independent law firms, and the European Circuit.  "I pledged to build bridges throughout the legal community upon entering office as President of the ACA, and building bridges is what we are doing," Bolt said.

Continue Reading ACA President Welcomes European Circuit

As I entered Paris Saturday morning, I could hear the bells from Notré Dame.  I had returned to the "City of Lights" – I remembered the words issued by U.S. Army Colonel C. E. Stanton, signaling  the arrival of leading elements of the United States forces, newly engaged in the deadly struggle of the Allies against the Central Powers in the First World , "Lafayette, we are here!"  For centuries, the French have been close-knit allies of the United Statesand only recently, has that alliance been questioned by some of my countrymen as to the commitment to the Franco-American alliance.  Some Americans even abandoned one favorite American food – french fries, in favor of freedom fries.  Others went beyond merely questioning the Franco-American alliance.  Television personality Homer Simpson taunted our allies calling them "cheese-eating surrender monkeys".  Such is not the case. Continue Reading “Lafayette, We are Here!”

Tom Bolt, Managing Attorney of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands law firm of Tom Bolt & Associates, P.C. addressed the Association of European Attorneys (AEA) at their Annual Meeting in Paris on Friday.  Citing the need to adhere to rule of law, Bolt said that "it is incumbent upon attorneys throughout the world to speak out against transgessions to law.  If the lawyers of the world do not speak out then who? "  Bolt said.

Almost 200 persons were in attendance at the 2nd Annual  Meeting of AEA.  Currently AEA has representatives from over 180 countries throughout the world.  Bolt, who is the President of the American Counsel Association, the world’s oldest association of independent law firms, invited the participants at the AEA Annual Meeting to join the ACA.

Continue Reading Bolt Addresses World Legal Forum

Tom Bolt, Managing Attorney of the St. Thomas law firm of Tom Bolt & Associates, P.C. and President of the American Counsel Association met Thurday evening in Paris with representatives of the Association of European Attorneys (AEA) at the opening dinner of the AEA’s Annual Meeting. 

"It was unbelievable the diversity in the room," Bolt said.  "At my table alone there were attorneys from Belgium, Cyprus, France, Japan, Lebanon and Spain.  Our Belgian dinner partner, Dominique Grissay, has been an active member of the legal team at the trial of former Iraqi President Sadaam Hussein.  It is evident to all that lawyers throughout the world need to speak out in favor of the rule of law.  No one is above the law, not Sadaam Hussein…nor George W. Bush.  Lawyers are our last hope for advocacy in favor of rule of law"

Continue Reading St. Thomas Attorney Meets with European Bar

The Virgin Islands business community is about to get its first locally owned and operated commercial bank providing local decision making and responsive service from its headquarters on St. Thomas.

In action before the Virgin Islands Banking Board earlier today, licensing was approved for Merchants Commercial Bank which had submitted final documentation to the Division of Banking and Insurance to obtain a Virgin Islands banking license after having completed all requirements to obtain FDIC insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Continue Reading VI Banking Board Approves New Bank

Virgin Islands Pollster John Boyd recently released his latest poll of registered voters in both the District of St. Croix and the District of St. Thomas-St. John of issues of importance in the General Election to be held November 7th.  The top four issues cited by voters were public safety, education, economic development and roads.  Crime has long been a concern to the Territory’s voters with many pundits cited its impact on the Virgin Islands leading industry, tourism, as well as upon quality of life for residents.

 

Continue Reading Crime Tops Voters Concerns

The United States Internal Revenue Service delivered an early Christmas present to the United States Virgin Islands, its Economic Development Program and particularly to software developers and companies.  IRS Notice 76-2006 issued in late August specifically cited the USVI tax abatement program for utlization by software companies.  The lucrative benefits of the program include a 90% abatement of federal income taxes and a 100% abatement of all other taxes.

The United Way of St. Thomas-St. John held its Day of Caring and Campaign Kickoff on Saturday at Ebeneezer Gardens in Hospital Ground on St. Thomas.  Ebeneezer Gardens is a senior residential care facility operated by Luther Social Services.  Tom Bolt, Managing Attorney of Tom Bolt & Associates and President of Habitat for Humanity, led a group of Habitat volunteers that assisted in painting a mural at the senior facility.

Habitat for Humanity of the Virgin Islands has been designated as the newest United Way agency and has been allocated $50,000 by the United Way.  In making the allocation, United Way designated the funds to retain an Executive Director for Habitat.  At the Day of Caring, Bolt introduced Dianne Wells as Habitat’s new CEO.  She was previously the National Director for Habitat for Humanity of Trinidad and Tobago.  She will began work with Habitat in the Virgin Islands November 1st.

Continue Reading United Way Day of Caring and Campaign Kickoff