, 1959-09-15
DIR. O,NEAL.

DIR. ONEAL: If you don't mind my saying So
that's utter nonsense. And, when get through with what
have to say, III sum up briefly or conclude briefly. /
SsOn't repeat what / said before, 4 think everyone will be
satisfied that no such thing could have been possible. ( am
still not 9 member Of any political party. i didn't meet
Senator Guadalupe until maybe some two weeks
happened to be in Saint Croix some two weeks before the
Legislature was scheduled to meet. didn't know who he
was so how could / impress him What does he know
about me? How could I convince him, or, how could I APP
proach him with such stupid talk about giving somebody
a vote ia the legislature. I'm no politician!
And, as Isaid before this position was budgeted since
July A, 1858 The reason IT wasn't filed is that ever 50 Of
ten we work on such q tight udgetsthroughouttl the Health
Department that DR.. Lanclos wanted to do other things.
and as q result had to use some Of the money budgeted for
salary for Dr. Cordero. 4 have been embarrassed no end Of
time between July i, 1858 and April is, 1859, when DR..
no less than half a dozen times, either here-he come over
to inquire about il, or in Saint Croix, as to when We will
be ready because he always expressed an interest in work
ing with the Health Department again if we needed his
services. And, 4 had approacheddh him when it was decided.
that we could employ some one part-time because he was
the only available dentist on Saint Croix. We certainly
couldn't entice any one to come from the United States to
work %part-time unless they were interested il p~racticing
privately.
might say here that / cant recall, in the two years.
and seven months as Commissioner Of Health, getting any
request frOma dentist about private practice Of dentistry in
SaintCroix Mostly all Of them inquire about Saint Tho
mas SO that would have made it even more difficult to sit
back and wait until such time as you had contact.
Now, what I am telling you about the budgeting of
the position and the fact that DR.. Cordero had seen me
here more than once is not only a secret to me. 1t is
known by other people in the Health Department, prin-
cipally pr. Smith under whose division the Bureau Of
Dental Services operates. DR.. LancloS, Mr.. Theodore Tho
mas who is tht Director Of the Office Of Business Manage
nent who has to work on the, Budget, Mr.. Creque VINO
was my Executive Oficer-they all know about it. The
very Pr. Evans presently Commissioner Of Health knows
about it.
Now, insofar as this being irregular is concerned let
me throw some light on the subject. Most Of YOU, / guess,
will recall Or. Egan Petersen who resigned last year as 4
Physician in the Department of Health here. He was as
signed to Saint John. He was resident physician ia. Saint
John. Since leaving US he has gone to- New York and IS.
now employed BY the State Of New York-in a State Hos
pital. He has no license to practice in New York State.
But as long as heis given q job to de a certain assignment
in q hospital owned BY the state or the Municipality he
can do it. He doesn't need a license to practice In the
State. We have now--in the Virgin IsIands-Dr. joseph.
Pr Andre Joseph-from Haiti originally; graduated from
the University 81 Haitilher medical schonl of tie IIni,ar