, 1962-02-14
.GlSLATIVE RECORD
Continued from yesterday


Getting to another point, | think | discussed with
members the possibility of attempting to eliminate our
n4ghtsoil system. Throughout St. Thomas and Ct. Croix,
the problem of modern toilet facilities still remains a
holdback to the sanitary improvement OF our commune
W. Many years ago, the old Municipal Council estab-
nshed a system tor the collection OF nightSoil removal
services by adding eacn year to the real estate taxes the
charges tor the removal OF nlghtsoil. We felt that it was
a good law, and it worked wall because each time the
government went in and cleaned these pans or pits, 1t
was added to the real estate taxes and the collections
for TINS use was always guaranteed. After some discus
sion with the Public Works Department officials in St.
Croix, we had a Mr.. Gonzalez there who worked as an
Assistant to Mr.. ParaHttcci come up with a plan to put
a toilet system into every property that was not con-
nected for an average cost Of $1,000. This meant that
they would build a concrete shed, put in toilet facilities
ana connect into the sewage for a cost OF S1.000. ! have
been tossing this around IN my mind and thinking of
throwing it open to the members that the government
find out exactly how many toilets are not connected in
each community, and accordingly provide how much
money we can. know that the Town of Frederiksted has
sc properties that are not now connected. The reason | I'M
derstand for this is that in some cases, five and six or
seven people are joint owners in a property, and nobody
wants to take the responsibility to make these improve
ments. There are some cases in which people cannot af-
ford to make these improvements to their property so
that they can have sanitary facilities. AS a result OF this
type of thing, the tenants in these properties since
lie Executive Order came from the Government Sec
rotary stating that they must have a certain time during
which they must connect all Of these toilet facilities
have IN some instances become homeless. Some of these
property owners or landlords are closing the properties
down, because they do not have the money with which
to provide these facilities. | believe that the Legislature
should write some law that could provide that the gov
eminent goes in, or something along this line, install
the toilet facilities into these properties, and it it costs a
thousand dollars, we give this money-since it is a COM
munity project as such-to the property owners on a
20-year loan basis, so that it won't hurt, and they would
pay an average of four dollars and something cents per
month on their real estate taxes towards the improve
mont Of their property. AS a matter of fact, | would say,
that in a case where a toilet would cost a thousand dol
lars, they be given 20 years to repay the loan; if it costs
5000, they devide it down on a 20-year basis without
interest. Because, if we figure it out, the cost of running
the nightsoil facilities and whatnot, you may be run
ming noghtsoil truck in a town like Frederiksted, in
the near future, for probably five, or ten, or Is properties.
If you could go out and connect these &c or 70 proper
ties now in that particularly community, you would have
completely elimated the nightsoil problem. The same for
Christiansted-th same for st. Thomas, according to
- T. I M L.