Taxable oil spill income could be another mess
February 1, 2011Thursday, Feb. 3
February 3, 2011Swiftships, a leading shipbuilder since the 1940s, was named Business of the Year at the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce Banquet Thursday. The ceremony was held at the Amelia Belle Casino.
Swiftship was founded by Calvin Leleux, and has made headlines recently with its Iraqi Navy contract to build 15 new 13-meter patrol boats and train its sailors at the company’s Levee Road site in Morgan City.
“I’ve built nearly 1,000 vessels in my life,” Leleux said. “We operate all over the world, but the location I am most proud of is in Morgan City.
“My advice [to other businesses] is to persevere. You will always come out on the other end,” he added.
Other big winners for the evening were Doyle Berry, who was named Citizen of the Year, and Delores Steward of St. Mary Community Action, who was given the President’s Award.
Berry, 80, is CEO of Berry Brothers General Contractors, which serves the oilfield and provides heavy industrial construction. Berry’s deceased brother, Everett, founded the company in 1956 shortly after the family relocated from Mendenhall, Miss.
“To God be all the glory,” said Doyle Berry as he accepted the honor from attorney Al Lippman. “And in this day, we should all be on our knees thanking Him for everything.”
In announcing Berry’s award, Lippman said, “He is the man of the Year. This man has distinguished himself both in business and in community service.”
Non-Profit Organization Award recipients were the St. Mary Arts & Humanities Council, the Marine Corps League, St. Mary Detachment No. 600, St. Mary Outreach, the St. Mary Council on Aging and the East St. Mary Kiwanis Club.
Virginia Tyler Award winners, recognized for individual community service, were Morgan City Mayor Tim Matte, Berwick councilman Troy Lombardo, Cal Carrier of Two C’s Marine and Marshall Guidry of Kolder, Champagne, Slaven and Company.
2011 officers were also administered the oath of office. They are Karl Young, chairman, of La. Technical College/Young Memorial Campus; Jeremy Callais, vice chairman, of MC Bank & Trust; Barbara Watts, treasurer, of Darnall, Sikes Gardes and Frederick.
Donna Meyer is the organization’s president, while Scott Berry, Jason Bailey, Marilyn Davis, Frank Fink, Khary Gaylord, Robert Judice, Bob Lewis, Joseph Tabb, Raymond “Peetey” Wade II and Greg Young serve as directors.
State Treasurer John Kennedy served as keynote speaker at the event.
Kennedy touted his list of budget fixes for the state’s deficit.
“The problem that needs fixing is this – Louisiana needs to become a lower tax state, which will make it more attractive for business to set up shop here,” he said.
“Government doesn’t understand how hard it is to start a business these days, and to keep it going. In fact, the government keeps it hard to operate. You have EPA regulations, DEQ regulations. Then you have to keep up with your sales, while paying your sales taxes, your property taxes and your income taxes, and if that’s not enough, the taxes have regulations,” Kennedy explained.
“Look, we tax the hell out of business here, and then we wonder why we can’t create jobs.”
The states’ top banker said told the audience that if he had two wishes, one would be that the federal government lift the moratorium on oil and the other, that Louisiana gain an unbelievable record number of jobs.
“America let our people work again. Not for just Louisiana, but for you,” Kennedy said.
He said our legislators need to design a health care system that looks like someone put it together on purpose, instead of continuing on with the same old policies and procedures.
“Reduce the budget, take control of our budget, and not raise taxes,” Kennedy asked. “It can be done. I see families in Louisiana do it every day. I see businesses in Louisiana do it every day.”
