What Can Be Done?
Guest Opinion by J. J. Estemac
Yes, the question is asked, what can be done about the domestic terrorism to which the residents of the US Virgin Islands are subjected to, daily? When it is not homicides, it is robbery, rape and discharging of firearms any hour of the night and sometime in the day. What should we as residents, taxpayers, be doing to relieve our community of the threats posed by the criminal elements? What have other communities done to address the threats by the criminal elements which terrorizes the community?
Haven’t we had enough with the criminal element taking over our streets that decent persons are intimidated to travel the streets, particularly after dark? The Police hierarchy has been pleading for help from the residents; they seem to be impotent in dealing with the criminal elements. What are our elected representatives doing other than drawing a fat paycheck?
Have you seen or heard the senators hold any hearings to address the criminality in our community? Who is looking out for the people? We elect and appoint public servants to perform certain services that enhance and promote the welfare of the public and what do they do? They avoid addressing issues, situations that affects negatively our community. If our represents fails to address the problems that our community faces, we the people must act in our own best interest and force these representatives to perform their duties as prescribed by our code of laws. I have advised the Governor and the Lt. Governor that they should lead by example and have members of their cabinet show the example of complying with our laws. Those charged with enforcing the laws do just that, obey and enforce the laws without fear or favor.
We need to see more proactive patrol of law enforcement agents, peace officers, particularly those who have been assigned vehicles and equipment on a 7/24 basis. We regularly see individuals who no longer obey basic traffic rules and laws. Vehicle operators no longer obey traffic signs or lights. There are vehicles with improper license plates. There are those who regularly discharge their firearms in residential areas. There are vendors, employees, without business license, health card, etc. There are persons who repair vehicles on the public roads and streets. There are persons or companies that block sidewalks and streets without police authorization. There are individuals who block public street, reserving space for their particular use, without police authorization. There is a general practice of disregarding laws and regulations any and everywhere. Where are the enforcement agents of the government?
How can we reverse this culture of lawlessness? Who is to take the lead? The Police Department has abdicated their statutory function, when they fail to require permits for obstructing vehicle and pedestrian traffic. As I understand the VI Code, the VI Police Department is responsible for the control and direction of pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the Virgin Islands, in coordination with the Department of Public Works. I believe there is a provision in the VI Code for a Traffic Commission that include the Police Department, the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works. Does anyone read the VI Code anymore? What kind of society have we become? One that is so undisciplined that we do not practice law and order anymore? We now have another negative subculture, lawlessness? If we do not subscribe to the lawlessness then I suppose you do subscribe to law and order for our society. If you do subscribe to law and order for our society, as a civilized society, then let us work to recapture that standard of a law abiding society. Let us lead by example, let the newcomers know that we are a law abiding society, and our laws and customs are to be observed and respected. Let us, as decent God fearing people obey our own laws and demand that others do the same, respect and obey our laws and regulations. May Allah-God have mercy on us all and grant us the courage and the understanding to be law abiding residents.
J. J. Estemac
CCBG
St. Thomas, VI
When you compare Crime statistics for Stx with the rest of the US, the result is shocking. When you compare our crime rate with other cities with a population of 50,000 to 65,000, the result is even worse. Cities with 50-60000 experience 1 to 5 murders per year. The highest I saw was Lawrence, Mass. with 8. During the same time span, we had 13 and now it is up to 47!!
We need a massive reeducation of the police regarding crime scene investigation and criminal prosecution.
We need, a huge increase in the number of uniformed officers patrolling the island. (Including the dangerous parts!)
We need an increase in Neighborhood watch programs.
We need to encourage and grow the police auxiliary.
We need to educate the public and police on what to watch out for.
We need judges who actually put criminals in prison instead of letting everyone go.
We need a hugely revamped and revitalized prison.
We need to get convicted criminals to pick up the garbage that defaces our beautiful home island.
Can we send convicted violent criminals to the states?
Oh Roger:
There is not enough space or time for me to reply to all of “we need”. St. Croix is far from the Paradise people expect. I can tell you for a fact that most of the “we need ” that you mentioned are in place, however doing what is taught in the Police Academy is only whistling into the wind if the tools are not available for them to do the work. Getting the prisoners to pick up garbage, I guess you have never heard about the ACLU. I know that every place else that we arrived from is always better!!!
But, if the Police, the Prosecutors, The Judges were not doing their jobs, why then is the prison over crowded? Some one had to pack them in there? Sure, the prison is rated the worse under the U.S. Flag, but I wonder who’s fault is that? Perhaps if people spent more time trying to enhance the island, rather than trying to recreate what could not fit in their suitcases when they left their perfect little world, then we can begin to call the place Paradise and mean it.
TJacks~ The time for your self-satisfied smugness is long past. The question raised was what to do about the rampant criminality here. I notice you do not offer solutions;rather it appears you think everything is just fine the way it is. Take your head out of the sand and look around. We are fast becoming an anarchic Haiti. I for one came here to serve and it is what I do. What do you do?