Are we Ready for Change?
Guest Opinion by J. J. Estemac
We hear on the radio shows and read in the local periodicals persons expressing their desire that conditions in the US Virgin Islands improve. We complain about the conditions in our schools; we complain about our infrastructure- our roads are in very deteriorated conditions. We also complain about our public servants and the public service we receive. There is a growing climate of lawlessness, people no longer obey basic rules of the road and other traffic laws. We complain about the inconsistent enforcement of our laws; when at all. In the criminal justice system, where prosecutors go to court unprepared and judges are too lenient with convicted criminals. Our elected leaders choose to consider a constitution before addressing the current political status of our Virgin Islands. Are we ready for change?
Many local citizens, democrats and others, have chosen Sen. Barak Obama in the Democratic Party contest to nominate its standard bearer. Sen. Obama campaign motto is Change. I am wondering if the local politicians who stated they support the senators candidacy have also embraced his proposal for change, changes that we really can believe in? Sen. Obama talks about changing the mind set that has the country going down the wrong path. Do our politicians understand the need for positive change? Do they understand it is time we change the way we run our government? Do they understand it is time for us to raise the bar, that we travel the high ground of morality and personal integrity? We need to be better role models for our youth by practicing honesty, humility and elevating the quality of our public discourse.
Can we really change our focus from personal gain to community gain? Can we be more visionary and courageous in addressing our community challenges? Can we be more committed to law and order, to justice for all? Can we say what we mean and do what we say? Can our politicians strive to gain and retain the respect and confidence of the populace? Can our politicians respect themselves and others? Are these not changes that we can believe in? Can we assume the responsibility that is ours in this democratic society? To be vigilant and call attention to deficiencies in our government and praise those public servants that are doing an excellent job as public servants? When are we going to be mad enough to tell the politicians enough is enough and demand better accountability? These are changes we can believe in.
I would exhort you, my fellow citizens, to exercise your rights and responsibilities by being involve in the affairs of our government and fight off the highly pernicious cynicism that have afflicted so many of our fellow citizens for too long. Together we can accomplish almost anything we choose to accomplish, let us unite because divided we have been failing and will continue to fail, divided. Let our generation leave a legacy of positive accomplishments to the succeeding generations, that they may look back on our contributions with gratitude. All good works involve some sacrifices, let us then boldly move forward together, implementing all the necessary changes that will contribute to our positive progress as a people, as a nation.
J. J. Estemac
CCBG
St. Thomas, VI
When election 2008 arrives, I will execute my vote in favor of change. I will not put back the incumbent senators who supported Act 6905.Free food and T-shirts can not entice my vote. Let’s pay close attention to the message of each candidate and not vote for anyone solely on the basis of popularity(wishful thinking!). I guess I’m one of the pernicious cynics.There is no public servant doing an excellent job. All the politicians and elected officials are greedy and selfish. Unless one can deliver to them a special favor,they will not do anything for one. We can limit their powers by a constitution, though. Let the delegates of the 5th Constitutional Convention know how we wish to be governed. Pressure them to survey the people. This forum can be used by the people to voice their opinion. The sad reality is very few people appear to be willing to make any effort to be part of the solution. How many are speaking on radio talk shows, writing letters to senators, responding on this website or attending meetings held by convention delegates?
Who are the sitting senators who voted for 6905?
Who are the Senators that did not override the governor’s veto of the WAPA bill? I am basing my
votes on those issues.
why is the senate afraid of voting districts on each island?
Be careful with districts. At the moment, senators often pass spending measures with re-election as the impetus. I don’t see how districting addresses this problem. All it does is identify the group/area of people who you have to please since they will be the ones voting for you. Being directly responsible to an area, senators will likely increase the reckless spending as more people bring problems to their senators now that they know there is a specific senator for their area. If you think there’s rancor in the senate now, I can only imagine how much worst it will get as the fighting for limited resources increases. In addition, I can see the fight over where the new sports complex or government facility will be placed.
I have been hearing a lot about voting districts. I am not convinced that this would be better than the present system. Popularity would still play a major role in elections. Perhaps, it could increase the chances of certain groups of people getting elected and the likelihood of them catering to a particular cause that benefit only a few.For example,an Arab or White person could get elected from an area where each respective group is common. They both would naturally cater to their own respective group. Regardless of how we elect government officials, they should be held accountable. Once the public trust has been violated,the guilty politicians should be booted out of office. This present governor has not implemented any policy to enhance the quality of life in the Virgin Islands. He will never again get my vote. If you disagree, please tell me how life today in the VI is better. I do NOT wish to hear the excuse that he needs more time. He had ambitions to become governor for many years and campaigned twice.
We are anot ready for changes. The typical example was in November, 2006. The residents of these Virgin Islands, let people tell them that we needed a First Lasy in Government House without looking and uunderstanding the issues that were affected our lives. But, you all went and voted for someone who could not hold a government job for no length of time and now we are suffering. The quality of life in the Virgin Islands has hit rock bottom. he worst ig yet to come. The poor will get poorer and the rich will be richer. The senators are all aware of what is happening to the poor, but do they care? Money talks and you know what walks. Residents of these Virgin Islands. please listen to the issues during these coming months with candidates for Senators and do not let them fool you with T-shirts and fry johnny cakes and all the promises in the world.
For not listening to the issues for candidates for Governor this is what we got.
well i for one am glad that Ms. Terry has been appointed, i hear all the stuff about appoint a “local” and not an outsider and i guess i feel that she does not come owing jobs to friends,family and cronies, most “local people” in high places just have too many people they owe favors to and thats the biggest reason nothing gets done here, because it’s just too easy to let things stay the same and get everyone you know a government job, after 14 years of living here i’ve seen nothing change it’s all the same, senators come and go and nothing ever changes, and please i mean no offense to anyone and so yes voting districts would be a good way to start some honest change, senators need to be held accountable for their actions and when you have small districts they will be held to that standard of accountability that we see in the states, being in public office is about how you can help the people you serve, it is not about how much money you make, the democrats down here need to read about hubert humphrey and paul wellstone and tip o’neill all three true populist democrats
Ladlie, did you know Governor deJongh appointed Cecil Benjamin, former commissioner of labor in Turnbull’s cabinet, to serve as executive assistant to Dr. Terry? The problem with education is that governors appoint qualified candidates but they put a bunch of political cronies in positions where they can wreak havoc and stagnate progress. If Governor deJongh really wants change he can make it happen, however I advise you to pay attention when schools reopen after the summer break.
yes i see that happen in all branches of gov right down to each senators office, i mean cmon the secretaries have secretaries, i read Demmansay and all the papers and you can see the corruption oozing,from the top down to the police on the streets, why on earth are there still open air crack houses on these islands,they were there for all 8 years of turnbull and still going strong
Life is strange. The deJongh/Francis team during the election had all the answers for the problems facing the Virgin Islands. Now that they are in control why are they not doing what they say they will do to improve the quality of life? You really is a sheep in wolf clothing? By the way, where is the Lieutenant Governor? You cannot hear a thing from this person. You were used well. I understand that there is going to be a new candidate for the second slot in 2010. The more things change the more they remain the same. This adminstration is worst than the Turnbull adminstration. I would like to end by saying this “you can do what you want, but not as long as you want”.
The teachers are being misled. This governor promised to give them a raise. Why is everyone pretending that all is well in paradise? I agree this administration is worst than the previous one. Dr. Terry is not going to do anything to improve education.She has not offered any hope. How can someone who has no ties to this community make a positive impact? It is obvious to me that hiring her was a political favor. Money does talk! DeWolf is laughing & bragging about pulling off his clever campaign tricks. Again, you may fool me once, but not twice. DeWolf will have a difficult time running for a second term. The fox in the big bunny suit is so transparent!
The people of the Virgin Islands is really not ready for change. When former candidate Mapp stated that he would bring an outsider for the position of Coomissioner of Police certain people got on the radio and make a big issue out of it. What is the present Governor doing? The same thing candidate Mapp said he would do. Governor deJongh stated that there were no qualified Virgin Islander for that position. Look around in the governor’s cabinet and you will see for yourseld. Who is not white is from down island. Virgin Islanders wake up and smell the coffee. We will soon be an endangered species in our own hometown. November is around the corner we need to clean house and put in all new senators. This administration do not care nothing about the quality of life for the residents of these islands. I heard a Senators asked yesterday on the news whether they wants Bovoni to be residential or commerical. The residents of the Sugar Estate area needs to asked the Senators and Governor this same question. Imagine a gas station and convenience store will be located on the top of 8th Street of Sugar Estate a full residential area.
gee young native, how much more racist can you get, i truly am tired of people like you,who the hell cares what color your skin is, people with your attitudes are the reason these islands are in the shape they are, i was born in minnesota and moved to texas,then denver,then north dakota and then here and you know what,i was never treated like an outsider, I AM AN AMERICAN, and the us passport i hold gives me the right to live anywhere i choose, you need to realize that these islands are part of the united states and the insider/outsider thing is so incredibly stupid, can you imagine that attitude in any one of the states, i knew islanders up in minnesota and they were welcomed as part of the fabic of life, and trust me they were never treated the way idiots like you treat stateside whites down here, i truly hate the “race” issue that people like you and bert”lets kill all the white people”bryant bring up.
I don’t think that voting districts will impact our situation in a positive way. At least, not at this point in time. We have only ourselves to blame for our current situation. We have failed; not individually, but as an electorate. Before anyone begins to nail me to a cross for that last statement, let me clarify. While there are many of us who cast our votes based on the candidates’ stated position on the issues facing us each and every day, the MAJORITY of voters in the territory continue to cast their precious votes for all the wrong reasons. I was guilty of that exact same thing the very first time I ever voted (@ age 18). I soon realized that there were lots of sacrifices made by people before me, so that I could go to a poll and cast a vote. That gave me an appreciation for the value of my vote. Since then, I have voted solely on each candidate’s stated position. There have been elections where i was so unimpressed by what the candidates had to say that I went into the voting booth, wrote in my own name as a write-in candidate, pushed to “VOTE” button and left. Yes, that is a valid ballot. There is nothing that says one must vote for 7 district senatorial candidates, even if you can’t find 7 that meet your standards. We are so inactive and not demanding of candidates that many candidates, especially incumbents, don’t even bother to put forth a platform. The only way to make our elected officials accountable to us is for the majority of us to become, and remain, ACTIVELY involved in the process (365 days a year). Currently our district senators are, theoretically, accountable to all 50,000-plus residents in his/her district. To go to a sub-district system will vastly reduce the number of people each Senator is accountable to. That can only result in more recklessness on the part of each Senator. And if that isn’t clear to you, the last thing we need around here is the “NIMBY” (Not In My Back Yard)phenomenon. Maybe, when we become more active as an electorate, I’ll agree that sub-ditricting is the right thing for us. As it stands now, I cannot favor such a change. We MUST demand that the candidates make clear their position on, and proposed means of addressing, the issues before us. As long as we vote T-Shirts, fry fish, and johnny cakes, that’s exactly the quality of representation we’ll receive. We all sould share ONE GOAL and ONE PASSION. That being to make the Virgin Islands PARADISE AGAIN.
I share some of the same sentiments as young native Virgin Islander, but I’m not a racist. In fact, I’m an advocate for equality. I have no resentment towards anyone who calls the Virgin Islands home. However, I do have a problem with the fact that native Virgin Islands are being driven out of their homes. I do not blame the outsiders for this. I understand that they come here to fulfill their dreams. This is a U.S. territory and their rights as U.S. citizens should be respected.Let’s examine the issue, though, without getting too emotional. Young native Virgin Islanders are not encouraged to return home after studying abroad. It is easier for them to find jobs other places.
To Ladlie,imagine inviting someone into your home,allowing them to devour your resources, and treating them with love while your children’s needs become secondary .How do you expect your chilren to feel?
Should they not feel neglected? Hating the guest would be a normal reaction. This will not solve the problem. I do not advocate hatred.
Perhaps,it is difficult for someone who was not born in the VI to sympathize with person such as young native virgin islander.I feel the pain of all native Virgin Islanders who are disenfranchised. Sadly, our Governor does not. He does not care about native Virgin Islanders. He is a bigot and an elitist who has no confidence in native Virgin Islanders. It is illegal to discriminate,but it is an abomination to treat your own as trash. Life in the VI is better now only for those who supported the governor. People come to the VI for prosperity,yet native Virgin Islanders leave because of proverty. Yes, Ladlie, it is a paradise for outsiders. Hope you’re enjoying it. Unfortunately, my children and other native Virgin Islands children are being driven away. It is the attitude of the gvernor and other elected officials that is creating this unfair situation.
well i’ve never once considered these islands a “paradise” to me they are just another place for me to live or on the really cynical days i consider them just another “s***hole” with better weather,but never once have i considered them a “paradise”. The only reason i even bought a house here was because i wanted to stay under the protection of the US Flag,the societal problems on these islands stem from years of no education because the powers that be wanted to keep their own people in educational ignorance,hence the less than mediocre schools, so they would’nt notice all the corruption,theft,greed and incompetence and THAT has nothing to do with “outsiders” coming in,but everything to do with “insiders” staying in power,and again i mean no offense but this is the picture I see.
I readin des comments an feelin da crucian funcusion.
Indigenous VI, you say you’re not a racist, you advocate equality, but you prefer the present flawed electoral system to one that might allow an arab or white person get elected. Sounds racist to me.
We publicly embrace Obama and his message of change and unity, but cling to the same old prejudices of ‘us against them’, ‘outsiders and insiders’. We claim to want change and accountability, but we keep fallin for the same politricks and re-electing the same pricks.
Let me tell you how districting will improve accountability and allow for this elusive change we crave. Right now, all our senators are elected by a minority. Mr. Callwood, they may theoretically represent all 50,000+ residents of the district, but they are accountable to none. The recall effort proved that. 4000 voters can elect a senator, but 8000 voters is insufficient to demand a recall vote. The system is broken. It only takes 4000 to 5000 of 20,000 registered voters to elect a senator, even if 10,000 don’t want him. Theoretically, the same 5,000 voters can elect all 7 senators. You’re worried a small group might elect someone who caters to a particular cause that only benefits a few? It happens every election cycle.
If you have sub-districts, there will only be a couple candidates for each seat, rather than 25-30. Each sub-district senator would be elected by a majority from their area, rather than a minority of the full district. The only way to “boot them out” is to have a mechanism to do so.
Yes they will advocate for the wishes of their sub-district, thats as it should be. While everyone in the territory has some common goals, not all of them are shared. St. Thomas has different concerns than St. Croix. Frederiksted, Christiansted, mid-island, east-end, west-end, each area has its particular needs in addition to the needs of the whole. Each senator would have pet projects, but would have to work with the whole, form coalitions and partnerships, in order to get them accomplished. And at the end of the term, if they’ve not done well for their sub-district, the island, and the territory, there is a mechanism for replacing them. As it stands now, there is not.
The only other way to get accountability is to add a “No” vote that counts. Give us 7 votes for senators and 3 no votes, that count against the candidate. Or allow us to vote ‘aye’ or ‘nay’ with our 7. It’d be cheaper and easier than sub-districting. Just put a ‘No’ button next to the current button for each candidate. You only get seven votes, but you can use them to add or subtract a vote from a candidate. Then we’d get some accountability.
I don’t see how a senator who received 1300 votes from the mid-island sub-district can be more representative than one who received 4000 votes islandwide.
As for the “No” vote, what’s to stop the supporters of Senator Russell or Serville from casting a “No” vote for Candidate Golden (for example). The bottom line is that the majority of active Virgin Islands voters continue to vote on emotion and popularity rather than substance.
if a senator were elected from a district instead of island wide you can bet that the senator would do his or her best to make sure their individual district is free of crack houses,garbage,junk cars,run down properties ect. because they would then be held accountable by the voters in their district, as it is now there is just too much passing of the buck, why is this so hard to understand?
TC, put your cap back on. Lets say there are 50,000 people on St. Croix, 20,000 are registered voters, and 16,000 of them vote in an election. Candidate A gets 4000 votes and wins a seat with only 25% of the active vote, 20% of the registered voters, a mere 8% of his constituents.
Now divide that into 7 sub-districts. So mid-island has 7140 residents, 2860 registered voters, and 2285 of them vote in the election. Candidate B gets 1300 votes. Thats 57% of the active vote, 45% of the registered voters and 18% of his total constituency. Thats more than double the representation, no matter how you slice it.
Now when election time comes around again, if less than 50% of Incumbant B’s active voter constituents are happy with the job he’s doing, it’s not likely he’ll be re-elected.
However, under the at-large system we have, if 12,000 (75%) of Incumbant A’s active voter constituents are unhappy with him, he can still be re-elected by the 4000. THAT is dis-enfranchisement of the majority.