Will The Real Virgin Islanders Please Stand Up?
A Constitution is defined as a system for government that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity, including the fundamental political principles; defines the structure, procedures, powers and duties, of a government; and guarantees certain rights to the people. All of the people.
Except, it seems, in the minds of certain delegates of the Constitutional Convention of the United States Virgin Islands.
In their Constitution, certain rights are guaranteed for some of the people, namely the Ancestral Native Virgin Islanders, defined as anyone born in the VI before June 28, 1932 and the descendants of those who resided here between 1917 and June, 1932 – but not to the rest of us Native Virgin Islanders – and the rest is defined as any person born in the Virgin Islands after June 28, 1932.*
Two of the most egregious distinctions are:
1. The payment of property taxes – Ancestral natives are exempt from paying them while Natives must pay, and
2. Only Ancestral natives will be allowed to participate in the committees that determine the ultimate status of the Virgin Islands and its relationship to the rest of the United States if and when the document is eventually adopted.
It is difficult to conceive of a more divisive presentation of a document that is designed to unite under rule and principle the people it represents.
It diminishes the value and contribution of the diverse populations that have made the Virgin Islands their home. It relegates anyone who does not carry the “Ancestral” tag to second class status and provides unwarranted special privilege to those who claim the length of their tenure, which is strictly the chance of birth and family. It burdens them unfairly with the expense of property taxes – a fundamental basis of the economy – while denying them a voice in the future and status of the islands their taxes are supporting.
This is not a Constitution. It is the creation of petty minds and vindictive agendas and we should stop it in its tracks.
*The exact language can be found in Article III, Sections 1&2 in documents posted on this website.
Does the document as drafted by the Constitutional Convention fairly represent the rights and interests of all of the people of the Virgin Islands?
- Yes, the distinctions between Ancestral Natives and Native Virgin Islanders is fair (46%)
- No, the distinctions between Ancestral Natives and Native Virgin Islanders unfairly disadvantages those identified as Native and doesn’t represent the interests of all the people of the Virgin Islands (54%)
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So we can all be clear. Are you saying the Danes did not find people of color when they arrived?
What is owed the peoples of African ancestry for their hardships and slave labor in building these islands is the real topic.
Thanks Sojourner. Also in that discussion, should be what is owed to those same people of African descent when the Danes decided to sell these islands to the USA, Africans included!!
I am saying that when the Europeans came they found native peoples, not people of African descent. If you are descended from Taino Indians then you could be considered an indigenous people.
The second question is much harder. It is the same issue as reparations in general. It is a tough issue because although slavery is today considered an immorale act, back then it was perfectly legal.
Yes, the question is hard but it deserves to be answered.
I am not sure the answer is as straight forward as you might think. There are legal and moral issues involved. The question of who owes what to whom is difficult. In general, our laws do not hold us responsible for the actions of our ancestors, especially when their actions were perfectly legal at the time.
So it comes down to what is the morally right thing to do? I’m sure there will be a lot of disagreement here. As I have said before, I do not think you can fix past injustice by putting new injustice in place.
Old FART:
Your choice of words say sooooo much. “Slavery was ‘PERFECTLY’ legal”.
The answer, I believe, is very straightforward. It’s called doing to right doing the right thing.
old fart.we know your identity,I don’t have to say your name any more, former senator RUSSELL & SURVILLE were so right you are really a member of the KKK just by the words you write tells me what kind of person you are.I have been listening to your show on a daily basis,and I am convinced that because of you and GOVERNOR JOHN de WOLF these islands has turned into a racial battle ground.IF the people of the VIRGIN ISAND OF THE UNITED STATES do a back ground check they will find that you and GOVERNOR deWOLF WAS NOT BORN in these islands so why should both of you give a damn about the people of the VI.
Now I Know
You can put the emphasis anywhere you want but all that I was trying to say is that at the time slavery was legal, I did not say that it was morally right.
The reason slavery ended was not because the slaves in the Americas rose up and overthrew their masters but because the US and European colonial powers decided that slavery was morally wrong and changed the law.
The Europeans had superior technology and could have suppressed the slave populations if they had wanted to do so. The Europeans had ships and access to superior weapons not available to the Africa slaves. Even after the slave revolts the Europeans retained power in the islands.
Many things have changed over time; it is no longer considered politically correct to take territory by conquering your neighbor.
Now I Know, you obviously hate white people and blame them for any problems that you may have. I am sorry. All that I can say is that things continue to change. We have a black president, the highest paid entertainer is black, the number one golfer is black, most elite athletes are black, etc. Move on! Take advantage of todays oportunities and stop dwelling on the past.
Everyone should realise that education is the great equalizer. Let’s make sure our elected officials provide us with good schools and make sure parents encourage our children to take advantage of them.
As sojourner points out money=power. Well its also true knowledge=money=power.
Are property and positions more important than education?
What is interesting about the discussion about discrimination, the draft constitution and native rights are those issues we have chosen to ignore.
The draft constitution speaks about granting free, technical higher education. This language, however, excludes non-technical higher education: such as attending UVI. I believe that the granting of post secondary technical higher education is great. But, isn’t this provision discriminatory?
Or are we silent on this matter because we value positions and property much more than we do education?
The problem Oldfart is that you point to the exceptions.
All other statistics remain disproportionate. Even the MONEY.
Under deWolf the Haves=Whites are prospering disproportionatly to the local Black population on all levels.
Knowledge is no longer the equalizer. That is why our children no longer respond to that lecture as a motivation. We have plenty who lack knowledge but hold power and are racking in the CASH
What I have never understood about St Croix is why local people don’t run more businesses. Why don’t more locals do like the Arabs did? Pool your money with other family members and friends and open gas stationsand grocery stores. Convince other locals to spend their dollars with you instead of at Arab or White owned businesses.
This would all be quite legal and not require a new constitution. You have the power to be successful, use it.
P.S. holy smokes, I am not Roger W. Morgan, I don’t even listen to his show regularly. It’s always the same people calling in everyday.
WHY SHOULD YOU LISTEN AND YOU ARE THE HOST. OH BY THE WAY HOW DO YOU KNOW IT IS THE SAME PEOPLE CALLING IN IF YOU DON’T LISTEN. GIVE ME A BREAK RODGER MORGAN.
holy,
I didn’t say that I have never listened to the show only that I don’t listen regularly.
Are the CAPS supposed o be shouting? Does it help?
Oldfart did you ever wonder how a man could be poor and White in America?
You mean pool our money together like the poor Whites of rural America that change their lives around so much. Now there are no longer any poor Whites in America. White people sure got all the opportunities “Boss” and they still make up the majority (in sheer numbers) of the poor. Or like American Farmers who are totally subsidized by the Fderal Gov’t. Or perhaps we could all get together like the banking and finance industries and fail and be bailed out with a bonus.
But thank you for letting us know how to make money legally. Only the rich and powerful should make it the old fashion way POLITICAL corruption.
ps.
Is it just me or do I remember not having to lock my door at night or walk with a key before the White people came and told us we needed to develope.
HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY RODGER I WILL BE LISTENING TOMORROW, GOD BLESS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND ALL MY PEOPLE.
sojourner,
What I was trying to point out is that opportunity exists. Blacks only make up 12.9% of the US population. Yet look how many successful black athletes and entertainers, etc. we have. Why aren’t more wealthy blacks helping.
If you think someone is going to come along and give you a bunch of money then you are probably going to be waiting a long time. So what is your point about the money? Do something besides whine.
Adults are not whining just because they don’t agree with you. Think about what is being said before you get defensive. I am doing something if I can get you to stop and consider all sides before you form “new opinions”.
sojourner,
I know all about growing up poor and white in rural america. That’s where I came from. I used to ask my father why I wasn’t born rich. He said that the Lord did not have that planned for us.
I wasn’t saying that you were whining because you didn’t agree with me, I said you were whining because when I mentioned starting locally owned businesses you pooh-pooh that idea and go off on a tangent about political corruption and bailouts. The local business is something that you could actually do, eliminating government corruption is something that you are unlikely to change and is simply a diversion.
As far as crime goes, are you saying that white people are breaking into your house? Why not hold the people comitting the crime responsible for their actions.
I don’t understand the phrase “before the white people came”. The white people were here before the black people were here and have controlled the islands since colonial times. When Columbus stopped at Salt River in 1493 were there black people on shore waving at him?
Or maybe you are saying that since black people feel disadvantaged because of slavery then they have a right to break into your house, but it’s not really their fault it’s all the white man’s fault?
I read most of this thread with real dismay. As a white guy in my (newish) home, I find it distressing that there should be such rampant xenophobia and racism here. With all the beautiful cultures here one would think that we could all live in harmony and peace.
Warning: If you persist in harkening back to the evils of the past and continue to ask/demand for handouts and entitlements, you will never be free.
Free men stand on their own two feet and are counted. Free men educate their children and prepare them to join society. We don’t let them join gangs, use drugs or drink. Our men get married and stay with their families. Free men care about their homes and don’t throw trash everywhere. We don’t demand government handouts, we get jobs. If there are no jobs, we invent one, work hard and build businesses. We smile at our customers and provide excellent customer service. We don’t slink off to do our shopping or get our hair fixed on company time. We pay taxes so there can be roads and fire departments and police. We volunteer our time and our hands so that others may prosper. Yes, we do think about our families first, but we also are concerned about the other guy. We don’t succeed by stomping on someone else.
Now you can continue with your racist, xenophobic constitution and maybe can get it past congress (I doubt it very much) and you can give back all the monetary blessings the other US citizens have given you and end up like Haiti or Cuba if you want. But I don’t believe that is where you really want to go.
All of us, however we got here, have been blessed with a wonderful island. We should all come together and create something better than was before. A strong rope is made of many strands. Let us forgive one another, leave past hurts behind and be a strong rope!