Tourist Murder Makes Coki Point A Priority For deJongh Administration
After the July 12 tourist incident, suddenly funds and resources are available for the renovation of the Coki Point Area - did the local population deserve any less?
Coki Point Beach will now be the focus of an intense Government renovation after a tourist was murdered in a shootout July 12.
You knew it was going to happen, but that doesn’t diminish the outrage we should all feel at the intensity of the response of this Administration to the July 12 shootout at Coki Point.
Now that a tourist has been killed by the crime and violence we have been forced to endure on a daily basis, a “comprehensive plan” for the renovation of Coki Point has been announced by Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr.
In a news conference Thursday, deJongh outlined the 10-day plan that includes closing the beach and executing a number of initiatives that should have been completed long ago for the local population, but are now priorities because a tourist was caught in the crossfire. And not one time in the broadcast was the fact that a local man was also killed even mentioned. It’s all about the tourists.
Anyone would think the problems at Coki Point are a new development.
All of a sudden we see the deteriorating landscape; the piles of debris; the open and visible sale of drugs and other contraband; and the disgusting bathhouse and other facilities at the once picturesque location.
And all of a sudden there is money and staff to execute improvements.
The day after the shootout, Commissioner of Housing Parks and Recreation St. Clair Williams was quoted as saying that although $500,000 in funds had been given to his agency by the Public Finance Authority for Coki Point renovations in 2005 that his agency had not yet received the funds. Suddenly, these funds will be available by August 2 to clean up the beach.
Staff will be pulled from other projects to get this done – projects in process to serve the local community – to make sure every effort is made to lure the tourists back to the beach. Trash that has littered the area for years will be removed. Surveillance equipment will be repaired and upgraded. Roads leading to the area will be fixed – now that a tourist has been killed.
We are not impressed.
None of these actions are initiatives that should not have been undertaken long ago. Nothing outlined in the “comprehensive plan” is beyond the purview of routine government responsibility that should have been undertaken with the tax dollars these agencies have received on an annual basis to perform their normal, routine functions.
The irony is bitter – the night before the now infamous killings, there was a shooting at Coki Point. Does anyone even know who was involved in that? Was there a manhunt and mobilization of law enforcement to track down those involved? Has there been this type of intense response to any of the other 44 murders in the Territory this year? The answer is no.
There is no question that there has been fallout from the incident that has affected the perception of St. Thomas and its desirability as a tourist destination. Carnival, NCL, Princess and Royal Caribbean have canceled shore excursions to Coki Point as a result of the incident and the negative publicity has been global, spread rapidly through stateside media and the internet. There is no question that the tourism product is important to the economy of the Territory – that is not the point.
Nothing the Administration and law enforcement are addressing in this plan to convince the outside world that you can walk the streets without dodging a bullet are safeguards that the local population is not entitled to as well.
It is perhaps the most blatant example of the disregard for the local community demonstrated to date by this Administration and sends a strong message to everyone in this community about where we fall on the priority list.
And if they think that cleaning up Coki Point for marketing purposes is going to have any influence at all on the growing crime epidemic sweeping this community, they are only fooling themselves.
If we aren’t safe, then no one is safe.
Apparently this Administration doesn’t care about that.
I’m not sure that being in an enclosed vehicle would offer much protection. According to the reports a red car (from which they suspect gunfire was made) was riddled with bullet holes. Have you seen what bullets can go through?
We need to work at the root of the problem – not be dancing around trying to put surface paint on this broken societial issue.
I’m certain there will be a reasonable phase out period with the oldest first. Maybe we can get a “cash for clunkers”, subsidies, and a liberal trade in for a certified and safe tour buses. They even could be donated to Haiti where “tap taps” are popular but on the streets of STT/STJ they are a blight where suitable and safe mini-tour business would improve many things. Even as a Libertarian Republican I believe in a program that would help out the local transportation services. Or if i can borrow liberally from Rudyard Kipling: ” Buses are buses and Safaris are Safaris and never the twain shall meet.”
Is it okay to send something we consider dangerous and unsuitable to Haiti?
Sad, sad, sad. We are now blaming a vehicle for not stopping a stray bullet. Please focus. Unless we are going to tour our visitors in bullet proof vehicles like the Pope the EXACT same thing can happen. The Safaris are unsafe for other reasons but so are our School buses.
We had better start reaching out to our young men and women and focus on what really ails this community. Lack of Vision, Opportunity and most of all HOPE.
Haitians have different standards and have the talents to take piece of junk and make it into a work of art as they may desire. No I am not “blaming the vehicle” at all. Rather I wanted to point out that open air Safaris are unsafe transportation for anyone and an unsavory situation that we must deal with. Even “guest” workers picked up everyday. The question is: Do our overpaid lawmakers have the political will and courage to deal with this menace? IMHO job #1 of government is to protect the people rather than be a provider. The founder of the Democrat Party, Thomas Jefferson said so long ago. Current democrats have turned that around and now heap lavish taxpayer taken money and even some they have yet to take from your grandchildren and give to huge financial organizations and car companies but still are not willing to “protect” us at our borders.
Protect us at the borders – keep guns from entering the Territory – make it safe for ME and YOU. I’d rather see them direct funds to actually do that (and don’t forget that the VIPD still has to contend with meeting the decree order) BEFORE they spend any taxpayer money on replacing the Safari busses. I wouldn’t want to see the island in a passenger van or a “tour bus”.
No one blames the Federal Government for the influx of guns and drugs and illegal aliens into its U.S.V.I. colony, although “Big Brother” is primarily responsible for our “customs and border protection and homeland security” and immigration. This is an argument for Virgin Islanders to seek Free Association status as a prelude to eventual Independence!
No! But we prefer to complain, rather than seek solutions to our problems! Under Free Association we retain U.S. citizenship, but assume greater responsibility for our internal affairs, including those currently fulfilled by the Federal Government. The U.S. would be responsible for Foreign Affairs and Defense.
As such we would be able to have our cake (U.S. Citizenship) and eat it too (control our affairs!).
@george – Are you comfortable with the government that we have right now – and even looking to the next 4 years – with the state of affairs in our education, police, social services, etc areas to trust that we can take care of our own fully yet? We can’t pull together and ensure that we can maintain status quo as it is. I’m not complaining – but pointing out the facts as they are. I don’t just complain about issues, I work to overcome them – but I don’t think that we are ready for that step yet.
We have a lot of housecleaning that needs to be done before we move a lot further to self sufficiency. A lot needs to be shown that we can handle it (within our current status) before we can move on in my opinion. For starters – we need to get closer to being solvent.
Have these problems just popped up? Why is this administration being blamed for every ill in the society? Please be fair and objective!
@ Just Thinking:
You–once baby–crawled and fell on your own. Today, you walk unassisted! To whom, now, do you attribute that ability? Growth derives from responsibility, errors and falls…included and self correction of failures! The U.S.V.I. needs to assume greater autonomy for itself and gradually minimize its “childlike” dependency on Big Brother!
Frankly put: The U.S.A. has no business in the harboring Colonies, since it claims to promote “Democracy” whatever that means! A most tragic contradiction!
It is fair to say we have the highest murder rate in history under this Administration
@ Just Thinking: Why should the Federal Government control 2/3 of St. John, as a National Park, while native St.Johnians are being essentially made “aliens in their own land.” The U.S.V.I. Government should Demand that the entire National Park be returned to local control;following which, reduced in size some of those lands be sold to natives, who foolishly back in the 1930′s sold off their lands to the Rockefellers!
Such a Demand would reflect Leadership by our so-called Political Leaders!
But to some of us “that is too radical.” We can’t “run tings ourselves.” We stuppidy! How sad!
And it was in St. John in 1733 that the first semi-successful blow against Slavery in the West Indies occured! What are we afraid of? Failure or Success?
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#George – We should work toward self-dependence. And mistakes along the way will happen. But we need to put in place better leaders (not just in the administration – but in the Senate and in some of those Semi-autonomous organizations. We HAVE to become financially more stable and get people in power that have a clue (not self-serving, not crooked, that work for the financial and economic and social independence of the Territory. Running an independent country isn’t like starting to ride a bike – there will be trials and errors, but the parties that are for this independence MUST be stronger than those who oppose it (or are for it as long as they stand to profit) or we will end up warring amongst ourselves.
You summed up my concerns with your statement ” Such a Demand would reflect Leadership by our so-called Political Leaders!” Unfortunately, I haven’t seen many of such caliber to create and run an independent Territory step up to the plate yet. We have those capable I have no doubt – but they need to step up this election to pave the way.
All who independence from the U.S.A. could be doing Big Brother a favor. He does not need the USVI to strengthen his economy. He gives to the USVI more than he receives. The USVI is a parasite to the Mother country. Demand independence now, stop sucking the mother’s tits!
@Herb at 10:34 a.m. on 7/25/10,
You say that current Democrats have taken taxpayers’ and their grandchildrens’ money and lavished it on huge corporations to the detriment of the people. (you neglected to mention that most of this money has been repaid!!!!) I hope you realize that this statement by you implicates the Diageo deal. I have heard you support this deal in the past. Is this not the same thing? To portray it as otherwise is hypocritical.
Thanks for the illumination!
We must first put effort and energy into feeding ourselves. We must place states people in office with integrity who will put the Virgin Islands and her residents as #1, #2 and #3 priority. In this whole equation there was never any intention for the inhabitants of these islands to actually participate in our rights to self determination.
The types of conversations and organizing taking place as we speak has never been seen on this scale before. Our level of consciousness, is on the rise!!! Amen to just thinking.
Those who have the “eyes to see” must none the less start planning for the future, our future. Obviously someone else has been doing it for us and it’s time we start making our own arrangements, whether its Free Association or Independence. Change is inevitable. Do we want to be the change or will we just wait for it?
We must first demonstrate that we can manage our resources, to include natural as well as our people resources in the best interest of the whole.
We must also seek to be self reliant and anyone who says we cannot, remember our ancestors built city states and universities of astronomy, engineering, spirituality, agriculture (may I remind you how many of us came to be here in the first place) among many others which utilized the skills of the entire populace.
The knowledge is already contained within our DNA. Our ancestors were people whose cultural mores added to the stabilization of these city states for countless generations.
Much we have forgotten these many generations away from our true self. The time approaches for truth. All will be exposed. Before we invite people into our homes, we must ask, “What is your intention?” We must examine the intention, back, belly and side so we can decide if the intent based on facts we have researched ourselves, will be in the best interest of the house before anyone can enter. Our traits of kindness and generosity have been used against us. We are becoming more discerning as situations unfold.
Diageo is an investment with returns, big returns if it works well. As far as Puerto Rico is concerned they will give up the rum cover over for
statehood soon. Then we will be the point of manufacture for their branded rums and the fact that we will soon have the production infrastructure means enormous revenue so they can keep their traditional labels. We do the bulk production and PR slaps their label on. Sounds great for both jurisdictions. This is far different from the bondage created by the liberal welfare state syndrome.
Hey Herb you are absolutely not a good teacher. You said “government are to protect its people rather than provide”. Well look at the police officer sworn to protect and serve who was caught helping himself to furniture.WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
Exactly what will be done with these returns? Remember it will create only 40 jobs for the people of these islands. What’s the plan for the supposed return on the investment?
Rum cover over money of $10.25 per proof gallon returned to the V.I. Treasury by the Feds! This is now estimated at 20-40 million per year and with Cruzan expanding it could be more. Just imagine with PR Statehood what it could be if we bulk produced Don Q, Baccardi, Ron Rico for their branded label…as the ad says “priceless”. Again this venture had some political risks but so far there has not been traction to the Menendez (D-NJ) attempts to knee cap the V.I. So far so good! Why are you not happy about this?