Open Forum
You asked for it so here it is.
When you want to blog, chat, rant or rave about a topic not covered in one of our posts, put it here.
This is your Open Forum.
You asked for it so here it is.
When you want to blog, chat, rant or rave about a topic not covered in one of our posts, put it here.
This is your Open Forum.
He is the master of garbled hyperbole and if you’re looking for extreme overstatements designed to deflect attention from the issue at hand, just call on Senate President Ronald Russell.
Clearly perturbed at being taken to task for continuing not to disclose the names of the Senators whose misuse of funds was identified in the recent Legislative website, Russell called recent media stories on the topic the “misuse of the media” and likened coverage to the circumstances that led to the “genocide in Rwanda.”
From the man who invoked “Brown vs. Board of Education” to talk us into the Broadband deal, now we are told that demands for disclosure of who exactly misused travel funds, indiscriminately gave out millions in government contracts and arbitrarily handed out bonuses to Legislative employees place the media public in the same category as those who, in Russell’s view, caused the deaths of thousands of innocent citizens in an African nation.
This from a candidate who ran on a platform of “transparency.”
If the election was held today, would you vote to return Russell to the Senate?
As many of you heard recently, CIF President Michael Springer, at left, delivered the first in a series of radio announcements that will target specific issues and offer analysis on our most pressing concerns.
The feedback on the comments was extremely positive, so CIF will sponsor then as often as possible, and we thank those of you who have already donated! But airtime costs money and we're seeking your help.
If you'd like to help keep our voices on the air, please donate whatever you can using the PayPal button below. We thank you in advance for your support.
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Do you think Cecile’s boss, convicted sex offender, Jeffery Epstien will register? He is free to prowl amongst our young girls. He claims his residence here so he can get Millions in EDC benifits.
This guy that Mario calls CC is so annoying and just loves to hear himself talk.
Epstein is registered in the VI sex registry
Why is sex offender registries being ignored? When will we start deporting illegal aliens? Not only are we being raped and robbed by the senate and wapa but we are also being raped and robbe in every sense of the words. Why are businesses being cheated by the govt workers compensation and the vi dol. Workers comp funds need to be seperate from the general fund and labor needs to stop loaning unemployment funds to the government to meet govt payroll. These funds for labor and workers comp should be there already but the corrupt government is spending it and then unfairly over tax businesses to cover what should already be there. All this on top of having to deal with an increase in the fed unemmloyment rates because of the same reasons above. Businesses are being fu***ed by this govt and we all are gonna pak up and leave. We are being robbed to cover the fact that this place is a mess.
AFT town-hall meeting will cover many pertinent topics on the economic climate. It will be held at Woodson Junior Highs School at 5:30 tomorrow, Wednesday. The public is invited. Recall petitions will be there!
Virginia House Passes NDAA-Nullifying Bill; Other States Join Fight
The sovereign states are courageously asserting their constitutionally protected right to self-determination by standing up to the federal government and refusing to execute the most noxious provisions of the recently enacted National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Evidence of this laudable resistance to federal tyranny was most recently found in the Old Dominion, where on February 14 an impressive majority (96 out of 100 members) of the Virginia House of Delegates passed HB 1160, a bill that prohibits agents of the state government from “assisting an agency of the armed forces of the United States in the conduct of the investigation, prosecution, or detention of a citizen in violation of the United States Constitution, the Constitution of Virginia, or any Virginia law or regulation.”
the rest @ http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/10916-virginia-house-passes-ndaa-nullifying-bill-other-states-join-fight
Rainman @ 6:13
I don’t have a problem with decriminalization of weed, and marketing for profit and tax revenues. But sell it to the VI gov’t.? You already know that any time the gov’t touches any project, it turns to sh**.
Let’s all stand and sing the new VI anthem – Bob Dylan’s “Everybody Must Get Stoned”
Stephanie Scott-Williams
P. O. Box 502883
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00805
sscotttwms@aol.com
ph/fax 340-775-0635
February 17, 2012
Nikolao Pula, Director, Office of Insular Affairs
Anthony M. Babauta, Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs
Wendy Fink, Counsel to the Asst. Secretary & Director of Policy
Kristen Oleyte, Sr. Policy Advisor
Rebecca Zepeda, Policy Advisor
Charlene Leizear, Director of Technical Assistance
Tom Bussanich, Director of Budget
Office of Insular Affairs-Policy & Liaison Division
U.S. Department of Interior
1849 C Street
Washington, D.C. 20240
Messieurs & Madames:
It is apparent that the United States Virgin Islands an Unincorporated Territory, a colony of the United States of America in its political immaturity has come to a devastating political and economic low. As you are aware the present administration and the legislature has created and continues to add to the financial economic disaster that the Virgin Islands will not easily or quickly recover from.
The posture of the U.S. Senate and Congress may not embrace the continued funding, financing or giving of U. S. resources to off shore possessions of the United States. However, the Virgin Islands is still of strategic value to the United States and the island of St. Thomas is an integral component in the banking communications of South America.
Every day it is becoming more and more evident that the integrity of the election system of the U. S. Virgin Islands has been compromised. With the upcoming 2012 senatorial, boards of; elections and education, the voters of the USVI will not and should not use a system that they have no confidence. We are in an extremely time sensitive situation and need the Department of Interior’s assistance immediately to:
1. Ensure that all who are eligible and desire to vote in the USVI have the choice to do so via electronic, absentee, provisional or paper ballot which are the official ballots as per Title 18 of the VI Code. The Voters of the USVI petition the Dept. of Interior seeking their assistance, (not take over) in procuring the electronic machines in time for the 2012 election that will ensure the integrity and certifiable results.
2. Court order and physically remove the supervisor of elections and the entire boards of elections and all their access to all printed and electronic election systems information.( based on the inconsistencies documented of the 2010 election. Although there are members that are newly elected they can apply)(Freezing all accounts /assets)
3. Appoint the Deputy Director of elections as the Interim Supervisor.
4, Appoint an interim board of elections from applicants that submit resume (without their name to ensure no name recognition, etc.) along with a statement as to what the applicant offers the position. A member of each political party can be a member of the selection committee as well as two former members of the board of elections (except those sitting prior to the 2010 election) for community oversight.
Present members of the board of elections have used and continue to use their positions on the board to interfere with the election process. Daily we see how the dis ease of greed, power, dishonesty and control has deteriorated the quality of life for residents of the U. S. Virgin Islands. The various audits continue to point out that
those that are and have been of public service continue to fail to operate in and with integrity and sacred intent under the “U. S. Constitution”
We realize that we can not lock up everyone that has lied, committed fraud, stolen, misused government funds, etc. however, we must make every effort to collect, retrieve as much as we can that has been stolen from the people of the Virgin Islands. We need assistance to right the human wrongs that continue to persist. We will probably need to conduct “Truth & Reconciliation Healing Sessions”
The Department of Interior and the President are in a dilemma with the pending sealed indictments possibly for the Governor, V.I. Attorney General and some Senators. Is it in the best interest of the U. S. Virgin Islands to have a Governor and law makers who are possibly under sealed indictments still making decisions and laws? If the Department of Interior fails to act proactively we may find ourselves in civil disobedience that you cannot imagine. How can we move forward if they are allowed to continue in public office? We must have the Interior’s intervention and assistance. We have meet with resistance every where we turn as we attempt to get justice and exercise our rights under the U.S. Constitution. (Freeze all their assets before they are required to step down and or arrested. Block all access to electronic and printed Government info and accounts.)
Over the years it has appeared that the United States’ indifference or desire not to appear “heavy handed” has worked to our disadvantage. Almost to the point of “hands off” on certain issues, cases, concerns that the residents may have, for example; political status, constitution, gasoline excise tax, rum cover over to name a few.
We are often discouraged locally from seeking self-determination by comments like, “what will happen to public housing or food stamps, government handouts,” things to keep us in a beggarly state? Or we are told; “the Feds won’t approve or it’s not constitutional.”
I personally witnessed, the Dept. of Interior state, to then Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in his quest seeking the death of the CFO bill for the Virgin Islands, “whatever the governor wants, we will support”. We look forward to that continued support in the future.
With the pending indictments, and the 2012 election at our heels, upon the Dept. of Interior’s recommendation the President will have to appoint an interim Governor and also relieving the Lt. Gov. and the AG of their roles and duties since they are both integrally connected to the present Governor. An interim acting AG can be appointed from within until the interview/selection team is in place to accept applications for the AG. The Interim Governor can appoint a person from the district of St. Croix to serve as “ Co-governor” until 2014 general election.
The people of the Virgin Islands no longer have confidence in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government to serve and protect them as well as we question the Dept. of Interiors role in the scheme of things.
It is imperative that the interim governor is able to facilitate restoration of the public’s trust and the Healing, Rebuilding, Rebirth, The Renaissance of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It would be very informative for a team from the Dept. of Interior to make an unannounced visit to the “four” islands that compromise the USVI and talk and listen to the diverse cross section populating the U.S. Virgin Islands. It would prove interesting for you to ask where they are from and how long they have resided here. Not everyone that is dark-skinned is from the Virgin Islands and therefore may have a totally different allegiance.
I am available to meet with you and those who can and will be a part of the discussion and assisting the people of the Virgin Islands s to develop solutions to the aforementioned concerns of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Respectfully
*
Stephanie Scott-Williams
Community Activist
cc: VI Delegate, B. Ottley
@rainman 6:13am – contact me at usvinorml1@gmail.com
There is a plan in the works to bring revenues into the Territory, create businesses, provide jobs, increase tourism, reduce crime and more. Option exisits that a private company would oversee (as the govt can’t be trusted). Gross receipt taxes would be directed to specific projects as opposed to going into the general fund.
And much more…
when i say govermentbuys this it is simply a tax stamp, the govement has to be the primary regulating and revanue autgority. having a private company just means shareing the revanus with another body. the point is to provide a taxbleself sustaining rescorse that attracts tourists and offers employmenttothe small bussines man.
I have conditions for who can grow it and apply for tax stamps and distriute it.
1. no fellony convictions.
2. no violent crimes
3 must be a resident of the VI for 5 years.
4. any resident should have the rightto grow, and use on there own property.
5. all funds generated shall go to the vi goverment paying its wapa bill any funds left over shall go to department of agreculture and to dept of tourisim in an equile split.
Whats with all the local teachers going home today, i think that when john got the money he was not going to send anyone else home, what are people to do? when is this going to stop
Rainman – email me – there is more to explain that what was posted. This isn’t an idea that was just hatched recently. It’s a plan that has been being honed over the last few years now. We’ve met with the drafters of many of the Tax & Regulate initiatives up in the states. Discussing with them the pro’s and con’s – having serious conversations with them and relating it back to us. “Private” company is really a coalition – a governing body made up of both specific government “positions” and non-governmental people. If it were strictly governed by the Territorial government, it would become bastardized by whomever is running the government – and their personal ideals/agenda.
We have the whole thing – how and which sections of VI Code that would need to be changed or added to. A proposed plan including but not limited to – growing for personal, wholesale, for industrial. For retail and supportive industries. For those who develop, produce, and market alternative products using cannabis and its byproducts. Projections on revenue generated and ideas on new industries.
We’ve met with those who specialize in cannabis tourism and education garnering projections from them and putting the bug in their ears about what legalization/decriminalization would bring for those industries. And much more.
This is not something that is just a “oh, let’s legalize weed” kind of thing. Much time, research and effort has gone into this.
We’ve met with Senators’ staff to get a feel for their thoughts and their knowledge levels. We’ve chosen not to put any of this to the legislators for introduction into the Senate because of the whole package that the Senate is – deceitful, corrupt, self-serving, and too many animosities that exist between themselves.
If you are truly interested in what this can do for the Territory – contact me.
A sports complex that will be run by a group of people who have no ties to the Territory – who we will spend MILLIONS to cover their fees and expenses every year – all with no guarantees that they will even be able to bring one sanctioned event here or that any number of jobs will be created for us….. Or do we look at what we as citizens can do – business ownership – self-supporting. Enveloping tourism as it is, and adding to the tourist base without spending tons of money on tourism agencies off-island. The response both nationally and internationaly at the possiblity of this has been exciting. Getting back to self-employment – business ownership – supporting ourselves without the dependence on a large corporation from outside. Limiting the infussion of outside businesses from coming in and taking over – making us employees instead of business owners. Pride in what we are capable of doing. Getting back to the earth. And the side benefits include reduction of violent crime, getting our youth to join together and become legitimate business owners – encouraging them to work together as a co-op or corporation. Working with local and federal agencies to give support and education on business ownership, marketing, etc. Giving our youth creative options – designing and producing products made from hemp oil, hemp cloth. Bringing new construction materials such as hempcrete to the Territory – building a 1200 sq ft house out of 2 acres of cannabis hemp. And having the experts willing to come and teach hemp construction.
It’s our future. Don’t rely on someone else to decide what yours will be. Design it yourself.
For more information – email usvinorml1@gmail.com
Judging solely by the vote tally for re-electing Russell, I have come to the conclusing that 5% of the USVI population is completely nuts.