Be It Resolved…
Here is a copy of the Resolution that will be presented to the Legislature today by those marching in the Government Shutdown.
RESOLUTION
This Resolution is presented on behalf of the People of the US Virgin Islands in response to constant exclusion of our concerns when it comes to the actions of public decision-makers
Whereas the people of the U.S. Virgin islands continue to endure a rapid declining quality of life;
Whereas the Legislature of the Virgin Islands has failed to represent the best interests of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands;
Whereas the Legislature of the Virgin Islands has abandoned its statutory responsibility to exercise OVERSIGHT of the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands;
Whereas the Legislature has failed to perform its role in the “checks and balance” intended under our republican form of government;
Whereas the Legislature repeatedly acts as a pawn of the Executive Branch, as opposed to a separate and equal branch of government, enabling the administration to compromise the future of the U.S. Virgin Islands;
Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the People of the Virgin Islands:
THAT we demand the convening of a Special Session of the 29th Legislature to address some of the pressing issues facing the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands;
THAT the above-mentioned Special Session results in the enactment of Legislation accomplishing the following:
- The termination of the “BroadBand” Initiative currently being undertaken by Virgin Islands Next Generation Network;
- Repeal of the 8% salary reduction of government employees and refunding of all income lost as a result of the 8% salary reduction.
- Reinstatement of employees terminated from the territory’s MCH Clinics and a return of full service offerings at said clinics.
- 5-year moratorium on the sale of real property, for the purpose of collecting any property taxes that became delinquent after tax year 2006.
- Amendments to the FY2012 budget law, making the entire budget a line-item budget.
- Amendments to the FY2012 budget law, reducing each department, agency, instrumentality’s budget by an amount representing what the Legislature included for purposes of paying for electricity.
- The creation of a “Special Fund”, called the Electricity Fund, into which shall be transferred the total from above (Item 6), and out of which the each department, agency, and instrumentality will have their WAPA bills paid up to their allotted portion of the total fund.
- The reprogramming of the proceeds received from the issuance of GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, originally intended for the Broadband Initiative, to fund the above-listed Initiatives of the People.
- The IMMEDIATE issuance of 2010 tax refund checks from funds set aside for that specific purpose, as per Court Settlement
- The publishing of all U.S. Virgin Islands Government monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports on the websites of the Office of Management and Budget, The USVI Legislature, Department of Finance, Public Finance Authority, and the Office of the Governor.
THAT the Legislature remove Senator Alicia “Chucky” Hansen who is a sitting member in violation of Virgin Islands Law, since the Legislature makes its own rules and has the authority to determine the qualifications of its members,
THAT Virgin Islands Code be amended such that the Legislature has SOLE authority to grant tax exemptions
THAT we the people will accept NO EXCUSES such as preemption, pending litigation, scheduling conflicts, etc. for inaction on ANY of our demands
THAT the legislature of the Virgin Islands shall have 30 calendar days from November 9, 2011 to conduct said Special Session
This Resolution is hereby presented to each member of the 29th Legislature the 9th day of November, A.D., 2011
A people without vision, are doomed to fail; Local law is the first step in a nations expression of this vision.
The blind child wonders;
His goods consumed by others;
They eat while he starves.
@Anon 9:07am: the Resolution, though presented which the “Whereas” language and format, was never intended to necessarily be the actual language to be adopted by the Legislature. We don’t expect the Legislature to pass anything acknowledging their failure. In hindsight, the language could’ve been clearer. From a practical perspective, property owners aren’t required to disclose their reasons for selling their property. The Government, however, is required to advertise the sale of property for purposes of collecting delinquent taxes. So even as written, it would be almost totally unenforceable against anyone but the Goverment. I must admit, with the administration talking about commas and prepositional phrases as justification for spending public funds on the Governor’s private residence, your concerns are 100% legit.
I love the idea of this, with a few exceptions,
the section about restoreing wages is fincialy un stable and given the hovenza abdication irresponcible, a sad truth is we have to let goverment employees go, we simply cant aford to pay so many people, i know its unpopular but gven that even with the current plan of borrowing 120 million we are still going to be out of money by july and by then the impact of hovenza laving st croix will be felt by our inability to borrow more. the gravy train is over , it cant come back and restoring wages and includeing back wage can only bring about more fireings faster.
I abhore the idea that peoples property can be slod for back taxes, it implys that you dont ow the property but that in fact you rent it from the goverment and that is exactly what comunist countries do they own the property,it belongs to the state no ones property should be sisedfor any reason at any thime its just wrong and criminal.the people of the united states revolted in at on taxation with out represnetation, in affect having a goverment tax you when its members are not districted, or answerable to those they represent is in fact taxation with out represenatation, a clause of alowing the people to set proerty taxes by referendumand popular vote is the only way to bring representationto the indivual taxpayer.