Open Forum: What Should The Senate Do On Tuesday?
At your request, we’re launching this Open Forum for suggestions to our Government (which is clearly having trouble coming to agreement on how to get out of this latest mess), about what needs to happen when they come back from “recess” on Tuesday.
In a move that left all of us shaking our heads in disbelief, Sen. President Ronald Russell went through the motions of two anthems, prayer and the introduction of two Senate “pages” on Friday before announcing that In light of the Hovensa closure, the much-anticipated session, originally called to deal with some of those other pesky financial issues we are facing, would stand in recess until Tuesday.
The Senate also requested, and the Governor complied, that the annual State of the Territory Address, originally scheduled for Monday, January 23, be postponed. It has been rescheduled for Monday, January 30 as has Operation Yellow Cedar, a planned demonstration of public dissatisfaction to precede the speech.
So, clearly, they need our help.
Focus on solutions. Pick your problem – God knows there are enough of them. And please stay on topic. All the usual rules apply and comments that clearly have no relevance to the topic will be removed.
How would you begin to solve these problems?
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Dooreo, This is an ancient deal made for the Danish West India Company to keep the U.S. Virgin Islands outside of U.S. Customs laws. The framers of this deal perrpetuity did not care about the consumer. Some confuse the collect of local excise taxes by U.S. customs on behalf of the GVI. Customs actually charges more for the collection then is rebated to the GVI treasury. Being outside the U.S. customs zone is a hindrance to economic development and freedom of Virgin islanders. Please also notice that Puerto Rico is *inside* the U.S. Customs zone and that arrangement suits them much better. Our systems no longer benefits us and we must be put on par with the several states.
@FTM – thanks
so it sounds like any changes to U.S. Customs zone would require Federal action?
(from inside the senate secret meetings)
“let’s find another funding source to borrow some money, and raise taxes for everyone. There – problem solved – let’s go have lunch”!
@ Statesider 7:08am/all
1620 is apparently working on their web page. In the interim you can still listen at the link below.
http://tunein.com/
You can also use this link to open the stream: http://www.mainstreamnetwork.com/listen/dynamicasx.asp?station=wdhp-am
Dooreo….Asked….”so it sounds like any changes to U.S. Customs zone would require Federal action”? No, I think this is something that would be granted by executive order. Since the oil refinery was the major reason for keeping it, USC Headnote 3A) those cards are now off the table. For rum production it doesn’t matter as PR is inside the U.S. customs zone and they also get the cover over for local production of spirits.
Moving toward parity with the several states would mean for a better living standard for all Virgin Islanders, IMHO.
Let’s start a blog stream on the positions salaries and names of exempt individuals whose jobs or at least salaries should be reconsidered. CIF? Since they are waiting for suggestions and solutions.