<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Crucians In Focus &#187; Constitution</title>
	<atom:link href="http://cruciansinfocus.com/category/constitution/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com</link>
	<description>&#34;We knew the job was dangerous when we took it.&#34;</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:59:58 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Constitutional Resolution Returns Through The Delegate &#8211; Will The Convention Reconvene?</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/11/constitutional-resolution-returns-through-the-delegate-will-the-convention-reconvene/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/11/constitutional-resolution-returns-through-the-delegate-will-the-convention-reconvene/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:29:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=6589</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Draft Constitution crafted by the Fifth Constitutional Convention is coming back to the Virgin Islands – but not as originally expected. Reports now are that the Joint Resolution passed by the Senate last week will not be transmitted with the signature of President Barack Obama – but will be returned to the Territory through the office of Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen. Additionally, the joint resolution apparently was not the result of debate and discussion by the joint houses of the US Congress, but of collaboration between the Delegate, US Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Governor John P. deJongh, Jr., and counsel for the Fifth Constitutional Convention Douglas Brady. To our knowledge, no other convention delegates participated in or were consulted during the formation of the resolution. In the statement he gave before the Senate, Bingaman said, “The approach taken in this resolution to respond to the Federal concerns raised with the proposed constitution has been reached in consultation with counsel for the Virgin Islands Convention, and with the Delegate and Governor of the Virgin Islands. While there were differing views on how Congress should proceed, I appreciate the cooperation and commitment of all involved in working out this consensus [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/11/constitutional-resolution-returns-through-the-delegate-will-the-convention-reconvene/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>43</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Draft Constitution On Its Way Back To Territory For Reconsideration</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/06/30/draft-constitution-on-its-way-back-to-territory-for-reconsideration/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/06/30/draft-constitution-on-its-way-back-to-territory-for-reconsideration/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:48:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=6473</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The draft Virgin Islands Constitution is on its way back to the Territory with direction from the US Congress to reconvene the Constitutional Convention and revise the provisions deemed questionable because of their conflict with the US Constitution. On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a Joint Resolution (SJ 33, attached) that “urges the Fifth Constitutional Convention of the United States Virgin Islands to reconvene for the purpose of reconsidering and revising the proposed constitution in response to the views of the executive branch of the Federal Government.” The Senate unanimously passed the resolution June 17. The provisions highlighted for reconsideration mirror the comments made in a Justice Department review that was requested by President Barack Obama after he received the document in December, 2009. Those provisions include the absence of an express recognition of United States sovereignty and the supremacy of Federal law; provisions for a special election on the territorial status of the United States Virgin Islands and;  provisions conferring legal advantages on certain groups defined by place and timing of birth, timing of residency, or ancestry. It is interesting to note that while local controversy has centered on those provisions related to native and ancestral native [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/06/30/draft-constitution-on-its-way-back-to-territory-for-reconsideration/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>121</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Local GOP Official Asks Congress To Amend Draft Constitution</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/22/local-gop-official-asks-congress-to-amend-draft-constitution/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/22/local-gop-official-asks-congress-to-amend-draft-constitution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 May 2010 14:27:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5889</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Guest Editorial by Herbert Schoenbohm (Editor&#8217;s note: The following is a letter sent by Mr. Schoenbohm to Senator Murkowski, the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee of Energy and Natural Resources, regarding the presented V.I. constitutional draft discussed Wednesday in a hearing in Washington.  Schoenbohm is the State Chairman of the Virgin Islands Republican party. The Constitution is now with the Senate and is expected to be returned to the Territory next month.) Dear Senator Murkowski, Thank you for your consideration of the draft Virgin Island Constitution.  I beg you not to send this document back to the V.I. with the expectation that the past delegation will reconvene and make the recommended corrections.  During the many hearings and meetings of the present V.I. delegates they were repeatedly reminded of their responsibility, reinforced by the enabling legislation, that they must adhere to the U.S. Constitution.  They did not care to respect their oath and presented you instead with a seriously flawed draft document.  If returned there is no guarantee that they will even make the corrections Congress may require.  They are now even  asking Congress for funding to continue a deliberation that they failed to do properly in the first instance. The proponents [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/22/local-gop-official-asks-congress-to-amend-draft-constitution/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>205</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Congress Hears Both Sides Of Constitutional Debate</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/03/19/congress-hears-both-sides-of-constitutional-debate/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/03/19/congress-hears-both-sides-of-constitutional-debate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:45:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=4635</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It was a powerful endorsement of the draft Virgin Islands Constitution that the Congress heard on Wednesday from those who spoke in support from the Fifth Constitutional Convention. If you listened – and we did – twice – and whatever your opinion – you heard a sound, historically supported argument for the key point of contention in this draft – the question of native rights. But those who oppose the draft are equally adamant that if the provisions addressing native rights are not amended, the document will not be ratified by the electorate of the Virgin Islands. And if it doesn&#8217;t happen now, will it be too late for it to ever happen? Does the Congress bear the responsibility of amending the document or should it be returned to voters &#8220;as is&#8221; and let the electorate decide? And can any of these issues be suitably resolved before the question of status is addressed? The panel in support was passionate, eloquent and assured and while there were numerous comments that brought their point home, perhaps the words of Delegate Lois Hassel Habtes summarized best the supporting view of the draft. constitution congress lois time has come The battle lines were clearly drawn – those [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/03/19/congress-hears-both-sides-of-constitutional-debate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>23</slash:comments>
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/constitution_congress_petersen_rip_it_apart.mp3" length="270000" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/constitution_congress_lois_a_foot_in_the_door.mp3" length="309288" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/constitution_congress_petersen_fifth_try.mp3" length="247848" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/constitution_congress_lois_time_has_come.mp3" length="255416" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/constitution_congress_dj_my_approval.mp3" length="442199" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/constitution_congress_emmanuel_right_to_choose.mp3" length="621922" type="audio/mpeg" />
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mapp Responds To Petersen&#8217;s Stand On Draft Constitution</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/03/19/mapp-responds-to-petersens-stand-on-draft-constitution/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/03/19/mapp-responds-to-petersens-stand-on-draft-constitution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:03:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mapp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=4610</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(Editor’s Note: During Wednesday&#8217;s presentation to the United States Congress on the Virgin Islands draft Constitution, Convention Delegate Eugene “Doc” Petersen, who voted against the document, encouraged the Congress to amend the document and remove a number of provisions relating to native and ancestral native Virgin Islander rights.  Petersen stated that inclusion of these provisions would  do &#8220;irreparable harm&#8221; to the &#8220;delicate social fabric&#8221; of the Virgin Islands.  His comments generated a great deal of comment on the airwaves on Thursday. Petersen is gubernatorial candidate Kenneth Mapp’s St. Croix campaign manager. Mapp responded with this message late Thursday.)  Today I heard many concerns about Doc Petersen’s testimony before Congress. Let me reaffirm my respect for Doc and his role as an elected delegate to the Convention and his fundamental right to express his views. Personally I do not believe that Congress should amend the Constitution as written by the people, but should return it unchanged for debate, approval or disapproval by the electorate. Be assured that I will state my position publicly and discuss this view in more detail. I thank all of you for taking the time to call, text or email the campaign with your concerns.   Share on [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/03/19/mapp-responds-to-petersens-stand-on-draft-constitution/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>812</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>President Obama Submits Draft  VI Constitution To US Congress</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/03/03/president-obama-submits-draft-vi-constitution-to-us-congress/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/03/03/president-obama-submits-draft-vi-constitution-to-us-congress/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:45:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=4320</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sovereignty, status and native rights are the major areas of review for the US Congress as they evaluate the draft Virgin Islands Constitution submitted by the Fifth Constitutional Convention.  The draft was submitted to Congress by President Barack Obama on February 26, 2010, and Congress has 60 days to review the document and make its recommendations. Hearings on the document will be held March 17 in Washington, DC and local testifiers are being invited, according to a press release from Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen. However, based on tight legislative schedules, there will be no hearings held locally to discuss the document, the release said.  President Obama wrote that he had received the draft from Virgin Islands Governor John P. deJongh, and that deJongh had &#8220;expressed his concerns about several provisions of the proposed Constitution. &#8221; As a result, Obama requested and received input from the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior whose analysis concluded that “several features of the proposed constitution warranted analysis and comment,”  and fowarded those concerns, along with the draft, to Congress. (attached below) Those areas are: Absence of an express recognition of United States sovereignty and supremacy of federal law Provisions for a special election on [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/03/03/president-obama-submits-draft-vi-constitution-to-us-congress/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>71</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Court To Gov.: Submit the Constitution</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/12/28/court-to-gov-submit-the-constitution/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/12/28/court-to-gov-submit-the-constitution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:54:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=2946</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Governor deJongh, forward the Constitution, as submitted, to President Barack Obama. Period. That’s the court order in the latest round of legal battles concerning the submission of the document drafted by the Fifth Constitutional Convention. Superior Court Judge Darryl D. Donahue, Sr., signed the order on December 23, giving the Governor ten business days to forward the document to Washington, DC. The Court ruled that the Governor violated the provisions of Act. 6688 which clearly states, “The President of the Convention shall submit (the proposed Constitution) to the Governor of the Virgin Islands … and the proposed Constitution shall, within 10 days after it was submitted to him, be submitted by the Governor to the President of the United States.” (emphasis added) Seems clear enough, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s that pesky word “shall” – remember how the Administration had trouble understanding that during the first Mafoliegate hearing? But we digress. The efforts to stall submission of the document began after the Governor failed to forward the document within ten days of its submission to him on June 1, 2009. After that failure, Constitutional Convention officers Gerard Luz James II, President, and Mary Moorehead, Secretary, filed a motion for a “Writ of Mandamus” which [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/12/28/court-to-gov-submit-the-constitution/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>31</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Redfield Voices Position On Constitution</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/07/redfield-voices-position-on-constitution/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/07/redfield-voices-position-on-constitution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:50:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=381</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Redfield Editorial #70 &#8211; Constitution Convention Redfield Editorial #70 &#8211; Constitution Convention Redfield Editorial #77 &#8211; Constitution Convention Redfield Editorial #77 &#8211; Constitution Convention Share on Facebook]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/07/redfield-voices-position-on-constitution/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>38</slash:comments>
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/redfieldeditorial70constitutionconvention.mp3" length="1488731" type="audio/mpeg" />
<enclosure url="http://cruciansinfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/redfieldeditorial77constitutionconvention.mp3" length="1451805" type="audio/mpeg" />
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Delegate Emanuel Provides Further Supporting Documentation</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/03/delegate-emanuel-provides-further-supporting-documentation/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/03/delegate-emanuel-provides-further-supporting-documentation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:35:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=337</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The following text and documents were received from 5th Constitutional Convention Delegate Gerard M. Emanuel: Attached are two documents that provided U.S. Citizenship en masse to Native Virgin Islanders in 1927 and in 1940. They are being provided on this website because they served as the principal legal source and basis for the definitions of V.I. Natives that are found in the proposed V.I. Constitution. 1. The key phrases for the definition of Ancestral Native Virgin Islanders are the following which are found in both the 1927 and the 1940 U.S. Citizenship Acts: &#8220;All natives of the Virgin Islands of the United States who, on January 17,1917, resided in those islands,&#8230;and who are not citizens or subjects of any foreign country;&#8221; 2. The key phrase for the definition of Native Virgin Islanders is the following found in the 1940 Nationality Act: &#8220;all persons born in those islands on or after February 25, 1927, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are declared to be citizens of the United States at birth.&#8221; We moved the year forward from 1927 to 1932 in our definition to include those persons who were away from the V.I. between 1927 and 1932, and to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/03/delegate-emanuel-provides-further-supporting-documentation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Final Constitution of the 5th Constitutional Convention</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/01/final-constitution-of-the-5th-constitutional-convention/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/01/final-constitution-of-the-5th-constitutional-convention/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:29:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Constitution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=309</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Crucians In Focus invites the public to review and comment on the attached Final Constitution of the 5th Constitutional Convention which was approved on May 26, 2009 at The Drive In (Estate Grove Place, St. Croix). Final Constitution of the 5th Constitutional Convention Table of Contents (only) The document has been forwarded to the governor who has 10 days to forward it to President Obama. The President then has 60 days to review and forward it to the Congress with his comments. Congress then has 60 days to review the document and either return it as is or modify/amend the document, in whole or in part, as per Public Law 94-584 (full text; previously provided by Delegate Emmanuel in an opinion article). The document returned by Congress will be submitted to the people of the Virgin Islands for approval. Share on Facebook]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/01/final-constitution-of-the-5th-constitutional-convention/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>77</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

