Seriously people. This is ridiculous.

The past few days has seen a severe decline into smut posts that we simply are not going to tolerate.

We have said this before and we mean it more than ever now. This site exists to give our readers a forum to discuss issues that affect public policy and other social issues that affect our lives as Virgin Islanders.

That does not include the sexual orientation of any individual who is discussed here and some of you should be ashamed of yourselves for the slime you’ve been posting. Nearly half of the comments posted this weekend are in the process of being moderated – and that’s simply uncalled for.

Our position is that is does not and should not matter in evaluating fitness for office or anything else,  and we will not allow it to become the central issue in this critical election year. Period. Read more »

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Since his election, Senator Michael Thurland has been a staunch supporter of the current administration and their policies.

Suddenly, in the past few weeks, he has made himself visible on the airwaves, decrying the long-standing road conditions in Williams Delight. Read more »

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New laws aren’t the only solution to the problems of violent crime facing the territory and Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg plans to introduce legislation that will help the Virgin Islands “update its approach” to this growing issue.

The legislation is part of a youth outreach program that will start with a reception at 8 p.m. Friday night at Four Winds Plaza. The public is invited to attend.

The bill will focus on giving law enforcement officers new tools, establish violence prevention measures and contain provisions for helping former gang members reenter society.

“There are some very specific acts we can make illegal, such as initiating anyone into a gang, that will give us broader powers to combat the drug and weapon running organizations that are responsible for much of the violence in our community,” the Senator said. Read more »

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Crime Stoppers is asking your help to solve the following crimes. Even the smallest bit of information may be just what law enforcement needs to solve these cases.

St. Croix:  Police are asking for your assistance to identify the person(s) involved in the shooting death of 27-year-old Drew Randol, which occurred the night of November 29, 2007.  Mr. Randol was last seen alive that night in the Diamond Crest Shopping Center near Sunny Isle.  His body was found in Estate Rosegate early the next morning.  Help police find the killers. Read more »

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Well, now we have read it.

Every painful, deluded, convoluted word of it. And here is our conclusion:

You must be joking.

In seven pages of rambling denial and blistering criticism, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr, completed another leg of what is apparently a political kamikaze mission by dismissing the findings of the US Inspector General’s report on Mafoliegate and declaring the IG incompetent in the process.

And the commitment he made in November to pay back a portion of the $490,000 spent on his home is now off the table – he has concluded “no funds need be returned unless and until there is a final judicial finding establishing that the funds were not properly reprogrammed.”

 In a flagrant slap at the role of the Legislature, he said “surely whether or not all of the Senators voting (on Act 6917) understood what a particular reprogramming was specifically for… cannot be relevant to the questions of whether the subsequent use of the funds … was proper or improper.” Read more »

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Well, here it is.

Honestly, we haven’t had time to review but we will.

Meanwhile, for your reading pleasure, the Governor’s response.

Governor’s Response To IG Report

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The conclusion was clear and the response should be simple.

Today is the deadline for Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. to respond to the United States Inspector General’s report that found that his use of $490,000 in public funds to renovate his Mafolie property was illegal and recommended the funds, in total, be repaid.

Governor, we know you’re a busy man, so in case you haven’t had a chance to prepare your response, here’s a suggestion.

“Dear Madame Inspector General,

You are right. I was wrong. I’ll write the check. Please ask the US Attorney General to note my remorse.

Respectfully and penitently submitted,

Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr.”

That’s our recommendation. Read more »

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