Can a White Person Get Justice in The USVI?

"Rennell Lettsome was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder on Friday in the death of David Geiger and the near fatal beating of Geiger's son, Nathan. "

http://www.onepaper.com/stjohnvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1153541854

You are inaccurate in your belief that race-based and other problems in the judicial system exist far more in the USVI than the mainland. Counties in Texas, places in Illinois, and numerous other judicial districts have been the site of many egregious, often systemic, stories of justice miscarried and denied.

Some notable examples:

--public defenders who have been arrested for drunk driving on their way to the courthouse to represent a client facing the death penalty,

--defense lawyers who have fallen asleep in court while their client or other key witnesses are on the stand being questioned by the prosecution (which was declared to be "competent legal representation" when appealed),

--lawyers who call no witnesses or do no research to defend their client,

--people convicted solely on the base of one piece of testimony from a so-called jail house snitch who will get released or a greatly reduced sentence in exchange for their cooperation in the prosecution,

--evidence that gets destroyed or "misplaced" before appeals, DNA testing, etc.

--innocent people convicted and wrongly incarcerated for years even after a full appeals process has run its course, retrials, full retractions from all prosecution witnesses, full confessions from someone else...

In some of these cases, the defendant/convicted/victim was of a difference race or ethnicity than those on defense side, prosecution team, judge/cops/jury; in others, the overwhelming majority of essential players were of the same race or heritage. Sadly, race/heritage can be an overwhelmingly prevalent factor in injustice, but it isn't an exclusive one.

Injustice is a nationwide (and worldwide) problem instead of one limited to the USVI, and it is definitely one not restricted to injustices to white people in a system where they are the minority.

Believe me, I know that injustice still exists in the US States. I am happy to hear that a verdict was sentenced. My original message was posted before news broke. The difference between 1st degree and 2nd degree is NOT a fine line. INTENTION and COGNITION of actons make the difference. The fact that a murder took place and that a "cover up" of arson was demonstrated is intention. Rationality and logic must reign beyond emotion. Does not happen down here. Sorry. My opinion.

Everyone seems afraid of this issue - RACE. Even on St. John it is an issue and dont be ignorant! Speak your mind. Your gut is always right! Stop the silence. The injustice that is happening is wrong. Speak Out and SHOUT!!!!! Love Island is segregated - No Denial. Time to put up or shut up. Too much emotion to be silent!

"Love island is segrated" Well DUH, so is Chicago, Atlanta, Louisville, DC and.... you get the idea. People who come here (or any place really) looking for some type of Utpoia are always going to be disappointed and disillusioned.

Race is always an issue. I think the main problem for some posters is the entirely new concept that in the VI it's the "white" race that may face discrimination.

Those of us who live here spend every day living our lives the best way we know how. And we must like it 'cause we're still here.

More importantly, I have the day off and it is going to be rainy and cloudy on STX. Bummer.

SO, islandnurse, I wonder what your agenda is in bring this subject up? I t has been discussed in so many posts before. I don't understand.

RL

I have no agenda except that in the 23 years that I have spent on the islands, this one issue has not changed for the better. It has only escalated and become more accepted; more quiet. Through my work, I have traveled to many places in the world. Cultural differences are wonderful and should be embraced. I have learned a lot through my travels. I want positive change to occur for the USVI. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, what can be done to actually accomplish this? I personally do what I can. I am just tired of the corruption, inequality and acceptance of racism. Maybe I am asking for too much.

What do you do to help? I hear that the PD has volunteers that come in and do some desk work to free up the officers to do criminal work. That could be a start! This was offered to me, as a solution, a year or so ago and don't know how far they have gone with it.

RL

What racism? There is no "acceptance of racism" in the USVI against white people. This is ridiculous and is all based on exaggerations. There is prejudice, but no racism, per se.

If white people in the USVI are losing, then who's winning? It ain't us (the native West Indian population).

Glad to hear from you, DL -- am still as big a fan of your contributions today as I was way back when you first came on my radar. Thanks for adding your perspective. Sure wish Native Son would also resurface -- he's also spoken eloquently about this in the past.

--HC

DL,
Per Koichiro Matsuura, director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
“Hundreds of millions of human beings continue to suffer today from RACISM, discrimination, xenophobia and exclusion. Such dehumanising practices, fed by ignorance and PREJUDICE, have triggered internal strife in many countries and brought immense human suffering.” (capitals mine)

Respectfully, read my post under STX Militia. Racism is a correspondence of prejudice. Since you spoke for the native West Indian population in your post, please answer a couple of questions for me.
Being so intimately related, how can you claim there is no racism but only prejudice on the islands? How has the WI population learned to draw the line between the two and display prejudice and yet not racism?

Regards,

"Island Ed" in response to "DL". Thank you Island Ed for challenging DL's absurd ideology. You beat me to the point. The mere fact that DL brings up "winning versus losing" demonstrates DL's lack of understanding and knowledge regarding prejudice, racism and discrimination. Prejudice, Racism and Discrimination do NOT mean the same thing. Prejudice and Racism CAN exist at the same time - Called Racial Prejudice but prejudice can exist without racism. Discrimination refers to an unfavorable action, behavior, outcome or treatment resulting from prejudice. It is an action. One can be prejudiced yet not discriminate. The Sells Case seems like the perfect example of All of the above in action together. The Geiger case is questionable.

When DL brings up "winning versus losing"; he is referring to Majority/Minority Groups and Power Imbalance which can lead to racial prejudice and discrimination. AS far as the USVI is concerned, there is a Power Imbalance in place. Caucasian residents of the islands are the Minority Group as far as Government and Religion goes. They are the Majority group as far as access to resources, education and financial status. Government rules and unless the Branches of Government in the USVI demonstrate assimilation between "Black vs White" members working together, racial discrimination will be allowed to flourish as it has done since I have known the islands. Ideally, Caucasian residents should be seeking and fighting to become more of a presence in Government. While this would most likely be met with conflict secondary to the underlying racial prejudice which exists; this is the change that I would like to see. It would ultimately benefit everyone.

In response to Ronnies request, as a Nurse I help ALL peoples without prejudice or discrimination. Through my work, I hope I influence people in a positve way through communication, action, teaching and education. Talking the talk is easy - Walking the walk is more difficult. I hope that I will be able to walk and contribute to change government one day; one person at a time.

hmmmmmm, prejudice based on race....oh, that would be racism. "You people"...attribution of certain traits to a group of persons based solely on racial characteristics...yes, that would be racism. DL, may I respectfully point out that sometimes it really is as simple as it appears!