Constitutional Convention

Who is a Virgin Islander? That's what derailed the last constitution. Basically it comes down to this in my opinion...
those who want to limit participation to "natives" should instead petition for a vote for status. Recently the Insular Affairs subcomitte of the US Congress told Puerto Rico that the "enhanced commonwealth" option preferred by the current governor's PDP party could not be an option. They gave them three options... statehood- independence- or "free association" which is "independence with benefits of association with the US". If so called "native" Virgin Islanders wish for special status then they should opt for independence. In my opinion, if the constitution contains a clause defining who is a Virgin Islander and grants those defined with special rights over and above those of the other citizens... I will vote against it and so, in my opinion, will other continentals who are registered to vote here and so will west indians from Anguilla, Dominica, Tinidad and the other islands who make up a substantial percentage of the population. In addition what about the Dominicanos, the Hatians, the Puerto Ricans. Most of the Viequenses on STX came here after Gerrard Emmauell's cutoff date of 1927 yet they are an integral part olf our island's culture as are the continentals and the down-islanders as well.

I grew up and lived most of my life in a small border state with the highest percentage of native born residents in the country. I saw many people move to my state from outside (usually up north) with no connection wahtsoever to my state or its culture to take jobs in industries like Ford, IBM, Toyota, General Electric, GM and UPS. If we had said to these people that- you are welcome to live here but you may not participate in our democracy on the same level as the "natives"- I don't think we would have had those industries and our young people would have had to continue the pattern of leaving home for jobs in the north.

It is a two way street. How many Virgin Islanders have family members living and working on the mainland? What if that option is gone? It is true that as registerewd voters in the US Virgin Islands that we do not fully participate in our nation's democracy. we can't vote for president and our "delegate" to Congress has no vote on the floor of that body except in committee. It is most probably true that racism was the primary reason behind our status in 1917- 90 years ago the US was a different country. Mr. Emmanuell is right- at one time a black man living in the south was counted as only 3/5 of a person for the purpose of determining congressional representation for the slave states. That was over 150 years ago. Today we have a black Secretary of State and a black man- Barack Obama- is a favorite in the US presidential race. We are far from a utopia of racial equality but, thank God, we are also not what we used to be either.

I agree with Senator Usie Richards, status should be solved first. A constitution could be a good foundation for better governance but it will fail if "Who is a Virgin Islander" rears its head again. Perhaps Mr. Emmanuell and his supporters are really afraid of aking the voters to decide on the real matter -status- because he knows that a vote for independence would fail miserably. We can an should strive to work within the system to attain our rights as Americans but my feeling is that even if US Virgin Islanders had a Congress person with a vote and even if we could vote for President that that would not be enough to satisfy Mr. Emmanuell and his supporters because it would not address the wrongs committed against hs people. The only way to do that is to vote for independence and accept the consequences.... good and bad.

Now this subject is interesting. Post on!!!

If I am not mistaken, a Native Virgin Islander would have been the Caribs....were they not wiped out by someone....maybe the Arawacs????
They need to be very careful trying to divide people in this way...
Would those who consider themselves Native Virgin Islanders want the EEOC to come in and insist that the Island government hire minorities in appropriate numbers to reflect the population???? Seems to me that these labels seek to divide us by race.....that is a very sad step backwards.

Iguana: As I understand it, this convention is about writing a constitution, not deciding status or who is a Virgin Islander. However, you are correct, it seems the whole process has gone whacko. Currently, as we do need to follow the laws and Constitution of the United States, everyone who is a qualified voter gets to vote. Again, this is as I am processing the information.

Did residents (I gather voters) receive the nice piece from www.itsourfuture.vi in the mail? Very clear explanation.

Hi East Ender, You are correct. It IS about a constitution not status, however; Mr Gerrard Emmenuell's recent series of "letters" to the editor in the STX Avis have repeatedly addressed the need to right historical injustices done to the "natives" by the US and he does have a point. We are "second class" Americans with no say in our country's affairs. We should all strive as Americans to remedy this sad situation through our system of government. I just think that this issue should be addressed in a forum that is more appropriate- status. Writing in discrimination in a constitution under the US flag is contrary to all that we are supposed to believe in America. He states that we people who move here should be able to attain "native" status after 18 years of residency and as he states, that is equivalent to the age that we let young people have their first votes. What a fiasco.

Make no mistake about it. It is evident from Mr. Emmanuell's writings and from the recent UVI forum that a group of people intend to hijack the constitutional process to divide our community along ethnic lines and to attempt to enshrine this "special status for native Virgin Islanders" into law in the constitution. It is my hope that all who love the Virgin Islands and wish the best for our land and our people will reject this attempt. We DO need a constitution. We need it for better governance and to protect our rights and advance our islands' future not to give special rights to one group over another. My opinion is that if "native" Virgin Islanders wish to have special rights then they should opt for independence by demanding a vote on status and then they can do whatever they wish- but be careful what you wish for--- you might get it!

Just want to say again....they are not natives.....they claim to be, but are no more native Virgin Islanders, than a Caucasian person born in Ohio is a Native American.
Its nothing more than a ploy to allow the over paid under worked politicians in power to maintain their power and undeserved salaries.

I did not live here during the last constitutional convention. I guess I have never understood the reasons for revisiting this issue again and again. I admit my ignorance regarding a need for such a document. Of course every US citizen should have full voting tights, but does a proposed constitution provide for that? Will such a document really make that happen? I doubt it.

What benefits would the island have by defining who is and isn't a Virgin Islander? Who would benefit? I have read the newspaper articles and I am still confused. We are talking about spending a bunch of money for a bunch of meetings. Why?

Thanks for helping me understand.

I answered most of my questions by going to the website mentioned by East Ender.

I recommend it to anyone with questions.

www.itsourfuture.vi

As I understand it, Congress is the only entity that can address the "status" of the VI. We citizens of the VI do not have that ability. Or am I incorrect?

The point of full voting rights was mentioned, I would like to say that the people of this territory seem more than willing to accept the financial rewards of being part of the United States, it seems to me that the people also need to make a sacrifice and become a state if they want those voting rights. But don't forget that full voting rights would be accompanied by the privilege of paying federal income taxes. Any takers??

Marcus says, "But don't forget that full voting rights would be accompanied by the privilege of paying federal income taxes. Any takers??"

We do pay federal income taxes in the VI and on exactly the same forms as those used in the U.S. The only difference is that the money remains in the VI.

Not sure about you, but I only pay VI taxes.
The federal income tax rate is signifigantly higher and in most states you pay State and Federal income taxes not to mention sales taxes and exise taxes and much higher property taxes, and so on. Due to the federal subsidies we are able to survive without the high taxes of most states.
Would you believe that in Los Angeles, you pay 8.5% in sales taxes. That means that the $20,000 automobile you choose to buy has $1700 in sales tax before you ever drive it off the lot!! And it will cost you approximately $800 to regester it!!! Anyway, just making a point.

Where I came from in Texas there was no state tax and when we lived in CA for about 10 years the state always paid me money back at the end of the year and the same with Federal Tax, but trying to get the VI to pay you a refund is almost a game in futility. Property taxes vary by city depending on things like their schools, park, etc... You can always just buy a home in a cheaper city, but usually the equity you get from living in a city with the best school district is worth the taxes.

As far as a sales tax on a car, what do you think you are paying customs when they bring it into the VI or the dealership when they make up words like DOMA and charge 8k for it. Please bring on the honest sales tax. I've never paid $800 to register anything so I'm not sure what you are talking about.

Anyways coming from Southern CA with its state and federal taxes, sales tax, high cost of living that it would be a wash here but the VI has been noticably higher the CA.

I think they the vi would do much better as a state but has the us even offered them that? I think the usvi would fall apart and never recover if they were on their own.

You are correct Linda J, the US Congress has full plenipoteniary power over the US Virgin Islands and can do with us as they wish. However, in the past they have approved status referenda in Puerto Rico and here in the USVI. While a vote on status would not be binding on Congress, it would be difficult to ignore the wishes of the people in our democratic system.

My whole point in this thread is to expose the hijacking of the constitutional convention process by a group of individuals who wish to enshrine "special rights" for "natives" in a document under the US flag that would serve as the law of our land. My point is that we sorely NEED a constitution in order to provide a better foundation for better governance for our people and this issue "Who is a Virgin Islander?" will doom it to failure... once again. The proper forum to address "special rights" for "native" Virgin Islanders is status but their supporters know that there is no way that they'd get more than 5% of the vote for independence as has been the case with our much larger disenfrancised neighbor-- Puerto Rico, every time they've had a referendum.

Iguana
While reading the "proposed constitution" from 1980, I observed that a "Virgin Islander" was defined as one who was born in the area now known as the USVI and their descendent's. No one else qualified. On the other hand a USVI "voter" was any US citizen (18 year old +)who was domiciled in the USVI.

Is the issue about being a "Virgin Islander" one of pride or political power? We recognize that it divisive to declare a certain class of people as different or special. Based on that I would oppose that wording in a constitution. I am trying to better understand the motivation of those who want a special group called Virgin Islanders.

"Would you believe that in Los Angeles, you pay 8.5% in sales taxes. That means that the $20,000 automobile you choose to buy has $1700 in sales tax before you ever drive it off the lot!! And it will cost you approximately $800 to regester it!!! Anyway, just making a point."

Marcus, sales tax is actually 8.25 pct which I don't necessarily like but our freeways are nice.

As to car registration, do you really know what you're talking about. How about approximately 175.00 to register a 20K car. Ooops, did I say approximately, I meant exactly since I just did it.

A Marcus Admonition-speak only of what you know.

PLEASE WE DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO BECOME A STATE. I CAN'T AFFORD IT. BECOME INDEPENDANT IF YOU LIKE.

YES I AM SCREAMING.

"PLEASE WE DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO BECOME A STATE. I CAN'T AFFORD IT. BECOME INDEPENDANT IF YOU LIKE. "

At least we have desalination plants and purchase water when necessary. You Los Angelenos are so broke you can't even afford to procure your water on the open market so you divert and steal from your northern bretheren. I feel your poverty pain! 😀

You know something. I've heard that cabal over and over again. What a man that Mulholland was with the diversion of the water. Has a nice street named after him though, with great views that you could give noogies to your best girlfriend....not safe anymore.

PS. Sometimes we steal from the Colorado River.

The Federal income tax rate is NOT higher in the States. It's exactly the same as here. And while we don't have a sales tax, there is a gross receipts tax on most all merchandise we purchase but the seller figures it into the cost of the item.

promo: Yes, quit your teefing of the water from Northern California!! 😉

I would like to see Islander and/or Ronnie run for delegate. I would like to hear some discussion about how a constitution would be different from the Organic Act (besides increasing self-governance.)

My understanding is that once we have a constitution, then we can address status, can't do it the other way around. Am I correct? As long as we are a territory, we follow the US Constitution, i.e. can't prevent bona fide voters from voting, so the argument seems moot.

It is pretty obvious that the USVI is never going to become a state. The only remote way that would happen is if we became a part of a state called Puerto Rico. Ugh

It is also pretty obvious that the USVI would never ask for or even be offered independent status. The economic fall out from that would be full on trauma.

It is also pretty obvious that people living in US territories or possessions will never be given full suffrage or congressional representation.

If we generally agree on the above, then the the question is...who governs the Virgin Islands? What new rights or responsibilities will be spelled out in a constitution? Will native Virgin Islanders gain or lose power?

Who cares?

I was recently watching the debate where Washington DC was petitioning for voting rights. What I didn't catch is this- Were they only petitioning for themselves or for all territories of the US?

Isn't California part of Mexico????
I saw all those people in the streets waving Mexican flags....