Crime in St. Thomas

Hello,

The U.S.V.I are safe for tourist and visitors and residents. In terms of amount of crime, Water Island and St. John have little to none. St. Thomas and St. Croix are more heavily populated so have more incidences. In general the three big ones for the U.S.V.I are murder, domestic abuse and child abuse including rapes. In all three these are crimes committed against a person their perpetrator knows. Child abuse is common here, often it is sexual abuse, older men with girls that are under the age of 18, statutory rape. Other cases of rape are in cases where the man is related to the girl by being a family friend or acutally related. Domestic abuse as well is within the family circle and is fairly common, spouses, girlfriend-boyfriend. Murder cases, which is what often concerns visitors and new residents the most when they hear the reports, are within the illegal drug trade and not against visitors or the regular resident. These murders often are within known areas of drug related activities. Visitors and residents are rarely confronted with criminal situations, but this goes without saying that you should take your precautions. Visit/ live in the islands as you would any where that was foreign to you, regardless of whether it is the American Paradise - crime exist and it is a good idea to keep your eyes open. Don't leave expensive cameras out on your car seat while you are on the beach, or leave expensive items in plain view while at the beach - this just serves to tempt young people who might not be able to afford such an item. Go out at night and enjoy the wonderful restaurants we have, however don't enter areas that are poorly lit, or residential areas that seem undesirable. Residents dont usually go to the beaches after dusk - many go running and excercise around 5-6pm sometimes going on 7pm but very rarely do they go walking or swimming in the night- which seems to be something many visitors and new residents ask about doing - not recommendable. Putting yourself in dark, scarely populated places is not something you would do at home - so dont do it here either. You said you were coming with a family, if you have children; I have had friends who moved to the states stayed there for a long while and returned to St. Thomas to raise their children - stating that they felt it was safer and a more comfortable place to raise small children. This holds truth to the extent that children play at playgrounds, back yards, the beach and there is really no concern of something happening to them. Crime is a problem - it exist, but as mentioned it really is contained within a community that relates to domestic problems at home in families against spouses and children within that home and among drug related communities.

--Islander

Are there any gyms in St. Thomas that offer free weights, cardio machines etc. ? How much is a gallon of gasoline? I would expect things to cost more on a Island where natural resources are very limited. I'd like to learn how to sail, do you know of anyone that offers this type of training? Thanks.

Yes there are several gyms. Gold's Gym is in town - in the same building as Hard Rock Cafe. There is one in Nisky, East End.... there ae several. Try the yellow pages for a list http://www.usviyellowpage.org

Gasoline differs on each island. The prices (before the war in Iraq) are posted under cost of living in the moving guide. Go to the top of this page, select Moving Guide, then select Island Living: then Cost of Living.. and youll see prices. Prices at the station today for premium were about $2.39 a couple weeks ago it was $2.19 and before that about $2.10... regular gas about 10 cents less. Thats St. Thomas. St. John will be about the same. St. Croix will be a great deal less - there is a refinery over there.

Yes you can learn to sail. Once on island try contacting the St. Thomas Yacht Club.

--Islander

they don't sell BB gun's, sling shots, or anything like that at most hardware stores and including the big Kmart. The employees laughed at me when I asked them. I live on St. John where there is more of a chance of being attacked by a pit bull than having anyone lift anything out of an unlocked vehicle. Crime in some parts of St. Thomas is an issue. Racism is also an issue for residents at least on St. John and St. thomas.

Chris - the reason they dont have those items - is because there isn't a big market for them in the VI... I only recall two persons growing up that had bb guns - and both teens parents were from the US. Sling shots - again cant think of more then two and they were family - cousin thought it was cool to make one himself from a branch and thick rubber band.. after reading about it. Much greater market for masks, snorkel, beach towels, rum and other alcohol - LOL 🙂

I agree with you about St. John however I do still advise visitors that they should certainly lock their doors rather then tempt someone to take something from the car with the ease of just opening the door, particularly if the car is parked on the side of street while they are hikng for 3 or 4 hours. Doesn't happen very often though like you said - very unlikely.

I would be interested in knowing more about your opinion of racism in the VI??

--Islander

Talk about a hornets nest!
I grew up in Minnesota, in various parts of suburbs.
To be honest, very white neighborhoods.
I have very close friends from various ethnic orgins in MN.
I never thought racism was an issue because back in MN, I never saw it.
I never expected to be treated different because of my race down here.
Boy, was I wrong.
Racism is a big problem.
Taxi drivers harrasing me for ride because I am white and watching West Indians walk by them unasked. West Indians hitchhiking and then saying they dont need a ride(after they saw me driving). Tourists not thinking i am a local but if your skin is dark, you must be a local. Whites not wanting to hire rastafarians. Rastafarians that i worked with not listening to me because my hair is short and i am white and ignorant. Safari cabs charging whites more than the dollar. And basically, I feel as though West Indians in general have a grudge or axe to grind against whites in general....and hate tourists and local whites alike because we are invading "their islands." Basically, what i see is a lot of ignorance and intolerance. If I don't first say,"good afternoon or good evening" they treat me like dirt, even if I am a customer at their job. i have been trying very hard to say," good whatever time of day" to west indians just to try and ease their feelings. And I try to pick up anyone who needs a ride. It all starts with one person but sometimes i feel a bit overwhelmed.

Hello Chris,

I have to disagree with you. Race is not a big huge issue on St. Thomas/St. John. Most of the things you mentioned are not race issues they are "where you are from" issues. It is actually very interesting, your observations are based on quite a number of cultural and political situtations in the VI. When I think about racism I think about true hatred for a people based only on the color of their skin. That is not the case in the Virgin Islands.

Taxi drivers approach you because you are white ... and so are most visitors. Taxi drivers drive taxis for a living, thats how they make their money, so if the people that pay them to drive are mostly white people - well it would be very difficult for them to distinquish the 15% white population of the VI from the tourist. And if you are in town walking around - even more difficult still. I often joked that white residents should wear signs that said "I live here - thanks" when walking in town because usually if you walk from one end to the other you'll get asked at least a dozen times if you need a taxi. And thinking about it from a visitors perspective - if you were a tourist and needed a ride back to the ship you would be quite pleased to have the drivers approaching you.

The hitchhiking - well I don't know what to say about that. I remember having one person tell me they rather continue hitching till they get someone they know or that is going all the way to where they are going. I don't pick up people myself so can't really comment on it.

Tourist thinking you aren't local... well again look at the population stats 80% to 15%... if people are going to make an educated quess based on that information well I would quess the same.

The issues concerning you not being listened to at work are probally accurately based on some level of racism towards you as well as some other issues as well.

For dollar cabs charging - absoultely right - best bet is to agree on the price before getting in. Make sure they know you know that it is a dollar safari and not a regular taxi!!

Good Morning, Good Day, Good Afternoon, Good Evening, Good Night.... Chris thats a matter of YOU BETTER SAY IT in the VI, and say it the right way too. LOL and that goes for you, for me, for a child or an adult or a West Indian black or white or hispanic... it doesn't matter~ its a matter of being expected to greet with that opening. I worked with people in an office that provided a health service - and all of my co-workers would start with Good Morning... and if the person just said yes I need this... they would repeat again Good Morning until they got a Good Morning back. And they did this to everyone! Many times it created a little spat, some people even said I am here to spend money I don't need to say Good Day to you - and they were not helped. And it also happened in the reverse where a customer came in and said Good Afternoon and the person helping them just said yes can I help you and the customer said again Good Afternoon.... and finally said "have you no manners"... That is cultural not along racial lines at all - just cultural!

Axe to grind, dislike for white locals... this is the 'where you are from' situation. West Indian people are very nationalistic... the majority will not described themselves first as an African anything, but will describe themselves as a West Indian as a Trinidadian, a Guadeloupian, a Virgin Islander first. And many when they say white person - that is an American white person from the states. A white born in the islands or having lived here for a really long time, are not descibed as white - when described as white... you will hear many say "no no man they from here". And there is a distingushment made between blacks from the islands and blacks for the mainland as well. It isn't an issue of the race but the origin. The British Virgin Islands goes so far as to call people Belongers and NON-Belongers; that is as clear as it comes. And over the years belongers/islanders have seen people from the mainland come and go; they stay for a little while, maybe during season make money and leave, open a big business while talking about the ignorance of the islanders, bringing in people from away to work rather then hiring locally, paying mainlanders more then locals are paid... it really creates a big sour spot. And this indeed has created a level of intorlerance as you mentioned... it also has created a circular effect... positions filled by mainlanders when locals aren't qualified creates issues; govenment positions are filled based on nepotism almost as a comeback, Virgin Islands youths who go to the mainland to get educations and who are now qualified to fill both positions in the private industry and in government spots have difficultly finding work and choose to stay in the mainland and work there. These young people think the VI has nothing for them and Virgin Islanders in the islands think these young people have forgotten where they are from..Political issues created... Cultural issues created... levels on intolerance created.

Now - these are my points of view - others might disagree. 🙂

In any case people moving here need to be aware of cultural differences that exisit in the USVI, because they are cultural rather then racial and work with it - as you are. Can completely understand how you might feel frustrated, perhaps at those moments grab your snorkel equip. and head to Waterlemon or Trunk Bay and enjoy. What you describe comes as part of Island living in the VI.

--Islander

I don't want to seem like a "last word freak" but i want to clarify a tiny bit.
I agree that some are culture differences. I KNOW what cultural differences are.
I understand facial expressions, different signs of body language, and even the little spitting sound that West Indians make if they are upset or fustrated while they collect their thoughts or actions. It makes me come to wonder what racism is. Isn't racism basically being treated differently because of the color of your skin or ethnic background. It often includes strong emotions such as hate and anger but i don't believe it has to be that way. The funny thing is that there are no natives to St. John, maybe STT or STC, I dont know. I don't see Danes, I don't see ancient indian tribes. Maybe there are a few left from the early 1900's but i doubt it on STJ. I really believe that many West Indians have this attitude towards whites,( OBVIOUSLY NOT ALL): white people are here to make money off of and if there isnt any way to make money off them, then they would much rather we went back to the states. Every new white person to the island that i have asked has agreed that there are serious racial issues that need to be dealt with.
I will give you two or three examples on it.
1) if you meet someone on a one-way road in the middle of a steep hill, the person on the way up should yield and back down.....the person headed down has a tough task to reverse back up a steep hill.....i have seen backed up lines of cars were cops had to be called because a local west indian wouldnt back down to a white person. There was one time a girl i know personally that was in tears as this man wouldnt budge and the girl couldnt reverse back up the hill. I bet these people would back down to another west indian.
2)The maintenance worker at Sunset Ridge on St. John, I used to live past his place and I would quietly walk the driveway to work. There was no othe outlet without going down the other side of the island. He would shout profanities at me as I walked by and threaten me. He would wave down cars and yell at them and make them go back down and go across town and go back up the other way. I don't know if he was just a psycho or racist because I never saw him yell at west indians. I dont know who his boss is but that man has issues.
3) Police department treatment of a few issues has me very weary. A west indian vagrant broke into a friend's house and stole money and they laughed at them when they wanted to file a report. Maybe an inept police force?
4) I do notice that the "good time of day" greeting is important and it makes a huge difference. OK. Is it also bad manners to push and shove while waiting in a ferry line?
Is it bad manners to budge in line at a fast food restaurant? Is it bad manners to be upset with me because you are in a hurry and the taxi stopped to pick me up? I think some of this "cultural" stuff is an excuse to take a bad attitude to people who arent in on the "secret." Isn't it considered rude to yell and carry on? Or how about that clicking/sucking noise? Isn't that bad manners? But if I say Good Afternoon as i budge in front of you in line, it is ok. I think there is a double standard. Many of the states people are some of the nicest people I have EVER met, it is not like we came down here to start issues or even be caught in them. I didnt even mention the driving! Wow, if I could count all the rude behavior behind the wheel.
Honestly, I think you are kidding yourself if you truly don't think there are people down here who don't like you because of your skin color. And more than a couple......

Do you see the point I am making?
There is a fine line between rudeness and racism. If there isn't a racism problem, then I think i live in a very rude society.
One man told me something when I first got here, he said, "this isn't paradise, it's paradox." To this day, I agree.
Think about it.

I appreciate your input and your clarification and this discussion.

The little sucking sound is called shupsing (that might be spelled wrong)... our teachers growing up used to try and get us not to do it - because they said it was rude. It sort of equates to what you said frustration, but usually means "whatever" or "I can't believe this" or "how aggravating" or "you don't know what you are talking about".... it sounds rude yes I agree... but I grew up hearing it and doing it myself, doesn't really effect me. When a West Indian does it to another West Indian - it often is grounds for an agruement or heated conversation depending on why it was done. Kids doing it to adults can be a sign of defience...

Racism can be interpreted differently. Defined it means "the belief that race acounts for differences in human character and ability and that a particular race is superior to others". Virgin Islanders as a whole I do not believe that they believe that they are superior to any others; however I do believe that they react to others who think they are and that this attitude has created a level of ignorance toward new people in general and it is not new. It can be frustrating to deal with.

Natives.... that was a big political issue several years back. Who is a real local? You are right there are no indians in the VI, I believe there is only one Caribbean Island that has a population of Caribs, and that would be Dominica in the Carib Territory. And Danes - well they would not be native either, if we consider natives the first to be there. I don't know how many old Danish families still have descendants in the VI. That is a hard concept to define in the Caribbean and in the US and in other places as well.

There are racial issues - they exist in the VI. Your driving example is true - I have seen it also. For your driveway example I have seen it the way you said it and I have seen it the other way too, reversed... where a white resident told a new black resident not to use their driveway... it went as far as in front of authorities. The new property owner had not made a driveway yet so was using the other property owners. The new property owner still used the driveway and the police were called to make them move. It came down to property lines... the new residents had no right to use the established driveway even though it was convient and adjacent to their own property- and had to make their own driveway on their own property. I do believe it was a combination of defending ones property and racial issues as well. There was a time in the VI where people crossed through short cuts in properties without interference - the islands are not that way anymore.

The police force has issues in general. Have to agree. It has a lot to do not only with race but with the fact that the community is small and many residents have friends and family in the police force so some crimes go overlooked because youve got connections in the PD. Big issues. Somewhat the same issues the government has.

I do think there are some people in the USVI that might think ignorant things or act up because of my skin color or just not like me for it, I think I would find this other places as well. I do see your point and I understand your examples and I know they are ligit. However there are other examples that happen the other direction that fuel West Indian people to act as they do. Let me share a few.

1. I went a local bar where the bartender was from the states; in my group there were white locals and black locals... one of the black women went to the bar and ordered a drink she paid for it, tipped. She went back and ordered another drink, and asked the bartender to run a tab because we were going to stay a while. The bartender said I dont understand what you are saying, do you speak English and looked at the women in an aggravated way. So the women repeated can I run a tab - the bartender said No, we dont run tabs and you can't have any more drinks. Then proceded to go over to a white person in our group who was sitting apart from the group and say would you like to run a tab and what would you like to drink. The black women was crying because she said as a local she had never experienced racism against her at home, that she had only experienced it in the states and that she had done nothing to the bartender except ask for a drink. A black doctor who was sitting at the bar had overheard the conversation and complained to the white owner - who defended the bartender and said in a nice way that he didn't want those people at his place anyway.

2. A DJ told me that at certain bars they play very "white music" when certain local crowds come in, to chase them out.

3. I had a friend who was jogging with another white women and a black man. And the ladies were jogging a distance in front of the man. A white passerby stopped in his car and asked the women if they wanted him to call the police because a black man was obviously harassing them. When he was told that the man was a friend and was actually jogging with them - he looked away with disgust and shoke his head.

4. At work I had 5 white construction workers come in and say out loud to my fellow 3 Black co-workers that did not want Black people helping them because they were incompetent and then proceded to insult one lady who thought they were kidding and tried to help them anyway. When I appraoched them they proceded to tell me they were glad I came in because they were going to leave and then continued saying stuff about my co-workers and were irritated when I told them they needed to stop or not receive service at all.

5. I had a friend who's boss told him directly not to take on the locals because they are ignorant. I overheard the conversation and said I was insulted. The boss and the new employee were white statesiders, I was told that I didn't count.

6. I have heard/seen stateside employees being paid more then locals for the same work.

I have experienced it in the other way too.
Had a professor who said to me that I can not possibly understand Caribbean Literature because I was white/statesider basically. When I pointed out his ignorance about my origin as a Virgin Islander and ancestory being Caribbean and my ability to understand the material he was completely embrassed and offered an apology.

I have seen in the USVI: old persons say they didn't want a young person to help them; a women say she didn't want to be treated by a female doctor - that men doctors were smarter; a black man say he didn't want a black helping him, and then say to a white local - that they weren;t good enough either- was there anyone else, finally saying they wanted a non-local; a black customer say they didn't want a white person... I remember a Black man coming into work and telling a Black woman worker that she spoke like a pig and should not be allowed to work in front .... and proceded to tell the owner the same... I have seen white customers get better treatment then locals and I have seen the reverse depending on who was providing the service...

I have seen the looks, the body language, and heard comments. It exisit however it does not stem from a feeling of superiority or genuniene dislike. It stems from some real situations that new residents also convey toward residents. It really is a back and forth type thing that has existed for years and years. White residents who have been in the USVI for a long time and are known in the community are treated completely different then new unfamiliar residents. And in my experiences when I have encountered the body language and rudeness, the knowledge of me being a local - seems to change the attitude of dislike around. But having discussed it here, I realize that as a local I did dismiss it because I understood where it came from and the cultural baggage however it is still a problem. Not a racial problem (although in some cases it definitely is) but a prejudice; against non-island people vs. what would seem like an outsider. A problem that has obvoiusly created a very ugly impression of some of the local population for you and perhaps for other locals and new residents as well.

There is an attitude in the USVI that all things from the states are better then local; that goes for employees, education, material things.... And it is strange the residents dislike that and thus act with an attitude toward US people and things.... however in the same way they still embrace the very same. Examples of this happens often in politics when projects are given to big stateside companies rather then giving local companies an oppurtunity creating upset among locals.... however its locals that made the decisions, and locals who put the officials in government positions. Lots of political, cultural, racial, educational issues behind the prejudice you witness; and it continues today so not sure it will change anytime soon.

I do think that overall the island's people are friendly. Some are rude; but the scales don't lean in that direction.
--Islander

Good post. I think as a long time local, you give a good perspective. I think there is also more turn over on St. John than even St. Thomas and maybe even more local-tourist interaction. I heard that over one million people make it to STJ every year. That is a lot for an island of STJ's size! I also believe there are different generations of "locals" on STJ. There are West Indians, stateside people, and people who only work on STJ amd commute to STT. Within the stateside locals, there are people who have been here 1-3 years and not many make it past that. After three years, you are likely to stay at least a few more. Then, there are the locals that are here ten years or more. So there are the 1-3, 3-10, and 10+. I think the various groups tend to hang out and befriend people in the same catagory. I dont think there are many people who make it to the 10+ but not many leave after being here that long. Most of the 1-3 leave.
It is funny how things work.
I know I am paid more at work than a guy who has been with the company two more years and he is a west indian. Maybe it is because of his lack of beng able to speak english very well. But I do know that since I am stateside, the restaurants are under more scrutiny from health departments and I am a lot more sanitary than my co-worker.
Not that he doesn't know, its just that back in the states, restaurants are under more pressure with health departments and standards. Do you think that some companys that hire stateside and pay more in some instances are justified? I would also say that for me to come here, I took a pay cut but at the same time, I am paid more than some locals. I also know that there arent as many high volume places down here where you learn how to push out food and i have worked with a decent share of dominicans and other groups and I could run rings around them. I also feel fustrated with the lack of urgency or motivation in some of the local's working habits. I don't mind being on island time but sometimes I dont want to bust my ass so other people can slack. So yes there are lots of issues.

Glad you enjoyed the post - and I hope other readers will get some insight from both perspectives. Mine is gathered on St. Thomas. I understand that St. John and St. Croix are different on this subject because of the population makeup, size, economy and history.

Your comment about being paid more is not unusual, and it really upsets locals. It creates a sense of anomosity. I worked with people who had been with the company over 20 years and for all intensive purposes that really shows committment and as a co-worker I can say that they did their job very very well. They had asked for a raise several times while I worked with them. And got small almost insignificant raises. A new person came to work there doing the same job from the states and was paid $5 more an hour and were only part time. In another case, a new employee was paid $2 more then a long time employee. Can you understand were a strong frustration would brew from this?

To answer your question about jusification for higher pay. Yes in some instances the stateside employee has a higher education, presents themselves better, perhaps more qualified on an application so deserve more $$. Also some employees particularly in offices find it difficult to hire good help locally. However it is not this alone ~ in the example I gave about the employee that made $5 more - he lasted like 4 months, would talk crap about the company, owners and the employees. Also because he saw his fellow employees slacking off because they were irritated that he was making more $$ and in their minds should work more he did the same and would read the newspaper for 2 hours while drinking coffee further aggravating the lesser paid employees. He left without even giving a notice, just left the island. And this happens often. I think his attitude to some degree doomed him to fail as a new residents in the islands. He expected it to be just like the states, he talked badly about cultural things to the co-workers and to people and then coundn't understand why they wouldnt speak to him and in the 4 months he was here he told me he only went to the beach a couple times - WHY??? come to the islands if you aren't a beach person. LOL.

Anyway..
Co-workers would say 'Oh look a new person, wonder how long they will last' or that 'door they just walked through is going to be opened again soon with them walking out'. So there is a feeling of resentment - like teach me how to do the work that you claim I can't do and let me give it a try. Now this is not the case with everyone - not all the people are like this there are quite a few that are just lazy. LOL I know my share of dancing around people who I feel needed to pick up their feet and move; but I also knew why they acted that way - and I felt it was justified to feel the way they did but really aggravating to deal with. It is very frustrating to work with people who think well I don't get paid enough to do that or this. But again I don't think that is the general population - there are so many truly hard working individuals in the VI...

What I mentioned earlier about stateside people who are residents for a long time and become part of the community being treated differently is greatly related to the stuff disccussed above. Almost like they have proven themselves, they didn't just come and go; they became part of the community.

--Islander

So my next question is this:
Why do so many stateside people leave?
I have a couple of theories but I want to hear your ideas.
I think many leave because they never intended on staying long.
An extended vacation might describe it best.
One detering thing for me is the lower wage and high cost of rent. I know I would never be able to afford a house here, even if my salary was increased 3 fold. I guess STT isn't an option to me. Maybe a houseboat is more likely.
Do you think people would leave because it isnt like the states? Isn't that why they came here in the first place? Maybe reality doesnt live up to the fantasy.

As to your last post, my OPINION is that I see more lazy people than hard workers.
I come from the midwest where you don't stand around. You work from the time you get to work until you leave. No BSing with co-workers, no sitting on the job. You get fifteen minutes of break time per four hours of work. (many times people didnt get that) How many people hold those standards?
My crew in Minnesota would work 10 hours straight with no more than Bathroom breaks many times. Could you see that happen here? Just from watching repair people, ferry workers, construction workers, supermarket, bus drivers, etc....I don't see as much work as standing around. Maybe I see standing or leaning as sluffing or killing time which is equivalent to stealing time and money from your job. To me, if you are chatting with a co-worker about gossip or your hair, you aren't working. (especially rude if you don't at least acknowledge that i am waiting to pay for my goods or service)
This kind of sluggish working behavior is what keeps the VI from reaching it's full potential, IMO. And what happen to the attitude leading to altitude? If you want the promotion or higher pay, you must prove that you can perform at the higher level before the pay follows. Every promotion I have ever gotten has been that way. You can't give up and just say well, i will work for what I think my pay deserves. The cream always rises to the top. I just think that with the islands, there is a lesser mind set on work and more on play. That's ok but dont pout when I am your boss. heh-heh

Why do they leave.... I think you are right some intended only to stay for 1 year, try it out, see what it is like. I think many of these folks work in tourism sectors however, seasonal jobs. The persons I have incontered worked in offices and actually came down to be managers and such and moved their families and cars and furniture so intentions I would think were to stay. The ones that left well two (a woman and a man) left because of illness and felt would receive better treatment in the mainland; another said he couldn't understand the people, make friends and find a religious enough white girlfriend; another said he needed more action and it was too quiet and he didn't expect that, another said he needed golf and golf everyday and didn't like the course on STT; another couple left after a long stay because they felt the states would offer higher paying jobs and an oppurtunity for home ownership and better education for kids, some left after being through a hurricane; some got lost in the island time, the going out, drinking... and just lost themselves in the VI eventually shipping out back home. The ones I know that stayed; well at first they complained about lack of this or that, not knowing people... but when they found their spot in the islands they stayed and these folks have stayed from 7-30 years... they have opened businesses, married here, built homes, been through hurricanes, got their college education here and now work in the community as teachers, managers..., had families and have no intention of leaving right now. I do think has a lot to do with the persons intentions and their attitude.

You asked whether people leave because it isnt the states - yes I think some move here particularly St. Thomas and St. Croix because they are considered more developed thinking things will be like the states but in the islands... but it is not. Things work on island time and that is overwhelmingly frustrating for someone who can't adjust. I think you need to think about it, have an idea of what to expect and then be open; can't force the islands to fit into your picture you need to fit into the islands and if you do I think you will be like many others that did and consider the VI home and consider the nusances a small price to pay for the beauty of the islands.

Yes there are lots of lazy relaxed island time workers. I have heard many stateside construction folks and managers comment on it and I have experienced it. But I know there are hard workers as well. 🙂 I know quite a few.

--Islander