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Based on reading the papers, staying abreast of USVI initiatives and then seeing some feedback on various topics, I did have both a question and an observation.
I have been to most of the islands in the Caribbean. My move to St. Croix was certainly by choice, not by ignorance or of not having other options. There seems to be the need for the USVI island to pull together, as each is different, each has its own beauty and history and in those terms, are not in competition with each other.
I have also noticed a certain stratification in terms of culture and socioeconomics that I just do not understand. It has caused some movers to question things like the safety and the quality of living on St. Croix. Putting these together, I am left wondering about the cause of this.
I have been to STT several times, and find it enchanting. It is certainly different that STX, but different does not make something better, just different.
I made my choice solely due to the hills. My spine literally could not handle them. Still, I found much of the same beauty but with smaller hills on St. Croix.
I am not trying to initiate a loaded question, but am just curious, and would love to learn what are the differences that are not what someone might see in a few days.
In addition, it there any sort of inter-island business guild that promotes all of the islands, in each of their special ways to both add to the tourism/economy, and provide visitors with more information that is easily accessible on the web?
I hope no one takes offense to this. I did search to see if this has been asked before, and could find nothing, so I figured it might be worthwhile for the board readers as well as myself to gain a better understanding of the various gems of the Caribbean where we all do live.
Thank you again,
Dan
Posted : April 29, 2006 11:49 pm
Sad to say, but I suspect you'll find that at the root of the differences is the matter of "money."
There should be more cooperation between StX and STT/STJ, but too often such cooperation is seen as leading to a reduction in the monetary profits of one island to the perceived detriment of the other.
We have 15 sentors who should present a solid front of inter-island cooperation, since they are elected from the various islands. However, Senate sessions often disintegrate into squabbling over which area should have such-and-such as opposed to the other area...witness the recent squabbling over where the Court should be located, for example. It all comes down to "where will the money be spent, and I want the money spent on MY island."
Don't you believe for a minute, for another example, that there is any real interest on the part of STT to see any sort of cruise ship industry on STX...why, that would take money away from STT...and so on.
And yes, the people on both STX and STT are equally guilty. There exists a culture of shortsightedness and lack of vision for the future of the territory on the whole. If we don't rid ourselves of the "every man for himself" mentality there will never be inter-island cooperation.
End of soapbox.
Posted : May 2, 2006 6:59 pm
A ST. Thomas history teacher told me that when America first offered to purchase STJ and STT our government did not express too much interest in ST. Croix. But, it was a package deal, so we accpeted the distant island. Is that true?
Posted : May 5, 2006 2:58 pm
I heard that too.
Posted : May 5, 2006 7:21 pm
Topic starter
Well, thank you all so much. I appreciate the feedback and the education, even if I find it a bit petty and pathetic both (no you, just the type of thinking). Again, as the islands are so different from each other, it would seem that the combination of choices would only add to the attraction.....something for everyone type of thing.
Will try to do some research about this problem, and why it is so perpetuated even with a group of pretty savvy folks. Hmmm.
Thank you again. You have all always been so helpful.
Warm regards to all,
Dan
Posted : May 7, 2006 9:11 pm
Danieljude: That sounds like a bit of a "dun" to those who've responded to your initial post in all good faith. Many of us didn't respond not for lack of anything to say but because there is too much to say.
And this is a relocation forum designed to offer advice to potential newcomers.
Log onto the local St Thomas Source online newspaper and go to both the Op Ed and Open Forum sectons for most interesting intelligent debate on local affairs.
Warm regards to you too.
Posted : May 8, 2006 2:54 am
