Should the Federal gov't control the VI?

Correction. The 0.02/100K figure I posted earlier doesn't make sense to me given the population. I can't find the source I originally copied it from. So here's what I found today from multiple sources.

The small community I came from shows a homicide rate of 0.0 for years 2001 to 2008.

When I expand my search outward to the next larger city for years 2000 to 2008, three of the years show one homicide each. Six of the years show zero homicides.

and the homicide rate so far for the vi is 47 for the year and we have just come into august.
which as i understand it, is the highest out of all us owned land. correct me if i am wrong.

and the homicide rate so far for the vi is 47 for the year and we have just come into august.
which as i understand it, is the highest out of all us ["us" meaning "United States"] owned land. correct me if i am wrong.

Maybe. New Orleans might have us beat. But we're way, way up there, that's for sure.

Assume a USVI population of 120,000
In 2009, there were 56 murders, for a USVI murder rate of about 47 per 100,000
In 2010, there are 47 murders so far (according to speee1dy), which puts us on pace for about 76 for the year, which is a murder rate for USVI of 63 per 100,000, but this is only a projection.

According to FBI stats posted at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate for US cities over 250,000, the highest murder rate in 2008 was New Orleans, at 64 per 100,000.

For comparison, here are the most recent figures for selected countries from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_homicide_rate

USA: 5.4 per 100,000

The top 15 offenders:
71 El Salvador
67 Honduras
58 Jamaica
52 Guatemala
49 Venezuela
42.31 Trinidad and Tobago
37 South Africa
35 Colombia
33.4 Belize
25.2 Brazil
23.57 Dominican Republic
19 Ecuador
18.8 Puerto Rico
15.6 Russia
14 Mexico

I agree, the chances of being a victim of crime is much higher here. But if the chance is 1 in a million in kentucky and only 1 in 200.000 here, is that REALLY a difference that I have to worry about!! I hope not, because I don't.

Linda, I'd agree but your math is all wrong. Unfortunately the numbers don't add up to 1 in 200,000. If we have 47 murders already in August here we are on pace for around 70 murders this year. That is for 110,000 or so residents. That is a lot higher than 1 in 200,000, more like 1 in every 1600 or so. And that is just murder, add in other crimes and without doing all the math there is probably a very good chance that you will be a victim of some crime if you live here more than 10 years.

I am generally not a fan of Federal government intevention, but having seen what it did to improve DC which was in bad shape but not nearly as bad a the USVI I think it could only improve things. DC had the same nepotistic tendancies as here that led to a culture of corruption which could only be broken by outside intervention. The DC government now does whatever it takes to keep the Feds at bay which means that the corruption is far less intense as the corrupt now know that if they go too far they will end up killing their golden goose.

Sean

I'm really confused. So many people on this board are for national health care which will cost billions if not trillions and who knows how much corruption. But most people here also seem to think the federal govt couldn't sort out the crime in these tiny little islands? I think the feds could do it in a heart beat. Hopefully if they cleaned house here we could all feel a bigger sense a pride in our islands and work harder to keep them clean. I don't see how it can come from within at this point. How many murders were sent home to house arrest this year and then committed another murder??? We need help all the way around.

If Judge Michael Dunston is to become the new Leon kendell as one of our judges, YES, we NEED federal control!!!!
Question, is Duston a terrible, corrupt judge as Kendell?
Or was this just some corrupt for $$ or corrupt under pressure BC this is Former Sen. Carmen Wesselhoft's nephew and a one time deal????
I hope so!
We really don't need another Leon Kendall!!!!!!!!
The feds should keep a eye on this!

Hey Dunston, I hear from mutual friends your OK, but how does it feel to have your name synonymous with Leon Kendall?

i think someone should take control...and get rid of the whole of the sitting government...choose and put in place people of their choice to...straighten out all the books...police...schools, etc...then hold new elections, holding candidates to certain standards...then...bring industry back...hess, martin marietta type vibes that employed 80 % LOCALS (anyone living on island)...doing this would increase revenue for all avenues...stores, restaurants, businesses... etc...now we have most people working...the businesses supported by employed citizens will increase...youth will feel like they might just have a future because there are jobs...therefore cutting down on any sort of crime for the most part...NIRVANA, no? ones might say it is...BUT...there was a time (aside from government corruption and wapa) when the island was like that...i am glad i lived there then and was a part of the workforce and they were the BEST years of my life...to KNOW it is like it is now (because i also keep in touch with ones there that are extremely affected by the negative vibes created by crime) saddens me...i blame part of the lack of industry on the island on shipping jobs offshore to foreign...and the neglect of the american government to intervene and help the people of not only st. croix, but the other VI properties as well...

The ice age will occur before anything happens.(td)
Jumbie

Legalize and tax cannabis in this place!! Draw tourism to this island from the states and give people what they want. The federal government would never let anything like that happen because they don't want the states or territories fending for themselves. As long as we keep our hands out the feds will have the power to run us into the ground. I left the states, NY state because of the feds, because of the corruption and abuse of power in a system that's supposedly the best in the world. If we had another source of revenue in this place besides basic tourism this island wouldn't need the federal government, people would have jobs, and what crime there is here would go wayyyy down!! But that's just thinking outside a box most people aren't ready to step out of yet. I came down here to be FREE and the feds want anything but that for the people of this great nation.. I shouldn't have to remind people of that but sometimes we forget how the grass is never greener with those bastards...

FREE MARC EMERY, POLITICAL PRISONER!!

Str8 - since you have been here about a week I am surprised at your vehemence and familiarity with the Islands.

Sorry, but I disagree. We already have 18 year-old tourists drunk in the streets. I'm don't think I want to become known as a druggie tourist destination.

I'm not sure about total legalization of MJ but I am an advocate for decriminalization of small amounts for responsible adults to consume privately in their own homes. Also to allow safe access for medical use to help relieve pain and suffering for patients with chronic conditions. I have lobbied several Senators and they favor some reform ranging from total legalization to decrim and medical. Now with the elections coming up perhaps we will hear more about it, probably not as the topic is treated like the "third rail" by most politicians.

Hemp, is one of the best biofeuls. It grows on marginal land with little water. It yields seed, fiber and animal fodder as well that are supplied to the health food industry.

Realistically, small steps would be a better course so that the proper safeguards can be put in place as well as a comprehensive drug use and abuse treatment structure inside the judicial system.

There is/was an organization called usvinorml loosely formed here last year. A petition drive was begun that fizzled out. They favor total legalization.

Str8Rydah saying you are not free in America is an extremely stupid whinny American attitude that the rest of the world expects us to have. Do some research and learn what it really is to be oppressed by your govt. Because believe me you have it very very good compared to many many countries. If you're saying your horribly oppressed just because you can't do pot, I really feel sorry for you. There are many states where you can get medical MJ legally but if you moved here this isn't one of them.

Is this relevant or what?

http://copssaylegalize.blogspot.com/2010/08/national-black-police-association.html

One thing I realize our gov't does a lot is take money sent specifically for ONE purpose from the US & put it in the "general fund" & dip in2 it as they please. I believe we didn't receive our stimulus checks because the gov't decided the money would best be used elsewhere. R u kidding me? This island is corrupted. I think we need God himself to reach down in2 our islands & create a miracle.

Are you talking about the stimulus from a couple of years ago, $600 for a couple? We got ours.

There will never be statehood...

"Never" is a long time.

"Never" is a very long time I agree and apologize for using such a negative word for the time frame -- what would you consider to be a reasonable time idea for the VI to achieve statehood if the popular vote indicated that was the consensus?

Geopolitical conditions change over long - and short - periods. Looking back at how past territories became states is interesting, Alaska (49) and Hawaii (50) being the latest.

Although my specialty is business and economic forecasting, some of the same tools can be used in geopolitical forecasting. One of these tools is "scenario scripting," which asks, "What if?"

What if voters in Puerto Rico decide to opt for statehood? Or independent nationhood? What impact might that have for the other territories?

In my lifetime, 2 territories have been admitted to the Union as states. In my father's lifetime, 6 states were admitted. In my grandfather's lifetime, 19 states were admitted. In my lifetime, numerous nations have been created, and more continue to be created.

We cannot predict the future, but we can think about what it might look like if USVI (1) continues in its current territorial status, (2) becomes a state (or part of a Caribbean state, (3) becomes an independent nation, or (4) opts for - or is compelled to take - another path.

Interesting discussion.

shhhh...speak softly lest Jumbie hears ya. Jumbie disapproves of "hyothetic theories on what might happen in the future". He'll lob stones at ya! 😀

I don't think #3 and #4 are options.

Puerto Rico has a small independence movement. It's failed to gain much public support but it's interesting nonetheless. Puerto Rico could probably pull it off if it was the will of the people.

In the VI, you hear little to no talk about independence. It's pretty well understood that if the endless stream of federal hand outs were to end, this economy would collapse in a heartbeat. Here, the buzz words are self-determination and... well... reparations.

The VI remind me of a young adult attempting to establish their own house rules while still living under their parents' roof. He/she wants to set his/her own hours, say who can stop by and when, and smoke pot by the pool. The parents might say something like, "We're pleased that you're trying to be more independent, honey. Here's what you need to do. Get a job so that you can pay your rent, utilities, and buy food. You can set your own rules when you have your own place to live. Then work hard so that you can have some of the nicer things in life." LOL...but that's not what the kid wants at all! He/she wants shelter, food, and clothing provided for them and they want a generous allowance on top of that all while sitting around their parents' pool smoking pot.