The NEW USVI !!!

Poorthang....we're with you! Although saddened by the losses of many, we see this as a new beginning and a fresh start in order to revitalise this stunning island.
Anyone else on board? What do you all see as future positives from the negative?

I agree. Time to have the can do spirit!

I envision an Eco paradise where visitors can renew and rejuvenate. Eliminate the traces of failed industry and create a a place of real paradise. Bulldoze Hess like it never existed. When the sun shines and the wind blows we have power. Live by your wit, get a 100 mph scooter. Recycle everything, don't want and don't waste, grow your own

When all of our current hotels are filled..... ,shops will buzz,...restaurants will be busy... ,tear downs of the crap we have seen for decades,build ups of new homes will flourish.Home Depot will have to hire more,builders will have to hire more ,and on and on.This is called commerce!We already have this infrastructure in place.We lack a cheap way for people to get here and stay here.Offer an Airline A million dollars a month to ferry people in and out of here,The gov't has that kinda jack laying around .Amer...I...Can...!!!!!Girls put on your prettiest dresses... men put on your workin boots....somebody grab a hammer and some paint brushes we've got to get ready...we have guests coming !!!!!!!!!:D

wear your BIG earrings, ladies! This is serious stuff!

That's the spirit, Poorthang! Like your idea, Bombi. It doesn't take much to get the ball rolling. There are things that need to take priority that won't cost an arm a leg to do. For instance:- Having a pretty waterfront in Frederiksted is all well and good, but a few steps east and it looks like hell! What would it take to form a group of volunteers to literally pressure wash the old buildings and give them all a fresh coat of paint? (Paint, by the way, that we can get Home Depot to donate to the cause). When we have taken care of business in Frederiksted we can do the same in Christiansted. Not only will this be attractive to cruisers (who will spread the word how pretty the town is) but will also put a smile on those not so fortunate people who live there. It's time to act now! We are the ones who will be staying here so let's make a start at changing the face of STX. We will all prosper in the end!

It would be nice, However this is not a Jimmy Stewart movie, This message board only sings to the Choir, not the crucian population or the territorial Govt.

It would be nice, However this is not a Jimmy Stewart movie, This message board only sings to the Choir, not the crucian population or the territorial Govt.

Then the message board needs to sing loud and be heard. No use waiting for our illustrious leaders to do something!

poorthang...you are unbelievable!!! 6 months ago I came on this forum to see if I could find an investor to help me move my company to the USVI and you were the most vocal and caustic about my attempt to move my 40 years of manufacturing tourist gift ware to the islands. You had several of your posts removed because they were so caustic. I think you say anything at any time so people will listen to your unbelievable ranting... Its a good thing you are moving to Kentucky....its people like you who have hurt the growth and diversification of new companies coming to the islands in the past.

parrot....you came on this board lookin for money....I"m not who think I am and I'm not moving to ole Kentuck.I've been to buffalo, wyoming where you can't seem to escape from It's a1 traffic signal town of about 150.I was caustic to you and it felt good!Step aside boy this is a man's job............................................Here is another quick battle cry for all businesses on island ...If your not Full your a Fool.If you have vacancies at your hotel your rates are too high! If your shops aren't busy your prices are to high.Volume will make up for these discounts!Trickle up economics. When you can't keep stock on your shelves raise your rates or order more.If we invite the world at some point we will all say Hovensa who?

Once again you are ignorant when it comes to me and my business....I do not live or operate my business in buffalo, wyoming. I came on the board looking for an investor whom I could partner with to open a manufacturing plant to make tourist items on the islands instead of the stores having to purchase items from China and India. This is the real you.....caustic....and proud of it.......

Back in the 60's Aruba only had one or 2 small hotels on their beaches. Now look how many they have. And that is called development! (which gives people jobs from the time construction started to present day running of the hotels)
Is that what you want for the VI?
Just wondering...

This is getting off track!

I agree rosenjack.......My comparison to Hawaii was not by mistake.People in the states travel well over 12 hours by plane to get to the big islands.Most of the eastern states are 4-6 hours flying time to USVI.We have what most of them want.Warm weather,sandy beaches,and duty free stuff,like liquor,,,Hello anyone awake!If I told you all of the hotels would be filled every month,restaurants would be hoppin,shops would be overflowing,Realtors busy showing and selling,....the people that live and work on this island would be making money or big MONEY.You sell what you have! WE have SUNSHINE!Taxi drivers ,busy, cart vendors busy,car rentals busy........see .What we already have is here it just needs some steroids.Cheap air fare is the key IMO,cruise ships are a bonus.All of the current residents would benefit greatly from a bustling tourist industry.A fair amount of those people who visit will make the leap like you or I did.But if you don't invite them and don't treat them well then WE get to pay the freight for all the baggage these islands have.Take a look around,why do businesses fail?Not enough business!!!!!!!Those who can't manage will be replaced by those who do .Tax revenue would be up not down.Geez ,anyone know how to make a buck??I 'll bet I could make money shining sandals!!There is a window before hard times and I mean violent hard times hit.The folks who can avoid this better sharpen their pencils and start kissin some serious ass with the game changers or start packin it up!!!

To: The Governor,Senators,Business leaders,community activists and concerned citizens,What a challenge we have,This is an opportunity in our lifetime to change our Virgin Islands.Faced with high unemployment,business closures,and higher living costs from losing our largest on island employer we have the duty to transform ,revitalize and reinvigorate these beautiful islands into a destination equal to our friends to the west ...Hawaii. It's our turn to grab the attention of the world and let them see what makes OUR Virgins islands spectacular.It's our turn to let the world see our sunsets and white sandy beaches like never before .With our American flag ,enjoy the freedom of building or buying a home on these islands.It's time for you,our government leaders to encourage development ,enforce and protect our citizens and visitors. remove blight from past storms and uninterested land owners so new comers may embrace what some of us already have ...a love of these islands,It's time to shake hands and look each other in the eye knowing that the will of the people and the preservation of our livelihoods and homes not be lost or withered away.It's time to make the deal for an Airline to fly cheaply into and out of our airports to promote tourism.,It's time to invite tourists with lower hotel rates and extended stays.It's time to tear down old and paint what we have .The breezes of warm air,the crystal clear water and soothing sand between the toes will do the rest.Have you forgotten those simple pleasures?This is not the end but the beginning of something great! Seize this time as a moment your children and grandchildren will proudly talk about as the" Conquest of 2012"Make us proud...!

THIS IS THE POST OF THE YEAR!!!

Who needs a stinky, air polluting, EPA ignoring, cancer-causing oil refinery on the beautiful South Shore anyway. It had its day, let it go... we can do better if we pull together. We can be a good example of how a small community rebounds after a crisis.

There will be some pain...people will be sorry to see it go, because of "money"...remember, parents, that all those kids that you sent to college on Hovensa money and your hard labor did NOT return to St. Croix to better our community or to take care of you in your old age...they "brain-drain" it all to the continental US and forget all about us down here.

For starters, we can organize support for our soon-to-be-out of work friends and neighbors, like we organized support for St. Lucia after their hurricane. We can make sure nobody goes hungry or unclothed, and we can negotiate with the banks, appeal to their community interests, ask them to delay foreclosures, etc so that people remain in their homes. We can show those people who are predicting a crime wave that we are better than all that, and we take care of our own. The numerous churches on St. Croix can step up, put some of that collection money back into the community...there is sooo much we can do, this is a wonderful opportunity, and "poorthang" is absolutely correct.

I agree rosenjack.......My comparison to Hawaii was not by mistake.People in the states travel well over 12 hours by plane to get to the big islands.Most of the eastern states are 4-6 hours flying time to USVI.We have what most of them want.Warm weather,sandy beaches,and duty free stuff,like liquor,,,Hello anyone awake!If I told you all of the hotels would be filled every month,restaurants would be hoppin,shops would be overflowing,Realtors busy showing and selling,....the people that live and work on this island would be making money or big MONEY.You sell what you have! WE have SUNSHINE!Taxi drivers ,busy, cart vendors busy,car rentals busy........see .What we already have is here it just needs some steroids.Cheap air fare is the key IMO,cruise ships are a bonus.All of the current residents would benefit greatly from a bustling tourist industry.A fair amount of those people who visit will make the leap like you or I did.But if you don't invite them and don't treat them well then WE get to pay the freight for all the baggage these islands have.Take a look around,why do businesses fail?Not enough business!!!!!!!Those who can't manage will be replaced by those who do .Tax revenue would be up not down.Geez ,anyone know how to make a buck??I 'll bet I could make money shining sandals!!There is a window before hard times and I mean violent hard times hit.The folks who can avoid this better sharpen their pencils and start kissin some serious ass with the game changers or start packin it up!!!

I agree.

I go on cruises all the time, far and wide, and I can say, as a well-travelled person, that I have not been to any island in the Caribbean that St. Croix could not compete with for tourists...but we need people with VISION. Take a cruise sometime, visit Aruba, Curacao, St. Martin, even places like Huatulco in Mexico and Cabo San Lucas, and see what they are doing...when people have to fend for themselves to make a living they become very creative. Maybe this will be our spark.

We can have a spark, but we need to have the kindling to start the fire. The kindling is our community, yes, but it is also our government and our media. The community is on high alert. IMO, the latter two need to step up their efforts to deal with this crisis NOW.