USVI Vision 2040

Thanks for sharing the link!

I've taken the survey and encourage everyone to spend a few minutes and thoughtfully answer the questions.

It's an easy (and anonymous) way to provide input and improve the chance that they will have a broad (and honest) data set to start this initiative.

Thanks, the survey was thought provoking and well done.

I did the survey which was interesting. But, its doubtful there will be any revelations that incite action on the part of politicians now or in the future.

Anyone who has lived here for any length of time knows that nothing gets better in the VI. It only stays the same or gets worse.

What I find to be the most astounding thing about Vision 2040 is that the government plans to have it written and ready to launch by February 2021.

As most of us know, four months is about the time it takes for a message to get from an administrative assistant to a manager in the VI government.

I have been through a lot of strategic planning activities and NO WAY does it take just four months from announcement to a validated, data-driven finished project - even in the real world before COVID-19.

My thoughts? The surveys, town halls and focus groups are about confirmation and tweaking of a plan that is already drafted. Makes everyone feel good about participating and sharing input.

SPOTTS=Strategic Plan On The Top Shelf

Posted by: @vicanuck

I did the survey which was interesting. But, its doubtful there will be any revelations that incite action on the part of politicians now or in the future.

Anyone who has lived here for any length of time knows that nothing gets better in the VI. It only stays the same or gets worse.

Dude, you are a major bummer. There are plenty of things that have improved. It's obvious that you are burned out on the VI, so maybe you should find a new forum to hang out on. 

Posted by: @gators_mom

What I find to be the most astounding thing about Vision 2040 is that the government plans to have it written and ready to launch by February 2021.

I wonder if the GVI will have the money to pay the consultants when it comes time to launch.

I hope they got a deposit in advance.

Posted by: @scout77

There are plenty of things that have improved. 

I must have missed them.

As far as surveys go, I thought this was one of the best if not the best I’ve taken for anything locally.  I did the one the police department put out too and it was a joke of you ask me.  

I heard some early data reporting on the Vision 2040 and found that my answers were very much in line with the responses they had so far.  Hopefully our input will go to some good use and not just give candidates a platform to stand on to get re elected and then abandoned.  

The quality of the survey was excellent.  Whoever put it together has done a good job. Most of the issues are obvious and and in your face that we do not need a survey. We all know that WAPA, grid, roads, internet, crime, healthcare, education have to be fixed. 

The question is how and where to get the money. 

Do we want more tourism and what kind of tourism is a valid question. 

I wish the survey touched on cannabis cultivation as an agricultural option. 

Building another silicone valley here is a pipe dream.

Not much room for heavy industry here either.  

certainly UVI has been an achievement and perhaps building and expanding on that base we could become educational center for Caribbean. The ill fated plans for med school backfired but perhaps expanding IT and computer science makes more sense. 

Town Hall on multiple media outlets

https://stthomassource.com/content/2020/11/22/vieda-to-host-vision-2040-town-hall-meeting-on-november-23/

Posted by: @STTsailor

Building another silicone valley here is a pipe dream.

While a agree that building another Silicon Valley is absurd if the internet were to be upgraded to fiber optic, which I believe is simply a “last mile” problem, that would open the door to number of technology based businesses and software experts working remotely.  This could greatly expand the economic options for the island/territory. 

There are number of islands that offer visa to digital nomads. Bermuda, Barbados, Caymans, Iceland. This is just a tip of the iceberg. Everybody is competing for entrepreneurs.  Just bring your laptop and proof of offisland income over $80K and welcome. 

An initial summary of the Vision 2040 survey results was published in the St Croix Source:

https://stcroixsource.com/2020/12/21/survey-says-virgin-islanders-want-more-agriculture-better-utilities/

For any business owners out there, you have until the end of the year to submit the business survey if you haven't already. 

The survey results and link to the business survey can be found on the Vision 2040  web site

https://www.usvi2040.com/

I was surprised that they were surprised that tech development didn’t rank higher.  I sent them a message through Facebook telling them that I didn’t rank it higher because despite decades of effort WAPA hasn’t figured out how to provide reliable affordable energy and internet speeds and reliability are still severely lacking as well.   I don’t know how we could hope to attract or build more tech commerce without these long standing issues resolved.  They did respond to me within a few hours thanking me for my input.  I am not at all surprised that the survey showed people were most interested in creating more self sustaining areas like agriculture.  It’s hard to look at developing the economy when you can’t even take care of yourself when the $hit hits the fan like we saw after Irma and Maria.  

Stable and affordable power is a necessary but not sufficient condition for almost any development in the Territory.  Without this and other basic requirements, like healthcare and low crime, no economic progress can be made.  Economies are efficient, businesses and skilled workers go where the ground if fertile and the basic ingredients for success exist.  Thinking that the Territory is can be a technology hotbed is putting the cart far far ahead of the horse.  Not surprisingly agricultural is at or near the top of the list, it’s doable with the current infrastructure, it creates jobs and the need exists.  Politicians don’t like agriculture because it isn’t sexy, doesn’t generate clicks on a internet news story, so it won’t help anyone’s political career.  As usual the people (survey participants) are right and the Politicians don’t listen.  The simple fact that one of the two biggest sectors of the economy is government should be a huge red flag, governments do not generate wealth, they only consume it.  Without a strong private sector the money quickly runs out. 

I agree. Our government is bloated and inefficient and has been for far too long.  Moving the various agencies into the 21st century by putting everything online is a start. I handle all the various filings and such foe our company and it is time consuming  and bothersome.  I should be able to file and pay my taxes online. Not have to make biweekly trips to the IRB to get that all important blue stamp.  I took the business survey as well. I hope they are listening.  We are looking for economic stability first before we can consider growth.  

-Reliable electrical supply.

-A hospital and reasonabe health insurance options.

-stateside quality roads.

Build the infrastructure, and they will come. But the real question is, do we really want a population explosion in the VI? It’s obvious our local elected officials don’t want one. Maybe that’s for the best?

Posted by: @singlefin

Build the infrastructure, and they will come.

Yes, unleash the latent potential that is the USVI.  Not to mention you create high paying jobs in the interim.

@jaldeborgh

i have some doubts about that. Infrastructure is one of the conditions but several other have to exists as well. Quality affordable housing, inexpensive, fresh produce, affordable healthcare, low cost of living, pool of datable partners, access to culture and entertainment.

None of it is here for long term nomads.  

Posted by: @STTsailor

Quality affordable housing, inexpensive, fresh produce, affordable healthcare, low cost of living, pool of datable partners, access to culture and entertainment.

These are dependent factors, if you build a thriving economy all that you have listed will happen.  The definition of affordable is dependent on median income, which will rise dramatically with the economic benefits brought about by proper infrastructure.  Keep in mind the social benefits of prosperity follow wealth creation, not the other way around.  The fact that 1/3 of the population is dependent on the government speaks loudly of the lack of a thriving private sector economy, which is the source of all wealth creation and therefore prosperity.  Individuals are the key, unleashing their creative potential by government getting out of their way, encouraging them to take risks and not penalizing them once they are successful, these are the essential ingredients for a resurgent economy.  The role of government is to create an environment that fosters entrepreneurship, such as, municipal infrastructure, financial infrastructure, healthcare infrastructure, educational infrastructure and business friendly policies.  This isn’t rocket science, there are numerous successful examples to mimic, it simply takes strong determined leadership because it’s a competitive marketplace and entrepreneurs only setup shop in communities where they are confident of success.  

@jaldeborgh

let me point out that we have here democrats in power who see regulation, burocracy, welfare, taxation as a panacea for survival. So creation of conditions for actual thriving will not happen here unless access to funds is cut off. 

please someone show me a single gov project or initiative that was done right from start to finish.  

My comments are independent of politics.  Personally, I’m a student of history, a fiscal conservative and a social moderate, so you can guess my views on centralized government control.  I’m also a couple of months from retirement but have been an entrepreneur for most of my career, as one example, I spent 7 years leading a VC backed technology startup, so believe deeply in the power of the individual unleashed.

HERE is the outcome of the survey discussed in this thread and the website for a complete download.

‘Vision 2040’ Outlines Path to ‘Recovery with Resiliency’ | St. Thomas Source

I have skimmed the plan - but I find these lofty 'aspirational' goals to be unfunded mandates. 

Thoughts are good - process was inclusive - but VI needs more predictable revenue to launch these initiatives meaningfully. 

I get a kick out of folks in the VI who lament infrastructure collapse who, in their next breath, talk of too much local taxation. Then of course the answer is that you can't raise taxes for the corrupt politicians to pocket - but then who elects these same pols and then their relatives over and over and over again??

If you want nice things - you know like paved roads and reliable electricity to attract new businesses - you have to pay for them from local coffers. Can't just keep hoping for hurricanes and FEMA.

There is too little local taxation that's why everything is broken.

It's not federal tax payers responsibility to care for the Virgin Islands. Most federal grants require local matches BTW.

Oh yeah EDC will help by giving all the new entrepreneurs and their companies massive tax breaks for years. 

I had high hopes for more realism this time.

Let's then blame the colonizers when nothing changes.