Why?

well i've lived here long enough to not be considered an outsider anymore,and oddly enough in the beginning i never considered myself an outsider because of the u.s.passport i hold that makes me an american and since this territory is part of america, well then why should it be any different from say moving from minnesota to texas,i did not leave the U.S. and so technically i never was an outsider nor is anyone else that moves down here.

trw: Have you checked with Adelbert Bryan about your status?? 😉

Michael

Sounds like we have a bit in common. I live in Pensacola. Been here about fifteen years. Origionally from New Iberia La.
At 64 just about run out of "Juice" when it comes to construction work. Last several years did mostly repair and remodeling (single handed) for local realtors and property managers.
Lost the wife about two years ago and time to cast my fate to the wind so it seems. Have really enjoyed this forum. Expecting to take about a month off to really look STX over. Probably stay at Juanitas place. Reaseon i''m saying HI is hopefully show up in a strange place but have one or two acquaintences to help share information. The more you know, the better your options.
I suspect it woud be a pain in the behind to try and bring either my motorcycle( 500cc Honda Shadow @ 50mpg :-).......or my old chevy work van there for only one month. (11mpg :-(---
Not worth the expense.
If you might consider getting together for coffee or what have you would appreciate the contact. Not even remotely in the "buy a condo on the beach" financial status but contacts are contacts !!

Looking forward to playing in the sun while FLORIDA FREEZES !
George "Buzz" Segura

well EE it was the "locals" that told me when i was over there for 2 months,when they asked me how long i been here and i told them they laughed and said"you a local now", and bryan does'nt like anybody except people who give him cash 🙂

act6905.com has an interesting letter under the WAPA heading from a guy calling himself dwayne callwood about politics and people here,seems to nail it.

just thought i would bring this up again

Are you bringing it up because of this? http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17624397

Wow EE, I just read the article...thanks for sharing. Am I wrong in thinking that you can't technically be a citizen in the Virgin Islands when you're a citizen of the US? Am I being too literal? I'm not really sure that dividing the people that live in the VI on the books is in the best interest of the people who live there. There's already a level of discrimination in the islands between those that are "bahn" in the VI, the Down-Islanders, the Haitians, the "Domingos" and the State-siders. I also "loved" the last statement in the article....

"Citizen" and "resident" are two different things, IMO. One is a citizen of a country, in our case the USA. But one is a resident of a state or territory. I am a citizen of the USA. I was a resident of Kentucky and now I am a resident of the USVI.

ee i brought it back because of the last 3 post for may 13 on More Job Related Questions-STT

I agree with Antiqueone....been there and done that...first hand......

And here is a follow up: http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1212897770

Adelbert Bryan is a character. I read the link that had his original statements in it. I don't know how someone in this day and age and in a high position like his can get away with making some of those comments. It almost seems like he has a chip on his shoulder. I also noticed a note at the bottom stating that the reporter is a West Indian Virgin Islander...is that to discount him/her? Part of this is why I moved back to Florida. I always felt like an outsider. Bryan's comment, "You better watch out -- we're going to drive you people out of here", is an attitude I felt from some of the people on the island...not all but enough to ruin it for me.

I will never forget an incident that took place when I was on my PMV. I was at the Poor Man's Bar on STJ and two locals got into an argument, one was a black man and one was a white woman. I don't know exactly how it started but the argument was about being a local. The guy told the woman that she's not a local...she's a tourist. She yelled back..."I am NOT a tourist! I've been living here for 10 years!!" The guy repeated.."You're a tourist..." It ending up being an ugly yelling match until people were able to calm them down.

Nice... putting language on the books differentiating Virgin Islanders and Citizens. I'm pretty sure there is nothing on the books of what makes somebody a Floridian.

On the topic of "Why?"....

I'm coming down for school. If I like it after graduation, I'll stay and do research on the islands and teach. Possibly pursue my masters in education.

"Nice... putting language on the books differentiating Virgin Islanders and Citizens. I'm pretty sure there is nothing on the books of what makes somebody a Floridian."

You cannot compare the USVI to Florida. Florida is a STATE. USVI is a TERRITORY. Do you see a star representing the VI on the US flag? According to the United Nations, the USVI is its own country with its own national identity. As a non-sovereign country, the USVI has has issues concerning identity and nativeness that a state would not have.

"Nice... putting language on the books differentiating Virgin Islanders and Citizens. I'm pretty sure there is nothing on the books of what makes somebody a Floridian."

You cannot compare the USVI to Florida. Florida is a STATE. USVI is a TERRITORY. Do you see a star representing the VI on the US flag? According to the United Nations, the USVI is its own country with its own national identity. As a non-sovereign country, the USVI has has issues concerning identity and nativeness that a state would not have.

Take it easy... I was just commenting on what seems to be discrimination. I wasn't comparing FL to USVI, and I'm aware of the status of the territory. The comparison is still relative though.

Maybe I'm missing something... does distinguishing the three terms have any relevance to anything?

I'm more than a little confused by this notion of distinguishing folks based on how long they've been here, or their birth place. I mean, I understand from a citizenship issue that for instance US citizens have rights that non US citizens have. But, I don't understand:

- are these folks looking for different designations because there are already rights or entitlements allowed to the different designations (I searched this sight for more on this and didn't find anything)?

- or, are they hoping that once they establish the concept of different designations that then they can start introducing the idea of different rights for different designations?

- is there already some important social class system, where having this differentiation matters (obviously it matters to SOME folks... but to the majority?)?

- or, am I just so American that I'm just totally missing the point of this?

Many people in the VI feel that being born here, or having parents who were born here should give a person extra status, that of "citizen", much as being born in the US gives similar status.

I don't agree but understand the argument.

All citizans are equal, but some citizans are more equal. Ever read "Animal Farm" by George Orwell?

Thanks Linda, so that is more "social status"? And, why would the government be involved with that? Are they asking for the government to acknowledge a social status? I'm starting to think about a group like the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)... maybe this is similar?

I Think the agenda being a native of VI, might have something to do with Real Estate Tax Exemptions somewhere down the road. That's just a guess on my part.

Maybe this is part of a movement to get independence from US territorialism. I could imagine the "Native Virgin Islanders" not liking being a territory of any country. I would also have concerns:
- who voted to become a territory (I just did a quick search - didn't find this, so I'm guessing that it required a vote with VI)
- how was it sold to the people
- has it turned out the way folks thought

Am I out in left field?

It was my understanding that the US bought the island from the Danes in the early 1900's and that's when it became a territory.

Morna,
The USA bought the Virgin islands, STX,STT and STJ from Denmark in 1917 for 25 million dollars. The USA entered WW 1, 2 weeks later. The reason was for Home land Security at that time for fear of the German U Boats.

Sorry, I need to brush up on that history (I've read it a few times... obviously I missed a few points!) So, the locals have been bounced around from country to country without ever really having a voice in their government. OK, I'd be pissed also, and eventually try to get a bit of recognition and respect also. But, as a territory, we must bestow some rights onto the locals? Sorry, I feel like I'm babbling at this point... I need to go off and do some basic research on this...