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PRINTWith an Oct. 31 deadline looming to revise its draft V.I. Constitution to comport with the U.S. Constitution, the Fifth Constitutional Convention met Saturday by teleconference and deadlocked on a vote to approve changes recommended by a special legal team.
The "motion lost" because the "vote tied 13 to 13," Convention Delegate Violet Ann Golden confirmed after the meeting, which was held via teleconference at Government Employees Retirement System offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
That means the constitution is "essentially dead unless we meet again," before Oct. 31, she said. It was unclear Saturday whether a meeting would or could be arranged in time. If one is approved, it will then go before the territory's voters for approval. If not, the current, fifth attempt to produce a territorial constitution will be deemed dead, according to the terms of recent legislation giving the convention a last bite of the apple.
The Fifth V.I. Constitutional Convention was elected and convened in 2007, pursuant to V.I. legislation approved under provisions of the Revised Organic Act of 1954, the federal law which acts as a de facto constitution until such time as the territory produces its own. The Convention completed the draft constitution in 2009. President Barack Obama forwarded it to Congress, along with a Department of Justice analysis raising questions about maritime boundaries, tax breaks aimed at native Virgin Islanders and other provisions.
The most controversial sections said only native-born Virgin Islanders can run for governor or lieutenant governor and that “ancestral Virgin Islanders” (those who had family in the territory in or prior to 1932) would be exempt from property tax.
In 2010, the U.S. Senate passed a joint resolution calling for the Fifth Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention to reconvene and change its draft constitution to address concerns raised by the U.S Department of Justice. The Department of the Interior has promised some funding for the process, but not as much as some on the convention want. The Fifth V.I. Constitutional Convention did not act over the intervening two years.
The revision legislation approved in August, which was proposed by Sen. President Ronald Russell, reconvenes the elected convention as the “Revision Convention,” and establishes a quorum requirement of 21 of the 30 elected delegates. It also gives the Convention a panel of five attorneys to give legal advice, including the Legislature's chief legal counsel, a V.I. Bar Association appointee, an attorney appointed by the governor, one appointed by the chief justice of the V.I. Supreme Court and one appointed by the Legislature.
How absolutely unsurprising that these men and women cannot "move forward" and are "deadlocked" with a 13 -13 vote even when all the flaws in the document they have previously created have been pointed out to them.
It is obvious that these people have, time and again, WASTED the People's time and money as well as having their own personal agenda's which does not include fairness and equal treatment for all.
Thank Goodness the creators of the U.S. Constitution were not of their ilk!
It is SHAMEFUL and ABHORRENT CONDUCT!
For the most part Alana, very well said... A 13-13 gridlock shows that there are those within that convention for the Constitution of the U.S.V.I. who favour discrimination and segregation instead of brotherhood and unification...
These are the elite-minded, those who deem themselves entitled, superior above others and inferior to none, but in all actuality they are they inferior ones with extremely demented minds...
These same people are for the most part responsible for the bankrupting the territory in all aspects, and show no semblance of shame, humility or humanity when placed before an international audience...
These are the rotten apples that spoil the entire barrel and for generations to come if this allowed to continue... I hope that this one dies, until a body of wise, sensible, mature, upright, humane, civic-minded individuals come forth to represent the people in a convention that does draft a document worthy of the U.S.V.I. and its people...
Is the constitution being written for the U.S. or for the Virgin Islands. The United States already have a constitution. Alan let the people of the Virgin Islands have their own constitution and stop supporting the United States keeping the islands as colonies. Yea as you say "Thank Goodness the creators of the U.S. Constitution were not of their ilk" These same great thinker who wrote the U.S. constitution have you and every other black listed as less that a man. What do you have to say about that Ms. Alan. 2/3 of a man.
Fine Levin40, but if they're going to write a Constitution for the U.S.V.I., not the V.I., so stop doing your editing on that one, 'cause from now until the cows come home it's the United States Virgin Islands, unless they're bought by another superpower or seek their independence which based upon how they run things, they're NOT ready for; the Constitution of the U.S.V.I. MUST reflect to the major points and ideals of the Constitution of the United States whether you like it or not!!!
As for the 2/3 of a man, you have a point there, but you're still lacking... At least, although borne out of ignorance, there were obvious external differences between the writers of the U.S. Constitution and that 2/3 man... To be clear, white skin, black skin... But now, you tell me, what do you have to say when you have a set of black people seeking to discriminate against not just white people, but against another set of black people as well just for sociopolitical and financial gain?!? So I guess, you're in favour of apartheid too...
That's the crux of this proposed document, for it does not represent the people of the U.S.V.I. justly and fairly, nor does it respect certain laws of the United States of America... It was written without any wisdom, conscience, love or respect for any of the people it's supposed to represent and protect... So to wrap things up, the Constitution of the U.S.V.I. is indeed in a sense written for the U.S.A. for the "V.I." which it owns... Alana is not off the mark with their post, but you are, you can't expect to want and take the federal government's money or other benefits year after year and not want to abide by the laws of the country that owns you Levin40...
@ DarkShinobi
Its the federal government that went out and purchased those islands. Therefore, they have the responsibility for there up keep. And yes they should expect and take every federal dollar and benefit that the U.S. provides. Its the U.S. responsibility to do so. When one buys a house a car etc; they are expected to take care of and maintain what they purchase. The Virgin islands did not ask the U.S. government to purchase those islands they are the ones who decided to make the purchase. Therefore its The U.S. responsibility to provide money and whatever else is needed to make things better for the people that they found there when they wrote the check. All of those other blacks people that u speak about have their own constitution in their country where they came from and they are so quick to tell you that things that happens in the Virgin Islands could not happen in their place of birth. How does this constitution discriminate against all white people? Are there no whites that are native born or has been living on those islands for generations. Are there no white that are currently living on the islands having white children that are native born???? And yes the 2/3 of a man still exist in the U.S. constitution. DO I see the pot calling the kettle black here.
What about those whites and blacks who are not native born, whether they be foreign or domestic, but have lived in the territory for decades as well as their children?!? That initial document does indeed discriminate against white people and even the "native-born" ones too, I think you failed to read the document in question, especially the dual citizen bit in there and the public offices related to it or the tax exemptions for those born into the "native-born" bracket of the U.S.V.I., but bravo for answering the question without even knowing it... For it goes even further to place the people into a sort of caste or feudal system with the lion's share of special sociopolitical and financial perks for those born into that ultra-elite bracket and the others left little or no perks at all... As for the money and benefits; the federal government does indeed provide this to the U.S.V.I., go ask your leadership why they consistently year after year fail to claim it and/or use it when given, to benefit the people of the U.S.V.I., go and ask them what's bloody up with that... It's a fact that they do laze around and mismanage the money given to the U.S.V.I. and send it back when they fail to use it or can't figure out how to steal it; you really need to get out more though and do your research... It is clear however that you're living in a past that's long gone and dealt with, therefore a personal issue for you and those like you alone, but not for those who want the U.S.V.I. to move onward, forward and upward... Because they are a number of you in the U.S.V.I. who want to sit back and take, take, take and not do any of the work to get to a better place and have the gall to call it "V.I. Pride"... Where's the pride in being a bunch of lazy, ludicrous, lawless beggars?!? So are you placing yourself in the category of mere property or rather livestock?!? Because it does sound like that you do consider yourself as 2/3 of a man or less than that, if so, then seek out your massah... Although, even livestock change their surroundings for the better to the best of their ability even though they're owned, so what are you Levin40?!? "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country", your post illustrates the current situation and mindset of those that have been and are in power within the U.S.V.I. and that's why it is such an extremely deplorable state... Oh and one more thing, quite a number of those countries who have their "own" Constitution are indeed independent nations, , so it's not the same thing, and do please read up on your history, there's a reason why the United States purchased the Danish West Indies... The "V.I." as you call it, is very still a dependent nation and MUST abide by the laws of the land, namely the United States of America and it's Constitution MUST be written to reflect as such... Bark all you want, but that's the GOD-given truth... Once again, you can't expect to take the money and benefits of the United States federal government and do whatever the devil you want, that's a judicial fact... Or are you saying that the President of the United States, The Congress of the United States and the United States Department of Justice are all wrong?!? Sadly for you Levin40, there's no pot calling the kettle black here, just a free and living soul, speaking out against inequality and injustice amongst their people - white and black, native and non-native included, but I would suggest getting your eyes checked...
@DarkShinobi
Those whites and blacks who are not native born have their constitution where they were born to protect them. My question to you DarkShinobi is. Can a native born Virgin Islander run for the president of the U.S.? Reseach that and come with the answer. As I said before and I am sticking with what I have said. The U.S. purchase those islands therefore it's their responsibility to provide financial support for them. I really don't care about the reason why the islands were puchase the fact remains they were purchase therefore the U.S. has a responsibility to take care of what they have bought. So don't come here with you nonsense that they are taking U.S. money. Would you consider the country of Isreal in the same light that you are placing the Virgin Islands? They recieves billion of free money every single year from the U.S. government. Would you say that the people of Isreal are beggars and sitting with their waiting for hand outs. And please don't bring the defense crap into play either.
!!!WOW!!! I'm really not surprised at your retort Levin40, and you're still missing the point... Now what happens to those same people who you claim to have the Constitution of their homelands protecting them that are legal immigrants and citizens of the United States?!? Which Constitution takes preeminence then?!? What of the children of those people born here, left in the lower levels of citizenship in the U.S.V.I. at the hands of those who are supposed to be their leaders?!? How about those children who have parents and other family members born on either side of the tracks, which side should they choose?!? Or if they were to become famous, are they supposed forsake and disrespect their parents who are not native-born and their genealogical heritage and fully embrace the some sick idea of native-born status for the sake of sociopolitical and financial perks if they are to receive any at all because they were born in the U.S.V.I.?!? Tsk, tsk, tsk, my, my, my; remember now charity begins at home...
Does Puerto Rico worry about running or voting for the President of the United States or do they govern themselves sensibly, invest in viable pursuits and provide sound, productive advancements for the people of Puerto Rico... To answer your question about running for President of the United States though, I wonder, where was Senator John McCain born?!?
Again, the United States does set aside money for the U.S.V.I. most of which is left on the table because you have utterly inept leadership... But it seems you want to wait for the big pay cheque and not do any work at all; 'cause if the federales side step your leadership, you and others like you will bitch and moan about it, so again ask your loser leadership why they're not claiming those funds that have been set aside for them or even using the funds given to them appropriately...
Unlike your lazy leadership, the leadership of Puerto Rico do research and submit the necessary paperwork for the funds they need for their various municipal projects and they're not against working closely with the federal agencies either - which is a key factor here, so they move onward, forward and upward, but you seem to want to laze around and cock up while taking the money and doing nothing with it, except figuring out ways to steal it without being held accountable...
If you want to go nearly halfway around the world and poke Israel, history bears the answer, but unlike the U.S.V.I., the nation of Israel is indeed quite productive and has quite a lot going on there that does garner interest, what does the U.S.V.I. have right now; other than an extreme sense of false-pride, rampant bad-mindedness, outright wickedness and utter ignorance along with it's ever increasing side-dish known as crime... Yet, the money is still there, your complacent, airhead leadership don't research and submit the necessary paperwork for it nor do they know how to negotiate to get it either... So please, spare me your Israel nonsense you're just bloody trying to grasp at straws now, while clutching your chest as you tread water... Kind of sad you don't care to know the reason for the United States purchase of the Danish West Indies, it really speaks volumes actually...
I must be incredibly stupid. I thought that if the delegates were shown what areas were needing attention, even the beer drinking pig would be able to make the necessary changes. Guess the "racist rulers" wanna keep things under their thumbs until the VI is another Haiti. Gonna happen and soon!!
Blue_Mt_Ghost, I agree with you about the pig and about the "racist rulers"... But you're not "incredibly stupid", you're just in an extreme state of shock and disbelief... I for one didn't expect any different from those ignorant, bull-headed, fiendish, foolish bigots who keep holding the U.S.V.I. back, especially in getting its own Constitution...