Dear Source,
Again, I am writing begging the voters of the Virgin Islands to wake up to the crisis that is facing us and get rid of the dead weight that is bringing down our government and our islands. I am one small person in the tourism business, trying to make a rental villa on St. Croix become a successful venture and trying to get vacationers to come and visit the island that I love so much.
My insurance premiums are 10 times what I pay for more coverage on a larger home in Chicago; my home and guests have been robbed; potential guests continually tell me that they are afraid to come to the Virgin Islands and that they cannot afford to pay the unbelievably high airfare that is being charged.
I know there are many others in the same position I am in. I have not even had an inquiry about renting my property for months now. My insurance has been renewed, for which I am grateful, but now I have to find the money to pay the premiums somewhere else, since there is no income from my property.
Please educate yourselves about the candidates who are running for office this election year; there are some great choices for governor who seem to understand how dire the state of the territory is. Vote for policy, not for the person who throws the best party with the best food. Vote for the future of the children who are not being educated now, for the health care system which is a joke, for the revitalization of businesses which are staying away from the islands because of the high cost of insurance.
We all need to stand up and tell the crooks in office now that we are not stupid and they need to go before it is too late for all of us. The free ride is over and government which only takes advantage of its people while telling them it is for their own good will not be tolerated. Good luck to all of us.
Sue Seibel
Chicago, Ill. and St. Croix
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