Dear Source,
In response to Dr. Bucher's editorial published in the St. Croix Source on January 12, 2004, I offer the following commentary.
The Northshore of St Croix is way past fed up with the government of the USVI. As substantial taxpayers, we would like to see something for our
efforts.
Two years ago, we had the governor and his entourage of approximately 50 people over to St Croix for a meeting on the North Shore. Pamela Richards attended the free (for the politicians) lunch and videotaped the event. Of course, this video was never aired, as all comments were addressed negatively to the government and in particular to the VIPD. It seems the VIPD did not know where the North Shore is located. Naturally, the buck was passed for the duration of the free food.
After the governor and his flunkies turned the floor over to the VIPD, their first excuse for not responding to gunpoint rapes and robberies was
that there is no cell phone service on the North Shore, so they could not possibly have heard of these assaults. However, frequently our landlines work so that was not a legitimate excuse.
After hearing some of many recent personal stories of crimes, these officials finally concluded that they would have to initiate a police substation in the area, for which of course they could not find funding. We gave them a 1995 map of the island (the last one available in print) with arrows pointing to where they need to be. A substation was immediately provided for them, and the furniture donated and delivered to them before 9
a.m. the next day. They were given a dedicated phone number as well. All of this was done immediately to preclude any more excuses, and was done at the expense of the taxpayers who had already paid for these services. Go figure.
For approximately two weeks, this seemed to have solved the problem. The police presence was noted and appreciated. Local business owners gladly offered free meals to the officers, and the crime rate subsided. At least the police department now knew how to get to the North Shore, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.
However, it seems that the police became bored there (one more excuse – could they be bored because the crime had temporarily stopped?) It has become a rarity again to see law enforcement on the North Shore. Even using land line telephones, they do not respond to calls. Reports are never filed in the police department, even when names, license plate numbers, addresses and even the phone numbers of the culprits are given. It seems that our only recourse is to take matters into our own anarchic hands. Is this what we want?
You decry colonialism, yet continue to beg for a Federal takeover to happen. Can you put your dope aside for a moment and think straight? The public would appreciate a moment of clarity.
George Tiblier
St. Croix
Editors note:We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e_mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
