Dear Source:
We should acknowledge our reality, the reality of these US Virgin Islands if we are to move forward and make progress towards a better state; we need to consider certain factors. There are different currents, different political currents that are seeking to become the mainstream in our political development. Currently the legislature is advancing a constitutional convention to write a constitution written exclusively by Virgin Islanders, even as we remain an unincorporated territory of the United States of America. We have had at least four earlier attempts to write a local constitution, they have all failed to accomplish their goals, winning the approval of local electors and the US Congress.
It is my studied opinion that we must acknowledge the presence of all the various groups that currently make up our society, our community. We need to include all those persons who have come to make up our population and allow them to make their contribution to our development. We are a community that includes persons of different ethnic and racial groups who are able to make positive contributions to our development.
The politicians, the political parties will do well to acknowledge the presence in our community of all the various groups that make up contemporary Virgin Islands and include them in their activities.
We have three official political parties in the US Virgin Islands, namely The ICM Party of the VI, The Republican Party and The Democratic Party. We also have an undefined political group recognized as The No-party. I am registered in The ICM Party of the VI, as such, I have been very active as a member of that party. I was attracted to the party based on my reading of its platform from which I gleaned its political philosophy, which is closest to my own. Unfortunately, not one of the three parties has put forward their position on the proposed constitution. None of the three parties has put out a position paper on some of the most pressing issues that are to be addressed politically. That reality does not reflect well on our political parties to which the populace looks for leadership.
I have advocated within the ICM Party that we put forward our position on all of the issues of concern to our populace. Issues such as a defined status that recognizes our inalienable right for self-determination. I have proposed that the ICM Party advocate for the status of a "Free Associated State" with the United States of America. I have proposed that we choose the municipal system of government for our government over the present centralized system. I hope the leaders of the party would accept these challenges of leading the community in building a government that is responsible and responsive to the needs of the community. That we remain true to the motto of the party: Freedom, Justice and Progress.
J. J. Estemac
St. Thomas
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