June 2, 2007 — The views and opinions were as diverse as the people on the stage of the Reichhold Center for the Arts at a forum Friday evening leading up to the June 12 special election for delegates to the 5th Constitutional Convention.
Potential constitutional delegates from the St. Thomas-St. John district were each given a chance to make introductory comments and respond to questions generated by the League of Women Voters, the Constitution 2008 Education project and by members of the audience.
That audience was small, but steadily trickled in as the evening proceeded, never rising above about 200 people. They trickled back out as the questions were repeated over the three-hour forum.
After brief introductory remarks by UVI President LaVerne Ragster, the questions and answers proceeded. With 24 candidates on stage, even one-minute answers from each of them made for a lengthy round of questioning.
Each was given 90 seconds for opening comments. These were followed by six rounds of questions and closing remarks. Questions dealt with preparedness for the convention and ability to meet a yearlong commitment. Most had reviewed the previous constitutional documents and said they were more than willing to work diligently towards finally coming up with a successful constitution.
There were questions on approaches towards consensus building, forms of government, environmental concerns and each candidate’s overall vision of the territory and how that should guide the constitution.
The hot-button issues of native identity and the current status of the territory in relation to the United States were openly discussed and gave strong indications that the convention will have to hammer out some tough agreements. The candidates had divergent opinions as to whether or not these were even germane to the constitution.
There were challenges from the younger candidates, like Julia Jn-Baptiste and Alma Francis, to look beyond the faces and histories of some on stage.
James Bernier Jr. said, “For over 30 years we have been waiting. Four conventions and we still have no constitution. It is time for fresh faces.”
Still, there were many others like Robert Kunkel, Kathleen MacKay, Thomas Moore, Tom Bolt and Charles Turnbull who each brought years of experience and expertise to the table.
The one thing that all the potential delegates agreed upon was the need for the public to take part in the process, to get out and vote and to remain involved throughout the entire convention.
On June 12 each district will elect 13 delegates to the convention; however in the St. Thomas/St. John district, two of the elected district representatives must be from St. John. Voters will select two at-large delegates in the St. Croix district and two in the St. Thomas/St. John district.
For more information on the Constitutional Convention, visit the Constitutional Convention website or the Election Systems of the Virgin Islands' website at www.vivote.gov.
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