June 4, 2007 – I am a candidate for the Fifth Constitutional Convention because I understand the issues and I share the values, experiences and sentiments of the community. I also have the skills and training to assist in drafting and proposing a constitution that will be acceptable to the voters in 2008.
I was born and raised on St. Croix and graduated from St. Joseph High School. After obtaining B.A. in Economics from The George Washington University, I returned to the Virgin Islands and worked at the Department of Finance and the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue in St. Thomas. In 1986 I was awarded a law degree from Rutgers University and returned home to practice law with Attorney Maria Tankenson Hodge, in the firm now known as Hodge and Francois. In 1999, I started my own practice and later merged it with Attorney Derek Hodge, who happens to be my cousin, to form Mackay and Hodge, LLC.
As a native of the Virgin Islands, I have a deep understanding of the issues that face us, including the strong feelings of many members of our community as it relates to native rights. But, I also understand that many others, who though not born here, are Virgin Islanders nonetheless. As a result of my 20+ years practicing law in St. Thomas, I have the legal training and experience to assist in creating a document that can address the sentiments of many without abusing the rights of anyone. As a certified mediator I will use my mediation skills to help foster agreement among the delegates so that we can propose a constitution that will be adopted by the citizens in 2008.
There are many provisions that can and should be included in the Constitution. Landowners' rights, government reform, and cultural preservation are among the most important issues. An issue that has received much attention is political status. Adopting a constitution now, however, will not prohibit us from changing our political status at a later date. Therefore, I recommend that the Virgin Islands grasp this opportunity to adopt a constitution. Should the Virgin Islands ever decide to change political status in the future, our Constitution can be revised accordingly at that time.
It is imperative that we adopt a constitution so that we can strengthen the framework of our Government and improve the well-being of our residents and citizens. The success of the Convention will depend to a large extent on the ability of the delegates to understand the issues, to debate, and to compromise. I believe it is important for all delegates to reach a consensus on the major issues so that the voters will accept the Constitution in 2008. I am prepared to work hard to make this Convention a success, and I have the skills to make a worthwhile and valuable contribution. I am also committed to work diligently after the Convention to help promote adoption of the Constitution.
