Dear Source:
One very important question to those in charge of governing our Islands: How can St. John be continually put under the "St. John-St. Thomas" category in all aspects of representation including voting/ elections; distribution of services (which I must add are sorely lacking on this Island!) then conveniently rate St. John at a land tax rate of $360.00/square ft. while St/. Thomas is $93.00 per square ft. and St. Croix $89.00 per square ft? How come the island that gets the least representation; the least work on it's roads; services or solutions to it's problems is getting land taxed in this manner?
Something is very wrong and very unfair here for those of us who love St. John and have had no control over the real estate prices that have evolved. We are not trying to "flip a piece of real estate". These are our humble homes and most of us have had to sacrifice a lot and put many years of "sweat equity" into building the homemade homes that we have. To price us in the same category as high-end Villa Rental selling in 2006 is inappropriate and absolutely unfair.
While our population is small-we do need a voice and some rights as taxpaying citizens! Do any of you really understand how hard it is to buy reasonably priced foods here to feed families? Understand the cost of having to barge over to St. Thomas for purchases because they are not sold here? The price of gas to drive our vehicles? The costs to rent a place to live? The suffering that occurs to the native St. Johnian when builders are allowed to break all of the laws yet continue their projects as in the case of Sirenusa? And with these St. John citizens frustrating day to day challenges-when we receive so little as citizens-our last Legislative Senators have the audacity to give themselves a 31% raise in sneakily passing Bill #6905 and what reward would this be for? What are we on St. Johnians paying taxes for? Please enlighten me.
Most of our government services at best are inadequate. SOMETHING has to give. The systems in which we are set up to "serve the people and their problems" does not work. Those who have changed the "St. John-St. Thomas " in the midst of this property tax assessment best take a good look at the dire consequences for the ordinary citizen who lives here. Delegates who are writing our new constitution- remember us on St. John. It does not seem that anyone else seems to.
Bonny Corbeil
St. John.
Editor's 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.
