75.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesIt's Time to Enforce Zoning and Noise Laws

It's Time to Enforce Zoning and Noise Laws

Dear Source:

It’s a terrible thing when one has to force one’s own government to enforce their own laws.
The situation with people keeping chickens and roosters illegally in residentially zoned areas and all the free roaming chickens and roosters that are infesting our once quiet and peaceful neighborhoods has reached epic proportions and affects the overall quality of our lives and our livelihoods.
It is difficult to rent or sell a property that has chickens and roosters roaming the neighborhood or sounding off during a showing.
It is difficult to appease those Villa rental guests that have spent their hard-earned dollars to enjoy a much deserved vacation with chickens scratching around in the yard as well as the rooster(s) crowing constantly all day and night. They won’t be return guests.
I doubt they will write a wonderful testimonial to enhance that particular Villas guest book. They certainly will not recommend that Villa or Rental Property to prospective guests, their friends or family.
To have so many people being inundated with these feral chickens and roosters on all 3 islands with nowhere to turn for legal help to get them removed is beyond belief. It is no wonder that we feel frustrated with our present senators, government administration and agencies.
The Agricultural Department, who I was told by DPNR, is the responsible entity for the removal of livestock and fowl on residential property as well as picking up roaming livestock, ignores all calls and inquiries and never, ever responds.
I and many others have called them numerous times, regarding different situations, have left messages for both Mr. George and Commissioner Petersen, have asked about the possibility of obtaining traps, when they become available, asked to be put on a list if there were none available at the time, e-mailed and appeared in person. No one there has so much as returned a single phone call. They are a joke! This department needs a complete revision with new people hired to replace all of those presently employed that are unwilling to respond and do the jobs they are paid to do.
I got no response from VIWMA nor did any help ensue by contacting the St. Thomas Administrator, Barbara Petersen.
Yesterday, I forwarded to Gov John DeJongh e-mails to various agencies that had been implored for help to no avail.
I do not know whether I shall get any response from him.
I am in contact with several other private citizens, presently, that have the same dilemma.
We are planning on organizing a petition to require the government to enforce our laws and appoint a specific agency to do so, that will actually do so. We are exhausted by the constant runaround and the "not my job, mon!" attitude that is prevelant in these agencies.
Everything else done by individuals has failed, so far.
The only Dept. that did anything was DPNR who was only able to cite the owner of the property where the chickens and roosters were being illegally kept, twice, with Notice of Violations. Then it goes to the Attorney General’s Office for prosecution which will probably be a small fine/slap on the wrist for someone who I have come to learn is in violation on another residential property he owns. Guess what? The chickens and roosters are still in place. Our neighborhoods are still besieged, months and years later.
It has to stop! Those few who flaunt the law should not be able to torment entire neighborhoods with the relentless noise of crowing roosters and chickens and those raising roosters as fighting cocks.
According to the zoning laws here in the USVI, livestock and fowl are allowed to be kept on properties zoned for Agriculture only! There are no exceptions, so why is no-one enforcing the law?
Are you tired of listening to roosters crowing all day and night under your window?
Alana Mawson
St. Thomas
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.

2 COMMENTS