In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, justice is held captive by the chains of political patronage. The office of the attorney general meant to uphold the rule of law, has become a pawn in the game of political manipulation. It is time to shatter these chains and usher in a new era of integrity and accountability by electing an attorney general who answers to the people, not political agendas.
Since the resounding mandate expressed in the 1998 referendum, where an overwhelming 73.76 percent of the electorate demanded the transition to an elected attorney general, the call for change has echoed through the corridors of power. However, bureaucratic hurdles and legislative inertia have stymied the implementation of this democratic mandate, leaving the will of the people unfulfilled.
As the constitutional convention unfolds and the people of the Virgin Islands grapple with self-determination, there is an undeniable impatience simmering beneath the surface. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once eloquently stated, “There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience. Then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.” These words resonate deeply with the people of the Virgin Islands, who have long endured injustices perpetuated by a system that grants the governor unchecked control over the attorney general.
An elected attorney general brings numerous benefits to the Virgin Islands. Firstly, it ensures accountability to the people, as the attorney general is directly elected by the citizens and, therefore, beholden to their interests, not political agendas. Secondly, it promotes transparency and independence in the administration of justice, as the attorney general can act free from undue political influence or pressure. Thirdly, it fosters public trust and confidence in the justice system, as citizens have a direct say in choosing the individual responsible for upholding the rule of law and protecting their rights.
The unethical demands placed upon attorney generals under the DeJongh and Bryan administrations, particularly regarding giving Jeffrey Epstein preferential treatment, only underscore the urgent need for justice to be independent. Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, the author of legislation to allow Virgin Islanders to elect their attorney general, has championed this cause against a backdrop of political resistance. Most recently, her attempt to special order the direct election of the attorney general failed in the March 25th session, and instead, the body voted to send it to committee. It is a glaring contradiction that while the Senate has expedited the passage of trivial bills through the special order process, legislation aimed at depoliticizing the office of the attorney general was sent to committee, delayed and diluted by political maneuvering.
The incumbent Democrats, fearful of upsetting the delicate balance within their own party, have shied away from confronting this critical issue head-on. The disparity between the Virgin Islands and the majority of U.S. states is stark and unacceptable. While 45 out of 50 states have embraced the democratic principle of electing their attorney generals, the Virgin Islands remain ensnared in a web of political patronage, where justice is compromised for the sake of political expediency.
The fate of justice in the Virgin Islands hangs in the balance, and the time for action is now. Let us seize this historic opportunity to break free from the chains of political patronage, empower the people to choose their own guardian of justice, and usher in a new era of integrity and accountability in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Anything less would be a betrayal of the democratic ideals upon which our nation was founded.–
“When you get, give and when you learn, teach.”
