We continue to fritter our time and future away while our economy goes up in smoke. We have a jewelry company wanting to open and provide 600 jobs now, but the Virgin Islands Industrial Development Commission can only stand idly by. It is unable to act because there is not a sufficient number of commission members to take action legally. This is deplorable.
Virgin Islanders now find themselves in the same position the Romans found themselves in with Nero fiddling while Rome was consumed by fire. A jewelry manufacturer is ready to begin and will employ a large number of people but cannot get started until the IDC acts on its application. The jewelry operation is slated to locate in the St. Croix Industrial Park but is being forced to wait until this government eventually decides to do its part.
The governor and all officials in Government House have known of the vacancies on the IDC board since last year. Yet, Governor Turnbull has not sent one nomination to the Senate for confirmation. I urge the governor to name some IDC members immediately. Even if the nominations were sent to the Senate today, the confirmation process — background investigations, public hearing and Senate vote — would take at least a month. This is too long to wait when the territory needs money and the people need jobs now.
Why do we not have a sense of urgency regarding our financial crisis? The people of this territory deserve better treatment from their elected officials. I plead with the governor to act with deliberate speed, not waste a second.
Sen. Violet Anne Golden
Editor's note: Sen. Golden chairs the Senate Rules Committee, which must act on Government House nominations before they go to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.
