In her bi-weekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
As a Virgin Islander, I have seen firsthand how the struggle for land has shaped our history. But in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, that struggle has intensified. These storms didn’t just devastate homes and infrastructure—they opened the door for outside developers to swoop in and seize prime land, leaving many of us displaced or on the brink of losing our ancestral lands. For us, this isn’t just a fight to rebuild; it’s a fight to preserve our survival, identity, and homeland’s future.
Nowhere is this more evident than on my beloved St. John, where the encroachment of the Virgin Islands National Park has pushed local families to the margins. In 1956, the U.S. Congress limited the park’s holdings on St. John to 9,485 acres. But today, the park’s footprint has grown to 7,259 acres, leaving only 3,015 acres for the people who have lived here for generations. This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about a loss of community, culture, and identity that we may never recover if we don’t act soon.
I remember when we were forced to swap land with the federal government just to build a school for our children. Think about that—a basic necessity, something as fundamental as education, and we had to trade away more of our precious land to get it. This land swap is a painful reminder of our colonial past and how we continue to be at the mercy of outside forces. We are being forced to make impossible trade-offs just to meet basic needs.
But it’s not just St. John. Across the USVI, the devastation from the hurricanes created opportunities for developers to move in and acquire land that locals, often struggling financially, could no longer afford to hold onto. It’s the same story we saw in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Those who could not afford to rebuild were pushed out, and outsiders took over. Now, many of us are witnessing a similar process unfold right here in our islands. Wealthy investors see opportunity in our loss, while Virgin Islanders—who already face economic challenges—are being edged out.
What makes this even worse is the politicization of zoning. In the USVI, all zoning decisions must come before the Senate. Too often, these decisions are not based on what’s best for our communities but on political pressure from developers. This practice, known as spot zoning, allows rapid development in areas that were never meant for such projects, all at the expense of the people who have lived here for generations. Our land is being sold off, and with it, so is our future.
As a Virgin Islander, this cuts deep. We’ve heard it referred to as “climate gentrification.” Natural disasters, worsened by climate change, allow wealthier outsiders to buy up land while locals, many of whom are descendants of those who fought for this land, are left with nothing. The land that holds the stories of our ancestors, that carries the weight of our history, is being sold to the highest bidder.
Land in the Virgin Islands isn’t just an economic asset—it’s part of who we are. It’s sacred. But at the rate things are going, future generations of Virgin Islanders may not have any land left to call their own. What will be left for them? Will they have a place to stand? Or will they only be able to drive by, sail by, or fly over the land that once belonged to their families?
We must take a stand. Virgin Islanders need to protect what little land remains in our hands. This isn’t just about survival—it’s about preserving our way of life. If we don’t act now, our islands could become a playground for the rich, and we’ll be left watching from the sidelines as our culture and identity erode before our eyes.
There are solutions.
1. Creating more community land trusts is one critical way forward. These trusts allow Virgin Islanders to collectively manage and protect land, keeping it in local hands for the benefit of future generations. The St. John Heritage Collective is already doing this, working tirelessly to preserve our identity and culture through land preservation and community-driven development. It’s a model that can—and should—be expanded.
2. We also need to remove zoning decisions from the Senate. Senator Kenneth Gittens has retained ownership of this legislation to do just that for the last three to four Senates. Moving zoning decisions to an independent, professional body would take politics out of the equation and ensure that decisions are made based on what’s best for our communities—not political pressure from developers. It’s time for this legislation to move forward.
3. Additionally, we need affordable housing programs that prioritize locals and strengthen environmental protections that align with our cultural values. By promoting sustainable, low-impact development, we can ensure that our land remains both a natural and cultural treasure for generations to come.
4. Finally, we must create more economic opportunities for local residents, whether through entrepreneurship or cooperative ownership in various industries. We need pathways allowing Virgin Islanders to benefit from our resources instead of watching outsiders reap the rewards.
The time for action is now. If we fail to protect our land today, future generations will inherit nothing. We must rise together, fight for our right to stay, and ensure that the decisions being made benefit all Virgin Islanders—not just the select few. We are the stewards of this land, and it’s our responsibility to protect it—not just for ourselves, but for our children and their children.
This is our home. This is our land. And we must fight to keep it.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
