Open forum

Winston Nugent says he is “writing this letter to save the exposition of the Virgin Islands' cultural and literary arts as it relates to the imposition of a DUNS number and SAM.GOV.”

Moleto Smith Jr. writes about the recent funeral he attended of a man who was “gunned down about 3 weeks ago in Hospital Ground.” He believes that the entire community needs to commit to curtailing the violence.

Jeanette Smith-Barry – a former principal, a retired superintendent of schools and a member of the 19th V.I. Board of Education – points out the many reasons why Bill 33-0019, which would change the school calendar in the Virgin Islands, is not such a good idea.

Khnuma Simmonds has an idea that there is a connection between ending domestic violence and learning how to dance with a partner. Sheis the executive director of V.I. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council (DVSAC), a board member of Dancing Classrooms of the Virgin Islands, and the founder of SoKh Caribbean Dance Fitness

The Virgin Islands Department of Education issues a statement on its support for the rallies being held by the St. Thomas-St. John Federation of Teachers and the St. Croix Federation of Teachers, who are asking for more funding for education.

The two senators representing Louisiana in Washington D.C. say that millions of dollars are owed to Louisiana contractors who helped the V.I. after hurricanes in 2017. They want FEMA and the Government of the Virgin Islands to finally pay off the debt.

The West Indian Company Ltd. (WICO) is one of only three companies to be in operation since Denmark owned the territory.

The St. Croix Chamber of Commerce lays out the history of WAPA mismanagement during 2019. It says it is opposed to the V.I. Water and Power Authority’s base rate increase and that the private sector is not capable of bailing out WAPA.

The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce gives the reasons it supports the cannabis bill currently in the Virgin Islands Legislature.

Mary L. Moorhead, activist, has written a letter to the Legislature about the usual district unfairness that allows St. Croix District to end up with many fewer cannabis dispensaries than the St. Thomas-St. John District.