A chronological log of the homicides recorded in 2012, with statistics broken down by island. The Source does…
The V.I. Police Department has a theme song, "Don't Run, Don't Hide," written by local musicians Fusion Band for use in the government television channel documentary, "V.I. Cops."
Today I met Mohommad. He worries about losing his business to Home Depot. Tonight there are many teens that worry about losing their life on a dance floor, a random shooting, or a revenge killing. A tourist thinks they will be shot or stabbed while minding their own business. I worry that the potential of this island will go to waste, and its worthy inhabitants with it. I'll go to church tomorrow, and most of the pews will be empty. Yet I live next to a bar, as I type, it is full. Killing the pain for the next 5 hours? As the Fed prints more money, the price of crude increases, forcing WAPA to raise rates, draining hope and dollars from us Cruzians. Ninty-five percent of us our good people, the other 4% have lost all hope, the remaining 1% are pure evil. Who are you? And more importantly, what are we to do? Here is may humble advise, havin lived through many times and experiences: place your hope and your life in Allah, Christ, Rasta, or God's hands. Not in the hands of depire, alcohol, or shutting the community out. A simple beep in traffic is music to my ears! Someone lets me merge, or get out of the way of traffic when turning right. We are a small community, we can kill each other or build each up, we can be a shining light to the world! The tourists from the states look to us for a place to escape the consumerist culture that is slowing consuming them. We live in a speck of the ocean that can prosper if we support each other. We need to support the businesses and people that own here, and be nice to those who spend there money here. Hate will tear us all down, love and support are a nice starting point, but we need to give these young kids hope, fatherly love and employment opportunities - and for them, they need to start with simple jobs and earn an honest living. It is better then a street purchased gun and drug enhanced sex with partners not of their own. So it starts with me, I will spend my money with local businesses - and let them know I support them. I will beep often and praise Christ for the day we have been gifted. I refuse to partake in the temporary pleasure to escape the greatest (potential) place on this earth. Won't you join me as we start a new day tomorrow? Hope to greet you in praise tomo
rrow.
This is my first posting on this website. I currently live in Kentucky but my wife and are retiring next year and moving to St. Croix where we have bought property. I have been a police officer for 33 years and am currently the Chief of Police in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
I agree with the posting from VI Leadership Plan. In any community there is only a very tiny percentage of the people that cause almost all of the criminal activity. The community (the large majority of us) can have a great impact on the rate of local criminal activity. We need to have no tolerence for crime and always notify the local police and assist them with any and all information that we have. The large majority of people (on this small island we are actually all neighbors) can control criminal activity to a great deal. We also need not fear the small population of criminals because if we take care of our neighbors they have no control over we the people.
When the good people in communities take control the criminal element has three choices, change their way of life, become incarcerated, or leave. All of these would benefit the community to a greater or lesser degree.
My husband and I were looking forward to moving to St. Croix but after reading this post I am wondering if that is a good idea? Is it dangerous? We are all for supporting local small business and preserving natural beauty as it is the reason we moved to here to Oregon many years ago.
One of the reasons we were considering St. Croix is because it is a U.S. Virgin Island and we assumed it would be safe. We are looking to spend some time on an island. We love nature and the beach but now I wonder if we would be at risk if visiting or living there? I was recently told by a friend tht visits St. Croix that they do not like outsiders, is this true? If at any point we look for housing or work there would we be discriminated against because we are not locals? I would hope that is not the case.
Is the church empty because people are afraid, or because they have fallen away from the church? Sounds like a very sad situation. Violence never solves anything...so I wholeheartedly agree with your post. If you want to preserve local business the best way you can do so is by being loyal supporters.
I live in St. Thomas but go over to St. Croix all the time and I have never had issues there. The islands are just like everywhere else where you have to be aware that there are bad areas as well as the good. Anytime that the country faces economic hardship, crime tends to go up, the islands are no exception to this.
With regards to the outsider comment that is a toughie. The islands are very transient with people coming and going all the time. It is very different living in the islands. Some people adjust just fine, others last a couple of months and then move back. It is partially because of that there is some attitude about outsiders. People are waiting to see if you are going to stay and how you adjust ( at least this is what I have seen in my 16 years in the islands ).
Thanks for the thoughtful reply:) It sounds like the best thing to do is go with an open mind and be respectful of island life and locals.