Dear Source,
On Feb. 6, 1995 the results of the referendum on casino gambling was issued by the election system of the Virgin Islands. The results are as follows; there are 24,416 eligible voters in the district of St. Croix, out of that 16,144 appeared at the polls. 10,514 people voted on the issue with 446 absentee voters at the poll. Only 6,073 voted yes and 4,610 voted no.
These numbers point to the fact that only 26 percent of the eligible voters responded to this St. Croix opinion poll on casino gambling and voted yes . With out even reaching close to 50 percent plus one eligible voters, it was put into law. Not only that, this legislation has the ability for casino gambling to occur on St. Thomas after five years.
If you compare the St. Croix results of the reduction in the size of the senate, the numbers are about the same with a slight increase. Question being, "should the legislature petition Congress to amend the revised organic act to reduce the size of the Legislature?" 27 percent of eligible St. Croix voters voted (key word) yes. Territory wide, the results are just about under 1.75 times greater for a reduction.
At what point or amount of votes ,does an elected official, listen to and address the needs and concerns of his or her constituency? Power to the people or to just a few?
Jason Budsan
St.Thomas
