Dear Source,
Yet again, the powers that be are practicing their "reactive" craft when it comes to dealing with the business of tourism. Is anyone paying attention to the deafening roar that crime is driving the lifeblood of the Virgin Islands away?? Article after article, letter after letter, the accounts of visitors being subjected to the actions of the thugs that are allowed to roam freely around the islands – the message is the same: visitors love the place, but are afraid to come.
I hope the candidates for the next election are paying close attention. Especially in the post 9-11 world, people want and need to feel safe when they take a vacation with their family to escape the worries and pressures of their everyday lives. If we cannot provide visitors with a real sense of safety, we might as well close the airport and put for sale signs on all the vacation properties and call it a day. And it needs to be done immediately, not after more cruise ships refuse to come. We need to be pro-active when it comes to this huge source of income for our islands which, like it or not, provides a better quality of life for everyone. I pray someone is listening …
Sue Seibel
Chicago, Ill. / St. Croix
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