Dear Source,
St. Croix along with its sister islands St. Thomas and St. John needs a better-structured government tree. There's nothing grossly wrong with the current set-up; however, placing a few key government officials would not only make sure issues are addressed but ensure issues are not forgotten or intentionally discarded without proper attention.
Example: if each island had its own mayor, he or she would be able to give 100 percent of time to the assigned island needs, improvement and industry. The governor is doing his job, attending to the U.S. Virgin Islands; however, it is virtually impossible for him to address and implement each island's issues and future.
Let's do a little contrasting. Households that have one parent and three children cannot give 100 percent of their time to all three children. Yes, there are other government officials. But, just as there are schools, libraries, and other help for a single parent, that parent must still provide an enormous amount of time with each child to ensure proper success. If that time is not provided, large gaps are left open for crime, less learning, and so forth. It's the same with each island.
Issues
Sanitation
In no way can St. Croix employ the same strategy as St. Thomas. St. Croix has Hovensa, St. Thomas does not. If St. Croix were to look for items within waste management of industries it could create an income of more than $100,000 per quarter or even per month. Within waste management, categories exist, such as: waste reduction, do's and don'ts — which includes enforced fines, commercial, residential, industrial, recycling, etc.
Technology
Bring computer industries to the islands. The island could offer to pay for certifications for a group of people, or to help structure a large financial printing company. Leasing land to companies is another idea.
I'm not saying these things are not being addressed or were never suggested. What I am saying is we need someone to stay on top of it for each island and not have each island bickering about who got what to the governor. Instead, they could pressure the mayor or whoever and he/she would pay closer attention to island improvement. We need to focus on short-term as well as long-term goals, island beauty as well as residential beauty. Focusing on the little things cannot help but make the bigger things better. Of course, issues and problems will increase, but won't it increase whether we do something or nothing? If we don't start, we will never accomplish progress and a better lifestyle.
Vaughn B. Jeffers
Lakemoor, Ill.
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