75.3 F
Cruz Bay
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesConstitutional Convention Seeks Input on Changing V.I. Organic Act

Constitutional Convention Seeks Input on Changing V.I. Organic Act

July 22, 2006 – How would you structure the government under which you live? Virgin Islanders now have a unique opportunity to participate in answering that question.
The territory got a jump start Friday in determining its future as the University of the Virgin Islands announced its public education program in support of the territory's fifth constitutional convention.
UVI President LaVerne E. Ragster welcomed the press and other community representatives to the initiation of the program and the launch of its new Web site, www.itsourfuture.vi, at a Friday morning briefing.
She stressed the significance of the project, reflecting back on the territory's first convention in 1965, when Ragster said she was just entering high school.
Though the previous four attempts – in 1965, 1972, 1978 and 1980 – to replace the Revised Organic Act of 1954 have not succeeded, each has proved useful.
Ragster thanked Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone, who sponsored the initial supporting legislation in 2006, and Sen. Louis Hill, who amended that bill to postpone the convention to 2007 and to provide a $100,000 appropriation to UVI for an education campaign.
She introduced Tregenza A. Roach, USVI Constitution 2008 coordinator, an example "of an informed citizen." Ragster said Roach possesses all the qualities they hope to see in those persons running for delegates to the convention.
Roach, a UVI alumnus, is an active member of the community. An attorney and former Board of Education executive director, he currently teaches several classes in constitutional law, journalism and humanities.
"We are involved in history, in an historic moment," Roach said. "We are privileged to be able to participate; everybody in the territory should be involved."
He pointed out the Web site's dialog section, where people can express their ideas and questions. The site starts the dialog with questions such as: What is the present political status of the Virgin Islands? What is a Constitution? How will the adoption of a Constitution impact my life and the lives of the people around me? Though the site has only been up about 24 hours, Roach said people are already replying to the question, "If you could change one thing about the government, what would you do?"
However, Roach noted the importance of contacting people who are not on the Internet. He asked the group Friday for ideas. He said there will be a series of town meetings, feature lectures, panel discussions and other gatherings. A door-to-door neighborhood campaign was suggested, an idea Roach welcomed, contingent on enough staffing.
Hill, whose legislative amendment moved the convention forward a year, said Friday, "It is my intent that should a constitution be adopted to move [the process] all the way to the U.S. Congress and president, to sponsor a bill for more legislative funding."
Hill was clearly pleased at Friday's event. "I'm excited," he said. "I can't imagine how we could have moved forward the way it was initially set up. It would have been a disaster."
Hill was concerned about the 2006 elections and what he described as the electorate not "having all the information they need to make an educated decision on the issue."
Ragster and Roach said they hoped to get delegates with a good sense of the actual task at hand, with knowledge of V.I. history and an ability to work with others.
Roach's convention 2008 team comprises Marilyn Krigger, Rupert Ross, Paul Leary, Joanne Buzzuto, Malik Sekou, Basil Ottley, Velma Abramson, Patrice Johnson and Raul Carrillo.
There will be 30 delegates for the convention: 13 from the St. Croix district;13 from the St. Thomas-St. John District; and four elected at large, two from each district.
Each delegate must be a U.S. Citizen, a qualified voter and a resident of the Virgin Islands for not less than three years prior to the election date. They must file with the Board of Elections by May 16, 2007.
Roach said, "Sometimes we take our time here for granted. There are so many things we can engage in on a regular basis.
"To be involved in the making of history, think of Rothschild Francis or David Hamilton Jackson – people who wanted things to be better, motivated by the interest in the whole. It's about cohesion, giving value to what you think. I believe no matter what, we have more in common than we do apart."
Regarding the territory's status, Roach said, "We are only going to engage in status from the point of view of people who don't even understand what our status is now. Our territorial relation to the U.S. is a separate question…We are focused on how you would structure the government under which you live now."
The fifth convention will convene at 10 a.m. July 23, 2007, at the Early B. Ottley Senate Hall. The deadline to adopt a new constitution is July 27, 2008.
(For a complete history of prior conventions, see "Constitutional Conventions: What's Gone Before.")

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.